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France vs. Ireland: 2010 World Cup Playoff Live Blog

Randy Kim — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:18:00 EST

(Update: The match ended in a 1-1 draw, meaning France advances on 2-1 goal aggregate.)

The roles are vastly different. France is the established powerhouse, while Ireland is the feisty underdog. But both countries will be fighting for their World Cup lives Wednesday.

Ireland fell to France at home, 1-0, in the first leg of the home-and-home World Cup qualifier. Now Ireland faces the extremely difficult task of earning a spot in South Africa in a hostile setting against the 1998 World Cup champions (and 2006 finalists). Even more daunting is the fact that Ireland has never won on French soil in four attempts.

The match should be a hard-fought contest, regardless, and our cousins at FanHouse UK will be covering the action live. The qualifier starts at 3 PM ET, but J.P. Shaw and the FanHouse UK guys are chatting live now about all of the day's action. Hit the jump to join in, and be sure to check out FanHouse UK for the latest news and analysis from across the pond.

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France vs. Ireland: 2010 World Cup Playoff Live Blog originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Different-Look US Preps for Slovakia Test

Michael Cardillo — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer , US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

To call 2009 a busy year for the U.S. national team would be an understatement. Even labeling it a marathon wouldn't be quite right. An ultra-marathon might make more sense.

Bob Bradley's team has participated in two tournaments -- the Confederations Cup and Gold Cup -- along with the final round of CONCACAF 2010 World Cup qualification. All told the U.S. has already played 22 matches -- going 13-6-3 -- on two different continents.

The grueling year winds down with a trip to a third continent -- Europe -- when the U.S. places fellow 2010 World Cup qualifier Slovakia in Bratislava. (10 a.m., Fox Soccer)

Saturday's match might be more significant from a U.S. perspective for which players aren't on the field, than who are. All-time leading goal-scorer Landon Donovan will be Stateside following Friday night's Los Angeles Galaxy/Houston Dynamo MLS semifinal, which also ties up Stuart Holden and Brian Ching. By the same token Mexican League players Jose Francisco Torres and Edgar Castillo weren't available for the match.

More concerning for the U.S. are the long-term injuries to forward Charlie Davies and defender Oguchi Onyewu, as both players status for June 2010 in South Africa remain very murky. Also absent will be defender Jay DeMerit, who is recovering from eye surgery.

To top it over, No. 1 keeper Tim Howard was left back in England with Everton, as Bradley looks to give Brad Guzan, Troy Perkins and Marcus Hahnemann looks.

Since the game is a friendly, expect Bradley to make the most of his substitution options.

The two areas to look at are at forward and central defense.

At forward, two players called back from the international wilderness -- Eddie Johnson and Jeff Cunningham -- figure to get extended looks to see if they can fill the void due to the injury to Davies. Both are interesting cases, with Johnson back in the Fulham squad -- although not playing regularly -- looking to regain the momentum from 2005/06 when many U.S. fans figured he'd become the "next big thing" for the team. Cunningham, meanwhile, has toiled away in MLS and was the league's leading goal-scorer this season with 17 at the age of 33. Cunningham can be easily dismissed by many fans, but he does have a nose for goal -- something the U.S. could certainly use.

With the depth at forward thin for the U.S., both players should get ample looks between Saturday and next June to see if they're worthy of inclusion in the final 23-man roster.

At defense it figures to be a very makeshift lineup. Captain Carlos Bocanegra should start in the center, with guys like MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall, Clarence Goodson and Jimmy Conrad getting some time to see if they're ready to step in should Onyewu knee injury prevent him from reaching match fitness by the time of the World Cup.

Even with all the changes, the U.S. still has usual starters Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore in the mix, so the game isn't a total throwaway.

If anything, Saturday's match, coupled with Wednesday's match in Denmark gives Bob Bradley a final chance to look at some players and build on the U.S.'s depth. At the same time he'll likely keep his fingers crossed that nobody called into the squad is felled by injury, which would make 2009 -- an otherwise fine year by the U.S. -- end on a sour note.

Different-Look US Preps for Slovakia Test originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hospitality and Hustle in Budapest: A Champions League Night to Remember

Brian Straus — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer , UEFA Champions League

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.

On the surface, it might not make much sense that my experiences at the Julio Grondona, the Millerntor and Valley Parade were as rewarding as those at La Bombonera, the Olympiastadion and Highbury. But that's because attending a match in a foreign country is about so much more than the view. There are few better ways to delve into a place's character than by passing through (or in the Debrecen case, under) a turnstile. What happened three weeks ago was a memorable example, and will inspire me to cheer on Loki on Tuesday afternoon as it "hosts" Fiorentina.

I first visited Hungary in 2006, and was moved by the humble friendliness of the place. It is a country still coming to terms with the fall of communism and one that is well aware that its transition to a prosperous market economy has been more sluggish than some of its neighbors. Budapest is monumental and beautiful, yet remains years away from taking on the Epcot Center character of a city like Prague. That's a good thing, at least for the tourist. The sleep that Hungary is still rubbing from its eyes is what makes it authentic and livable. It's what motivates the people to put their best foot forward. I've yet to meet a Hungarian who won't try to exhaust their English in the attempt to hold a real conversation, or one who won't go out of their way to be helpful.

That friendliness contrasts with their malaise. I also haven't met many Hungarians who missed the chance to lament their situation. It's an honest sadness. They are a people with ancient roots who have spent much of their history under the thumb of foreigners. On the soccer field, their slide from the summit to the fringes has been profound. The only Hungarian player you've ever heard of, Ferenc Puskas, died three years ago at age 79. The national side, famous for its 31-game unbeaten streak in the early 1950s, its three Olympic gold medals and its stunning loss to Germany in the 1954 World Cup final, hasn't qualified for a major tournament since 1986.

In 2006, two Ujpest fans I met on Vaci Utca in Budapest told me how fortunate I was to be a soccer fan from the United States! That autumn the country's most popular team, Ferencvaros, was playing in the second division thanks to financial irregularities. The army turned out for the match I attended at Ulloi Uti. Ujpest had been kicked out of their own stadium because of hooliganism and was playing at a cement pit down the road. Puskas' famous club, Honved, hadn't won the league since 1993.

Our conception of European soccer tends to focus on the dozen or so corporate superclubs able to afford all the best players and market their jerseys overseas. In many more places, the game is poor and gritty. There are no megastores or dedicated television channels. Soccer in these places still taps into old rivalries and memories. The tickets are cheap, the facilities are in disrepair and the best players are ghosts. The sport serves as a map revealing the fault lines in a given city or country. In some places people are divided by politics. In others it's religion, socioeconomic standing or geography. To learn more, head to the stadium.

I have a friend in Budapest. I'll call her Maggie, mostly because no one who played in a role in the events taking place three weeks ago seemed too thrilled about having their identities made public. Maggie is in her late 20s and is from a small town about 80 miles from the capital. Opportunities there were slim, so she made her way to Budapest. She's well educated and whip smart -- I have the utmost respect for anyone who can speak that impossible language and still has enough left over to be funny in English. She does occasionally need the Magyar-to-Angol dictionary to flesh out her point. When I met her three years ago she was employed by a small travel agency. She now works in the head office of a bus company. She's fortunate to be making about $800 a month.

"I am unlucky to be born in this place," she told me. Maggie has had to scrape for everything she has, and she questions the means under which she acquired it. "I have my job because I know somebody. I have this flat because I know somebody," she said. She gets a break on the rent in her small but brightly-decorated Kispest apartment because the owner, a friend, is doing her a favor. She wishes she could get by solely on merit and that there were more opportunities for someone with her skills. I countered with the argument that being a person who people want to help says a lot about her, and that she consistently returned that faith with kindness and good performance. That is the way the system works there. I don't think it made her feel better.

Yet there was a total genuineness to her generosity. She insisted on paying for my relatively expensive train ticket to Ljubljana and took a day off work to show me around. Good friends of hers, a neighboring couple without a full-time job between them, spent hours cooking wild boar stew for me one night and took Maggie and me on a day-long road trip to Esztergom and Visegrad the following day. It was a friend of that couple's, we'll call him Peter, who sneaked me into the Champions League game that Tuesday night.

Peter obviously had never met me, and I'm not sure how well he knew Maggie. But it didn't matter. We were friends of friends. We were connected. As soon as Maggie and her neighbors knew about my interest in the match, the wheels were in motion.

