Peter Vermes urged his Sporting Kansas City players to take responsibility for their own position ahead of the upcoming MLS road trip to Colorado Rapids.
SKC ended a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Austin FC in their last encounter, just their second victory in 15 league games.
Kansas City are still bottom of the Western Conference and 11 points adrift of the playoff spots, though Vermes is desperate for fighting spirit ahead of a testing schedule.
"We can't wait, we have a lot of games that are important coming up," SKC head coach Vermes said at his pre-match media availability.
"Each game has its own importance to it, this all started last week but we need to keep going.
"We go in with a plan, we have an idea, it sometimes comes down to how the guys recover. Hopefully no one gets injured, but also just minutes – it's going to be really important.
"Each guy himself has to be ready for the responsibility of the position and knowing what we do when we have the ball, when we don't, they have to go into the game with that.
"We don't have a lot of training time in between games, so they all have to be ready for that."
The Burgundy Boys will be out to extend their home unbeaten run to five games in this clash, though they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Los Angeles FC last time out on the road.
Colorado are fourth in the West standings but nine points adrift of the top two, a gap they will hope to shorten at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Colorado Rapids – Rafael Navarro
Rafael Navarro has scored in each of his last five home appearances for the Rapids, and will fancy his chances of extending an impressive run this time around.
The only players with a longer streak in regular-season play in Colorado's history are Diego Rubio (six in 2022) and Mark Chung (also six in 2003).
Sporting Kansas City – William Agada
Goals have been hard to come by for the Kansas City side, with William Agada leading the way this season in MLS with five strikes.
Agada has managed that tally from 20 games, averaging a goal every four matches, but will hope to add to his scoring returns in Colorado.
MATCH PREDICTION – COLORADO RAPIDS WIN
The Rapids are the favourites for victory on home soil in this clash, owing to a remarkable head-to-head record in meetings between this pair.
Colorado are unbeaten in 10 straight regular-season home matches against SKC (W5 D5) and have lost only two of their 28 home league matches against them since August 2000 (W13 D13).
This will also be Colorado’s third Independence Day meeting with Sporting, having won in both 2003 and 2005, with the expectation that history will repeat itself here.
SKC are hardly in fine form either, having managed just their second win last time out in their previous 15 MLS matches (D2 L11).
However, they managed the club's first clean sheet since a scoreless draw at LAFC on March 9, and will hope to build on that performance here.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Colorado Rapids win – 48.2%
Draw – 25.9%
Sporting Kansas City win – 25.9%
Colorado Rapids v St. Louis City: Armas aiming to build on impressive home form to keep pace with league leaders
Chris Armas is aiming to continue Colorado Rapids’ impressive home form ahead of their fixture with St. Louis City this weekend.
The Rapids returned to winning ways following their defeat away to LAFC, as Djordje Mihailovic’s 94th minute penalty ensured Colorado maintained their three-game winning run on home soil.
Armas’ side sit fourth in the Western Conference table, three points ahead of Vancouver Whitecaps but looking to chase down the top three in the division.
The Rapids head coach is keen to make Dick’s Sporting Goods Park a fortress this season, praising the fans for their contribution to their recent home results.
“When I was a player, I played in Colorado against the Rapids and I didn’t like it,” Armas said.
“The fans are tough and I love that I got to team up with them now and put out an attacking team for them who goes after it and make them proud.
“We do try to have a mentality, and we have it home and away. At home, with our fans, with altitude and the energy of the building, our pitch, the comfort of our own home.
“You can see that teams will come here and try to slow the game down a bit. It can be frustrating at moments but what I love most, is the energy of the crowd.”
For St. Louis, Interim head coach John Hackworth marked his first game in charge with a much-needed victory over San Jose Earthquakes last time out.
It’s Hackworth’s second spell in interim charge following the sacking of Bradley Carnell after a run of nine MLS games without a win.
Their triumph sees them remain in 12th place in the Western Conference, a point behind FC Dallas.
Hackworth acknowledged the importance of the victory last time out, but insisted the win was just a step in the right direction and nothing more.
“It’s been a tough week, there is no doubt about that,” Hackworth said.
“The players, the staff, the club, when you make a change to the head coach it’s never easy.
“So, in a short amount of time I think you saw the resilience of this group. A group that has been successful in the past. It hasn’t happened for us this year, but I am really proud of them in this moment to come together in a tough moment.
“For us, while it’s very satisfying, it is not a game that we are going to go crazy about and celebrate and say we have turned out season around because we haven’t.
“It’s just the first step of trying to get us back in the right direction.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Colorado Rapids – Djordje Mihailovic
Djordje Mihailovic has been in fine form for the Rapids, with his stoppage time penalty against Sporting Kansas City the 10th goal the American has scored this season – his best tally in a single season.
Mihailovic has 18 goal contributions this season (10 goals, eight assists), only managing to record more in 2021 during his time with CF Montreal (20).
St. Louis City – Indiana Vassilev
Indiana Vassilev assisted both of St. Louis City SC’s goals on Wednesday against San Jose, becoming the first player to record multiple assists in a match for the team this season.
Vassilev’s nine MLS assists for St. Louis City have set up goals for seven different players.
MATCH PREDICTION: COLORADO RAPIDS WIN
Having won three home matches for the first time since September – October 2022, Colorado are heavily backed by Opta’s data-led simulations to continue their winning run on home turf.
The Rapids last had a longer winning streak at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park during a six-match run from August 2019 to March 2020.
