The Soccer Thread (Version 8)

I think I've said this before Birdscribe, but it's my belief that in the long run it's to the benefit of Israeli soccer to be placed in Europe. You only get better playing better teams. If Bosnia can qualify out of Europe, and Iceland damn near, then there's no inherent reason Israel couldn't.

 

Israel can qualify from Europe like an Ireland or a Bosnia can, but it would be so much easier from their proper geographic region.

In other news, as usual, the MLS Cup just gets buried in the avalanche of NFL, NCAA and big European soccer news. They have to move the Cup to an earlier date.

 

CONCACAF and Asia are placed in the same pot for the World Cup draw. Here are the full results ...

Pot 1
Brazil
Argentina
Colombia
Uruguay
Belgium
Germany
Spain
Switzerland

Pot 2
Algeria
Cameroon
Ivory Coast
Ghana
Nigeria
Chile
Ecuador

Pot 3
Australia
Iran
Japan
Korea Republic
Costa Rica
Honduras
Mexico
USA

Pot 4
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Croatia
England
France
Greece
Portugal
Italy
Netherlands
Russia

 

While Sporting Park will be packed and rocking, Missouri is playing for the SEC championship at the exact same time, and Kansas basketball is tipping off at Colorado at 2:15 p.m.

I don't know if a Friday after Thanksgiving would work, but a Friday at this point seems to make more sense.

 

Friday after Thanksgiving would be death for a league that promotes itself so much toward families. As for moving MLS Cup earlier, even if MLS does so, the final date will still creep into late November/early December as the new teams arrive (unless the EPL gets its wish and international soccer gets abolished, that is).

 

Is my memory at fault, or did the MLS Cup final used to take place in October?

 

It did, when the league had fewer teams. Consulting a random Screaming Eagles souvenir, the second MLS Cup was held Oct. 25, 1997.

I believe the complaint then was conflicts with the World Series.

 

There are going to be conflicts with other sports no matter when it's held. My belief is that the MLS season is too damn long.

 

Every pro sports season is too damn long.

 

Jurgen Klinsmann seems to believe it's too damn short. By European standards, it's comparable -- 34 league games plus any US Open Cup or Concacaf Champions League commitments. You're right that there will always be conflicts with other sports, though, so for me, MLS might as well err on the side of what's best for those fans who do show up.

 

Spending $11 million on a 90-minute show at a luxury resort in middle-of-nowhere Brazil? That's so FIFA.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11167200

 

Happy World Cup draw day! Here's hoping for Switzerland in the USA group and no Ghana. Other than that, I won't be picky.