Canada 2007

I'm w/you Andy in hoping the powers that be in Bristol, CN decide to show the quarterfinal on a channel most of us get (espn or espn2).

Just hoping the kids don't come out flat after beating Brazil and realize the only important thing is the next 90 minutes no matter who we play.

 

Here's what I've come up with for the Quarter Final match-ups so far.

Quarterfinals
2-A vs. 2-C
USA vs. 3-BEF
Spain vs. 3-ACD
Japan vs. Czech Republic
1-A vs. 3-CDE
Zambia vs. Nigeria
Argentina vs. Poland
1-C vs. 3-ABF

3rd Place Teams (in order)
[3A]
[3C]
Uruguay (4 pts, GF3, GA4) [3B]
Brazil (3 pts, GF4, GA5) [3D]
Costa Rica (3 pts, GF3, GA4) [3F]
N Korea (2 pts, GF2, GA3) [3E]

Based on my calculations, Brazil has made it through as they will be, at worst, the 4th best 3rd place team. N Korea is eliminated. USA will likely face Uruguay.

 

HD; Maybe the candle wave hasn't hit Texas (lucky you), but take it literally the ladies buy and talk candles for hours on in....in a word BRUTAL.

If we do play Uruguay, hope they don't play like the senior team did in their quarterfinal tonight (4-1 over the hosts).

 

So...the U.S. crashed out against Austria. Although I didn't see the Austrian match, the squad showed great heart against Uruguay. And, they showed class at the end when the Uruguayans lost it and wanted to fight. Adu has punched his ticket with his performance in this tourney. Rumors have Celtic and Spurs seeking his signature. If he cannot make the first team of a big squad, I'd hope he would be loaned out by any big club he signs for so he can continue his development.

Altidore, Szetela, Seitz, Wallace (red car notwithstanding), Frank Rizzo, Rogers and McCarty have futures abroad and soon. This generation has quality and I can only hope it is further refined prior to 2010 so the U.S. can better the Korea/Japan performance ('06 should be forgotten by everybody that is not employed by the USMNT).

It was a solid showing, and it speaks volumes that I felt a tinge of disappointment at the final result. I loved watching this team, they played more beautiful footie than their senior counterparts.

 

It would be good if Szetela showed that sort of form with the club.

Oh, he's competent on the field when he's on and you can see it's there, but he just doesnt stand out as "Gee.. this guy has to start!"

This is one of those cases where the rumors will come to fact, if Danny doesnt go to Europe, I'd be highly surprised. The alternative is either RSL or LA.

And, what's funny is, I was evidently 100% right about Danny and why he'd like living in Columbus. Has his own house.. good looking professional athlete guy... equals party central.

 

The midfield is very, very deep for 2010. The 4 you named plus Dempsey, Convey, Beasley and Donovan gives Bradley so many options. I see Bradley and Feilhaber cemented in the middle, definitley Feilhaber. On the outside, Convey with im assuming Dempsey. The a combination of Donovan, Adu and Altidore up top. A solid bench with Szetela, Roggers, Beasley and Adu or Altidore. But he can do so many things with this talent, this is where good coaching comes into play, finding the right starting 11 with plentey of talent.

 

I watched the Austria game (that well spent $11.95 for the Comcast Spanish package). The US came out ok, though a bit flat. The flatness just increased after our goal. Austria played "American" (strong pressure, especiallty in the midfield, so we had no time to find good passing lanes) and with more energy than we had. We had some chances on some occasional flashes of brilliance, but went all "Senior Team" (remember our chance-to-goal percentage in the Gold Cup?) and fluffed them up. Austria's winning goal caught us a bit out of sorts - it was right after Wallace was sent off and we were still reorganizing. Admitedly, Austria didn't play extra time the game before while our guys played the extra 30 minutes, so that may be what happened.

Still, a good show overall. My guess is that we put so much into the Uruguay game (vs. a better team) that we had nothing left to give in this one.

 

Didn't get to see any of the matches but I watched the highlights. It was encouraging that we beat some quality sides and made it to the quarterfinals. Looks like we might have made it further if our keeper hadn't mishandled a ball (I'm sure that's not the only reason we lost but it's what stood out to me on the highlights). Altidore needs to replace Eddie Johnson on the USMNT ASAP. I also think Adu should get another serious look from Bob Bradley. All in all, the future looks pretty bright for us. US soccer is getting better and better every year! We'll get to a WC semifinal or final match before we know it!

 

Bad News - USA is out, and their defending and passing from the back was terribly weak.

Good News - USMNT is strong at the back, will be strengthened in the middle, and will most definitely be improved in the front with the inclusion of quite a few players from this squad.

And, AUT 0 - 2 CZE. Let's go Czecha!!!

 

Watched Chile-Argentina last night. Wow. The talent on display was extreme. However, the diving and embellishment of fouls was a farce and ruined the game. I don't understand why more people are talking about/doing something about this.

Diving is easy to cut out. Get a panel that reviews plays on tape retroactively and suspends players for 5 games, 10 games, whatever, they won't dive when they come back. Diving would be gone from any league or tournament literally overnight.

Embellishment of a foul and the feiging of injury, I think is worse than diving and is a totally separate issue, which is more difficult to combat. The only way to deal with it I think, is to play on. When a player is on the floor rolling around after a foul, award the free-kick and play on immediately. You know damn well that if the ball comes to that player, he is up and ready in a flash.

 

Guess the tournament doesn't matter once the US get knocked out.

 

It mattered, I watched a good part of the semi's and finals... but I just couldnt be arsed to comment.

I think there WOULD have been comment if Austria had come out on top. But ARg... ho hum.

 

RE: Re: RE: Canada 2007

No fears, mate.... the tournament did what it set out to do. It was the most successful EVER.

Largest attendance: 1,195,200

Largest avg attendance: 31,000

Most countries viewing: 200

Highest tv ratings ever.

Cant hurt! Remember it was WC '04 that spawned MLS. And there's talk on FSW-Canada about revamping Canada Youth program.
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But dont those guys on the desk seem like bloggers who snagged a tv spot?

 

Congrats to Szetela on signing with AS Roma. Good to see the young kids getting scooped up by Europe (though it's frustrating that Feilhaber isn't even being named a substitute). Positive signs for 2010, 2014