A couple post-Euro 2008 thoughts before a little July 4 break...
* Cesc Fabregas is 21. Sergio Ramos is 22. They both were major contributors on Spain's Euro triumph. As an American this sort of irks me, considering how timid the U.S. soccer program can be at times. There is an age discrepancy, but there is no reason to baby Jozy Atlidore and Freddy Adu. None.
And if this sort of evidence doesn't prove NCAA soccer even more of an irrelevancy, I don't know what does.
As for the U.S. dropping to No. 30 in the FIFA rankings? Guess those goose-eggs and no-shows at the 2006 World Cup and 2007 Copa America are hard to shake off. There's no point putting too much stock in this semi-mythical ranking. Looking at the 29 teams that rest ahead of the U.S., only a couple stand out -- Bulgaria (No. 17), Israel (No. 21), Uruguay (22) and Columbia (23). Oh right, Mexico at No. 19, but that should only be temporary once Sven gets his hold on El Tri.
Maybe we ought to consult Number Six for this one, because no man (or team) is a number.
Speaking of the USMNT, posed from official T.O.P. father, Arthur M. Cardillo, 'what happened to Jimmy Conrad?' in terms of the national team? Another question, who'll be the three over 23 players for the Olympic team next month? And will Jozy get to play?
* Amazing how quickly the Andrei Arshavin bandwagon cleared out, huh?
* Deco to Chelsea? Shocker of the century. Shocker. What's next Frank Lampard to Inter Milan? (Fat Frank must be a 'top man.')
* Again, I'm very curious how the clubs in Russia and to a lesser extent Turkey, retain their breakout stars post-Euro. It's not like the Russian clubs are exactly aching for cash infusions. In fact, you wonder if these teams will compete with the heavy hitters from England and Spain to attract players. Why Zenit would sell Arshavin, when they're in the Champions League seems counter-productive.
Turkey is interesting if only because Fenerbache has some big ambitions so they won't be sellers, Galatassary on the other hand, who knows? Guess if the price is right, Arda Turan can be had.
* Two international fixtures in recent years -- Sweden and the Czech Republic -- could struggle going forward for 2010. Sweden will face a challenge from Denmark and Hungary to qualify behind Portugal in UEFA group 1. The Czechs should in a decent shape in a group 3 that includes Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia and San Marino. I'd list France here too, but the country has too much talent to screw it up, unless Ray Dommenech is still pulling the marionette strings.
* Maybe I'm just writing quickly today because of Euro-withdrawal. I miss the games. I miss Andy Gray. I miss the techno-intros featuring Freddie Ljungberg. I even miss ESPN a little bit. It's still hard to get over that ESPN did a respectable job covering the event. Good, not great since they weren't on the ground in Europe except for Pedro Gomez.
It's too bad the only HD games we'll have in the interim future are MLS Thursday nights on ESPN2. Wonder if Dave O'Brien even knew the Euro happened?
* This quote struck me while reading David Goldblatt's epic history of soccer, 'The Ball is Round' from Liverpool legend Bill Shankley.
Doubtful Tom Hicks eventual Anfield-obit reads that glowingly. Does he have any clue what that club even means besides possible profit?
Enjoy the fireworks.
* Cesc Fabregas is 21. Sergio Ramos is 22. They both were major contributors on Spain's Euro triumph. As an American this sort of irks me, considering how timid the U.S. soccer program can be at times. There is an age discrepancy, but there is no reason to baby Jozy Atlidore and Freddy Adu. None.
And if this sort of evidence doesn't prove NCAA soccer even more of an irrelevancy, I don't know what does.
As for the U.S. dropping to No. 30 in the FIFA rankings? Guess those goose-eggs and no-shows at the 2006 World Cup and 2007 Copa America are hard to shake off. There's no point putting too much stock in this semi-mythical ranking. Looking at the 29 teams that rest ahead of the U.S., only a couple stand out -- Bulgaria (No. 17), Israel (No. 21), Uruguay (22) and Columbia (23). Oh right, Mexico at No. 19, but that should only be temporary once Sven gets his hold on El Tri.
Maybe we ought to consult Number Six for this one, because no man (or team) is a number.
Speaking of the USMNT, posed from official T.O.P. father, Arthur M. Cardillo, 'what happened to Jimmy Conrad?' in terms of the national team? Another question, who'll be the three over 23 players for the Olympic team next month? And will Jozy get to play?
* Amazing how quickly the Andrei Arshavin bandwagon cleared out, huh?
* Deco to Chelsea? Shocker of the century. Shocker. What's next Frank Lampard to Inter Milan? (Fat Frank must be a 'top man.')
* Again, I'm very curious how the clubs in Russia and to a lesser extent Turkey, retain their breakout stars post-Euro. It's not like the Russian clubs are exactly aching for cash infusions. In fact, you wonder if these teams will compete with the heavy hitters from England and Spain to attract players. Why Zenit would sell Arshavin, when they're in the Champions League seems counter-productive.
Turkey is interesting if only because Fenerbache has some big ambitions so they won't be sellers, Galatassary on the other hand, who knows? Guess if the price is right, Arda Turan can be had.
* Two international fixtures in recent years -- Sweden and the Czech Republic -- could struggle going forward for 2010. Sweden will face a challenge from Denmark and Hungary to qualify behind Portugal in UEFA group 1. The Czechs should in a decent shape in a group 3 that includes Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia and San Marino. I'd list France here too, but the country has too much talent to screw it up, unless Ray Dommenech is still pulling the marionette strings.
* Maybe I'm just writing quickly today because of Euro-withdrawal. I miss the games. I miss Andy Gray. I miss the techno-intros featuring Freddie Ljungberg. I even miss ESPN a little bit. It's still hard to get over that ESPN did a respectable job covering the event. Good, not great since they weren't on the ground in Europe except for Pedro Gomez.
It's too bad the only HD games we'll have in the interim future are MLS Thursday nights on ESPN2. Wonder if Dave O'Brien even knew the Euro happened?
* This quote struck me while reading David Goldblatt's epic history of soccer, 'The Ball is Round' from Liverpool legend Bill Shankley.
"Above all, I would like to be remembered as a man who was selfless, who strove and worried so that others could share the glory, and who built up a family of people who could hold their heads up high and say, 'We're Liverpool'."
Doubtful Tom Hicks eventual Anfield-obit reads that glowingly. Does he have any clue what that club even means besides possible profit?
Enjoy the fireworks.
Thanks for writing. . . the world needs more thoughtful, opinionated self-publishers. God knows the USMNT needs all the help it can get
Was talking with a friend at dinner tonight about CRonaldo and his eventual move to Real. If ManU asked for Sergio Ramos and say 35-40 million pounds, Real I'm sure would do that in a heartbeat.
ManU fills the right back role they desperately need and then flips the cash to Spuds for Berba -- now they've got Rooney, Tevez and Berba up front, Nani steps in to fill Crissy's role, and the back line is as formidable as any in the world. How does ManU not do that? I guess it's all up to Real and whether or not they'd part with Adult Mitch Kramer,
But, shit, that club would be even scarier. Hopefully Sir Alex Punchnutz doesn't read this blog's comments.