Us men. USMNT’s Victory Over Mexico: Bridging the Gap in International Soccer

How is the U.S. men’s national soccer team closing the gap with Mexico. What implications does the recent victory have for the future of American soccer. Can the USMNT maintain its competitive edge against traditional powerhouses.

The Significance of USMNT’s Triumph Over Mexico

The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) has once again proven its mettle on the international stage, securing a dramatic victory against their longtime rivals, Mexico. This win is not just another notch in the belt for American soccer; it represents a significant shift in the balance of power within North American football. The implications of this victory extend far beyond the pitch, signaling a new era for U.S. soccer and its standing in the global arena.

Breaking Down the Match

The match itself was a testament to the growing prowess of the USMNT. With skillful play, strategic decision-making, and unwavering determination, the American side demonstrated that they are no longer the underdogs in this historic rivalry. The victory was hard-fought and well-earned, showcasing the team’s ability to perform under pressure and outmaneuver a formidable opponent.

The Evolving Landscape of North American Soccer

This recent triumph is not an isolated incident but part of a larger trend in the evolution of North American soccer. The gap between the U.S. and Mexico, long considered the dominant force in the region, is steadily narrowing. This shift is evident not only in match results but also in the increasing interest from Mexican clubs in American soccer operations.

Learning from American Soccer Infrastructure

Representatives from Mexican clubs have been observed visiting facilities like those of Minnesota United in Blaine, studying their operations. This interest underscores the growing respect for American soccer infrastructure and management practices. The question arises: How are American clubs influencing the broader soccer landscape in North America?

• Innovative training methods
• State-of-the-art facilities
• Advanced player development programs
• Efficient club management structures

These elements contribute to the overall growth and success of U.S. soccer, both at the club and national team levels.

The Rise of American Soccer Talent

Central to the USMNT’s success is the burgeoning pool of talented players emerging from American soccer programs. The development of homegrown talent, coupled with the experience gained by players in top European leagues, has created a formidable national team capable of competing at the highest levels.

Key Players Shaping the USMNT’s Success

Several standout performers have been instrumental in elevating the USMNT’s game. Their individual skills and cohesive teamwork have been crucial in securing victories against tough opponents like Mexico. Who are some of the key players contributing to the team’s recent successes?

1. Christian Pulisic – Chelsea FC
2. Weston McKennie – Juventus
3. Gio Reyna – Borussia Dortmund
4. Tyler Adams – Leeds United
5. Sergi̱o Dest РAC Milan

These players, among others, represent the new generation of American soccer, bringing a blend of technical skill, tactical awareness, and international experience to the national team.

The Impact of Coaching and Strategy

Behind every successful team is a strong coaching staff. The USMNT’s recent performances reflect the impact of strategic coaching decisions and effective player management. The coaching philosophy emphasizes a blend of traditional American athleticism with modern tactical approaches, creating a style of play that is both dynamic and effective.

Adapting to International Soccer Trends

How has the USMNT coaching staff adapted their strategies to compete on the global stage? The answer lies in a multifaceted approach:

• Implementing flexible tactical systems
• Focusing on possession-based play
• Enhancing players’ technical skills
• Developing a high-pressing game
• Nurturing mental resilience and team cohesion

These strategic elements have been crucial in bridging the gap with traditional soccer powerhouses and establishing the USMNT as a formidable opponent in international competitions.

The Role of MLS in Shaping American Soccer

Major League Soccer (MLS) has played a pivotal role in the development of U.S. soccer. As the premier soccer league in the country, MLS has provided a platform for nurturing domestic talent and attracting international players, contributing significantly to the overall growth of the sport in America.

MLS as a Stepping Stone to International Success

How does MLS contribute to the success of the USMNT? The league serves several crucial functions:

• Providing competitive playing time for young American talent
• Attracting quality international players who raise the league’s standard
• Investing in youth academies and development programs
• Creating a soccer culture that permeates American society
• Offering a pathway for players to gain exposure and potentially move to top European leagues

These factors combine to create an environment where American players can develop and thrive, ultimately benefiting the national team.

The Future of U.S. Soccer on the Global Stage

With the USMNT’s recent success against Mexico and other international opponents, the future of American soccer looks bright. The team’s performances have not only boosted their FIFA rankings but have also changed perceptions about U.S. soccer capabilities worldwide.

Preparing for Upcoming Challenges

As the team looks ahead to future competitions, including World Cup qualifiers and international tournaments, what challenges await the USMNT? Key considerations include:

• Maintaining consistency in performances
• Managing player workload across club and national team commitments
• Continuing to develop depth in all positions
• Adapting to different playing styles of various international opponents
• Building on recent successes to establish a winning mentality

Addressing these challenges will be crucial for the USMNT to solidify its position as a top contender in international soccer.

The Economic Impact of USMNT’s Success

The rise of the USMNT has significant economic implications for U.S. soccer. Increased success on the international stage translates to greater interest from fans, sponsors, and media, potentially leading to substantial financial growth for the sport in America.

Boosting Soccer’s Popularity and Revenue

How does the USMNT’s success contribute to the economic growth of soccer in the U.S.? Several factors come into play:

• Increased ticket sales for national team matches
• Higher television ratings and broadcasting deals
• Growing merchandise sales
• Attracting more corporate sponsorships
• Inspiring greater participation in youth soccer programs

These economic benefits create a positive feedback loop, providing more resources for further development of the sport at all levels.

The Cultural Shift: Soccer’s Growing Popularity in America

The USMNT’s success is both a result and a catalyst of soccer’s growing popularity in the United States. Once considered a niche sport, soccer is now gaining mainstream appeal, challenging traditional American sports for viewership and participation.

Factors Driving Soccer’s Popularity

What factors are contributing to the increasing popularity of soccer in America? Several key elements are at play:

• Success of the USMNT and USWNT on the international stage
• Increased accessibility of international leagues through streaming platforms
• Growing Hispanic population with strong soccer traditions
• Rising participation in youth soccer programs
• Improved marketing and promotion of the sport

This cultural shift is creating a more supportive environment for soccer at all levels, from grassroots to professional.

The Role of Social Media and Digital Platforms

In the digital age, social media and online platforms play a crucial role in promoting soccer and engaging fans. How are these platforms contributing to the sport’s growth in America?

• Providing instant access to match highlights and player interviews
• Facilitating fan interaction and community building
• Offering behind-the-scenes content that humanizes players
• Enabling real-time match discussions and analysis
• Promoting grassroots and amateur soccer initiatives

These digital tools are instrumental in cultivating a new generation of soccer fans and supporters in the United States.

Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Soccer

While the recent success of the USMNT is encouraging, U.S. soccer still faces several challenges as it seeks to establish itself as a global powerhouse. Addressing these challenges while capitalizing on emerging opportunities will be crucial for the continued growth of the sport.

Overcoming Persistent Obstacles

What are some of the key challenges facing U.S. soccer, and how can they be addressed?

• Competing with other popular sports for talent and resources
• Improving the quality of coaching at youth levels
• Enhancing the soccer infrastructure in underserved communities
• Balancing player development with the pressure to win at young ages
• Navigating the complex landscape of college soccer and professional pathways

Tackling these challenges requires a coordinated effort from all stakeholders in U.S. soccer, from grassroots organizations to the national federation.

Seizing Opportunities for Growth

Despite the challenges, numerous opportunities exist for further development of U.S. soccer. How can the sport capitalize on these opportunities?

• Leveraging the 2026 World Cup co-hosting to boost interest and investment
• Expanding partnerships with international clubs and academies
• Utilizing data analytics and technology in player development and scouting
• Developing innovative training methods and facilities
• Fostering a unique American style of play that combines athleticism with technical skill

By seizing these opportunities, U.S. soccer can continue its upward trajectory and solidify its position on the global stage.

The Ripple Effect: Impact on Youth Soccer and Development

The success of the USMNT has a profound impact on youth soccer in America. As young players witness their national team compete successfully against global powerhouses, it inspires a new generation of soccer enthusiasts and aspiring professionals.

Enhancing Youth Development Programs

How can the momentum generated by the USMNT’s success be channeled into improving youth soccer development? Several key areas of focus emerge:

• Investing in high-quality coaching education programs
• Implementing standardized player development curricula
• Creating more accessible pathways for talented youth players
• Fostering partnerships between professional clubs and youth academies
• Emphasizing technical skills and tactical understanding from an early age

By focusing on these areas, U.S. soccer can ensure a steady pipeline of talent for future national teams and professional clubs.

The Role of Schools and Universities

Educational institutions play a unique role in the American soccer landscape. How can schools and universities contribute to the growth of soccer talent?

