Read in this morning's Wahl CNN/SI Column that our boys will be playing Sweden in January - any news on this ? They don't play their next UEFA qualifier until March, vs Bulgaria, so it's not like they'll need to bring their big guns for a big game.
Anybody know where this game would take place? Probably HDC, my guess, because the US will be training there in January.
If a Scandinavian team is coming across the Atlantic in January, you can bet your sweet a$$ it is going to be somewhere high profile, warm and sunny. Therefore the only places can be 1. Miami 2. LA (if the US and S. Korea are having camps there, this will be the location)
Sweden is playing Mexico in California on January 26. As of this point, I haven't heard a venue announced, but the Swedes have another game in California on the 30th against, at this point, unnamed opposition. With Mexico too, this is more preparation for the Hex, than buildup for Sweden. The domestic teams will all be in preseason training by that point, most club friendlies begin in February, so it'd more than likely be a domestic team. Rumor in the US schedule thread is that the US-Sweden match would be at HDC. If South Korea and Mexico are both there too, it wouldn't surprise me too much to see US-Sweden, US-South Korea, Mexico-Sweden, Mexico-Korea all at the HDC the last couple weeks in January.
Now that's what I'm talking about! No qualifiers out here but if this were the consolation, I wouldn't complain. All four teams advanced past the group stage, the US were quarterfinalists, Korea semifinalists... not a bad little mini-tournament at HDC. Add the U-20 qualifying and that's one hell of a January.
True, a very busy & interesting month of soccer at the HDC. My plan is to see USA-S. Korea (imagine how many Korean babes will be there...WOO), USA-Sweden & S. Korea-Mexico (MUST cheer for the Koreans). HOWEVER, I would trade ALL those matches at the HDC for just ONE USMNT WCQ!! All this friendlies lead me to believe that the USSF has NO plans to give the HDC a WCQ in 2005, unfortunately.
HOWEVER, I would trade ALL those matches at the HDC for just ONE USMNT WCQ!! All this friendlies lead me to believe that the USSF has NO plans to give the HDC a WCQ in 2005, unfortunately.[/QUOTE] I can't believe HDC didn't host a WCQ in the last round, but it should certainly get one (or two) in the next round. This is the premier soccer stadium in the US. Maybe we'll get the game against T&T, probably the only nation in the Hex without enough nationals in the LA-area to turn it into a road match for the US-MNT. Hosting matches at HDC, whether WCQ or friendlies, adds to the prestige of US Soccer in general. When I attended MLS Cup earlier this month, I was greeted by a fellow FulhamFC supporter, who had flown from England just for our little old league championship match and to see Home Depot. When he returned to London, I'm sure he sang the praises of American soccer based not only on the quality of the match, but also on the quality of the facility. I also attended the Denmark friendly earlier in '04. This was about as well- attended, if not better-attended, than the recent WCQ in C'bus. Moreover, the Galaxy draw better than anyone else in MLS. LA fans and HDC attendees should be rewarded with more games to attend. JMH(and self-interested)O.
arena always limits meaningful west coast matches due to the travel from europe.... adding three more time zones, just magnifies the jet lag
I suspect those who play against sweden, are those FROM MLS who'll play feb 9... given it's korea and sweden....getting these guys match fit is imperative, so we might not see much liberal subbing at all...