Off the Ball

By Chris D'

July 11, 2007 12:36 AM | Link to this

Nice post. You are right there is much soccer going on. Rough loss for the Backs last night. The game was available on the Dallas FC website. That was rather nice of them. Hopefully the kids will stay focused in Canada. There is no doubt we can make it to the final four for a potential Brazil rematch. My recommendation for Real Salt Lake is sell Adu to a European club for as much as you can then use that money to start sending Mormon Missions down to Argentina and Brazil.

By Henry

July 11, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this

Great comments Wendy and very funny Chris.

By Chris D'

July 11, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this

Henry,

The strategy has worked very well for the BYU athletic department bringing in Polynesian players.

http://byu.scout.com/2/216721.html

“The rapid population growth of LDS membership in Tonga, Samoa and the Hawaiian Islands during this period was a boon to BYU’s sports recruitment efforts. Quality LDS youth programs in distant Polynesia, aided by Church schools and educational programs throughout the region, helped positively influence Polynesian people, LDS and non-LDS alike.”

By Chris D'

July 11, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this

Henry,

The strategy has worked very well for the BYU athletic department (especially Football) bringing in Polynesian players.

http://byu.scout.com/2/216721.html

“LDS missionaries were sent to Tahiti, Hawaii and the other islands of Polynesia just a few decades after the Church was organized in 1830. Briefly discouraged, the missionaries struggled to learn the Polynesian languages sufficiently to take their message to native families. To the astonishment and delight of the “haole” (Caucasian) missionaries, many native Polynesians were almost instantly converted to “Mormonism.””

“The rapid population growth of LDS membership in Tonga, Samoa and the Hawaiian Islands during this period was a boon to BYU’s sports recruitment efforts. Quality LDS youth programs in distant Polynesia, aided by Church schools and educational programs throughout the region, helped positively influence Polynesian people, LDS and non-LDS alike.”

By Henry

July 12, 2007 8:22 AM | Link to this

OK what has that to do with soccer. Well our boys in Canada survived another one. 50% our luck vs 40% Uruguayan skill.This time the combination of Uruguay not have fire power to score up front and a better playing American defense made the difference, however the goalie, not the one that won the game against Brasil, played very poor. If one is selects as goaltender for a national team one must at least be able to hold on to the ball. In mid-field the Uruguayans had the advantage and I liked the way they attacked every ball. Our boys had little time to get a play together. They stopped almost every ball, than looked what to do and when ready to dribble or pass, the ball was in the Uruguayan possession. Thanks for then not having goal finishers. They defended against Adu with three players throughout the game. Unfortunately we did not have any of the other offensive players to take advantage of the open areas that developed. Only after the Uruguayans got tired Adu became a factor. The two first goals were flukes but the deciding one was a beautiful corner-kick by Adu which was headed back into the box over 5 Uruguayan defender and a shot out of the air into the net. That was one of the few times our boys did not stop the ball first. After the Brasilian loss I am left just one team to root for. Bradley is becoming a dirty player but held his own against a dirty playing Uruguayan team. Oh yea the referee literally stunk. I have not seen such a poor performance as this guy did since the last World Cup. At half time someone must have talked to him that it looked like he hated us Americans and became as bad against the Uruguayans in the second half. I lost count on how many yellow cards he dished out. But to his credit he made sure he did not issue a second one to any one, regardless of how vicious the foul was. I hope some one was assessing him and take that FIFA badge from him immediatly. Copa America is on track as I expected, Brasil vs Argentina. Should be a good game on Sunday on Univision. The Argentineans dispatched our neighbors easily and showed that CONCACAF is not in the world class required to play with the South Americans and European top teams in tournaments. Semifinals are as good as it will be in the next World Cup for this region’s countries.

By Ben Piël

July 12, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

sorry you couldn’t see the soccer U20 USA vs Uruguay. So little interest in the USA. Here it was shown Throuhout Canada on all major CBC stations. I really enjoyed the game.

