Catching Up!

BACKYARD BBQ -- Just trying to see what else it out there right now in world football...  

• Although there have been zero fans and lots of controversy, the top 2 teams in South America will meet for the COMNEBOL Copa America final Saturday night as the #3 team Brazil hosts #8 team Argentina.  Lionel Messi will be going for his first Copa title, believe it or not, as ARG has not won Copa since '93.  BRA is a slight favorite and you can watch on FS1 at 5 pm PDT.
• UEFA is doing away with the away goals tiebreaker for the '21-22 season.  In place since '65, if the two-match aggregate is tied on goals, then whoever has the most "away" goals wins.  Now, if goals are tied, extra time and penalty shootout will commence.  This only applies to club competitions.  Away goals is still the 5th tiebreaker for qualifying and the Nations League playoffs are knockout matches.
• The USMNT won't field its strongest lineup for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, a farce of a tourney that features "qualified" teams of Curacao, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Suriname, and Qatar (yes, I know, not from CONCACAF but invited).  BTW, it kind of technically already started with "Prelims" that took place as triple headers in Ft. Lauderdale on July 2/5/6.  So, ignore everything until the Quarters start on July 24.  The final featuring USA and Mexico will be in Las Vegas's new stadium, so that is cool (well hot, since it will likely be 100°+F).
• The USWNT named their 18-player roster and it includes 17 from the '19 World Cup team.  That is surprising as it is hard to usher a new crop of talented players if they are frozen out by the veterans.  At least the four alternates are newbies.  The team begins its quest July 21 (two days before the Opening Ceremony in front of no fans).