MLS debut against Inter Miami
Shaq needs to get to Beckham right away!
An explosive top duel to start with! Xherdan Shaqiri (30) is facing his MLS baptism of fire in Chicago dress – against David Beckham’s Inter Miami, which finally wants to cause a sensation.
Published: 11:44 am
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Updated: 1:48 p.m
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Drums, waving flags, cheers. Xherdan Shaqiri’s welcome ahead of his official launch in Chicago speaks volumes. The Fire fans are thrilled and have huge expectations of the national team star. Shaq awakens playoff dreams, even title dreams. After years of mediocrity, Chicago should be able to get involved again with the ex-Liverpool offensive power.
“It’s a fantastic move. Shaqiri is only 30, will probably play a key role for Switzerland at the World Cup this year – and is probably one of the most talented players in the MLS in one fell swoop,” US reporter Tom Bogert recently told Blick.
This is how the MLS works
Chicago Fire is one of a total of 28 teams that make up North American Major League Soccer (MLS). Three of them (Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver) are from Canada. The participants are divided into east and west – with Chicago having to make it into the top seven in the “Eastern Conference” in the “Regular Season” in order to get a playoff ticket. That is exactly the first major goal of Xherdan Shaqiri’s new team (30/picture). The last time this was successful was in 2017, back then with the German top star Bastian Schweinsteiger (37) on board. In the playoffs, the champion is determined in the knockout system. There are no promotions or relegations in the closed league.
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Chicago Fire is one of a total of 28 teams that make up North American Major League Soccer (MLS). Three of them (Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver) are from Canada. The participants are divided into east and west – with Chicago having to make it into the top seven in the “Eastern Conference” in the “Regular Season” in order to get a playoff ticket. That is exactly the first major goal of Xherdan Shaqiri’s new team (30/picture). The last time this was successful was in 2017, back then with the German top star Bastian Schweinsteiger (37) on board. In the playoffs, the champion is determined in the knockout system. There are no promotions or relegations in the closed league.
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Although Shaq has only a few units with his new team in the legs, he should give the leader as soon as possible. The first serious fight in Major League Soccer (MLS) is already on Sunday night (midnight our time). And it’s a hit right away: Chicago has to play away at Inter Miami, which only joined in 2020. So at the club of England legend David Beckham (46), who has a top star in his team in Gonzalo Higuain (34) – and in 2021 brought Phil Neville (45), a former national team colleague, on board as a coach.
Higuain in a similar position to Shaq
It is an opening duel between two extremely ambitious franchises. As in Chicago, the total attack is planned in Miami in the new season. And as in the “Windy City” with Shaqiri, there is also a lot of pressure on the shoulders of a great hope in Florida. Ex-Napoli and Juve clipper Higuain should finally fix it after two disappointing first MLS years.
Sports director Chris Henderson doesn’t even beat around the bush: “Higuain is super important for us this year!” Will the Argentine or Shaq be able to show off in the first game?
MLS Eastern Conference
|
team |
SP |
TD |
PT |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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MLS Western Converence
|
team |
SP |
TD |
PT |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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