World Cup and European leagues

[WLCALUM83]

Mexico 2, Cuba 1, going into stoppage time in 2nd half.

[WLCALUM83]

Final just in:  USA 2, Trinidad & Tobago 0.

[Browneagle64]

Congrats to team USA on a good match today. Coach Bradley really had the club ready.
On the other hand, "EL tri" is getting a little suspect on having teams score the first goal against them. It appears that coach sanchez and co. are spending a little to much time studying the opponent during the game and just not playing their true style and game. Hopefully, this will encourage EL Tri to do well. 

[Browneagle64]

Wow, just one more day until team US hits the field again. Can't wait to see how the team comes out and gets ready to prove all critics wrong in yet another good match.

Moreover, it looks like "el tri" is having a huge melt down during this tourney. Like i had mentioned before,The team is just spending to much time studying their opponent and not play organized futbol.

Congrats to cuba for hanging in the tourney and not giving up to early like many were predicting.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

What's up with Guadeloupe?  They've got 4 points and already a victory over Canada.  That group's not too hard; they might be able to make it out.  how many Americans even know Guadeloupe is a country?

Well, I guess it's technically not a country.  In fact it's less of a country than Puerto Rico is, but still, it's pretty cool.

[Hoosier Titan]

The BBC is reporting that Real Madrid have tried to buy out David Beckham's contract with the LA Galaxy, and that the offer has been rejected.  Coach Fabio Capello is quoted as saying that he and other Real executives made "errors in judgement" regarding Beckham.

His performances against Brazil and Estonia were pretty convincing.  Maybe having been left off the national team for a few games has spurred him on.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Beckham might be a very public figure, but he's a very private guy and the one things he wants more than anything else it to break the record for caps for the England squad.  Removing him from the team was more motivation than anyone could give to him.  He's got more money than God.  The money from LA wasn't motivation.  All of those players love the English national team more than we can ever understand.

By the way, the offer from Real wasn't turned down, there simply isn't a buy-out clause in Beckham's contract.  Besides, there's no way even Real could offer the same kind of investment in the future of the league that Beckham is getting in LA.  The more he does to promote MLS, the more he makes.  Honestly, it's a tactic I'm surprised other sports and teams haven't tried with their star players.

[Hoosier Titan]

By the way, the offer from Real wasn't turned down, there simply isn't a buy-out clause in Beckham's contract.  Besides, there's no way even Real could offer the same kind of investment in the future of the league that Beckham is getting in LA.  The more he does to promote MLS, the more he makes.  Honestly, it's a tactic I'm surprised other sports and teams haven't tried with their star players.

Here's what was on the BBC site:

"Real Madrid have had a bid to buy David Beckham out of his LA Galaxy contract rejected by the MLS club.  Real approached the 32-year-old's advisors and LA Galaxy with their offer but were told "politely but firmly" that Beckham would not change his mind.

The Spanish giants were told Beckham's contract did not have a get-out clause, which they believe existed."

Isn't Beckham the biggest star (by far) to come to the MLS?  I'm not sure anyone else would have had the drawing power to allow for such high incentives until now. 

I wonder if he might have second thoughts about coming, now that his England and European careers are rejuvenated.  LA were probably smart not to allow a get-out clause.

[Browneagle64]

That news over the weekend was so funny around here in L.A. What was even more funny was that the "AEG" promoting company who made the beckham deal possible, sat back in their chairs and laughed about how much other team are considering having becks back. Eventhough, AEG was taking a risk, they knew that all they need from becks was to promote the heck ourt of MLS (just like hoops fan points out). In the end, the giants who run the famed Staples center (AEG) have now struck it rich.

Btw......you guys should come check out the posters and billboards that surround Staples center, the freeways and downtown L.A. with becks ugly mug......hahah 

[Josh Bowerman]

The Galaxy are in dire need of Becks--they looked terrible against FC Dallas on Saturday night.  Real nasty foul by Tyrone Marshall on Kenny Cooper got him a straight red card, to boot.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

To bring my Guadeloupe fascination back up again, if the US beats El Salvador today, Guadeloupe secures a place in the quarters (although probably against the US, but still).

[WLCALUM83]

Per Wilkpedia, this year's the first time Guadaloupe's even qualified for the Gold Cup.  Side note--France star player T Henry hails from that territory.

[Browneagle64]

Hahaha,

hey, hoops,I just realized last night from a local t.v. station that Guadeloupe is not a country in Latin America, but a small part of (or within Costa Rica.) Whatever they may be, they sure are a suprise in this tourney.

Speaking of the Galaxy---- the reason why they are struggling is because of the the tourney. Several of the players are on team usa. In the mean time, we still got a lot of games in the MLS ahead of us, so no need to rush becks over. Btw, his wife sure is making her presense known around L.A., she could be seen thrown out the first pitch at Dodger stadium last night. I am sure Becks will be doing the same sometime soon.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

hey, hoops,I just realized last night from a local t.v. station that Guadeloupe is not a country in Latin America, but a small part of (or within Costa Rica.) Whatever they may be, they sure are a suprise in this tourney.

I think they messed up there.  Guadeloupe is a series of Islands in the Caribbean, I think in the lesser Antilles.  They are an official department of France (which is why Henry can play for the French national team).  They are a part of the European Union and use the eruo as currency.  They're participation in the Gold Cup is equivalent to say Hawaii fielding a separate team. 

I wonder if Henry will play for them when his first team days are over in France?

[Browneagle64]

Thanks for clearing that up. Makes much more sense.