Send-off Series for USMNT is set for late May

[tab5g]

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_280807.html


Send-Off Series for U.S. MNT to Include Stops in Nashville, Cleveland and East Hartford


CHICAGO (March 13, 2006) – The U.S. Men’s National Team’s three-game Send-Off Series prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup will begin at The Coliseum in Nashville, Tenn., on May 23, before continuing to Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 26, presented by Budweiser and concluding at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., on May 28.

The three U.S. opponents will be Morocco, Venezuela and Latvia, respectively, with all three matches kicking off at 7 p.m. ET live on ESPN2 and ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker. Telemundo will be broadcasting all three matches on tape delay.

[WALDO]

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_280807.html


Send-Off Series for U.S. MNT to Include Stops in Nashville, Cleveland and East Hartford


CHICAGO (March 13, 2006) – The U.S. Men’s National Team’s three-game Send-Off Series prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup will begin at The Coliseum in Nashville, Tenn., on May 23, before continuing to Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 26, presented by Budweiser and concluding at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., on May 28.

The three U.S. opponents will be Morocco, Venezuela and Latvia, respectively, with all three matches kicking off at 7 p.m. ET live on ESPN2 and ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker. Telemundo will be broadcasting all three matches on tape delay.Count me as a dissapointed fan. I was expecting better opposition. I don't mind the Morocco matchup, but playing one of the weakest S.A. teams and a weak, almost unheard of Europe team. This just flat out SUCKS!:(

[tab5g]

Count me as a dissapointed fan. I was expecting better opposition. I don't mind the Morocco matchup, but playing one of the weakest S.A. teams and a weak, almost unheard of Europe team. This just flat out SUCKS!:(

In the coming days I'm sure US Soccer will announce that the series has been cancelled, and the US will not be playing any May friendlies, but will go to the WC finals in June full of confidence gained from simple intra-squad scrimmages.

[CincoDmayo]

So where can I buy tickets for the Cleveland game? I could run to the game if I had to and im not going to miss my first live USMNT game for anything.

If someone can help me out thatd be great.

[tab5g]

So where can I buy tickets for the Cleveland game? I could run to the game if I had to and im not going to miss my first live USMNT game for anything.

If someone can help me out thatd be great.

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_280807.html --


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Tickets for each match go on-sale on Wednesday, March 22 at 10 a.m. local time at ussoccer.com and all local Ticketmaster outlets. Group tickets for 20 or more are available for each match, as well as on-field seats and a limited number of Ultimate Fan Tickets. More information is available at ussoccer.com or by calling 312-528-1290.
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[Bigrose30]

Count me as a dissapointed fan. I was expecting better opposition. I don't mind the Morocco matchup, but playing one of the weakest S.A. teams and a weak, almost unheard of Europe team. This just flat out SUCKS!:(


In the article, Bruce states that since the WC is in Europe, scheduling friendlies (in May) isn't easy to do.

Presumably, this is because no qualified teams are going to undertake the extra travel to play us. And the top unqualfied teams (read: European) will have plenty of good offers to play friendlies in Europe...sans travel.

The point is, it seems like it wasnt' easy to get a game at all...although I'm sure Panama and El Salvador were available...but do you really want to play them again?

We need games against decent, preferably unfamiliar opposition, and we got them.

I will be buying tickets to the final game, and hopefully the Cleveland game too, and I'm pumped.

[cleansheetbsc]

In the article, Bruce states that since the WC is in Europe, scheduling friendlies (in May) isn't easy to do.

Presumably, this is because no qualified teams are going to undertake the extra travel to play us. And the top unqualfied teams (read: European) will have plenty of good offers to play friendlies in Europe...sans travel.


That's too bad. But I'm suprised we couldn't get a bigger opponent from Europe once their season's end. I thought it was a natural for a team to come hear play a game and then have a week of gambling, drinking and whoring in Las Vegas or head to LA to kick off their holiday season.

Has the US $ strengthened on the Euro currency that it isn't the bargain that it was a few years ago?

