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The Columbus Crew opened up the 2023 season with a 4-1 loss to the defending Eastern Conference champions Philadelphia Union. The Black & Gold would go up in the first half due to a Union own goal, but the home side would rattle off four unanswered goals, two of them penalties, to take all three points. The Crew looked strong in the first half, but lost momentum in the second half, allowing the Union to take control. This game marks the beginning of the Wilfried Nancy era in Columbus, and with that comes a new set of tactics. Let’s dive in. Playing in a 3-4-2-1/5-2-2-1 The biggest change from last season was the formation that the Crew lined up in on Saturday night. In the Berhalter and Porter eras, fans were used to seeing a 4-2-3-1 formation week in and week out. Nancy, however, brings a big change because he usually prefers to play with three center backs and two wing backs. On Saturday, the defensive core consisted of Degenek, Quinton and Moreira in that central defensive role, with Will Sands and Mo Farsi in the wingback positions. Wingback will be a position to keep an eye on as the season progresses, because Nancy’s system relies on those backs getting high into the attack, but also supplying defensive cover in transition. Nagbe and Morris playing the two defensive midfielders was not a surprise, but in front of them they had two attacking midfielders, Lucas Zelarayan and Alexandru Matan. Zelarayan and Matan would play almost positionless in attack, roaming from sideline to sideline and being able to create freely. They would often switch sides just based on the runs they were making and let those dictate where they were on the pitch. Cucho Hernandez was the lone striker up top, and he played into what Zelarayan and Matan was doing as well. The front three would often press as a group as soon as the ball was turned over, not allowing Philadelphia to have too much time to settle on the ball. Fans should expect to see more of this formation going forward in some capacity or another due to Nancy’s preferred system. Fans should also expect this team to get much better as time goes on. With new tactics comes new learning curves, and this team just needs time to get comfortable in their coach’s system. Offensive strategy In the first half, the Crew looked like a well-oiled unit, defending and attacking with purpose and even grabbing the opening goal. The second half was a different story, but the way Columbus went forward offensively was very promising. The offensive emphasis for the Black & Gold was attacking down the wings and then getting a high number of players up in possession. To attack the width, often the outside center back (usually Steven Moreira) would form a triangle with the defensive midfielder and wingback. This created a numerical advantage in that area and with the right combination gave the Crew an opportunity to move up as a unit. Once they were into Philadelphia’s half of the field, Columbus would commit eight out of the ten field players forward to assist in the attack. The only players who stayed farther back was Degenek and Quinton. Since Moreira has the background of being a right back, he would go up from his right center back role to provide another attacking option. When the Crew got into these situations, they were on the front foot. They looked more comfortable on the ball and were making some good combinations, it just fizzled in the second half. Conceding four straight goals is a blemish, but this can be a dangerous offensive team once things click. Defensive strategy The staple of Columbus’ defense on Saturday was having a disciplined high line that would catch the Union offsides. The Crew caught Philadelphia offsides nine times, an amount that was frustrating to the crowd at Subaru Park. This high line was what contributed heavily to the Black & Gold’s success in the first half because the home side could not seem to figure it out. Of course, Jim Curtain made some smart switches at halftime and the offsides reduced dramatically and resulted in the Crew getting blitzed. The other defensive key was how the Crew pressed. As soon as the ball was turned over Columbus switched into a high intensity press to try and win the ball back immediately. The good thing about having numbers in attack is that you have more bodies to press with if the ball does get turned over. When Philadelphia was able to sustain possession for a period of time, the Black & Gold would still apply pressure with the front three. Typically, two players would press up onto the Union center backs, while the third player would mark the splitting midfielder so Philadelphia couldn’t break lines as quickly. The problem with pressing after losing possession is if players overcommit. This was the case on the Union’s second goal. After Zelarayan lost possession, Nagbe and Morris stepped up to try and win the ball back and got caught out by a pass that split them. The gap between the midfielders and defenders was so wide that Philadelphia had a vast amount of space to work with and create, which led to a goal. With time, these tactical mistakes will be sorted out and learned from, but the reality for Crew fans is that we have to allow players to make mistakes and learn if this team is ever going to challenge for a title.