The Hungarian champion, Debreceni VSC, plays in a 10,000-seat stadium in the far east of the country. It was deemed unsuitable for Champions League play by UEFA, so Loki (so-called because its founders were associated with the railroad) was forced to stage its home games at the 68,000-seat Puskas Ferenc Stadion in Budapest, 120 miles to the west. I figured it wouldn't be hard to get tickets. I was wrong.

For the first time in a long time, Hungary was on the big stage. No Soproni Liga team had advanced to the competition's group stage in 14 years, and Debrecen's big debut was sold out. A 1-0 setback at Anfield to open Group E play had lifted hopes somewhat, and tens of thousands had bought their tickets early to see Loki take on Lyon. One man outside the stadium was selling his pair for nearly 100 euro.

Maggie's friends, the couple, drove us into the city center, where we met Peter and his five companions at a gas station. They hit the McDonald's next door, pounded a few beers in the parking lot and invited us into their minivan, which we then took toward the stadium. Nobody really explained to me what was going on, and I don't think Maggie was completely sure either. Kickoff was approaching and the roads outside Puskas were gridlocked. We neared the stadium, pulled the van onto an island in the middle of the street and parked. Peter spoke no English and said little, and Maggie informed me that everything would be okay. Our hosts bought more beers from a vendor near the gates and just stood around and waited as ticketed fans jostled past. They were nonchalant and confident. The minutes rolled by. I had no idea what was happening or how we would ever get in, and told Maggie that if we didn't I was happy to just watch on television.

The game kicked off, and Peter gave us a nod. We found a path near the gate, snaked our way through and Peter approached a burly security guard dressed in something that resembled riot gear. They exchanged quick kisses on the cheek, the guard gestured to the man at the turnstile, and we walked under and in. Nobody around us said a word. I jogged quickly toward the stadium, half expecting someone to be chasing us.

After a few moments standing on the concourse we made our way to the empty seats near the corner flag. By then, Lyon was ahead 2-0. Still sort of dumbstruck by the ease of our entry, I tried to explain to Maggie the economic disparities on display in front of us. She understood. In the 24th minute, Sidney Govou made it 3-0. But the fans stayed behind a team that wasn't really theirs, cheering "Hajra Loki!" as Lyon eased off the gas pedal. It ended 4-0. "They kept trying until the end," Lyon coach Claude Puel said.

The next day, Peter invited me over to the small rowhouse in Kispest he shares with his mother. After having the "honor" of sneaking me into a game he thought I deserved a gift, naturally, and presented me with a Hungarian national team scarf that now is hanging on my office wall.

I told Maggie that I thought the experience might make for an interesting story. She bristled. I tried to explain that the impressive generosity of her friends, not to mention the whole madcap grey area under which the entire country seems to operate, might interest American fans who appreciate a good bit of soccer sociology. She was worried Hungary might seem corrupt or lawless, perhaps unsympathetic.

To me, there was nothing corrupt about what happened on Sept. 29. The guard who allowed our entry to the Champions League game received nothing in return. He was a friend. In fact, during the second half he came over to the fence you see in the photo and had an animated chat with Peter and his crew, in full view of anyone who cared to take notice. Theoretically, that guard risked his job for that relationship. What he did, what Peter did, what Maggie's friends did and what she herself did during my three days in Hungary was motivated purely by friendship, brotherhood and a collective desire to add a few small pleasures to life in a country and an economy that has yet to catch up with its people. Perhaps someday, one of Peter's friends gladly will do a favor for the guard's sister. If I'm able to track down Peter's address, I'll send him the Alex Ovechkin souvenir puck he covets. It all works out.

On Tuesday afternoon, Debrecen will entertain Fiorentina in Budapest. "We know this will be difficult because Fiorentina are a European-class side who have players who can come up with the unexpected at any time," Loki coach Andras Herczeg said with typical Magyar humility.

I don't know if this game is sold out as well, but I'm confident Peter and his van-mates will be there, hoping for a good evening with friends and an upset that would add a bit of continental glamor to a place they regard as kind of dreary. I disagree. I think Hungary is beautiful, inside and out, and nowhere was that more evident than at the stadium.

Hospitality and Hustle in Budapest: A Champions League Night to Remember originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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France vs. Ireland Highlights UEFA World Cup Playoffs

Michael Cardillo — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:52:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer , International, English Premier League

Update: Follow France vs. Ireland live blog.

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.

Ireland and boss Giovanni Trapattoni should have a beef with the way UEFA broke down the seedings. Ireland did finish its qualifying campaign without a loss, only to finish runners up to defending World Cup champ Italy. Now the Irish must play France -- which struggled throughout qualification -- but is still features some of the best players in the world.

The three other unseeded teams probably feel like the Irish. They fight through difficult qualifying campaigns, but then with two rounds left, find out the playoffs will in fact be "seeded."

So this leaves another struggler -- Portugal -- with a good chance to advance to South Africa as it faces Bosnia in a home-and-home series played on Nov. 14 and 18.

The other two matchups pit Russia against Slovenia and Greece vs. Ukraine.

Still for any complaining, all the underdogs need to do is get results over two matches, which isn't impossible. And whenever you link the words "soccer" and "draw" there is almost always going to be some sort of conspiracy angle.

Overall, the World Cup picture is almost complete. Aside from the UEFA playoffs, there still remains the Asian/Oceanic playoff between Bahrain and New Zealand and the CONCACAF/COMNEBOL playoff with Costa Rica and Uruguay. The three remaining spots up for grabs come from the final sets of African qualifiers next month.

France vs. Ireland Highlights UEFA World Cup Playoffs originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Argentina Survives, Advances to 2010 World Cup

Michael Cardillo — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:20:00 EST

Filed under: FIFA World Cup, International Soccer , International

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.

Wednesday, there wasn't the dramatic slide across the field like there was after Saturday night's last-second win against Peru.

Instead it was a pretty standard celebration following Mario Bolatti's 84th minute goal that was set up on a foul that resulted in the sending off of Uruguay's Martin Cacares for his second yellow card. The goal was nothing special as Bolatti tapped in after Uruguay couldn't get the ball out of its penalty area.

When the whistle sounded, Maradona was -- as expected -- mobbed by players and photographers.

Argentina joins Brazil, Paraguay and Chile as the other automatic South American qualifiers. For Argentina it's the country's 10th consecutive place in the finals, and 15th overall.

The question, now, immediately turns to if Maradona will be the man to lead Argentina next June in South Africa. Throughout the qualifying campaign his squad selections and tactics left almost everyone scratching their collective heads.

Whatever happens, the inclusion of Maradona in South Africa likely means a lot more fun for neutral fans and journalists due to his unpredictable behavior. If Maradona is fired or steps down, it likely means Argentina will be taken a lot more seriously. Expect this "will he/won't he?" game to play out for the next couple months.

At the very least, Argentina's win ensures that Lionel Messi will have the possibility to dazzle on the World stage.

Meanwhile, Uruguay finds itself in the same position it was four years ago, awaiting a playoff. In 2005, Uruguay was paired against Australia -- then a member of Oceania -- losing out to the Socceroos in penalty kicks in Sydney after the two-leg affair ended 1-1.

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Argentineï¿½s forward Lionel Messi (C) runs to elude Uruguayï¿½s midfielders Jorge Rodriguez (L) and Diego Perez (R) during their FIFA World Cup South Africa-2010 qualifier football match at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo on October 14, 2009. AFP PHOTO / PABLO PORCIUNCULA (Photo credit should read PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP/Getty Images)

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Argentina's Martin Demichelis, left, fights for the ball with Uruguay's Luis Suares during a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match in Montevideo, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Andres Cuenca)

France's national soccer coach Raymond Domenech, right, yells out during their World Cup 2010 group 7 qualifying soccer match against Austria at Stade de France, in Saint Denis, north outskirts of Paris, France, Wednesday Oct. 14, 2009. France won the match 3-1. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Chile's Humberto Suazo celebrates with his teammate Manuel Iturra after scoring during a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match against Ecuador in Santiago, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Santiago Llanquin)

Argentina's Diego Maradona gives instructions to his players during a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match against Uruguay in Montevideo, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A fan of Honduras' soccer team holds up his nation's flag prior to the start of a 2010 World Cup qualifying match with El Salvador in San Salvador, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Luis Romero)

Argentineï¿½s defender Gabriel Heinze (R) duels for the ball with Uruguayï¿½s midfielder Diego Perez during their FIFA World Cup South Africa-2010 qualifier football match at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo on October 14, 2009. AFP PHOTO / PABLO PORCIUNCULA (Photo credit should read PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP/Getty Images)

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Argentina's head coach Diego Maradona is seen on a screen while people watch the FIFA World Cup South Africa-2010 qualifier football match between Uruguay and Argentina in Buenos Aires on October 14, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Juan Mabromata (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)

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Chile's national football team coach Marcelo Bielsa gestures during their FIFA World Cup South Africa-2010 qualifier football match at the Monumental stadium in Santiago on October 14, 2009. AFP PHOTO/ Claudio Santana (Photo credit should read CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/Getty Images)

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Argentina's players leave the pitch at the end of the first half during their FIFA World Cup South Africa-2010 qualifier football match against Uruguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on October 14, 2009. AFP PHOTO / ALEJANDRO PAGNI (Photo credit should read ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP/Getty Images)

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Argentina Survives, Advances to 2010 World Cup originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. on Brink of World Cup Berth

Michael Cardillo — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:27:00 EST

Filed under: FIFA World Cup, International Soccer , International, Soccer Posts, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

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.

