Futbol!
There are a few times that I wish I had a large amount of television channels for only those one or two channels that I need to enjoy more soccer games. I missed practically all of the Champion's League competition, save for a replay of the final game. Luckily though, for the Euro Cup 2008, ESPN2 has been picking up a lot of the games! Although, if the interwebz provider here at work would provide ESPN360, then I could just watch all the games on the interet. Like that's going to happen.
So what's the good news from Euro 2008? Portugal is into the second round of play after winning their group. Turkey makes it in as well after the most amazing second half of soccer I think I've ever seen, coming back from a 0-2 score with Czecheslovakia on top. Did I mention they did this all within the last 15 minutes?
Today's big games are Germany vs. Austria and Croatia vs. Poland. Germany hasn't been performing as well as most had thought, and it'd be a big upset to see them not in the second round of play. They have to win to go on, since Austria will overtake them in points if they beat Germany.
What about the US Men's National Team? Well I'm glad you asked. After winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup by beating Mexico in the final, the team has been looking pretty good. Just the other week in a match with Argentina, they managed to end the game in a draw. Not bad, considering Argentina is FIFA ranked no. 1! Just yesterday the US MNT trounced Barbados 8-0 in the beginning of World Cup 2010 qualifying matches. They'll play them again in a week or so, and then move on to various other Central and South American national teams. In the mean time, the US Under-23 team is in the Olympics in a group with Japan, Netherlands, and Nigeria.
There's been a lot of maturing on the team, along with some great additions. The goalie's have always been fantastic, with them coming from such notable clubs as Manchester United and having participated in multiple World Cups already. I'm sure many of you have heard of Landon Donovan, and he's come a long way. He passes the ball more and is less showy, which is good. Now I yell at my tv less. But then we've got Freddy Adu, who's helping the Under-23 team kick some Olympic ass. Demarcus Beasley, Bocanegra, Dempsy, Ching, Conrad, and Johnson have all come a long way since last World Cup.
So my hope is that in two years I'll be enjoying some fantastic World Cup play from a much more developed US team where they can finally reach the success the US Women's Team has been having for quite some time.
-Mike
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Turkey beat Czech Republic not Czechcolsolvackia (sp?) Czechcolsolvackia is no longer a country
By Mike on 06/16,2008, at 17:39
Your spelling is horrible, but your post made me want to watch soccer with you! :(
By James on 06/16,2008, at 19:49
STAY AWAY FROM MY CZECH HERITAGE WITH YOUR SPELLING!
By NOLANT on 06/18,2008, at 13:57
My beloved Italians beat the Frenchies and advanced to the knockout round, which excites me, however, I look at the pairings and our reward is a match with Spain...at least be beat the French, everyone should always beat the french, simply because they're french, but for some reason they're good at soccer, maybe b/c Coupet is a badass, I dunno, I do know that Paolo Maldini retired from international play (tear), passing the captainship of Italy to Alessanro Nesta...Nesta better rally the troops and beat Spain!
By justin on 06/19,2008, at 03:08
Always good to beat the Frenchies! Kind of a good rematch of the World Cup 2006 final, with a similar outcome! No headbutting this time, though. Spain and Italy should be a great game, I may be helping some friends move while it's happening though...
By Mike on 06/19,2008, at 13:30
Germany with an upset yesterday, it was a really fun game to watch, you gotta love the Germans, if for no other reason because they have a guy named Schweinsteiger, which is just too much fun to say.
By justin on 06/20,2008, at 05:16
Todays game was PHENOMENAL!!! Turkey vs. Croatia what a match, scoreless through 90 min. of time, incredible defense, so into extra time, in the 119th minute Croatia FINALLY breaks the deadlock and scores, which normally when you score in the 119th min. of a 120 min. game, it's over but in true Turkish fashion (at least this year) they somehow miraculously pull off a goal in the 120th minute, sending the game to PK's wherein, the Turks get the upset and move on to face Germany next week in their 1st ever Semi-Finals appearence. 3 come from behind last minute victories for Turkey. Now being half italian, I love my Italians, but Turkey is one helluva story, and it's becomming tough to not pull for them as the tourney progresses!
By justin on 06/21,2008, at 00:47
You make me said! Damn Germans, beating my beloved Portuguese. I didn't know how much of an upset that was though, the Germans were supposed to go very far in this tourney, and they've beaten Portugal in most of their recent matches.
And Turkey was a hell of a game to watch! I watched it with coworkers at WSU.
By Mike on 06/21,2008, at 21:27
Germany wins, on the back of Lahm, yay for Lahm, I like him, and of course SCHWEINSTEIGER scored a goal, his name is just so much fun to say...any bets for Spain tomorrow? Spain vs. Germany for the final?
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