Friday, March 30, 2007

change of plan

futbol mundo is on the back burner ...
for now

Friday, December 15, 2006

I got a fever!

And the only cure is MORE FUTBOL!

I really need go to a match right now! Been watching some great games on TV lately and it just fuels that passion to see some great futbol that only a real futbol fan can understand.

Ever since my discovery of the little gem that is La Barra Brava, I have realized that there is no other group on the planet like soccer (or futbol) fans. The only thing that compares in the United States is the clan that call themselves "NFL Fans" (which I proudly include myself in). But that is solely an "american" sport ... you can't travel the world to watch American Football games. But you can travel the world to watch the best futbol known to man.

Lately I have been drawn to the Argentine League. The just recently completed Apetura 2006 was one that will go down in the history books. In simple terms ... Boca choked ... and Estudiantes pulled off one of the greatest runs in history! I fancy myself a Boca fan and dream of one day taking in a match at La Bombonera, but that may be a tall order. In truth, I don't know much Spanish and I am a gringo. That would not help my cause in La Doce (la barra brave de boca). But maybe a seat in the less fervent sections would be possible.

For my next soccer journey ... I am starting the early planning stages of a trip to London in early March. We'll see how that goes ... money may be tight. I am intrigued at the possibilty of seeing two champions league round of 16 matches in the span of two days! If I can find a way to get a ticket to the Liverpool/Barcalona match that would definitely be the deciding factor on if the trip is worth it. Anyone got an ideas as to how to make that a reality???

For now, I am secluded to the couch to watch (and listen) what it is like to be part of a supporters group. I really can't wait for March when Olipmia travels to RFK for a quarterfinal matchup in the CONCACAF Cup. It will be the first gathering of DC United supporters of the new year and it should be an incredible atmosphere.

Hopefully I can pull off the coup and get Comcast to send me to Honduras for the opening leg!!!!

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Spreading the Word

You want the beginnings of a soccer show ... here they are ... the two stories that aired on CSN about the supporter groups of DC United ...

THE SCREAMING EAGLES

&

LA BARRA BRAVA

tell me what you think ... the ball is rolling ...

I wish I could find a way to get the package that aired about my trip to the World Cup up on YouTube ...

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Not the first time ...

It's a good thing that the United States Soccer Federation scheduled that friendly against Denmark in January. Because if they hadn't, they wouldn't have had to name Bob Bradley as interim head coach of the men's national team tomorrow (which they will in a morning eleconference). with the impending match on the horizon, they needed somebody to piece together a team. their hand was forced.

It looked like Jurgan Klinsmann was indeed the man that they wanted (which was one of the worst kept secrets in the soccer community) but he turned down the final offer, and now we are left with an interim hoad coach heading into what could be the most important year in the development of the United States Soccer program as a whole.

2007 will bring with it a chance to defend the Gold Cup and a chance to make an impression below the equator in the Copa America. Many will remember the impact that the fourth place finish in the 1995 Copa had. That team beat Aregntina in the group stages. The head coach that summer in Uruguay? Steve Sampson, who had just been named "interim" head coach of the national team in April after Bora Milutinovic resigned. Sampson was named the permanent head coach in August of 1995 based, in large part, on the team's performance in Uruguay just a month before. Three years later, he was promptly fired after leading the United States to their worst ever showing in the World Cup.

So what lies ahead for Bradley and the national team prgram? A win over the likes of an Argentina or Brazil during his stay in Venezuela this summer would certainly do wonders for Bradley's resume when U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati re-opens the search for a permanent head coach. But will that be the right move based on what we know of history?

Only time will tell ...

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Terps and Euro's

Big day for futbol all over the globe today ... from KLOCKNER STADIUM in Charlottesville, Virginia to the LAUGARDALSVOLLUR in Reykjavik, Iceland.

BAD NEWS FIRST ...

The defending National Champion Maryland Terrapins were clobbered by arch-rival Virginia tonight by a 3-nil scoreline. The 2nd-ranked Terps were down by 2 goals at the break and are now winless in their last two games after a six-game win streak. They are back in action on Saturday night at home against Boston College, a game that will be televised on CN8.

On to matchday four of qualifying for the 2008 European Championships. A full slate of action was on the docket across the continent.

England was embarrassed in Croatia, inlcuding the gaff of the six year-old century by goalkeeper Paul Robinson. He whiffed on a back pass from his fullback Gary Neville and it resulted in an own goal. The 2-nil result leaves four teams (Enlgand, Croatia, Macedonia, and Israel) tied atop of Group E.

In one of the games that I was able to actually see, Sweden did just enough to esacpe terrible playing conditions in Iceland with a 2-1 win. Iceland went ahead early, but Sweden rallied with two unanswered goals including an absolute rocket from their free-kick specialist Kim Kallstrom. The Swedes have built a five-point cushion at the top of Group F.

In the 2nd game of a Fox Soccer Channel doubleheader, France scored less then 60 seconds into the match and rolled to a 5-nil thumping of the Faroe Islands. The Ukraine brought Scotland brought back down to earth after their shock weekend win over France. The struggling Andriy Schevchenko scored from the spot in the 90th minute in the 2-nil win. The results leave France and Scotland tied atop group B with nine points apiece. Italy kept pace, only two points behind, with a 3-1 win over Georgia.

Ireland recovered from their disasterous weekend loss in Cyprus by holding Group D leaders Czech Republic to a 1-1 draw at Lansdowne Road. It was the first point in three qualifying games for the Irish. Ireland Manager Steve Staunton looks to be on the way out.

Poland stunned group A favorites Portugal in Chorzow. The 2-1 win gives the Poles seven points from four games and vaults them into a tie for 3rd place in the group, behind Serbia and Finland.

And last, but certainly not least, the Dutch stayed atop Group G with a 2-1 win over Albania before 55,000 orange clad supporters in Amsterdam.

That's it for qualifyers for the month of October. Matchday five is November 15 with a slate of only seven games on the docket for that day. HERE are the current standings.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

GRAND OPENING!

Hello There!

This will one day be the space for the blog that will go along with the premier soccer show in the Washington D.C. area, but for now ... it's just a blog to keep up on the world of soccer.

How about some background on yours truly, huh? Although my actual playing career was cut way too short by an unfortunate (and gruesome) knee injury, my passion for the beautiful game is as strong as ever due to a job in the sports journalism industry that allows me to stay close to game.

This past summer, I made the first of what I hope will be many soccer journeys. The first will be hard to top though, as it was to what has been called the the best World Cup ever, in terms of fanfare and atmosphere. My experiences in Germany have fueled a passion that I have always had to travel the world and now, through the outlet of soccer, I plan on turning into a true globetrekker. The next few years will hopefully see trips to Venezuela in the Summer of 2007 for the Copa America, to Austria & Switzerland in the Summer of 2008 for the European Championships, and of course, to South Africa in the Summer of 2010 for the next edition of the biggest sporting event on the planet ... La Copa Mundial! I also plan on squeezing in a trip to England for some EPL matches, a trip back to Germany for some Bundesliga matches, and a trip to Holland to see my beloved Oranje play in a true "home" atmosphere. If I am brave enough, I will one day make it to Buenos Aires for a 'Super Classico" at La Bombanera, but that may be stretching it.

Make sure to check out THE BLOG that I authored from Germany this past summer and keep an eye on this space for all you will need to know about the World of Soccer.

Please feel free to leave questions of comments ... I would love to hear from you!