So what should U.S. fans fortunate to find a way to watch the match expect?

For one, the U.S. is facing a very strong Honduras team, which is looking to book its place in the World Cup for the first time since 1982. Los Catrachos can qualify Saturday night with a win and a Costa Rica loss to Trinidad and Tobago and feature Premier League players Wilson Palacios, Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa, along with Inter Milan's David Sauzo.

This will be the fourth meeting in 2009 between the two nations, with the U.S. winning all three including a 2-1 qualifier at Solider Field in Chicago in early June.

The crowd, too, bears watching. Due to the ongoing civil hostilities, will the home crowd look to the game as a 90 minute respite? Or will they expect the team to dazzle them from the opening whistle and run the Americans off the field? If this doesn't happen, could the home crowd get antsy?

"The main thing that we have talked a little bit about and are very aware of is the fact that this game means everything to Honduras and to its people and that the atmosphere in the stadium will be loud, passionate and exciting," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said during Thursday's media conference call. "We have seen that in other places, so we draw the parallels and draw up on those experiences. I think that will work well for us."

As for Bradley's U.S. team? Aside from the loss to Dempsey to injury, it figures to be business as usual (at least on the field) with Landon Donovan the key man once again. Bradley hinted on Thursday that either Stuart Holden or Benny Feilhaber will be the candidate to replace Dempsey in the starting XI.

Bradley wasn't too concerned with defender Oguchi Onyewu's lack of playing time at AC Milan, so the U.S. lineup should look very familiar, with the biggest questions beside replacing Dempsey being who starts at right and left back between the quartet of Jonathon Spector, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathon Bornstein and Frankie Hejduk.

It's likely the young tandem of Charlie Davies and Jozy Altidore will start at forward, though Brian Ching could be in the mix if the U.S. plays a more conservative lineup.

Factoring into all the lineup decisions is a worrisome issue that Altidore, Carlos Bocanegra, Conor Casey, Cherundolo, Donovan, Feilhaber and Hejduk would all miss the Costa Rica match should they receive a yellow card on Saturday.

"The yellow card situation is a challenging one. I think that we have to find balance in this, in some cases, that includes players that play the same position who maybe are both carrying yellow cards, making some decisions in those ways," Bradley said.

The U.S. has been adequate on the road during qualifying, posting a 4-3-1 mark. Yet only one of those wins has come during the final round of CONCACAF qualifying, last month at Trinidad & Tobago.

By contrast, Honduras is 8-0-0 at home in qualifying. However they are 0-3-0 vs. the U.S. in 2009 and 10-2-3 overall, including a 2-1-1 in Honduras, so something will have to give on Saturday.

"We know each other very well. There's a great deal of respect, and if you look at their group of players, there's talent. Guys have done well, particularly in England. As everybody knows, I know Amado [Guevara] very well, who won't be playing in this match, he's out with cards," Bradley said. "As far as knowing the personnel, knowing the style of play, we have respect for the way they play and their talent. We think they're well coached. And now, when we go into this game we understand how much they're playing for and how much it means to their fans."

Should the U.S. falter, it still has next Wednesday's match against Costa Rica to get a result and avoid the dreaded playoff with the fifth-place South American team.

"Ideally we can finish up things Saturday but, again, there are factors in all of this that are sometimes out of our control. It's been a very tight final round because of some of the other results. But the opportunity to go there and play to win and come away with three points is a great challenge, one that we are embracing," Bradley said. "I think the players are ready for it and we're going to go for it with everything we have knowing that obviously we still have the home game to follow."

U.S. on Brink of World Cup Berth originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Americans on Pine a Cause for Concern

Michael Cardillo — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: FIFA World Cup, International Soccer , International, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

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.

While Onyewu -- who transferred to AC Milan in July -- has been a regular in the U.S. back four since his 2005 breakout, Adu has struggled to make an impact on either the club or country level, but his potential still teases many U.S. fans.

However, a little less than two weeks before the final pair of CONCACAF 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Onyewu and Adu find themselves in similar situations -- stuck on the bench for their club teams. For Adu this is nothing new, as he spent long spell of inactivity at Benfica before being loaned to AS Monaco where he again struggled to crack the starting XI. Currently loaned out to Belenenses in Portugal, Adu has yet to feature since moving there at the end of the summer transfer window in August.

Adu, though, doesn't seemed worried Tweeting on Sept. 19, "Not in the 18 against academica BUT dont worry spoke with the coach and all is good.Wants to take it slow for first couple games.StepBYstep."

Granted, Adu was an extreme long shot to be called into the U.S. fold by coach Bob Bradley, who has made it a point that American internationals need to be playing at their club team in order to feature for the Yanks. This issue reached a boiling point for sections of U.S. supporters who called for the inclusion of Jozy Altidore even though the New Jersey teenager languished on the bench at Villareal before being loaned to Xerez where he also didn't play.

The lack of club playing time didn't seem bother Altidore all that much during the U.S.'s run at June's Confederations Cup, including a famous goal against Spain in the American's 2-0 semifinal win. (The playing time certainly helped Altidore, as he was loaned to Hull City before the start of the Premier League season, where he's now getting steady playing time.)

Yet Bradley's "play-to-play" policy (for lack of a better term) should be put to the test next month when it comes to Onyewu, who has yet to play in a competitive match for Italian giants. In fact, Onyewu now sits fourth on the Milan central defensive depth chart and rarely even makes the final matchday roster. On a personal level for Onyewu, this isn't all that hard to believe, since it takes time to adjust to a new league and language. Long term, too, it could prove a beneficial move for Onyewu, but it will take time to work his way into the starting lineup past Alessandro Nesta, Thiago Silva and Kakha Kaladze.

Unless suspended or injured, though, Onyewu has been one of Bradley's first names written down on the U.S. team sheet.Will the 6-foot-4 Washington native's lack of playing time be taken into a account when the U.S. heads to Tegucigalpa to play Honduras in a critical match on Oct. 10? Can Bradley risk starting a center back, who may train everyday against the likes of Alexandre Pato and Andrea Pirlo, but isn't being tested in game situations.

And by the same token what to make of the coach's son Michael, who's recently found himself in the doghouse at Borussia Mönchengladbach? (Michael Bradley did play on Tuesday in Gladbach's 1-0 loss to Duisberg in the German Cup, though it was his first appearance since being subbed out at halftime in a 3-0 loss to Werder Bremen on Aug. 23.)

The Onyewu situation would seem the easier to address, since the U.S. could either play Marshall next to Jay DeMerit or slide captain Carlos Bocanegra to the center of the defense. As for the Michael Bradley? If we don't factor in the father-son dynamic, there isn't exactly a ready-made replacement in the center of the field, which could force the elder to shift his tactical lineup with perhaps a pass-first player like Jose Francisco Torres getting the nod.

Onyewu's lack of playing time at Milan also underlines another lingering doubt inside the minds of some U.S. fans, namely the lack of Americans competing in either the UEFA Champions League or to a lesser extent the Europa League. A long held belief by some, is that is the U.S. is truly going to take the next step in international progress, it needs players competing at Europe's top clubs and by extension the Champions League. (In the first Group Stage matchday of the 2009-10 competition, the only American was DaMarcus Beasley, who sat the bench for Rangers.)

For the immediate future, Bob Bradley faces a tough decision, which opens himself up for second guessing. Does he stick with the U.S. regulars (Onyewu, Bradley) even though they're spending time on the bench and could be rusty? Or does he gamble on players who are more in form (Chad Marshall, Benny Feilhaber) though less experienced in the U.S. team fold?

