International Friendlies During The Break Offer Unique Competition, Prep For Fall Season

League competition breeds familiarity and often times rivalry. International friendlies, on the other hand, allow sides to step out of their comfort zones and find where they stand against opposing teams from around the globe.

The break in between the NASL’s split-season format allows for teams to step onto the pitch in competitive fixtures outside of their usual competition, and several sides are using it to their advantage.

Second-year club Indy Eleven is playing its first ever international friendly when it welcomes Monarcas Morelia to Carroll Stadium.

“It’s exciting to play an international team for the first time, and to have a Mexican opponent and a quality one just adds to it,” Indy Eleven interim head coach Tim Regan said.

Jacksonville Armada FC, in its inaugural season, is also playing its first ever international friendly, and will do so against Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors. The Fort Lauderdale Strikers will also play Boca and traveled to Brazil to face Ponte Preta, where they fell, 4-0, to the Brazilian side. The San Antonio Scorpions will also host a friendly against Costa Rica's Club Sport Cartaginés.

Last season, Minnesota Unied defeated Swansea City, 2-0, while the San Antonio Scorpions and Carolina RailHawks both played Mexican clubs. The RailHawks defeated Puebla, 2-1, while the Scorpions drew 1-1 with Monterrey, but lost by a goal in a 2-1 affair with Tigres.

“It’s a very heavily anticipated match for us, especially with the players in our team and our coach with the background he has coming from Argentina,” Armada FC forward Jemal Johnson said. “It’s a massive opportunity for us to show our talent and our strength as a team, as a new club in this city. We’re definitely looking forward to it.

“It’s amazing the fact that we’ve even been able to get a game like this to be played at Everbank Field.”

It also provides a chance for fans of the NASL clubs to watch a different opponent or allows new fan bases to see the match-day experience, whether it’s in Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Indy, or San Antonio. 

“It brings in a different fan base for the players to play in front of and a different atmosphere in the stadium,” Regan said.”

Johnson added, “It’s going to be a great opportunity to get ready against a world-class team, on a massive stage like EverBank, and show your stuff.”

And the international friendlies also offer up special meetings, particularly in the Armada FC’s case when they host Boca. The club certainly has an Argentinian flair from the general manager to the players. Head coach Guillermo Hoyos played for the Argentine club, while several current players have either trained for or played against Boca.

“It means a lot,” Jacksonville forward Marcos Flores said. “In Argentina, everyone knows what Boca means. It’s one of the top 25 clubs in the planet, so that’s the type of importance I’m putting into this game. It’s going to be super-intense and super-aggressive soccer.

“It’s always special, but at the end of the day they are just human beings like us. They love the game the way I do. After the game and before the game perhaps we will receive them differently, but when the ball is rolling, we just want to make our fans proud.”

With a mini-preseason taking place between the split seasons, the friendlies offer a chance to play one or more competitive fixtures, which ultimately helps prepare for the Fall Season.

“The game gives us a chance to get on the field and play against a quality opponent leading into the [match against the] New York Cosmos,” Regan said.

Flores added, “Playing against Boca Juniors is good for us to show us where we are and get back [fitness] to start the Fall Season with our best – more aggressive and more belief than ever.”