Dos A Cero Otra Vez

This is one of the biggest rivalries in the beautiful game they call football, fútbol, calcio or soccer. The United States have owned Mexico on U.S. soil over the past decade, having never lost and only giving up 3 goals. Five times before, the U.S. had notched 2-0 victories over El Tricolores in the U.S. over the past decade. Meanwhile, Mexico still claims to be El Gigantes (The Giants) of CONCACAF, but their Achilles heel has been trying to beat the U.S. in the U.S. Mexico also has this complex that they’re never supposed to lose to the U.S., and every time they lose, they blame the refs or say that they played bad, but it’s never that the U.S. was better on that day. After Wednesday, I think the common rule is that the U.S. is better than Mexico, period.

The site was Columbus, where in the past two World Cup Qualifying rounds in 2001 and 2005, 2-0 victories were recorded by the U.S. over Mexico. The first one, in 2001, was played in such cold conditions that the game is forever known as La Guerra Fría (The Cold War). In 2005, 2-0 became “Dos A Cero” amid much warmer conditions. This game’s weather had a mix of everything: sun and warm temperatures, 60mph wind, torrential rain, thunder, lightning, hail, and cold temperatures later on. But, despite three torrid squalls that dropped pea-sized hail and brought a deluge among the thousands of people tailgating before the game in the Columbus Crew Stadium parking lot, the spirit of this rivalry was never dampened. It was an electric atmosphere, as no one was going to let a bit of weather dull their experience at the most-anticipated game in all of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying.

In the end, the result was the same: DOS A CERO. Two Michael Bradley goals (43’ and 90’+2) made the U.S. jump out to an early lead over their main rivals, with the 2nd goal in stoppage time in the 2nd half sending the majority of the 23,776 fans in attendance into jubilation and a resounding Dos A Cero chant. We also had the familiar dirty play from Mexico captain Rafael Marquez, who was sent off in the 63rd minute after spiking U.S. keeper Tim Howard in the knee when going up for a jump ball in the box. If you remember, Marquez was also sent off in the 2002 World Cup 2nd Round game (once again, a 2-0 U.S. victory).

Several kudos to hand out for the U.S. players. Tim Howard was great in goal, as always. If there’s anyone out there that thinks Tim Howard isn’t on the list of Top 10 keepers in the world, I want to know what other 10 keepers there are on their list. Michael Bradley: 2 goals. Enough said. He played splendidly. I thought Beasley was great on the wings, and he really had great pace, one that Mexico’s defenders had trouble stopping. Donovan was great in the box, with his play on corners setting up the first goal and assisting on the 2nd goal even while being fouled. Gooch was the man in the middle, really played well and stopped just about everything that came his way. Frankie Hejduk played inspired soccer in front of his home fans (he plays for the defending MLS Champion Columbus Crew). He was injured on one play and many of us thought it was serious enough for him to be subbed. However, he stuck it out and really controlled play on the sides. Hejduk is a player that I love sometimes and sometimes I wish he would not be on the pitch. Wednesday night, I had to give him props for that play. He also got slapped after the game by Mexico Assistant Coach Paco Ramirez. Why, no one knows, but I’ll say that Hejduk got the last laugh.

Finally, being in Sam’s Army for it all made the 15 hours of total driving that I had to do worth it. We were loud, we were intimidating, we had fun, we waved flags, and it was a blast to be a part of it. Special shoutout goes to the 8-10 Motor City Supporters who came down for the game. It was great to finally meet all of you, and I look forward to meeting up for more events. For now, DOS A CERO viva otra vez! (2-0 lives again!).

Milan to offer £4.5 million to keep Becks

The news out of the San Siro is that AC Milan is looking to speak with the agent of David Beckham as well as the LA Galaxy to try and complete a deal to keep Becks with the Rossoneri permanently. Reports are they are prepared to offer £4.5 million to make the loan deal permanent. Now, it’s still unclear whether the Galaxy will accept the deal. There are also reports that while David is keen on staying in Italy, his wife, singer/entertainer Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, does not want to move their children to another non-English speaking country. What is clear, however, is that Becks is in good form with Milan, and the way he is playing with them, his chances of making the English team and going to the World Cup in 2010 increase that much more. Everyone had heard the rumors that the loan deal could possibly turn into something more, but now this rumor has legs and it’s running fast. Beckham has an escape clause in his contract that he can exercise after the 2009 MLS season, and if that were to happen, MLS could see its most famous player leave without compensation. It's also unclear how much Milan will have to sweeten the deal to make it so that Becks doesn't lose too much of the money from his lucrative contract he currently has with the Galaxy. We will see if the Galaxy and MLS agree to a transfer fee, but it’s quite possible that we could continue to see Becks in the Red & Black #32 shirt for a long while, possibly the rest of his career.

USA-Sweden Recap

Well, Saturday’s friendly between the United States and Sweden at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA can be summed up in 4 words: The Sacha Kljestan Show. Kljestan scored 3 goals, including an amazing free kick and a penalty kick to record the first hat trick by a U.S. player since Aldo "Buff" Donelli did it 75 years ago in a 3-2 U.S. victory. Sweden sent their B team, with only a couple of players that play regular first-team soccer for the Swedes making the trip. The U.S. team was made up of mostly MLSers, as this was not a FIFA international date, meaning that clubs didn’t have to release the players to play. This was a game for a lot of the younger talent on both sides to get some international experience. But, more importantly, it gave the young Americans confidence as they played well against a very strong side.