• Integrating soccer programs into physical education curricula
• Offering scholarships and support for talented student-athletes
• Collaborating with professional clubs for talent identification and development
• Providing high-level competition through collegiate soccer leagues
• Conducting research on sports science and performance optimization

By leveraging the educational system, U.S. soccer can create a more comprehensive and inclusive development pathway for young players.

International Collaborations and Knowledge Exchange

As U.S. soccer continues to evolve, international collaborations and knowledge exchange become increasingly important. The USMNT’s success has opened doors for partnerships with established soccer nations, providing valuable learning opportunities for players, coaches, and administrators.

Learning from Global Soccer Powers

How can U.S. soccer benefit from collaborations with international soccer powerhouses? Several avenues for knowledge exchange exist:

• Participating in international tournaments and friendly matches
• Organizing coaching seminars and workshops with renowned international coaches
• Facilitating player exchanges and training stints with top European academies
• Studying successful youth development models from countries like Germany and Spain
• Collaborating on research projects related to sports science and performance analysis

These international collaborations can accelerate the growth of U.S. soccer by providing access to best practices and innovative approaches from around the world.

Exporting American Soccer Expertise

While learning from others, U.S. soccer also has unique strengths to share with the global soccer community. What aspects of American soccer can be exported to benefit the sport worldwide?

• Advanced sports science and analytics methodologies
• Innovative marketing and fan engagement strategies
• Efficient club management and financial sustainability models
• Integration of technology in training and performance analysis
• Approaches to developing athleticism and physical conditioning

By engaging in two-way knowledge exchange, U.S. soccer can both learn from and contribute to the global development of the sport.

The Road Ahead: Sustaining Success and Building a Legacy

As the USMNT continues to make strides on the international stage, the focus shifts to sustaining this success and building a lasting legacy for U.S. soccer. This requires a long-term vision, strategic planning, and consistent execution at all levels of the sport.

Key Factors for Long-Term Success

What are the critical elements needed to ensure the continued growth and success of U.S. soccer? Several factors stand out:

• Maintaining a clear and consistent playing philosophy across all national teams
• Investing in cutting-edge training facilities and technologies
• Developing a deep pool of talent across all positions
• Fostering a winning mentality and resilience in high-pressure situations
• Balancing short-term results with long-term player development goals

By focusing on these areas, U.S. soccer can lay the foundation for sustained success on the global stage.

Building a Distinctive Soccer Identity

As U.S. soccer evolves, the question arises: How can the USMNT develop a distinctive playing style that reflects American values and strengths? This unique identity could encompass:

• A blend of physical prowess and technical skill
• Tactical flexibility and adaptability
• Innovative set-piece strategies
• High-intensity pressing and quick transitions
• Emphasis on teamwork and collective effort

Developing a recognizable “American style” of play can not only enhance the team’s performance but also increase its appeal to fans and aspiring players.

Heath: Beating Mexico another sign U.S. men’s soccer closing gap

Representatives from Mexican clubs have been to Blaine to see how Minnesota United operates. If those executives didn’t know already, Loons coach Adrian Heath said the U.S. men’s national team’s dramatic, late 3-2 victory over Mexico on Sunday in Concacaf Nation’s League final is a reminder where American soccer is headed.

“It’s a fair reflection where we are now,” Heath said. “I know from going down to Mexico to watch games, and speaking to a lot of agents, they know the gap is closing by the day virtually. It didn’t surprise me.”

Young American star Christian Pulisic’s successful penalty kick, awarded by video review in the second part of extra time, was the go-ahead goal. Injury replacement goalie Ethan Horvath’s diving save, on a Mexico penalty kick also awarded by video review, made it stand as the winner.

The U.S. victory in Denver came with a team that includes players now employed by some of England’s and Europe’s best clubs, with more on the way.

“I’ve got a great respect for the Mexican player,” Heath said. “They’re tactically as savvy as anybody. But look at the group (the U.S.) put out there: Barcelona players, Juventus players, Chelsea players, Borussia Dortmund players. The gap is closing and I can only see it getting tighter and tighter. If we continue to develop the caliber of players we are at this time, it will only get better, if not overtake them, eventually.”

Improving

Loons midfielders Emanuel Reynoso and Ozzie Alonso trained alongside each other but not with team on Tuesday in Blaine. Heath said both players are building up their training this week in preparation for the season’s resumption June 19 at FC Dallas.

Midfielder Ethan Finlay worked outside rehabilitating on his own and Wil Trapp had his leg worked on during part of Tuesday’s training.

“Hopefully by the time we get to Dallas, we’ll have a clean bill of health,” Heath said.

Waiting

Heath is waiting to hear this week whether goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair will return from the Canadian national team or remain for next month’s Concacaf Gold Cup. He played for his country’s senior team for the first time Sunday in a 7-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Aruba.

Heath also left open the possibility the U.S. national team could call Loons players Hassani Dotson or Chase Gasper depending on what it does with its Gold Cup roster.

On sale

The Loons’ ticket sales for their next seven home games start Wednesday and are expected to fill Allianz Field to near full capacity.

Presales for Itasca Society members start at 10 a.m. followed by season-ticket members at noon Central time. Presales for Preserve members and newsletter subscribers follow on Thursday. General public sales start Friday at 2 p.m.

The seven home games start June 24 against Austin FC and conclude Aug. 21 against Sporting Kansas City.

Etc.

• A few recent college players trained with the team Tuesday, including defender Jonathan Jimenez, who played last season with USL Championship’s Rio Grande Valley.

• Loaned keeper Adrian Zendajas returns to training Wednesday after he recorded three consecutive clean sheets with the USL Championship’s El Paso Locomotive FC.

• Somebody apparently ordered weather these last two weeks for that upcoming game at Dallas. Temperatures in the mid-90s in Blaine were 10 to 20 degrees cooler than highs in Dallas. “I lived in Texas for 3½ years,” Heath said. “You never get really prepared for 105 (degrees) or whatever it’ll be at kickoff.”

• The Loons’ Aug. 28 game at Houston now will be played at 8 p.m. Central time, not 7:30 p.m.

Christian Pulisic scored in extra time to help the US men beat Mexico, but that wasn’t even the most thrilling part

The U.S. survived an extended 11 minutes of stoppage time following the second extra period and beat Mexico in a competitive match for the first time since 2013 following a stretch of three losses and a draw, gaining confidence ahead of the start of World Cup qualifying in September.

“This is the perfect way to end the year,” Pulisic said after his penalty kick in the 114th minute led the United States over Mexico 3-2 Sunday night in frantic finale of the first CONCACAF Nations League.

Or as U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter put it: “One of the classic, odd U.S.-Mexico games.”

Here’s how it went down:

▪ In the early going, it looked like the Americans weren’t going to end the night happily. Jesús Corona put 11th-ranked Mexico ahead 63 seconds in after a sloppy giveaway by defender Mark McKenzie, whose poor pass into Corona’s path in the U.S. penalty area allowed the Mexican to break in alone on starting U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

“If you’re on the bench as a keeper, you don’t expect to come in the game,” said the 25-year-old Horvath, who had about 20 family and friends at the match.

▪ El Tri appeared to go up 2-0 in the 24th minute on a header by an unmarked Héctor Moreno, but a video review disallowed it for offside after Panamanian referee John Pitti consulted VAR.

▪ Gio Reyna, a son of former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna, tied the score in the 27th minute with his third international goal. The 18-year-old kicked in a rebound after Weston McKennie’s header from Pulisic’s corner kick hit a post.

▪ Horvath, who a week earlier played his first international match since March 2019, entered in the 69th minute, seven minutes after Steffen fell to the ground, clutching his left knee, after coming off his line in what seemed to be a routine manner to grab a through pass from Héctor Herrera that was too far for Uriel Antuna.

▪ Diego Lainez gave Mexico a 2-1 lead in the 79th, one minute after entering, when he cut inside from Tim Ream and beat Horvath.

▪ The testy match was stopped for about three minutes in second-half stoppage time because of discriminatory fan chants at Empower Field.

▪ Pulisic, fresh off of winning the Champions League with Chelsea on May 29, made the decisive move when cut inside the penalty area in the 108th minute and was pulled down by Carlos Salcedo.

Pitti did not initially signal a penalty but consulted a video review and then pointed to the spot. Mexico coach Tata Martino appeared received red card, apparently for putting a hand on an official during the review, and Hirving Lozano was given a yellow card for arguing after the decision.

Pulisic sent the ball to the upper corner past the left arm of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa for his 16th international goal.

