I'm sure you mean Slovakia -- Slovenia will be a tad busy with Russia on the 14th. Anyway, I'm looking forward to both matches in November.
The '02 match was the one that Armas blew out his knee (I am not blaming Uruguay for that one) and the match the tipped Arena to go with Friedel over Keller. They were just as ghastly against Australia in the Oceania/COMMEBOL Five play-in in 2006. I see your point, but I still want nothing to do with them.
I don't understand the desire to play non-quailfiers. Those teams would be very likely to send a C team, w/ little motivation to play hard or well.
In some way I can agree--But as a man who saw that game in person, the Moroccans really were playing grassrolling, sad, negative football. The reason why we lost is because the US had no midfield cohesion, and it was plain to see that John O'Brien was a shadow of his former self. The Moroccans played solidly but never really showed up. The US, of course, looked abysmal. I'm just saying there is a case for playing non-qualifiers, but Morocco isn't the case. Far more impressive was the Netherlands and Jamaica non-Qualifiers in the 2002 Run-Up, both teams felt they deserved to be in the World Cup and played angry (Especially the Jamaicans, who nearly played dirty!).
any friendely, whethre the team is qualified or NOT qualified, will play with the emothinal and physical intensity you'd see in south africa... those are not do and die matches... more for looking at your guys, working on tactics... actual results are secondary
Probably because away against us they've been average. And forgive me for lobbing you all as the same but I actually meant away from South America.
I was holding off saying those things because I'm a diplomatic person, but you're right. Once again they have found themselves in 5th position and let's hope Costa Rica belts the ******** out of them.
Slovakia is rated by FIFA #33 Our first match in preparing for WC2010 will be on the 14th of November in Slovakia. Playing a team rated #33, and a team we should beat according to the FIFA ratings, might be a good warm up to the November 18th match in Belgium. A good opportunity for Bob Bradley to fiddle with the lineup and get a good look at some potential replacements for Gooch and Charlie. I'm sure Slovakia has a few players playing in the major football leagues in Europe, but I don't know, off hand who they are. I would be interested to know who their best players are, if anyone can clue me in. Thanks
Mexico plays 3 friendlies in the US in early May (7th, 10th, & 13th). Maybe we'll bring back the US Cup 4-team tournament and play some of the same teams Mexico is playing? Since SUM is responsible for the scheduling of Mexico games in the US, and they're partly responsible for scheduling the US games (I believe), seems like a possibility for some games against these National teams, if they'll already be here in the US.
Re: Slovakia is rated by FIFA #33 From what I can find, they also have three players starting regularly in the Bundesliga right now - Sestak at Bochum, Karhan at Mainz, and Mintal at Nuremberg - while Robert Vittek looks to be something of a rotational player at Lille in Ligue1.
S.U.M. (Soccer United Marketing). For a while now, all of Mexico's friendlies have been in the U.S. $$$ It hasn't seemed to hurt, financially at any rate, as there are clearly no shortage of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans living in the U.S. who are willing to spend their money on Mexico matches up here. http://web.sumworld.com/index.jsp
That would be awesome. A May mini-tournament would mimic a World Cup group, and we will already have a better send off than 2006. A May group with Mexico, a European team that didn't make it, and a South American team would be excellent preparation. Furthermore, a three game send off so early in May also gives the US the chance to play one or two friendlies in Europe before South Africa kicks off.
isn't early may to early based on the euros usa has in europe?? wolrd cup is june, and those dates have 3 weeks before the world cup??
FIFA.com now lists the 3/3 US v Netherlands friendly as being in Amsterdam. The very early reports had initially mentioned Eindhoven.
I was reading through the 2010 annual meeting book which includes the Federation's fiscal year 2011 budget information, the federation's fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31, and included in the budget infomration is the projected men's national team friendlies per month (page 64 of the PDF). The projected friendlies and whether they are home or away are: WC camp starts in May May @ home with projected attendance of 25,000 June @ home with projected attendance of 25,000 June away August @ home with projected attendance of 35,000 2 October friendlies away January 2011 at home with projected attendance of 10,000 (also a Jan camp is budgeted) 2 March 2011 friendlies away
So who do we have scheduled for friendlies before the WC? I know Netherlands away which is awesome, but the only other I know is El Salvador (and maybe Honduras). Didn't we learn that playing soft teams prior to the WC is not a good idea? The send off series in 06 was filled with cupcakes and the results showed it. I think I remember being beaten 2-0 by the Netherlands in 02. Better to lose to quality to prepare than beat teams you are clearly better than. Hopefully, we can schedule Russia, Ireland or other teams going to the WC.
Among the teams not going to the WC, quality opposition can still be found: Croatia, Russia, Czechs, Ireland, Scotland, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Tunisia and Costa Rica are all sides that could be used, IMO, to get a challenge.