By Chris D'

July 12, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

DC United’s new proposed stadium renderings:

http://www.mlsnet.com/gen/photogallery/mls/year2007/month06/day_29/cf102333.html

By Chris D'

July 15, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this

I was rather disappointed with the U20 showing yesterday. There was a chance for the USA to a historic statement and they played rather poorly. There were moments when they showed some great class but too often they conceded possession and got lost in the back. It was odd to see a US team get outplayed between the posts. Seitz is a great keeper but seeing him trying to play injured was not fun. Towards the end of regulation and in to extra time he looked useless. I have to put that decision on the coach. You can send a player out there injured in a critical game. I think we had a great run but making it to the final 4 would have made a great statement and would have been a huge boost for US Soccer. If Real Salt Lake management is listening. Put Freddie in any position he wants to play and let him run the show until you sell him. Your team sucks and it couldn’t be any worse. He is fun to watch, let him do his thing.

By Nicholas Irwin

July 15, 2007 11:39 PM | Link to this

I pretty much agree on every point you made, Chris. I’m not sure how much of a historic statement it would’ve been. It would’ve been cool to reach the semifinals for the first time, but I don’t really think it would’ve resulted in increased visibility for U.S. soccer unless we won the thing, given that it was a youth tournament. But it was an opportunity and we did screw it up.

I especially agree on Freddy Adu, but I don’t hold much optimism. I’m afraid his only hope is to leave for Europe, as I’ve stated repeatedly.

This did show us that we have some very good attacking players in the pipeline, which is very good news given our lack of finishing ability at the senior level. That’s the biggest thing I’ll take from this tournament.

By the way, how about the egg Argentina laid today in the Copa America final? Yikes, was that bad.

By Henry

July 16, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this

Accurate comments Fellows. So one of my three countries won the Copa de America. I was hoping that Mexico could have made it to the finals. We screwed up in Venezuela so I wanted to see that one other CONCACAF country could make the finals. But those Mexicanos choked against Argentina too. The Brasilians looked just like any other Brasilian team that actually wanted to win. Not like the premadona millionaires that showed up to the World Cup. Like in the other tournament U20 World cup it appears that only South America and Europe have something to look forward to. Right now I like Chile. They played supreme against a rough team Nigeria. Only one other team that I saw in this tournament played as entertaining as Chile. Spain, but if you can’t score even on penalty kicks, playing entertaining soccer is not enough. We, as I outlined previously had no defense and it showed. If this is our Olympic team lets just stay home. We outplayed the Austrian until we led and than the boys were convinced that they could not lose. Sad. It appears that our national coaching staffs cannot put 4 games together without screwing-up. Looks like the only one to look forward to as a good addition to the National Senior team is Adu and may be Seitz, if he learns how to catch a long hard shot ball. Than I watched our ladies play archrival Norway. What a relief that was. Those tall Vikings gave our ladies the run for their money. Much more entertaining than the two men’s teams. Here is a team that can play defense. Hay boys look at the girls they can teach you a thing or two in defending your goal. My prediction for the final must be between Argentina and Hungary. Al so if the Czechs can hold the Austrian forwards in check they have a good chance, as well as does Chile if they play like they did in the last game. The Czechs penalty kicking is the best I ever saw. It was tremendous.

By Chris D'

July 16, 2007 10:09 PM | Link to this

So Henry you are saying if the Brazilians teams just want to win they will win every game they play? If they are motivated in the World Cup no one else has a chance?

Interesting theory.

By Nicholas Irwin

July 16, 2007 11:35 PM | Link to this

Well, let’s hope for Argentina’s sake that their youth team plays better than their senior team. I’m honestly not sure I’ve seen a worse performance by a world-class team. That was truly pathetic in every way. I don’t think they even got a decent chance at goal. Honestly, Brazil did do a good job of disrupting them, but that doesn’t even come close to explaining how badly Argentina played. They could’ve run a team of 15-year-olds out there and they might have played better than that. Apparently Brazil is to Argentina as the U.S. is to Mexico.

