One of the most curious, and apparently guilt-induced, posts of the new year:
But in terms of the big picture of US soccer and racialized discourse, please think
about what you say and why you say it. I am not saying we cannot fawn over a speedy Davies run,
just fawn for the right reasons.
As I'm sure most everyone knows, the US Men's National Team lost 4-2 last night to the Czech
Republic in the first of two matches for the team this week. While the result is disappointing,
it's certainly not time to start running around screaming that the sky is falling. So take your
finger off the panic button and remember what the good book says (and by good book I mean The
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy of course).
Hunter Martin - Getty Images
What says "Clint Dempsey" like a relatively quiet afternoon ... that leads to this game-winning
goal?
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I've worn a rut in my noggin with all this head-scratching over Saturday's U.
In the big picture, D.C. United collected five points in the standings from their four-game road
trip - that's not bad. United has only lost once in their last six League matches, but after
letting some points slip away in the last two road outings, the two-game home stand this week is
critical. The next game for D.
Mike Stobe - Getty Images for New York Red Bu
If Thierry Henry can help Red Bull win, you'll get more of these: fans. And more of these is
what MLS needs, particularly in the nation's most important media market.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The last day before the U.S. national team's match vs. the Netherlands had some surprises, some
good news and some promising signs for the Americans.
Before we get into tidbits from Tuesday, here is my preview piece on Wednesday's match for
FoxSoccer.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The last day before the U.S. national team's match vs. the Netherlands had some surprises, some
good news and some promising signs for the Americans.
Before we get into tidbits from Tuesday, here is my preview piece on Wednesday's match for
FoxSoccer.
In the Thursday, Dec 9th, 2010 edition of The Soccer Daily, we take a big picture look at what
Anschutz Entertainment Group's push to make Los Angeles a National Football League market might
mean. With J Hutcherson -- Let's assume that nobody but the people involved in the negotiaitons
really know what's happening between Anschutz Entertainment Group and their bid to relocate a
National Football League team to Los Angeles.
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I wrote a piece for Soccernet that went up yesterday detailing the most momentous, meaningful
moments of past decade in U.S. soccer.
There was one more than I wanted to add into the list, but just couldn't find a way to squeeze
in: the moment Seattle Sounders FC came together as a franchise.
With J Hutcherson -- Two days away from the first game of 2010, so let's look at a few things in
the run-up to Saturday's date with Honduras. Specifically, the five big picture items I'm seeing as
we near the end of the January camp. Player Identification It is highly unlikely that a player
comes out of nowhere to claim a roster slot that wasn't already in the picture before the start of
January camp.
U18 MNT coach Mike Matkovich, in an interview with Top Drawer Soccer, on the idea of lessons
learned from taking losses against tough opposition -
After his team's 3-2 win over the California men last Friday, U18 MNT coach Mike Matkovich revealed
that, while he was happy for his players to win, he felt Tuesday's 6-1 loss to a pro team was
better for his players' development.
For those of you interesed in reading good soccer related material I suggested reading Soccernomics
a few weeks ago (Sam also previously recommended it in a post a while back). Since soccer related
books seem to be popping up with some frequency, mostly due to World Cup excitement, I've been
searching for US and MLS related material to share and I've found a few good ones.
THE BIG PICTURE
Both teams have just one point to their name, but neither are mathematically finished in this World
Cup. Not yet anyway.
The France team is a shambles though, with Nicolas Anelka being sent home, arguments between
coaching staff and players and the whole situation breaking the hearts of fans.
THE BIG PICTURE
England's first two games did not go well. There was the Robert Green spill for the 1-1 draw with
USA, and the sedated (maybe literally?) performance for the 0-0 draw with Algeria. The tabloid's
knives are out. But Fabio Capello is still confident that England can win this game and go all
way.
THE BIG PICTURE
From a footballing perspective, is this the most anticipated game of the groups? Perhaps. Both
teams only know one way: forward.
Chile will most certainly not kowtow to Spain's attacking ways not with Loco Bielsa in charge
and just loving his rip-roaring attack.
Ned Dishman - Getty Images
FC Dallas captain Daniel Hernandez; in the big picture, he's as important to the club as league
MVP candidate David Ferreira or outstanding shot-stopper Kevin Hartman.
With Rio Ferdinand out for the early part of the season, Jonny Evans was counted on to partner
Nemanja Vidic in the center of United's defense. After the experienced he earned over the previous
few seasons, you would think that the Northern Ireland international would be up to the task.
However, it's been a severe struggle from the word go for the 22-year-old.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has called on his team to improve their attacking form having
tightened things up at the back.
The Reds have kept three clean sheets in their last three Premier League games against Bolton,
Wolves and Tottenham, but they have been far from free-scoring in front of goal.
Week 21 of the Turkcell Super League might be considered an important week in the big picture of
who wins the league title. Galatasaray had the bye week because they would have played the
disqualified Ankaraspor, so they got the free three points. There was the possibility that
Galatasaray could take the lead in the standing without even having to take the field.
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The folks at Beckett Media who asked me to produce wheel barrels full of content for their World
Cup preview needed the material, like, yesterday.
In one sense, that's OK.
As I wrote a few weeks ago, I felt things had gotten a little stale around Pitch Invasion parts.
