Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness
So, it wasn't a good football weekend, was it?
In the space of roughly 27 hours, my No. 3 team (S. Korea), No. 1 team (USA) and No. 2 team (England) all went down the tubes.
I was working at an All-Star football game and DVRed the USA game. Followed it on my phone until extra time, at which point I found a TV. Not sure if I'll ever get around to watching that game on the DVR.
Anyhow, it sounds like we just came out flat. Klinsmann said today that he thought they were still living off the Algeria game and looked out of sorts early. Ghana's not fantastic, but they're not crap, either. Played Germany close, beat Serbia. I thought this game would be a coin flip and we didn't get it. I'll worry about the details later.
All in all, it was fun. Maybe a little overrated, but fun. I'd call it good, but not a great campaign. Could have been better with better defense and fewer injuries, but hey, we finished ahead of England, won the group, we're a pretty legit bunch and I think there's lots to be positive about in the future.
At least we didn't embarrass ourselves. Granted, I didn't see the first half (and thus have only watched replays of the disputed goal), but all that missed call really does is give England apologists an excuse for some absolutely horrendous defending. Even if the goal counts, I have serious doubts they could have kept the scoreline 2-2 and even if they did, they just would have lost on penalties.
When you're down about this one, just remember, everybody,
MEXICO GOT CURBSTOMPED!
And that makes me happy.
Two last notes: The number one reason I hate being in CONCACAF is having to wait four years between relevant competitions. The Gold Cup just isn't the same. Always at home, really only two decent teams, pretty blah. Even the trophy's a rather ridiculous size. Can't we get a guest entry to Euro 2012? Pleeeeease?
Then again, we'd probably inexplicably send a back-up side like we did to the Copa America a while back.
Finally, I saw a few minutes of the Union-Sounders game today and thought to myself, "Boy, I ought to try to get into MLS," but I just can't. It's not the quality of play or anything like that. It's just hard to get excited about a league where the closest team (for me, it's Chicago) is just so darned far away. Of course, England's much farther, but that's a different animal. Maybe some day.
US didn't play well Saturday and that's too bad, but there were some good moments. I'm more disappointed that the journey's over than I am that they played bad, though. It's been a fun trip.
So, it wasn't a good football weekend, was it?
In the space of roughly 27 hours, my No. 3 team (S. Korea), No. 1 team (USA) and No. 2 team (England) all went down the tubes.
I was working at an All-Star football game and DVRed the USA game. Followed it on my phone until extra time, at which point I found a TV. Not sure if I'll ever get around to watching that game on the DVR.
Anyhow, it sounds like we just came out flat. Klinsmann said today that he thought they were still living off the Algeria game and looked out of sorts early. Ghana's not fantastic, but they're not crap, either. Played Germany close, beat Serbia. I thought this game would be a coin flip and we didn't get it. I'll worry about the details later.
All in all, it was fun. Maybe a little overrated, but fun. I'd call it good, but not a great campaign. Could have been better with better defense and fewer injuries, but hey, we finished ahead of England, won the group, we're a pretty legit bunch and I think there's lots to be positive about in the future.
At least we didn't embarrass ourselves. Granted, I didn't see the first half (and thus have only watched replays of the disputed goal), but all that missed call really does is give England apologists an excuse for some absolutely horrendous defending. Even if the goal counts, I have serious doubts they could have kept the scoreline 2-2 and even if they did, they just would have lost on penalties.
When you're down about this one, just remember, everybody,
MEXICO GOT CURBSTOMPED!
And that makes me happy.
Two last notes: The number one reason I hate being in CONCACAF is having to wait four years between relevant competitions. The Gold Cup just isn't the same. Always at home, really only two decent teams, pretty blah. Even the trophy's a rather ridiculous size. Can't we get a guest entry to Euro 2012? Pleeeeease?
Then again, we'd probably inexplicably send a back-up side like we did to the Copa America a while back.
Finally, I saw a few minutes of the Union-Sounders game today and thought to myself, "Boy, I ought to try to get into MLS," but I just can't. It's not the quality of play or anything like that. It's just hard to get excited about a league where the closest team (for me, it's Chicago) is just so darned far away. Of course, England's much farther, but that's a different animal. Maybe some day.
US didn't play well Saturday and that's too bad, but there were some good moments. I'm more disappointed that the journey's over than I am that they played bad, though. It's been a fun trip.
