Want Backheel Breakfast in your inbox? Sign up for the email version here.
Panama get screwed out of Gold Cup final place by refs, Mexico
If you didn’t keep watching Gold Cup after the USMNT loss, you missed an amazing second game.
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Panama were about to pull an upset win over Mexico with 10 men and advance to the Gold Cup final until this non-handball was called a penalty. For the second game in a row, Mexico got bailed out by a phantom penalty call. The Panamanians apparently watched that game, because they looked pretty convinced that the fix was in and tried to ragequit.
When the game finally continued, the Univision announcers shouted GOOOOOOOOL MARK GEIGER, crediting the referee with the Mexico equalizer.
Mexico got another penalty in extra time -- that one legitimate -- and went on to win the game. Panama’s manager was so heartbroken he said he might retire from the sport. Panama’s players held up a banner that said ‘CONCACAF corrupt thieves’. This is about as hard as anyone’s ever taken getting CONCACAF’d.
In the news
The USMNT lost to Jamaica, meaning they'll play a Confederations Cup playoff in October. (MLS)
Bayern Munich have agreed to a fee for Arturo Vidal. (FC Bayern)
Liverpool have signed Christian Benteke from Aston Villa. (Liverpool)
Memphis Depay says he came to Manchester United over other teams to play for Louis van Gaal again. (BBC)
Jose Mourinho talked some sense after his team’s loss to Red Bulls C. (Mirror)
You should be reading
Kevin Draper asks what’s next for the USMNT. (Deadspin)
Phil Costa on the future of soccer analytics. (The Set Pieces)
Dustin Ward on controlling midfield and why James Milner might not be Liverpool’s answer. (Stats Bomb)
Fun with transfer rumors
The section in which nothing should be taken seriously. It’s rumor season, so this section will be expanded, and as the summer rolls on, it will probably be bigger than the actual news section.
Manchester City are ready to pay through the nose for Kevin de Bruyne. (Mirror)
Luka Modric thinks Sergio Ramos wants to stay. (AS)
Barca’s Adriano wants to move to Roma. (Football Italia)
And they’re going to sign Wojciech Szczesny as their new goalkeeper. (Daily Mail)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic says his future is up to his agent. (Sky Sports)
Apparently PSG have made a real bid for Angel Di Maria now. (talkSPORT)
Wednesday’s games
Here’s a straight recap of the USA-Jamaica debacle. (MLS)
You can find highlights of Tigres’ Copa Lib win here. (Football Mania)
★★★
SB Nation presents: Neymar has a real claim as the world’s best player
See More:
