Copa America

Most haven't seen very much of Davies. His brief display for the USMNT showed some great promise. Nguyen, another relative unknown, displays some quality service coupled with some fantastic on the ball skill.

Like tibor I am looking forward to the Copa. Come on you Yanks.

 

As I said in another thread, wake me up when the Gold Cup is over. Well, it is over and I am awake. I am really looking forward to Copa America. I wish the best players for the US were playing, but there is still some quality in the side.

Thursday night will be a great sports night for me:

1. US v Argentina in Copa America
2. NBA Draft
3. Phillies v Reds

Good stuff my friends!

 

1. US v. Argentina will be epic
2. NBA Draft...Yawn
3. Phillies v. Reds...baseball...already asleep

 

You gotta love the all day sports days. My wife hates the perfect storms in September that include euro soccer in the am, american football throughout the day, then baseball and mls at night. I on the other hand, don't mind sleeping on the couches those nights.

 

Sorry I see this argument, and your not the only one using it, as garbage. No one calls the European Cup worthless, when they crown a champion its important yet when Africa, the Americas, Asia, crown a champion its meaningless. A European plays hard for his country and it matters he's a hero but when a Cameroonian or Peruvian plays hard for his country its meaningless, it tires him out, as if all he's good for is playing for the Money clubs in Europe.

Seriously the world consists of more than Europe, anytime a region crowns a champion its important.

Is the European football the best? yes
Is European football over ratted? most certaintly yes

I may be a rarity these days but for me its country over club. Playing for your flag, your country, your people, will in my mind always mean more than playing for some corrupted smug Russian oil tycoon.

 

Logistics aside, I would have liked to see our best lineup in the Copa. On some level, I understand Bradley's choice to name a young roster but on another level, I think it's somewhat insulting to the tournament and the teams in it. The Copa is a much bigger tournament with better competition. We should send our best team and try to get them better rather than send a B squad who won't make it out of the group stage. Our first team needs to be playing teams better than those in the Gold Cup if we want to improve.

 

Spencer...I tend to favor Country over Club, but that is a rarity in this world. Many club supporters have had their top players hurt in international play and it has soured them a bit. Most also believe since the club pays the wages they deserve more of the loyalty than the player's nation.

If Boca or Deuce had been injured significantly in the Gold Cup then I imagine I would have a different tune, but they didn't so I will stick with my original school of thought.

 

So far I like seeing DeMerit on the roster, as well as Eddie Gaven. I get to see Gaven play from time to time with the Crew, and like what I see. Now don't misunderstand me - I do NOT think he can hold his own against the likes of Brasil or Argentina, but it'd be some awesome experience.

And Mapp really did impress the hell out of me during his game in the Gold Cup. I really hope to see that kind of gameplay continues.

Anyone know if the first match, USA v Argentina is going to be aired on television? I wonder if my XM radio will have it on one of the Latin channels. Though my Spanish blows.

 

Univision and Telefetura are the only stations that I know of carrying the matches. Unfortunate, but I will take it.

 

I did watch some of the Gold Cup, but not all of it. The US looked pretty good and the final was definitely entertaining. I am more interested in Copa America, but it was nice to see the US win the Gold Cup. I would have been disappointed had the US lost.

 

Tom, does the USMNT not interest you or is it just international football in general?

The Gold Cup didn't have the most talented sides, but it made up for it with an amazing final.

 

Actually I love international football. I support the USMNT as well as Poland with everything I have.

However, after a long season of the Premiership I need a bit of a break from football for a small period and I decided not to get all crazy about the Gold Cup this year. On top of that most anything in the CONCACAF is rather anti-climactic until the US plays Mexico in my opinion.

I will watch Copa America though as I am curious how the US stacks up against the powers that be in South America and to see how the US is received in Venezuela.

 

Understandable. don't exactly want to get burnt out on football. Poland eh...good portion of our family was from Poland, but the majority are from Ireland.

I am not sure how well the Copa will be as a measuring stick for the USMNT, but it will definitely be interesting.

 

FYI the games are on GolTV. Its part of the Sports Pack on DirecTV, not sure about Dish or cable. Very good channel. If you have Fox Soccer you probably have GolTV.

http://www.goltv.tv/en_index.php

 

All things considered, I'd rather play Argentina first. They'll be aware that they're playing the JV and perhaps play that 1st game flatly. Hard to be optimistic when the best thing to look forward to is a possible back line of Pearce, Conrad, DeMerit, and Wynne.

If we can avoid a blowout in the first game, and thusly a GD disaster a 2nd place finish isn't totally out of the realm of reality (of course a 4th place isn't either). Paraguay has trouble scoring and Columbia is a wildcard, but known for gagging.

 

My wife was born and raised in Poland. He only moved to the States six years ago so I have a soft spot in my heart for the Polish national team.

 

The games are also on either Univision or Telefutura, which I can get with my digital cable. I am not able to get GolTV.

 

So you bagged yourself a Polish wife. Nicely done.

I take it you meant she, but to each his own. The Polish National Team has been dominating Group A and hopefully they will upset a few of the favorites in the next round. Come on Biało-czerwoni

 

Yeah, I did mean SHE. Sorry about that. I did get lucky with my wife. She is definitely the better looking half of us.

Poland has been doing well up until their last game against Armenia. They lost which was very disappointing. I can understand losing to Portugal or a good team like that but not Armenia. While they are still top of the group, they still have a lot of work to do in the fall to qualify. I am keeping my fingers crossed.