▪ Pitti again did not make a call in the 119th minute when Luis Romo’s header went off the left arm of McKenzie, whose arm was perhaps only slightly outstretched. Another lengthy wait for a video review followed.

“It plays with your head a little bit when it takes long for the ref to decide whether it’s a PK or not,” McKennie said, “and he didn’t lose his head. He went with his gut and his instinct and his training.”

▪ American attacker Gio Reyna was hit in the face by a thrown object following Pulisic’s goal.

“Total lack of respect for what’s happening on the field and all effort that both teams are putting into the game,” Berhalter said. “I think he’s going to be OK, but he did take something to the head, and it could have been a lot worse.”

▪ And then, the climactic finish. Local boy Horvath, facing down Andrés Guardado, waited to the last moment and dived right to bat away the penalty by Mexico’s captain.

“It’s been a tough season for him, and to come have a performance like that in his hometown was the stuff that storybooks write about,” Berhalter said.

“We’re a young side and we need to learn how to win,” Berhalter said. “It’s also about the fight and spirit. .. They really showed the heart of champions.”

Rio Tinto Stadium to Host U.S. Men’s National Team on June 9

SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, May 5, 2021) – The U.S. Men’s National Team will return to Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time since 2017 and will play its first friendly on U.S. soil during a FIFA window since 2019 when it faces Concacaf rival Costa Rica on June 9.

“It is such an incredible opportunity for the state of Utah to welcome U.S. Soccer to Rio Tinto Stadium.  Real Salt Lake has a legacy of U.S. National Team players wearing our crest – from Eddie Pope and Jason Kreis to Nick Rimando and Kyle Beckerman and the new generation of players that have come through the RSL Academy,” RSL Interim President John Kimball said.  “To host the match against Costa Rica is a chance to continue that legacy and is a huge credit to the Utah Department of Health for helping to ensure a safe environment for the teams and our wonderful fans.  It will surely be a night to remember.”

USA-Costa Rica, presented by Allstate, will be broadcast on ESPN2, UniMás and TUDN with the kickoff time to be determined.  Fans will be able to follow the match via Facebook, Twitter @USMNT and Instagram @USMNT.

The Costa Rica match, combined with the friendly away to Switzerland (May 30) and the Concacaf Nations League Final Four (June 3 and 6), will simulate a match cadence similar to what players will experience during the upcoming three-match window during the World Cup Qualifying campaign, which kicks off in September.

“Costa Rica is a competitive Concacaf team and we are looking forward to this opportunity,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said.  “Combined with the ability to mimic the cadence of matches we will encounter in September and October, this is an important step in our preparation for the start of World Cup Qualifying.”

The staging of the camp and the match fall under the comprehensive U.S. Soccer Return to Play Protocols.  Due to the evolving conditions related to the global pandemic, capacity for the match in Sandy is currently limited to 10,000 fans.  Ticket sales information will be available at a later date.

The match on June 9 will mark the fifth time the U.S. has played at Rio Tinto Stadium and the sixth time it has played in Utah since Real Salt Lake’s inaugural season in Major League Soccer in 2005.

USMNT IN SLC
Salt Lake City has its own piece of USA-Costa Rica history, having hosted a World Cup qualifying encounter on the road to the 2006 tournament in Germany. Two goals from Landon Donovan, an insurance strike from current USMNT general manager Brian McBride and world-class saves from Kasey Keller led the USA to a 3-0 shutout before 40,586 boisterous fans on June 4, 2005, at Rice Eccles Stadium.

In total, Utah has hosted three World Cup Qualifiers.  The USMNT has been successful in all, scoring six goals while surrendering only one through three matches.  Overall, the USA is 4-0-1 in the Beehive State.

June 4, 2005 – USA 3-0 Costa Rica, World Cup Qualifying (Rice Eccles Stadium)
Sept. 5, 2009 – USA 2-1 El Salvador, World Cup Qualifying
June 18, 2013 – USA 1-0 Honduras, World Cup Qualifying
July 13, 2013 – USA 4-1 Cuba, Concacaf Gold Cup
June 3, 2017 – USA 1-1 Venezuela, Friendly
June 9, 2021 – USA vs. Costa Rica, Friendly

BACK TO BACK?
The meeting in the shadows of the Wasatch Mountain Range could be a rematch on only three days notice, as both the United States and Costa Rica advanced to the final four of the inaugural Concacaf Nations League.  In the semifinal stage being contested June 3 in Denver, the USMNT faces Honduras while Costa Rica lines up against Mexico.  With both a Championship and Third Place Match on the docket for June 6, it’s possible these teams will be quite familiar heading into the showdown at Rio Tinto Stadium.

ONE UP ON THE TICOS
Heading into this summer, the USMNT have a narrow 17-16-5 edge in the series through a rich history of 38 matches played since 1975.

There have been numerous legendary moments in that time, with 29 of the encounters taking place across three different competitions: FIFA World Cup Qualifying, the Concacaf Gold Cup and Copa America Centenario.  Perhaps the most memorable meeting was in the Snowclasico, a 1-0 win in snowy conditions during qualifying for the 2014 World Cup that reignited a sometimes-fiery rivalry.  MLS has also served as a breeding ground of familiarity for these opponents, as more than 50 Costa Ricans have played in the league.

FIRST UP: SWITZERLAND
In its final match before the Concacaf Nations League Final Four, the U.S. Men’s National Team will take on the challenge of facing No. 16-ranked Switzerland on May 30 in St. Gallen. ESPN, UniMás and TUDN will cover the match live from kybunpark beginning at 8 p.m. ET

Fans will be able to follow the match via Facebook, Twitter @USMNT, Instagram @USMNT and the official U.S. Soccer App.

The match against Switzerland represents the sixth time the USMNT will face a Top 20 opponent since Berhalter became head coach in 2019. Led by Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and Liverpool midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, the Swiss are gearing up for the European Championship where they have been drawn into Group A with four-time World Cup champion Italy, Turkey and Wales.

COMPETITION COMING UP
The USMNT is gearing up for three significant competitions in 2021, beginning with the Concacaf Nations League final four.  Winners of League A’s Group A, the USMNT takes on Honduras in one semifinal, while Mexico and Costa Rica will square off in the other, with the winners competing for the inaugural Nations League title.  The matches are scheduled for the FIFA window in the first week of June, with the venues and times still to be determined.

The following month, the U.S. will compete in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup in search of its seventh confederation championship title.  The USMNT has been drawn into Group A with Canada, Martinique and a third team to be determined through a qualifying tournament.  The United States last lifted the trophy in 2017, when Jordan Morris netted the game-winner against Jamaica in the 2-1 victory.

Those games serve as prelude to the start of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying, which will feature an eight-team final round and commence in Sept. of 2021.

Men’s Size Chart | UK, USA & EU Clothing Sizing Guide for Men

Men’s Size Conversion Chart

Most Belstaff garments come in European sizes. Please refer to the chart below for measurements and to convert your usual size to the correct European size. You can find hints on measuring yourself accurately below.

Size	UK	US	EU/IT	Chest	Low Waist	Hip	Overarm
XS	34	34	44	90	78.5	91	82.5
S	36	36	46	94	82.5	95	84
M	38	38	48	98	86.5	99	85.5
L	40	40	50	102	90.5	103	87
XL	42	42	52	106	94.5	107	89
XXL	44	44	54	110	98.5	111	90
XXXL	46	46	56	114	102.5	115	91
4XL	48	48	58	118	106.5	119	92
5XL	50	50	60	122	110.5	123	93

Size	UK	US	EU/IT	Chest	Low Waist	Hip	Overarm
XS	34	34	44	35.5	31	35.75	32.5
S	36	36	46	37	32.5	37.5	33
M	38	38	48	38.5	34	39	33.5
L	40	40	50	40.25	35.5	40.5	34.25
XL	42	42	52	41.75	37.25	42.25	34.5
XXL	44	44	54	43.25	38.75	43.75	35
XXXL	46	46	56	44.75	40.25	45.25	35.5
4XL	48	48	58	46.5	42	46.75	35.75
5XL	50	50	60	48	43.5	48.5	36.75

+– Q: What is my chest width and what’s the best way I can measure my chest size?

Let’s start with the chest size. In order to measure your chest, you’ll need a tape measure and, ideally, a mirror so you can see what you’re doing.

1. Remove your clothing from the waist up (you can keep a T-shirt on, but it may affect your reading slightly).
2. Stand normally, without flexing or puffing out your chest (again, this could affect your final reading).
3. Wrap the tape around the widest part of your torso, roughly at your nipple line. The reading at the point the tape meets is your chest size. Remember to add on a little if you prefer a looser fit.

