U.S. v. Argentina Tonight

Most football fans are watching this year's Copa America, which is already shaping up to be a fun tournament. (Last night's late match, where Mexico spanked Brazil, was great to watch.) Tonight will see one of the highlights for American fans as the U.S. national team takes on Argentina. Most people think Messi and the boys will take apart this inexperienced American squad piece by piece. SI's Jonah Freedman certainly thinks so, in this article below, and I guess I'm inclined to agree. The U.S. didn't bring much firepower. It sure would have been fun to see the U.S. bring their full Gold Cup suqad, however, especially after watching Mexico hand it to co-favorites Brazil last night. (Mexico played a great game and the first goal was GORGEOUS. However, if Robinho had finished that bicycle kick it would have been one for the ages.) Regardless, even if tonight turns into a Messi/Tevez exhibition, it should still be fun.

http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/24812

In other news (well, Real Madrid news) the team fired coach Fabio Capello less than two weeks after winning la Liga. Gutsy movie, I guess. Capello wins wherever he goes, but I was just as frustrated with him as everyone else at the mid-year when the team was playing so poorly. I guess this just highlights the fact that at Real Madrid the perception is just as important as the football, and when the crowds started to get down on Capello and his "boring" game, nothing could save him. We'll see how the fifth coach in five years does for the boys in white. David, you may have left just in time.

Funny Football

Since it is a quiet Tuesday morning here in the football world, (nothing much is happening, although Klose just signed with Bayern Munich and Trezeguet resigned with Juve) I need something to distract me from the thought of Henry in a Barca shirt getting a hat trick at Real Madrid. Thus here is a fun little collection of clips (brought to my attention by FourFourTwo) chronicling the lighter side of football. My favorite bit is when the player gets hit by the football. Wait, that's every bit. Anyway, its pretty funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70UrBGfChCA

Monday Quick Hits

A couple of quick hits on a sunny Monday morning….

• Pretty much everyone agrees that yesterday’s Gold Cup final was spectacular. Mexico played very appealing, attacking football the entire game, but the United States’ strong second-half surge won them the cup. Mexico’s goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez played wonderfully in net (it could have been 4-1) and Landon Donavan played a brilliant, brilliant game. He passed it beautifully, especially in the second half. It was fun to watch on television, and it must have been a blast to be there in Chicago in person.
• Now I’m really looking forward to the Copa America, which begins in a few days. Like everyone else, I’m excited about seeing the big names on the Argentina team and seeing if they can go all the way. I am also pleased to see that Robinho will get the opportunity to be the fulcrum of the Brazilian attack; he is still one of my favorite players. Hopefully the U.S. can advance to the second round, but they are bringing a VERY young squad. We shall see.
• Here is a very sad photograph of Thierry Henry. I did not enjoy seeing this photo this morning. Only a French football player, incidentally, could get away with searing a cardigan and still be considered really cool. Good for you, TH.
• Finally, here is an interesting article from the Boston Globe celebrating the rising attendance at New England Revolution matches. Why didn’t that goon reporter interview the Football Fan-atic? Because I always keep it real…

http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2007/06/25/spending_it_not_just_on_beckham/

Goodbye Thierry

Thierry Henry, perhaps the greatest player in Arsenal history, and also perhaps the single most popular and admired player in the English Premier League, announced yesterday that he would be playing for the next four years with Barcelona FC. Among the reasons he gave include the departure of club chairman David Dein and the instability surrounding genius manager Arsene Wenger, but it may very well be that Henry believes Arsenal has shot its bolt. After a few years of trophy-laden greatness, Arsenal won nothing this year, and although some thought their youth would come on strong next year, others felt it would be sometime before Arsenal could win again, due largely to the massive debt service the club has to pay to play in its new Emirates Stadium.

It’s a sad day for Arsenal and English football. Henry was a great player, a good guy and the face of his franchise. Some players, whether you like them or not, just belong at their clubs. Stephen Gerrard, for instance, belongs at Liverpool, whether you like him or not. Same for Paulo Maldini at AC Milan or Raul at Real Madrid. Even after they lose it (as Raul has) some guys just belong at certain clubs. I’m sorry to see Henry go.

And as much as I like Thierry, I’m not to happy about him going to Barcelona, where he will play my Real Madrid club at least twice a year. If Barca keeps the rest of their team together (which is a big IF) they will have Henry and Eto’o at forwards with Ronaldinho and Messi on the wings. That, simply, is the best attacking team on the face of the earth. Both Eto’o and Ronaldinho may still go, but it will be interesting to see what happens. In the meantime, goodbye, Thierry. Thanks for the memories.

U.S. National Team Tourney News

It’s been an interesting week for American international football. Last night the United States squeaked by the Canadian national team in a 2-1 thriller that is already generating controversy in conspiracy circles. At the very end of the game (there must have been ten seconds or so left) Canada scored what looked to be a very good goal that would have tied the game at two goals a piece. The goal was ruled offsides (although no one can see where the offsides were) by the Mexican Referee, and now thus the U.S. will play (surprise!) Mexico in the hotly anticipated final this Sunday on Fox Soccer Channel at 3PM EST. That game should be great fun, in fact, and it is my only recommended game of the weekend. As I said last week, we’ve really entered the lean times in terms of good soccer matches.

I don’t want to look too far ahead when we’ve got such a great game coming, up, but Sport’s Illustrated’s Grant Whal had a nice piece this week that mentioned some of the men who will be playing for Argentina next week against the U.S. in the opening match of the Copa America. Just a few of the Argentineans who will be suiting up in the powder blue stripes to play against the Americans: Lionel Messi, Hernán Crespo, Carlos Tévez, Javier Mascherano, Juan Román Riquelme, Fernando Gago, Diego Milito and Pablo Aimar. Now that, my friends, will be a fun game to watch. It starts Thursday.

A Bit of Extra Reading

Two interesting little pieces from Sports Illustrated’s soccer page this week: the first is Jonah Freedman’s always fun (and always controversial) Football Power Rankings. This week it is not so controversial (since it is based on trophies won) but still fun.

The second piece is Gabriele Marcotti’s opinion piece on why there has been so little transfer activity so far. I think he makes a few fair points, but I also think he may have shot his load a bit too early; I think we will still see some big names move before the window closes, regardless of the obstacles involved.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jonah_freedman/06/21/rankings/index.html

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/gabriele_marcotti/06/20/transfers/index.html

One Last Dance with Phil Ball

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Phil Ball is one of the best writers in the world writing about football in the English language. His coverage of la Liga is superb. Frankly, I like his stuff so much I would read his column if it was about fly-fishing in Montana.

These last two columns are a wrap-up of the Spanish season and an “all-star” team of la Liga players. Both are a lot of fun. Have a good summer, Mr. Ball. We’ll see you in September.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=439750&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1&cc=5901

and

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=439749&root=europe&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos3&cc=5901