Wednesday 11/29

Franklin Munoz
November 29, 2023

🎄🎁⚽ Good morning and happy Champions League Wednesday. Picture this— your team is off on a counter attack on with promise of a good scoring opportunity, but in comes Sergio Ramos and pulls down your player to stop the attack. The referee approaches Ramos, and pulls out an Orange card. Don’t shoot the messenger, but there are reports circulating that a “sin bin” trial has been OK’d. This could mean that a foul deemed more severe than a yellow card offense but not quite worthy of a red card could result in a “time out” similar to hockey and rugby.

Giveaway: Wake up and smell the coffee. Just in time for the Holidays, our next giveaway will be a $30 gift card for our favorite coffee brand- Kickoff Coffee. As always, each friend that you refer to subscribe to the newsletter is an entry to our raffle. Best of luck!

Champions League

The “Group of death” Delivers Drama

Goal.com

🪖✌️Borussia Dortmund emerges as the first survivor. The “group of death” for this season’s Champions League has not disappointed in the drama department. With only one more matchday left in the group stages, the Germans have punched their ticket to the knockout stages. This means that on the final day, AC Milan, PSG, and Newcastle will all be battling to continue their journey to the Final in Wembley.

✅🏁 Survival of the fittest. It all comes down to the final matchday of the group on December 13th. PSG will be facing an already classified Dortmund, but the Germans will still be fighting for a first place finish in the group making it unlikely that PSG will be facing a relaxed opponent. On the other side- Newcastle will be hosting Italian side AC Milan for a what we hope to be a highly contested showdown, regardless of the poor form that Milan has showed so far in the tournament.

Premier League

Spanglish

ESPN

🗺️📚✍️ English Journey. Ansu Fati, the young football prodigy on loan at Brighton, is embracing a challenge beyond the pitch - learning English. This initiative is not just about adapting to his new team but also about immersing himself in a different culture. Fati's commitment to learning English in his spare time is a glimpse into his dedication off the field, showcasing the often-unseen efforts footballers make to adapt to new environments.

🌎🎭⚽ Multilingual World of Football. The story of Fati learning English is a microcosm of a larger, impressive trend in football: players becoming multilingual as they navigate diverse cultures throughout their careers. As football becomes increasingly global, the ability to communicate in different languages has emerged as a crucial skill. Players utilize a variety of learning methods, from structured classes and technology-assisted learning to cultural immersion and teammate interaction, to master new languages. This linguistic adaptability not only enhances team cohesion but also prepares players for life beyond football, opening doors to new opportunities and deepening their understanding of different cultures.

MLS
Meet the latest MLS MVP: Luciano Acosta

luciano acosta sport GIF by ESPN Deportes

Gif by espndeportes on Giphy

✈️🌍 From Buenos Aires to Cincinnati. The league has spoken: The MVP for the 2023 MLS season started his career in 2014 for Boca Juniors in Argentina and now finds himself leading FC Cincinnati on a strong playoff run. Acosta has been responsible for 31 goal contributions this year (17 goals and 14 assists) and received 61% of the league’s vote in order to be named the player of the year. Check out his season highlights here and you can also watchin him in action when FC Cincinnati take on Columbus Crew this Saturday at 6:00pm eastern in the Eastern Conference Final.

Fotmob

Brands We Love

Kickoff Coffee

☕⚽ Influenced by Heritage. Meet Melissa Ortiz. She is a former professional soccer player that represented the Colombian National team and is now a TV soccer commentator and entrepreneur. Kickoff Coffee was born out of her strong ties to her Colombian heritage which fueled the passion for coffee and influenced a partnership with her brother, Christian Ortiz.

👍🤝 “Coffee That Impacts". The vision for impacting the soccer community is a global one. Through partnerships with organizations that utilize soccer for social development programs, the brand aims to give back to underserved communities. With each bag sold, Kickoff Coffee donates 10% of their proceeds to selected organizations that are considered “football for social development organizations”. Check out their site here and don’t forget our latest giveaway is a $30 gift card to this brand!