The International Break Is Over
So I was just watching "American Soccer" on Gol TV and they made an announcement that made my night. Somewhere in the deep, dark reaches of the dungeon of Garber's mind (or, well, technically U.S. Soccer) it was decided that the Supporter's Shield winner was going to be one of the teams representing the United States in the CONCACAF Champions Cup (with the MLS Cup winner being the other).
Is this true? Does this begin next year? I hadn't heard.
In other great news on this side of the pond, the gauntlet has been thrown down for Toronto to get together a stadium and expansion proposal for 2007 - it's Halloween. So by the MLS Cup, hopefully we'll know one of the next rounds of expansion. Hopefully they'll represent a better cross-border rival than Cardiff City, Wrexham, or Swansea in the Coca-Cola Leagues in England.
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Speaking of Welsh minnows, besides Ryan Giggs announcing he's going to try to play for Wales in 2010 qualfying, they had the good news today of beating Azerbaijan 2-0 to salvage not last in their group.
But, of course, that was just a silly transition to the actual qualifying that mattered in Europe. By now, I think everybody has heard that the following teams have qualified from UEFA: Netherlands, Ukraine, Portugal, France, Italy, England, Serbia, Croatia, England, Poland, and Sweden.
So, unfortunately we won't get to see the second place battle that Sven seems to have been hoping for in all of his qualifying antics: England v. Sweden. And, honestly, it would be in question who he was rooting for. No, sadly, both qualified (England not even needing to do it through the back door as they took care of Poland on a late goal by - who else - Frank Lampard (why is Steven Gerrard still starting?) to secure a 2-1 win in Manchester).
But even without the battle in Sven's head, there are six interesting teams in the second place playoffs: Czech Republic, Turkey, Slovakia, Switzerland (on goal differential over Israel), Norway, and Spain.
Of course the favorites there have to be the Czechs, Spanish, and Turks. By nature of the FIFA rankings, the 4th, 8th, and 12th ranked teams respectively get to draw the three lesser nations (though all three definitely have a shot). The draw takes place on Friday and then the real speculation begins.
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How much do the Uzbeks have to be hating life right now?
In a result that was pretty much inevitable as soon as the first leg of Asia's playoffs had be replayed, Uzebekistan finds themselves having to watch Bahrain lose to Guatemala (sure I'm putting the cart a little before the horse but Trinidad is not going to win - that's almost a universal certainty) on television instead of getting to do it themselves.
Yes, the former Soviet republic that had a chance to go to Bahrain with a 1-0 lead, instead were forced to replay their home leg. As soon as that tied 1-1, they had to know the dream was over. Sure enough, Bahrain dug in and came up with a 0-0 draw at home to advance to play CONCACAF's fourth on away goals.
Of course hindsight is 20/20, but what team would say, "yeah, let's replay this really tough match even though we got a win."
---
By the way, I was really hoping to report to end this that Serbia v. Bosnia went off without a hitch, but alas that political footcer ball was a little too hot still. Six fans were seriously injured in match related violence.
---
But to close on a happy note - this just in...Clint Dempsey's sister is hot! That's some news you'll probably get a few other places too but I just had to say it. :)
Is this true? Does this begin next year? I hadn't heard.
In other great news on this side of the pond, the gauntlet has been thrown down for Toronto to get together a stadium and expansion proposal for 2007 - it's Halloween. So by the MLS Cup, hopefully we'll know one of the next rounds of expansion. Hopefully they'll represent a better cross-border rival than Cardiff City, Wrexham, or Swansea in the Coca-Cola Leagues in England.
---
Speaking of Welsh minnows, besides Ryan Giggs announcing he's going to try to play for Wales in 2010 qualfying, they had the good news today of beating Azerbaijan 2-0 to salvage not last in their group.
But, of course, that was just a silly transition to the actual qualifying that mattered in Europe. By now, I think everybody has heard that the following teams have qualified from UEFA: Netherlands, Ukraine, Portugal, France, Italy, England, Serbia, Croatia, England, Poland, and Sweden.
So, unfortunately we won't get to see the second place battle that Sven seems to have been hoping for in all of his qualifying antics: England v. Sweden. And, honestly, it would be in question who he was rooting for. No, sadly, both qualified (England not even needing to do it through the back door as they took care of Poland on a late goal by - who else - Frank Lampard (why is Steven Gerrard still starting?) to secure a 2-1 win in Manchester).
But even without the battle in Sven's head, there are six interesting teams in the second place playoffs: Czech Republic, Turkey, Slovakia, Switzerland (on goal differential over Israel), Norway, and Spain.
Of course the favorites there have to be the Czechs, Spanish, and Turks. By nature of the FIFA rankings, the 4th, 8th, and 12th ranked teams respectively get to draw the three lesser nations (though all three definitely have a shot). The draw takes place on Friday and then the real speculation begins.
---
How much do the Uzbeks have to be hating life right now?
In a result that was pretty much inevitable as soon as the first leg of Asia's playoffs had be replayed, Uzebekistan finds themselves having to watch Bahrain lose to Guatemala (sure I'm putting the cart a little before the horse but Trinidad is not going to win - that's almost a universal certainty) on television instead of getting to do it themselves.
Yes, the former Soviet republic that had a chance to go to Bahrain with a 1-0 lead, instead were forced to replay their home leg. As soon as that tied 1-1, they had to know the dream was over. Sure enough, Bahrain dug in and came up with a 0-0 draw at home to advance to play CONCACAF's fourth on away goals.
Of course hindsight is 20/20, but what team would say, "yeah, let's replay this really tough match even though we got a win."
---
By the way, I was really hoping to report to end this that Serbia v. Bosnia went off without a hitch, but alas that political footcer ball was a little too hot still. Six fans were seriously injured in match related violence.
---
But to close on a happy note - this just in...Clint Dempsey's sister is hot! That's some news you'll probably get a few other places too but I just had to say it. :)
posted by incendiarymind at 5:30 PM
2 Comments:
Sorry that your prediction for Trinidad and Tobago didnt come true hehehe T&T!! WE GOIN GERMANY!!!
اوتو كويت
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