The Butler women’s golf team is preparing to head off to the Big East Tournament next week in South Carolina, in what will be a big test of growth for a young team. The 2022-23 team features four first-years, four sophomores and a lone junior, Alaina Bowie. Bowie has been with the program since her first year, when the 2020-2021 golf season was limited to only the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, she has taken up a leadership role within the squad, due to her being the elder statesman despite only being a junior. “The hardest part for me is I felt like I had to fill some pretty big shoes … but the sophomores do a very good job of helping me out,” Bowie said. “I think that has really helped take the pressure off me and make it more of a family… I’m more of a mom to these kids.” Last weekend, the Dawgs placed third in the Falcon Invitational hosted at Bowling Green, with a starting five golfers that included three first-years, Kelli Scheck, Cybil Stillson and Lily Celentano. The team was rounded out by sophomore Katie Steinman and team captain Bowie, but the junior said that there is a sense of mutual growth among the golfers. “I think as any parent knows, you can learn so much from your kids, and these girls teach me so much,” Bowie said. “I think as much as I get to be an influence on them, they’re an influence on me and helped me grow as a person. So I think it’s a two-way street for sure.” One of these younger influences is first-year golfer Kelli Scheck. Scheck came to Butler from Lake Oconee Academy in Georgia after being a part of three state championship golf teams and winning individually as well. The Georgia native played down the jump from high school golf to college, but said that the mental game is emphasized more in college. “My mental game has definitely changed because in college we do 36-18,” Scheck said. “You just need to keep your head in the game for all 36 holes, all eight hours, it’s just mentally [challenging] for those 36 holes.” Scheck tied a Butler record for the lowest score in a single round, shooting 67 in the second round of the FGCU Invitational in March. Her performance and Bowie’s consistent rounds of shooting 72 and 73 spurred the Dawgs to a tenth-place finish. Going into the Big East Tournament, Scheck said that despite being a younger team, the Bulldogs still have aspirations of a conference title. “I know what I need to shoot, and what’s nice is that we have an extra week to polish up some things before we head to conference,” Scheck said. “Expectations are definitely high for the team because we’re a good group and everybody has the ability to go low.” The ability for everyone to go low at the same time has been a struggle for Butler this year, with the team sometimes struggling from inconsistent play at different times. The Dawgs started out hot in the fall, winning two of their first four events. Since then, the highest the team has placed is third. Head coach Christie Cates, who graduated from Butler in 2016, said that even with the inconsistency, this team has potential. “We’re starting to hit our stride a little bit here,” Cates said. “Overall the kids work hard and want to do well, and it’s great to see their hard work pay off.” Cates was named the head coach of the Bulldogs in 2019, but the roster has changed a lot from last season when Butler had four senior/graduate students on their roster. Despite the lack of experience, she insisted that this young team is exactly where she wants the program to be. “The [first-years] kind of come out swinging which is great,” Cates said. “A lot of them work really hard and have gotten a lot better throughout the season, which is really promising.” Promising is the key word to describe this Bulldogs squad. With no seniors, all the golfers should return barring any transfers, so the program will only grow stronger with time. Athletes need time to grow, but Bowie thinks that there is a certain skill that can make this team dangerous down the road. “Our biggest growth will come in the clutch moments of these tournaments when the girls know they have to perform,” Bowie said. “I think it’s really hard to teach that in practice and even in the fall because you don’t feel the same pressure you felt in the Big East.” Bowie played in the Big East Tournament last year, finishing 21st with a score of +18 over 54 holes. Butler finished fifth out of six teams competing, but that experience was extremely valuable for Bowie going forward into the next season. “I knew there was a lot of pressure,” Bowie said. “But I didn’t really feel it until I was in the moment, until I was there, until you’re competing for your last tournament of the season. I mean, that’s why we work so hard all year.” As the Dawgs prepare for the upcoming Big East Tournament, Coach Cates has a message for her team that no matter how young they may be, they can contend for the title now. “You might think ‘oh, we are a year or two away’ potentially, but I don’t feel that way,” Cates said. “We’ve proven this entire year that we have what it takes, it’s just getting it all going on the same day.” The Bulldogs will travel down to Hardeeville, South Carolina for the Big East Championships, taking place from April 17-19.

The Butler women’s basketball team is back in action in Hinkle Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Feb. 15 to take on the Georgetown Hoyas in a Big East battle. The Bulldogs are coming off a 63-62 road victory over Providence that improved their record to 8-17 on the season. The Hoyas are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, after recently falling to UConn 67-59 at home. These two squads met earlier in the season on Jan. 11, with the Bulldogs routing Georgetown on their home floor 72-48. The Hoyas will be intent on evening the season series. Here’s what you need to know before tip-off in the Circle City between Butler and Georgetown. Who: Butler vs Georgetown When: Feb. 15, 7:00 p.m. Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse How to watch/listen: FloSports Limiting scoring from Georgetown’s guards The Hoyas’ strength on the offensive end lies in their two guards, Kelsey Ransom and Kennedy Fauntleroy. Ransom is averaging 13 points per game and Fauntleroy is right behind her with 11.9 points per game. Not only are they leading their team in scoring, but they also have accounted for nearly 41% of Georgetown’s points scored this season so far. Slowing down this kind of efficiency will be the key for Butler’s defense if they are to sweep Georgetown in the season series. Coach Austin Parkinson will have his hands full getting his defense to lock down both guards and force other Georgetown players to be the primary scorers, but even shutting down one of the guards could suffice. The last time these two teams faced off, Ransom had 16 points, while Fauntleroy only contributed 7. Look for the Butler defense to key in on at least one of these guards and force the other one to take the game over. Efficient shooting on the offensive end In the previous game against the Hoyas, Butler shot 50% from the field, 54.2% from beyond the arc and 100% from the line to cap a blowout for the Dawgs. These numbers are up significantly from their season averages, which is why this high conversion rate is what the Bulldogs need to get the win on Wednesday. Efficient shooting and good shot selection can defeat even the strongest teams in the country, and Butler accomplished that last time they faced Georgetown. The other key for the Bulldogs is to be a swiss army knife on offense. Having multiple points of attack worked in the past for the home side, with three players scoring in double digits the last time they faced off with the Hoyas. A diversified approach on offense makes it harder for opposing coaches to scheme a way back into the game and shut the offense down, which is why Butler will need everyone to contribute on the offensive end on Wednesday.

