12/30/24
June 22, 2006
No World Cup love for Team USA: Our beloved "football" team just lost 2-1 to Ghana, sending Ghana to the second round and the US back home. Disappointment runs rampant, especially since Italy beat the Czech Republic 2-1. Only one goal the entire round? Pathetic.
posted by chemwizBsquared to soccer at 11:04 AM - 70 comments
Well done, Ghana. Congratulations.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 11:08 AM on June 22, 2006
This is just a gentle reminder not to post the scores on the front page, please. I expect things will be pretty tough down there today.
posted by Amateur at 11:10 AM on June 22, 2006
Wow, we really suck as a unit. Although the penalty call was pretty bad...I'm not sure how much better Ghana was than the USA, but I'll say one thing for sure, they were a hell of a lot faster. Pity, too, because the Italians did their part.
posted by vito90 at 11:12 AM on June 22, 2006
Why was Johnson sitting to start the second half? I can't understand what Bruce Arena was thinking. And I can't stand Donovan. Period. Congratulations to Ghana.
posted by sublime4390116 at 11:19 AM on June 22, 2006
Congrats to Ghana -- and I'd vote their uniforms best in the tournament.
posted by ajaffe at 11:22 AM on June 22, 2006
That penalty was shitty, so was the play of Donovan, and the coaching of Arena. You could almost write an entire article on how bad Donovan was today. Why did we not see more of Eddie Johnson, they seem so much faster with him out there?
posted by jojomfd1 at 11:27 AM on June 22, 2006
I am now pulling for Argentina, dammit.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 11:31 AM on June 22, 2006
Italy and Ghana advance .......... wow what happened to the 5th and 2nd ranked Sides.... Tongue in cheeck of course........
posted by skydivedad at 11:35 AM on June 22, 2006
I even developed a case of rectal glaucoma today just so I could watch the game, and this is what I got.
posted by jojomfd1 at 11:39 AM on June 22, 2006
Landon was terrible. He didn't even show up. Beasley made one world-class pass, and spent the other 89 minutes pfutzing about. Eddie Johnson came on too late, and when he did, he didn't win any contested balls. Kasey Keller didn't have a great game neither. Listless, uninspired, and the furtive comeback was way too little, way too late. Ghana was the better team, and they deserved to win. But most of all, it's time for Bruce Arena to go.
posted by chicobangs at 11:45 AM on June 22, 2006
US looked horrible in every game! one goal in three games? no offense, players in wrong positions, no intensity, no creativity. can't blame poor calls on losses even though they did change the complexity of games. my cup fever has been sapped!
posted by jblakejr at 11:47 AM on June 22, 2006
I was following CZE-ITA; was the Ghana-USA ref horrendously shiteous? 'cause +4 and +5 minutes of overtime plus the highlight clips Sky was showing did not show him in a favorable light at all. The commenators were appalled. I'm a bit sad for Nedved, if this is indeed his last game. He's one of my favourites and he had a few blistering attacks on Buffon today. Had one of his teammate not been an overfouling idjit and get sent off, I think we would have seen a tie today. In realted news, the Federcalcio should be announcing the penalites of Juve, Milan, Fiorentina & Lazio for the ref bribing scandal within the hour...
posted by romakimmy at 11:49 AM on June 22, 2006
was the Ghana-USA ref horrendously shiteous? He got into the game early, and then couldn't get himself out of it.
posted by jojomfd1 at 11:52 AM on June 22, 2006
skydivedad - Bravo! :)
posted by blarp at 11:55 AM on June 22, 2006
Ghana= great game. Best of luck to them against Brazil. USA= Horrible. They completely lacked any heart out there today. Even with their goal they still looked like a shell of the team that played against Italy. Even with the bad ref, they have no one to blame but themselves (and Bruce Arena, who in my opinion at this point needs to be completely run out of US soccer. His coaching at this World Cup was probably some fo the worst coaching, if you call sitting there with your hands behind your head coaching, I have ever seen).
posted by NightingalesGone at 11:58 AM on June 22, 2006
Pretty bummed out on the intensity the US showed during this Cup except for a few minutes in the second halves of the last two games. I hate to say it's time for Arena to go since he's accomplished so much for the sport in the US but he really disappointed me.