I think I would add Altidore to that list of players that might help out the senior team, Henry. Once could argue he looked even better than Adu. Seitz looked alright and was clearly still injured against Austria, and with Keller probably out, he can challenge for the backup role, but I don’t think anybody has much of a chance of supplanting Howard as the No. 1 GK during this cycle.

By Henry

July 17, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this

Well Chris I always said the game is 50/50 in skill and luck. Brasil, against Argentina, had the 50% skill while Argentina was a sleep. Dunga said he abandoned the Beautiful Game to win this tournament, different attitude than our team’s management. And they did. Like some other coach in the US said “winning is not everything, but is the only thing”. That’s how Dunga is running the new and younger Brasilian team. With Seitz, when healthy, you are right he could be our new tender in the next World Cup.

By Chris D'

July 17, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this

Real Salt Lake made a trade yesterday for Beckerman from Colorado. I concur with this observers analysis below. Don’t ever forget professional sports is an entertainment business:

“What benefits RSL the most, though, is the ability now to hand the reins over to Adu and let him create and be the team’s go-to attacking player. Let him play freely, the way he did with the Under-20s, and RSL will only benefit. RSL might not become a playoff contender overnight if that happens but they’ll be way more exciting to watch and will at least put themselves in a position to win.”

By Chris D'

July 17, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

From what I saw on Sunday it appeared that the Brazil vs Argentina was a classic example of a defense disrupting a rhythm offense. I have seen it happen in sports many times. Argentina did not become a bad team overnight and just play like crap. Brazil took them out of their game and did not allow them the space or time that they had in previous matches to get into a comfortable offensive rhythm. On Riquelme’s balls floated into the box did you see any Argentinians with space to make a play on the ball? Did you see Messi have the opportunity to run at guys and get into open space? Did you see the Argentinians with time on the ball where they could look up and make a brilliant pass? It was no accident that Brazil committed so many fouls. In any of their other matches were the Argentians worried about lightening quick counter attacks executed with deadly efficiency? You might get a little tentative going forward when you witnessed a 50 yard pass and shot pierce your defense early in the game. I have to admit I don’t remember the 2nd goal from Brazil but the 1st and 3rd were extremely efficient. In my humble opinion it appears Brazil neutralized Argentina with pressure defense and killed them with offensive efficiency.

By Nicholas Irwin

July 18, 2007 3:15 AM | Link to this

The second goad was an own goal by Ayala, who was inexplicably clearing the ball toward his goal all game. There were at least two others that he also almost put in his own net.

By Henry

July 18, 2007 7:56 AM | Link to this

When Dunga said he had abandoned the Beautiful Game, obviously that showed. Playing hard defense is the Italian style of soccer. That what makes them great in the WC. Not pretty but effective. That way Brasil can send three or four teams to the WC and all would do well, not entertaining so. I prefer their Beautiful game with the super stars wanting to win, much more entertaining.

By Chris D'

July 19, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

Thanks for the reminder Nicholas. It was an easy own goal to forget.

In US National team fixture news:

“In the United States Soccer Federation’s continuing effort to schedule quality matches outside of US soil, the Stars and Stripes are set to play South Africa on November 17th.”

By Jeff Fisher

July 19, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

I enjoy the game so much. I played it in high school. That was way back in the 70’s. I had Pele teach at a soccer camp at SUNY Binghamton. I learned the bicycle kick from him.

I also broke my wrist doing a slide tackle. It was worth it. I will never forget that day.

Signed, Former U.S. Congressional Candidate representing Florida’s 16th Congressional District in 2004. Jeff Fisher

Now I am playing a different game. I am about to testify against Richard B “Cheney and KArl Rove.

I would rather be playing soccer. Its much safer and I just wish that one day I can coach again.

By Jeff Fisher

July 19, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

I enjoy the game so much. I played it in high school. That was way back in the 70’s. I had Pele teach at a soccer camp at SUNY Binghamton. I learned the bicycle kick from him.

I also broke my wrist doing a slide tackle. It was worth it. I will never forget that day.