Should the U.S. get the necessary points next month to qualify for South Africa this issue of "play-to-play" could take on added significance as the calendar ticks closer to June 2010, especially if the U.S.'s best player -- Landon Donovan -- decides to act on the rumors and take one final dip in European waters.

Americans on Pine a Cause for Concern originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Survives vs. Trinidad and Tobago

Michael Cardillo — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: FIFA World Cup, International Soccer , Soccer Posts, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

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.

After a listless first half, where Trinidad ended up with more shots on target -- including one off the crossbar, U.S. coach Bob Bradley appeared ready to make some changes, namely taking off Clark and bringing on Stuart Holden. On what could have been his final touch of the night, Clark struck gold after collecting a nice pass from the left side from Landon Donovan and ripping a wicked bending shot past Clayton Ince. Donovan, yet again, was the one shining light on the field for the U.S.

The U.S. made Clark's goal hold up for the final half hour as Trinidad never really pressed keeper Tim Howard. In fact, the closest the U.S. came to surrendering the equalizer came in the third minute of stoppage time when Jonathan Bornstein deflected a ball back at Howard, which he went down low to smother.

All-and-all, it wasn't exactly an awe-inspiring performance by the U.S., especially when coupled with a underwhelming 2-1 struggle over El Salvador at home last week.

The only thing Bradley might want to do with the game tape is burn it, as the U.S. struggled for large stretches to simply string more than one pass together. The only bright spot, aside from the three points, was the slew of U.S. players that brought yellow cards into the match avoided the referee's book and won't be suspended for accumulation.

That said, the U.S. did do what they had to do and won their first road match in this stage of qualification -- again, style points don't qualify you for the World Cup. Barring a total collapse in the final two matches -- Oct. 10 at Honduras; Oct. 14 vs. Costa Rica -- the U.S. should reserve its plane tickets to South Africa next June. The U.S. will likely avoid the prospect of a two-match playoff with the fifth-place South American team.

And speaking of the fifth place South American team, as forgettable as the U.S. performance was Wednesday night, at least it wasn't Argentina losing 1-0 at Paraguay (which qualified with the win) to fall into that dreaded fifth-place spot. (Diego Maradona, the Turk wants to see you.)

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Argentina's Javier Zanetti, center, fights for the ball with Paraguay's Jonathan Santana, left, and Paraguay's Cristian Riveros during a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match in Asuncion, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Cesar Olmedo)

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Argentina's Gabriel Heinze, top, fights for the ball with Paraguay's Enrique Vera during a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match in Asuncion, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Cesar Olmedo)

A young Brazilian supporter waits for the start of their FIFA World Cup South Africa-2010 qualifier football match against Chile at Pituacu stadium, in Salvador, northern Brazil, on September 9, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)

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Argentina's Juan Veron walks off the field after being sent off by referee Fagundes Salvio, of Brazil, during their World Cup qualifying soccer match in Asuncion, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Cesar Olmedo)

A small boy supporter of Brazil waits for the beginning of the South American qualifying football match against Chile for the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010, at Pituacu stadium in Salvador, northern Brazil on September 9, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)

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Uruguay's Luis Suarez, front, celebrates with teammate Edinson Cavani after scoring during a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer game against Colombia in Montevideo, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

D.C. United goalkeeper Josh Wicks pulls down the ball over Kansas City Wizards midfielder Jack Jewsbury during first half action at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, September 9, 2009. (Chuck Myers/MCT)

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Argentina's substitutes sit at the bench during a World Cup qualifying soccer match against Paraguay in Asuncion, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Cesar Olmedo)

Kansas City Wizards Matt Besler and Jimmy Conrad, right, attempt to head the ball on goal during a corner kick against D.C. United in the first half at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, September 9, 2009. (Chuck Myers/MCT)

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Kansas City Wizards midfielder Herculez Gomez (21) and D.C. United midfielder Rodney Wallace (22) battle for the ball deep in the United zone during first half action at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, September 9, 2009. (Chuck Myers/MCT)

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US Survives vs. Trinidad and Tobago originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gio Dos Santos Revives Mexico

Michael Cardillo — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:21:00 EST

Filed under: FIFA World Cup, International Soccer , International, Soccer Posts

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.

American fans surely saw enough of the former Barcelona starlet Dos Santos running rampant in Mexico's 5-0 win over the U.S. in July's Gold Cup final, and then in last month's 2-0 Mexico win at Azteca in qualifying.

Saturday night in the central American cauldron that is Saprissa, Dos Santos almost single-handedly gave Mexico three crucial points on the road.

In first half stoppage time, Dos Santos conjured a true golazo out of nothing, ripping off a low rocket from the outside left edge of the penalty area, pin-pointing it in the bottom right corner. Cristiano Ronaldo himself couldn't have placed it any better.

Later in the second half, Dos Santos laid off centering passes to set up easy tap-in goals for Guille Franco and Andres Guardado to complete the 3-0 destruction of the Ticos.

The win threw CONCACAF qualifying into mild chaos with three games remaining. Honduras leads the group with 13 points, ahead of the U.S. on goal difference. Mexico and Costa are just behind with 12 points. With three automatic spots and the fourth place team gaining a playoff with the fifth place South American team, it figures to be a soccer version of musical chairs.

But that's getting ahead of things before Wednesday's matches.

Today it's about realizing Mexico's lifeline through the feet of Dos Santos.

What makes Dos Santos' current run of form for Mexico all the more impressive is his unsettled club situation. During last summer transfer window he was a surprise purchase by Tottenham from Barcelona. With all of Spurs turmoil, he was eventually briefly loaned out to Ipswich Town before returning back to North London for the start of the 2009-10 season, where he is only appearance is a League Cup match.

Unlike Bradley in similar situations, Aguirre was undaunted by Dos Santos' lack of first team playing time. Aguirre kept his faith in Dos Santos and hitched his coaching wagon to the youngster's rising star, which has moved Mexico from possible roadkill to right back on track for South Africa next summer.

Gio Dos Santos Revives Mexico originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Landin Signing Significant for MLS

Brian Straus — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:39:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer , MLS

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.

Landin, 24, has been exactly the sort of foreign player that MLS has needed but rarely has been able to acquire. It got lucky with the likes of Jaime Moreno early on, but young and talented attackers demand considerable financial commitment and rarely fall through the cracks.

Landin certainly hasn't. He made his professional debut with continental power Pachuca at 19 and was part of the team that claimed both the Copa Sudamericana and CONCACAF Champions Cup. His star seemed to be rising. Hugo Sanchez called him into the national team and he played a part in El Tri's third-place finish at the 2007 Copa America. But that fall, Pachuca loaned him out to Morelia, and his reputation took a hit when his under-23 national side failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. Morelia then sent him to Cruz Azul last winter. The "golazo de escorpion" is among the seven goals he has tallied for Los Cementeros.

Nevertheless, his career obviously needed a boost. He has become an afterthought in a national team picture growing exceedingly crowded with young attacking stars like Giovanni Dos Santos, Andres Guardado and Carlos Vela. The word is that Landin can be frustratingly inconsistent on the field and occasionally temperamental or pouting off of it. He is a young player with unquestioned talent in need of a change of scenery, and it is significant that he has chosen MLS for that boost.

Landin is the second-youngest player to join MLS with a Mexican cap -- Juan Pablo Garcia was 23 and had played once for El Tri when he signed with Chivas USA in 2005. He left Los Angeles after two seasons, returned to the Primera and hasn't been capped since. Landin comes in with far greater pedigree, both on the club and international level. And that's going to cost the Dynamo, who have been so successful identifying talent it can sign and keep for lower wages.

Landin will be the club's first Designated Player and will count $400,000 against the salary cap. Sources tell Fanhouse that the total bill in salary and loan fees to Morelia and Cruz Azul will come to around $1.5 million. The Dynamo will have the option to buy Landin outright at the conclusion of the 2010 season.

The player and his coach did their best to manage expectations at Thursday's press conference.

"I am looking forward to getting Luis involved with the team," Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear said. "He is a player that will fit nicely into our system. I think we improved our team with an exciting, young, attacking player. We'll get him training as soon as possible and get him ready to play in this physically demanding league."

When asked if Landin was the biggest signing in the club's short history, Kinnear said, "I don't know...But I think from a media standpoint and the interest from the community, it probably is, but you know we've made some great ones along the way. You hope that he will be a good player for us."

Landin now is the only player of Latin American origin on a team that plays in a community with a huge Hispanic population. People will be watching.

"I think I will fit in nicely with [Kinnear's] system," Landin said . "I am not coming here to be a superstar. I am just coming here to play, to be one of the guys, and to contribute in any way possible."

