Schedule for those too lazy to look:

4:30 - USA/Portugal 2002 First Round
6:30 - England/Argentina 1998 Second Round (the "David Beckham is an idiot" game)
8:30 - USA/Colombia 1994 First Round
10:30 - England/Argentina 1986 Quarterfinal (Hand of God game)

6/9/2010 4:24:46 PM

Quote :

"England/Argentina 1998 Second Round (the "Michael Owen scores a baller ass goal David Beckham is an idiot" game)"

6/9/2010 4:27:45 PM

Anyone who's the home team tomorrow? I'd assume England wouldn't voluntarily pull out the red in the first match, but I'd like to think we'd wear white in honor of the '50 game.

6/11/2010 2:04:29 PM

I read earlier in the week we're away and wearing blue.

6/11/2010 2:04:54 PM

I think we will also be the "guest" vs Slovenia and "home" for Algeria.

6/11/2010 2:12:04 PM

we are wearing blue, blue, and white

6/11/2010 3:43:24 PM

Quote :

"8:30 - USA/Colombia 1994 First Round"

Poor Andres Escobar.

6/11/2010 3:57:33 PM

6/12/2010 8:17:47 AM

America...Fuck Yeah!!

[Edited on June 12, 2010 at 9:12 AM. Reason : !]

6/12/2010 9:12:16 AM

Anyone know if the game will be online? I am at work with no TV.

6/12/2010 12:07:05 PM

6/12/2010 5:36:52 PM

We may not have won, but we still have never lost to England in the World Cup!

6/12/2010 5:55:45 PM

good play..wish Josy would have put that in.

6/12/2010 6:51:59 PM

6/12/2010 7:44:27 PM

The British tabloids are going to crucify him tomorrow.

6/12/2010 7:49:11 PM

6/15/2010 11:30:59 AM

hmmm, US team seems like they are feeling pretty good, joking around and having some fun, maybe they could do some good in their group

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Tim-Howard-makes-a-funny-about-rib-injury-ready?urn=sow,248639

at least Howard seems to be feeling fine

6/16/2010 12:32:51 PM

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5335896/ce/us/us-soccer-president-sunil-gulati-says-team-failed-expectations&cc=5901?ver=us

I like this. Good to see that the expectations are being raised. We had the talent and workrate to win a game in the knockout round and I can't help but feel that the inexplicable decision to include Clark in the Starting XI directly led to the result.

6/28/2010 12:17:45 PM

indeed.

I really hope we move on, and that's not pinning all of our problems on Bradley (who I think seriously raised his stock as a coach and should probably get a job offer in Europe) - 4 years for a manager is enough.

He's got a contract through the end of the year and I honestly wouldn't mind if he stayed on for another year or so because the US doesn't have anything like Copa America or the Euros to look forward to. So we really only need a new coach when WCQ starts

6/28/2010 12:20:24 PM

i was really happy with bradley this world cup, and i really hope we only change him for a better, more proven coach (jurgen klinsmann). if not i kinda hope we keep bradley

6/28/2010 12:25:34 PM

I've never been a Bradley hater and I didn't mean to imply that I think he should be gone (though I stand by the Clark comment -- I know I wasn't the only one with a "WTF" at the TV when it was announced. But I didn't want the organization to be happy with just making the knockout round. It was a great tournament to watch, especially for those who invested so much time watching the entire cycle, but I am just glad that the expectations have been raised to the point where just making it out of the group stage isn't meeting expectations.

[Edited on June 28, 2010 at 12:29 PM. Reason : x]

6/28/2010 12:29:23 PM

^ Continuing to put Robbie Findley up top was also very questionable.

But.... if Charlie Davies would have been there, he would have never been forced to make that decision. I just think he made up his mind that Findley was going to start, even if he proved to be ineffective the first two matches.

6/28/2010 1:01:39 PM

Well the frustrating part about Clark starting was that, not only did he suck it up out there, the decision cost us a sub 30 minutes into a game that ended up being 120 minutes. Just screwed us all around.

