The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

Beasley looks to be out until next fall.

 

Eddie Lewis, Bobby Convey, Danny Szetela and whoever are going to have to step up for qualifying.

 

I have a feeling Dempsey might get dumped back onto the wing until Szetela is ready.

That would be fine with me if it means Adu and Altidore up front. I hope McBride gets healthy so Clint can have a consistent midfield position for both club and country instead of just jumping back and forth.

[Jon]

had a blast watching UIC upset Northwestern to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament

A very disappointing end to the season. The empty netter with a few seconds left was just insult to injury. To lose to Ohio State in the semi-finals of the Big Ten tournament and then open up the NCAA tournament with a loss after a first round bye hurts. At least the crowd was pretty good at Lakeside last night. Or so I heard.

 

Of course, it wasn't as stunning as Indiana's loss to Bradley. They fell on penalty kicks when their 5th hit the crossbar down 5-4.

[Guest]

So this one time I was staying up late and drinking some beer while flipping through the channels on tv. I was about to go to bed when I saw that the Euro 2008 draw was going to be televised live on ESPN2. So when debating on whether or not I should stay up to watch it, I decided to check my fridge. Upon checking said fridge, I realized that I had a decent amount of beer left. So I thought, "Hey, the Euro 2008 draw is on. And I have beer. A lot of beer. Maybe I'll stay up, drink more beer and watch the Euro 2008 draw." And that is why I decided to watch the Euro 2008 draw on ESPN2.

[Guest]

Damn you draw show, go to a commercial. I HAVE TO PEE.

 

The female host would be easier on the eyes if she didn't have such a horrible fake tan.

[Guest]

Group A:

Switzerland

Czech Republic

Portugal

Turkey

 

Group B:

Austria

Croatia

Germany

Poland

 

Group C:

Netherlands

Italy

Romania

France

 

Group D:

Greece

Sweden

Spain

Russia

 

It's pretty clear that Group C is the Group of Death in that three of the top nine in the current FIFA world rankings are in the same group. And to think, it could have been worse had Germany been drawn into that group.

[wvcbxl]

Holy sh**, that group C is going to be murder.

 

In other news, I'll be at the stadium tonight to watch my first game of the season.

A win, and my boys (see avatar) will be three points clear at the top of our league. 8-)

[Exile on Waveland]

Group A:

Switzerland

Czech Republic

Portugal

Turkey

 

Group B:

Austria

Croatia

Germany

Poland

 

Group C:

Netherlands

Italy

Romania

France

 

Group D:

Greece

Sweden

Spain

Russia

 

It's pretty clear that Group C is the Group of Death in that three of the top nine in the current FIFA world rankings are in the same group. And to think, it could have been worse had Germany been drawn into that group.

 

Group C is ridiculous. Group B is pretty easy; the other two are pretty nicely balanced. Can't wait, so glad ESPN is showing the games this year, hated having to go to a bar or pay-per-view the games four years ago. Especially when I paid to see the Greece-Portugal snooze fest.

[wolf stansson]

US u-23 Olympic squad has still yet to name the age exception players, but here is the bulk of the roster.

 

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_4128768.html

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Birthdate Hometown Club

Altidore, Josmer F 6'1" 175 11/06/89 Boca Raton, Fla. New York Red Bulls (MLS)

Alvarez, Arturo M 5'9" 170 06/28/85 Houston, Texas FC Dallas (MLS)

Cristman, Adam F 6'0" 180 01/08/85 Washington, D.C. New England Revolution (MLS)

Davies, Charlie F 5'10" 160 06/25/86 Manchester, N.H. Hammarby IF (Sweden)

Edu, Maurice M 6'0" 170 04/18/86 Fontana, Calif. Toronto FC (MLS)

Findley, Robbie F 5'9" 165 08/04/85 Phoenix, Ariz. Real Salt Lake (MLS)

Freeman, Hunter D/M 5'11" 170 04/18/86 Allen, Texas New York Red Bulls (MLS)

Harrington, Michael M 6'0" 170 01/24/86 Greenville, N.C. Kansas City Wizards (MLS)

Holbein, Aaron M/D 6'0" 170 08/16/85 Middleton, Wis. Kansas City Wizards (MLS)

Holden, Stuart M 5'10" 160 08/01/85 Houston, Texas Houston Dynamo (MLS)

Ianni, Patrick D 6'1" 175 06/15/85 Lodi, Calif. Houston Dynamo (MLS)

Kljestan, Sacha M 6'1" 150 09/09/85 Huntington Beach, Calif. CD Chivas USA (MLS)

Leathers, Jon D 5'8" 150 11/05/85 Athens, Ga. Furman University

MacMath, Zac GK 6'1" 170 08/07/91 St. Petersburg, Fla. Clearwater Chargers

McCarty, Dax M 5'9" 150 04/30/87 Winter Park, Fla. FC Dallas (MLS)

Randolph, Mike D 5'7" 155 12/03/85 Chino Hills, Calif. Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)

Rogers, Robbie F 5'10" 150 07/06/87 Huntington Beach, Calif. Columbus Crew (MLS)

Seitz, Chris GK 6'4" 205 03/12/87 San Luis Obispo, Calif. Real Salt Lake (MLS)

Sturgis, Nathan D 5'10" 150 07/06/87 St. Augustine, Fla. Real Salt Lake (MLS)

Ward, Tim D 6'0" 165 02/28/87 Waukesha, Wis. Columbus Crew (MLS)

Wynne, Marvell D 5'9" 171 05/08/86 Poway, Calif. Toronto FC (MLS)

Zizzo, Sal F 5'11" 165 04/03/87 San Diego, Calif. Hannover 96 (Germany)

 

We have two GK's listed, one of which is only 16, so that leads me to believe one of the age exceptions will be Brad Guzan.

