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US-Mexico: What We Learned

By on March 27, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Matt Besler and the US defense were all over Mexico last night. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Matt Besler and the US defense were all over Mexico last night. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

What else can you say about last night’s 0-0 draw for the US National Team against Mexico? Was it pretty? No all the time? But was it effective? Absolutely.

Jurgen Klinsmann and the US squad had a game plan and stuck with it. Defend, defend, defend with some silky passing through the midfield to test the Mexican defense at key moments. And the big thing, luck. They had a fair amount of luck in this one to get the 0-0 draw, the second ever at the Azteca against Mexico.

So what do we take away from this game? Plenty. This isn’t the same squad that struggled through a 2-1 loss in Honduras back in early February. This is a squad that is progressing.  Continue Reading →

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Keys To US-Mexico Game

By on March 26, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Can the US keep Mexico winless in 2013? (Photo by Miguel Tovar/Getty Images)

Can the US keep Mexico winless in 2013? (Photo by Miguel Tovar/Getty Images)

Let me just say, all the pressure is on Mexico. Yep. All of it. After the US Men’s National team victory in the SnowClasico last Friday over Costa Rica, the pressure went south to Mexico.

I’m not making this up either. Mexican press fell the pressure on their squad going into tonight’s big US-Mexico game at the Estadio Azteca.

The Mexicans are winless in 2013. Yep, winless. Tonight’s game marks El Tri’s 70th World Cup qualifier at home, where it has a 63-1-5 record, its only loss coming in 2001 against Costa Rica.

This has little to do with the last trip the US took to Mexico. We all remember that one by now. A sunny August day that saw the US do what had been thought as the unthinkable. A win. In Mexico. At the Azteca. Before it hadn’t been done, the US were 0-23-1 all time there.

But now the demons have been exercised in a way. The stigma of not being able to win down there appears, at least slightly, gone. Mexico is still good and while that day in August didn’t have their best squad, it did give this US squad the kind of hope that it needs to get a result in this one. Continue Reading →

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US World Cup Qualifying Venues Announced

By on March 21, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

The remaining four home 2014 World Cup Qualifying games venues have been announced.

  • Seattle will host the June 11 qualifier against Panama
  • Salt Lake City will host the June 18 qualifier against Honduras
  • Columbus will host the September 10 qualifier against Mexico
  • Kansas City will host the October 11 qualifier against Jamaica

The announcement also included the confirmation of the Centennial Celebration Match between the Men’s National Team and Germany that will be played on June 2 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., as part of U.S. Soccer’s 100-year anniversary celebration.

The June 11 match against Panama at CenturyLink (Seattle) will be only the second World Cup Qualifying game in Seattle. The first was more than 35 years ago when the U.S. defeated Canada on Oct. 20, 1976. The last time the USA played at CenturyLink (formerly known as Qwest Field) was on July 4, 2009, during a 4-0 victory against Grenada in the opener of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The only previous U.S. MNT game at Rio Tinto (Salt Lake) was the team’s 2-1 victory against El Salvador on Sept. 5, 2009, in World Cup Qualifying.

The U.S. returns to Columbus Crew Stadium nearly one year after blanking Jamaica 1-0 in qualifying on Sept. 11, 2012, in front of 23,881 spectators. The Mexico game will be played at Crew Stadium for the fourth consecutive time in World Cup Qualifying. In the previous three matches, the USA has posted 2-0 victories. The USA is 6-0-3 all-time and 5-0-2 in World Cup Qualifying at the home of MLS side Columbus Crew.

 

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Full List of MLS Players Called Up

By on March 19, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

With the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on the horizon, many MLS players have been called into duty for this week. In all 29 players have been called up by their respective countries.

Out of those 38, 17 teams are affected by this with Real Salt Lake taking the biggest hit with five players called up. Their weekend opponent FC Dallas has three of their own to deal with being gone as well. Only Chivas USA and the Colorado Rapids are left without players getting called up.

Chicago Fire
G – Sean Johnson (USA)
M – Joel Lindpere (Estonia)

Columbus Crew
F – Jairo Arrieta (Costa Rica)

FC Dallas
M – Je-Vaughn Watson (Jamaica)
F – Blas Perez (Panama)
G – Raul Fernandez (Peru)

D.C. United
D – Dejan Jakovic (Canada)
M – Marcos Sanchez (Panama)

Houston Dynamo
M – Oscar Boniek Garcia (Honduras)
M – Jermaine Taylor (Jamaica)

LA Galaxy
D – Omar Gonzalez (USA)
F – Robbie Keane (Ireland)

Montreal Impact
M – Sanna Nyassi (Gambia)

New England Revolution
F – Jerry Bengtson (Honduras)

New York Red Bulls
D – Roy Miller (Costa Rica)
M – Tim Cahill (Australia)

Philadelphia Union
M – Keon Daniel (Trinidad & Tobago)
D – Bakary Soumare (Mali)

Portland Timbers
M – Will Johnson (Canada)
G – Donovan Ricketts (Jamaica)
F – Ryan Johnson (Jamaica)
D – Mamadou “Futty” Danso (Gambia)

Real Salt Lake
G – Nick Rimando (USA)
D – Tony Beltran (USA)
M – Kyle Beckerman (USA)
F – Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica)
F – Abdoulie Mansally (Gambia)

San Jose Earthquakes
D – Justin Morrow (USA)
D – Victor Bernardez (Honduras)

Seattle Sounders
F – Eddie Johnson (USA)
M – Mario Martinez (Honduras)
F – Obafemi Martins (Nigeria)

Sporting Kansas City
D – Matt Besler (USA)
M – Graham Zusi (USA)

Toronto FC
M – Kyle Bekker (Canada)
D – Ashtone Morgan (Canada)
D – Darren O’Dea (Ireland)

Vancouver Whitecaps
F – Kenny Miller (Scotland)

 

Continue Reading · · in FIFA, MLS, World Cup

Four World Cup Qualifying Venues Named?