romakimmy, please keep us posted on the outcome of the bribing situation since I'll be too lazy at work to go searching for info. posted by redsnare at 12:03 PM on June 22, 2006
I was following CZE-ITA; was the Ghana-USA ref horrendously shiteous? We can't blame the ref, rommakimmy. The penalty was a bad call but good teams overcome. We were very pedestrian and displayed no urgency. This World Cup showed we were more interested in bringing the flow of the games to a standstill than having the balls to attack. Very frustrating. VERY FUCKING FRUSTRATING! All the calls for Eddie Johnson are spot on. And Donovan and Beasley...what the fuck? I swear those two along with Arena must have requested Xanax in their cereal. If I was a neutral, I would have been put to sleep by this U.S. team. Time for a new coach. Time for new leaders. Time for new testicles.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 12:07 PM on June 22, 2006
what a big disappointment!! donovan was nowhere to be seen, and beasley was horrific,one good pass was about the only thing he did well during the whole round. after the italy match i thought we would have some fire in our hearts, but that was nowhere to be seen or felt, mcbride can hang his head high and our defense line wasn't too bad, but everyone else just didn't show up at all. now i m pulling for the italians and england, good luck lads. say goodbye to arena, he did a lot for us soccer but his time should end.
posted by sauceysays at 12:13 PM on June 22, 2006
That second goal by Italy was just fantastic to watch. I feel bad for CZE & Nedved, I think he was great, no wonder Italy had him surrounded by 3 - 4 guys most of the time. Buffon was the man of the match in that game, he made some brilliant saves. As for the US game, in full speed that looked like a penalty but in slow mo' we found out it wasn't, but eh it happens. US needed to win and they couldn't even tie the game.
posted by riffola at 12:25 PM on June 22, 2006
I've always liked Arena, but I think he did a bad job with a bad team in a tough group this time around. I'd probably fire him. But who would replace him?
posted by Hugh Janus at 12:26 PM on June 22, 2006
I even developed a case of rectal glaucoma today just so I could watch the game, and this is what I got. Possibly the best post on the thread so far.
posted by lex2000 at 12:27 PM on June 22, 2006
I think the US team needs a new coach, but it is ultimately the players who under performed. Arena playing 4-5-1 was a big mistake, but the players were uninspired in their play. For a team that was supposed to be so fit, they looked tired. Landon Donovan was transparent and uncreative. Beasley sleepwalked through the game other than that great ball on the goal. Eddie Johnson should have started, but he looked unprepared when he came on. As captain and a player, Reyna did a poor job. Good on Ghana for being the only African team to go through. Wish them luck against Brazil! I wonder if Jose will make his chunky imaginary friend pick an injured Cisse again.
posted by scully at 12:41 PM on June 22, 2006
Bruce thou art loosed! I didn't believe the U.S. was really the 5th-best in the world; but the offense in these three games was, well..offensive. Best of luck to the Black Stars and I will mos def be rooting for Ghana against Brazil. I'm hoping they can advance to the quarterfinals like Senegal in '02; but realistically I'm hoping for a close game like Nigeria had against Italy in '94.
posted by curtangle at 12:51 PM on June 22, 2006
Donovan went to Germany and couldn't cut it. It happened on the club level, and now, on the international level. I can't believe how afraid he was to take risks. Every time he was the advance man, with the clear superiority in speed, he would slow down and cut inside, away from goal, and then look for a pass. He never used his advantage to pressure the defender, run at him, take the foul, maybe even gain a penalty. Even when he went into the area with the ball, he would inevitably cut back for a pass. What was he afraid of? What did he have to lose? Also the number of final passes that went astray was painful to see. It's one thing if it's in the six yard box and keeper actually picks it up or someone has to head it away, but the balls were way high or wide with several US players already well-positioned in the box. Even worse, the passers were usually under little pressure, not closely marked. I'm speculating here, only wildly speculating, if there was some concern or preoccupation about terrorism on the part of the US team.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:56 PM on June 22, 2006
Someone better tell Eric Cantona that the world still looks forward to playing the U.S.
posted by holden at 01:03 PM on June 22, 2006
BRUCE ARENA SUX. He needs to be fired!! We shouldnt even pay for his trip home. I bet they find every reason in the world the team lost just to keep Bruce "Suck coach" Arena around.......How the heck did we get a no.5 ranking in the world. WHAT A DISGRACE!!!!
posted by Dallas at 01:06 PM on June 22, 2006
I agree, Bruce Arena deserves replacement, but by whom?
