http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...14/02/13/u-s-national-teams-news-and-notes-2/ Regarding the three send-off matches ... and the traditional pre-WC in-host-country scrimmage ...
Only 9 days out from the match against Ghana, I'm praying for no injuries. They'd have no time to recover.
Ukraine March 5th in Ukraine Mexico April 2nd in Phoenix May 27th match in Palo Alto (rumored) Early June match in New York (rumored) Nigeria, June 7th in Jacksonville (rumored)
Speaking of which Josh Deaver @JoshDeaver 8h FWIW: I just spoke to someone at Stanford University who told me the rumored #USMNT match on 05/27 will not be held at their stadium. Josh Deaver @JoshDeaver 5h #USMNT NorCal friendly on 05/27. Won't be at Stanford, O.co or AT&T Park. Spartan Stadium (SJSU) said, 'can't confirm or deny..stay tuned.'
Mexico has a busy schedule which may (or may not) provide some clues ... 02/04/2014Glendale USA-Mexico 28/05/2014Mexico City Mexico-Turkey 31/05/2014Arlington Mexico-Ecuador 03/06/2014Chicago Mexico-Bosnia and Herzegovina 06/06/2014Boston Mexico-Portugal
Would Candlestick still be available? Spartan Stadium has a plastic pitch, no sense in forcing a game there with the heightened risk of injury. Any idea why the no-go with Stanford?
Still waiting for the US schedule, but ... "Here’s a closer look at the schedule and teams in the “Road to Brazil” friendlies:" May 29 – Turkey vs. Honduras – RFK Stadium, Washington D.C. May 30 – Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Ivory Coast – TBA June 1 – Honduras vs. Israel – BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston June 3 – Greece vs. Nigeria – PPL Park, Chester, Pa. June 4 – Ivory Coast vs. El Salvador – Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas June 6 – Greece vs. Bolivia – Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J. June 7 – Spain vs. El Salvador – FedEx Field, Landover, Md. http://www.soccerbyives.net/2014/02/schedule-announced-friendly.html
June 10th? The Portuguese sure are cutting it close for moving from New York to their base camp to prep for Germany on the 16th.
The rumor was that the top levels of the university administration vetoed the athletic department on holding a major stadium event on a weeknight during the academic term. Candlestick is still an operational venue. It's terrible, of course, but it's still expected to host a handful of events before demolition.
Hmmm...maybe kick off at 4? That way it's prime time on the east coast and wouldn't be going on after dark at Stanford. (The stadium isn't even that close to the dorms is it?) hey how about no PA announcements during the event? Buck Shaw has a beautiful field, just a rinky dink stadium. No way that could be a venue. I guess the USSF could always pay to put sod on the field at Spartan. Just seems like a lot of effort to put a game on in the Bay Area.
I would guess that 4 pm would have even more interference with academic activity than 7 pm. And 4 pm on a Tuesday isn't a particularly good time if they want fans to show up.
So did ESPN (ley) say before today's Ukraine match that 3 more USA friendlies would be announced on 3/6 to be played before Brazil?
They are going to confirm (on 3/6 apparently) the 3 opponents for the "send-off series" in May/June. Early reports are it is a game in California (or somewhere on the West Coast) and then a game at RBA and a game on Jacksonville (rumored opponent of Nigeria).
http://www.soccerbyives.net/2014/03/report-azerbaijan-nigeria.html The U.S. Men’s National Team will take on Azerbajian, Turkey and Nigeria in their pre-World Cup send-off series, SI.com reported on Thursday.