So Close

I took in the 2009 Confederations Cup at Manny's in Berkeley (on Telegraph). The place was packed with hopes of witnessing the first U.S. FIFA cup of any kind. The teams energy from their upset over Spain continued into the first half of the final yesterday. Defense was shutting down everything. Howard was solid in goal. Dempsey scored the first goal in the 10''. Donovan scored the second goal in the 27''. The place was rockin' and we were all pinching ourselves. But alas, our opponent this day was mighty Brasil. Kaka'. Robinho. Brasil roared back in the second half. Their first goal by Fabiano (he ended up with 2 goals) seemed to pop the U.S. bubble and they began to remember they were playing Brasil. I sensed their high energy drop with every tentative step they were making. Fabiano scored one more and then Lucio scored Brasils third. The dream ended Brasil 3 USA 2. It was an exciting game to watch, but it was heartbreaking at the same time. The teams performance gives us greater hope for 2010 WC success.

2009 Gold Cup

With not much of a break, the US MNT will begin their 2009 Gold Cup defense. Manager Bob Bradley has already announced the roster for the Gold Cup. Only a handful of players that were on the Confederations Cup roster (Charlie Davies, Freddy Adu, Heath Pierce, and Luis Robles) will play in the Gold Cup. Only Davies saw any significant playing time in the Confederations Cup matches.

2009 Gold Cup Roster
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Birthdate Hometown Club Caps/G

1 Perkins, Troy GK 6-2 190 07/20/81 Worthington, Ohio Valerenga IF (Norway) 1/0
2 Pearce, Heath D 5-10 175 08/13/84 Modesto, Calif. Hansa Rostock (Germany) 23/0
3 Goodson, Clarence D 6-4 170 05/17/82 Alexandria, Va. IK Start (Norway) 2/0
4 Marshall, Chad D 6-4 190 08/22/84 Riverside, Calif. Columbus Crew 4/1
5 Beckerman, Kyle M 5-10 165 04/23/82 Crofton, Md. Real Salt Lake 3/0
6 Cherundolo, Steve D 5-6 145 02/19/79 San Diego, Calif. Hannover 96 (Germany) 51/2
7 Rogers, Robbie M 5-10 165 05/12/87 Huntington Beach, Calif. Columbus Crew 1/0
8 Pause, Logan M 5-10 155 08/22/81 Hillsborough, N.C. Chicago Fire 0/0
9 Davies, Charlie F 5-10 160 06/25/86 Manchester, N.H. Hammarby IF (Sweden) 9/2
10 Holden, Stuart M 5-10 160 08/01/85 Houston, Texas Houston Dynamo 0/0
11 Ching, Brian F 6-1 195 05/24/78 Haleiwa, Hawaii Houston Dynamo 36/9
12 Conrad, Jimmy D 6-2 185 02/12/77 Temple City, Calif. Kansas City Wizards 24/1
13 Clark, Colin M 5-11 161 04/11/84 Ft. Collins, Colo. Colorado Rapids 0/0
14 Parkhurst, Michael D 5-11 155 01/24/84 Providence, R.I. FC Nordsjaelland (Denmark)5/0
15 Cronin, Sam M 5-10 165 12/12/86 Winston-Salem, N.C. Toronto FC 0/0
16 Heaps, Jay D 5-9 155 08/02/76 Longmeadow, Mass. New England Revolution 0/0
17 Cooper, Kenny F 6-3 210 10/21/84 Dallas, Texas FC Dallas 4/2
18 Robles, Luis GK 6-1 180 05/11/84 Fort Huachuca, Ariz. FC Kaiserslautern (Germany)0/0
19 Adu, Freddy F 5-8 140 06/02/89 Potomac, Md. AS Monaco (France) 13/1
20 Quaranta, Santino F 6-1 185 10/14/84 Baltimore, Md. D.C. United 11/0
21 Evans, Brad M 6-1 160 04/20/85 Phoenix, Ariz. Seattle Sounders 0/0
22 Arnaud, Davy M 6-0 165 06/22/80 Nederland, Texas Kansas City Wizards 2/0
23 Busch, Jon GK 5-10 165 08/18/76 Albany, N.Y. Chicago Fire 1/0

I'll be attending first round matches at the Oakland Coliseum on 7/5 (this coming Sunday): Panama vs. Guadalupe and Mexico vs. Nicaragua.