6/28/2010 1:21:07 PM

^I swear to god, that Clark is a guaranteed yellow card every game with his stupid challenges.


8 years is really too long, regardless of the coach. I have come full circle on Bob Bradley. I didn't like him, but I appreciate his ability to make the right changes during games, and I think he deserves a lot of credit for this cup. That being said, he deserves criticism for starting certain games with questionable line-ups. I wish him the best, and I think he's proven that he's ready for the next step in his personal career as well. Perhaps he'll stay with the US federation in some other manner, but US soccer should be looking to groom our next coach once his contract runs through in order to give him enough time to impart his signature onto the team.

But I also do not think that a high profile coach will be willing to coach the US as long as he does not have access to the players during the MLS season. The MLS has done a lot to elevate American soccer, but it is time for the league to cede to the needs of the Federation. Having a league that plays during the summer is too taxing, and it interrupts international tournaments. Something is going to have to give, and I would like to see the MLS shift its start date back to August or begin much earlier. I know that it is hard to compete with other domestic leagues for other sports, but having a league that runs during the world cup is not going to cut it anymore, in my opinion. The league also needs a youth system in order to farm more talent. I really think that improving the domestic league will pay great dividends for the national team.

[Edited on June 28, 2010 at 1:25 PM. Reason : ]

6/28/2010 1:24:45 PM

can't play in a different season because of weather concerns. some teams are getting under 10k per game in perfect summer weather... how many do you expect to show up when it's 10 degrees


and they had a reserve league but had to cut it due to money issues, also teams are finally getting players on their teams that have come through their academies

6/28/2010 1:29:49 PM

At this point, is access to MLS players a real problem? Our squad only had four MLS players including Donovan, and if Davies had been healthy it would've been three.

6/28/2010 1:34:51 PM

Yeah, but it gives young players like Donovan who weren't ready for Europe a chance to play and develop. Also gives players a viable option over college... so maybe somebody like Charlie Davies could have started his career a lot earlier than when he did

The younger we can get them playing professionally here, the more likely they'll move to Europe when they're 19/20... not 24/25.


right, but "access to MLS players" isn't a concern. I'm not really sure what that means anyways - did we miss out on some MLS players because they'd rather play in MLS over going to the WC, lol. MLS took a two week break during the group stages anyways

[Edited on June 28, 2010 at 1:40 PM. Reason : didn't read it well enough]

[Edited on June 28, 2010 at 1:41 PM. Reason : breaak]

6/28/2010 1:39:27 PM

klinsman dropped out of the head coaching race because the MLS wouldn't give him access to players for copa america. if you're gonna send your C squad (which you shouldn't) to copa america, at least have access to those young guys in the MLS

6/28/2010 1:42:11 PM

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/sources-worlds-richest-club-eyeing-donovan--fbintl_ro-donovan062710.html

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa – Landon Donovan’s pain over the United States’ World Cup exit could be eased by a lucrative transfer to the world’s richest soccer club.

Yahoo! Sports has learned that English Premier League team Manchester City has identified Donovan as one of its top targets in the gigantic summer spending spree by owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Man City sent a scout to watch Donovan “in all four games” that the American played during the World Cup, according to a source who is familiar with the team’s player acquisition dealings. Another source close to the club confirmed to Yahoo! Sports that there is “significant interest” in Donovan.

Donovan will earn $2,127,777.78 with his current employer, the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, in 2010. However, the English club would be able to offer a far greater salary, one in the region of $4 million a year. Another factor that could entice City would be the prospect of additional reach and exposure in the North American market, with Donovan’s profile and popularity at an all-time high.

While Donovan’s form during the World Cup was not always at its best, he proved himself as a clutch performer under pressure. His game-winning goal against Algeria, which saved the USA from elimination in the group stage, came with just two minutes of injury-time remaining.

Even in the disappointing round-of-16 defeat to Ghana on Saturday night, Donovan held his nerve with a coolly taken penalty kick to level the score at 1-1 in the 62nd minute.


