U.S National Soccer team

[bonesaw]

The win doesn't increase or decrease their chances at a seed, it just makes the possibility seem more realistic to us. Only the results from CONCACAF qualifying itself will impact those chances. I think that's what you were trying to say, but thought I'd clarify. We are currently second in CONCACAF qualifying.

Seeding for the WC is based on the FIFA Rankings. If you get into the top seven, then you don't get put in a group with someone else in the top seven. Which would be nice as then you avoid some pretty good teams. I know Mexico has gotten this advantage a few times. Here they are from June before the tournament.

1 Spain 1761 UEFA
2 Netherlands 1442 UEFA
3 Germany 1378 UEFA
4 Italy 1292 UEFA
5 Brazil 1288 CONMEBOL
6 England 1225 UEFA
7 Argentina 1203 CONMEBOL
8 Croatia 1200 UEFA
9 Russia 1167 UEFA
10 France 1067 UEFA
11 Portugal 1004 UEFA
12 Turkey 964 UEFA
13 Paraguay 961 CONMEBOL
14 United States 947 CONCACAF

The calculation method via wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World ... ion_method

Which means the US got a lot of points with their win... 1791 points if my math is right. Not sure if the Confederations Cup game is worth 3 points... as the wiki entry has it as Confederation Cup Finals, which is what I think the technical name is for the games being played.

3 (Win) x 3 (Confederations Cup Game) x 200-1/100 (Opponent's Strength Multiplier) x 1.00 (Regional Strength Multiplier) x 1.00 (Assessment Period Within 12 months) x 100 (Ranking Point Multiplier).

I got 1665: 3 (Win) x 3 (Conf. Cup) x 2 (opp. is #1 team) x (1+0.85)/2 (regional strength) x 1 (assessment period) x 100

Unfortunately, they don't actually gain those points: The ranking is the average of the point values of all of the matches, so the points gain from the game is only 25 points (1665 divided by 66 matches). It's a start!

[davescharf]

Someone has something funny in their coffee if they think the US will crack that top 7 in a little over a year.

[evegoe]

Unfortunately, they don't actually gain those points: The ranking is the average of the point values of all of the matches, so the points gain from the game is only 25 points (1665 divided by 66 matches). It's a start!

I was told there'd be no math and then this happens... either way it was a big win. I heard the USSF got $1 million for the win, which is nice.

[Border Gopher]

This 3rd place game between Spain and South Africa has been awesome. It's going into extra time.

[Chris83]

USA leads 1-0; goal by Clint Dempsey at the 9 minute mark.

[Bert]

27 min. USA 2-0

[Chris83]

3-2 Brazil in the 83rd minute. Oh well, they played 45 good minutes.

[Border Gopher]

3-2 Brazil in the 83rd minute. Oh well, they played 45 good minutes.

More like 30.

[Dances With Gophers]

a) why, for the love of all that is good and holy, did we WAIT to get fresh legs in there?!?? Brazil got in two sets of fresh bodies at the 65th minute, we waited almost 10 minutes longer.

b) huzzah for moral victories. [/sarcasm]

c) i blame the yankees. i was watching the game at a bar, and we were up 2 nil. as SOON as a guy walked in and sat next to me (wearing a Yankees hat) when I was literally the only person at the bar and there were 20 empty chairs around us...Brazil scored. Then scored again. And then, again. As if I needed another reason to hate the ing Yankees.

d) motivation for 2010 World Cup? Just saying...

[mnwildfan79]

We're not there yet.

But we are getting closer.

Keep climbing that mountain USA soccer!

[Loc85]

This sport just doesn't do it for me. I was excited for the championship game and started off watching it (insert bandwagon fan comment here). After USA was up 2-0 I still found myself flipping back to a relatively meaningless Twins game. I don't know what it is, I just can't get myself excited for soccer. Either way, congrats to the US team for taking second.

[davescharf]

Nothing is really ever going to change the majority opinion sadly.

Now as a soccer fan in general, I really enjoyed watching the show that Brazil put on in the 2nd half. They were desperate and they looked absolutely scary in how they dismantled the US. They are simply unbeatable when they play like that.