The easiest way to find your chest width, is to take a jacket, shirt or jumper that fits you well and lay it down on a flat surface. Measure from armpit to armpit to get your chest width – also known as a pit-to-pit measurement.

Be aware that men’s shirts and outerwear sizes can vary from style to style, so refer to our Belstaff sizing chart if in doubt.

Size	Size	UK	US	EU/IT	Low Waist	Hip	Inner Leg
XS	28	28	28	44	78.5	91	85
S	30	30	30	46	82.5	95	85
M	32	32	32	48	86.5	99	85
L	34	34	34	50	90.5	103	85
XL	36	36	36	52	94.5	107	85
XXL	38	38	38	54	98.5	111	85
XXXL	40	40	40	56	102.5	115	85
4XL	42	42	42	58	106.5	119	85

Size	Size	UK	US	EU/IT	Low Waist	Hip	Inner Leg
XS	28	28	28	44	31	35.75	33.5
S	30	30	30	46	32.5	37.5	33.5
M	32	32	32	48	34	39	33.5
L	34	34	34	50	35.5	40.5	33.5
XL	36	36	36	52	37.25	42.25	33.5
XXL	38	38	38	54	38.75	43.75	33.5
XXXL	40	40	40	56	40.25	45.25	33.5
4XL	42	42	42	58	42	46.75	33.5

+– Q: I want to take an accurate waist measurement. What’s the best way to measure my waist?

Just like the chest measurement, in order to accurately measure your waist size, you’ll need a tape measure and a mirror so you can see what you’re doing.

1. Firstly, it’s important to first work out where you want your trousers to sit in order to get the correct size. Men’s jeans and trouser sizes will vary between higher waisted styles (often vintage cuts) worn above the hip, and regular men’s jeans and chinos that sit on the hip. 2. Once you have worked out where you want your trousers to sit, remove your trousers (you can keep your underwear on).
3. Take your tape measure and wrap it around yourself, pulling it so that it’s snug without digging in. The reading at the point the tape meets is your waist size.

Your reading will be accurate, but be aware that men’s jeans sizes can vary from style to style. If you’re in any doubt about the fit, refer to our Belstaff men’s size guide for more detail on men’s trouser sizes.

+– Q: I want to find out my inside leg measurement. How can I measure my inner leg correctly?

Men’s jeans sizes are not always an exact art, and nowhere is this truer than the inside leg measurement. For instance, if you’re buying a pair of our selvedge jeans and want to wear them with a turn-up, then you’ll need to allow a little extra length.

The following method will give you the perfect reference point to work from and is ideal for finding men’s trouser sizes and jeans that you don’t intend to wear rolled up.

You might need to enlist some help with this, it’s a tricky one-man job.
1. Take your shoes off to ensure an accurate reading.
2. Measure from the lowest part of your crotch to where you want the jeans or trousers to sit. Use the ankle bone for reference.
3. While standing straight, make sure the tape is snug along the inside of your leg and then measure.

		Size	Low Waist	Hip	Inner Leg
		28″	76.5	89	85
		29″	79	91.5	85
		30″	81.5	94	85
		31″	84	96.5	85
		32″	86.5	99	85
		33″	89	101.5	85
		34″	91.5	104	85
		35″	94	106.5	85
		36″	96.5	109	85
		37″	99	111.5	85
		38″	101.5	114	85

		Size	Low Waist	Hip	Inner Leg
		28″	30	35	33.5
		29″	31	36	33.5
		30″	32	37	33.5
		31″	33	38	33.5
		32″	34	39	33.5
		33″	35	40	33.5
		34″	36	41	33.5
		35″	37	42	33.5
		36″	38	43	33.5
		37″	39	44	33.5
		38″	40	45	33.5

+– Q: I need to convert my UK shoe size to US. Can you help?

Men’s shoe sizes can be a sticking point when it comes to buying from other countries, but don’t worry. Our men’s shoe size chart will help you convert UK shoe sizes to their US men’s counterpart quickly and easily.

+– Q: How do I convert my EU shoe size to UK?

As with US sizes, we realise that translating a UK shoe size to the EU men’s sizing isn’t always straightforward. Our men’s shoe size chart also has all the corresponding EU sizes for easy, at-a-glance conversion.

+– Q: What are US shoe sizes in UK?

If you’re looking for the UK equivalent of US men’s shoe sizes, then our men’s shoe size chart is your go-to guide. You’ll find US, UK and EU measurements all cross-referenced to make conversion as simple as possible and ensure you get the right shoe size every time.

+– Q: What are the different belt sizes you offer for men?

Our men’s belt size chart shows our available sizes in both centimetres and inches. When working out your belt size, for men we recommend adding on two to three inches (5 to 6 cm) to your waist measurement.

+– Q: What should I do if I fall between two sizes?

We’d recommend sizing up. Should you need any further assistance, you can contact our customer care department who will be happy to help.

Chest: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping tape firmly under your armpits and around your shoulder blades.

Low Waist: Measure around your waist, slightly below your natural waist, where you normally wear your trousers.

Hip: Measure around the fullest part of your hips.

Overarm: Measure the length of your arm, from nape to low shoulder point, then down to the wrist bone.

Inner Leg: Measure from crotch to floor without shoes.

Between Sizes?

If your measurements are in between those listed in the size chart, pick the next larger size.

U.S. Men Fail to Qualify for Olympic Soccer Tournament

The United States failed in its latest bid to qualify for the Olympic men’s soccer tournament on Sunday, falling to Honduras, 2-1, in a regional qualifying tournament in Mexico. A goalkeeping blunder proved to be the difference this time, but the feeling — and the frustration — was all too familiar.

The defeat was a humbling end to yet another Olympic qualifying campaign for the United States men, and it means the Americans will miss their third straight Summer Games. A United States men’s team last appeared in the Olympics in 2008, and now has failed to qualify for the Games in four of the past five cycles.

Goals by Honduras on either side of halftime — a bundled finish by the Brooklyn-born striker Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. in first-half stoppage time and a deflected goal as a disastrous mistake by goalkeeper David Ochoa minutes into the second half — proved decisive, and sent the Hondurans to their fourth straight Olympics. Honduras finished fourth in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, losing to the eventual champion, Brazil, in the semifinals.

“The goal was to qualify for the Olympics, and we didn’t get the job done today,” defender Henry Kessler said.

Mexico beat Canada, 2-0, in the tournament’s second semifinal to claim its third straight berth in the Summer Games.

U.S. Soccer will still have a representative in Tokyo: Its world champion women’s team qualified last year and will be a favorite to claim its fifth gold medal in the sport when the Olympics open in July. American men’s teams have played in the Olympics four times but have never won a medal.

“Obviously, we’re devastated, absolutely devastated,” United States Coach Jason Kreis said. “In our locker room, the guys are like it’s a tragedy — a tragedy.”

Unlike most tournaments, the Olympic qualifying event is all about the semifinals. In CONCACAF, the region that includes teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean, only the two semifinal winners advance to Tokyo, making victory in one of those matches the goal and rendering the final — Honduras will play the host Mexico on Tuesday — an afterthought.

The make-or-break semifinal game played out under a scorching sun in Guadalajara, Mexico, where the temperature was 90 degrees at kickoff. The game paused for hydration breaks in each half.

The Americans tried to take control early, and produced two good scoring chances. But as Honduras held firm and settled in, the Americans seemed to run short of energy and ideas. Honduras took the lead four minutes into first-half injury time, with a long, inch-perfect cross-field pass headed expertly into the path of a charging Obregón in the goal mouth. Using his thigh, and then his hip, he clumsily muscled it over the line past Ochoa in goal.

Honduras doubled its lead less than three minutes into the second half when Ochoa — under dutiful but minimal pressure — drove a pass off forward Luis Palma that ricocheted into his own net. Scrambling to his feet, Ochoa quickly fished the ball out of his net, but the Americans’ day suddenly had taken on a grim aura.

Midfielder Jackson Yueill, the United States captain, got a goal back in the 52nd minute with a rocketed shot from just outside the circle atop the Honduran penalty area. And Jonathan Lewis had three excellent chances to tie the score — one on a header cleared off the line, another lost to a mystery foul spotted by the Salvadoran referee — as the tension built and the time ticked away. But the goals the United States needed never arrived.

The two games in Mexico on Sunday completed the 16-team Olympic men’s field, which already includes teams like host Japan; Brazil (the gold medalist at home in 2016) and Argentina from South America; France, Germany, Romania and Spain from Europe; Egypt, South Africa and Ivory Coast from Africa; Australia, Saudi Arabia and South Korea from Asia; and New Zealand from Oceania.

