The Soccer thread (Part II)

I am a fan of Downing. Scored a nice free kick over the weekend for Middlesbrough, and I think he's going to be a solid international player.

 

If Beckham and Joe Cole were the wings, which one would play the left?

 

Cole would, as he does for Chelsea. I think he's two-footed enough to deliver from either side down the left flank.

 

The friendly at Azteca on Sept. 9 has been called off. Instead, the USMNT gets Brazil in Chicago on that date.

 

What happened, couldn't they get enough ziplocs full of urine filled in time?

 

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. soccer team will play South American champion Brazil in an exhibition game Sept. 9 in Chicago, replacing a match against Mexico that was called off because of financial problems.
This will be the first game between Brazil and the U.S. since 2003, when the Brazilians won 2-1 in overtime in the Gold Cup semifinals in Miami.
“It is a very exciting opportunity for our players to get to play perhaps the most storied team in the world,” U.S. coach Bob Bradley said.
The Americans had been scheduled to play Mexico at Azteca Stadium on Sept. 9 in a rematch of the Gold Cup final. The game was canceled because of what the U.S. Soccer Federation said were “contractual and financial considerations.”

 

So they weren't going to give them enough money, and USSF figured it could make more by bringing Brazil to Soldier Field.

I think they lucked into a good move here. If I were USSF I wouldn't schedule any friendlies against any CONCACAF teams, keep those for qualifications and Gold Cups. They should try to bring South American or African countries here, or play away against the Europeans.

 

For that, read "Spanish TV rights."

 

As in American Spanish TV rights? I have to admit, I've lost track of who holds the rights to Mexico national team matches. It used to be Telemundo (the one opportunity for Cantor to be relevant again), but maybe those rights have changed. And since MLS/SUM now markets El Tri, I'd imagine they want to involve their broadcast partners (Univision/Telefutura/Galavision).

 

Arrest warrant issued for City's new owner by Thailand's Supreme Court...

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-23408319-details/Court%20issues%20warrant%20to%20arrest%20City%20owner/article.do

 

Nee ja mi soot yang dee

(That's "This will not end well" in Thai)

 

Here's your famous ESC!