Potential of Friendlies for 2006

[mickhayafe]

Does anyone think that the USMNT will play in L.A. for any friendlies next year? Is there any hope for us in So. Cal?

[amerifolklegend]

To be honest with you, I think LA is a perfect place to play warm-up friendlies. Play the real games that matter in places where we get a much bigger US percentage and play the warm up games in more patentially hostile environments like LA against some Central American teams. Plus it rewards those cities that have SSSs but shouldn't ever get a qualifier because of how terrible they are about getting US fans there.

[bigtoga]

I think our new stadium here in Dallas is perfect for a friendly or two :)

[Bruce S]

To be honest with you, I think LA is a perfect place to play warm-up friendlies. Play the real games that matter in places where we get a much bigger US percentage and play the warm up games in more patentially hostile environments like LA against some Central American teams. Plus it rewards those cities that have SSSs but shouldn't ever get a qualifier because of how terrible they are about getting US fans there.
no more cent american teams.We play them too much as it is.African and Euro teams please.

[amerifolklegend]

I think our new stadium here in Dallas is perfect for a friendly or two :)

So do I. For the same reasons as LA.

[mickhayafe]

no more cent american teams.We play them too much as it is.African and Euro teams please.

definitely, Italy - USA, I think would bring crowds just as big or bigger than Honduras - USA.

I think that I would make the trip to SLC and even Seattle, though, seeing as it will be the last chance I get to see them play in person for a long time. (oh, those "after mundial blues") ;)

[dfb547490]

To be honest with you, I think LA is a perfect place to play warm-up friendlies. Play the real games that matter in places where we get a much bigger US percentage and play the warm up games in more patentially hostile environments like LA against some Central American teams. Plus it rewards those cities that have SSSs but shouldn't ever get a qualifier because of how terrible they are about getting US fans there.

I do think the HDC should get a friendly or 2 because cities that build SSSs need to be rewarded with US games, but if we're looking to expose our boys to a hostile environment we're much better off doing it by playing Greece in Athens or Turkey in Istanbul than Honduras in LA.

[Dirt McGirt]

I think we owe England a return match and I bet Bruce will try and play in a couple more in Europe to get the boys ready for Germany.

[clubfoot]

I hope no one in the US gets any friendlies before next summer. The Nats need to be playing games in Europe. They have a problem winning over there and it will only get better with more experience.

[Liviu]

I'd like to see us play these kind of teams, all away:

Russia, France, Spain, Japan, Paraguay, Cameroon

[Dirt McGirt]

I'd like to see us play these kind of teams, all away:

Russia, France, Spain, Japan, Paraguay, CameroonI like that list.

I would like more hostile atmospheres like England or Ireland.

[Fires Of Fulham]

We need to face teams in Europe and Asia to get really prepared. The teams we should face are Sweden and Romania (even though they won't qualify) since we need to learn how to neutralize top level strikers besides Borgetti and Ruiz. It would be awesome to play Ukraine in Kiev also since perhaps we could even draw a small away crowd of Ukrainian descended Americans to travel there.

[Dirt McGirt]

I think trying to stop Rooney and Owen would be a good start.

[dfb547490]

I'd like to see:

Home - Brazil, Cameroon, Czech Republic, Ireland, Japan, Sweden, Portugal
Away - Germany (already scheduled), England, Greece, Turkey, Spain

[Dirt McGirt]

I'd like to see:

Home - Brazil, Cameroon, Czech Republic, Ireland, Japan, Sweden, Portugal
Away - Germany (already scheduled), England, Greece, Turkey, Spain
That's a grown ass mans schedule!

[Liviu]

The teams we should face are Sweden and Romania (even though they won't qualify)

Hey man, who said Romania won't qualify? :o Seriously though, I'm still holding out hope for them (was born there). They just beat the Czechs 2:0. In order for them to grab 2nd place behind Holland and force a playoff, they 1) need to win their last game away at Finland, which they should, and 2) the Czechs have to grab only 4 points from their last 3 games. They play at home vs Armenia, the Netherlands, and away at Finland. I could see them lose at home vs the Netherlands and take only a tie at Finland.

So, although highly unlikely, Romania can still qualify. :D

I'd love to see a U.S v Romania game again, but I don't think it would be the best preparation for WC '06. If they don't qualify, they won't put the best team on the field, and Romania gets VERY small crowds for international friendlies, making the European soil irrelevant.

[mickhayafe]

Hey man, who said Romania won't qualify? :o Seriously though, I'm still holding out hope for them (was born there).

where were you born? I spent two summers there in 90 and 92, then spent a year living in Brashov. I watched Romania put down the Czech's on Setanta home channel. By the end of the game I wanted to ring the anouncer's neck every time he mispronounced Constantsa :)

[IMOX77]

I like that list.

I would like more hostile atmospheres like England or Ireland.
or Italy in New York (If italians knew their world Cup team was coming for a friendly they would show up in major numbers). Any of those teams at Giants stadium would bring out great crowds.

[Dirt McGirt]

Mexico in LA @ the Rose Bowl.

[ciuperci]

Mexico in LA @ the Rose Bowl.
That would be more hostile than Azteca.

Or, how about U.S at Iran or North Korea? :D