Won't the tournament come during the end of Euro 2004 qualifying? In that case, we may see Portugal and Kazakhstan (the only two EUFA members not participating in qualifying) as the the European representatives. Sachin
I would love to see the Conf. Cup here in the U.S., but in regards to Euros wanting to take holiday over here, it's not as affordable as it used to be. Alot of Europeans don't come here just for the sake that they can go to Greece or Italy at half the price that it would be to go over to the U.S. Anyways, I hope we get this thing..that would be nice.
If you were referring to my post about "Euros" vacationing over in the States, I was referring to American Euopean-based players like Friedel, Keller, Sanneh etc. My understanding is that these guys do spend a substantial amount of time in the States during their off season, so in my opinion the location of the tourney in the States in June is not going to hurt the chances of the USMNT raising an A team for this tournament.
Considering the strength of the Euro against the dollar, I wouldn't be surprisng to see a flood of Europeans in the States during the next year.
yeah, but... At its debut it was $0.88 to the dollar, dropping to a low of $0.85 up to $1.01/02 and has been hovering around $.099 A $0.15 swing in six months is A LOT. For every Euro you gain $0.15 A $1,000 vacation is now $1500 cheaper than before, no to mention the economic profit of more money earned + less money spent = total savings.
Euro 2004 qualifying ends in October, 2003 (actually, November if you include the playoff round). The Confederations Cup would start one week after Matchday 7 of Euro 2004 qualifying, and would end more than two months before Matchday 8. http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/Euro2004/
The Gold Cup is being held July 12-27, 2003. No host as been determined as of yet. As mentioned, the Confed Cup is being held June 18-29, 2003. Qualified nations are: United States, France, Japan, Cameroon, Brazil and New Zealand. The educated guess would have another national team from the host confederation be invited to round out the numbers. I would imagine two different U.S. squads will compete, though some players might take part in both. It would be nice to see as close to an "A" team for the Confed Cup and a mixture of an "A/B" team for the Gold Cup.
No dude. I was giving you a hard time because of my stupidity in forgetting Colombia. I don't think the Gold Cup is as good as Copa America in terms of overall talent and competitivness of the matches and players. Now if we want to discuss (in another thread) the Gold Cup vs. the AFC or CAF Nations Cup...
Didn't Mexico and Honduras place 2nd and 3rd in the last Copa America? And Costa Rica played pretty good? The gap isn't as big as we think.
I agree that the gap isn't a big as we think, but the Copa America isn't taken as seriously by the CONMEBOL nations when it happens during WC qualifying.
And when it's being played in countries where the national coach is ... shot at, was it? Sorry, I don't remember exactly how threatened he was.
That was Diario, the Ecudoran coach. Not in Colombia. Every single faction declared a cease fire during the Copa America. As one paramilitary put it, "We are all too busy watching to be fighting." Sachin
I know, but I can't resist. So if the $1000 vacation is $1500 cheaper, then that must be that vacationing in the US costs -$500. In other words, FIFA must be paying people to come to the Confederations Cup, which would explain why it's broke.... Sorry, really. Guinho