Whether Landin has the temperament to be "one of the guys" remains to be seen, but it is nice boost for MLS that he is willing to test himself here. People in Mexico do pay attention to the league north of the border. You don't have go far in Mexico City to see a fan wearing either a Chicago Fire or Los Angeles Galaxy jersey. If Landin succeeds here, it will be taken seriously and should reestablish himself in the Mexican national team picture -- it's lost on nobody that El Tri's best player in the first hour of last week's World Cup qualifier against the United States was the Fire's Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

MLS gradually is becoming a league that can serve as a legitimate proving ground. European clubs are looking west in increasing numbers, and now even our greatest rivals are jumping aboard to reboot their careers. This is a significant moment in the league's evolution.

Landin Signing Significant for MLS originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Heartbreak for US in Mexico City

FanHouse Newswire — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:12:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer , U.S. Men's National Team

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.

Mexico's third win in six matches in CONCACAF qualifying strengthened its chances of reaching next year's World Cup in South Africa.

"This wasn't a live-or-die game for us," U.S. striker Landon Donovan said. "It was for them."

Three minutes after being sent in, Sabah was alone in front of the net when he took a feed from Efrain Juarez and beat goalkeeper Tim Howard.

"It's a tight game and a fair score," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "It's a tough loss to have so many guys work so hard and then give up a late goal. The feeling inside is one of great disappointment."

Mexico has won 23 of its 24 home matches against the U.S.

The Americans nearly silenced the piercing drone of horns, drums and high-pitched screams at Estadio Azteca thanks to a brilliant setup by Donovan for Charlie Davies in the 9th minute. Donovan turned near midfield and threaded a pass through three Mexicans on the left side to Davies, who timed a perfect run and scored just
inside the far post.

It was the first time the Americans have led at Azteca, which opened 43 years ago.

The U.S. edge lasted only 10 minutes. Cuauhtemoc Blanco found Israel Castro, who equalized on a wicked shot off the underside of the crossbar and just over a leaping Howard.

The goal turned up the volume again for 105,000 fans in sold-out Azteca. where the crowd understood how damaging a home loss would be, particularly after Mexico won the Gold Cup last month using many of the same players. The U.S., however, changed almost the entire lineup that was routed 5-0 in that final.

In the 74th, tempers flared. With Davies down on the field - apparently with cramps - several Mexico players tried to pull him off the ground. That angered Benny Feilhaber, who shoved several Mexicans as Howard came out of goal to separate the sides.

Three American defenders - Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit and Carlos Bocanegra - drew yellow cards in a game that became increasingly physical. Onyewu carried a yellow into the match, meaning he will miss the next qualifier on Sept. 5 against El Salvador in Sandy, Utah.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More Heartbreak for US in Mexico City originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Finally Announces Roster for Mexico World Cup Qualifer

Michael Cardillo — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer , International, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

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.

More notably, unlike Mexico coach Javier Aguirre's roster, only a few players that participated in the U.S.'s 5-0 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final in July were included by Bradley.

Instead, it's the familiar U.S. faces -- Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, Michael Bradley and Tim Howard. In other words, the so-called U.S. 'A' team.

Perhaps the only surprises on the 20-man roster were Columbus Crew defender Chad Marshall, which would indicate that Bocanegra would start at left back, and Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey who's failed to impress during his numerous appearances in a U.S. shirt this summer. In this vein, it's a bit surprising that Jose Torres, who hasn't played since that 3-0 loss at Costa Rica on June 3, was chosen by Bradley.

Less surprising is that Stuart Holden was rewarded for his strong showing at the Gold Cup and gets called in. Whether or not he sees the field remains another question.

The only real notable omissions are Heath Pearce, DaMarcus Beasley and Sacha Kljestan. Of those three the only one that might feel slighted is Pearce, who was above average at the Gold Cup as the other two were horrid at the Confederations Cup.

All told, this is about as strong a roster as the U.S. could currently chose, though there isn't very much flexibility should the starters falter. The only guy Bradley probably can feel comfortable with bringing on as a sub is Benny Feilhaber, who's worked his way back into the fold after a 2008 disappearing act.

On top of this, this 20-man roster is fairly close to what the U.S. will probably bring to South Africa next year, assuming it gets out of CONCACAF qualifying. Let's hope that doesn't create too much complacency from now until then.

GOALKEEPERS (2) -- Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton FC: 11/7 SO)
DEFENDERS (7) -- Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 21/3), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA, 2/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover: 18/0), Jay DeMerit (Watford: 2/0), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew: 0/0), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan: 16/1), Jonathan Spector (West Ham: 2/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6) -- Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach: 10/4), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 5/0), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC: 17/4), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus: 1/0), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 5/0)
FORWARDS (5) -- Jozy Altidore (Villarreal: 8/5), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids: 5/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 15/6), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux: 2/1), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 30/11)
*numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals

US Finally Announces Roster for Mexico World Cup Qualifer originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FC Barcelona Exciting Fans on Its Tour

Elie Seckbach — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:42:00 EST

Filed under: European Soccer , International Soccer , International, Soccer Posts, La Liga (Spain), FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

They are the hottest soccer (aka futbol) team on the planet. They're FC Barcelona, which last season captured three titles, including the UEFA Champions League title, making them numero uno in Europe. These days Barcelona is in the middle of a three-city U.S. tour, visiting Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco this week. In this FanHouse video, we get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the team's workout, which is normally closed off to outsiders. Find out what's it like to be a teammate of Lionel Messi, what fans do to get a glimpse of their favorite stars and more.

Check out the video after the jump.

FC Barcelona Exciting Fans on Its Tour originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLS Faces CONCACAF Conundrum

Brian Straus — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:22:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer , MLS, US Soccer, FanHouse Exclusive

I half-jokingly asked D.C. United's veteran midfielder and sage Ben Olsen on Monday afternoon whether he had "Champions League fever." He said "yes", and that he was excited about the buzz created during a summer that so far has featured the U.S. national team's amazing run to the Confederations Cup final and a slew of high-profile exhibitions drawing massive crowds, and which will continue with Wednesday's All-Star Game against Everton.

No, I clarified. The CONCACAF Champions League. The official continental club tournament that United will kick off Tuesday night against El Salvador's L.A. Firpo; the one that offers a shot at international glory and a berth in the Club World Cup.

"I haven't caught that yet," Olsen said.

It's not Olsen's fault. Nobody else north of the 2-0 Parallel (is that term still valid after Sunday's Massacre at the Meadowlands?) seems to have caught the fever either. As recently as 2001, CONCACAF was unable to conduct a regional club championship. For a few years prior it had been an afterthought - an eight-team, single elimination event played at one U.S. site. Both D.C. United (1998) and the Los Angeles Galaxy (2000) managed to win the tournament in their own backyard.

From 2002 through 2008, the tournament was run as a home-and-home style cup competition. Major League Soccer teams struggled, to say the least, demonstrating no ability to win away from home and consistently failing to qualify for the final round. The statistics since the league's 1996 inception are not good. MLS clubs are just 41-38-24 in CONCACAF competition. On the road in all international competitions (also including events like Copa Sudamericana/Merconorte, etc.), MLS sides are 1-15-1 in Mexico and 3-14-5 in Central America. And yes, that one win in Mexico was a forfeit.

Things got even worse once CONCACAF transitioned to the current champions league format, which sees 16 clubs contest a preliminary round followed by a 16-team group stage. In the 2008-09 tournament, MLS clubs went a pathetic 2-10-6. The New England Revolution and Chivas USA were eliminated in the home-and-home preliminary round by teams from Trinidad and Panama, respectively. United finished dead last in the group stage with a feeble 0-5-1 mark while the Houston Dynamo (2-1-3) managed to advance to the quarterfinals, where they were blitzed 4-1 on aggregate by eventual champion Atlante. MLS's decision to send different clubs to Superliga and the Champions League this year was a very good one.

"I didn't know it was that staggering," Olsen said of MLS's CONCACAF ineptitude. "They're obviously disappointing numbers from the league's standpoint. But everyone's in different circumstances and takes these games in a different way. I know some teams focus more on the league and they're playing a second team for some of these games, and frankly [MLS] is set up where your second team in this tournament isn't good enough to win it. I think that's the reality."

He's right. It is the sad reality, and it explains a good bit of that sorry history. Houston, thanks to both a relatively healthy team and Dominic Kinnear's outstanding player identification and development, was the only club of the four that gave the competition its best effort. Based on their history, the capitulation by Chivas and New England was not surprising. United's was unfortunate. It's an organization that typically embraces international play, but an incredible glut of injuries last fall and the poor play of several big South American signings including Argentine playmaker Marcelo Gallardo left coach Tom Soehn little choice but to steer his resources toward D.C.'s desperate chase for a playoff berth.

