World Cup and European leagues

[jknezek]

Well, I guess staying away from the Red Bulls didn't help their playoff outcome. Had to watch the game on Univision last night. My wife thought I was nuts since I'm barely literate in Spanish. It just hurt to watch. Oh well, there's always year 19!

[WLCALUM83]

I agree that the African teams are always extremely athletic. Their biggest issue is being organized.  I think Bob Bradley is helping bring that kind of stability to the Egypt program but I don't think they have the quality in players to hang with Mexico.  Personally I think it is funny to watch the demise of Mexico, after the Gold Cup a few years ago when they crushed us 4-2 I was certain they would be the top CONCACAF seed for qualifying and have the chance to be seeded for the World Cup.

Mexico's problem has always been in their heads. In this case, their heads told them winning the previous gold cup in a walk, winning the Olympics, cruising through early qualifying had them on easy street. And they choked. Once the pressure turned on, Mexico does what it often does, they fell apart. They are technically and physically gifted, but mentally they are one of the weakest of the better teams in the world. It shows when the pressure turns up, and it almost always has. I'm not sure how they correct it, but I sure hope it never happens, otherwise they have the quality to be a true force.

I always think of Mexico as I used to think of Spain (prior to the last 8 years of course). Or as a lot of people think of Portugal. The talent is always there to be a final eight or final four team, the mindset never is.

Mexico made it official -- they're in-- again, (barely).  El Tri's been doing better of late, the question is, how long can that consistency continue? 

[jknezek]

I agree that the African teams are always extremely athletic. Their biggest issue is being organized.  I think Bob Bradley is helping bring that kind of stability to the Egypt program but I don't think they have the quality in players to hang with Mexico.  Personally I think it is funny to watch the demise of Mexico, after the Gold Cup a few years ago when they crushed us 4-2 I was certain they would be the top CONCACAF seed for qualifying and have the chance to be seeded for the World Cup.

Mexico's problem has always been in their heads. In this case, their heads told them winning the previous gold cup in a walk, winning the Olympics, cruising through early qualifying had them on easy street. And they choked. Once the pressure turned on, Mexico does what it often does, they fell apart. They are technically and physically gifted, but mentally they are one of the weakest of the better teams in the world. It shows when the pressure turns up, and it almost always has. I'm not sure how they correct it, but I sure hope it never happens, otherwise they have the quality to be a true force.

I always think of Mexico as I used to think of Spain (prior to the last 8 years of course). Or as a lot of people think of Portugal. The talent is always there to be a final eight or final four team, the mindset never is.

Mexico made it official -- they're in-- again, (barely).  El Tri's been doing better of late, the question is, how long can that consistency continue? 

Like most teams, it will depend on the group. They certainly aren't going to strike fear in anyone's heart. They need to settle on a coach and a style that will work for them offensively. It's a big task but the talent is there to at least get out of a group as they usually do.

[jknezek]

The U.S. gets a brutal group for the World Cup. Germany, Ghana, U.S. and Portugal. Ouch... El Tri not much luckier. Brazil, Cameroon, Mexico and Croatia. Easiest group? Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras and France.

Besides the U.S., fans of Group B with Spain, Chile, Australia and the Netherlands have some brutal games as do fans of Group D, Uruguay, Italy, Costa Rica and England.

Overall, the three best CONCACAF teams of U.S., Costa Rica and Mexico have a tough road. I know Honduras finished ahead of El Tri, but you won't convince me they are a better team. However, they have a much easier road. CONCACAF will struggle to get teams out of the group stage this time.

[sac]

USA had about an 85% chance of getting a tough group no matter what.  It could have been worse I suppose.

The worst possible scenario was Brazil, Netherlands, Italy, USA.......so we avoided that.

[jknezek]

USA had about an 85% chance of getting a tough group no matter what.  It could have been worse I suppose.

The worst possible scenario was Brazil, Netherlands, Italy, USA.......so we avoided that.

It is the World Cup, so you are most likely going to get a tough group, that's true. Still, not happy to see Ghana again. Hopefully the boys can actually take care of them this time since they've eliminated us from two straight senior world cups and a junior one. We lucked out a bit in South Africa and still barely scraped our way out of the group. We're going to have to work for this one.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Brazil gets a rough draw with having Netherlands in Round of 16 and Spain in Quarterfinals...   Argentina gets a nice draw.  Can young Belgium make a run?

USMNT should finish 1-1-1 at best and HOPE to advance over Portual on goal differential. 

Brazil over Argentina is the mush prediction.

Wait for it... Wait for it... England 3rd place.

[Gray Fox]

Only a few weeks to go in Brazil.  I hear there are lots of venues still incomplete and in trouble.
Does anyone have any good information?

[sac]

What a 92 minute goal to avoid relegation to England's 1st Division looks like from the Championship side Birmingham crowd behind the goal.