Man City has historically operated in the shadow of its cross-town rival Manchester United, one of the most successful teams in English and European club soccer history. But since being purchased by Sheikh Mansour and his consortium of uber-rich oil magnates in 2008, the team’s fortunes have been transformed.

More than $250 million has been invested in the squad, including high-profile signings such as Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor (formerly of EPL side Arsenal), Argentina forward Carlos Tevez (Man United) and Brazil forward Robinho (Real Madrid). Man City’s next goal is a top-four finish in the Premier League and a place in the UEFA Champions League.

Donovan would represent solid value for the ambitious club. He would likely cost around $12 million in transfer fees, which would be paid by Man City and split between the Galaxy and Major League Soccer.

Everton of the EPL has been keen on acquiring Donovan full-time after he spent a highly successful loan spell there at the start of this year. If there is a bidding war, however, there will only be one winner – City.

According to numerous reports in the British press, City is poised to sign Spanish midfielder David Silva, who can operate as either an attacking central midfielder or a winger. Donovan would most likely be used on the right wing, the position he occupies for the U.S.

6/28/2010 1:42:40 PM

please don't go to man city, theyll just sign another winger and donovan will lose playing time

6/28/2010 3:23:21 PM

^ agreed

Man City is a place to go for guaranteed money when your stock is dropping. Donovan's got a few years left in him before he should be gambling on a place like Citeh.*












*coming from an Everton fan

6/28/2010 5:36:18 PM

Quote :

"can't play in a different season because of weather concerns. some teams are getting under 10k per game in perfect summer weather... how many do you expect to show up when it's 10 degrees"

And don't forget that they avoid the NFL/NBA/NHL/NCAA for a good part of the season. That is the main reason they play in the summer. England isn't the tropics in November either, but they still play soccer.

6/28/2010 11:16:54 PM

It's not so much about the weather, it's about expecting fans to show up in that weather. They need more time to develop stronger bonds with fans and season ticket holders. I think MLS will move to a traditional calendar eventually but it just isn't that time yet.

6/29/2010 7:41:57 AM

^I don't know about that. Once the NBA and NHL are done, they have June/July/and August to themselves. Starting at the end of August means they would go head to head with football, basketball, and the NHL for the entire season and not just 2/3 of the season.

6/29/2010 10:54:41 AM

Who cares if they have it to themselves?

Soccer fans are soccer fans. You're extremely overestimating the overlap of season ticket holders from football and soccer. You may be a fan of both but if you're buying season tickets to MLS games, you're more than likely going to continue to do so in whatever calendar the league plays in.


Avoiding being "head-to-head" with the other leagues hasn't resulted in any amazing increase in TV ratings and prime TV slots, media coverage, or focused advertising campaigns. What's the benefit?

[Edited on June 29, 2010 at 12:21 PM. Reason : .]

6/29/2010 12:20:05 PM

^The fact is that there are fans that like soccer who also watch other sports first. Guess what those fans in Lincoln, Nebraska on the Donovan Algeria goal video would have been doing if Nebraska was playing Oklahoma in football at that same time. They probably wouldn't have realized the World Cup was being played. European soccer works in America because the 7:00 am game ends at 9:00 am and then you switch the channel to NFL Fox Sunday and become an American again.

6/29/2010 12:59:00 PM

Quote :

"It's not so much about the weather, it's about expecting fans to show up in that weather. They need more time to develop stronger bonds with fans and season ticket holders. I think MLS will move to a traditional calendar eventually but it just isn't that time yet."

I agree with this. I would like to see the MLS gradually have a plan to switch to a traditional calender. Perhaps shift the start date back by a week every year or something. It just seems like its one of those things were you can always say, "not yet, not now" and then never actually do it.

6/29/2010 1:05:01 PM

I'd still like to see a team in the Carolinas. There are big youth soccer development in the SE and I think a team would do well here. I know that argument has been made for years though. I know both the Florida teams failed but I don't think that is a sign that a team wouldn't work farther up the coast.

