The Soccer Thread (IV)

Go get 'em El Tri. Too bad the Limeys weren't up for a scrum in Azteca.

 

Which would, of course, make no sense at all, and wouldn't really fit in with Mexico's tour of Europe as part of their own World Cup warmup plans.

 

Yeah...yeah...I know. But I would still like the English to see how it is in Mexico since a lot of English supporters seem to think CONCACAF is one big joke.

 

CONCACAF's powers will soon have their opportunity to prove that attitude wrong.

 

You know, I hate to be seen as the stereotypical English fan, but this sort of thing is a bit rich coming from supporters of a country that's qualified for the past five World Cups and owns as many World Cup victories in that span as it does last-place group-stage finishes.

England may not have much room to talk shit, but we won three games at the last World Cup.

 

Don't misunderstand me here.

CONCACAF's powers, the United States and Mexico, will each face England and thus have the chance to prove their detractors wrong.

I didn't say I think they'll take advantage of that opportunity. England will also have the opportunity to put its boot on CONCACAF.

My point is just that all fans can talk all they want; we'll soon find the truth on the field.

 

A pre-World Cup friendly, of course, means less than nothing.

Looking at the dates, this one in particular will fall two days after the Champions League final, so it's unlikely that any English players involved in the final will play against Mexico.

That does, of course, rely on any of them getting there.

 

Have I mentioned my dislike for Harry Redknapp? I don't mind him coming after Younes Kaboul, and I've resigned myself to losing David James to Stoke. But now Redknapp apparently wants Asmir Begovic, the goalkeeper who's functionally replaced James.

That would leave us with Jamie Ashdown, who hasn't played for the club since I don't even know when, and Antti Niemi, who I'm pretty sure is 97.

Redknapp's been quoted as saying he feels bad for Portsmouth, but if he felt that bad, he wouldn't be raiding the club for valuables like a bad nephew stealing jewelry from his slightly senile great-aunt.

 

The loss last night in the Coppa Italia to Inter was the final nail in the coffin for Ciro Ferrara, sacked by Juventus: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=733086&sec=europe&cc=5901

Meanwhile, Eidur Gudjohnsen is now with Spurs, on loan: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=733198&sec=transfers&cc=5901

 

CONCACAF powers?

 

Yes, because when I say "CONCACAF powers," I'm clearly equating them with "World powers!!!!!!"

Or I'm just avoiding typing "The two best teams in the CONCACAF region, which is not one of the better regions in world soccer, but these two teams' fans still wonder why they don't get more respect so I'm being sort of nice and using shorthand terminology that we can all accept even though a bunch of people pull for some distant Euro club over the stateside club and a bunch of other people think the U.S. is a lot better than it is etc. etc."

 

I find it funny that Portsmouth has a keeper named Antti Niemi, and the Chicago Blackhawks have a goaltender named Antti Niemi.

That is all.