posted by Hugh Janus at 01:10 PM on June 22, 2006
I'm speculating here, only wildly speculating, if there was some concern or preoccupation about terrorism on the part of the US team. Huh?
posted by blarp at 01:10 PM on June 22, 2006
How the heck did we get a no.5 ranking in the world. WHAT A DISGRACE!!!! You will not find a person in the world who knows anything about soccer and also thinks that the FIFA ranking means anything. At least, I hope not.
posted by blarp at 01:12 PM on June 22, 2006
I agree, Bruce Arena deserves replacement, but by whom? Kurt Russell?
posted by MrFrisby at 01:14 PM on June 22, 2006
I'm speculating here, only wildly speculating, if there was some concern or preoccupation about terrorism on the part of the US team. I highly doubt that it crossed their minds on the field, although it might have been a distraction between-times. And if it did have an effect it's just another sign of psychological (individual and team) weakness. Wait, Jose's chunky friend is imaginary?
posted by Amateur at 01:16 PM on June 22, 2006
Truly soccer in the US has arrived- it has gone from 'not good' to 'sux', and the ratio of exclamation points to sentences has passed one. Ah, progress.
posted by tieguy at 01:17 PM on June 22, 2006
Curse of Sports Illustrated, anyone? The best sign of how the game has come on will be articles documenting how Arena screwed the pooch, and how so many 'star' players were either locked into a shitty system or failed to show up. That 4-5-1 made Sven's 'three fit strikers, five fit legs' approach look like genius. Anyway, Ghana were a step and a pass ahead. That late sequence where Landon 'Heather Mills' Donovan tried to dribble onto his right foot, then laid it off only for [someone, I dunno] to have the ball taken off his feet mid-shot? The campaign in a nutshell. And ESPN treated Ghana like they didn't exist. Yes, this week's coverage has been shit -- the only analysis arrived after the US exit -- but it seemed to be taken for granted that they'd get the win, and those nasty Italians and Czechs would stitch up a draw. What the fuck? A side with Appiah and Essien in the midfield is not to be sniffed at. So, while I'd have liked the US to advance in order to take advantage of the window of interest now that the NBA and NHL finals are done... seeing an African side advance from a group where they were considered also-rans? Priceless. And if they do play Brazil -- the Aussies could still win the group should Japan also pull off an upset -- I wouldn't put it past them to give Fat Ron and company a shock. But who would replace him? There are a few Dutch coaches who'd take the job, if not Hiddinck.
posted by etagloh at 01:20 PM on June 22, 2006
That would be a blessing. If the US replaces Arena, they'd better get a foreigner, since, no matter how bad he might have been, Bruce Arena is the best soccer coach the US has ever produced. Hopefully we can get away from the stupid "national team, domestic coach" jingo that hurts so many national teams. It's be pretty funny if there were even more Dutch coaches next time around.
posted by Hugh Janus at 01:29 PM on June 22, 2006
I was up very late last night and ended up sleeping through the game this morning. Sounds like our US team did the same. The US needs a serious overhaul, top to bottom. Sick of watching the same guys not give a shit again. Oh well, time to root for the old country.......GO PORTUGAL!!!!!
posted by eccsport78 at 01:54 PM on June 22, 2006
Again, Hiddinck is already contracted to Russia after the World Cup. You'll have to find another Oranje to replace Arena.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 01:54 PM on June 22, 2006
Wait, Jose's chunky friend is imaginary? One of the most wistful moments in adidas' treatise on the horrors of autism is when we realize the best he can do for an imaginary friend is some pantload.
posted by yerfatma at 01:58 PM on June 22, 2006
It's having WAY too many of our players over here playing MLS. The one time we were any good we were bringing guys back from Europe, where they were used to a high level of competition. Imagine if this was American football we were talking about, and the Germans felt good because the Berlin Thunder had won back-to-back World Bowls. Regardless of how good the German players may be, they're not used to the speed, tactics, or hitting that comes with the NFL. Much like World B-Ball events got alot more even once other countries were actually dealing with NBA experienced players. Our players are used to being big fish in a little pond. The MLS may not even qualify as a B league. In each match it looked like it was taking us some time to get up to speed. Well, no duh. Our guys were used to playing against defenders that would be lucky to be the last player on an English Premiership team, and they're now going against the best in the world. Our MLS playing guys can't be expected to ramp up to that high a level of competition in a few games. Langdon Donovan played in Germany from '99 to '01 and did not even crack the first team. He returned briefly in 2005, but ran back to MLS when he stank it up. (9 apperances, 0 goals, 0 assists, and one particularily bad UEFA performance.) MLS has been working hard to keep American players at home, thinking this will build the sport. I think the opposite is needed. Get as many Americans as possible playing at the highest level, and maybe eventually, we'll have a world cup team that features a player from AC Milan, FC Madrid, ManU, something. So long as the star of our team has spent the last 4 years battling the Columbus Crew, he can't be expected to step up and beat teams made up of UEFA champions.