The Olympic men’s tournament has been an under-23 championship since 1992, an accommodation with FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, to maintain the primacy of the World Cup as the sport’s showcase event. (The women’s Olympic tournament is, like the Women’s World Cup, contested by senior national teams.)

But it remains an important barometer of a country’s ability to produce young talent, and for a regional force like the United States, which was still reckoning with its senior national team’s stunning failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, missing out again and again had become a referendum on the nation’s soccer progress.

Once a regular in the men’s event, the United States last appeared in it at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, when it won only its opening game against Japan, tumbled out after the group stage and finished ninth. But soon, missing the Olympics troublingly became the norm. The Americans, who had failed to qualify for the 2004 Athens Games, then missed out on both the London Olympics in 2012 and the Rio Games in 2016.

U.S. Soccer made reversing that recent history a priority this year. It hired Kreis, a veteran of several head coaching jobs in Major League Soccer, to lead the team, and tried to take full advantage of some of the talent produced by the league’s recent investments in player development. All 11 United States starters on Sunday play for teams in M.L.S., but some of the country’s best under-23 talent that — European pros like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Sergiño Dest and Gio Reyna, among others — were unavailable because their European clubs were under no obligation to release them for Olympic qualifying play.

Still, the Americans beat Costa Rica (1-0) and thumped the Dominican Republic (4-0) in their first two games before an errant pass led to a first-half goal, and a 1-0 defeat against Mexico, in their group-stage finale. The defeat was a blow to the United States team’s momentum, and perhaps to its psyche, as it represented the team’s first big test of the event, but Kreis moved quickly to dismiss it and turn his team’s focus to the semifinal.

“I think we’ve been searching for a little more sharpness in this whole tournament,” Kreis said after the loss. But the only thing that mattered, he added, was not that result but that “the most important game is coming.”

It came on Sunday. And the Americans lost it.

USA vs. Costa Rica: Time, TV channel, streaming, betting odds, prediction for June 9

After a thrilling Nations League final triumph over Mexico that has fans dreaming again, the U.S. men’s national team will want to avoid the classic letdown match by finishing camp strong in a friendly against Costa Rica (7 p.m. ET).

Both the USA and Costa Rica are expected to give some extended time to players who have not featured in the last seven to 10 days. Costa Rica has already promised to freshen up the starting lineup after using the same team against both Mexico and Honduras in the Nations League Final Four.

But the USMNT is a deeper team and there’s competition for starting spots with World Cup qualifying just a couple of months away. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen (bone bruise), defender Bryan Reynolds (bone bruise) and defender Matt Miazga (wedding prep) will not be with the team. Nashville central defender Walker Zimmerman replaces Miazga, and Nations League hero Ethan Horvath is expected to start (on his birthday) in place of Steffen. Orlando forward Daryl Dike will also be available to play and he has been in camp with the USA over the past two weeks.

Watch: Stream USA vs. Costa Rica on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)

In the pregame news conference, head coach Gregg Berhalter and midfielder Tyler Adams both hammered home the urgency of showing they can perform at a high level across four straight matches in a condensed schedule. This game matters to them.

If they can beat Costa Rica, the USMNT will have logged victories over three of their direct competitors when the final round of qualifying kicks off in September. It’s the perfect tone-setter with a Gold Cup tournament still to be played in July.

Getty Images
https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/26/ed/weston-mckennie-usa_1ojomy9qt8uyt1ujyzeyzashbq.jpg?t=-456820183&w=500&quality=80

What time is USA vs. Costa Rica?

• Date: Wednesday, June 9
• Time: 7 p.m. ET

The USA will host Costa Rica in an international friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. The Americans have four wins and a draw in the five all-time matches they’ve played in the state.

How to watch USA vs. Costa Rica in USA

The match will be available on TV in English (ESPN2) and in Spanish (UniMas and TUDN) and those networks can be streamed live on fuboTV (7-day free trial).

USA vs. Costa Rica betting odds & prediction

The USA’s depth is a big reason why they’re the favorites, and they should win this comfortably. There are plus-numbers available for different combinations of U.S. victories and the -1 Asian Handicap is also available at plus-money at the time of publication.

Costa Rica are winless in 10 games and they are coming off two heartbreaking penalty kick shootouts. This is not the moment they’ll be springing the upset, especially with an alternate team taking the field.

With more than 17,000 fans in attendance for the match, the U.S. team will not want to disappoint. They’ll keep the good times rolling.

Prediction: USMNT 3, Costa Rica 1

Odds courtesy of DraftKings:

• USA to win: -167
• Draw: +295
• Costa Rica to win: +460
• USA to win 1st half: +112
• USA to win and both teams to score: +300
• USA to win at halftime AND fulltime: +140
• USA to win both halves: +335
• USA -1 Asian Handicap: +104

U.S. men’s soccer team fails to qualify for third straight Olympics

The U.S. men’s national soccer team failed to qualify for the Summer Olympics for the third consecutive cycle.

The USMNT lost 2-1 against Honduras during the CONCACAF semifinals on Sunday, effectively ending their bid for the Tokyo Olympics. U.S. men’s national team coach Jason Kreis said the team was “absolutely devastated” by the loss. 

“In our locker room, the guys are like it’s a tragedy — a tragedy,” he said. “I think we all wanted this so bad for so many different reasons … At the end of the day, I just don’t think we had enough.” 

?️ “We are devastated, the locker room is a tragedy. We all wanted to achieve the goal but at the end of the day, I think we did not have much.” ?? @USYNT ’s Head coach Jason Kreis coach.

? #CMOQ pic.twitter.com/acQmuYDMlX

— Concacaf (@Concacaf) March 29, 2021

The roster was filled with players younger than 23 years old because of a 1992 agreement between FIFA and the International Olympic Committee that settled on requiring teams to field players that age or under. However, four years later, teams were allowed to bring up three overage players. The team also did not have 22-year-old Christian Pulisic, widely considered to the best American soccer player, who instead played an international friendly with the senior team against Northern Ireland on Sunday. 

The USMNT’s failed bid is another major disappointment after the senior team didn’t make the 2018 World Cup. 

U.S. men’s soccer player Sebastian Soto reacts after losing the semifinals match between Honduras and USA as part of the 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying at Jalisco Stadium on March 28, 2021 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Refugio Ruiz / Getty Images

The U.S. women’s national soccer team is a different story. They won the most recent World Cup in dominating fashion — with TV ratings that outstripped the men’s — inspiring demands for equal pay.

Unlike the men’s game, each qualified nation sends their senior women’s national team to the Olympics. The USWNT qualified last year for the Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed until this summer due to the pandemic. 

More

Despite the USWNT’s success, the team has been fighting the U.S. Soccer Federation for equal compensation and resources. While the league and the team reached a settlement in December to address parts of their gender discrimination lawsuit on unequal working conditions compared to their male counterparts, the litigation over the equal pay component continues. Soccer star Megan Rapinoe testified at a congressional hearing and appeared with President Biden to mark Equal Pay Day last Wednesday. 

The U.S. men’s team has played in four Olympics but has never won a medal. The team last competed in the Olympics in 2008 in Beijing. 

90,000 What does it mean to be a man? – In focus

What makes a “real man” different? Men from Russia and Germany answered this question to the magazine of the Goethe-Institut. They also tried to determine how much they themselves fit this ideal.

Guntram Glais, 35 years old, looking for a job, Germany

© from personal archive

In the traditional sense, a real man is someone like James Bond.Strong, confident, independent. And, probably, related to large heavy machines or to heavy manual labor. Many years ago, when I was a boy, youth and young man, for me it was a self-evident ideal that was worth striving for. I loved eating meat and served in the army. Today I would not do this, moreover, I switched to vegetarianism. When a friend of mine advised me to do yoga a couple of years ago, I thought that it was definitely not for me, “I’m not a girl.”But I tried it and I liked it. Therefore, now I consider myself far from such a definition of “a real man.” My girlfriend now earns more than me, and for me such a situation is in the order of things, although this does not correspond to the generally accepted image of a “breadwinner”. Rather, it is not because of the man-woman distinction, but because it would be fairer to divide the responsibility in half. For me, being a responsible person is more important than being a real man. Therefore, we can say that my priorities have changed over the years: with the mentality of Bud Spencer, which implies that you have to be strong and rude, I said goodbye.As you get older, other things come to the fore. It becomes clear that you are not James Bond. And that’s great.