Shocked, Amazed, and THRILLED!

I am still trying to let it sink in that the US MNT has advanced to the Confederations Cup Final (vs Brasil). H and I watched the semifinal vs Spain at Marriott FC with several other patrons. As the clock kept moving and as the US lead started at 1-nil (Altidore) and than it later grew to 2-nil (Dempsey) - I didn't want to say a thing to jinx the boys. Beating the #1 team in the world who hadn't lost a match since late 2006...wow. Spain dominated the stat sheet - everything except for the scoreboard. The Americans played with huge hearts - it was so good to see how good they can be (especially compared to how they were playing in the earlier group stage). Congratualtions to the lads for eaching their first ever FIFA cup final! U.S.A! U.S.A! My MVP? Tim Howard.

International Football in the Bay Area this Summer + Soccer Fours!

2009 Gold Cup: I have my tickets for the first round matches that will be played at the Oakland Coliseum on July 5th (Guadeloupe vs Panama and Mexico vs Nicaragua)

Int'l Friendly August 8th: Today - I just secured tickets to the FC Barcelona vs Club Deportivo Guadalajara (a double header with the first game being the Q's vs the Columbus Crew).

I decided to pass on the World Football Challenge match between Inter and Club America (at Stanford Stadium). It would have been fun to do this one too - but $ is scarce and choices had to be made. Now if it were AC Milan or Chelsea.....

Soccer Fours:

Well - with the encouragement of H, I have finally stepped onto the pitch myself by starting to participate in a 4v4 program called Soccer Fours. They pick-up 4v4 games are on Wednesday nights at Franklin Sq Park in San Francisco. No refs, no score keeping, no league of official teams. It involves mostly club players, but even a novice like me felt welcome to join in. My legs were sore and I was definitely sucking wind during the 1 hour session that consisted of six 10-minute games. Check it out at http://www.soccerfours.com/

Franklin Sq Park pitch (artificial turf)

US MNT Celebrates on Father's Day!

It didn't look like there was any chance for the U.S. Men's National team to advance in the Confederations Cup. Their play has been awful and were taken apart by both Italy and Brasil. The only was they could make it was to win by several goals in their final group stage match against Egypt and they needed Brasil to score several goals over Italy for the U.S. to advance by goal differential. Everyone including me thought there was a chance to beat Egypt, but there was no way we would advance.

A miracle happened today. Brasil took apart Italy 3-nil and the U.S. beat Egypt 3-nil. Brasil won the group and there was a 3-way tie between Egypt, Italy, and the U.S. (3 points each). The U.S. advance to the semis by goal differential by the smallest margin. It is great for the lads to move on (they play Spain next on Wednesday), but it will be difficult to move farther. They can be thankful that we will have 2 games left to hone their game (semifinal match + 3rd place match for the losers in the semis). I did see a different team today on the pitch - although I think Egypt was beginning to run out of gas after their battles with Brasil and Italy.

YES! 3 Points!

The Quakes took on the Galaxy today at the Oakland Coliseum - the result was a 2-1 victory and 3 points! The taste of victory is sweet especially since we have been on a diet for so long this season. The Galaxy was without Kazoo and the Quakes took advantage by playing an above average game. PK by Pablo Campos and another goal for Ryan Johnson. Joe Cannon had a great game and kept us in the game.

Next game is July 3rd at Real Salt Lake.

FC Barcelona vs Chivas on August 8th!!

Looking forward to the announced doubleheader coming up in August at Candlestick Park: First game is Q's vs Columbus Crew Second game is FC Barcelona vs. Chivas!

