Archive for April, 2010

South of the Border

Get the Nachos – It's Liguilla Time in Mexico!

It comes around only twice a year, leads to half a championship for one lucky club that has been one of the eight best in last seventeen games of the first division, and is at least the second or third most important thing going on right now in Mexican soccer. Makes the MLS playoffs seem downright important, doesn’t it.

That’s right, it’s Liguilla time! And some team will soon be crowned kings of the 2010 Clausura. (Why the closure comes after the opening in Mexico I’m still not sure, could be a remnant of the fall to spring long tournament I guess.)

This year’s Liguilla promises to be a good one, though. Most of the perennial top teams are there, and it should be wide open since a number of top sides have lost important players to Mexico’s premature World Cup camp.

Paco Torres and Pachuca, fresh off their CONCACAF title, take on defending champions Monterrey. In the other Saturday match, Morelia hosts Chivas. On Sunday, Santos does battle with Pumas, and America hosts Toluca in El Azteca.

The full schedule is here. The dates seem to be wrong, though. They’ll need to play the return leg during the week to get through the semis and play the championship game by the May 15 FIFA deadline. Man, the World Cup is coming on us quick, now.

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South of the Border

Friday Fun: Herculez and Obama — Separated at Birth?

Change - for the USMNT? Vote for Herculez

Who dat? Herc or Obama?

The other day I pointed out that Herculez Gomez bears a striking resemblance to the President of the United States. Noah thought I was right. It’s uncanny, really. What do you think?

Here’s Herculez looking at something, and Obama, looking at something…prolly a honey from what I can tell…..

Herc lookin’ kinda serious, and the Prez lookin’, well, kinda serious.

Here’s one of the Prez looking off in the distance and pointing after scoring some sort of political victory, and finally, our boy Herc, looking off into the distance and pointing after scoring a different kind of goal. Photo op in South Africa,

anyone:

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News in brief

FRI Apr 30 (PM) – Project 2010 Revisited, Friday Quiz, Klinsmann, Ribery

Marketwatch (of all outlets) runs a story detailing the difficulties the leadership of American soccer has had choosing their objectives. Specifically, the article questions whether the goal of Project 2010 — to win the 2010 World Cup — was detrimental to the sport’s development on these shores.

Dan Gaspar, currently the head men’s soccer coach at the University of Hartford and a consultant on the 1998 development plan, weighs in:

“Countries such as Argentina, Italy and Brazil don’t have the audacity to say, ‘We’re going to win the World Cup in 2010.’ There’s too many variables, some of which we’re not in control of, to determine that kind of destiny.”

He goes on to say that the current goal of simply competing in each quadrennial tournament and steadily improving makes much more long-term sense. Project 2010 may have been one time where American ambition hurt the cause.

A Friday Afternoon Guessing Game

Who said the following about one of his players:

“He is committed. He’s competitive, motivated, hard-working. He gives you his all. He listens. He learns. He is going to get even better. He is a real threat to the opposition and the kind of player who makes things happen.”

That would be Fulham head Roy Hodgson on Clint Dempsey. The American is carrying Fulham in crunch time (see minutes 52-90 in Thursday’s Europa League semifinal) and Martin Rogers thinks he can play the same role for the Stars and Stripes in South Africa this summer. The wily Texan will need to with the U.S. struggling to find striking power.

Ribery Will Face Questions… After the World Cup

Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema won’t have to answer questions about their alleged sex scandal until after the World Cup. “As it (the case) stands now, it is not expected Ribery will be summoned by the judge to be possibly placed under official investigation before the start of the competition,” a judicial source said. That’s good news for the duo. Either they’ll play great in South Africa and they’ll have the court of public opinion in their favor, or they’ll struggle and the French won’t let them return anyway.

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United States

A Few Words With Marcus Hahnemann

I caught up with Marcus Hahnemann for a Goal.com story earlier this week. The Wolverhampton Wanders goalkeeper has almost single-handedly dragged his club from the relegation zone and could be the United States’ No. 2 shotstopper heading into South Africa. He’s also a great interview.

Some outtakes from our conversation below.