[NBlue]

What is really unfortunate is that it is impossible to know whether the USSF screwed this up or not. It may well be that it was, simply, impossible to get better games as we could not get a better team to come here to play us. Or, it may well be that if we would have asked the right people in the right way we could have gotten a better match.

One thing, however, is clear -- Bruce wanted us to get the best competition we could for these friendlies but this was all we were able to get. Those who are laying the blame at BA's feet are misguided, I think. As to whether the USSF screwed this up, I wish we had more information to make a determination -- would certainly make a good Canales article.

[NBlue]

One other point of note is that even though we will not have an "official" friendly scheduled while we are in Germany, I have little doubt that we will have at least one scrimmage against a high quality opponent when we over there to get us set for the Czechs.

[Fussballman 7]

Any word on whether the USSF is going to send out a pre-sale password?

[afgrijselijkheid]

Count me as a dissapointed fan. I was expecting better opposition. I don't mind the Morocco matchup, but playing one of the weakest S.A. teams and a weak, almost unheard of Europe team. This just flat out SUCKS!:(


to be fair, latvia did make the euro2004 finals and put in top efforts against germany (draw) and the czechs (late goal loss) - they have several outstanding veteran players to contend with

[kylesoccer]

so can we get tickets through sams army or are we lumped in with the masses? any help would be great. I can't sit anywhere else except with the Army, that would be sacrificing too much fun and energy.

[Adam Zebrowski]

one the whole, these 3 matches should permit arena to play the entire 23 and get all the players good action, and be in a positive frame of mind...

without knowing who ussf attempted to schedule one can't be too overly critical....

[dfb547490]

One thing, however, is clear -- Bruce wanted us to get the best competition we could for these friendlies but this was all we were able to get. Those who are laying the blame at BA's feet are misguided, I think. As to whether the USSF screwed this up, I wish we had more information to make a determination -- would certainly make a good Canales article.

Agreed 100%

[tab5g]

What is really unfortunate is that it is impossible to know whether the USSF screwed this up or not. It may well be that it was, simply, impossible to get better games as we could not get a better team to come here to play us. Or, it may well be that if we would have asked the right people in the right way we could have gotten a better match.



since it is impossible to know, why even worry about it? or why lead people to assume the worst?

in my mind USSoccer did a great job of getting (at least) 3 games for the USMNT to play in June 2006. that's what's important here.

these May friendlies aren't their main focus. they are a nice send-off party that will get the fans behind the team and sell some tickets and show the game in some newish venues in traditionally ignored regions of the country.

sure it would have been great if each game was against the opponent of our choice, but that's not the deal here. enjoy these glorified scrimmages for what they are, and then be fully prepared to support the USMNT come June and July.

[TOTC]

Fark! Where's RFK??? Er, The Beat-Up Diamond? Or, FedEx Field???
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I believe we need a higher level of opponent than Morocco, Latvia, and Venezuela. We need Cameroon, Uruguay and Greece.

[Bigrose30]

Just be glad the Flats aren't what they used to be...maybe that's why Cleveland finally got a game...:rolleyes:

[Adam Zebrowski]

thought cleveland got the match so the soccer community can show they are worthy of a mls side...

on the whole, nashville and cleveland to expand the game to non-traditional venues gets hifh grades from me...

east coast brethren are withing driving distance of hartford

[blue32828]

Fark! Where's RFK??? Er, The Beat-Up Diamond? Or, FedEx Field???
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I believe we need a higher level of opponent than Morocco, Latvia, and Venezuela. We need Cameroon, Uruguay and Greece.


Agree with Venezuela & Latvia but Morocco is a quality opponent. They didn't lose a single game in World Cup qualifying. Their problem is that they can't score.

[kylesoccer]

thought cleveland got the match so the soccer community can show they are worthy of a mls side...

on the whole, nashville and cleveland to expand the game to non-traditional venues gets hifh grades from me...

east coast brethren are withing driving distance of hartford

nothing will beat the long weekend in hartford and sending our boys off to the cup again. all this info just seems to make everything a little bit closer.