But based on previous results, it looks set to be a tightly contested affair. Each team has recorded a win in their last three meetings, with a fast start expected. Three of the five goals scored in the last two meetings were netted in the game’s opening 11 minutes.
However, St. Louis will be buoyed following their recent victory over San Jose on Wednesday. City are still looking for their first away win of the season in all competitions (D5 L5), but will be hopeful of bursting the Rapids’ bubble.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Colorado Rapids – 49.4%
Draw – 25.5%
St. Louis City – 25.1%
Euro 2024 social round-up: Kroos' goodbye, Spain celebrate on and off the pitch
Euro 2024 action returned on Friday, as the first two teams booked their places in the semi-finals.
Spain scored a last-gasp goal to knock hosts Germany out of the tournament thanks to their 2-1 win. Meanwhile, France were perfect from the spot in their shootout win over Portugal after a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes.
Two more ties were on offer on Saturday as Switzerland and England face off before the Netherlands and Turkiye vie for the final spot.
But what about the action online?
Here is the best of the social media posts from Friday and Saturday at Euro 2024.
Saying goodbye to a legend
Germany suffered heartbreak as they became the first host nation to exit the tournament at the quarter-final stage of the tournament.
But their defeat also meant the end to a true footballing great's career.
Toni Kroos played his final game on Friday, with the official Euro 2024 X account sharing their appreciation for the midfielder.
Celebrations on and off the pitch
While Mikel Merino's 119th-minute goal sent Spain fans everywhere into raptures, that was not the only celebration going on in La Roja's camp on Friday.
Dani Vivian celebrated his 25th birthday with the team earlier in the day, with everyone sharing their well-wishes.
All in all, not a bad way to spend your birthday.
Les Bleus' cheers ring out
While France v Portugal did not quite live up to some of the expectations placed upon it as the teams played out a goalless draw after extra time.
But Didier Deschamps' men kept their composure from the spot, scoring all five of their penalties in the shootout to book a place in the next round.
And they gave fans a glimpse of the players' reactions as they made their way into the changing rooms post-match.
Southgate hits landmark
It is a big day for England on the pitch as they bid to reach the European Championships semi-finals for the second consecutive edition.
And it's a milestone match for Gareth Southgate, who is taking charge of his 100th match.
Three Lions fans will be wishing he can mark that landmark with a special win.
The Dutch arrive
It has been a sight to behold throughout the tournament when the Dutch fans descend on a new city before their matches in a sea of orange.
While they have drawn the eye with their orange bus and fan parades in the past, their new modes of transport were spotted getting to Berlin ahead of their match against Turkiye.
A sea of red
The fans were also out in force for Switzerland as they aim to book their place in the semi-final of the Euros for the first time in their history.
And, painted red, they were a united front as they arrived in Dusseldorf, with the hopes of another big result on their minds.
Portland Timbers v Nashville SC: Munthali looking to improve small margins
Nashville SC interim head coach Rumba Munthali believes his team are close to reaching their best level if they can improve the small margins against Portland Timbers.
The Coyotes have lost their last two matches against Inter Miami and Columbus Crew on the back of a three-match unbeaten streak in MLS.
They sit seventh in the Eastern Conference, but Munthali is keen to get back to winning ways quickly to hold off the teams below them in the table.
"It was a tough-to-swallow loss against a good team [Columbus] but I thought we showed some good positive steps," Munthali said.
"I don't think we're far off, it's just small little details. There are things we still have time to get better at and make sure we finish as close as possible.
"I think we need to keep working on our finishing in practice. We are scoring goals, just not all the time, and we're only off by small margins. Nothing to dwell on, just things to work on and get more efficient at."
Nashville announced earlier this week they have hired B.J. Callahan to become their new head coach, and will officially join them on July 22.
Meanwhile, Portland are sixth in the Western Conference, after their seven-match unbeaten streak was snapped in a 3-2 defeat to FC Dallas on Thursday.
Head coach Phil Neville was left frustrated by some of the refereeing decisions in that match and is hoping they can quickly put that result behind them.
"We've got to lick our wounds and move on to Sunday," Neville said. "Sunday's becoming a difficult game, an even bigger one at home.
"We've been on a great run, but the last game was disappointing, and we'll have to begin a new one on Sunday. We move on and we keep going."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portland Timbers – Antony
Antony scored one and assisted one in Portland's last game, but it was not enough as the team fell to a 3-2 loss against Dallas.
It marked the eighth time this season they have failed to win a match in which they have scored multiple goals, something only Philadelphia Union (10 times) have done more often this season.
Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar
Nashville SC attempted eight shots in their defeat at Columbus Crew on Wednesday, the 10th time this season they have taken fewer than 10 shots in a match.
Hany Mukhtar was their biggest threat once more, as he had three of those, the most of anyone on the team, though he only managed one on target.
MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN
The Timbers have never lost to Nashville, recording a win in the first-ever meeting between the sides before the last two matches ended in draws.
Portland are unbeaten in their last five home games (won four, drawn one), scoring at least two goals in all five matches. The Timbers have not scored multiple goals in six straight games at Providence Park in all competitions since doing so to end the 2017 regular season.
Meanwhile, Nashville have won only three of their last 19 regular-season road games (drawn seven, lost nine) dating back to last June. Nashville have to score in 11 of those 19 matches, including their 2-0 loss at Columbus on Wednesday.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Portland Timbers – 44.8%
Draw – 26.9%
Nashville SC – 28.3%
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