The Butler men’s basketball team will head into a sold-out Hinkle Fieldhouse on Friday night looking to knock off the 13th-ranked team in the nation, the Xavier Musketeers. Xavier comes into this heated matchup off of a 96-71 win over St. John’s on Feb. 4. The Bulldogs are also coming off a win over the Red Storm in more dramatic fashion, winning by two points after St. John’s tying bucket was waived off at the end of regulation, giving Butler a much-needed victory. Here’s what you need to know before tip-off between the Bulldogs and Musketeers. Who: Butler vs. Xavier When: Feb. 10, 7:00 p.m. Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse How to watch/listen: FS1/WXNT 1430AM Limiting Xavier’s Guards The key defensively for the Bulldogs will be attempting to hinder the play of graduate student Souley Boum and junior Colby Jones. The tandem of Boum and Jones has been a nightmare for opposing defenses so far this season, with Boum averaging 16.3 points per game and Jones averaging 15 points per game. Butler’s guards will have to make sure they are on top of their defensive game if the Bulldogs want to win this game. Boum’s specialty is hitting shots from beyond the arc with high efficiency. He ranks fifth in the Big East with a three-point percentage of 41.8%. Don’t be mistaken, Boum isn’t merely a shooter. He is also fourth in the Big East in assists per game and 14th nationally for assist-to-turnover ratio. All indicators point to Boum being the focal point of the Musketeers’ offense on Friday night. Jones on the other hand is an incredibly efficient scorer to compliment Boum. Over the course of the season, he has shot 51.4% from the field, and 42.1% from three. He also shoots around 70% from the charity stripe, so even if he gets fouled he can hurt opposing teams. If Boum struggles to get out of the gates, look to Jones to possibly take over the backcourt. The Bulldogs taking care of the basketball and rebounding If Butler wants to upset Xavier, they have to minimize the number of turnovers they give to the Musketeers. When you give a team like Xavier extra opportunities on the offensive end, they make you pay. The Bulldogs only had 11 turnovers against St. John’s on Tuesday which is the seventh-lowest total in a game this season, coming back from a 19-turnover game game against Marquette. The other key point for Butler will be rebounding. Xavier has a seven-foot towering forward in Jack Nunge who will look to be a force on the boards, so it’s up to Manny Bates and Jalen Thomas to get gritty in the paint. The Bulldogs have been outrebounded by around five rebounds per game throughout the season, so being on the plus side of rebounds is key for Butler on Friday night. Any possessions that the Dawgs can secure for themselves and not Xavier is a positive.

Overtime, or “OT,” is an opinion column series where the Collegian takes national sports headlines and gives them a Butler-centric angle. In modern-day soccer, talented players are getting more and more expensive each day. Argentine Enzo Fernandez recently sealed his move to Chelsea from Portuguese club Benfica for a whopping $131 million. Neymar, once at Barcelona, set the transfer record with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 worth $264 million. This has become the norm in the soccer world, buying top-shelf players for extreme prices and hoping they change the state of the club single-handedly. This is not the case for Premier League club Arsenal, who currently leads the Premier League and continues to look better every week. Over the past few years, Arsenal has been amassing a team that has been under the radar until now by choosing to sign quality players who were backups on other teams. For example, the Gunners went out this past summer and signed 25-year-old Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus for a mere $54 million. Another signing was attacking midfielder Martin Ødegaard from Real Madrid for around $42 million. Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko was also a backup signed from Manchester City for around $42 million as well. Do not misunderstand it, these are top players playing at giant clubs, but they were down on the pecking order and did not get the chance to start consistently. Since coming to Arsenal, they have been able to start regularly, and they are showing out on the pitch. In the 14 games he played before sustaining a knee injury, Jesus had five goals and six assists. Ødegaard on the other hand played in 18 matches so far and has contributed eight goals and six assists from his midfield position. On the defensive side, Zinchenko played in 12 games, and six of them were shutouts. Above all, Arsenal sits atop the Premier League halfway through the season. Now what is the significance of Arsenal’s performance and why is their rise so impressive? The answer to that question is that they are creating a change in the philosophy of soccer. Clubs go out and spend hundreds of millions of dollars backed by wealthy owners and hope that their talent meshes on the pitch. Chelsea, another club located in London, has spent around $700 million on players since American Todd Boehly took over as owner in late May of last year. They currently sit 10th in the Premier League table. Senior pharmacy student Afam Nzekwe said that the high spending way that soccer is today is a dangerous game. “It’s a slippery slope as to where the investment comes from,” Nzekwe said. “It’s all about what’s right for your team, and what’s ethically right because ethics at the end of the day are how the world should run. My opinion is as long as the owners of your club are trying to make you the most successful team in the world, what more can you ask for?” Arsenal has changed the way that teams think about building a squad, and it all begins with their manager Mikel Arteta. Arteta is somewhat of a backup himself, working as Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager until he was hired by Arsenal in December 2019. Since his hiring, Arsenal has not spent more than $70 million on a single player. Arteta focused on building an all-around strong team, rather than splashing the cash on a superstar. Sophomore marketing major Johnathan Laczynski buys into Arteta’s philosophy and states that a team is needed to win, not individual players. “If you can’t find that star player, then definitely you need a full unit,” Laczynski said. “If you have all the parts of the field locked down, it’s a piece of cake. Their chemistry and everything is working perfectly for them right now.” The Gunners have had considerable help from players who have come from their youth academies such as England international Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe. They also have had an ascension by winger Gabriel Martinelli, who was signed for a mere $8.5 million dollars in 2019. These past investments are paying dividends now, which is another reason why Arsenal doesn’t have to spend big in the transfer window. The fact still remains that Arsenal is led by former backups. Ødegaard has become a captain for the squad, and the team’s play shows that they follow the example of their captain. They play a beautiful brand of quick passing offensive soccer, but when the ball is turned over, they don’t shy away from putting in the dirty work. This mentality is ingrained in every athlete who has been a backup in their life. First-year exploratory natural science major Tanner Hampton shared that backups always have the will to work hard. Hampton was a backup linebacker his freshman year of high school before starting the next three years. “I want to show everybody that I should be playing,” Hampton said. “You just keep improving yourself and getting better because you want to play…so you’re going to play as hard as you can.” Playing as hard as you can landed Ødegaard, Jesus and Zinchenko a fresh start and a chance to prove that they belonged in professional soccer. So far, they are taking advantage of that chance this season to the tune of 16 wins, two draws and two losses to Manchester United and Everton. Laczynski noted that Arsenal’s recent signings are showing out and continuing to prove they belong among the elite. “I think they’re definitely playing with a chip on their shoulders and trying to prove their worth,” Laczynski said. “When they’re in a team like Manchester City where they’re not able to perform like they want to, they are restricted. They get [signed] to a team [like Arsenal] and they can go out and do what they know they can do.” With still half of the season to go, Arsenal has a five-point lead over Manchester City who sits in second place. The title race is far from over, but the Gunners’ well-rounded squad has their eyes on the Premier League title, and the former backups are continuing to silence doubters with their play.