posted by LostInDaJungle at 02:00 PM on June 22, 2006
I was very encouraged by what I saw against Italy from the standpoint of spirit, physicality and defense, but today's result as disappointing. I'm still on the fence with regard to Arena. Let's face it, even if the US had Alex Ferguson as their coach, until they get at least one genuine scoring threat up front and develop some depth in the midfield, they always be a second tier team.
posted by psmealey at 02:01 PM on June 22, 2006
And Donovan and Beasley...what the fuck? They're best of friends, or didn't you hear? I loved the moment at the beginning of the second half where the ESPN announcer went out of his way to apologize for repeating yet again that the U.S. had to win the game to advance. His excuse was that there were lots of people just joining them for the second half who might not be aware of that fact. And he based that conclusion on what, exactly? Sigh. Our team sucks, our announcers suck... why do I watch this game again?
posted by oscillator72 at 02:01 PM on June 22, 2006
MLS has been working hard to keep American players at home, thinking this will build the sport. I think the opposite is needed. This is exactly the lesson France learned. Once the French gave up on trying to keep their French talent in their (inferior home) league, and encouraged them to play abroad, the French developed a World Cup and European champion. It should be obvious; you only improve your game by playing the world's best. Reyna improved by leaps and bounds because of the time he spent in Europe.
posted by psmealey at 02:07 PM on June 22, 2006
But who would replace him? Will Ferrell and Mike Ditka?
posted by skydivemom at 02:33 PM on June 22, 2006
Will Ferrell and Mike Ditka? I think they'd fare better than the dimwitted Arena...GO ITALY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by chemwizBsquared at 02:54 PM on June 22, 2006
Get as many Americans as possible playing at the highest level, and maybe eventually, we'll have a world cup team that features a player from AC Milan, FC Madrid, ManU, something. But there's a catch-22: if you don't have sufficient international experience, it's hard for non-EU players to get a work permit (at least in the UK).
posted by etagloh at 03:05 PM on June 22, 2006
Imagine if this was American football we were talking about, and the Germans felt good because the Berlin Thunder had won back-to-back World Bowls I'm not smart enough to say if this is a fantastic analogy, but it feels like one.
posted by yerfatma at 03:09 PM on June 22, 2006
redsnare & anyone else who's interested in the Italy bribing scandal: they have named names (predictable ie moggi & the lot) but nothing about the squads' penalties yet. i think they are delaying until after the WC games for tonight are done, maybe even tommorrow seeing as they already delayed the announcement once. berlusconi's already said that "it's impossible for Milan to be penalised for a crime they didn't commit." you may picture me rolling my eyes here.
posted by romakimmy at 03:09 PM on June 22, 2006
I loved the moment at the beginning of the second half where the ESPN announcer went out of his way to apologize for repeating yet again that the U.S. had to win the game to advance. His excuse was that there were lots of people just joining them for the second half who might not be aware of that fact. I liked that too. As much as I hated the constant reminders, the belabored justification for the constant reminders was even worse. For those who are just beginning to read this discussion with my comment, the U.S. has to beat Ghana and Italy has to beat the Czech Republic for the Americans to advance. This is considerably less likely to occur since the end of both matches.
posted by rcade at 04:31 PM on June 22, 2006
like i said we dont have enough futbol players in the u.s.
posted by defrag3x at 05:11 PM on June 22, 2006
4 shots on goal in 3 games!
posted by catfish at 05:25 PM on June 22, 2006
On the other hand the Italy vs. Czech Republic game was great. Even the ESPN2 guys were saying that Italy was playing very differently from how they normally play, very Brazil like. They only went back to their usual defensive mode after they had scored once.
posted by riffola at 06:45 PM on June 22, 2006
Hey Bruce 'Easy teams like Australia and Trinidad' Arena. Who's playing Italy in the next round? We're not going home We're not going home We're not going home We're not going We're not going We're not going home!
posted by owlhouse at 07:37 PM on June 22, 2006
I see the censors are shredding the 1st amendment..
posted by scotsman at 08:13 PM on June 22, 2006
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. You should read up on the first amendment scotsman. No one here is a member of congress.
posted by justgary at 08:54 PM on June 22, 2006
You should read up on the first amendment scotsman. No one here is a member of congress. And we're not making laws. We don't need no steekin' laws; we got the banhammer!