[shnsajax]

Group C is nasty. Holland better get things figured out really soon. I want a rematch with Portugal.

[Exile on Waveland]

Group C is nasty. Holland better get things figured out really soon. I want a rematch with Portugal.

 

It really, really is. Watch, after such a crazy 2004, Romania will come out of it. Also three teams I generally like in Group C. I'll be rooting for the Oranje.. They really need to win a World Cup -- every time I see the list of past winners something seems missing with no Netherlands.

[wvcbxl]

I'll be rooting for the Oranje.. They really need to win a World Cup -- every time I see the list of past winners something seems missing with no Netherlands.

 

After seeing my boys being robbed by a Dutch referee last night, count me out on that one - I want them to go flat on their face.

 

I did enjoy booing the guy, though. :oops:

[Guest]

Not sure if anybody else noticed this but there's Champions League on ESPN2 on tomorrow. All of the groups' final matches will take place either next Tuesday or Wednesday with the exception of Group D which will be finishing up tomorrow. Celtic-AC Milan will be aired in the usual 11:30 a.m. PT time slot.

[Guest]

Celtic is on the verge of qualifying for the knockout round and they aren't even doing anything against Milan right now. The only way Celtic won't move on is if they lose to Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk beats Benfica (Shakhtar holds the tiebreaker over Celtic). But right now Shakhtar is down 2-0 at home meaning they'll have to score three goals and have Milan score one to advance.

[Guest]

Inzaghi puts one in to become the all-time leader in goals in European Club Cup competition. Celtic is still in ok shape as Shakhtar still have to score two more goals (they are down 2-1 right now) to knock Celtic out.

[MPC]

u.s. u-17's v. brazil this afternoon on fsc.

[Jon]

An attempted header and whiff on a free kick actually puts Reading up 2-1 on Liverpool as it froze the GK.

[USSoccer]

An attempted header and whiff on a free kick actually puts Reading up 2-1 on Liverpool as it froze the GK.

 

The Travelling Circus of Failure strikes again.

[Jon]

Wow. 3-1 Reading.

[Jon]

u.s. u-17's v. brazil this afternoon on fsc.

And a nice 2-0 win.

[Guest]

Well done, Liverpool.

[circlechange]

Arsenal lose 2-1 to Middlesbrough. They've dropped 5 points in their last 2 games and their lead in the Premiership is down to 1 point over Manchester United.

 

Huge games next weekend - Chelsea at Arsenal, United at Liverpool.

[wolf stansson]

Arsenal, not very deep apparently.

[wolf stansson]

Bradley's hat trick

HEERENVEEN, December 9 (Eredivisie) - Michael Bradley's hat-trick helped fourth-placed Heerenveen remain on the heels of Holland's big three clubs with a win at the expense of FC Groningen.

 

All six goals came in the first 41 minutes as a Goran Lovre own goal and Bradley's first gave Heerenveen a 2-0 lead inside seven minutes only for two Erik Nevland goals to level matters.

 

Bradley then struck two more goals to complete his treble and see Heerenveen move within five points of leaders Ajax.

 

Champions PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord are respectively four and three points better off than Gertjan Verbeek's side.

 

Afonso Alves, the reigning Eredivisie top scorer, has carried much of the burden of goalscoring for Heerenveen but the hosts still found the net with ease despite the suspension of the Brazil international.

 

They got a lucky break when Lovre's attempted defensive header from a Jacob Poulsen cross beat his team-mate Brian van Loo.

 

Bradley then made it 2-0 when Van Loo could only parry a Danijel Pranjic shot into his path.

 

Nevland quickly reduced arrears when he headed home a Bruno Silva cross and after 14 minutes the Norwegian made it 2-2 when he raced onto a long kick from Van Loo and scored from inside the area.

 

Bradley made it 3-2 after 23 minutes when he connected with a Pranjic cross and he completed his treble four minutes before the break after Van Loo could only parry a Poulsen shot.

 

The second half was goalless but Lovre almost scored at the right end when he hit the bar after a cross from the right by Koen van der Laak.

 

Pranjic almost set up another goal for Heerenveen but Van Loo did well to save Gianni Zuiverloon's header from Pranjic's cross.

 

Groningen went close through Arnold Kruiswijk, who was just wide, and then Lovre who was foiled by goalkeeper Brian Vandenbussche.

 

Heerenveen substitute Henrico Drost also went close but Van Loo made another save.

[USSoccer]

If he could develop into a 2 way midfielder it would solve a lot of problems for the Nats.

 

Maybe like a Michael Ballack circa 2002 type ceiling?

[Guest]

Mourinho rules himself out of England running