ESPN taking the Mexican Semi-final very seriously, they have a Pre-game Futbol Picante with people at the game, and they will have the regular Futbol Picante after the game, that is excellent coverage.
Well they hold the rights of the games here in Mexico, thats probably the only mexican football they show, so yeah, makes sense.
Yes I forgot about that The Stadium looks full, that got to help on the Concacaf champions average for 2010-2011. I know we all know (think) the draw was fixed, but (to me the ends justify the means) we can not argue that this CCL created more buzz (outside Mexico) than the past CCLs.
Does Monterrey just not know how to kill teams? Don't get me wrong, I'm happy Cruz Azul got out of the Tec with a 1-2 (emphasis on the 1), but it is telling that Monterrey has not scored more than 2 goals in ANY of its CCL games.
Any word on Concacaf making it a rule that there can no longer be an all mexican final in future CCLs If its true bullcrap!!!!!!!!!
With the progression of quality in MLS at least the probability is higher, but I still think more often than not we'll have an all Mexican final most years.
http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2319309,00.html is titled "Will destiny send RSL, Monterrey to CCL finals?"
I don't know if it will be an official rule but The Libertadores has a similar rule in which if there are two teams in the Final four from the same country they have to play each other. So it is not as much Bull crap as you say it is if they do make a rule. It is just about fairness in their eyes. (Keep in mind , I agree with you. I do not like rules like that.)
Libertadores is much more competitive. In the past years there have been Argie, Brazilian, and Ecuadorian champions. Concacaf is not competitive enough for such a rule. It would ruin the CCL. Mexican teams would know it doesn`t matter if they finish 1st or 2nd in group play if they are just going to be put right off the bat against each other starting the knockout rounds therefore lowering the level of play in the group stages. Mexican teams would be punished just for being the best in the knockout stages, while less talented teams are being rewarded in the knockout stages getting easier roads to the final.
True that, maybe in the future, but not now. I think that the unspoken rule that if 2 Mexican teams finish second they will be punished by concacaf fixing the draw is good enough for now. Is a win-win Mexican teams play each other meaning more excitement and bigger crowds for them, non Mexican teams can dream of making the final, meaning more excitement and bigger crowds for them. It hopefully pushes Mexican teams to take the group games a little more seriously and try to actually win their groups. That way Concacaf can not screw them over. Maybe at the end the fixing of the draw was not a bad thing.
Well, not for those who wanted to see an all-Mexican Final. Let's hope so. Well, it shouldn't take a CONCACAF bracket-fixing to make Mexican teams more motivated in the Group Stages. They should have been motivated out of pride. That being said, credit should be given to the Islanders and RSL for pulling the upsets that they did, which led to all of this.
I would hate any rule that wouldn't allow two teams from one country to make the final. If Mexico has two deserving teams in the final, so be it. I did like the all-MLS quarter final, though. MLS starting their season after the knockout rounds start puts them at a disadvantage, atleast one team made it to the semis and were more seasoned.
My guess/suggestion would be a more general, unspoken "if we can put teams from the same country against each other/on the same side of the bracket, we will." At least Mexican teams would openly know what's up: finish 2nd in your group, and you're getting a fellow Mexican opponent in the quarterfinals (as it pretty much has been, up to now).
Yes, it has been confirmed by Deportivo Saprissa itself. Also, CONCACAF's preview article for tomorrow's game is up, specifically talking about how RSL players are planning to adjust to the conditions at that stadium. And here's the latest edition of MLS's "Champions League 360": [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bMq4Lp3q7Q"]YouTube - Champions League 360 - Real Salt Lake - The Semifinals - Part 3[/ame]