Think how often we hear of a player in Europe or South America expressing an interest in moving from one club to another because of the opportunity to play in the Champions League, Copa Libertadores or other international competition. It is the fuel that drives club soccer around the world. And yet here, the rewards are eclipsed by the burden. It is doubtful, as Olsen's slip-up revealed, that players in North and Central America dream of lifting the hideous, dracula-inspired CONCACAF Champions League trophy. That sort of tradition simply doesn't exist here. In addition, and even more importantly, MLS rosters are just too thin and too cheap to negotiate both league play and a tournament against far deeper and richer teams from Mexico and Costa Rica.

"It's a whole different scenario," Olsen said. "Those are different teams. They've got higher-paid players and when you get higher paid players you often get better players. They have more money to spend. They have deeper teams. This is not changing in [MLS], and frankly it's going to continue that way until the league changes.

"We've lost a lot of depth in this league because guys are leaving for other countries, not for huge money, but for good salaries. It's usually not your No. 1, 2 and 3 guys, it's your 4, 5 and 6 guys that really made the great teams in this league in the past, those teams that really balanced the money and spread the wealth....Eventually that's tough to deal with. Now you win, guys want rasies and people tend to go where they can get some money. Those guys are going to leave because there's just not enough money."

And the short-sighted CONCACAF executives continue to punish that lack of depth, making the tournament unreasonably difficult on the participating teams. Clubs playing in the UEFA Champions League group stage get an entire extra month to play the six group-stage games, while teams on this side of the Atlantic must cram that schedule into just nine weeks. In a soccer culture that still has little experience and regard for international play (much of which is CONCACAF's fault), it's impossible to blame coaches for focusing on the games that will offer the most noteriety and reward.

So Tuesday night United will entertain Firpo in the first leg of their preliminary round tie just two days after a cross-country flight from San Jose, knowing that they are two points out of first place in the Eastern Conference and just two points from being out of hte playoffs altogether. On Thursday, New York Red Bulls manager Carlos Osorio must decide how he wants to handle a match in Trinidad against W Connection, knowing his job is on the line because of the floundering club's 13-game winless streak.

Then how will Houston, perhaps on the verge of losing midfield anchor Ricardo Clark to a small Serie A club, and Columbus, concerned about the health of MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto, approach the grueling group stages?

It may be some time before an MLS team has the talent, depth and time to contend seriously for continental honors. Until then, choices will have to be made. For United, the team is healthier than it was last year and has the luxury of at least playing a few regulars against Firpo in the hopes of building some momentum. It also has some tradition to uphold, which Olsen said the club takes seriously.

"We have a history of being successful in this tournament. Winning CONCACAF was a big deal when we did it early and it's something the club is very proud of," he said.

"We're a little low in numbers right now but we're better. We're deeper. We respect CONCACAF. We respect this tournament. A lot of teams are out of it early and they've got more important things on their plate. You've got the league, Open Cup, everybody kind of chooses that path. I think we're going to go ahead and give this thing a run and take each game how it plays out, look who we have, who's available, who's tired, who's fresh....I think everyone would like to do well in this tournament, but if they don't win or two, can you really blame them for resting gusy so they can put more emphasis on other tournaments? It's just different circumstances."

MLS Faces CONCACAF Conundrum originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Overwhelmed US Collapses in Gold Cup

Brian Straus — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:46:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer , US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

The U.S. national team's surprising run through the CONCACAF Gold Cup, its streak of two straight regional titles and its decade of dominance of arch-rival Mexico on American soil all were obliterated Sunday afternoon in just over 10 stunning minutes of soccer engineered by Carlos Vela and Giovani Dos Santos.

The London-based pair destroyed the slow, overwhelmed American defense early in the second half at a packed Giants Stadium, playing key roles in three goals that catapulted the Mexicans to a 5-0 win and a record fifth Gold Cup title.

Based on the very junior varsity lineup that U.S. coach Bob Bradley chose for this tournament, a silver medal was an impressive accomplishment. The team struggled in games against Haiti and Panama, then put together an outstanding semifinal performance against Honduras that raised a few hopes heading into Sunday's final. A strong first half against Mexico, during which the U.S. had the majority of the play and created several good scoring chances, seemed to suggest the teams were at least relatively even. Mexico's roster featured far bigger names than Bradley's.

But the sides were far from even, and Dos Santos and Vela -- Premier League rivals playing for Tottenham and Arsenal, respectively -- imposed their will shortly after the U.S. squandered its best scoring chance of the match. Columbus Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers deftly settled Stuart Holden's 48th-minute cross but curled his open look over the crossbar. Then, the Tricolores were off to the races.

Vela, who entered after haltime, saw his dangerous cross cleared by U.S. forward Brian Ching. Then Dos Santos helped Mexico get started in the 56th, going down in the penalty area when he felt Jay Heaps give a tug on his green jersey. Gerardo Torrado hammered the ensuing penalty kick past Troy Perkins, and Mexico had the lead.

And the U.S. panicked. Although plenty of time remained, the Americans began playing as if they had three minutes to score instead of 30. With desperate players pushed up looking for openings, there was little shape or organization and even less opportunity for the sort of composed possession that would have restored the equilibrium they enjoyed in the first half.

"The penalty kick took the wind out of our sails a little bit. From there on we were just trying to push forward and catch the game," Holden told Fox Soccer Channel.

Mexico poured forward. Perkins made three point blank saves in quick succession, but could do nothing about a 62nd-minute play started by a long ball over the top to Vela. His hard cut to his right left both Clarence Goodson and Chad Marshall flailing. Perkins got to Vela's shot and the subsequent rebound, but Dos Santos was there to tap in.

Bradley inserted both Santino Quaranta and Kenny Cooper, but Mexico was up 3-0 five minutes later. Dos Santos beat three U.S. defender with a simple through ball, and Vela deftly chipped a shot just over Perkins and inside the right post.

The Americans could do nothing to slow Vela, Dos Santos and the Mexicans.

"I think we ran out of legs to tell you the truth," Ching told FSC. "It was a long tournament, a lot of young guys. It's a lot of games for a lot of guys pretty quick. I think we fell apart mentally. Once they scored we let down a little bit. Have to give credit to them. They finished their opportunities."

Mexico added to their total in the 79th and 90th minutes -- Holden said "They ran up the score a little bit" -- and earned a victory their fans undoubtedly will use to counter the "Dos a Cero" chants that have become popular among American supporters.

Certainly the result leaves one wondering whether Bradley should have called in some of the other players he had available. CONCACAF gave the U.S. the opportunity to use an expanded roster because of the team's Confederations Cup commitment, and not only did Bradley not make use of all those extra players, he sent others back to their clubs during the tournament. Would Sunday's final have looked different with Jozy Altidore, Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber, Freddy Adu, Jonathan Bornstein and Steve Cherundolo on the field? Undoubtedly.

"Maybe it was a lack of experience in some big games. We kind of lost our cool a little bit," Ching said.

However, it's hard to fault Bradley for his decision. Some of the aforementioned players needed a break, others likely wanted to spend preseason with their clubs, and a coach known for his loyalty and commitment to his players likely would have bristled at the thought of sitting those who helped the U.S. reach the final. It would have sent a message that Bradley would have found distasteful. The cost of that decision was the end of several nice streaks (including the 58-game home unbeaten run against regional opponents) and the Gold Cup trophy, but obviously CONCACAF's decision to hold the competition every two years will render every other tournament somewhat meaningless. This was an event played in the middle of World Cup qualifying, with many key players left behind and with no Confederations Cup berth at stake. It would have been nice to win, but losing is no reason for despair.

And as both Ching and Holden said, there's a big game on Aug. 12 at which the U.S. could turn the tables. Mexico's win on Sunday was satisfying, an American triumph at Azteca would be historic.

"We have another crack at them in two weeks and it's going to be a different ball game," Ching promised.

Overwhelmed US Collapses in Gold Cup originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Dominates Honduras, Advances to Gold Cup Final

Brian Straus — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:01:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer , US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

A night on which the US national team's eight-year home unbeaten streak against regional opponents appeared to be as vulnerable as it's ever been instead turned into a surprising exhibition of the program's depth.

