The biggest event in sports today is not what you think. It's not an interleague match up, not a golf tournament or car race (if you count that as a sport) but a futbol match. USA vs. Mexico. Ask yourself this, since the fall of the CCCP is there a bigger rivalry for one of our national teams?
In the last decade the teams have developed a rivalry whereby the US' strong showing has helped deliver international respect for Sam's Army until the disappointment of World Cup 06 where they failed to escape the group stage. A win today secures a birth in the prestigious Confederations Cup which matches the top teams in each region. A win by the US makes a statement that Mexico is now the second team in the region it dominated for seemingly eternity.
Say what you will about soccer but this tournament has brought me back to the game. Last summer, I intently watched the world cup from opening kick to final head butt, however it didn't deliver me to my tv for the european or champions league games this fall.
3 weeks ago it all changed. I attended a Gold Cup doubleheader with my father in law. We watched Honduras upset Mexico and Panama choke away a game against Cuba. It was exciting, passionate, colorful and that was just the crowd. Since then I have been glued to my television watching all of the US games and some of the other games. I have also gotten into the final race of La Liga and the off season machinations of the european leagues, including the incrediple signing of Thierry Henry by Barcelona.
The game should be interesting. Both teams truly hate each other which is always a bonus, especially in a championship. The US is playing in the hostile territory of Chicago and is without 2 starters because of yellow and red cards issued in its last game. In this tournament the US has had a propensity for getting up early then giving up goals late. The first goal today will win. The US has transformed from a defensive oriented team that generates its opportunities from counter attacking breaks to a ball possession attacking scheme. They are vulnerable to Mexico's speed and flair which will test the shaky and young back line. Ultimately, it will be a battle of toughness, the US is in Mexico's head and will prevail.
US 2 Mexico 1
Side Notes:
Sometimes its just not your year. The yankees have done everything to find a way to lose in just about every close game. They are no longer the team taking advantage of the error and getting the sac fly but are making the error, walking in runs and striking out with men on third and less than two outs.
Great A Rod stat - 7 home runs in the ninth inning this year. can you say "opt out"
On Monday I had the opportunity to attend a Q&A with the man behind the greatest characters of my youth. Mr. Frank Oz. He was in Teaneck for a preview showing of his Death at a Funeral. The Q&A was interesting but paled in comparison to the joy of his movie. If you enjoy good comedy this is for you. Do not be frightened by the unknown actors or your xenophobic feelings about England and English comedy. The film centers around a family mourning at a funeral while trying to keep the dead man's skeletons in the closet. It compares favorably to the other comedies of this summer, including Knocked Up and is worth a full price fare.
At the same screening we saw "A Mighty Heart", the story of the search for kidnapped journalist Daniel Pearl. The magnificence of the movie is in telling a story for which we all already know the ending. The pace and tone of the movie displays via constant establishing shots of Karachi and the outlying areas gives a true sense of the chaos of the region and the hopelessness that breeds terrorism. Jolie is fantastic, powerful and still controlled. Like Sean Penn, her acting skills are sometimes obscured by her political activities. You will be hard pressed to find a better American actress working today. It is her Oscar to lose.
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3 comments:
Good read Five Foot Assassin.
Even before the championship game this weekend, just making the final four of this tournament improved the US FIFA ranking from 32 to 16. Winning it may vault us into the top ten, which after the debacle at the World Cup last summer would be an amazing turnaround.
As for the Yankee thing it is truly amazing how they can lose games this year, it is New York Jets-esque. A-Rod is still ridiculous though, and I know how much you hate him. Think about Saturday, he goes 4-6 with a 2B 3 runs scored a steal and the game tying homerun in the ninth only to have some nobody get a game winning hit in the 13th inning. Or how about 3 weeks ago when it looked like the Yankees were beginning to turn the tide, A-Rod homers off of the almost unhittable John Papelbon to win the game in the ninth in Fenway. Had a much maligned Red Sox player done that against Rivera in Yankee Stadium the Sawx would have went on a tear using the emotion of that victory. The Yankees don't seem to have that same fire.
Thanks for the review of the movies, I want to see both of them. I read about the Frank Oz movie and it seemed like a positively ludicrous and hilarious concept.
It's a great victory for Sam's Amry, great call on the final score by the way, but the FIFA rankings are a joke.
I like Tim Howard in goal and think he proved himself with Man United, but he's not the No. 1 keeper, Landon Donovan has proven that he can't play against talent not based on this side of the globe and I think this defense is suspectable to a great striker.
Hey, remember when the Yanks took two of three from the Mets and they were on the rise. The world was coming back to its rightful place and everything was alright in Mike Lupica's world?
Those were good times, weren't they Yankee Nation? Reality is a bitch and it really hurts when the Rockies are the ones that show it to you.
Sorry, it's not many times over the past 15 years that I've been able to smile like this.
tim howard is the best we have, hopefully the young defenders will get a lot of experience in copa america and be able to contribute as qualifying goes on, gooch has size but is lacking technically for a center back. Donovan's goal record is somewhat cheap considering how many have come on pks. Look for Feilhaber, Bradley, Dempsey, Clark and Mapp to anchor the team in the coming years. Im a big Justin Mapp fan.
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