On how much longer he’ll play
I don’t know. Two more years. Three more years. Something like that. I’ve been chasing Kasey and Freidel around for awhile now. They came over before me. I don’t know if I’m going to make it as long as those guys because they are way older than me. [Freidel's] going forever. So is Kasey, by the way. They’re both playing well, which is great.

On perks of the job
I just got a new cd from Robert Plant today. Signed, to me. One of our captains saw him last night and got him a signed cd for me. It’s very cool. He’s one of the vice presidents of our team.

On the state of American goalkeeping
I’ve got a chance to train with [Perkins] a few times and he’s good. He’s younger as well. I don’t know how much of a problem you think we’re going to have, but I think we’ll be all right. Goalkeeping has always been a strength and I don’t see why that changes. Being as we can go a little bit longer, that will help as well. Sometimes it takes guys a little longer to develop.

On the hazards of getting older
Obviously, I put on weight in the summer, which I think everybody does because you’re not working as hard. You’re seeing friends and eating more, and every mealtime seems to be a party when you’re home in the summer. So I put on weight and I wasn’t too worried about it because we were going to Australia for a two-week preseason tour and you figure you’ll lose it there. We came back from preseason and I hadn’t dropped any weight. As you get older, the metabolism slows down and you have to get that weight off, which entails me working harder to get that weight off. That’s where the biking came in. Getting on the trial is a lot better than me sitting on a stationary bike before training. My biking has improved immensely as well. It’s the fittest I’ve ever been on a bike.

On playing xBox 360 with member of the U.S. team
Landon and I play sometimes. The younger guys play the baseball games, which I don’t play. I play the shoot-em up games. I got hooked again with Halo when that came out. And Call of Duties. The soccer games are okay as well. The kids want to play that occasionally so I’ll play with them.

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News in brief

FRI Apr 30 (AM) – Buddle, Drogba, Spurs Rumors, and Football and Philosophy

In a decision that surprised exactly no one, Edson Buddle was named MLS Player of the Month. The Galaxy striker has been in searing form since the season began, scoring seven goals through five games. It certainly doesn’t hurt to have Landon Donovan whipping balls into you, but the National team hopeful has managed to find the net in whatever form necessary, showing the instincts needed to succeed against higher level opponents. As Noah noted earlier, Bradley has taken notice, and is likely to bring Buddle into camp to see if he can continue his current form. Endorsements from Donovan shouldn’t hurt.

While announcing him for the thirty-man roster brings little risk, Bradley will have a lot of pressure on him to determine if Buddle can replicate his MLS abilities at the international level. If he can accelerate his decision making and maintain composure in a faster and more physical environment, then he could become an important part of the USMNT, especially if Charlie Davies can’t return in time.

Didier Drogba is Influential

In fact, according to Time Magazine, he’s one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In their annual edition of leaders, heroes, artists, and thinkers, Drogba was the only footballer to make the list. A blend of the Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker’s devastating abilities on the pitch and dedication to helping his homeland rise from the turmoil and destruction from years of civil war earned him a place among the world’s notables. He now donates every endorsement dollar he earns to his charity, the Didier Drogba Foundation, which builds hospitals in the Ivory Coast.

With the World Cup approaching and the Ivory Coast darkhorses for the trophy – assuming they can emerge from a group stage with both Brazil and Portugal – the world’s eyes will be on the Drogba, his country’s captain, to produce. Indeed, apparently Ivorians will be toasting the hulking, powerful striker with a beer glass called the Drogba – appropriately twice the size on a normal glass. No word on if this will be available in the U.S., but improvising is most definitely encouraged.

Among others, Drogba finds himself surrounded by Palin, Conan, and Lady Gaga… how’s that for influence?

Bale and Modric Staying Spurs

At least if Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has his way. Rumors have been swirling about the potential transfers of Luca Modric and Gareth Bale, each of whom have had breakout seasons with Spurs, who sit poised for a Champions League birth in next season’s campaign. Links with Manchester United have been the strongest, with reports of £20 and £25 Million being thrown around for the two. Redknapp, however, has made it clear that neither is for sale.

“I do not want to sell Modric or Bale, no way, absolutely no way. These young players are the future of the club and we should not be selling our best young players like Modric and Bale.”