The Bulldogs will head out east to Queens on Wednesday to take on St. John’s in their second and final matchup against the Red Storm this season. Butler is coming off a 79-39 loss to fifth-ranked UConn while St. John’s recently took down DePaul 81-72. In their previous meeting in Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Red Storm took the spoils with a 65-57 win over the Bulldogs. St. John’s took control in that game early, gaining the lead in the third minute of the game and never looking back. Here’s what you need to know before the Bulldogs’ clash with the Red Storm. Who: Butler vs. St. John’s When: Jan. 25, 7 p.m. Where: Carnesecca Arena; Queens, New York How to watch/listen: FloSports Playing down low Much like the last game against UConn, the key for the Bulldogs will be defending down low and allowing St. John’s to have threes. In their matchup in early December, the Red Storm shot only 27% from beyond the arc and scored 32 of their 65 points in the paint. If the Bulldogs can keep forward Jillian Archer at bay and force St. John’s to take deeper shots outside the paint or from three, Butler could have a chance to win this game. On the offensive side, the Dawgs need to prioritize getting junior forward Anna Mortag going early. Mortag had a team-high 15 points the last time these teams met, so she will have to share a high percentage of the offensive burden yet again if Butler is to have a chance. If Mortag is not able to start off hot, look to sophomore forward Sydney Jaynes to pick up the slack. Ideally, Butler will want to get both forwards going for a one-two punch down low. Looking into the Red Storm St. John’s sits at 16-3 with their only losses coming to Seton Hall, UConn and Villanova. Currently, the Red Storm are on a two-game winning streak with wins over Marquette and DePaul. Going to Queens and getting a win has been tough for away teams, with St. John’s boasting an 11-1 record at home. The Red Storm are led by a pair of seniors, Jayla Everett and Kadaja Bailey who average 17.3 and 13.9 points per game respectively. Butler should expect to see a lot of different personnel from St. John’s, as head coach Joe Tartamella likes to go to his bench often. All 10 players for the Red Storm saw the floor in their win last Saturday against DePaul. The Bulldogs will have to be full of energy if they are to keep up with the pace of St. John’s depth.

Overtime, or “OT,” is an opinion column series where the Collegian takes national sports headlines and gives them a Butler-centric angle. As the final celebrations wound down in Doha on Dec. 18, 2022, the world began to look back on what was a thrilling World Cup on the field, but a mixed bag off the field. The controversy began when former disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced in Dec. 2010 that Qatar would be the host nation for the 2022 edition of the World Cup. Other nations had bids to host the tournament that officials deemed were more appealing than Qatar, including a bid from the USA. First-year elementary education major Noah Lipscomb was not surprised there was corruption, but stated that it’s sad bribery takes place in sports. “It’s very unfair.” Lipscomb said. “Sports is clearly not a place for those kinds of activities…it just shows that money can do a lot for you in the world.” The decision to have Qatar as the host was groundbreaking at the time because no Middle-Eastern country had ever hosted the World Cup before. Immediately due to FIFA’s history of corruption and bribes, many began to look closer at how Qatar managed to land the world’s biggest sporting event. Blatter even came out and admitted that FIFA made a mistake in awarding the event to Qatar. After landing the tournament, Qatar got straight to work building eight state-of-the-art new stadiums as well as other projects to improve their infrastructure. To be prepared and ready to go by the start date in 2022, the country brought in millions of migrant workers from Africa and Asia to complete the project. From 2010 to 2020, Qatar only reported that 40 workers had died during the projects, but only three of them were “work-related”. Data coming out from the workers’ home countries suggest that thousands of workers died while working on stadiums, and other World Cup-related projects. First-year exploratory business student Chris Walker said that Qatar was “sick” for how they treated the migrant workers leading up to the tournament. “It’s pretty twisted in of itself,” Walker said. “Especially because they spent all that money to get that bid and they weren’t ready for it. So they had to use their own citizens…basically working them to death is really bad.” The human toll weighed heavily on the minds of the public as stories continued to come out about the Qatar death toll, with many even boycotting watching the tournament. The worst part about the worker crisis was the way Qatar kept justifying and covering up the cause of death for these workers. The term “acute heart failure due to natural causes” became popular among Qatari officials when detailing how many of the workers died. The harsh reality is that the workers were underpaid, overworked and lived in inhumane conditions. Working in the Middle Eastern sun for 10-14 hours a day over a long period of time puts a toll on the human body. Had the World Cup been awarded to another country with the proper infrastructure and labor laws in place, this catastrophe could have been avoided. Yet another issue with having the tournament in Qatar was how the media was able to cover the event. As journalists and news crews arrived from all over the world, many were told they were not allowed to film in public places in Qatar, but only in places agreed to by the Qatari government. In the early days, a video went viral of a Danish journalist trying to get a live video shot in a public area getting threatened by Qatari officials to shut off the camera because they were not allowed to film. The video provided by NowThis News on Youtube showed the officials even saying they would smash the camera if he didn’t leave. Qatar’s policy on gay marriage also took center stage when a few incidents happened as the tournament began. BBC presenter Alex Scott stood for the idea of gay rights during the BBC’s presentation of the England vs Wales game by wearing a “OneLove” armband. Captains of the European teams were planning to wear the same armbands in-game but were threatened by FIFA with receiving yellow cards upon kick-off if they wore them. American soccer journalist Grant Wahl was detained for wearing a shirt that brandished a soccer ball surrounded by a rainbow before being allowed into the media center after a half-hour detainment. Wahl wore the shirt in support of his brother Eric, who is gay. Later while covering the quarter-final match of Argentina against Netherlands, Wahl collapsed suddenly before being pronounced dead at a hospital later. Wahl’s brother Eric later took to social media to suggest that there