Playing a Honduras side hungry to avenge two recent defeats and eager to put itself in position to become the CONCACAF Gold Cup's first Central American champion, what amounted to a United States' 'C' team strolled to a shockingly easy 2-0 victory at Chicago's Soldier Field with goals in the final minute of each half. The Houston Dynamo's Stuart Holden easily was man of the match and will lead Bob Bradley's side into Sunday's final against Mexico.

Bradley started the regional championship tournament with a "junior varsity" roster that has been gradually depleted throughout as select individuals have been allowed to return to their European clubs for preseason. Thursday night he fielded a starting lineup with just two foreign-based players -- goalkeeper Troy Perkins and central defender Clarence Goodson. The rest of the lineup would hardly be classified as an MLS all-star team.

Honduras, meanwhile, seemed to have so much more momentum. It lost an early lead to the U.S. in a World Cup qualifier in June and went down to a 2-1 defeat in the same stadium, then held the Americans at bay in a Gold Cup first-round match at RFK Stadium, only to fall on late goals by hometown hero Santino Quaranta and Brian Ching. The young U.S. side had struggled in its first-round finale against Haiti, barely earning a draw, then needed overtime to defeat Panama in the quarterfinals. Motivated by both revenge and the prospect of making CONCACAF history, Honduras (fielding World Cup starters Carlos Costly and Osman Chavez) had the intangibles on its side.

But it was Holden and Columbus Crew winger Robbie Rogers who asserted themselves early, doing most of the attacking as the game settled in. The U.S. forays were coming down the wings, and Ching, Goodson and Davy Arnaud all failed to convert on open headers in the first 35 minutes. In the first half's final five minutes, the U.S. attack started to hum and Los Catrachos started to bend. Honduras goalkeeper Donis Escober parried Holden's free kick over the crossbar in the 43rd minute, and Ching had a shot deflect off the crossbar one minute later.

In the 45th, the goal finally came courtesy of Holden and Goodson. It was Rogers' steal and shot that created the corner kick, which Holden whipped toward the six-yard line. Goodson out-jumped Costly and headed it home, becoming the 10th U.S. player to score a goal in the team's five Gold Cup matches.

"The USA has a lot of good players, a lot of talented players. Obviously the boys did the job at the Confederations Cup and now we're trying to do the job at the Gold Cup," Goodson told Fox Soccer Channel after the game.

"We had the momentum from there," Holden said of the goal.

The second half was an American clinic, with chance after chance created by a U.S. team that seemed to have as much space as they needed to operate. The game could have (and should have) been over just moments into the first half, but the U.S. was generous with some poor finishing. Holden saw his point-blank header saved in the 47th, and defender Chad Marshall failed to put enough on his relatively easy 49th-minute chance.

Honduras was impotent, failing to trouble the Americans or create any opportunities. U.S. midfielder Kyle Beckerman and forward Davy Arnaud improved their own play from the first half, giving the Americans more options with the ball. Costly's pathetic 78th-minute dive, which earned him a yellow card rather than a penalty, was the visitors' best chance until the dying moments.

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Honduras' Nery Medina walks off after his team's 2-0 loss to the United States during a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal soccer game in Chicago on Thursday, July 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Carlo Costly of Honduras reacts after missing a shot against the USA during their CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final soccer match July 21, 2009 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. USA won 2-0. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

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USA Santino Quaranta (L) and Roger Espinoza of Honduras vie for the balll during their CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final soccer match July 21, 2009 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. USA won 2-0. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

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CHICAGO - JULY 23: Kyle Beckerman #5, Heath Pearce #2, Logan Pause #8, Kenny Cooper #17, Stuart Holden #10 and Brian Ching #11 of the USA celebrate after Cooper scored a goal in the second half to give the USA a 2-0 lead against Honduras during their CONCACAF Cup Semifinal match at Soldier Field on July 23, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Beckerman;Kenny Cooper;Brian Ching;Stuart Holden;Heath Pearce;Logan Pause

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CHICAGO - JULY 23: Kenny Cooper #17 of the USA celebrates after he scored a goal in the second half to give the USA a 2-0 lead against Honduras during their CONCACAF Cup Semifinal match at Soldier Field on July 23, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kenny Cooper

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CHICAGO - JULY 23: Kyle Beckerman #5, Kenny Cooper #17 and Brian Ching #11 of the USA celebrate after Cooper scored a goal in the second half to give the USA a 2-0 lead as Carlos Will Mejia #9 (2nd R) of Honduras looks on during their CONCACAF Cup Semifinal match at Soldier Field on July 23, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Beckerman;Kenny Cooper;Brian Ching;Carlos Will Mejia

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USA Davy Arnaud and Melvin Valladares of Honduras during their CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final soccer match July 21, 2009 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. USA won 2-0. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

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Carlos Costly Molina of Honduras reacts after his match against the U.S. in their CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final soccer match in Chicago, Illinois, July 23, 2009. REUTERS/Frank Polich (UNITED STATES SPORT SOCCER)

Reuters

United States' Clarence Goodson celebrates the team's 2-0 win over Honduras during a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal soccer game in Chicago on Thursday, July 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Melvin Valladares Castillo (L) of Honduras and Davy Arnaud (R) of the U.S. fight for the ball during their CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final soccer match in Chicago, Illinois, July 23, 2009. REUTERS/Frank Polich (UNITED STATES SPORT SOCCER)

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That chance came, however, and Perkins was up to the challenge. It was Costly again, and in the 84th minute he had an opportunity to level the score and undo nearly a full game's worth of U.S. domination. Costly received a pass from substitute Roger Espinoza, turned it on well and had Perkins at his mercy. But the former D.C. United and current Valerenga 'keeper dropped and managed to deflect Costly's shot, perhaps cementing his status as the frontrunner for the third spot on next summer's World Cup roster in the process.

Deflated, Honduras could not stop the Americans now. Defender Jay Heaps and Marshall came close to a second, before reserve forward Kenny Cooper finished off the game with a goal that should stand as a U.S. highlight for years to come: Quaranta started the play with a steal and run through midfield. He slipped it to Holden, who found Beckerman, who slid it wide left to Heath Pearce. The defender knocked it into the penalty area, where Ching settled the ball, held off his marker and hit a deft backheel to the overlapping Holden. The Dynamo man hit a low hard cross across the six to Cooper, who skipped and hammered the ball past the stranded Escober.

It was a fitting way to finish off a surprisingly outstanding team performance.

"I think it was a little sloppy, but at times we played some really good stuff out there tonight," Holden told FSC. "I think the guys are pretty happy and will be confident going into Sunday."

The U.S. will be going for its third consecutive Gold Cup title, and a record fifth overall, Sunday afternoon at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.

US Dominates Honduras, Advances to Gold Cup Final originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mexico Coach Aguirre Suspended

FanHouse Newswire — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:50:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was suspended for three matches on Saturday for starting a melee during a Gold Cup match against Panama, putting him in danger of missing a World Cup qualifier against the United States.

The Mexican Football Federation was also fined $25,000 for what the CONCACAF disciplinary committee considered "serious irresponsible behavior" by the national coaching staff.

Aguirre's suspension was to start with Mexico's last group game on Sunday against Guadeloupe. He's eligible to return for the final on July 26 if Mexico qualifies.

If eliminated before the semifinals, any remaining games would be served in World Cup qualifying. Mexico's next qualifier is at home against the United States on Aug. 12.

With about 10 minutes to play in the 1-1 tie in Houston on Thursday night, Aguirre raised his leg and seemed to kick Phillips as he dribbled near the sideline. After a linesman stopped play, Phillips shoved Aguirre. Players converged in the area and several got into shoving matches.

Referee Joel Aguilar ejected Aguirre and gave a red card to Phillips as fans littered the field with cups of beer and other objects. The match was delayed for 12 minutes.

Aguirre and Phillips were sent off, and the coach apologized for his actions on Friday.

CONCACAF determined Aguirre wasn't trying to injure Phillips, but that he instigated the incident.

"The committee acknowledged that Mr. Aguirre is well known to them as a responsible person and it was their belief that this was an aberration rather than any aspect of his normal behavior," CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer wrote.

The committee noted the "exemplary behavior" of Mexico goalkeeper Memo Ochoa in trying to pacify fans and help lead Phillips safely from the field.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Mexico Coach Aguirre Suspended originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iraqi Soccer Team Wins 1st Home Game In 7 Years

FanHouse Newswire — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq played its first home soccer game since 2002, defeating Palestine 3-0 in a match that was as much about the nation's struggle for stability as it was about sports.

A sellout crowd of about 25,000 attended the exhibition game at Fransou Hariri Stadium, many waving Iraq and Palestine flags and chanting "Iraq, Iraq."