[Greyeagle]

This sport just doesn't do it for me. I was excited for the championship game and started off watching it (insert bandwagon fan comment here). After USA was up 2-0 I still found myself flipping back to a relatively meaningless Twins game. I don't know what it is, I just can't get myself excited for soccer. Either way, congrats to the US team for taking second.

You're one up on me, I didn't even realize it was on during the Twins game.

[sagard]

One nice thing is they were beating Brazil's "A" team for the first time ever. Too bad it only lasted 70 minutes or so. To lose on a corner via a header is a major choke. Our guys had been so good in the air from the Egypt game on.

[Dances With Gophers]

Heads-up for Wednesday at work:

U.S. vs. Mexico
WEdnesday, August 12th
Estadio Azteca; Mexico City
4 p.m. EDT/3 p.m. CDT, Mun2

The U.S.-Mexico match will be televised nationally in the U.S. in English on mun2 and in Spanish on Telemundo. NBC Universal has announced that it will be offering mun2 as a free preview on Wednesday, Aug. 12, to all distribution partners. DirecTV and Dish Network have already agreed to unlock mun2 on Aug. 12 (mun2 is currently listed as channel 410 on DirecTV and channel 838 on Dish Network). Fans should check locals listing to confirm channel listings. Phil Schoen will provide play-by-play and former U.S. defender Marcelo Balboa will handle the color commentary for the English broadcast. Additionally, ESPN will provide unprecedented studio coverage, highlighted by a 30-minute SportsCenter 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Special from outside Estadio Azteca beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT. The special marks the first time in its 30-year history that ESPN will air a live remote pre-match show for a soccer event it is not televising.

How I usually scratch my sports itch at work: http://www.channelsurfing.net/ Hopefully, they'll have this game listed tomorrow...

* The U.S. holds a lifetime record of 0-22-1 on Mexican soil, the lone result a 0-0 draw on Nov. 2, 1997, in Mexico City.
* Mexico has only lost one World Cup qualifier in history at Estadio Azteca, falling to Costa Rica 2-1 on June 16, 2001.

Edit: originally thought it was today (Tuesday)...but it's actually being played tomorrow (Wednesday)

[mnwildfan79]

Thanks for the heads up, DWG!

It would be so sweet to go into Azteca and steal a win.

Mexico

[Dances With Gophers]

Thanks for the heads up, DWG!

It would be so sweet to go into Azteca and steal a win.

Mexico

Man, I wish I wouldn't have slept so much in Spanish class I have no idea what these commentators are saying right now.

[mnwildfan79]

Thanks for the heads up, DWG!

It would be so sweet to go into Azteca and steal a win.

Mexico

Man, I wish I wouldn't have slept so much in Spanish class I have no idea what these commentators are saying right now.

Mine are speaking English.

[Jupiter]

USA


GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!

[Dances With Gophers]

Thanks for the heads up, DWG!

It would be so sweet to go into Azteca and steal a win.

Mexico

Man, I wish I wouldn't have slept so much in Spanish class I have no idea what these commentators are saying right now.

Mine are speaking English.

Thanks for the tip (I switched channels)

USA up 1-0 early in the game!

[Dances With Gophers]

Bad guys tied it up, 1-1.

[mnwildfan79]

I was a soccer ref years ago so I very rarely criticize refs at this level but this guy is in over his head.

The non-call that gave Mexico possession for their goal was terrible.

The recent exchange of similar tackles that netted us 2 cards and them none.

Hopefully we see a little bit more consistency from here on.

*edit* nevermind on the offside thing, I saw a weird angle

[Ben]

I was a soccer ref years ago so I very rarely criticize refs at this level but this guy is in over his head.

The non-call that gave Mexico possession for their goal was terrible.

The recent exchange of similar tackles that netted us 2 cards and them none.

Hopefully we see a little bit more consistency from here on.

(on a side note I thought we were offside on our goal but I have to watch the replays again during halftime to see better)

Do you expect cards?
On the Mexicans?
In Azteca?
<chortle>

[mnwildfan79]

Do you expect cards?
On the Mexicans?
In Azteca?
<chortle>

Fair enough.

