So not much this week . . . if you can believe it (typed in my best Ian Darke voice), there's a whole pile of US Open Cup games and the return of regular MLS action before the US plays on Thursday. And that's not counting the other 15 final group games in the World Cup. MLS action this week (all times EDT): Wednesday 25 June Montreal at Vancouver, 10:00 Friday 27 June Toronto at New York, 8:00 Kansas City at Portland, 10:00 Saturday 28 June Seattle at DC United, 7:00 Philadelphia at New England, 7:30 Dallas at Columbus, 8:00 Vancouver at Colorado, 9:00 Salt Lake at Chivas USA, 10:30 Los Angeles at San Jose, 10:30 (NBCSN) Sunday 29 June Houston at Montreal, 4:30 As always, keep it friendly here in the neutral MLS Plus PBP thread.
How Orange County FC LA Rams of Anaheim, California, USA will disappoint me is the least of my soccer worries this week.
So, I'm trying to figure out how much better off -- concretely (believe me, I have no interest in contemplating the emotional difference) -- we'd be if that equalizer hadn't happened. As is: Win v GER, win the group, and avoid a meh Belgium Tie v Ger, qualify, and play a meh Belgium Lose v GER, but get in on goal difference, play a meh Belgium Lose v GER, and lose goal difference, go home. No equalizer: Win v GER, win the group and avoid a meh Belgium Tie v GER, qualify and play a meh Belgium Lose v GER, qualify and play a meh Belgium So, essentially, all that equalizer did was leave some chance of not qualifying from the Group of Death. That's a disappointment, for sure, but if ever the adage about "don't let your highs get too high, nor your lows too low" applied, it would seem to be here. Still. I'm pretty bummed. Stupid sport. Also, it seems somewhat important that a big Ghana win is more dangerous to us than a big Portugal win, and Muntari -- I think -- is out with two yellows.
Any time they show a clip from yesterday's game, I change the channel. ********. I'm not even going to be able to watch a replay of Jones's golazo unless we get through.
This field looks awful and there are 3 more games left. Seems every 2 group pairing has this except for Group G and Group H.
That's me this week. I took time off last week and was one of the best times away from the office ever! the week even seemed long.
I didn't list any of the Open Cup games - there are four MLS-MLS games and eight overall, all Tuesday-Wednesday.
Yeah, It is technically "winter" but this field is getting shredded and it is one of the main venues.