Signed, Former U.S. Congressional Candidate representing Florida’s 16th Congressional District in 2004. Jeff Fisher

Now I am playing a different game. I am about to testify against Richard B “Cheney and KArl Rove.

I would rather be playing soccer. Its much safer and I just wish that one day I can coach again.

By Henry

July 20, 2007 8:32 AM | Link to this

Hi Jeff, welcome to this site. Did you damage your brain playing soccer? Back to soccer! What a game it would have been, between Argentina and Chile, if it had not been for the Referee. FIFA has not yet cleaned house since the WC. Even so I am German, I cannot defend the horrendous performance by this German refereeing team. The people in the old country have not learned anything in how to organize and cleaned-up their refereeing problem. I wonder if the FIFA patch is available for sale in Europe. Shame on FIFA! This could have been the best game of the tournament. When that joker issued the red card to the Chilean player because he missed a retaliation kick of the field, he distroyed this game. I played against Argentineans and have very little respect for them. They practice dives, injuries and dirty kick after the ball has gone or is outside the field, this guy masquerading as Referee did not catch any of them. When the Argentinean player kicked the ball out with a sliding tackle, both feet, cleats up (all illegal) attempting to get the Chilean player and missed, he decided to kick him when the fellow jumped over him to get the ball for the throw-in, and did not miss this time. The Chilean player remained on his feet and retaliated with a kick and missed; wile the Argentinean player acted like he had a life-threatening injury. This so-called Ref issued the red card. The player that was diving got up immediately and was laughing. This was early in the first half. Than later in the second half, when the game was gone and the South American where hot under the collar, this so called Ref actually called a good foul. It was another one of the Argentinean dirty two feet tackle intended to hurt the other player. A Chilean player ran to the Ref to remind him that he must issue a Yellow, which would have ejected that player for receiving the second one. To get the Reff’s attention he grabbed his hand and the Reff went nuts and send him of the field. Sadly this referee does not know how emotional the game is in South America. I do not think the end result would have been any different if the official would have conducted himself in a professional manner. The Chileans played much better than the Argentineans throughout the game even when reduced to 9 players but they don’t have a real goal scorer. over 50 fouls were counted by the Univision anouncers, sad. The Argentinean defense was also immaculate. Our coaches should be required to watch this game. Again FIFA screwed up another great game. The Argentineans will encounter a type team they have never played against. They will not have to dive intentionally. They will fly allover the field and most of the hard tackles by the Czechs are legal. I wonder how FIFA is going to screw this one up.

By Chris D'

July 20, 2007 8:21 PM | Link to this

The big 4 team sports in this country and the personalities in the spotlight this summer and their fixes…

MLS: David Beckham - hoping his ankle gets fixed

NFL: Michael Vick - fixing to go to jail

NBA: Tony Soprano - game fixing

MLB: Barry Bonds - steroids fixed him up enough to break the most important record in baseball

FYI…If Beckham plays or not the MLS is winning the PR game this summer by a landslide.

By Chris D'

July 21, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this

Henry,

The Chile vs Argentina game was a unique affair I wish I would have watched it. These photos don’t do it justice, but you can see an amazing amount of emotion from the Chileans.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/photogalleries/FIFA070719.html?g=0

I can’t remember an international fixture ending with one teams players beaten up by the police.

http://communities.canada.com/nationalpost/blogs/offthepost/archive/2007/07/20/treated-like-criminals-chilean-defender-says.aspx

The only thing I can remember similar to this was when Switzerland played at Turkey in a qualifier and the Swiss players were attacked. That incident stayed in the stadium and didn’t happen after the players had gotten on the team bus.

Expect much more from FIFA on this game and its aftermath. Mr Blatter does not take kindly to events like this.

By Chris D'

July 21, 2007 6:30 PM | Link to this

In other potentially intriguing international fixture news. In the Asian Cup final Iraq could meet Iran next Sunday with an invite to the Confederations Cup in 09’ on the line. How interesting of a Confederations Cup would that be if the US drawn in a group with Brazil, Italy and Iraq?

By Henry

July 22, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this

I think Blatter better fix his refereeing problem, before punishing any team.