If this should have been in an existing thread, I apologize. It's not my intention to get everyone up in arms, but according to this piece, Japan says they are cancelling the 2 friendlies in the US. The USSF says they don't know about that. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=258212&cc=5901
CNNSI is running the same story on their sports front page. I guess if they're going to cancel better that they do it now rather than at the last minute. At least it should be easier to come up with a replacement with a month and a half warning. Of course now the Japanese will be facing the wrath of Delta Blues, which might be more dangerous to them than any terrorist activity.
I would imagine that US Soccer would try and find a replacement for the US/Japan game. Either way, I'm spending 2 1/2 days in Seattle at the end of March. If there's no game, I'm sure I can find something to do!
Heh heh... I'm upset at Japan, but the real issue is USSF doing thier absolute level best to find a replacement. If they indeed try thier hardest, not just paying lip service to a search and can't find another team, so be it. Kevin
WRESTLEMANIA!!! (If there's no match, it'd be interesting and probably pretty fun to check it out IMO.) Kevin
well, if japan cancels on us... i'd imagine that uruguay might be willing to change the date they play and also move a couple of hours north of northern cali
"This game has not been canceled. The JFA has not told us about any plans to pull out of the games, and in all the quotes currently being attributed to the JFA, none of them say the team is not coming (but rather the report infers it). Thanks. U.S. Soccer Communications"
It should have said the reporter infers that Japan isn't coming. In any event, there should be a match there and it more than likely will be against Japan. Sachin
i saw an add for this game on espn2 during the woman's game tonight so the match will actualy be played
How to pressure JFA to change mind I sent the following fax to JFA president at fax 81-3-3476-2291 As a U.S. soccer supporter living in Japan I was looking forward with great anticipation to the March 29 friendly fixture between our two countries. It was with great shock that I learned of your intention to cancel this match. Please reconsider. The U.S. Soccer Federation says that it has received no request to cancel this match from the JFA yet. Your statement to the Japanese press “that it is not worth taking unnecessary risks” is understandable, given the current World circumstances. Yet thousands of Japanese fans are buying tickets to see Mr. Matsui debut for the MLB New York Yankees and American football, baseball and basketball games are still scheduled in Japan this year. Think of the message your cancellation will send and the damage it may cause for all sports played between our two countries." Here's what we do - The NFL, MLB and NBA have scheduled regular season and exhibition games in japan this year. We ask them to complain to their sponsoring counterparts in Japan who in turn grumble to the JFA who will then back down by Friday. Game on.
Japan's Iraqi connection From Fifa.com: TOKYO, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Japan kept it in the family when they unveiled Edu, the elder brother of coach Zico, as the new technical advisor to the national team on Monday. Edu, a former coach of Iraq and J-League club Kashima Antlers, will also become the chief scout for the Japan Football Association (JFA). Link: http://fifa.com/reuters/03-02/2003-02-17_51741_E.html
I blame Saddam for not complying with UN resolutions he agreed to in order for the world to stop it's previous major military action against him after he chose to invade Kuwait.
Does anybody know how long the USSF & JFA plan on keeping us (fans who have plans to be in Seattle for that weekend) in limbo?? As much as I want to go to Seattle, if there's no USMNT game on March 29 I have no reason to go & would like to get my $ back ( I know.....wishful thinking!). ANY chance the USSF would schedule another opponent?? Would seem like the "classy" thing to do, so that all the fans won't lose their money!! If anybody hears anything, please post ASAP, as I'm in limbo, wondering how long I should wait before I cancel my reservations. DAMN, Dubya & Saddam!!! Mostly, Saddam!!!!!! And DAMN the JFA, for being a bunch of "scared cats"!!!!!!!
Well, here's a quote from USSF which basically says nothing. "We have every intention of Japan honoring their contract and playing them as scheduled on March 29 in Seattle," said U.S. Soccer spokesperson Jim Moorhouse. Again, there is nothing that notes what JAPAN says about them showing up. I want to know what JAPAN'S FA is saying, not some speculation from USSF. How tough is it for our federation to get a solid quote from thiers and release it so we can stop wondering what is really going on?! Kevin
Here's another article that covers the subject: http://www.megasoccer.com/main/world/asi/j/feature/8261.html Kevin
Uhm, that article said nothing about USA/Japan. But this Reuters report does: Japanese FA upsets Americans over scrapped friendlies
Actually it did. Not anything concrete, but it was from the Japanese perspective and basically contradicted everything we've been fed from USSF. I thank you for your article also, that's more along the lines of what I've been looking for. So far USSF has basically said, "well, we still think they're coming." Despite the fact Japan had publicly stated otherwise. Now your article pretty much seals the coffin on any match with Japan IMO. My question is, why didn't (hasn't) USSF simply say (said) "the match with Japan is history, but we're attempting to schedule another team and we'll have a yes or no on the match happening by ??/??/2003?" It would have saved a lot of confusion and given us some idea of when a resolution (if any) would be forthcoming. The way they've handled it by simply denying anything is wrong and giving vague, misleading statements is completely bush-league, and has further eroded my trust in thier genuine interest for US Soccer fans. Kevin
Well said, Delta Blues, and you echo my sentiments exactly. The way that the USSF has handled this whole scenario is VERY bush league & makes me wonder about their concern & interest for the USMNT fan. I was willing to give the USSF the "benefit of the doubt" when it came to dealing with & communicating with the US fan because, after all, they are the head of the US soccer program, of which we're all a BIG fan of. But after this "fiasco" it seems I was wrong about the USSF's genuiness toward US fans. What a SHAME!!!!!!!!