The sterling work of my fellow regular PI writers Andrew Guest, Peter Wilt and Richard Whittall
aside, my own posts were stuck in a rut and it seemed time to put a fresh coat of paint on here and
rethink how the site worked under the hood.
THE BIG PICTURE
Algeria enter this tournament in chaos, having dropped captain Yazid Mansouri amongst strong rumour
of dressing room turmoil amidst some awful pre-World Cup results. Slovenia enter the tournament
having had their Prime Minister Borut Pahor shining their shoes, such was the shock of his team's
qualification.
THE BIG PICTURE
Aleksander Lukovic certainly raised the stakes this week by claiming that Ghana have no world class
players, a comment that has irked the Ghanaian squad before the opening show down. It is however
Ghana who have progressed further then Serbia in their one World Cup campaign, winning two of their
group games in 2006, before eventually losing out in the second round to Brazil.
THE BIG PICTURE
The big picture is the final picture from four years in Germany: Fabio Cannavaro hoisting the
trophy above his head amidst the confetti as Marcello Lippi's men celebrated around him. Lippi's
back after a two year sabbatical and so too are the champions, in South Africa to defend their
trophy.
THE BIG PICTURE
Cameroon remain Africa's most successful World Cup team, having reached the quarter final stage in
1990. Problem is, since then they've only won one of their last 10 matches at World cup finals and
worse still, they've never scored against Japan.
THE BIG PICTURE
First game for both teams in Group E, and I only just realized this our first all European clash.
Netherlands vs Denmark. Oranje vs Olsen's Elleve. Netherlands are the fancied team and expected to
top the group, and to play some good football while doing it.
THE BIG PICTURE
South Africa 2010 is Slovakia's first World Cup as an independent nation, and only New Zealand's
second ever trip to the big stage (they were last seen in 1982). Slovakia have realistic
expectations of maybe taking second place in Group F, and so a win here is essential if that's
going to happen.
THE BIG PICTURE
Until last week this match was the story two powers in the Group O'Death. When the Ivory Coast
took on Japan in a friendly, the scope of the game took a drastic turn and shifted the light onto
Didier Drogba's elbow, which was broken in a clash and put his World Cup in serious doubt.
THE BIG PICTURE
According to the most recent FIFA Rankings, this is the biggest possible mismatch at the 2010 World
Cup. Brazil are the #1 team in the world, North Korea #105. We know all about Brazilians like Kaka
and Robinho. We know close to nothing about North Korea.
THE BIG PICTURE
The cosmos conspired to make us hang on as long as possible, but the day is finally here:
tomorrow we get a glimpse at Planet España. They are football's showmen, reigning European
champions, favorites for this World Cup, and one of the easiest teams on the eyes men and women
alike you're bound to see in the near future.
THE BIG PICTURE
South Africa's beloved Bafana Bafana goes into this match on fairly high spirits, after their 1-1
draw with Mexico that was almost a win. Uruguay, on the other hand, has to be asking a lot of
questions after their scoreless draw with France, a match that neither side did much to impress
in.
THE BIG PICTURE
The French didn't make too many friends in their opening group game against Uruguay that's for
sure. Heavily criticised for their unadventurous set up, they looked jaded, frustrated and
incredibly unorganised. Much of the blame has been heaped at the door of Raymond Domenech who
provided a stick for his own back by dropping Florent Malouda and Thierry Henry and playing instead
the unpopular Sidney Govou.
THE BIG PICTURE
This one won't fill the stadium, that's for sure. Both are coming off losses, with Greece
putting in a particularly dismal performance. Their attack was reminiscent of the "hope for a set
piece" tactic of yore, but this time the defense was completely missing.
THE BIG PICTURE
Germany now find themselves in somewhat of a strange position, having heaped pressure on themselves
to perform following a pulsating opener against Australia. If they win, they'll continue to be
labelled with a 'favourites' tag, if they lose, everyone will be screaming that they peaked too
early.
THE BIG PICTURE
England are in a bit of a shambles in the back right now after the nature of their draw with the
US in the opening game. The questions surround Robert Green whether or not he's still Fabio's No. 1
and if so, whether he can come back mentally from his first game howler.
THE BIG PICTURE
It's the country with the biggest population in the World Cup vs the smallest. The 300+ million of
the USA, vs the roughly two million of Slovenian. Both teams had excellent first results thanks to
horrendous a combination of ballsy performances and opposition goalkeeper errors.
THE BIG PICTURE
Japan made history against Cameroon but not just because it was their first World Cup win away from
home soil. They also became the first team since 1966 to win a tournament match with a mere 3 shots
at goal. Some would call this precise, most would call it very, very dull.
THE BIG PICTURE
Cameroon and Denmark were both losers in the first round of games, neither can afford a second
defeat, while both will desperately wan't a first win. Morten Olsen's Denmark simply met a superior
opponent when they lost 2-0 to the Netherlands, and may have a slightly fitter Nicklas Bendtner to
call on.
THE BIG PICTURE
The two teams will be converging on from either side of the football spectrum: Italy has the
history and the World Cup trophy technically still in tote; New Zealand is a minnow at this
tournament and earned history with their first ever point in the Slovakian opener.
THE BIG PICTURE
Brazil made a strange but ultimately winning start to World Cup 2010. North Korea's deep defending
held the Canarinho at bay for a whole half, and the Chollima also scored a late consolation, but
Brazil were ultimately in control and deservedly won 2-1.