may be foul play at hand because his brother was outspoken about the Qatari government, but there has been no proof of that. Of course, at the biggest tournament in the world, there were bound to be some political statements. The biggest outcry came from fans supporting Palestine. As the Moroccan national team made an improbable run to the semi-finals, Palestinian flags were everywhere around the stadium. After Morocco beat Spain in the round of 16, the players even unfolded a Palestine flag and posed for pictures with it. It was not only the fans from Arab countries though, even England fans were getting in on the “Free Palestine” movement. Many fans adopted Palestine as their second team, even though the Palestinian squad did not qualify for the World Cup. It seemed that everywhere fans looked they could see the colors of the Palestine flag being represented and supported. First-year creative media major Jeffery Herschberger said he is not qualified to judge others, but thought it was odd what topics were allowed to be supported. “I just find it kind of interesting that Palestinian flags were allowed but the supporting of gay rights wasn’t allowed,” Herschberger said. “How can we have people support [Palestine], but not have people support [LGBTQ+ rights]? That was just kind of an interesting dynamic. The World Cup being held in the Middle East only seemed to help the Palestinian’s cause, allowing them to share their movement with people from around the world. To many, the 2022 World Cup will always be remembered for the soccer memories. Messi finally winning the elusive prize, the great games, the penalty shootouts, the drama and the magic. Others, however, will also remember the off-field controversy and political movements that conjoined themselves with the game’s biggest stage.

It is finally time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to kick off in Qatar, but it’s a little different this time around. For the first time ever, the tournament will take place in the winter months, due to Qatar’s extreme heat in the summer months. 32 teams will battle over the course of 64 games until one country takes home the most coveted prize in all of soccer: the World Cup trophy and the title of world champion. Let’s dive into which teams are favored to win the tournament, and some other squads to keep an eye on. The Favorites: Argentina, Brazil and France Let’s start with Argentina. Lionel Messi will lead the charge, but he will have help from Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez up top. Argentina will also field a solid defense, with Lisandro Martinez and Nicolàs Tagliafico anchoring the line. With Emiliano Martinez between the posts, Argentina will be a force to be reckoned with come November and December. Oh, and they are unbeaten in their last 35 games. Maybe this can be the year that Messi gets his hands on that elusive World Cup trophy. When you look at Brazil, the only problem for them will be how they fit all their attacking options on the field at the same time. Players like Neymar, Antony, Gabriel Jesus, Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, Richarlison and Gabriel Martinelli will all be fighting for playing time. Head coach Tite will not be complaining though, because there is never such a thing as too much talent. With proven players like Casemiro and Fabinho controlling the midfield, along with Marquinhos and Thiago Silva shutting down attackers, Brazil is looking like the team to beat. Brazil will have a relatively easy group, taking on Switzerland, Cameroon and Serbia. Finally, you cannot talk about favorites without mentioning the defending world champions, France. The French will defend their title with a squad similar in class to the one four years ago. Karim Benzema, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, returns to the World Cup stage with France for the first time since 2014. Benzema and Kylian Mbappe will be sure to wreak havoc on opposing defenses along with young RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku. France’s midfield as a whole will be their weakness in this tournament because of N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba being out due to injury. 20-year-old Eduardo Camavinga and 22-year-old Aurélien Tchouaméni will try to step up in their absence. Another problem the French will face is the World Cup Winners Curse. In the past three World Cups, the country that won the tournament four years before crashed out of the competition in the group stage. Only time will tell if France falls victim to the curse or if they can break it. Other Contenders: England, Portugal and Germany England finished fourth in the 2018 World Cup, losing to Belgium in the third-place game after going on an impressive run that led the English population to believe “football is coming home”. The belief is the same this year with a mix of young and experienced players leading the team. The attacking options are plentiful for head coach Gareth Southgate, with players such as Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford fighting for starting spots. 19-year-old Jude Bellingham will command the midfield, but the defense for England is their weak point. Picking an out-of-form Harry Maguire over Fikayo Tomori could be a mistake in the long run because teams will key in on Maguire’s mistake-prone play and try to attack him. England can make a run to the final, but they are not a clear-cut favorite to win it all. When people think of Portugal they only think of Cristiano Ronaldo, but this squad is incredibly talented and deep. João Felix, Rafael Leão, Bernardo Silva and João Cancelo are world-class players that will help Ronaldo in the event that he can’t carry the whole team. The defense is led by Pepe and Ruben Dias, rounding out a starting 11 that can be very dangerous if they click. This Portugal squad can go deep in the tournament, but their players are not on the same level as Brazil or France. One scenario that could play out is if Argentina and Portugal win their respective groups and both make it to the final, we would have a Messi vs Ronaldo showdown for the trophy that neither of them has, but both want. One can dream right? To be frank, Germany is always a threat on the World Cup stage. They won it in 2014 in dramatic fashion, and then they got knocked out in the group stage in 2018. This year they will be looking for revenge, and to bring a fifth World Cup back to Germany. The Germans always have been a well-oiled machine, very disciplined and calculated in their style of play. Overall they have a talented squad, but it is not as deep as the favorites. Kai Havertz, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry will lead the attack, while Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich and the 19-year-old Jamal Musiala will boss the middle of the pitch. Defensively, Antonio Rudiger and Niklas Sule will bolster the defense with goalkeeping legend Manuel Neuer between the sticks. The