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:11 PM on June 22, 2006
Congrats to Ghana -- and I'd vote their uniforms best in the tournament. Nah. I think Angola's uniforms are the best. The red, black and gold trim really stand out on the pitch. Ghana does have a cooler flag, however.
posted by grum@work at 09:13 PM on June 22, 2006
I see the censors are shredding the 1st amendment. I love people who think they have a right to free speech on a server you're paying for.
posted by rcade at 09:53 PM on June 22, 2006
I see the censors are shredding the 1st amendment.. Don't tell me a scotsman has been edited. Ah well...you can't all be Billy Connolly. Just had the chance to watch the Czech Republic-Italy game...wow...Italy are impressive. Australia will be a handful and the Azzurri could use a healthy Nesta, but looking at potential opponents, it's hard to see anyone stopping Italy before the semis where they'll likely meet either Argentina or Germany. Damn, we have some tasty games coming up.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 11:26 PM on June 22, 2006
I see the censors are shredding the 1st amendment.. In other words, don't you know who I am? My words fall to earth like manna from heaven, and you dare to strike them from the eternal record? The cure for "censorship:" go get your own website. On topic: we looked horrible against Ghana yesterday; I, like many others, thought that our boys would play with the same kind of grit they showed in the second half of the Italy game. Instead, they came out slow, sloppy, and thorougly unmotivated. The only good thing about ESPN's coverage? Julie Foudy and Eric Wynalda on with Rece Davis last night, giving the U.S. team a well-deserved verbal beatdown. Foudy especially gave it to Donovan (too small, too slow, too unimaginative, too tentative, etc.), who deserved it and more. Bring on the real U.S. National Team!
posted by The_Black_Hand at 05:53 AM on June 23, 2006
I heard today that we got four shots on goal the entire World Cup, and two of them doinked the crossbar. How can that be viewed as anything other than a collosal failure? It has turned me into one of those reactionary fans from the traditional soccer nations who wants to see coaching staffs fired two or three times each World Cup season.
posted by rcade at 11:11 AM on June 23, 2006
It has turned me into one of those reactionary fans from the traditional soccer nations who wants to see coaching staffs fired two or three times each World Cup season. That seems a bit harsh. Go ahead, fire the coach, but to rehire him and fire him again comes across as quite mean.
posted by grum@work at 12:27 PM on June 23, 2006
Rcade, it's not a failure to get out of that group. I think the US expectations far exceeded the reality. For about the last 6 months, non-Americans on this site have been pointing out that (a) the US has a tough group and (b) you're not that good, despite what the FIFA ranking might say. I'd suggest the US media and Mr Arena suffered from the sin of hubris, and right now need to take a reality check. Also, insularity is not a good thing, and perhaps US soccer should, while still keeping the MLS, encourage good young players to ply their trade in Europe and elsewhere. To me, it simply looked like the US were out thought and out muscled by some hardy European professionals (including the Ghanaians) who know how to tackle, how to limit space for the opposition and how to change tempo. The talent is there in the US team, it just needs to get out more.
posted by owlhouse at 04:58 PM on June 23, 2006
you're not that good...The talent is there in the US team So which is it, owlhouse? You seem to have our team all figured out yet you're talking out of both sides of your mouth.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 09:29 PM on June 23, 2006
I think Owlhouse's point stands - he's saying, (well, we're saying), that it's not a failure to be sent home from that group, partially because the US is "not that good" compared to the teams you ended up against. I know that you're a realistic football fan and, although you felt the US would progress, you probably weren't astonished that they didn't, but the web has been packed, from Soccernet to Hattrick to the BBC to Sportsfilter itself with Americans who earnestly believed that their team would canter through their group. The Czechs were too old, the Italians were going to be distracted by their domestic match fixing problems and the Ghanaians, well, no one was talking about them. The team had been hyped up as the fifth best team in the world, when in fact, you weren't that good. Now, despite finishing bottom of the group the talent is there, in the team. I like what I saw of Gooch and Mastroeni looks like a half decent holding player in midfield, although he needs to work on his distribution. You need a natural goal scorer, (see Italy's fourth-string forward, Pipo Inzaghi for a team with depth there), but that's hardly a sin; England start tomorrow relying on an ambulatory tree, a player who didn't score a single goal in qualifying and a kid who the manager hasn't even seen play for goals. You also need some creativity in midfield. ESPN seemed to think that Landon was the second coming, but whether he does have the talent and is just allergic to German air or really doesn't have the talent, he just was a complete non-factor. With a new coach, new ideas and another four years to develop the US will be back for South Africa, where the Europeans won't have any homefield advantage. You probably still won't be the fifth best team in the world, but, as Ghana have shown, you don't have to be.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:28 PM on June 23, 2006
Yeah, what Mr B said. You do have the talent, but you're not that good AS A TEAM. Playing in CONCACAF, beating up on El Salvador and with only a few players having played regularly outside the MLS, the US team is short of experience in tough games and in tough leagues. I think it showed.
