Monday, June 27, 2011
Gold Cup Hangover
Being a Chicano is not easy when it comes to soccer. You spend about 2 days wondering what jersey to wear for the game, green or white. And no matter what you choose, you hate yourself at the end of the game no matter who wins. The U.S. and Mexico are bitter rivals. If you've never been to a soccer game, go watch a Mex vs US match. The game is always physical and lots of action. Watch this video for examples. Lots of fights, black eyes and kicks to the nuts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pENBzZ4aGp4&feature=fvst
The U.S. has dominated Mexico on U.S. soil, beating them 11 out of 13 matches. Saturday's Gold Cup final's loss not only put the U.S. out of the Confederations Cup, but in my opinion is the first indicator of the shift of power in CONCACAF. With young star players like Chicharito and Dos Santos, and a talented U-17 club, El Tri is poised to dominate for the next 6 years.
The US squad is aging. Lets face it, Donovan is an amazing player, but he is 30, and Freddy Adu is not the star we thought he would be. Agudala is too injury prone, and Tim Howard is old and on the way out too. It's time for the US squad to revamp. Four unanswered goals should tell you something. That defense is terrible. Having Cherundolo go down early really hurt the team. Bornstein was getting burned on the left side all game.
Was the game amazing? Yes. Did I like the results? Yes and No. I should just cut my jerseys in half, and sew each half to each other.
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I've always wanted to see a Mexico vs. USA game. Even an exhibition that they sometimes have here in town (sometimes being every five years...) I think Mexico vs. USA in any sport is a bitter rivalry. I remember how much fun the WBC game was with Mexico vs. USA but moreso just because Mexicans are amazing sports fans. Top 3 baseball games I've ever seen was in Mexico City (went alone) watching everyone scream their freaking heads off for a Sunday afternoon game that had, for all intensive purposes, zero importance. Didn't matter to the people there. Rocked the place, it was so loud, costumes, noise makers and not a blackberry in the house. I always envisioned a futbol game against the US to be like that multiplied by 100.
ReplyDeleteCesar left out that he's had a man crush on Landon for at least 5 years now...he is a stud though and while 30 isn't "old" by any means they do need someone else in the wings or we'll drop off even farthur soon enough.
Adu was supposed to be a new Pele and he hasn't done hardly anything. The hype around that guy was massive, i remember Sports Illustrated and every other magazine all up on the guy and you never hear about him anymore.
My argument every time someone says the USA isn't a very good soccer country is always the same though. Other countrys play ONLY soccer. We have 300+ million people that enter into every conceiveable professional sport. Imagine how good we would be in futbol if all our professional athletes in the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL and others actually had grown up playing soccer their whole lives and that was the only thing that mattered in their lives?? We'd probabaly never lose a single match. Ever. So I think we are doing pretty decent for what is left over to form a team given soccer is unfortunately a 5th choice for most athletes growing up. At least for the elites going to Division I schools and getting drafted out of high schools.
I love the rivalry with Mexico and USA. It's almost as good as Canada and USA in hockey. I agree with Jeremy that America has so many sport options that it dilutes the talent in to several groups instead of just one sport like Latino countries. Europeans don't play baseball. Embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteOne other comment on the growth in youth soccer. I think that has a lot to do with 2 things. It's cheap and safe. Parents love soccer. They buy some shin pads and maybe cleats. Everything else is provided. The kids run around and get exercise and build a team attitude. Also, it's safe. No fastballs flying at their kids heads. No tackling. I think that's why it's so popular in America. Once the kid gets older and more athletic he switched to tougher sports that are more fun.
Also...I love sports. As Jeremy knows, I try to get people to love all sports. I give all sports a try and really try to get into them...even NASCAR. But, I gave soccer a chance. And I give it another chance every 4 years when the world cup rolls around strictly to fill my patriotic checklist. However, after months of trying to follow American soccer and watching some games, I gave up. Want to know why? Watch this ESPN commercial and you'll know why. And no, this is not an exaggeration. ESPN pretty much nailed what goes on in 99% of professional soccer games.
http://youtu.be/gHebuF8tNEM