Kevin V. Nguyen
@kevinvnguyen
Writer at The San Francisco Standard 🟡 Business | Policy | Sports 🗒️ sfstandard.com/author/kevin-v-nguyen/
📍Stanford Stadium. No dust-ups yet in the 105th edition of the Cali Clasico. Both teams missing key players, especially Preston Judd. 🇩🇪Timo Werner has gotten a lot of touches on the ball but his countryman Marco Reus had the one that mattered. 1-0 LAG at HT.
Orlando HC Martín Perelman on Griezmann: “The size of his character, you know, he’s so big. But at the same time, he’s so humble. Such a good person. That combination, I think, just drives our energy, our confidence. He makes us feel comfortable. It’s amazing.”
Antoine Griezmann is 45 mins into his MLS debut in San Jose. The Frenchman looks sharp, which shouldn’t be a shock b/c he was still starting Champions League games in May. Still early; but this struggling, now retooled Orlando City side look uplifted. 🦁🇫🇷
There is a Vietnamese guy on Algeria named Ibrahim Maza. My brothers and sisters we need to rally around him tonight!!! AL-GERIA. 🇩🇿🇩🇿🇩🇿
Finally getting a chance to reflect on what we all just saw: They’re so… switchable. Which everyone says they want to do, but can’t. That was key to unlocking the Bosnians. And their mentality after the red card. So impressive. Credit to Pochettino. I can’t wait for Monday.
Daniel Lurie shoots his shot with LeBron James: sfstandard.com/2026/07/01/d...
Algeria have shown more quality in this great matchup — especially when hitting Mahrez on the big diagonals — but it’s Jordan who’ve made the most of their chances and are up 1-0 at halftime.
Hakan Sukur’s name has been erased from club and country records, and Turks are dissuaded from ever mentioning him — but some rebellious fans paid extra for him to get a special shoutout at tonight’s game:
Lowkey… respect to this Turkey fan for ripping an actual cig inside the stadium lmaooo
US fans watching Panamanians get their hearts ripped out by Ghana in the World Cup:
Jordan coach Jamal Sellami said he was proud of his team’s World Cup debut: “I think the result dos not reflect the effort made by this team… No one was expecting us to be that bold. That proactive. To be that capable... This was the message we wanted to convey to the viewers.”
So what if it’s a 9 p.m. kickoff? It’s a packed house tonight for Jordan v Austria in Santa Clara:
Bruce Arena, 74, fresh off his contract extension with the San Jose Earthquakes, had this to say: “You know I do have a death clause in my contract. If I die then my contract is null and void. So, who knows? We'll see.” 🤣
Swiss coach Murat Yakin was pressed on the age of his squad and his lack of trust in younger players: “Experience is a very positive thing… We have a good system….You have to deserve a place as a regular player… Not enough to have 1-2 good matches.”
Lopetegui said the Qataris started adjusting their body clocks to the 12p kickoff time a month ago. Normally, his players are used to playing at night. He said the pitch was good and that both teams had to suffer the same in the hot weather.
How far is FIFA going with its brand restrictions? The condiments at the Levi’s Stadium press box have all been taped over 😆
Solid turnout for the opening World Cup game in Santa Clara. Everyone is baking in the 12pm sun, but the vibes are high. 🇨🇭🇶🇦
Pandemonium at Jack’s in San Jose as Kai Havertz opens up the scoring for Arsenal.
This west-to-east coast red-eye on Southwest (no leg room) might be the death of me. 😪
Flipping between the NBA doubleheader and CA Gubernatorial debate earlier:
I spent an afternoon climbing in San Francisco with the one and only Alex Honnold. He talked about how life has changed since Taipei 101, his first break, and the climate work he’s been doing long before the fame and money arrived 👇 sfstandard.com/2026/04/25/a...