Author: Scott Adamson

By Scott Adamson
Adamsonmedia.com

Take a look at the National Premier Soccer League standings, and you’ll see that Greenville FC is next to last in the Southeast Conference Division of the eight-team South Region Conference.

Look a little closer, and you’ll realize a playoff berth remains a very real possibility.

Now one match into the second half of its 14-game league slate, Greenville sits at 2-3-3 and well within reach of one of the six available postseason berths. Lee Squires’ charges are just six points behind first place Chattanooga FC (4-1-3).*

* The New Orleans Jesters (5-3-1), who lost to the Upstate-based squad earlier in the campaign, have 16 points but have played nine games.

With a road match tonight in Knoxville at Emerald Force (3-8-0) and on Saturday at Asheville City SC (4-3-3), Greenville has a chance to make a dramatic surge.

“I’m not sure it’s a surprise, but I am most pleased with how the team has come together as a group and are ready and willing to go to battle each game, with and for each other,” Squires said. “We have developed a resilience, highlighted by the fact we have come from behind to take a draw or win the game in five of our last six games. The biggest hurdle is arguably the adjustment to the league.

“A lot of the teams have older, more experienced, more physical players than us, so we’ve had to adapt, play to our strengths, and find a way.”

The most recent rally came last Saturday at Silverback Stadium.

Despite trailing 1-0 and having to wait out a 90-minute lightning delay at the half, GVLFC scored two unanswered goals to defeat Atlanta, 2-1. The result snapped the ‘Backs’ five-game unbeaten streak.

Both of the club’s victories this season have come on the road.

“I think confidence is high at the moment,” Squires said. “We are (unbeaten over the last four matches) and got a great result away at the Silverbacks last weekend. It’s important now to follow that up and try to beat Emerald and Asheville this week.

“If we can do that and maintain the upward trend, then we’ll be in a good position to make the playoffs after a poor start.”

There are plenty of players who have contributed to Greenville’s positive momentum.

“We have several guys who have grown into leadership roles,” Squires said. “(Defender) Toby Sims has become the vocal leader of the group with his personality and passion, and (midfielder/defender) Laurence Wyke (who scored the game-winner against Atlanta) has come in and provided an energy and spark in midfield. Overall though, the group has grown and really taken on our messages to lead by example in their own ways.”

Team defense has been solid throughout the season, with goalkeeper Paul Tyson establishing himself as one of the better netminders in the division, and the backline offering rock-solid support.

“I think we’ve defended very well collectively in a lot of games and for long periods, yet are still waiting for that first clean sheet,” Squires said. “Paul is getting better every game, and had made big saves – including a PK save – against the Silverbacks at home.

“And the switch to a back 3 (a formation featuring three defenders) seems to give us more stability.”

Tonight’s match, as well as Saturday’s, are set for 7 p.m.

GVLFC returns home on Wednesday, June 27, to face New Orleans at 7 p.m. at Stone Stadium.

And while making a playoff push is Job One, like any soccer-minded person on the planet, Squires is also following the World Cup.

The native of Sheffield, England, has enjoyed what has been a remarkable group stage of the quadrennial event.

“The World Cup so far has been fascinating,” he said. “Some of the big nations have struggled and there have been a few surprises. I think Spain and Portugal will be tough to beat, and Croatia could well surprise people.

“Of course, I hope England go all the way.”

The World Cup begins on Thursday, and for casual soccer fans in the United States, that means it’s time to sit back and enjoy the U.S. Open.

Indeed, if you live in one of the 50 states and follow “The Beautiful Game” only when the U.S. is in the quadrennial competition, there’s nothing to see here. The Americans famously flopped in qualifying and didn’t make the 32-nation field.

This is the first time the team in red, white and blue has missed the cut since 1986 and it’s pretty damn embarrassing.

Thus, there’s some really good golf to watch over the next four days at Shinnecock Hills.

But there are many people who are going to watch the World Cup no matter what, and I’m one of them. Regardless of who’s in or who’s out, I see it as the premiere sporting event in the world and want to catch as many matches as I can.

Of course it’s hard to fully enjoy sportsball unless you have a team to root for, so I had to jump on a bandwagon.

And I’m riding with Nigeria.

I became a fan of the Super Eagles in 1996 when Atlanta hosted the Olympic Games. Birmingham’s Legion Field was one of the venues used for soccer, and I covered all the matches played at the facility.

One of those contests came on July 28 when Nigeria faced Mexico in the quarterfinals and won, 2-0. I loved the team’s grittiness – how it gutted its way through group play and then, when reaching the knockout stage, started playing with great confidence and tremendous flair.

It started out the tournament as longshots but won the gold medal, outscoring Brazil 4-3 in the semifinals and stunning Argentina, 3-2, in the final.

Ever since then the Eagles have been one of my favorite squads, and they’ll be at the top of my cheering table as long as they last in Russia. It’ll be a tough task, though; they’re placed in Group D with Argentina, Croatia and Iceland.

Still, with great attackers like Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Victor Moses, they’ll have a puncher’s chance in every match.

From an ancestral standpoint, I’ll also have some rooting interest in England and Spain.

My paternal lineage goes from Scotland to Wales to England, while my mother’s people trekked from Spain to England to the U.S.

Considering I watch the English Premier League religiously throughout its season and Manchester United is my favorite EPL club, it makes sense to follow The Three Lions.

The 23-man roster features four Man U players and all are culled from the English league.

Harry Kane is the top player on a talented roster, although England has a tendency to, uh, soil the sheets in this particular competition.

As for Spain, they might be the most technically sound team in the field. Plus it’s always fun to watch Sergio Busquets, Gerard Piqué and Sergio Ramos play (although Gerard Piqué has had some knee issues during training).

But there is also some major off the field drama since gaffer Julen Lopetegui – who recently re-upped as national team coach through 2020 – announced he will instead take over managerial duties at Real Madrid after the World Cup and was fired by Spain this morning. Fernando Hierro is now in charge of La Roja.

Finally, I want to see Mexico do well.

Yes, El Tri are the main association football rivals of the U.S. but, as I mentioned earlier, the U.S. ain’t playing and I’m not much into that whole hate thing. Plus, Liga MX is one of my favorite professional leagues and I’ve seen many of Mexico’s players in action, so there’s a sense of familiarity when the squad takes the field.  I’ll be neighborly and pull for Javier Hernandez and his teammates in all of their Group F matches.

At any rate, the World Cup is here and I’m here for all of it.

If you are, too, then pick a team – any team – and enjoy the show.

And if you hear me chanting “Sa Ma Sin Wa Lo” over the next couple of weeks, don’t be alarmed.

It’s just something we fans of the Super Eagles like to do.