Igor Kuznetsov, 35, Head of IT Products, Russia

© from personal archive

For me, in the concept of being a man, the most important thing is to be responsible, to be the strongest and most reliable in my family or team. I have no overt orthodox convictions and very calmly embrace a modern approach that blurs the distinction between male and female roles.But still, nature has decreed that we are different and created for different tasks. No one will argue that men have a physically stronger body, which means that it is better adapted for obtaining resources. Men are more inclined to take risks, and their activities are more often directed outward. Women, on average, are more introverted and conservative. They are good at analyzing risks and taking care of the preservation of values. And I don’t think about my compliance with the concept of a real man. There is no time to delve into yourself.

Oliver Kunze, 52 years old, engineer, Germany

© from personal archive

Being a man for me means taking responsibility, having values ​​and principles and living up to them. Have your own style. Do I fit this definition? I think that the path is the goal. Do I want to match? Yes, if we are talking about the ideal that I described. But the meaning of other definitions is unlikely. Sitting with a naked torso on a horse – why? I have no purpose to prove something to someone.

Vladimir Polyakov, 36 years old, leading operator of robotic systems, Russia

© from personal archive

In my understanding, a man should be an adult and different from a woman. An adult does not depend on the opinions of parents or others. He does not seek to prove something to others, but proves something only to himself. A mature person does not rely on authorities, he always analyzes information. He is not offended, but draws conclusions and gains experience.
When I say that a man should be different from a woman, I mean, first of all, emotions. In the same situation, they literally overwhelm the woman, and the man remains rational and logical. This does not mean that men are insensitive rusks, we are just as angry, frightened, touched and happy. However, we know how to postpone emotions for later. First, deal with the problem, make a decision, and only then give free rein to feelings. That is why a man is like a rock during a storm, he can shelter and protect those who are near him.A man always knows what he wants and what he needs to do for this.
Many naively believe that there are some material signs of masculinity, possessing which, you become a real man. For example, a large pickup truck or a worn leather jacket. In fact, for a real man, such attributes are only a consequence of his decisions. He needs a pickup to get where cars can’t reach. And the jacket was once new, but it took on branches and stones in the forest, cold asphalt during a sudden repair of the car, so there are traces of time on it, practically the history of the owner’s life.
And also a real man is strong – in spirit and will. He does not lose heart in difficult times, sets high goals and achieves them.
I believe that I am largely in line with this definition at the moment. Perhaps over time I will find additional criteria and change my mind, but now I can call myself a real man.

Lucas B, 31, student, Germany

© from personal archive

For me, there is no specific set of qualities that a real man should correspond to.I know many men who are “real” in my eyes. I believe that everyone should find out this with himself and for himself. However, for me, a real man is someone who has certain qualities and behaves accordingly: honest, direct, not too vain or sensitive, generous, patient, sympathetic, ready to help and with a certain firmness towards himself. Men should not complain; they should accept the challenges of life with calmness and readiness.Always put the interests of the family ahead of your own interests. Men should be able to behave correctly and respect others, but at the same time not give themselves offense. In general, to be a real man, you need to remember the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling. However, all these qualities are not exclusively masculine. Women who possess them also only get better from this. Being a man in the spirit of my definition is not easy, but I try. These are high ideals that require effort, while inner impulses can be very different.You need to often remind yourself who you want to be in order to correct your own behavior. But I think it’s worth it.

Boris Kuzin, 28 years old, urologist, surgeon, Russia

© from personal archive

For me personally, to be a man means to be responsible for my every deed and word. And behind this there is already a set of many qualities that a man must cultivate in himself or with the help of his parents, close people and experience.It’s not about orientation or appearance. In the female body, cyclical hormonal changes occur every month, not to mention pregnancy. A woman can afford to say “rashly”, can afford an impulsive act. The man is not. A man should be aware of himself and those around him for every word he says privately or publicly, especially if these are loud statements. Be clearly aware of what and to whom he says and what actions he is ready to take after what has been said. A promise kept is also an act.And good or bad – characterizes a person, not a man. Do I fit this definition? Not always. It is impossible to maintain composure all the time. I am not a robot, but a living person. Of course, sometimes you want to return to childhood, but more and more often you have to make decisions yourself for those close to you, say and do not always what is expected of you. And this is the norm for me.

Back to the dossier “Masculinity”

Authors

Galiya Muratova and Alexandra Polyakova

Translation: Anna Brixa

90,000 Men and women

Steinach’s experiments were impressive, but left the question of what happens before birth: in the womb, males become males, and females become females due to the same mysterious substances, or is there another reason? Steinach assumed that embryos remain asexual until they develop gonads.True, then it was unclear why some individuals have female glands, while others have male glands.

The first mystery was soon clarified by the zoologist Frank Lilly. In 1914, he came across twin bovine embryos in accrete amniotic bladders. One was a male, and the second was something strange: it looked like a heifer, but inside it was more like a bull. Such individuals are called freemartins. They are quite common among cattle and annoy livestock breeders, because they are only suitable for meat.

For a couple of years, Lilly found another fifty pairs of twins in the vicinity.He thought that after fertilization the freemartins were females, reasoning as follows: calving cows matured two eggs, that is, twins could be of both sexes, but since one is like a bull, then the second is most likely a heifer, because otherwise a disproportionate number of males would be conceived …

Further, Lilly showed that the internal organs of the female acquire masculine features only when the twins have a common circulatory system. Something enters the embryo through the vessels and directs sexual development before birth.Although Lilly did not isolate these substances, he was sure that these were hormones from the male glands. Lilly even gave a plausible explanation of why there are no freemartin bulls: male hormones are produced earlier than female hormones, so the sisters simply do not have time to influence the brothers.

By the mid-1920s, Lilly’s experiments fueled interest in mysterious substances. Some tried to get them in their pure form, which was not so easy because of the negligible amounts of hormones in the tissues. Biologist Alan Parks, with the assistance of the British Museum, even agreed that huge blue whale gonads would be delivered to him, but the valuable material deteriorated on the way from the Southern Hemisphere.

Pharmacologists hoped to create hormonal agents for the treatment of infertility, frigidity, impotence, homosexuality and to prevent pregnancy. Eugen Steinach promoted testicular transplantation to gays and the elderly and performed partial ligation of the vas deferens to increase the production of hormones, and in France, the Russian emigrant Sergei Voronov, to the delight of some and the horror of others, transplanted monkey tissues to people in order to add masculinity to them.

In the narrow-minded view, hormones looked like a clue to the mystery about sex differences.But hormonal theory didn’t explain everything. Firstly, hormones are produced by the sex glands, which means they do not affect whether the male glands will be in the embryo or female. Secondly, student Frank Lilly repeated Steinach’s experiments, and it turned out that rodents with transplanted gonads of the opposite sex never completely transform. A female or a male depends on something other than hormones.

Lilly, who studied Freemartins, was aware of these difficulties, but admitted that they would be solved by another theory, criticized for years – the chromosomal one.

90,000 are there any men left with us?

Elena Voytko – Commercial Director of the Kazanskaya Riviera Hotel and Entertainment Complex:

– I wonder what is meant by not real men? Men, on the other hand, are all worthy of something to varying degrees. But for me the most worthy is my husband. Apparently, this is enough for me that I don’t even think about the rest.

Maria Gorshunova – General Director of LLC PKF “Maidan” (chain of cafes and restaurants “Syty Papa”):

– Remained.It is my husband. A real man is a loyal, reliable man who is sensitive to the woman who is nearby. I mean – a woman in the broadest sense of the word, a mother, wife, sister. A real man has a sense of humor and knows how to smooth things over in the family. He knows how not to impose himself and not to get into the soul when he sees that a person is very worried about something. And when something happens to you, he will drop everything and put his life at your feet.

Alena Ermolaeva – Commercial Director of the Efir TV company:

– They stayed in spite of everything and in spite of everything.There are a lot of reliable and smart people in the Efir TV company. In this sense, our company is an indicator. We have real men, everything from Andrey Paramonovich (A. Grigoriev – the owner of the Efir shopping center – ed.) And ending with the driver. In this sense, we are women very happy, because we are surrounded by real men.

In my personal life, all men are also real, both among relatives and among friends. I would wish them harmony of spirit, good health, so that despite all the vicissitudes, in the economy, politics, they are always surrounded by love and care of women and children who love them, so that every man finds his other half.

Nadezhda Borisova – Director of the Kazan branch of HeadHunter:

– Probably every woman has her own set of characteristics and qualities with which she fills the concept of “real Man”. Yes, it’s a man with a capital letter. In my opinion, a real man is an intelligent, reliable and strong-willed person. This is someone who knows how to make independent decisions and is not afraid to take responsibility. Plus, he must absolutely master such weapons as wit.

