Over at the RSL forum, there is a discussion about the US/Brazil game. While participating in this discussion, I thought it would be nice if the US was able to get Brazil to come here very year for a friendly, which would give the USMNT some good competition with the goal of the US being able to eventually "own" Brazil in the same way that we "own" Mexico. Unfortunately, you need a reason for a yearly visit, so while I was reflecting on this problem, I suddenly had an epiphany. What is something that the US and Brazil have in common? Mardi Gras/Carnevale is a good answer but not what I'm looking for. The US and Brazil has Pele in common. He played soccer in both countries, ergo, the USSF should try to get His Soccer Highness to sponsor a yearly friendly between the US and Brazil and he could call it the "Pele Cup". We could even put his likeness on the trophy. This may have already been suggested and if so, then what is the USSF waiting for? If not, hopefully, someone from the USSF reads this forum and can make it happen.
The problems might me scheduling and well Brazil wouldn't take it that seriously (see Past Confederation Cup, Gold Cup). It could work as an every year event if we switch the opponent up.
Well, there's your tourney, then...USA, Brazil, England and Italy. We can begin to own all 3 at once!!!
I second that, any US fan that doesn't hate Italy just as much as Mexico has their priorities all screwed up…..well, almost. Right....so how is it that we can 'own' Brazil.
Mexico just got to the semis of Copa America. Technically we do 'own them' head-to-head, but they have the better A team. Brazil? England? Boy, that sure is optimistic... let's work on making Ukraine and Turkey and Ghana and South Korea our bitches, then maybe we can talk about the next rung up the ladder. Generally I do like the idea... the better competition we face, the more we improve. But Brazil have a lot of countries wanting to host them, US is going to have to get in line unless we can really make it worth their while to show up on our soil 'every year'.
Why is that? I'm an Italian-American and I don't realize why you think they have to be mutually exclusive? What is it about supporting the US should make one hate the Azzurri?
Oh, really I dont know why, just dont like them. But before you read what I say below, let me warn you it has nothing to do with being from Italian decent but rather what was done by people who happen to be Italian. Maybe it has something to do with Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi's blatant elbow to the face of Brian McBride? It could be Giuseppe Rossi who was born and raised in Jersey. A traitor through and through; if I see him anywhere on my street I'm kicking his ass. …..and if I remember correctly(I think they may have changed their minds) for Perugia to even consider releasing Ajn Jung-hwan after his goal beat Italy in the 2002 World Cup shows no class at all. And generally speaking, they're cheats, they dive, they roll around on the ground whenever they are fouled more then any other team in the world and are crybabies.....…but please dont take anything literally, even my original post you replied to, it's just fun and games....I think
With scheduling, it would be tough, but I think certain years in the cycle it could happen, for example in the next WC cycle: 2011-post WC, pre Copa America 2012-post Copa America, pre-CONMEBOL qualfiers 2013 and 2014 are too busy with CONMEBOL qualifiers and WC prep Staying with the hot women theme I would nominate Argentina as well. As an added bonus, it's easy to hate them as a team too. Schedule games when clubs have a break for Euro quals: Thursday night: Argentina-USA Brazil-Mexico Sunday: Brazil-USA Argentina-Mexico Based upon the ticket prices from Sunday's game, I've got to believe there is enough money in this to make it worth everyone's time.
You better believe it!! My Wife is Sicilian and I am of Spanish decent so things can get pretty crazy between us….but anyway, yeah. A good idea for a tournament would be any we could play Italy in….
a good idea for a tournament is to bring back a modified version of the Nike U.S. Cup. for example: Group A: 1. HOST-USA 2. South America-Argentina 3. Asia-Japan 4. Africa/Europe-Germany Group B: 1. North America-Mexico 2. South America-Brazil 3. Asia/Europe-Italy 4. Africa-Nigeria *4 games total for each time. for the final you play who's opposite of you in the other group. *Call in the European team if the Euro Cup isn't going on or if you can get some good quality euro teams that didn't qualify for the tournament.
The Nike Cup format makes it more of a tournament, but it makes it much bigger and much harder to schedule with all the other tournaments/qualifiers/friendlies going on.