How's This For An Average Team?

If anyone wants to talk about a pure mid-table team, one need look no further than "my" Chicago Fire. After blowing some sure points on the road against the New York/New Jersey Metrostars, the Fire line looks as follows:

Games Played: 11
Record: 5-5-1
Goals For: 13
Goals Against: 15
Home: 2-2-0
Away: 3-3-1

For a second I did the math wrong and calculated the goals for and goals against as 14 and 14. That would have just been creepy.

I guess there's no shame in being the average team in the league. If they finish 14-14-4, Fire fans will be next to ecstatic after last season's finish.

Still, this gives a new meaning to mid-table.

Here's the general "if I had the league my way" standings after tonight's match:

1. New England Revolution (a.k.a. The Chelsealution) [6-0-3] 21 pts. GD: +11
2. FC Dallas (a.k.a. Burnsenal) [6-1-3] 21 pts. GD: +10
3. Los Angeles Galaxy [6-2-1] 19 pts. GD: +6
4. Chicago Fire [5-5-1] 16 pts. GD: -2
5. New York/New Jersey Metrostars [4-3-3] 15 pts. GD: +6
6. Kansas City Wizards [4-2-3] 15 pts. GD: +5
7. San Jose Earthquakes [3-3-4] 13 pts. GD: 0
8. D.C. United [3-4-2] 11 pts. GD: 0
9. Real Salt Lake [3-5-2] 11 pts. GD: -7
10. Columbus Crew [3-6-1] 10 pts. GD: -10
11. Colorado Rapids [2-7-2] 8 pts. GD: -5
12. Chivas USA [1-8-1] 4 pts. GD: -14

Someday soon, the divisions will be done away with. Until then, in my mind, the standing always look like this and in my blog, this is how they'll always be listed.

It Appears As Though Israel Is Playing With Eire

Now it looks like Israel's MNT has gone and done it. They've pissed off Robbie Keane. According to football365.com:

Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane has warned Israel revenge will be in the air at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Group 4 in UEFA qualifying is turning out to be one of the more interesting World Cup Qualifying pools in the entire world. UEFA's format this time around is one that has raised the ire of many a European footcer fan. Only the top team in each of the eight group and the top two "lucky losers" (the second place teams with the most points) receives automatic qualification for the World Cup.

The six other second place teams are placed in a random draw home-and-away series. The three winners of these playoff series go to Germany. The rest go home.

And there are some very good teams that might end up in 3rd (to which UEFA say "nein" to all): Romania, Finland, Turkey, and Denmark to name a few (that are currently in 3rd or 4th halfway through qualifying, others are holding onto 2nd).

Group 4 was supposed to be one of the less controversial ones: France, Ireland, Swizerland, Israel, Cyprus, and the Faroe Islands went in.

On paper, France and Ireland looked to dominate. Switzerland stood an outside shot of getting into the mix (as they qualified through simularly rough circumstances for Euro 2004).

But then Israel came in and screwed up the Irish and French plans. They tied France 0-0 Saint-Denis (aka at home) on September 4, 2004. And in the return leg in Tel Aviv, they again eeked out a draw 1-1 on March 30 of this year. Mighty France had gained two points out of a possible six on Israel.

Ireland didn't fare much better in their trip to Tel Aviv with a similar 1-1 draw on March 26, 2005.

In both matches in Israel, the larger side took a 1-0 lead only to see it snatched away late in the match by the Israelis. In France it was an 83rd minute goal. But with Ireland it was in injury time!

The standings of Group 4 are as follows:

1. France - 10 pts. (Matches Played: 6; Goal Differential: +4)
2. Israel - 10 pts. (Matches Played: 6; Goal Differential: +2)
3. Switzerland - 9 pts. (Matches Played: 5; Goal Differential: +7)
4. Ireland - 9 pts. (Matches Played: 5; Goal Differential: +5)
5. Cyprus - 1 pt. (Matches Played: 6; Goal Differential: -8)
6. Faroe Islands - 1 pt. (Matches Played: 4; Goal Differential: -10)

Now as part of the qualifying rounds on Saturday all over the world, Israel is making the trip to Dublin. Robbie Keane (and the rest of the team) is looking get more than a draw against the minnow to finally gain some ground on both them and Switzerland (and possibly even France who is idle this weekend because they have a game-in-hand.

I can just picture the volitile Keane, psssibly bringing his still more angry brother Roy, finding where the Israelis are staying on the emerald island. He'd then break a bottle on the stair case to their floor (even though in reality, it's probably a luxure elevator), carry the shattered glass to the rooms, and screaming, "come on you *expletive deleted*, you want to play with Eire, come 'ere."

It's just unfortunate that the match being show in the United States from European qualifying that day are Scotland/Moldova and Serbia/Belgium (though Belgium could be another unlucky third place).

Most people know better than to piss off one Irishman - let alone a whole team of them. :)

Elvis Has Entered The Country

The rhetorical question on the lips of every footcer fan in America of, "how long will it be before Beckhamania strikes?" was answered today. It took a surprisingly long time for the news stories on footcer's Elvis' American experience to start pouring in (if Beckham is Elvis, does that make Wayne Rooney Eminem?).

The natural spin on the story has been his anonymity amongst the general United States public as he walks the streets. Similarly, apparently Sven-Goran Eriksson doesn't get recognized anywhere either. Though this may change as he's a star of a new American Express campaign. Does anyone else find it odd that he signed a deal for a card that's not even accepted in half of Europe?