starting 11 looks very good on paper, but the depth in attack and defense is lacking. The midfield will be where the Germans are the strongest, and that’s how they will control games. Germany doesn’t need all the raw talent that a country like France needs to get by though, because the system these players play in is so fine-tuned that everyone knows their assignments and roles. You can never rule Germany out of making a run to be world champions for the fifth time. Dark Horses: Belgium, Spain and USA Spain always has a strong squad due to their ability to produce young talent and the artistic system of tiki-taka that they play. Tiki-taka is all about making lots of short passes, movement and keeping possession to break down the opposition. It’s a system that the Spaniards have used for a while now, and is well respected and admired around the world. Makenna Frias, a first-year psychology student, was high on the Spanish squad’s chance to raise the World Cup again this year. “My favorite is probably Spain,” Frias said. “I’ve always enjoyed watching them and they normally do pretty well.” The system, along with a new crop of young Spaniards bursting onto the scene makes this team fun to watch. Players like Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo and Ansu Fati are shining for their club sides despite being between the ages of 18-24. The big name that will not be making the trip is Sergio Ramos. The PSG center back and Spanish captain for many years was dropped in favor of Cesar Azpilicueta and Eric Garcia. The squad overall is strong and will field a competitive starting 11, but it lacks the star power of past Spanish teams. Players like Xavi, Iniesta, Pique, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas led the Spanish national team for years before retiring or being left out of the team. The 2022 Spanish squad lacks maturity and quality right now, but with time they could return to being favorites to win every tournament they are at. For right now, do not rule them out, but do not expect them to raise the trophy in December. Belgium has been one of the top-ranked teams in the world over the past decade due to their “golden generation” of players carrying them in big tournaments. Players like Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois have been beacons of quality for the country over the years and even finished third in 2018. The only problem that Belgium faces is its aging stars are beginning to fade. Hazard has had injury issues since his move to Real Madrid. Lukaku on the other hand has struggled to find a club that he can stay at for more than two years. Both have struggled to find form, but if they can rekindle some old magic we could see a Cinderella story brewing for Belgium. Younger players like Jeremy Doku, Youri Tielemans and Charles De Ketelaere will help this team in the long run, but do not be surprised if we see Belgium putting a run together toward an unprecedented World Cup victory. The United States is expected to field the youngest team at the World Cup, with only one player —DeAndre Yedlin— having previous experience in the tournament. The average age of the squad is 25 years old, one of the youngest going to Qatar. The USA’s youth movement started after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and this revamped squad has their eyes on the big prize. Duncan Stone, a senior strategic communications major, said the USA’s youth movement was overdue and shared his excitement for this young squad. “I love the youth movement. I think it was needed years ago.” Stone said. “Brenden Aaronson, Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are fantastic players and I love watching them.” America does not have the most skilled players compared to big soccer countries like England, France or Brazil, but there is a culture around this team of hard work and toughness. Players like Pulisic, Tyler Adams, McKennie and Aaronson all play in top European leagues, so they know what the competition will be like. In a group with England, Iran and Wales, the United States should make it out, and if this team starts to grind out results, they could make a deep run. The best part about this squad is they hear the noise. They know what the public, media and other teams have been saying about them, and they do not care. “I think you need an image when you go into the World Cup.” Stone said about the USA’s mentality. “They want to play for the Stars and Stripes… the toughness is massive.” If anything reflects the American people and society, it’s this team. They are rough, tough, proud and they are going to let the other teams know it. This is going to be a fun team to watch. Teams to root for: Denmark, Canada and Croatia Denmark is not on anyone’s radar to win the World Cup, but they have one of the most heartwarming stories in soccer. In the Euro 2020 opener against Finland, midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field due to cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated. Eriksen would be taken to a hospital and treated, while the game would controversially be continued resulting in a 1-0 loss for Denmark. A year and a half later, Eriksen is back in the Denmark squad and ready to lead them into the World Cup. After being fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator —ICD—, he was given a chance at Premier League side Brentford. He would shine for them before completing a move to Manchester United last summer. Eriksen was not the only resilient one in the face of adversity. His Denmark squad advanced to the semi-finals of the European Championships before bowing out to eventual runners-up England. Eriksen’s story and his teammate’s resolve in the face of unprecedented circumstances are something to celebrate, and luckily all fans will have the opportunity at the 2022 World Cup. It is understandable that Americans should not root for Canada because they are neighbors to the north, but the Canadians have a good team. Canada has only been to the World Cup one other time in 1986 where they lost all three group-stage games and failed to score a single goal. Frias thinks that if a scenario plays out where the USA does not make it out of the group and Canada does, there will be a lot of American fans rooting for Canada because of the overlap in culture. In World Cup Qualifying, the Canadians came out swinging and placed first in CONCACAF over Mexico and the United States to clinch their spot in the tournament for the first time in 36 years. Canada went through a somewhat similar youth movement and now boasts quality players such as Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan. It is always good to see teams in the North American region become more competitive as their domestic leagues grow, but this will be a huge deal for the country of Canada as a whole. Kids in the northern part of North America now get to see Canada play soccer on the biggest stage, something that had not been seen in almost four decades. The