Scholarship table
Mostly Colombian crowd as expected. This game is gonna be so much fun.
I thought this was a really good read about youth development. It's insightful.http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/tds-qa-with-akron-coach-jared-embick_aid39134
I thought it was an interesting read, Hank. Thanks for providing.From my outsider's perspective, I have been hearing about U.S. soccer "getting ready to break out" or "coming of age" for four decades now. As a curious teen who was enthralled with sports superstars, I even watched a few Cosmos games during the Pele-Chignalia-Beckenbauer era. Forty years later, however, I see few signs that the "breakout" is imminent. Lots of American kids play, but the U.S. sports TV consumer doesn't appear to be buying into it ... and I don't know that he/she ever will.And then the national team shows up for a competition like this and doesn't even attempt a single shot toward the goal. And some apologists say, hey, it was expected, the team already accomplished what it needed to. All righty then ... if that's true, I admit I will never understand it.
The most frustrating thing is that Colombia was the better team for 40 minutes of that half. Except Cuadrado, man has he sucked this entire tournament. Maybe I'm over valuing him.
Firstly, the television numbers for World Cup (men or women) viewing are excellent. The US-Argentina game on Tuesday had eight million viewers in this country.Secondly, you admittedly know nothing about the game yet feel fine passing judgment. Did you know the US was missing three of their regular starters in an 11 man squad? Do you fully comprehend just how elite Argentina is in the world of soccer? Do you fully appreciate the greatness that is Lionel Messi? Do you know that Ecuador, the team the US beat in the Quarterfinal, is leading the World Cup qualification in South America for the 2018 tournament? Of course not. Thirdly, where were you when the United States systematically destroyed Costa Rica, a country who reached the Quarterfinal of the 2014 World Cup, scoring four times on 10 shots? Certainly not asking questions here. In fact, the only time you've popped in is to ask questions about fans fighting or writing mocking words about the US losing.Finally, you're well off the mark calling me an apologist of US soccer. Prior to the tournament it was understood getting out of a group with the #3 team in the world, a Quarter-Finalist from the 2014 World Cup, and an edgy Paraguay team would be a positive. Winning an elimination game, which we haven't done since 2009, would be an accomplishment. So, yes, getting to the Semifinal was an achievement worth being happy about. But you don't get this because you know nothing.
Lots of American kids play, but the U.S. sports TV consumer doesn't appear to be buying into it ... and I don't know that he/she ever will.
You meaning the first half or the second half? If it's the former, I'd have to disagree. Chile's first 20 minutes they were rampant. Colombia was very, very good the last 15 minutes.If it's the latter, I'd agree. I thought Colombia was better on balance when they lost Sanchez and even though the game was open for much of the second half I didn't think Chile was exploiting the space like they did in the first.
The US sports consumers are definitely catching up. So is attendance at MLS games across the country. The TV viewership is increasing slowly, but its definitely on its way up.
It's not a top-4 sport or anything yet, but if you compare it to even the mid-90s, the growth of the sport over the past 20 years is astronomical. The MLS is drawing over 20,000 fans per game on average with Seattle drawing a mind-blowing 44,000+ per game. Before 1994, you had to fight to find the World Cup, now every WC game is broadcast, every game from the Euros, Gold Cup, Copa, and tons of friendlies and qualifiers. In addition to MLS, you can routinely find EPL, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, and Liga MX, in addition to all the Champions' League games.There's a long way to go, but anyone saying there hasn't been palpable growth since the 1970s simply isn't paying attention. I could easily see it settling in as a top-4 sport in another 20 years.
OK, wonderful.We're No. 31. Rah-rah-rah!See you in 2056. Maybe we'll be in the top 20 by then.
This is example 1 on the elitist snobbery that keeps casual fans from joining the conversation and becoming real fans. Whether MU82 is "educated" about the sport or not, he's here for the conversation...you don't have to talk to him as if he's some random idiot that wonder in out of the dark.
Solid post. I do want to point out though that the USA has won elimination games since 2009, but those have been Gold Cup matches, which are not always the greatest of competitions depending on the teams you face.And to add: FIFA rankings as of 6/2/16: USA 31Lose to #3 Colombia 2-0Beat #23 Costa Rica 4-0Beat #44 Paraguay 1-0Beat #13 Ecuador 2-1Lose to #1 Argentina 4-0
The only reason Chile had so many chances in the first 15 minutes is because Colombia was playing a stupidly high line trying to draw them offside. It burned then twice, the second time it also didn't help that Arias got shoved while trying to play the ball but didn't get any sort of call.How did that 2nd Sanchez yellow look on TV? From were I was sitting, it looked as though it was a terrible dive and it shouldn't have even been a foul, let alone a yellow.
So suddenly Jurgen Klinsmann seems to be the hot name in England. Heard last week that Jurgen was the odds on favorite (1/4 betting odds) to take over at Southampton, and while that hasn't happened yet, they are now saying he may be in the mix for the England job.As an American, I would like to endorse him for either job and would happily thank him for his service while I drove him to the airport.
Claude Puel was named Southampton manager.