Blue Links: Sporting KC, UCL Final, and the USMNT

Good Morning. Sporting Kansas City is still top of the West. VAR is stupid. Here’s what else you need to know today.

Around the Club

• (The Blue Testament) Scoring stifled by the heat: Sporting Kansas City 0-0 Columbus Crew
• (Kansas City Star) Sporting KC misses chance to take over MLS’ top spot, draws 0-0 with Columbus
• (Kansas City Star) An oral history of the rainbow kits
• (MLS) Russell credits Sporting KC for renewing his form ahead of Scotland call-up
• (USL) Opportunistic Tally Sends Rangers Past Phoenix

Around the World

• (NBC Soccer) Chicharito says Mexican team “always feels welcome” in the United States
• (ESPN FC) Keaton Parks’ long journey to United States debut through Dallas and Portugal
• (Last Word on Soccer) Gregg Berhalter and Peter Vermes: Two of American Soccer’s Master Tacticians
• (Tennessean) Questions surrounded future of Nashville’s MLS stadium, David Briley’s win settles them
• (Sporting News) The hipster’s favourites - Cascadia set up for World Cup debut
• (The Athletic) The questions we don’t ask when a young American goes to Europe
• (Washington Post) ‘He wants to come’: How Wayne Rooney spent his tour of Washington with D.C. United
• (Yahoo!) Who’s Bjorn Johnsen? Meet the rising star that the USMNT lost
• (Telegraph) Police investigating death threats issued to Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius
• (CBS) USMNT plans to host Lionel Messi’s Argentina and James Rodriguez’s Colombia during FIFA international window

Around the City

• (Royals Review) Hammel shines in Royals’ 5-3 win in Texas
• (Arrowhead Pride) Patrick Mahomes talks Sammy Watkins, his development and his process on day three of OTAs
• (Rock Chalk Talk) 97 Days to Football: Rock Chalk Roundtable - Gut Punches, Experience and Hope
• (Rock M Nation) Jordan Barnett was a marksman from NBA 3-point range last season
• (Bring On The Cats) More Wildcats qualify for NCAA Championships