In less than a week, the United States MNT will take on Mexico in their first true test of 2008. Coach Bob Bradley recalled 21 players to camp to prepare for the match.
The MNT had a dream year in 2007 year against Mexico, likely because both games were played away from the thin air of Azteca Stadium. In February, the U.S. demoralized Mexico, who had recalled many of their seasoned veterans for Coach Hugo Sanchez’s first game, by winning 2-0 in Arizona despite being largely outplayed. The Mexicans’ frustration was most apparent when their keeper, Oswaldo Sanchez, tried to take a cheap shot at Eddie Johnson after Landon Donovan put the game away with a goal in extra time. It was fitting though that even Sanchez’s attempted foul missed its mark as the Mexicans, despite playing well, simply could not put a shot on target.
CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) recently announced that they will be staging a new club championship that will take the place of the Champions Cup, which will see it’s last competition in 2008. The CONCACAF Champions League will be set up much like the Champions League in Europe. 24 club teams from all sectors of CONCACAF will participate in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The breakdown of the teams participating is:
• 4 teams from Mexico and the U.S.A. (MLS)
• 3 teams from the Caribbean
• 2 teams from Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras
• 1 team from Nicaragua, Canada, and Belize
While D.C. United had the best record in the MLS last season there have been major rule changes, along with D.C. United’s desire to become a younger team, that have allowed them to totally revamp their lineup. MLS made the recent decision to allow teams in the league to field as many foreign players that they could get slots for. Because of this many international players have signed, and will continue to sign, with MLS clubs. D.C. United has the best international scouting in the MLS and their recent acquisitions point to this fact. Last year they added Luciano and Fred to the squad and have recently added three more players to add to their stacked lineup.
2006 and 2007 Supporters’ Shield winner D.C. United has been busy making moves over the last week to ensure it can compete for a third straight trophy in 2008. After having two South American league MVPs in the last two seasons, United appears to be wisely continuing the trend of acquiring South American talent.
The Black and Red’s most interesting pickup is Marcelo Gallardo, a thirty-two year-old attacking midfielder. Gallardo, who played in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups for Argentina, has been signed as MLS’ 6th Designated Player.
Leading Career MLS Goal Scorer Re-Signs with D.C. United
The leading goal scorer in Major League Soccer, Jaime Moreno, re-signed recently with D.C. United. Moreno has been with United since the MLS was formed in 1996, except for a brief stint with the MetroStars in 2003. Moreno is a 34 year old forward from Bolivia who became the all-time leading goal scorer in August of 2007 scoring on a penalty kick against the New York Red Bulls for goal #109.
He is the most famous and richest footballer (soccer player) in the world. Off the soccer pitch there is no other soccer player who can compete with Beckham for endorsements, media attention and fanatical fans. But how does Becks stand up on the pitch to best soccer players in today’s game? Is Beckham’s success due to marketing hype or does he actually have some game?
Beckham was a product of the Manchester United youth system. He first came to the football public’s attention with a goal for Man Utd from the half way line in 1997.
Key Players: Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chris Rolfe, Justin Mapp
Key Pickups: Patrick Nyarko (Drafted 7th Overall)
Key Losses: Chris Armas (Retired), Paulo Wanchope (Retired)
2008 Outlook: Good
Of all the strange names for professional sports teams, “the Fire” has always perplexed me the most. Maybe it’s just a personal preference, but I have never understood why you would want to name your squad after a disaster that killed hundreds of your city’s residents. I guess the University of Miami didn’t get that memo either.
Key Losses: Brad Guzan (possibly to Celtic or Aston Villa)
2008 Outlook: Average
The Goats are coming off the best season in team history. Preki, voted Coach of the Year in his first year, remarkably led the team to the second-best record in the league. The list of the team’s 2007 achievements is almost too long to fit in one post: they scored the most goals in the West, allowed the second-least goals in the entire league, and perhaps most troubling for opponents, finished with an unbelievable 10-1-4 record at home during which only eight (8) goals were allowed. That is an almost unbelievable one-half goal per game average at home.
The MLS off-season is now officially halfway over and I know many average Americans are pondering the same things: (1) what is the MLS, (2) is that, like, Michael Scott from The Office’s initials or something, (3) I thought his middle name was Gary, (4) man, I miss The Office, (5) when will this writer’s strike end anyways, and of course (5) will Britney bottom-out or bring sexy back.
LA Galaxy recently announced that they will play FC Seoul on March 1 before heading to Shanghai four days later as part of the club’s Asian tour. The Galaxy re looking to capitalize on David Beckham’s huge popularity in the Far East and are likely to add another Chinese date as well as games in Japan.
“FC Seoul will entertain LA Galaxy on March 1 at Seoul World Cup Stadium,” the Korean club announced on its homepage on Thursday.
The K-League team are expecting a full house to see the former England captain . LA Galaxy will then travel to Shanghai for a March 5 exhibition match against Chinese Division One club East Asia.