I'll just be over here in the corner...

[Jupiter]

The US team just can't hold possession for more than 15 seconds..... I would guess that Mexico has controlled 80% of the possession time. At least it seems that lopsided. The US is all about counter attack and that is about it.

[Jupiter]

Mexico takes a 2-1 lead in the 82nd minute....

[Jupiter]

Mexico 2
USA 1
Final

[Dances With Gophers]

The US team just can't hold possession for more than 15 seconds..... I would guess that Mexico has controlled 80% of the possession time. At least it seems that lopsided. The US is all about counter attack and that is about it.

That pretty much sums up the entire match right there, Jup.

Anyone else catch all of the cups and junk fans thrown at Donovan when he was lining up to take that corner kick late in the 2nd half? WTF? (Edit: The friggin' police had to hold up their shields to protect him!)

[Zwak]

The Sports Guy on ESPN has a great column about his experience at the Mexico - USA game.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/090817

[mnwildfan79]

The Sports Guy on ESPN has a great column about his experience at the Mexico - USA game.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/090817

Amazing read, thanks for posting that Zwak.

I was watching the development academy final on ESPN2 a few weeks ago and it seems like the infastructure for elite level youth soccer has really improevd in the past 10 years which is very exciting. Soccer will never get all the elite level athletes like it does in so many other countries so it's integral that the ones that do choose soccer don't fall through the cracks.

Adding USA-Mexico game at Azteca into my all-time wish list for live sporting events to see.

[trixR4kids]

I was a soccer ref years ago so I very rarely criticize refs at this level but this guy is in over his head.

The non-call that gave Mexico possession for their goal was terrible.

The recent exchange of similar tackles that netted us 2 cards and them none.

Hopefully we see a little bit more consistency from here on.

*edit* nevermind on the offside thing, I saw a weird angle

Yeah I've been reffing a lot more this summer due to the economy and am going to do highschool soon. That being said, this guy did a horrible job. So many times that one guy who came in (the controversial guy whose name I forget) was just out of control pushing players after the whistle or grabbing the ball. The guy easily should have gotten two yellows and he was just one of many players who got away with murder on the Mexican team.

Oh yeah going into Azteca would be awesome. It would make going to grandforks seem like a cakewalk.

[Chris83]

US edges Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 and moves within 1 win of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

[Master_Shake]

For someone that doesnt follow soccer all that much, what happened to Freddy Adu? Is he still the future of American soccer? Is he even playing anymore?

[Dances With Gophers]

U.S. men's schedule
Saturday (Oct. 10)
U.S. vs. Honduras *** U.S. can clinch a World Cup berth with a win
Estadio Olimpico; San Pedro Sula, Honduras
10 p.m. ET (not sure if televised?)

Wednesday, Oct. 14
U.S. vs. Costa Rica
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
8 p.m. ET
ESPN2, ESPN360.com


Slim chance for U.S. World Cup seeding in 2010

[dxmnkd316]

U.S. men's schedule
Saturday (Oct. 10)
U.S. vs. Honduras *** U.S. can clinch a World Cup berth with a win
Estadio Olimpico; San Pedro Sula, Honduras
10 p.m. ET (not sure if televised?)

Wednesday, Oct. 14
U.S. vs. Costa Rica
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
8 p.m. ET
ESPN2, ESPN360.com


Slim chance for U.S. World Cup seeding in 2010

Definitely going to be watching this on the full circle

[Ben]

USA wins 3-2 to qualify for the World Cup.

The tremendous Grant Wahl of SI covered the match on Twitter after being robbed at gunpoint in Honduras today. He did his usual incredible work.

[davescharf]

USA wins 3-2 to qualify for the World Cup.

The tremendous Grant Wahl of SI covered the match on Twitter after being robbed at gunpoint in Honduras today. He did his usual incredible work.

They tried to give it away though...up 3-2 late and needed a Honduras player to go Roberto Baggio on a penalty kick in the final 10 minutes

[Slap Shot]

Their incessant need to turtle after taking a big lead nearly cost them again. You'd think they'd have learned by now not to play 'prevent'.

