BUDAPEST -- The photo above was taken from my seat at the Debrecen-Olympique Lyon UEFA Champions League game three weeks ago. I was not credentialed as a member of the press. In fact, I wasn't even in the stadium legally, and this seat was never sold for reasons that are pretty apparent.
Most of the intrigue that could have resulted from Monday's draw for the second-place playoffs for the final four 2010 World Cup berths from Europe was eliminated when it was decided the eight remaining nations would be broken up and seeded via their FIFA ranks near the end of the qualification process.
So instead of creating some possible Cinderella scenarios from smaller nations like Slovenia or Bosnia-Herzegovina would have a good chance to qualify for their first World Cup, the underdogs now face an uphill battle. This is no more the case than for the Republic of Ireland, which must played a wounded, yet still very dangerous France team next month.
For one day, at least, Diego Maradona can silence his critics and get the last laugh.
Lampooned, mocked and second-guessed throughout Argentina's nearly disastrous 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, Maradona can let out a massive sigh of relief after Wednesday's 1-0 win against Uruguay in Montevideo, Uruguay. Argentina gains the fourth and final automatic CONMEBOL qualifying spot, while Uruguay moves into the playoff against either Costa Rica or Honduras.
This much is simple for the U.S. national team's Saturday night 2010 World Cup qualifier at Honduras. If the U.S. leaves San Pedro Sula with three points, then it automatically qualifies for next June's World Cup in South Africa. Anything else? Well it's so confusing that the U.S. Soccer site has established a scenario generator to run through all the possible outcomes.
It's also known that a) the U.S. is stepping into a tricky road environment in a country in the midst of a political crisis, b) the U.S. won't have midfielder Clint Dempsey and c) the game will not be seen in America except for select closed circuit establishments.
Aside from the fact that they're both a) human beings, b) American international soccer players of African descent and c) from the greater Washington, D.C. area, there aren't too many similarities between Freddy Adu and Oguchi Onyewu, saying nothing of the pair's nearly one-foot height and seven-year age discrepancy.
Adu, as we all recall, entered MLS in 2004 with fanfare worthy of a Michael Bay special effects blockbuster and was supposed to set the league afire with his amazing skill and footwork -- all at 14 years of age. Since his arrival the pint-sized midfielder has played for two MLS clubs, made a much ballyhooed transfer to Portuguese giants Benfica and now at 20 years old finds himself loaned out for the second time in three years.
Meanwhile the same year Adu attempted to burst onto the MLS scene, Onyewu quietly moved from French club Metz to Belgian power Standard Liege, where he blossomed into a hulking central defender with a pair of Jupiler League crowns under his belt. Most American fans probably didn't even know of the alliterative defender's existence until his famous stare-down of Mexican forward Jared Borgetti in the U.S.'s 2-0 win over El Tri in Columbus, Ohio, which booked a place in the 2006 World Cup.
It's a good thing that style points don't count for very much in international soccer. Wednesday night, in a must-win 2010 World Cup CONCACAF qualifier, the U.S. squeezed by Trinidad and Tobago in Port-of-Spain by the narrowest of 1-0 margins.
Ricardo Clark's bending blast from just outside the penalty area was the only moment of inspiration or brilliance for the U.S. on the night -- but it proved to be enough to secure the precious three points. The win temporarily pushes the U.S. to the top of the CONCACAF Hexagonal with 16 points, pending the result of Mexico/Honduras later Wednesday night.
In the wake of Mexico's 3-0 demolition of Costa Rica on the fast turf of Saprissa late Saturday night, fans of El Tri ought to be grateful coach Javier Aguirre doesn't have the same policy for playing young players as his U.S. counterpart Bob Bradley.
After spending most of the summer worrying whether or not if Mexico would get out of CONCACAF World Cup 2010 qualification, El Tri are squarely back in the mix for one of the region's three automatic spots thanks to 20-year-old rising star Gio Dos Santos.
The player who scored the goal above is now a member of the Houston Dynamo.
His name, Luis Angel Landin, won't ring a bell to those who criticize MLS for lacking the aging European players they equate with legitimate pro soccer. But for those who understand the game and the league's growth process, Thursday's announcement was a significant moment.
Better than that never for the U.S. national team. Friday, a scant four days before next week's crucial 2010 World Cup qualifier in Mexico City, U.S. coach Bob Bradley released his 20-man squad.
There aren't too many surprises among the 20 men selected for the Aug. 12 match where the U.S. is looking to break its all-time winless streak at the Azteca Stadium. (The U.S. is 0-22-1 in Mexico overall) Mainly it's the core team that finished as runner's up to Brazil at June's Confederations Cup.
.jpg)
Most of the intrigue that could have resulted from Monday's draw for the second-place playoffs for the final four 2010 World Cup berths from Europe was eliminated when it was decided the eight remaining nations would be broken up and seeded via their FIFA ranks near the end of the qualification process. .jpg)
For one day, at least, Diego Maradona can silence his critics and get the last laugh..jpg)
This much is simple for the U.S. national team's Saturday night 2010 World Cup qualifier at Honduras. If the U.S. leaves San Pedro Sula with three points, then it automatically qualifies for next June's World Cup in South Africa. Anything else? Well it's so confusing that the U.S. Soccer site has established a scenario generator to run through all the possible outcomes. .jpg)
Aside from the fact that they're both a) human beings, b) American international soccer players of African descent and c) from the greater Washington, D.C. area, there aren't too many similarities between Freddy Adu and Oguchi Onyewu, saying nothing of the pair's nearly one-foot height and seven-year age discrepancy. 
It's a good thing that style points don't count for very much in international soccer. Wednesday night, in a must-win 2010 World Cup CONCACAF qualifier, the U.S. squeezed by Trinidad and Tobago in Port-of-Spain by the narrowest of 1-0 margins. .jpg)
In the wake of Mexico's 3-0 demolition of Costa Rica on the fast turf of Saprissa late Saturday night, fans of El Tri ought to be grateful coach Javier Aguirre doesn't have the same policy for playing young players as his U.S. counterpart Bob Bradley.
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Substitute Miguel Sabah scored in the 82nd minute for Mexico to beat the United States 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday..jpg)
Better than that never for the U.S. national team. Friday, a scant four days before next week's crucial 2010 World Cup qualifier in Mexico City, U.S. coach Bob Bradley released his 20-man squad. 