[Edited on June 29, 2010 at 1:15 PM. Reason : ]

6/29/2010 1:15:34 PM

Quote :

"^The fact is that there are fans that like soccer who also watch other sports first. Guess what those fans in Lincoln, Nebraska on the Donovan Algeria goal video would have been doing if Nebraska was playing Oklahoma in football at that same time. They probably wouldn't have realized the World Cup was being played. "

The fact is that these people aren't the target audience for MLS.


No, European soccer works because that's where the good players are. Anybody who is a serious fan of soccer would watch CL and EPL no matter what time it came on. MLS needs to see a serious level of fan interest (a large % of season ticket holders just like Seattle) to consider changing the calendar. It's just too risky right now. Once they have the money of ST holders, they can switch the calendar, increase the cap, attract better players, profit. It's just going to be a longer process than some people want. Of course I want MLS to get better but I'd rather them take it extra slow with risks than the alternative.

[Edited on June 29, 2010 at 1:52 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on June 29, 2010 at 1:54 PM. Reason : duuuurrr]

6/29/2010 1:46:43 PM

^Actually, they sort of are the target audience. Being a soccer fan doesn't mean it is your favorite sport even. It means you also enjoy watching soccer. You don't have to hate watching basketball, hockey, football, etc to be a fan of the sport. The summer time allows soccer fans to follow soccer in the USA when football isn't being played. And yes I know European soccer draws its attention because of the stars on the big clubs. In England the sports of Cricket and Rugby have the same target audience as soccer. A lot of EPL fans that I know who are actually from England enjoy watching Rugby and Cricket, but they choose not to do that when their favorite EPL team is playing.

6/29/2010 2:06:42 PM

Quote :

"They probably wouldn't have realized the World Cup was being played. "

No, you're still wrong. These people are not the target audience.

6/29/2010 2:07:32 PM

^My point was being a football first fan doesn't mean you aren't a big part of American soccer culture, it just means watching Nebraska football is more important than a KC Wizards game going on at the same time. Now in the summer then yeh, the Wizards might be a little more important. Look at Raleigh, we are the Hurricanes target audience. We just tend to ignore them when NC State is playing football, or basketball. It doesn't mean we don't like to watch, it just means we don't like to watch when our favorite sport is being played.

6/29/2010 2:11:45 PM

I never argued against that point. I, myself, am a fan of most sports. But the soccer fans that want to be season ticket holders in a very average MLS with few superstars on their teams are more than likely going to continue being season ticket holders when there are actual ballers on their teams, regardless of season and what sport it's going up against.

Does every other sport just close down because NFL is going on because it's the most popular? No, they have their own fans. MLS needs to get theirs.

6/29/2010 2:15:46 PM

fuck. wrong thread

[Edited on June 29, 2010 at 2:25 PM. Reason : x]

6/29/2010 2:24:57 PM

August 10, 2010

USA vs Brazil 8:00 pm et ESPN2

6/29/2010 8:35:57 PM

Is that a FIFA date? Or are we going to have to suffer through the likes of Conor Casey et al?

6/29/2010 8:52:27 PM

I don't know.

6/29/2010 9:57:30 PM

^^ yeah it is

6/29/2010 10:11:38 PM

I wonder if Euro 2012 qualifying will start that day?

6/29/2010 10:42:18 PM

not a shocker, but Brazil is bringing their B-team for the game on August 10th

Brazil National Team Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jeferson (Botafogo), Renan (Avaí), Victor (Gremio),
DEFENDERS (8): André Santos (Fenerbahçe), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), David Luís (Benfica), Henrique (Racing Santander), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Rafael (Manchester Utd.), Rever (Atlético Mineiro), Thiago Silva (AC Milan)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Carlos Eduardo (Hoffenheim), Ederson (Lyon), Hernanes (São Paulo), Jucilei (Corinthians), Lucas (Liverpool), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Ramires (Benfica), Sandro (Internacional)
FORWARDS (5): Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), André (Santos), Diego Tardelli (Atlético Mineiro), Neymar (Santos), Robinho (Santos)

7/26/2010 4:54:36 PM