While this could always just be routine posturing to drive up the price, if Tottenham are able to make the Champions League – and they are almost guaranteed to at least make Europa — Harry will need to consider the depth of his squad if he has ambitions of progressing in the tournaments and remaining competitive in the Premier League. He may wish to consult Roy Hodgson.

Football on Philosophers, or Philosophers on Football

The NY Times Goal Blog has an interesting and amusing piece on Mark Perryman’s book “Philosophy Football: Eleven Great Thinkers Play It Deep,” which links important thinkers in history to the pitch.

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The Continent

Milan Set For New Coach

Two pieces of AC Milan news hit at roughly the same time this morning.

First, Oguchi Onyewu announced via his Twitter account that he has resumed training with “no restrictions.” That is good news both for a Milan team bereft of fit defenders and also the United States. U.S. head coach Bob Bradley showed temperance as per usual regarding Onyewu’s progress.

“Our expectation is that it may be hard for him at the end of the year to get back into the team there, play games, but certainly good news just in terms of regular training,” Bradley told the Associated Press.

Secondly, Leonardo will not coach Milan next year. Milan (and Italy) president Silvio Berlusconi let it slip during a meeting with some senators, according to Corriere dello Sport (here translated by the Guardian). Of course, the club is officially denying it.

“It is impossible that Berlusconi said these things,” Milan vice president Adriano Galliani told the Italian TV station Sky Sport 24. “Leonardo will be at Milan next season.”

But we’ve seen this before. Last year, when Milan parted ways with long-time coach Carlo Ancelotti, Berlusconi admitted the divorce early to some senators while the official club line was that Ancelotti would remain. Galliani rushed to counteract those claims, even going as far as denying that Leonardo would take over, shortly before — you guessed it — Leonardo was appointed head coach.

The two main names linked with the post come summer are Mauro Tassotti and Filippo Galli. Milan prefers to keep the head coaching position “in the family,” if you will, so those two — with a combined 600 caps with Milan as players between them — present suitable options. Tassotti is currently Leonardo’s assistant, while Galli runs the youth teams. An appointment of either would also keep in line with Milan’s stinginess.

Berlusconi and Galliani have become obsessed of late with erasing the club’s debt and have only a few million left before breaking even. Rumor has it the club asked Ronadinho recently, after his best season since his Barcelona days, to take a rather hefty 25% pay cut. Tassotti and Galli represent dirt-cheap options compared to other former players who have actual head coaching experience, including Marco van Basten and Frank Rikjaard.

Since neither Tassotti or Galli have headed a team, their possible attitudes toward Onyewu remain murky. Berlusconi did claim part of the reason Leonardo will leave (aside from wanting to join his family in Brazil) is that he is too “hardheaded.” That indicates any appointment will be a generic ‘yes-man,’ doing the bidding of club higher-ups without question. If that is the case, Onyewu, who cost the club nothing to sign, may stick around as a miserly bench option.

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The Continent

Balotelli on the Fast Track to Nowhere

While Inter is on the brink of its first European championship since well before glasnost, there’s one man in Milan who has had more downs than ups of late.

It’s 19-year-old Mario Balotelli, the player expected to be the future of Italian soccer, the greatest attacker since Pele, the man destined to lead Inter and the Italian national team to glory soon, well actually, now.

Hyperbole? Yes. But you get the idea. No superlative has been too good for Balotelli, a man of extraordinary skills but apparently very poor work ethic. This is Freddy Adu times one thousand, in skills, hype, and self-appreciation. Perhaps the comparison comes to mind since Balotelli is a Ghanaian-Italian — but it’s meant in a completely non-cultural, purely soccer-minded way.

Anyway, since Balotelli prefers not to run much on the field, it seems he might be run out of Milan before he ever gets a chance to blossom. It’s the topic of my blog today on Soccernet.

What do you think? Will Balotelli ever live up to the hype? Should he get a chance with the Italian national team? Should he find another place to play? If so, where?

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News in brief

THURS APR 29 (PM) – New U.S. Kits, Klinsmann Joins ESPN, Golden Parachutes Slit

The United States and Nike revealed the home jerseys the Americans will wear in South Africa at a press event earlier on Thursday. The mostly white shirts feature a grey stripe running from the right shoulder to the bottom left and were designed with the kit worn by the 1950 American team that upset England in mind. Not much of a change from the away uniforms unveiled last month. DuNord posts a nice piece featuring photos of him opening a package including the jerseys sent by Nike.