Some fans sat on the roofs of nearby buildings to catch a glimpse of the game in the capital of a Kurd-ruled region that was safer than many other parts of the country.

Palestine planned to fly to Baghdad for a second game Monday despite a deadly wave of bombings in the capital Thursday.

"The holding of this match in Irbil gives a clear message to the world that Iraq is recovering and security is prevailing," Hussein Saeed, head of the Iraqi Football Federation, told the crowd before the game. "We are here today because football is the message of love."

Iraq last played at home on July 22, 2002, when it beat Syria 2-1 in Baghdad. The country sank into chaos after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003 but has made gains in security after years of insurgent attacks and sectarian violence.

On Friday, Iraq opened the scoring in the 20th minute on a goal by Hawar Mulla Mohammed. Ahmed Younis made it 2-0 with a header. Louai Salah capped the scoring in the second half.

Iraqi fan Faris Abdul-Amir, along with his wife and mother, came from the southern city of Karbala to support the national team.

"In the past," he said, "we were deprived from watching our team playing in front of us."

Iraq reached the Asian Cup final in 2007 and scored a 1-0 upset of three-time champion Saudi Arabia. The victory set off wild rejoicing in Iraq, which at that time was experiencing some of the worst violence of its long war.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Iraqi Soccer Team Wins 1st Home Game In 7 Years originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Santino Quaranta, Brian Ching Power US Over Honduras at Gold Cup

FanHouse Newswire — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:33:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer , U.S. Men's National Team

WASHINGTON (AP) - Santino Quaranta broke a scoreless tie in the 75th minute and Brian Ching followed with a header in the 79th, giving the United States a 2-0 win against Honduras in the Gold Cup on Wednesday night.

The United States, two-time defending champion in the competition contested among the countries of North and Central America and the Caribbean, is 23-0-1 in Gold Cup group play..

The Americans are 2-0 and lead Group B going into their final first-round match against Haiti on Saturday in Foxborough, Mass., where a draw will be enough to clinch the group and move into the
quarterfinals.

Honduras (1-1) will face winless Grenada, also in Foxborough. Haiti (1-1) beat Grenada in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader 2-0.

Quaranta took a short pass from Charlie Davies, who replaced Freddy Adu in the 64th minute, at the top of the penalty box and fired in his first goal for the national team. Four minutes later, Ching put in his header from the goal box to seal the victory.

It is nearly an entirely different roster from the U.S. team that made a surprise run to the Confederations Cup championship game last month; most regulars were given a rest for the Gold Cup.

The Americans last played Honduras on June 6 in a World Cup qualifying match, but the only American who was dressed for that game and Wednesday's match was Benny Feilhaber, who came on in the 64th minute.

The crowd of 26,079 at RFK Stadium had a pro-Honduras bent, although cheers greeted both teams' offensive chances.

Both squads had several opportunities before the United States broke through.

In the 15th minute, Quaranta had a header go wide left of the goalpost. Adu started the sequence with a nifty heel kick to Robbie Rogers, who took the ball deep into the left side of the penalty area before sending a cross to Quaranta in the middle. He dived and sent the header toward the post.

The Americans had another chance in the 22nd minute. Kyle Beckerman passed to Ching in the box. Ching chipped the ball over goalkeeper Donis Escobar, but he couldn't regain his footing as he chased down the ball and Honduras cleared off the goal line. Ching had another chance in the 51st minute when he took a cross right in front of the net and his shot went over the bar.

Honduras had a golden opportunity in the 30th minute. Walter Martinez had a breakaway with only goalkeeper Troy Perkins to beat, but his shot was just wide, hitting the right side of the goal netting.

Santino Quaranta, Brian Ching Power US Over Honduras at Gold Cup originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CONCACAF Cup Offers Fringe US Players Golden Opportunity

Brian Straus — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:43:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer , MLS, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

The 2006 World Cup is remembered as a tournament where key players fell well short of expectations. It should also be remembered for the play of Clint Dempsey and Jimmy Conrad, the two MLS players who arguably were the only members of that U.S. national team who could be proud of their performances in Germany.

Why is that relevant today? Because both Dempsey and Conrad likely cemented their roles on Bruce Arena's World Cup roster with their play at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Neither was a national team fixture before that tournament, but in helping the Americans to their third title, they established themselves as legitimate World Cup options. The U.S. team that takes the Qwest Stadium field tonight against Grenada in their Gold Cup opener will be composed of players with similar status -- on the outside looking in as the next World Cup approaches. History suggests that two or three of those athletes will play their way onto Bob Bradley's team for next summer.

The 10th Gold Cup basically is a necessary evil. It's the confederation's principal source of revenue and gives the Jamaicas and El Salvadors of the region (not to mention the Grenadas), an opportunity to play meaningful matches in between World Cup cycles. Anything that improves the overall quality of the soccer played in this part of the world eventually should benefit the U.S., so we grin and bear it and use it as an opportunity to have a look at some younger, fringe players.

In the past, that has served the national team program well. In 2002, when the U.S. won its second Gold Cup, Pablo Mastroeni and Carlos Bocanegra solidified their national team futures. Mastroeni had received his U.S. citizenship in early 2001 and made his national team debut that June, but he had not played in a single World Cup qualifier. Arena added him to the Gold Cup roster (the tournament was played in January) and Mastroeni started the last four games for the U.S., all shutouts. He then started against Portugal, Mexico and Germany in the World Cup.

Bocanegra's start against South Korea in the 2002 Gold Cup was only his second cap. But he was a force throughout the tournament, leading an American defense that yielded just one goal. He made the 2002 World Cup team and now, of course, is the national team captain.

In 2005, the U.S. won its fourth Gold Cup, tying rival Mexico for the all-time lead. Conrad made his national team debut in the opener and wound up starting five of the six games. He then appeared twice in Germany, starting and playing well in the first round finale against Ghana. Dempsey had started just twice for the national team prior to the Gold Cup. He scored in both that tournament and the World Cup and obviously will be a national team fixture for years to come.

Another player who cemented his national team place in 2005 was Oguchi Onyewu. He had started just three natioanal team matches before the tournament, but scored the injury-time winner against Honduras in the semifinals and went on to start all three group games in the World Cup. He remains a first-choice player for the national team.

So who will emerge this time around? We're not likely to find out tonight, as the U.S. puts its 21-0-1 record in the Gold Cup's group stage on line against the smallest nation (the population could fit in the Rose Bowl) to ever qualify for the tournament. The other Group B contest pits Haiti against Honduras, the last CONCACAF team to beat the U.S. on home soil (2001).

Bradley could certainly add a bit of excitement to the tournament by handing the keys to Freddy Adu, and giving the 20-year-old playmaker a real opportunity to make an impact at the senior level. Regarding Adu's lack of playing time at the Confederations Cup and his difficult situation with Monaco and Benfica, Bradley said:

"It's important that Freddy can now, with his club team, make the next step. Certainly, we recognize that there is talent and, yet, it's not easy to come into a national team during a period when you're not playing and to play against the likes of Italy, Spain, and Brazil. But having him in the group is a way of letting him know that we still want to push him forward. It's most important that he can push his way through with his club team so that that playing time, that experience, the lessons you learn from being on the field start to help him with our national team."

Bradley compred Adu to Jozy Altidore, who also is having difficulty getting on the field in Europe yet played significant minutes in South Africa: "I think that at this time Jozy has shown that he is closer to being able to step onto the field with us to help, to contribute in that part of the field. It hasn't been as clear with Freddy."

Adu's contribution, or lack thereof, may be the story of the Gold Cup.

The American back line looks solid, with Conrad returning to the national team fold alongside Steve Cherundolo, who missed the Confederations Cup through injury, and the Columbus Crew's Chad Marshall, the reigning MLS defender of the year.

The midfield is a bit less certain, and Bradley has a host of options. It will be interesting to see what players like Stuart Holden, Robbie Rogers and Kyle Beckerman, all MLS standouts, can do against international opposition. Santino Quaranta is a great story as well, recovering from alcohol and drug addition to re-establish himself as a starter at D.C. United and a national team prospect. Quaranta converted a penalty in the shootout win over Panama in the 2005 Gold Cup final. Charlie Davies, whose performance at the Confederations Cup was a revelation, also will feature.

Bradley was allowed to add seven players to his pool because of the U.S.'s workload this summer, but most of those chosen are established national teamers. We know what they can do, and the coach would be wise to use them only if necessary.

CONCACAF Cup Offers Fringe US Players Golden Opportunity originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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