I don’t really like the image of a modern man that is being imposed on the mass media now. He is far from the image that was instilled in me since childhood: a man of word and deed, with the concepts of honor and true nobility. But, nevertheless, I am convinced that real Men still exist. And I am very glad that in my environment – in my family, among friends and in our company – there are such Men.

Larisa Fomina – General Director of the Larisa group of companies:

– Maybe they stayed, but I practically did not come across them.For me, a man is a noble, generous, strong, intelligent, with a sense of humor. I meet people who have strong individual sides, but so that all together are not.

Regina Kuznetsova – Director of the FPS “Tatarstan Pochtasy”:

– Of course, they stayed. And where are we, the weaker sex, without them ?! I can say with confidence “he is a real man” about my spouse, about some colleagues and partners. A real man should be reliable and take care of the family.If we say about a woman that she should be soft, meek, internally subtle and sensitive to others and to her chosen one, then a man should be distinguished by a pronounced responsibility and maturity.

As for my husband, actions have always been important to me here. That is, he is a man of action. He said – he did. His position: “love is manifested in actions.” As for the rest of the men with whom I have to work, whom I categorize as a “real man”. I’ll tell you how – after millions of years of survival, men continue to fight, destroy and build, they like hard sports, detectives and action films.They, as before, love to fight and take away beautiful women and material wealth from rivals, with the only difference that now, in addition to all this, they need power and glory.

Rosalia Nurgaleeva – Director of the State Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan:

– I think we have real men. True, there are not many of them. For me, a real man is a person who said and did. A woman can say and not do, she is weak, it is permissible for her. But a man cannot afford it.And yet, a real man must be an educated person, even if he is not an encyclopedist, but he must be well versed in his business. A man should also say what he really thinks. As you can imagine, this is a feat in our country.

Aigul Nurieva – General Director of the Tinkoff restaurant:

-Of course, there are men, but every year there are fewer and fewer of them. Men should respect not only themselves, but also those around them, be noble and kind.They must be courageous so that they can stand up for their family. And, of course, smart, but not narcissistic. One of my acquaintances possesses such qualities, so I can call him a real man.

Svetlana Romanova – People’s Artist of Russia, Laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Tatarstan, actress of the Kachalovsky Theater:

– We have real men! For me, a real man is a person who knows how to act. Action, not talk, determines everything. My husband Alexander Slavutsky, for example, is like that.He is a real man.

Venera Ganeeva – People’s Artist of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Tatarstan, professor, soloist of the Tatar Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after M. Jalil:

– Of course, there are real men, but how could it be otherwise? They are the only people around me, this is my dad, my husband, and my two brothers, who served in the army for two years – one in Tajikistan, the other in Germany. This is our director of the theater Raufal Mukhametzyanov, who once heard me and believed that I would become an actress and a singer.A real man is a person who is faithful in love, he is attentive and caring and, most importantly, he is generous.

Gulsine Tokareva – architect:

– A man must combine such qualities as strength and tenderness. These traits taken together characterize a man as strong and courageous. There are many real, worthy men, but for me, this is, first of all, my husband.

Elena Mashkova – Director of KamCSBT “Development” (Naberezhnye Chelny):

-At all times and in all eras there were real people, and real men.And now in Russia there are a lot of real, worthy men. For example, for me this image is personified by my husband. The main thing is that a man should have an active purpose in life, love, appreciate and protect his family. It is very important for a man to keep his promises, not to be petty. And, of course, a man should be kind, honest and open.

Olga Poletaeva – Director of Air-Plus LLC:

– There are enough men to feel like a woman and congratulate you on the holiday.At least I personally know such people. There are also many who can be called worthy, real.

Yulia Danilova – General Director of InterMediaGroup Kazan LLC (Va Bank advertising and information publication):

– Real men remained. There are actually a lot of them. If there were no real men, the world around would cease to exist. Women would have to take everything into their own hands and turn into men themselves. Until we turned into men. This means that there are real strong men around us.

Dilyara Nasybullina – head of the Eurasia-Travel travel agency:

-Of course, there are real men in our country! In my opinion, a real man is Vladimir Putin, a man who is noticeable for his significant actions. Or Sergei Shoigu is a real, worthy politician!

Luciya Akhmadullina – Chairman of the International Representation of the Red Cross in the Republic of Tatarstan:

-Yes, we have a lot of real men. First of all, a real man should be kind, sympathetic and intelligent.This is how Putin, Shoigu, Minnikhanov can be characterized. Rustam Nurgalievich is a unique ruler, we have never had anything like him. He’s smart and has a great sense of tact.

Nuria Iskhakova – Director of Centermetall LLC:

-I especially want to note our region, because it is in Tatarstan that there are many real men – leaders, I come across them every day. These are people who go to objects, discuss problems, are always ready for dialogue. Real men are Minnikhanov, Shaimiev, and many major leaders.A real man, first of all, must be responsible and courageous.

Nailya Ziganshina – Chairman of the Union of Muslim Women of Tatarstan:

– In my opinion, a real man should have courage, he should be able to stand up for his family and provide for it. And a woman should take care of the family hearth. A man should be a support and a strong wall for his family. For us, real men are our presidents.

90,000 Who is a man – Vedomosti

February 23 is the most interesting holiday of all that is celebrated with all the heart.Its names change, but the essence remains – this is a holiday of the masculine principle in our culture.

On February 23, women praise men. At the same time, they ascribe to men their own, feminine, understanding of the masculine: you will protect the weak and never offend them, you will be honest and fair, courageous and disinterested, you will not go against conscience and honor. These same values, as the most important ones, were recorded in books and films, and they were broadcast live through the female line – through mothers and grandmothers, kindergarten teachers and school teachers.

In the last Soviet and early post-Soviet times, it was like this. At the age of 18, a young man, brought up in this spirit by his mother (often a loner) and school, was drafted into the army. Mom handed him over to the fathers-commanders, believing that they would make him a real man. And he, together with his peers, at the call fell under the authority of the “grandfathers” or “old men” who had been called up a year earlier. They explained to him and other “spirits” – first years about the “male”, that everything is not the way my mother said, but just the opposite. That the weak are not protected, but beaten, that strength is not in the right, but in the fist.And they explained so clearly that the weaker one either committed suicide or ran away (and it happened that, maddened, he shot at his colleagues). But this is a dropout. And the main product of this hellish mechanics of bullying is “a real man” in their masculine sense. The present means that he believes that everywhere and everywhere, both in the family, in business, and in international relations, everything is decided by strength and only strength. That justice, law, law is not for everyone, but only for the weak, “for women.”

The school of bullying did not raise a warrior, not a defender, but one who knows how to obey force and subjugate with violence.And what were these “real men” to do after it ended? For those who firmly believed in the simple right of force, the road after demobilization was where everyone used it – either illegally or by permission of the law. The described barracks system produced them in large quantities, that is why we have so much of everything power. Therefore, our society is in no way able to make the historical choice, which it has long faced: which is more important – the law of force or the force of law? We cannot refuse either one or the other.Therefore, for now, the way out is this: we write one thing in the laws, and keep another in our mind. And you can turn it over, leaving the essence the same: the law is a stranger, say to Europe, but we will agree with our own. But in the depths of the soul, the conviction remains that Europe, in fact, respects only strength, and repeats about all sorts of laws out of hypocrisy.

So, the most “courageous” chose the power path. The rest went / returned to normal civil life. They started families, became fathers. Now our seventies and eighties are remembered as a paradise time.But at this time, the crisis of the male / paternal role was unfolding in full swing. The man with that authoritarian training simply did not know what to do at home. Raised by the barracks collective, he could not understand what he should do as a father. The “real man” did not see the need to help his wife in women’s (“woman’s”) concerns. Scientists talked with excitement about a double working day among married women, and among women, the image of such a husband, who “came home from work, flopped on the sofa with a beer and stared at the TV until nightfall, aroused growing indignation among women.”What happened next was also said with annoyance: “… that’s all; turned away and snored. ” In the crisis nineties, such men were unprepared to feed their families if the company did not pay wages. Then the authority of the “breadwinner” collapsed. Divorces began on the initiative of the wives. For all their outward rudeness, these men felt their worthless masculinity. This should explain the rampant male alcoholism and the terrible bouquet of its consequences – from murders and suicides in a state of intoxication to early deaths.

The popular consciousness began to look for a way out of this impasse.The authority of the conscript army fell sharply, and above all in the eyes of women. They no longer wanted to give her sons. Draft evasions of all kinds have become widespread. The military registration and enlistment offices have learned to excuse money. The problem has become systemic.