posted by owlhouse at 06:05 AM on June 24, 2006
I don't think the tough group excuse is operational, given how the U.S. could have advanced with a win over Ghana. Ghana may be a great team, but this is their first World Cup. At this stage in our development, the U.S. should have been able to handle them, or at a minimum given them a strong challenge.
posted by rcade at 07:57 AM on June 24, 2006
I think our excuse is simply "We played a bad tournament"...Never have I believed we're the number 5 team in the world, same as I now don't believe we're as bad as our showing in Germany. Had we played the way we did during qualification, I think we would have done much better. I know the teams in qualification aren't as good as the Czechs and Italians (and maybe not even as tough as Ghana), but we did finish ahead of the mighty Mexicans so regardless of competition, we played better than one round of 16 team. We simply didn't show up for 2 games much like Argentina and France in 2002. And I think Bruce Arena has been an amazing coach for the US and should stay and have another chance (who else are we gonna get anyway). He had a bad tournament much like Donovan and Beasley and many of the other US players. I'm not sure what was different in the Italy game that we couldn't have done in the other two games (maybe start Mastroeni and Dempsey in both), but I think it will be sorted out.
posted by Ricardo at 11:14 AM on June 24, 2006
Mastroeni couldn't start in the Ghana game because of the Italy game.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:18 AM on June 24, 2006
I know that you're a realistic football fan and, although you felt the US would progress, you probably weren't astonished that they didn't Even for the cynical, a group in which I include myself, many Americans are still hopeful and optimistic, which is why I believe the above statement is correct. We (I'm inlcuding SpoFi regulars here, not the johnny-come-lately-bandwagon jumpers) hoped we would make it out of the group, which is far from believing it. Of course I'm disappointed, but more from the sense of entitlement and lack of heart and steel some of our key players displayed than the fact we didn't advance. I've been as critical of this team in the build-up as anyone, probably moreso, but that doesn't diminish the feeling of being kicked in the gut. That being said, I think we outplayed Ghana and should have gone through, but, again, our key players didn't have the mettle at the decisive moments. The issue I have with owlhouse's comments...well, I was picking nits. It's like having someone call your brother an asshole; he is an asshole, you know he's an asshole, EVERYONE knows he's an asshole, but have someone call him out outside of the family and it's going down!:-) And Ricardo, while I agree that Arena has done a lot for this team, I don't think he has the ability or respect from the players to take it any further. I think more on this will come out in the near future, but it seems his relationship with the players has taken on that of familiarity breeding contempt.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 12:46 PM on June 24, 2006
The issue I have with owlhouse's comments...well, I was picking nits. It's like having someone call your brother an asshole; he is an asshole, you know he's an asshole, EVERYONE knows he's an asshole, but have someone call him out outside of the family and it's going down!:-) No offence taken, Tex. I actually want the US to have a good team, too. It would be great for the game, and of course great for all the long suffering fans like you. And it would stick it up the US mainstream media (we get them down here, as well). Think about this: Neither the Czechs nor the US got out of the group. Landon Donovan and Tomas Risicky are comparable talents, with Donovan perhaps being the more gifted. Over the next 4 years, Risicky will be under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger, playing in the EPL and the Champions League, and helping the Czech Republic qualify and play in Euro 2008. Donovan will be back at the Galaxy. That's what worries me more than anything.
posted by owlhouse at 04:20 PM on June 24, 2006
Arena. Out. Donovan. Out. Beasley. Out.