Kaka' and Ronaldo Record-Breaking Transfers

What a whirlwind of a week. In less than 1 week: Real Madrid gets Ricardo Kaka' for a transfer fee of £65million! And then yesterday, it was announced that they have retained the services of Cristiano Ronaldo for a record £80million transfer fee. Keep in mind - these are only transfer fee figures (the $ that goes to AC Milan and Man Utd for rights to these players). It will be interesting to see in the coming weeks what they negotiate for their actual player contracts.

Kaka' is my favorite footballer and I am sorry to see him leave ACM. But I guess it IS a business. I like players like Paulo Maldini - those where it would appear that loyalty has at least just as much importance as the $. Big money transfers are just part of the game now I guess.

Quakes Announce Yet Another Move

Nick Garcia, a stalwart on defense for the Q's the past 1 1/2 seasons has been dealt to Toronto FC (along with rights to Ali Gerba) for a 3rd Rd 2010 SuperDraft pick. Are the Quakes cleaning house mid-season? I guess it is good that they are not afraid to pull the trigger, but I am still sore about the loss of Ronnie O'Brien during the off season. Let's hope that this shake-up helps the team the remainder of the year.

Weaver Gone - Wondoloski In

The Quakes announced a move - sending Cam Weaver to the Houston Dynamo for Chris Wondoloski and a draft pick. Not earth-shattering news my any means. Wondoloski played for the old Quakes right before their move to Houston (I think he played most of his time with the reserves). Do we expect any bit change? No, but Wondoloski is coming from being part of two recent MLS Cup victories. Maybe that experience will help a little. He is local (Danville) so it must be exciting for his family and friends that he will be playing closer to home.

One Point on the Road - But a Lead Lost Again

The Q's faced Dallas FC today at Pizza Hut Park. The Q's looked better than they have in the recent past, but appeared to be a step slower (maybe the heat). The Q's took a 2-1 lead in 82nd minute after a powerful goal off the left foot of Arturo Alvarez. Could they hold on the final 8+ minutes? Nope. Defense broke down again and left Kenny Cooper one-on-one at the net vs Joe Cannon. Cooper's tap in goal came at the 86 minute. Dang it. There were some new faces on the pitch for the Q's because Simon Eliott (New Zealand) and Cornell Glen (Trinadad & Tobago) were on international duty + Ramiro Corrales (yellow card suspension) + Bobby Convey (injury). Brandon McDonald and Aaron Pitchkolan were two new names in the midfield. But 1 point from a road game is a positive. The Telefutura broadcast did show Hucks on the bench in uniform, but he did not play. Another road game next week in Seattle. I sure hope that the lads are up for this one. Our first visit to QWest Field was not a pleasant one.

Kaka' Rumors, World Soccer Daily Controversy, etc.

Where will Kaka' end up next year? I have heard rumors about Real Madrid and Chelsea. I have also heard that he has not intention of leaving and wants to stay at ACM. I think I need to start another rumor...

World Soccer Daily....Liverpool FC Controversy

Just as I discover this daily soccer radio program/podcast - there is a controversy that has many Liverpool FC supporters from around the world calling for a boycott of this program as well as a boycott of all of WSD's sponsors. What is the issue? I has to do with some comments made by one of the WSD hosts - Steve Cohen - and comments that he made on the program with respect to a tragedy known as the "Hillsborough 96". Because I am such a newbie to this sport, I had to do some research. The Hillsborough 96 refers to a disaster that occurred on April 15, 1989, at Hillsborough stadium (the home of Sheffield FC). 96 Liverpool FC supporters were crushed to death within the stadium crowd. From what I understand, thousands of people - some without tickets - were pushing into the stadium through a narrow gateway. As people continued to push in, the section in the stadium also felt the pressure and those closest to the field were crushed up against a fence/barrier between the stands and the pitch.

I have not gone back to find the podcast where the WSD/Cohen comments were made, but the response has involved death threats and other acts of violence (on top of the recommended boycotts). Here are his comments - he focused his questions on those ticketless fans that contributed to the situation. Cohen did make a public apology, but I have read that Liverpool FC supporters did not accept it. More later.

href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough_disaster">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough_disaster