ESPN Snags Klinsmann

The United States Soccer Federation may have failed in its attempt to recruit Jurgen Klinsmann as National Team head coach, but one U.S. outfit successfully captured his talents. The German legend will join ESPN’s broadcast team during the World Cup. He’ll serve as a studio analyst.

“I’m extremely happy to be part of the ESPN FIFA World Cup team, and I hope that I can give American viewers insight into the world’s greatest game,” Klinsmann said in a statement. “Living in the U.S for more than 10 years, I’ve seen soccer grow incrementally and I think ESPN’s coverage of this exciting World Cup will take it to a new level.”

The Worldwide Leader received a lot of backlash for not hiring play-by-play men with American accents, but Klinsmann’s familiarity with the U.S. might help deflect some of the criticism. He’ll be a welcome addition to the likes of John Harkes and Alexi Lalas.

Getting relegated, not getting paid

The English Premier League proposed a plan that would double the amount of money given to relegated teams from £24 million over two seasons to £48 million over four, but a meeting between 72 Football League teams ended without approval. According to a spokesman, there are still numerous questions about the plan that need to be answered before a definitive answer can be given.

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The Continent

Fulham (and Dempsey) to Meet Atletico Madrid in Europa League Final

Fulham continued their ridiculous run through the Europa League with another comeback, scoring two second-half goals at Craven Cottage to advance to the May 12 final where they’ll meet Atletico Madrid in Hamburg’s HSH Nordbank Arena. Clint Dempsey didn’t figure on the scoresheet, but his squad netted both their goals after he came on for Bobby Zamora in the 58th minute. In the day’s other match, Diego Forlán played hero with his 102nd minute tally that ensured the Spanish side would go through on away goals and broke the hearts of Liverpool supporters (while nailing Rafa Benitez’s coaching coffin shut once and for all).

Fulham 2-1 Hamburg (all three goals here)

Liverpool 1-2 Atletico Madrid (second and third goal here and here)

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World Cup 2010

Bradley Speaks, and He's Got a Lot to Say

Much of the time when Bob Bradley speaks, he’s not saying too much. That’s on purpose, of course. Sometimes you have to pick up on the little things he says to guess his meaning.

But Bradley really opened up in a New York media appearance yesterday (see the video here), and gave U.S. fans a lot of the answers they might be looking for on the upcoming camp (and the new U.S. home jersey, or kit as it keeps getting called).

Ives has typed out some highlights if you prefer to read than watch, but some of the key comments were on Jermaine Jones, Charlie Davies, and the striking tandem of Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle.

If you read in between the lines, it sounds like Davies is on the track to being excluded. It’s great he’s gotten this far, but Bradley is among those wondering if training for the first time in six months can possibly turn into playing at a world class level in a month’s time. Bradley will take a lot of heat if he cuts or doesn’t include Davies, but in the end it might be the right call. Today’s Davies just can’t be the striker of last summer, yet.

As far as Jones, I’ve been surprised at the anxiousness to rule him out when comparing the case with that of Davies and Onyewu. It sounds like Bradley is opened minded about bringing Jones into camp if he can just run, but then that’s still up in the air.

Buddle is a guy Bradley seems to have been convinced by. After Landon Donovan sang his praises last week, I said Bradley would take note not of the goal scoring but of the little things Donovan says he is doing. Listen to this:

“The easy thing to see so far this year is he’s scored some incredible goals. That actually fits if you look over Edson’s career. As a young striker in the league, his talent came through based upon his ability at times to score some great goals, a variety of goals. Goals where he dribbled, goals with his head.

That part is not new, but it’s been there of late. There’s been a lot of maturing that has taken place in less obvious ways. He seems to be doing a lot of little things that make a difference for his team.”

Buddle will be in camp. As for Gomez, it sounds like he’ll be there too, since Bradley recognizes the importance of a sub who can get a goal.

“Even in the games where he was, a lot of these games he was just a sub, but he came on the field and now a certain ball would pop loose and the next thing you know he’d latch on to it and score a great goal.”

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