International breaks are always a double-edged sword. During the long slog of the MLS season, two weeks off can seem like a godsend, particularly for the Seattle Sounders who have already played two-thirds of a season worth of matches. The extended break certainly provided the Sounders with the chance to get a mental and physical refresher and work on tactics, but as they say, there’s no substitute for playing games.
And the Sounders have plenty of them left, Major League Soccer having moved a number of matches to accommodate their successful Champions League campaign.