Romania to play three matches in a USA tournament?

[RobtheAggie]

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpYjk0aWtjBF9TAzk1ODYzNTkwBHNlYwN0aA--?slug=reu-romaniafriendlies&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Romania will play Uruguay, Colombia and Northern Ireland in a friendly tournament in the United States between May 21 and 29, a Romanian Soccer Federation (FRF) official said on Wednesday.

"Romania will play one game in Los Angeles and the other two in Chicago," FRF general manager Ionut Lupescu told reporters.

Interesting that none of the matches are against the US. I wonder if any of these teams will play the USA?

[Shackleton]

How do we NOT get at least one of Romania, Colombia, or Uruguay?

BTW, will this "tournament" really draw anyone to watch? Seems odd that these four would hold a tournament in the USA.

[RobtheAggie]

BTW, will this "tournament" really draw anyone to watch? Seems odd that these four would hold a tournament in the USA.

I think that Romania and Northern Ireland might draw in Chicago. The LA game has me really confused. This makes me wonder if these will be doubleheaders with MLS matches, or will they be doubleheaders by themselves?

[dredgfan]

it make me wonder how these teams can come here to play each other but somehow US soccer, SUM, or whoever can't schedule anything.

[superdave]

We have other matches. :rolleyes:

The Fed gets their cut. Y'all can chill.

And I hope we can manage to be prepared without playing that awesome team from Northern Ireland.

[FC Tallavana]

Is it not possible that we will scrimmage one or two of these teams?

[Adam Zebrowski]

didn't northern ireland get a result with england...??

and of latvia or northern ireland, well, both aren't the elites of euro football

[Fussballman 7]

Yeah Northern Ireland beat England in WCQ.

[odsum25]

I doubt we'll be able to really guess what's going with this until an official announcement...Right now the Saudi's are claiming to play Romania on the 31st. It would be possible to get back to Europe for that, but I think it unlikely. Of course a tournament with Uruguay and Colombia involved would probably be more attractive to the Romanian team in preparation for Euro qualifiers.

[Zeppelin]

It's an ironic, Bruce Arena said recently, it's hard to get an opponent for friendly these days and there are 3 teams playing in our backyard and non of them will play the US ?

[Damon]

Rob - Any further info on the Chicago games? Venue, tix, etc.?
I'll assume that they'll play at a smaller venue, but I agree w/ another poster that the games will draw out the expats in the area.

[RobtheAggie]

Rob - Any further info on the Chicago games? Venue, tix, etc.?
I'll assume that they'll play at a smaller venue, but I agree w/ another poster that the games will draw out the expats in the area.
Unless these matches are played as double-headers together or with the Fire, I do not see how they will draw large crowds. The teams are not right for that.

Any idea if Bridgeview will be open around then? If so, I would bet the matches will be there.

[RobtheAggie]

According to Soccertravel.com
Colombia is playing Ecuador at the Meadowlands on 24 May. That is smack in the middle of this series? That is really odd.

http://www.soccertravel.com/search.php?which=nat&team=00860

Accodring to this:
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2006/03/07/1476842-ap.html

Uruguary will play "against Turkey on May 22 and Greece two days later in Los Angeles. The team than moves on to other friendlies against Serbia-Montenegro on May 27..."

So this now looks like there are at least 8 teams involved.
Romania
Northern Ireland
Colombia
Uruguary
Greece
Turkey
Serbia-Montenegro
Ecuador

[RobtheAggie]

Actually the Uruguary - S&M match will be in Belgrade on the 27th of May. That is a lot of travel.
http://www.persianleague.com/news/Morenews.cfm?News=2657

[ToonUSA]

The LA game will draw well. There is a very large Romanian immigrant population in the LA area. There also is probably a large Uruguayan contingent.

My Romanian source says the LA game will be played at the Coliseum and the 2 Chicago games will be played at Soldier Field.