February 8, 2010
Perhaps a speedy Finley? (Getty Images)
Due to a still recovering Charlie Davies, “It’s a dandy time to be a U.S. striker,” writes ESPN’s Steve Davis, “plump with opportunity for a bundle of fringe forwards.”
Assuming starter Davies won’t make a comeback in time, who will join Jozy Alitdore at forward, provided coach Bradley sticks with the tried and true 4-4-2 lineup? Both Donovan and Dempsey are expected to play opposite flanks in midfield. So who’s left at forward?
Primary candidates include “pacey” Robbie Findley, Jeff Cunningham, and Conor Casey, says Davis. And of course, the untested young guns that could breakthrough at the World Cup, like Donovan did in 2002. Yeah, let’s hope for that.
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February 8, 2010
Algeria is ranked 31st in the world, according to FIFA. So it’ll be cake for the U.S. to beat them in the opening round of the World Cup, right?
Not exactly, writes ESPN’s Leander Schaerlaeckens, who says Algeria is tough. “Based on its play in the Africa Cup, the notion that Algeria on good days (which, admittedly, haven’t been regular) is at least as strong as the U.S. is not far-fetched. Like the U.S., Algeria is a scrappy, physically strong team that prefers to sit back and punish opponents on breakaway attacks. It does so with more flair than the U.S. does.”
Let the record show that no World Cup game is an easy win. In any case, we got this one. Count on it.
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February 5, 2010
Is the U.S. the fourteenth best national team in the world? According to FIFA they are.
Starting 2010 where they finished last year at 14th, USA was the highest ranked team north of South America, beating Mexico at the 17th spot. Dubious or not, it’s something to feel good about.
In terms of the USA’s World Cup opponents, England was ranked 9th, Algeria 31st, and Slovenia 33rd. In preparation for games, the yanks will play the 71st ranked El Salvador on Feb. 24 and the 3rd ranked Netherlands on Mar. 3.
Spain took no. 1, followed closely by Brazil in second. Egypt was the biggest mover of the lot, jumping fourteen places to the 10th spot.
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February 4, 2010
U.S. international Jonathon Spector plays in England
In a pay-gated article, ESPN asserts, “With so many of the U.S. national team’s top players in the Premier League, the U.S. will have a firsthand scouting report on many of its English rivals ahead of the World Cup.”
Without reading the full story (this is the internet, after all, and I don’t like paying for commentary), I’d say familiarity with British strategy will help, unlike familiarity with the pitch. But if we really want to win our opening World Cup game against England, we’ll need to go Revolutionary War on ‘em with speed and a surprise attack.
Can I get a witness?
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February 3, 2010
AP/Greg Gibson
This hump day, I’m saddened by the following:
Fortunately nothing too permanent.
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February 2, 2010
This just in: Fans hoping to watch the United States play El Salvador in a World Cup warm up can do so on Feb. 24 at 7 pm Eastern on ESPN Classic or TeleFutura. If an exhibition match against the Dutch National Team is more your thing, the U.S. will play the Netherlands on March 3 at 2:30 pm Eastern on ESPN2 and Galavision. Get that.
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February 1, 2010
You would think travel accommodations to South Africa would be reasonable, if not affordable, compared to most World Cups. But they’re not. In fact, it seems airlines and hotels are gouging soccer spectators more than usual this summer, leaving many U.S. fans who purchased tickets out in the cold.
“Flights from New York to Johannesburg would normally cost about $1,000, but they will set you back at least $2,500 if traveling during the World Cup,” reports ESPN. “One 3-star Johannesburg hotel normally charges as little as $49 a night for a standard room, but will be bumping its price to up to $220 a night for the days leading up to the World Cup.”
That being the case, fans who budgeted $5,000 a trip are now learning it will actually cost them upwards of $12,000 per person, so they’re no longer going. “I’ve given up hope for this World Cup,” one fan said. “Hopefully I can get as lucky with tickets to another one. I thought that was going to be the hard part. Now I have more than enough [tickets], but I just can’t afford to go.”
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January 28, 2010
Live in America and want to watch the World Cup this summer? Good news: all 64 games will be aired in HD by either ABC or ESPN/ESPN360.com in English, or Univision and Telefutura in Spanish (also in HD). That’s right, all games can be watched in high-definition without cable television even. Continue reading…
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January 27, 2010
Seems like international spectators aren’t crazy about visiting South Africa for the World Cup.
Less than five months before the start of the tournament, FIFA today said that one-third of tickets remain unsold. It’s unclear how this compares to previous World Cups, but some say South Africa’s notoriously high crime and murder rates are to blame, something FIFA dismisses.
“Don’t kill the World Cup before the World Cup starts,” FIFA secretary Jerome Valcke told the Associated Press today. “I mean give us a chance. Give South Africa a chance to organize a great World Cup. Don’t tell people that they should not fly to South Africa.” Continue reading…
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January 27, 2010
All business on and off the field. Not much emotion. This is our coach.
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