Having put the most-hyped soccer match in American history in their rearview, capturing a point and putting at least some of the doubters regarding American soccer to rest, for the time being, the Yanks now prepare to play the most important game of this tournament. In many ways, Friday morning’s tilt with Slovenia is more than that—it’s one of the most important games in the history of American soccer, if only because beyond the obvious… Read more
Once again the Yanks are looking at a mismatch with regard to quality, but this time the scales are tipped towards the Americans. Slovenia is a plucky and well organized team who approaches each game with organization and determination. What they lack in individual quality they make up for in heart. You can see where the comparisons to former friendly opponent Turkey come into play. You can probably also see some similarities to the way the USMNT was… Read more
The United States is known, for good reason, as a nation of immigrants. That reality is reflected in the makeup of our national team. Plenty of American players could have represented another country, like that despicable Judas traitor Giuseppe Rossi did. And conversely, plenty of players playing for foreign national teams could have suited up for the Yanks, like that despicable Judas traitor Giuseppe Rossi could have. So many players, in fact, you could make… Read more
Back in the sepia-toned days of the 2002 World Cup, much of the American team that reached the quarterfinals was based in the US. Integral contributors like Cobi Jones, Brian McBride, and Eddie Pope hailed from MLS teams. Now, the 15-year-old league seems marginal, at best. Out of the established core of starters, only Landon Donovan currently plays for an MLS club, and his future in the US is in doubt, thanks to his recent successful loan stint at Everton…. Read more
With the players and owners in agreement and the 15th MLS season upon us, complacency is coming at soccer fans like an unskilled, college defender. Let us remember that we have not always had this level of soccer in the U.S., and it wasn’t easy getting here. There were some extremely dark days. The lights went out on March 28, 1985. The last NASL teams, Toronto and Minnesota, had watched Tampa Bay drop from the league and the Cosmos miss financial… Read more
Get your popcorn ready, MLS fans. After delays, threats of strike, and hard pressed late night negotiations, the MLS Players Union and Major League Soccer agreed to a five year, brand spanking new collective bargaining agreement. The main points: Based on the age and years of service, the majority of players will now have guaranteed deals. A re-entry draft will be held once a year in which out-of-contract players can be claimed by other teams… Read more
I’m sick and tired of defending Major League Soccer. In conversations pertaining to athletics, most people lose faith in my sports knowledge when I even casually mention the word “soccer.” Soccer? You’re joking, right? At this point, my buddies take a good three to four minutes to bash the game they don’t fully understand. It’s boring. There are not enough goals. The players dive all over the field and shy away from contact. I’d rather… Read more
Steve Martin once did a bit on Saturday Night Live where his single Christmas wish was world peace. When he considered additional wishes, world peace withered in importance. He added money, power and a 31-day orgasm. FIFA is like that when it looks to decide where World Cups should be played. Putting aside those images of hooligans, riots and leg-breaking fouls, FIFA likes to portray itself as an ambassador of peace. But when it comes to choosing a World… Read more
Another big difference between you and your football brethren o’er the pond is our attitudes regarding luck and fortune and our relative ability to influence and harness it – or believe we can. Ask any English fan if their team is going to win at the weekend and they will come back with a variety of euphemisms for good fortune – “hope so”; “fingers crossed”; “we’re due a win.” Ask a Yank the same thing and you’ll be blown back by the… Read more
Netherlands. March 3. In Amsterdam. Who knew they had this one in the works? One day after announcing plans to play Honduras at home on January 23rd Bob Bradley and his men have officially scheduled a game against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on March 3rd. This is a daunting task, but a necessary one. U.S.A. soccer has been drawing some criticism, and deservedly so, for scheduling Honduras for a fifth time in the current calendar year. In the months… Read more
Look, it is well known and established below that the United States has had a few issues in being as impressive as we know after this summer they are capable of being in the last two qualifying matches. Tonight’s match in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago is one more chance for the U.S. to play the complete game it is capable of. Let’s put the cookies on the lowest shelf too: The United States has to play a huge game tonight because these three points are the… Read more
Diminutive Mexican mid Andres Guardado sure is confident heading into tomorrow’s clash between the Yanks and El Tri @ the Azteca. (4 PM, Mundo 2 for an English Broadcast)Insisting that the presence of a U.S. “A Team” will not matter, Guardado, who is battling a bit of a knee injury, said Monday morning– “Of course we will win, 3-0. We have players of high quality and you can see that the team has prepared well, now there is only the question of showing it on… Read more
Ahead of Wednesday’s important World Cup qualifier/grudge match/bounce back game against El Tri the USMNT has plenty of questions to answer: Can the Yanks pick up their first win in The Azteca? Will the team be able to keep up its blistering form from the last three games of the Confederations Cup? Will Landon Donovan be in a throat-slitting mood to backup his comments? How does J.F. Torres fit into Bob Bradley’s view of the team? Have we seen the… Read more