[kmd]

Charlie Davies injured in a car accident, possibly career threatening. Somebody online said DC local news was reporting it as a broken femur and a broken tibia.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... us&cc=5901

[StevieG]

Charlie Davies injured in a car accident, possibly career threatening. Somebody online said DC local news was reporting it as a broken femur and a broken tibia.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... us&cc=5901

This sucks, I hope he returns to good health soon

[Dances With Gophers]

U.S. losing to Costa Rica (1-2) right now (right before end of the game).

Altidore was carried off the field in a stretcher a few minutes ago (tweaked his leg on a slow-developing crossing play).

Edit: U.S. scores in injury time right before the final whistle off of a corner kick (Bornstein header), tied 2-2. Lots of tributes to #9 (Davies) (players wearing his jersey under their own), crowd flashing #9 placards, etc.

I thought it was approaching halftime; turns out that this foreign station counts up towards 45 minutes for each half (instead of going from 45 to 90 mins in the second half). Confusing as hell...

* Also, spotted Altidore jumping around in celebration, so the injury can't be that serious.

[Ben]

U.S. losing to Costa Rica (1-2) right now (right before end of the game).

Altidore was carried off the field in a stretcher a few minutes ago (tweaked his leg on a slow-developing crossing play).

Edit: U.S. scores in injury time right before the final whistle off of a corner kick (Bornstein header), tied 2-2. Lots of tributes to #9 (Davies) (players wearing his jersey under their own), crowd flashing #9 placards, etc.

I thought it was approaching halftime; turns out that this foreign station counts up towards 45 minutes for each half (instead of going from 45 to 90 mins in the second half). Confusing as hell...

* Also, spotted Altidore jumping around in celebration, so the injury can't be that serious.

It wasn't Altidore, it was Gooch. And actually, that might be worse for us. If he's out for an extended period of time with the left knee injury, we could be in real trouble.

Edit/Update: Torn Patella Tendon, out 3-4 months.

[dxmnkd316]

U.S. losing to Costa Rica (1-2) right now (right before end of the game).

Altidore was carried off the field in a stretcher a few minutes ago (tweaked his leg on a slow-developing crossing play).

Edit: U.S. scores in injury time right before the final whistle off of a corner kick (Bornstein header), tied 2-2. Lots of tributes to #9 (Davies) (players wearing his jersey under their own), crowd flashing #9 placards, etc.

I thought it was approaching halftime; turns out that this foreign station counts up towards 45 minutes for each half (instead of going from 45 to 90 mins in the second half). Confusing as hell...

* Also, spotted Altidore jumping around in celebration, so the injury can't be that serious.

It wasn't Altidore, it was Gooch. And actually, that might be worse for us. If he's out for an extended period of time with the left knee injury, we could be in real trouble.

Edit/Update: Torn Patella Tendon, out 3-4 months.

Son of a That is f ed up.

[davescharf]

U.S. losing to Costa Rica (1-2) right now (right before end of the game).

Altidore was carried off the field in a stretcher a few minutes ago (tweaked his leg on a slow-developing crossing play).

Edit: U.S. scores in injury time right before the final whistle off of a corner kick (Bornstein header), tied 2-2. Lots of tributes to #9 (Davies) (players wearing his jersey under their own), crowd flashing #9 placards, etc.

I thought it was approaching halftime; turns out that this foreign station counts up towards 45 minutes for each half (instead of going from 45 to 90 mins in the second half). Confusing as hell...

* Also, spotted Altidore jumping around in celebration, so the injury can't be that serious.

It wasn't Altidore, it was Gooch. And actually, that might be worse for us. If he's out for an extended period of time with the left knee injury, we could be in real trouble.

Edit/Update: Torn Patella Tendon, out 3-4 months.

Son of a That is f ed up.

Could have been worse and been an ACL or something. He likely would have missed the World Cup then. Hopefully he'll be full strength as they prepare.

[jallengarry]

Not the national team, but man I just can't stop watching this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNmPybFK ... re=related

[davescharf]

Not the national team, but man I just can't stop watching this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNmPybFK ... re=related

That is about the dirtiest I've ever seen any amateur play...she's lucky she didn't get her kicked for some of those stunts