By on February 11, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

It sounds like we’ll soon know the rest of the World Cup qualifying venues here soon. Earlier this weekend it was reported that Crew Stadium in Columbus would get the Mexico game but what about the other three? Well, Grant Wahl has you covered.

No real shocker in all of those to be honest. The Seattle game is indeed looking more real by the second while Salt Lake and Kansas City are 100% bets at this point. KC getting the Jamaica game is something I’ve been predicting for a while now, it seemed like a likely venue for such a game.

What do you all think of these four venues? Happy to see Seattle get a game (finally)? Bummed that there isn’t a game in Houston, Philly, D.C. or New York?

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Gulati Discusses World Cup Qualifying Venues

By on February 7, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Yeah...this could easily work for the USMNT. (Getty Images)

Yeah…this could easily work for the USMNT. (Getty Images)

Yes, this is from yesterday but it is still a worthy discussion point.

Yesterday, U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati shared a few bits of information to reporters in Honduras about upcoming plans for the year for the US National team.

Kansas City (Sporting Park), Columbus (Crew Stadium) and Salt Lake City (Rio Tinto Stadium) are among venues that seem likely to hold qualifiers this year. The non-SSS mentioned by Gulati has to indeed be Seattle. Though as I’ve mentioned on here and Twitter, I’ll believe it when I see it.  Continue Reading →

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US Gets Off On The Wrong Foot In Honduras

By on February 7, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |
Oh boy. This could be rough for the US.

Oh boy. This could be rough for the US.

We knew it wouldn’t be an easy game for the United States Men’s national team. Going on the road to kick off the final stage of World Cup qualifying in CONCACAF is never easy but the US has seen results in the past on the road. Yesterday’s game against Honduras was just different in the end.

For all the good build up that was there on Clint Dempsey’s goal in the first half, it was quickly erased with the wonderful bicycle kick by defender Juan Carlos Garcia. From then on it seems as if any hope that the US had in getting three points was gone.  Continue Reading →

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The Hexagonal Is Here! US Takes On Honduras

By on February 6, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

 

US has a big battle in Honduras today. (Getty Images)

US has a big battle in Honduras today. (Getty Images)

The time has come, the Hexagonal stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying for CONCACAF is here.

The US Men’s National team kicks off their final path to Brazil with a big road test in Honduras this afternoon. The test is huge for the US considering how it is on the road and there is a game in Mexico looming on the horizon.

The US is hoping to knock off a group of guys that consist of some MLS players and even some former MLS players now in the likes of Andy Najar and Roger Espinoza. Thankfully for the US, Honduras will be without Najar and Emilio Izaguirre. Honduras does still have Oscar Boeick Garcia on the wings and MLS fans know all to well now what he brings to the table.

The big question for the US will be whether or not they can create goal scoring chances against Honduras. That is where the pressure will on Jurgen Klinsmann’s side.

It is prediction time, who do you have today? I’m taking the US in a tight, hard fought game, 1-0.

Match Date/Time: Wednesday, February 6; 4:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Estadio Olimpico, San Pedro Sula, Honduras

TV: beIN Sport

Continue Reading · · in CONCACAF, US National Team, World Cup

Denver To Host March World Cup Qualifier

By on January 15, 2013 | Follow @WVHooligan |

The wait is finally over, US Men’s National team fans can finally begin planning where they will go to cheer on the Red, White and Blue as they hope to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Today the USSF announced that Dick’s Sporting Good Park outside of Denver will host the first qualifier of the Hexagonal stage against Costa Rica on March 22.

“We are really excited to play our first home qualifying match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park,” said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “Winning games at home in World Cup Qualifying is crucial, and we really are expecting the fans in Colorado to bring us a huge home-field advantage.”

The match against Costa Rica just outside the “Mile High” city comes as part of a double-fixture date. Four days later, the U.S. travels to face regional rival Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Placing the first game against Costa Rica in a town with altitude was an easy choice for the USSF.

This is a big get for the Rapids and the fans in Denver. I had previously pegged this game to be in Sandy, UT at Rio Tinto Stadium but this one being in Denver totally works as well. The chance for the US team to train at the Olympic training facility also is a plus.

What do you make of Denver getting the chance to host this game?

Continue Reading · · in Colorado Rapids, CONCACAF, MLS, US National Team, World Cup

Projecting the World Cup Qualifying Venues (Updated)

By on November 8, 2012 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Kansas City is a lock to host a game but will it be the Mexico game? (Getty Images)

A month ago after the US Men’s National team qualified for the Hexagonal stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying in 2013, I projected the five venues for hosting. After yesterday’s draw to release the schedule, it is time to update those projections now that we know the when and who of it all.

The US road to Brazil is a tough one with three of the first four games on the road. But with that four out of the last five are at home.

I still believe Columbus and Kansas City are locks to host games. Figuring out the other three seems a little more cut and dry now that we know when these games are and who they are against.

Here’s the full schedule again: 2/6 at HON, 3/22 vs CRC, 3/26 at MEX, 6/7 at JAM, 6/11 vs PAN, 6/18 vs HON, 9/6 at CRC, 9/10 vs MEX, 10/11 vs JAM, 10/15 at PAN. Continue Reading →

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