Canadians will have to battle with Belgium, Croatia and Morocco for a spot in the round of 16, but these young studs are playing like they have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. You can’t help but root for them. Croatia was so close in 2018. They waltzed through the knockout stages, beating Denmark, Russia and England on their way to a final appearance against France. The French would end up being too powerful for them though, with Croatia collecting the silver medals after a 4-2 defeat. That team was full of ballers like 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić, and Ivan Rakitic. Now as they age they can’t carry the load anymore. Modrić is still pure class, Perišić is still effective and Rakitic is now retired from the national team, but the reinforcements are coming for Croatia. Younger players like Mateo Kovačić, Joško Gvardiol and Marcelo Brozović are proven in the top European leagues and will bring something to the table. First-year engineering and economics student Nash Kaye said he would recommend a neutral fan to get behind the Croatians for this World Cup. “I think Croatia is fun to watch,” Kaye said. “They usually have something special happening with their team.” Kaye also elaborated on how Croatia produces some “odd players” that usually end up scoring some “pretty crazy goals” that could appeal to the common fan. Croatia is a redemption story. They made an unprecedented run in 2018 that nobody expected and they are looking to do that again — only this time they want to finish with a gold medal. They will have to beat out Belgium, Morocco and Canada for a spot in the knockout stages first though, which will be a tough task. If history tells us anything though, don’t count Croatia out.

The Butler women’s soccer team ended their season on Oct. 30 after losing to Creighton on penalty kicks in the quarterfinal round of the Big East Tournament. The Bulldogs had an up-and-down season, going 7-7-5, but opened the season strong when they knocked off ninth-ranked Michigan in Ann Arbor on Aug. 21. From there the Dawgs had a rough stretch, going winless in six games before getting back on track with a huge victory at Providence. The team would go on to lose only one out of their next seven games to close out the season, including picking up a good result by tying 16th-ranked Georgetown. The Bulldogs had standouts on the offensive and defensive sides of the pitch to help them throughout the season. These players were the best of the best not only for their squad, but also in the conference. Let’s dive in. Offensive player of the season: Junior forward Abigail Isger Statistically, Isger was the leading scorer for the Bulldogs this year with eight goals and was tied for second on the team in assists with four. Despite only playing in 17 out of the 19 games this season, she still showed her killer instinct by leading the team in scoring. Her best game came against Wright State on Sept. 1 when she scored two goals and added an assist on the day. In Big East play, she was vital for Butler getting a 2-2 draw against 16th-ranked Georgetown, recording a goal and an assist on the day. Her lethal precision on offense landed her the Big East Offensive Player of the Year award, as well as being selected for the All-Big East First Team. Defensive player of the season: Junior defender Caitlin O’Malley O’Malley brought a level of toughness to the Bulldog backline, starting in all 17 games that she played in over the course of the season. She helped Butler keep four clean sheets this season, including stifling a ninth-ranked Michigan Wolverines squad in a 1-0 win for the Bulldogs. She racked up the third most minutes played this season with 1,439, and didn’t only shine on the defensive end. O’Malley had a crucial goal against Big East rival Villanova to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 win away from home. Her defensive toughness and consistent quality of play throughout the season are why she is my defensive player of the season. Newcomer of the season: First-year midfielder Talia Sommer Sommer came to Butler all the way from Tel Aviv, Israel, and made an instant impact on this Bulldog squad. In her first season, she scored five goals and added four assists from her midfield position. By that stat tally, she was the third-highest scorer on the team this year and was tied for second most in assists. Her mastery in the midfield landed her on the All-Big East Second Team and she won the Big East Freshman of the Year award as well. While it may have been her first season of college soccer, Sommer has experience playing in the Israeli Women’s Premier League Championship and also has seven caps for the Israel National team. She lived up to her impressive resume and dominated the midfield in 2022. The future looks bright for her and the Butler women’s soccer program as a whole. Ironwoman player of the season: Senior forward Katie Soderstrom Soderstrom was a rock for this Butler squad throughout the season. In her 5 years at Butler, she has racked up four All-Big East First Team honors, is sixth all-time in career goals and fourth all-time in career assists. Her resume is impressive and her stats this season were fantastic, tallying six goals and six assists in 19 games played. All these stats and accolades are breathtaking, but it was her work rate that stole the show this year. In 19 games, Soderstrom played 1,478 minutes out of 1,710 possible minutes, which leads the team. On average, she was only out of a game for 12.3 minutes per game. These numbers show just how important she was to this team, and it also brings to light just how hard she works. That is why she is my Ironman player of the season. The Queen of Headers award – Junior defender Claire Farrington When you look around the game of soccer, there are two types of players. There are players that under no circumstances want to head the ball, and then there are those who try to get their head on absolutely every ball that comes their way. Farrington’s fervor to head the ball, and her skill is what lands her this prestigious award. In the entirety of the season, she attempted a mere six shots, but ended up scoring two goals for a conversion rate of 33%. Some may wonder how a defender gets to score two goals in a season, but Farrington used her head – literally and figuratively – to bag her goals. Her goals came at important times in Butler’s season. Her first header came against Western Michigan in the first game of the year, helping the Bulldogs expand their lead to 2-0 off a corner before returning to her defensive position and shutting down the Broncos offense. Her second header was the opening goal in a game that would end in a 2-2 tie against Big East rival Seton Hall. Every coach loves a player that is willing to head the ball, but Farrington did not stop at merely heading the ball, she wanted her headers to be in the back of the net. That is why she wins the Queen of Headers award for the 2022 season.

