Gold fever hits precocious USA (FIFA.com) Friday 18 July 2008 http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/news/newsid=827214.html#gold+fever+hits+precocious+usa -------- Scottish-born Stuart Holden of MLS champions Houston Dynamo, an option for Nowak in midfield, is anything but overawed by the opposition. "We have a good team," he said. "Everyone seems to be playing well and is in good form, and I really think that's going to help us as a team. I think we can compete with anyone. We're going into this tournament with the gold medal on our minds." -------- There's also this separate write-up from the AFP on how McBride decided to "un-retire" to play in the Olympics: McBride to lead US Olympic charge (AFP) Thursday 17 July 2008 http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/news/newsid=827152.html#mcbride+lead+us+olympic+charge -------- McBride, who scored 30 goals in 95 appearances for the USA, announced his retirement from international football after the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. He said his return for Olympic duty came about after some innocent joking around with West Ham defender Jonathan Spector and US U-23 assistant coach Lubos Kubik during the Premier League season. "Jonathan, as a joke, goes, 'Lubos, you know that Brian wants to play in the Olympics'," McBride told US Soccer's official website. "Lubos says, 'That'd be great'. "After a few more jokes I told him, you know, 'Don't joke around. I'd seriously consider it if you're serious.'" --------
"Despite missing out on the last Olympic finals four years ago in Athens, the Americans qualified for five straight tournaments between 1984 and 2000. Taking part in 13 previous Olympic finals, their best finish came in 2000 in Sydney when the side, led by Landon Donovan and Brad Friedel, only just missed out on a spot on the podium." Slightly factually inaccurate. The US won the silver medal at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, which has been recognized by both FIFA and the Olympic committee. Granted there were only 3 teams, and it was more of an exhibition, but we won silver (and bronze ) nonetheless.
What I really liked about the 1904 Olympics is that it included a "Tug of war" as an actual medal event. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:1904_tug_of_war.jpg
Back to the 2008 Olympics, looking at the draw, is it most likely that Brazil and Argentina will meet in the semi-finals? We have to win our group to avoid Argentina in the quarters, right? Any news on coverage of the Hong Kong tourney? I am looking forward to watching this team play.
I miss Field Day. There should be some sort of rec league set up for Tug of War. That would still be fun as hell today.
No kidding. Plenty of people gripe about his not having seen enough time with the senior team, but he just hasn't been healthy on a consistent basis to get the call ups. Isn't there also some funky deal in his contract with West Ham that he will only be released for official events?
Yes, if one assumes Argentina will win Group A. http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/standings/index.html http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/matches/kostage.html
Which would be a resonable assumption, correct? I just don't see how we are going to advance, unless we win our group, YMMV.
speaking of field day, the olympic committee should make the 3 legged race an event. That way, Abby could still still get a medal