Yet, no one gained more confidence than Sacha Kljestan. He actually had left training camp early in the week to fly to Scotland to train with Celtic, then came back in time to record the hat trick against Sweden. I don’t know what they fed him in Scotland, but I hope he brought back the recipe. This was an excellent game for Kljestan, who keeps getting better and better the more he plays, both in MLS and on the international level. He is starting to become one of those players you have to include in your side every time out, which is great. If he can keep this form up, he will have a chance to really help lead the U.S. when they take the field against Mexico in the first World Cup Qualifier in 2 weeks.

MotorCitySupporters.com Goes Live!

Check it out here!

Kaka' Rejects £100 Million Bid From Man City

On Fox Soccer Report early this morning (a rerun from last evening's broadcast), they ended the show with a report that a contingent from Manchester City, led by chief executive Garry Cook, were in Milan last night to offer a bid of £100 million for AC Milan midfielder Kaka', plus personal wages of £250,000 weekly to join City. This bid by City would have broken the world record for highest transfer fee, which currently is the £48 million that Real Madrid paid to get Zinedine Zidane from Juventus in 2001. However, ESPN Soccernet is now reporting that Kaka' has rejected City's bid, saying he wants "to grow old at Milan." Kaka's spokesman, Diogo Kotscho, also indicated that Kaka' would only leave Milan for "a strong side," something that apparently Kaka' does not believe is present at Manchester City.

So far, the new Manchester City under the leadership group from Abu Dhabi has not fared well in the transfer market, besides the shock signing of Robinho for the Premiership record of £32 million on the last day of the 2008 summer transfer window and the signing of Wayne Bridge earlier in the month from Chelsea. There are also rumors that summer signing Jô and fellow Brazilian Elano could be both gone by the end of the January transfer window. Whatever happens, it seems that so far, money has not been able to cure the problems that Man City has had on the pitch thus far this season.

USL in Detroit?

A new article in Crain’s Detroit Business (login required) highlights how Detroit-area minor league sports franchises are trying to weather the economic storm and operate in the Detroit market. Within that article was a surprising new twist on the front of a potential soccer franchise in Detroit:

“Dan Duggan, who co-owns the Michigan Bucks soccer team in Pontiac, is meeting with investors over the next 90 days as part of a $7 million plan to launch a top-tier Detroit affiliate of the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.

That translates into a $2 million investment to start the team, which could be moved from Europe, and to build a $5 million 5,000-seat outdoor stadium.

“I'm willing to do that because it's not about making money,” said Duggan, who is president of sales for Health-Mor Inc. in suburban Cleveland.”

The fact that Duggan is soliciting investors for a new team that will likely play in the First Division of the United Soccer League (or at the very worst, in USL-2) is an encouraging sign for Detroit soccer fans. It would be the first major step to proving the viability of a Detroit team in MLS. Also, the trends over the past couple of years have been that cities that already have USL teams have been more in the mix than cities without teams, with the exception of Philadelphia and Toronto. Dan Duggan, whose Michigan Bucks play in the USL’s Premier Development League, has long tried to solicit investors for a MLS franchise in Detroit, but having a USL team would be great as well. It would be a chance for Detroit fans to build a fanbase while supporting a team in the top level of USL soccer. Detroit is an area that has heavy participation in soccer among all ages, and it has a supporters club that is growing by the day and making noise. The next 3 months will be an important one for a potential USL team in Detroit. We will stay tuned to see what happens.

Bye Bye Bernd?

There is growing talk out of Madrid that Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster is on the way out. A presser has been called for this evening by Predrag Mijatovic, Real sporting director. There has been reported growing tension between Schuster and the players, although that has been downplayed in the media. What remains to be seen is if 1) he really is leaving and 2) who would they bring in right now. The woes that Real Madrid have experienced this season is not necessarily the manager’s fault, in my mind. I don’t think Real is losing games due to failed strategy and tactical measures. He’s not fielding the wrong lineups. Real has not been playing well at all, and there have been several injuries to key players. Already, Wesley Sneijder and Guti, along with many others, have missed considerable time with injuries, and Ruud van Nistelrooy is out for the season with a knee injury. This has thrown their regular rotation out of wack.

There are no excuses for how they’re playing. Their defense has been hurt, but they have also played lethargic and sloppy, leaving Casillas to look like he’s an average goalkeeper. The midfield has also been banged up, but haven’t gotten the job done. And, as a result, fewer opportunities are being created for the strikers up front, and without Ruud’s height and ability to play in the air, their scoring options have been limited. None of this, however, seems to be Schuster’s fault.

Now, if Bernd has not been playing the right people and has lost the confidence of the locker room, then maybe it’s time to make a change. However, I think you do that in the offseason. Letting go of the coach now is not the answer, and will not help you. The players need to get healthy, they need to be more focused and sharper on both offense and defense. That is the only way that they can play to the caliber necessary to continue in the Champions League and compete for the La Liga title. After the success of the past 2 years in La Liga, it would be a shame for them to fizzle out this year. They also need to make it as far as they can in the Champions League to keep their opportunities to win silverware open. But, firing Schuster just doesn’t do it for me. Hopefully they continue to keep him on and see this season out…but it looks like that may not happen.

UPDATE: Looks like Bernd will remain at the Bernabeu.