Where did the sons go? Meanwhile, the reforms of the nineties were completed, hundreds of new universities began to open in the country, and the old ones began to accept three or four times more students. Studying at the university gave a respite from the army. (The conscript army and the university are long-standing rivals in the struggle for the young, for their minds and souls.) It’s not that all the male youth are suddenly seized with a craving for knowledge. But don’t think that it’s all about avoiding the army as such.

In a country that, meanwhile, experienced de-industrialization (in the form of the collapse of industry) and the transition to a service economy (in the form of an unprecedented flourishing of trade and services), the demand for people who had to work with people increased sharply. But not as with subordinates, but as with customers and customers, who are always right. Courtesy and cultural treatment, the basics of courtesy and at least external intelligence were taught by the teachers and the ambiance of these universities, who, it would seem, could not teach this overwhelming mass of diploma seekers.It is customary to scold these “no” universities, and most of them were closed, and in fact they must be thanked. In the years of crisis, they took upon themselves no less than the function of socialization of the generation that had taken a new path. In other words, they prepared personnel for the dramatically changed labor market in the shortest possible time.

As a result of these changes, the upbringing of new men has now taken a new path. A revolution in information technology arrived in time, a change in relations between the sexes took place in its own formats.The maxim “God is not in strength, but in truth”, which previously consoled only the weak, has become more defenders among strong men. And these men are now also held for “real”. Many expect that they will soon take the country into their own hands.

As the results of the polls show, today’s young men find it increasingly easier to correspond to the male ideal that our women carried through all the hardships, to be what women want them to be, sincerely congratulating them on the men’s holiday.

Author – Head of the Department of Sociocultural Research of the Levada Center

“Men are strong.But sometimes we win. ” Why did the residents of Sviblovo create their own football team

“We train now three times a week, because we are preparing to participate in the“ Change the Game ”championship. And before that, they played twice a week for an hour and a half: on Monday and Thursday from 8 to 9.30 pm, so that people had time to come after work.

This is a pretty tight schedule for amateurs, but if you play football as a project, then you need to try. In addition, time is also spent on management: you constantly need to order something, negotiate something with someone.Therefore, we have assigned some of the responsibilities. For example, our captain Rita Smirnova is primarily concerned with what is happening on the field: she is a dry cleaning manager-technologist, but at the same time an experienced scorer player. There is a girl in the team who leads our social networks. And from time to time we have to solve problems within the team, because sometimes, of course, some conflicts arise among girls. Recently, for example, not everyone agreed on how the team’s social networks are conducted – more precisely, what is acceptable to write there and what is not.The girls did not agree on how we position ourselves: playful or serious, more athletic or feminine. But thanks to this, we came to the understanding that we need to develop internal team rules: how we should communicate with each other, with the outside world, how to talk about ourselves. ”

“It seems that there are no more women’s amateur football teams formed like ours, according to the regional principle, in Moscow. But I hope that everything will change soon – also thanks to our example.It would be great: we would very much like to play with someone, take part in interregional competitions, because any sport requires goal-setting, finding out who is better, understanding what we are as a team, what else we need to work out. But, alas, a lot here comes down to money. We are lucky, and others may have to pay for the field rent, the coach, and buy the balls themselves. ”

Strong gender and social protection. How do older men help?

Internet newspaper “Argumenty i Fakty”
aif.ru / moscow / silnyy_pol_i_soczashchita_kak_pomogayut_pozhilym_muzhchiny

It is generally accepted that caring for the elderly is exclusively a woman’s business. But this is not the case. There are also men among social workers. Every day, social workers help grandparents: they bring food, medicine, essential goods, help to walk with pets.

Pavel Marchenko works in the territorial center of social services “Maryino” of the “Lyublino” branch. Has been working as a social worker for 9 months.Manages to simultaneously study remotely at the university.

“I entered this profession with full awareness of what awaited me. I remember that at the beginning of the work I was treated with a little apprehension. But after a very short time, my “charges” realized that gender does not matter. Probably, only the desire to do good is important. If you clearly understand for yourself why and for what you are doing something, then there are no problems, “” – says Pavel.

A young social worker shares top advice on how to deal with older people.

“You just need to hear the person and do what he asks. It is important to learn to listen, ”says Pavel.

“Of course, it’s nice that men are not afraid to do such a thing. The outlook of the women in our team has changed. They are mothers and they understand what older people are. Anxious attention is important to them. Our women did not even think that men can also find the necessary and important words for grandparents. In the presence of men, you want to smile. One of our grandmother said: when Pavel comes, I feel like a woman, not a grandmother, ”comments Olga Golitsyna, director of the Maryino territorial service center.The chosen profession does not bother the hero’s friends. On the contrary, loved ones are proud of the work of a friend. In his free time, Pavel goes in for sports, arranges friendly football matches.

“Now I am not afraid to continue my work. First, we take all precautions. And secondly, at this time, on the contrary, a surge of strength appeared, because now we are especially needed. ”

Now he has 18 elderly citizens and people with disabilities in his service.

“In the person of Pavel I see male support and company.He is my friend, ”says one of the“ wards ”, Yuri Zverev, a pensioner.

“What do we have, men are not left ?!” – Newspaper Kommersant No. 133 (5165) dated 07/30/2013

Towards the elections

An interesting turn has been outlined in the struggle for the presidency of the Russian Basketball Federation (RBF). Just four days before the elections, to the already existing two candidates, who were supposed to play the main prize in the presidential race – Yulia Anikeeva and Svetlana Abrosimova, suddenly another one was added, the executive director of the Chelyabinsk Basketball Federation Sergey Ptashny.Mr. Ptashny assures that no one is behind him, and he is running because he is “sick.”

The election of a new president of the RBF to replace Alexander Krasnenkov, who resigned in early July, will take place on Friday, August 2. As a reminder, Yulia Anikeeva, who is supported mainly by the VTB United League clubs (Mrs. Anikeeva is the deputy general director of the VTB United League), and basketball player Svetlana Abrosimova, were candidates for the position until yesterday. The latter prefers not to talk about who is behind her, but in any case, her support is tangible.Suffice it to say that the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Vitaly Mutko spoke out in favor of the election of Mrs. Abrosimova, who said that “he would like a person who understands basketball, who plays himself, to come to the federation.” By the way, yesterday Ms. Abrosimova confirmed to Kommersant that she had met with Minister Mutko, presented her program to him and enlisted his support.

In a situation where, as they say, the stakes have been made, it seemed that there was no reason to expect the appearance of another contender for the presidency of the RBF.Nevertheless, yesterday the RFB announced the registration as a candidate of Sergei Ptashny, nominated by the Chelyabinsk Basketball Federation, in which he works as the executive director. By the way, this news to a considerable extent surprised Svetlana Abrosimova, who, noting that “our country is, of course, free,” nevertheless noted that she did not understand what goals Mr. Ptashny’s nomination pursued at the last moment. Ms Anikeeva was unavailable for comment yesterday.

As Sergei Ptashny himself told Kommersant, he and the Chelyabinsk Basketball Federation do not really like the way the election campaign is going.“We don’t like what is being said and done here during this election campaign. I see some kind of political games in them, and I have a desire to be engaged not in politics, but in basketball. That is, what I have been doing for the last twenty years, – said Mr. Ptashny. “And now it turns out that the basketball community simply has nothing to choose from. As a result, the attitude towards the elections is detached. Well, besides, it is not good when only women participate in the elections. What are we, men, left?” ! ”

Sergei Ptashny also admitted that he does not have a clearly defined circle of supporters, and will try to get them directly at the RBF conference.”I really want to speak and convey my position. For example, that the President of the RFB should not decide important issues alone. This should be done collectively. I will not play politics. I respect both of my competitors, but I understand them too. weaknesses.Yulia Anikeeva has managerial experience, but no player experience, Svetlana Abrosimova has the opposite.I know basketball, and it’s not the first day in management. cute. “

It should be noted that, let’s say, unexpected candidates often appear during elections in Russian sports federations. However, until now there has not been a single case when they were lucky. The fact is that the delegates of the reporting and election conferences, as a rule, are very sensitive to the moment and try to vote for the one who is supported by the authorities. The most recent example is the presidential election for the Russian Football Union last fall. The situation then in many respects resembled the one that exists now in the RFB.The presidential post was contested by Nikolai Tolstykh, supported by Vitaly Mutko, and the head of the Russian Football Premier League Sergei Pryadkin, behind whom were the richest clubs in Russia.