The Soccer Thread (Version 7.0)

He was testing out names on Twitter during the game. I think of all of the names I saw on the web, "The Sno-Fro Game" was my favorite.

 

By everyone who asks Grant Wahl, of course. I'm partial to La Guerra Blanca, but that's hardly an unbiased opinion.

 

Nobody else in Asia has a hatred for Japan? Right, the Chinese were so willing to forgive and forget that whole Rape of Nanking business.

http://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1188613/tight-security-promised-nanjing-soccer-clash
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0805/p06s03-woap.html
http://www.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/football/08/07/china.japan/index.html

Also, the only reason Japan playing Iraq away is tough these days is the distance traveled. Iraq's "home" games tend to be in places like Dubai and Jordan because, well, you know....

 

The story in the Times today about the Serbia-Croatia match indicated that the Balkans might be a tough road environment. And there's an England fan in a coma today because he got beat up in a bar attending the San Marino match. It's soccer. People are weird, not pleasantly, either.
PS: If China ever gets good at soccer, a remote possibility I know, they'll retire the most unbearable sports fans on earth trophy in short order.

 

A friend of mine is trying to effect just such a change, and I hope he succeeds. It will be better for all of Asia (at least if you buy into the steel-sharpens-steel analogy).

Plus, it'll be a chance for the US sporting scene to return to the Cold War era for which so much of the military-industrial complex seems to pine. Mutual suspicion, boycotting Olympics, The Light of the Free World vs. Those Godless Commies and all that. Good times all around.

 

Trooper: the US-USSR track meets were both hugely popular in both countries and hugely entertaining back when I was a boy. Hatred is good for sports if kept within bounds.

 

Bob Ley writes about behind-the-scenes action on Friday.

RT @BobLeyESPN: Behind the scenes at Friday's 'SnowClassico' in Denver, USA v CRC qualifier. http://t.co/VxdxL4PhIo

 

I'm not sure of what the ratings were for this game, but I know quite a few people who could care less about soccer who watched some of this game because of the snow.

 

Oh, Good.

"SnowClasico" is catching on.

As appropriate as "SuperClasico" for the Chivas-Galaxy games.

It was just a single game. At the start of qualifying. At home.

 

I know I'm late on this, but it happens. I'm happy the U.S. did get 3 points against Costa Rica, but now they have to go play at Mexico Tuesday and are looking at having 3 points after their first 3 matches. Granted, two of them were on the road, but still. I know a lot of people (myself included) sometimes overreact and all, but what are y'all's opinions? I know they still have a lot of matches to go, but a 1-2 start isn't exactly one that has you running to make your World Cup reservations.

 

Let's see what happens in Mexico first.

 

I will. I'd love to come out of Mexico with 3 points, but to be honest, any points at all would have to be considered gravy.