FIFA Street 3

U.S. to play Brazil Sept. 9, replacing match against Mexico. WE ARE SCARED!!!

From the AP: "The U.S. soccer team will play South American champion Brazil in an exhibition game Sept. 9 in Chicago, replacing a match against Mexico that was called off because of financial problems."

"The Americans had been scheduled to play Mexico at Azteca Stadium on Sept. 9 in a rematch of the Gold Cup final. The game was canceled because of what the U.S. Soccer Federation said were "contractual and financial considerations ."

WTF, My opinion is that we are just scared. When will U.S. soccer realize that matches such as these in hostile environments are so important to the experience of our national team and how well we will do in major competitions such as the World Cup. I can not believe we are so scared.

On the Brasil match, of course we will play Brasil in the US, most likely where not many first team Brasilans will even play. But if this game was scheduled to be played in Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro we would probably say that we had "contractual and financial considerations" to make. I mean, when doesn't a national soccer team have "contractual and financial considerations" to make?

Bryant Gumbel Gumbowns any Beckham / Soccer haters

ThroughBall.com

The Beautiful Game

USA vs Paraguay Copa America

USA lost to Paraguay 3-1 on Monday. The scoreline is quite deceiving to how close the game actually was. Paraguay scored their third goal in the 94th minute on a awarded free kick that was a complete dive. The USA had so many chances in this game and more shots and shots on goal than Paraguay. Their chances were so clear too, some of the ones missed were complete freebies. Towards the end of the game after a USA player missed a complete open header at the top of the six yard box announcer Ray Hudson, who was obviously in favor of the US, finally gave in and said, "this is absolutely pathetic," and it was. In addition, Paraguay's goals were not earned, they were given to them by the US defense and goal keeping.

"We gave them too many easy chances. When you give good teams and good players easy chances, they're going to beat you," said Kasey Keller, the veteran U.S. goalkeeper. "But this is why we're here to give these young guys experience. Unfortunately, sometimes you need to make mistakes to learn."

Keller was slow on getting to both the balls that eventually went into the back of "the old onion-bag." Keller brings up a the idea that we brought all of these "young guys" to the Copa America to make them more experienced and this is something that I have been angry about all week after seeing the squad coach Bob Bradley announced for the 2007 Copa America. I understand that none of our veteran players refused to play and I understand we are trying to make our young boys more experienced. If this is the case... then where is Bocanegra... where is Dempsey or Onyewu... or Tim Howard instead of the old and slow (even though I love him) Kasey Kelly... all of these players are young and will be on our 2010 World Cup team. I know none of our players refused to play on the squad like Kaka and Ronaldinho did for Brasil, but we still could have had our entire "young" squad down there playing and gaining team chemistry in an hostile environment, which we desperately need.

The fact is that the USA doesn't care about this tournament. They won the CONCACAF Gold Cup and that is apparently enough to make everyone happy and keep Bob Bradley's job safe. As long as we won the Gold Cup, which is basically put on by the US in the US, everything is good... but it really isn't because our global reputation as a respectable football team is steadily declining and it makes me angry because I know that if we were at full strength we could take on anyone in the world. I really wish we took this tournament more seriously even though I know a lot of our young guys are getting vital experience and showing the hearts of gladiators.

Source: AP

Kaka Compilation

One of the best players in the world... by far... I hope we get to see him in action in the Copa America...

CONCACAF Gold Cup: Canada vs. USA (Canada got screwed)

Canada got screwed. USA just beat Canada 2-1 in a semi-final in the CONCACAF Gold cup. This means that USA goes to the final and will face the winner of Mexico and Guadalupe. The only problem is that Canada scored thier second goal in the fourth minute of injury time that should have tied the game, but the goal was disallowed when the line ref called offsides. It actually was not offsides because the pass was not by a Canadian player, the ball was headed by an American player to a Canadian player and he scored a goal that should have tied the game which should have gone to extra time.

Atiba Hutchinson put a shot past Keller, but Mexican referee Benito Archundia waved the goal off, saying the Canadian was offside. Replays showed the ball went off U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu, meaning the goal should have counted. Canadian players were visibly irate, and they vehemently argued to no avail with Archundia, who seconds later blew the final whistle. Canadian players and substitutes complained bitterly after the match. At one point, former Canadian Soccer Association chief operating officer Kevan Pipe - who is running the Chicago venue for CONCACAF - stepped in front of Canadian manager Morgan Quarry as he harangued the officials. Pipe was fired by the CSA last November.

It is sad that the officials had to fail in this situation. The game was great and I wanted to see more. Now I can't help but feel that the USA got a pass and should not really be in the Gold Cup final, but as they say... "that's football."

Source: AP, Fox Soccer Channel

FIFA bans "high-altitude" matches

The world's governing body of all things football (soccer), FIFA, announced this week that they are banning matches being played at stadiums that are more than 8,200 feet above sea level. The decision was made by FIFA's medical staff for the reason of protecting player's health. This new rule is most notable for countries such as Bolivia and Peru, which have some stadiums above 12,000 feet. Bolivia President Evo Morales says FIFA's decision to ban all international soccer matches above 8,200 feet discriminates against Latin America's high-altitude nations.

La Paz football stadium (Bolivia)

"This is not only a ruling against Bolivia, but against the universality of sport," Morales said following an emergency Cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in La Paz, 11,800 feet above sea level. "He who wins at altitude, wins with dignity," Morales said. "He who fears altitude has no dignity." Toluca press chief Mauricio Garduno said extreme heat and cold also create an advantage for some home teams. "When you play a match at 104 degrees, that's what affects players the most," Garduno said. This is why you should engage in online sports betting. "Altitude is not that important. If FIFA is going to consider that, it should consider other things, too."

Funny remark from The Jaunt:

I myself was affected by the high altitude of Bolivia's national stadium. I remember back in New York when I Watched Colombia play Bolivia on Big Screen T.V. I often felt dizzy and light headed with a sudden shortness of breath.

Sources: FIFA bans high-altitude international…, Bolivia: FIFA altitude ban discriminates…

Whooooo North Texas Super Bowl

Well, good ol' Jerry Jones is gonna be puttin' on a show in 2011 in the new Dallas Cows' stadium in Arlington (in between Fort Worth and Dallas). The Votes are in and North Texas has the 2011 Super Bowl, most likely due to the strings Jerry pulls with big league owners and league officials as well as the possible revenue due to the amazing new stadium. I wonder what the half time show is going to look like? I'm assuming that they're going to perpetuate the ongoing stereotype of all Texans wearing cowboy hats and big ol' boots... that just sounds fun right.... I can't wait until this whole metroplex (I live in Dallas / Fort Worth) is overrun by the nation's finest.... GET 'ER DONE!!!!!

With this "victory" for Nor Tex, somebody has to lose... [Indianapolis Loses Super Bowl... 45]

This is how excited the "chicken fried nation" (DFW) is...[NORTH TEXAS WILL HOST SUPER BOWL IN 2011!]