Video warning:
1)  this will get deleted at some point
2)  the audio is god awful, turn the volume down
3)  the man holding the camera went a little crazy, avoid if you have vertigo
4)  they're English so their language is colorful, by colorful I mean not safe for work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb7wqb64C6k

Birmingham actually trailed 2-0 and scored in the 78th minute
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27167525

Birmingham's late heroics sent down Doncaster who you might remember were promoted last year under similar late heroics.  Amazing stuff.

[jknezek]

Awesome news about Copa America 2016.  Praying Atlanta or Nashville get some good games. Hoping these areas aren't excluded for summer temperatures

[jknezek]

Somewhat surprised Tim Ream didn't make the 30 man roster. With Omar's iffy play in the back this year Bolton's POY might have provided good cover. Other than that, Sascha and EJ are the only players I was remotely surprised didn't make the list

[jknezek]

Landon Donovan just paid for Julian Green and John Anthony Brooks allegiance to the USA. I hope it is worth it. Sad to see a legend dropped like that and hope the chemistry doesn't go France 1998 on us

[woacfan]

Donovan has been the face of American soccer for so long, I suspect Klinsmann may have written his own termination slip.  It seems doubtful, with or without Donovan, that the US is going to make it out of this round. They haven't looked sharp recently. Keeping Donovan off the roster will undoubtedly alienate his fans and supporters.  When the US loses,  they will look to Klinsmann.  It reminds me of the Greg Ryan saga.

Seems to me that Klinsmann was never too keen on Donovan.  He made Donovan fight his way back after his bizarre year-long sabbatical. A recent ESPN special raised questions in my mind about their relationship.  During the special,  Donovan talked about fitness problems and said that Klinsmann was not pleased with him...it was a strange conversation.

Finally,  Donovan hasn't helped himself.  He comes off as a bit of a head case.  The sabbatical, his feud with Beckham, his reputation for flakiness.

In short, Klinsmann will be blamed when the US doesn't advance, so by keeping Donovan off the roster, he will be seen as ruining team chemistry, etc.   I doubt he is at the helm in 2018.

Postscript---- On the other hand,  the soccer press is reporting that he has a free hand as far as Sunil Gulati is concerned and a contract that runs through the 2018 Cup....maybe his internal support is so strong that he gets a pass at this WC.  I just don't see this particular squad doing too much against this competition.

[jknezek]

There is no doubt that Klinsmann has an issue with Donovan. I think he never understood why Donovan was happy with his life and how Donovan wanted to live his life. Donovan's ambition was to push U.S. soccer along in a way that he was comfortable with and he decided helping MLS and being a big fish in a small pond was the best way to do it. I've met Donovan twice, had a 15 minute conversation with him once upon a time, seen him play for the U.S. 4 times, and I can honestly say in my opinion Landon never lacked ambition. He just had a different ambition than to play in Europe. Some American soccer fans have never grasped that, and Klinsmann didn't either. I feel bad for Landon, and I worry that the team will have chemistry issues based on this decision and the inclusion of two German players, Brooks and Green, that were bought and may not be worth it. I doubt Green will see the field, and Brooks only if there are injuries to Besler, Gonzalez or Cameron.

I also don't understand why Boyd was left out. We have no cover for Jozy. He's the only target man on the team, and Boyd would have been a like for like backup. He's also in form. With Donovan, Dempsey, and Johannson all able to play the off striker, a second target man would have been good (assuming Donovan was subbed for Green or Yedlen). I have no idea what role Klinsmann hopes Wondo will play, but he is in better form than Donovan. Still, I just don't see Wondo playing at this level, even off the bench. End of the game when the defense is tired you want to bring in someone fast or strong to take advantage, crafty like Wondo just doesn't fit to me.

As for Klinsmann, I like what he has done with the team. He is desperately trying to change the way the U.S. plays and the mindset of the national team. It's a tall order over 3 years but I think he's done a good job, even if the group we drew is going to force us to play more defensive than anyone would like. I don't like this decision and I think it could backfire horribly, but that's what they are paying him big money to decide. I also don't have a problem with Klinsmann staying even if we go 0-3 so long as we don't get embarrassed like France '98. Especially with CONMEBOL Cup coming to the U.S. in 2016, having Klinsmann keep working his project makes a lot of sense.

[woacfan]

Agree with everything you wrote there...

Definitely looks like they are writing off this WC run and trying to get the kids ready for the next four years. 

I have a question for you--- I see a tension between trying to grow the American game and bringing in German kids.  The popularity of youth soccer has never been higher in this country.  Isn't it basically a vote of "no confidence" from the Coach on the "American" game?   That's where Donovan was a great symbol...he was a great American player.  What are your thoughts? 

I've been a Dempsey fan for years.  A few years back I got into a lively discussion with an airport security guard in Heathrow about Donovan and Dempsey.  Turns out he was a huge Donovan fan.   The Europeans I've spoken to respected Donovan, even though he never really had a good run across the pond.  I get the goal is to win the World Cup, but isn't getting rid of American players, even out of form old ones, a step back when they are essentially replaced with Germans?  Am I being xenophobic?