The Butler women’s soccer team’s Big East Tournament hopes came to an end on Sunday afternoon, falling to Creighton on penalty kicks. The Bulldogs ended their season at 7-7-5 and obtained the fourth seed in the Big East Tournament. The game as a whole was back and forth from the beginning, with each team controlling for certain periods of time. Creighton struck first in the 72nd minute as sophomore midfielder Azumi Manriki headed in a corner to put the Bluejays up 1-0. Butler responded by “throwing the kitchen sink” at Creighton and committing more players forward in attack. The gamble would pay off in the 83rd minute, when sophomore forward Alexei Whittaker found junior forward Abigail Isger open in the box for an easy tap-in to tie the game up at 1-1. The match would go through all 20 minutes of overtime without another goal, sending the game to a series of penalty kicks to decide who would move on to face Georgetown. The first five players on both teams converted from the spot, but both sides’ sixth penalty taker would miss the mark. In the seventh round of now sudden death PKs, Creighton would score their spot kick, while Butler’s was saved, moving the Bluejays on in the tournament.

The Butler women’s soccer team rounded out their regular season with a 1-1 tie against Big East rivals Creighton. The Bulldogs wrap up the year with a record of 7-7-4 and now look ahead to the Big East Tournament coming up. Butler took the lead 15 minutes into the first half courtesy of first-year midfielder Talia Sommer. Sommer nicked the ball from the Bluejays around the midfield line and dispatched the ball into the net to make it 1-0 for the Bulldogs. The Bluejays would fight back in the second half to tie the game up with a goal from senior midfielder Aida Kardovic. The Bulldogs could not find a response before the final whistle, ending the game in a 1-1 draw. It was an even contest throughout, with Butler taking ten shots compared to Creighton’s 15 shots. Sophomore goalkeeper Emma Martin was a star player on the day, making six saves to prevent the Blue Jays from stealing a win. This game had serious implications when it came to Butler’s seeding in the Big East Tournament. With the tie, the Bulldogs secured the fourth seed in the tournament and will face fifth seeded Creighton in the first round on Sunday, Oct. 30. Butler is the higher seeded team, so the game will take place in the Sellick Bowl at 1 p.m. for a high stakes Big East quarterfinal, with the winner taking on top seeded Georgetown in the semifinals.

The Butler women’s soccer team tied two games this past week to move their record to 7-7-3 on the year. The draws came against Seton Hall and a Georgetown team that is ranked 16th in the country. The Bulldogs took to the road on Thursday, Oct. 20 to take on Seton Hall in New Jersey. Butler took the lead at two separate points in the match, but the Pirates battled back to tie it at 2-2 in the end. The first goal of the match came 15 minutes in when senior forward Katie Soderstrom crossed the ball off a corner to junior defender Claire Farrington. Farrington headed the ball home to make it 1-0. Seton Hall answered back in the 62nd minute before Soderstrom would be fouled in the box to give Butler a penalty in the 80th minute. Junior forward Abigail Isger stepped up for the Bulldogs and converted from the spot to give Butler a 2-1 lead. Butler’s lead would not last long though. Seven minutes later the Pirates would respond by scoring with only three minutes to play. Despite having 34 total shots on the day compared to Seton Hall’s six, the Bulldogs were forced to settle for a tie. The squad returned to the Sellick Bowl on Sunday, Oct. 23 to battle No. 16 Georgetown. The first goal came only 17 minutes into the game, after Isger found first-year midfielder Talia Sommer and the Israel native calmly chipped the Hoyas’ keeper. The Bulldogs doubled their lead 12 minutes later when senior defender/midfielder Aliya Diagne crossed the ball to Isger, and she dispatched a 25-yard curler to the back post to make it 2-0. The Hoyas responded in the second half by scoring in the 65th, and 90th minute to tie the game back up at 2-2, and giving the Bulldogs their second draw of the week. These results place Butler tied for fourth with Creighton in the Big East with one game to play. The Bulldogs go on the road to Nebraska to take on the Blue Jays on Thursday, Oct. 27 in what will be the final game of the regular season.