Not to get off topic, but Sven attended yesterday's Red Sox/Yankees game. I wonder which side he was supporting. What I love about Sven is if he were asked that directly, he'd give a direct answer. *please say Red Sox, please say Red Sox*

Anyhow, back to Beckham.

How long he remains an enigma to the non-People reading or non-footcer fan in America (how he could possibly be anonymous here when he's on the cover of the American junk tabloids and fashion mags here at least once a month - every 24-35 fashionista I know can pull "Becks" out of a lineup).

After the England/Colombia match tomorrow in New York City he's flying to the shadow of the Home Depot Center to open a footcer academy - named after himself of course.

On this, Footcer Elvis and MLS are on the same page. He's really trying to get the game into the urban areas of the United States. He was quoted by AP as saying the following:

"For kids in L.A. and in America, especial ghettos, football, soccer is a massive thing. Up until a certain age, kids love playing soccer. I think once when the kids go into college, I'm not sure what happens then on. I know there's the whole soccer moms thing, they take kids down to play soccer on the weekends."

I'm not sure how attending the David Beckham Academy will help keep kids interested through high school in the urban areas, but it can't hurt and I plaudit him for actually caring about footcer on this side of the pond.

Of course it could just be his smooth demeanor that led him to say that he might consider ending his career with the LA Galaxy or the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. Stated Beckham, before reiterating that he wanted to end his career at Real Madrid (does that mean he doesn't consider playing in the United States part of an actual career?):

"I love America. I've been here on holiday many times to Los Angeles and New York, and I like it. So one day, maybe."

I doubt he'll ever end up here but if he can convert any addition lifelong supporters here in the states, I'll definitely be willing to forgive the part of his career spent at Manchester United.

One For The Kids

The most surprising fallout from the United States/England match has been a chorus of "why didn't Freddy Adu play?"

Throughout the run-up to the match, the underestimating of the United States team by England fans was outrageous in general. But the fact that the English felt as though the United States lacked so much depth that a 15-year old who doesn't even have an everyday starting position for his club team, D.C. United, starts for the United States men's national team was truly an insult.

Over on the BBC 606 message boards, I began to feel like a match making service for the kid. Me and another American poster were constantly giving a combination of Freddy Adu's personal life and footcer resume.

Just yesterday, another fan who goes as "supermarioisablue" asked the following:

Were was the wonderkid Fredy Adu last night? Im sure he's a full international for the US, was kinda lookin forward to this 'outstanding talent' as i havent seen anything of him yet.

There's finally a good answer though as to what to tell an England fan when they ask about Freddy Adu. If they, or anyone else, want to see him play for a national team, the World Youth Championships begin on June 10.

The United States Under-20 team, led by Freddy Adu and New York/New Jersey Metrostars teenager Eddie Gaven begin on June 11 against Argentina.

Word on the street is that the United States side don't stand much of a chance, since they're in one of the toughest pools before the knockout phase, and I actually agree. But if Gaven (the real best U.S. player under 21) gets hot and Adu can set him up on a regular basis, anything's possible.

Maybe once some people in England see Freddy Adu play live, they'll stop obsessing over him. Or they can just wait two years until he turns 18 and goes to play somewhere in the Premiership. :)

I think the English are far more interested in Freddy Adu than even footcer fans in the United States.

An American Dream On Display In England Tomorrow

With a 4-2 victory today in the League One (third division) playoff finals, Sheffield Wednesday pulled off one thing if nothing else. They join derby partners Sheffield United in the Coca Cola Championship (second division) for next season. Now twice a season, there won't be a set of away fans fearing for their lives in south Yorkshire.

At least their mascot, the Owl, can scare the mascot of Premiership relegated Norwich City, the Canaries, in the battle of a bird kingdom now that they're both in the same division again.

Seriously, I'm happy for Wednesday as any promotion is good promotion in the English league system.

I'm rooting for Preston North End in the Coca Cola Championship playoff final tomorrow for completely different reasons. Anyone who follows the United States national team should have realized a notable absence at yesterday's United States/England friendly - midfielder Eddie Lewis.

Lewis, as many United States MNT players have done in the past has chosen to ply his skills in the lower divisions in England. But Lewis did this on purpose. Before leaping across the pond, he made a vow to play in the Premiership full time. He actually started out with Fulham helping them to the Premiership (on a team led by Luis Boa Morte - still with the club - which set the record for points in the second division).

The Cottagers showed their gratitude by dropping him to the bench, something that often happens to second division quality players, when they picked up stars to led them in the top flight.

Lewis played one match for the full team before jumping back down to the second division to play with Preston (a city about equidistant northeast from Liverpool as it is northwest from Manchester). Now Lewis stands within one match against West Ham (from the East End of London) from really living his Premiership dreams.

When Fulham went up, it was under the money hand of the owner of Herrod's who opened the pocketbooks wider than Preston can probably afford. Certainly PNE won't be able to afford the kind of player expenditures that Fulham could (as much as I'm badmouthing them in this article, they are the team I support in England). They'll try to buy some players but the nucleus of the current team will be intact. Eddie Lewis will most likely still be a midfielder for them most of next season.

And he'll be living his dream. Isn't that what the United States is supposed to be about? Even if you have to go to England to do it? :)

The match is on BBC Radio Five Live, not blacked out to North America thankfully, at 10:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time.