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My predictions:
Costa Rica
Mexico
USA
Panama
The U.S. team might need to play at smaller venues in smaller compe ions to avoid further embarrassment
While Mexico sells out some of the largest stadiums in the United States, the U.S. men's team may want to stick with the smaller Major League Soccer venues.
WASHINGTON - It’s too bad the United States men’s national team is not playing in the Mexico-Guatemala undercard this weekend at the Meadowlands. Maybe an NFL stadium would actually be sold out to watch the Americans during this year's Gold Cup – even if all the fans are decked out in green.
The United States, the host nation, had dreadful attendance numbers during its three games in the opening round and has not yet sold out its quarterfinal match against Jamaica at RFK Stadium this Sunday. Mexico, meanwhile, has been packing venues throughout the nation.
"There are soccer fans in America, but it just depends which team they want to watch," U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "But it is a very interesting dynamic and I don't think that would happen anywhere else in the world. I can't picture it."
While Mexico has drawn an average of 62,708 fans to its games, the U.S. has only managed 25,350 per match. El Tri has a slight advantage because it played all three of its games at larger football stadiums while the U.S. played one at a Major League Soccer stadium. But the numbers wouldn’t have increased much for the Americans no matter where they played.
n the days leading to the United States’ final group game against Guadeloupe, LIVESTRONG Sporting Park employees in Kansas City were unsure if the game would even sell out just over 19,000 seats. Considering it was only the second soccer game ever played at the brand-new stadium and the first time the U.S. played in the Midwest in two years, there shouldn’t have been any question about whether fans would come.
Luckily for the U.S. team and CONCACAF, the fans did show up and provided a great atmosphere that wasn’t seen during its earlier games in Detroit and Tampa. That leaves the question of whether the U.S. team should even attempt to play at NFL stadiums for smaller tournaments in the future. It might be best to stick to MLS venues designed for soccer.
“It had a European atmosphere,” U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey said of LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, the home of Sporting KC of MLS. “The fans were close to things.”
Maybe fans should no longer put the United States and Mexico on the same level when it comes to games being played in the regional compe ion. If Mexico is Manchester United, then the U.S. is Dempsey’s Fulham. The reality is no one is going to care about the U.S. if the team isn’t winning in a tournament that features a team -Guadeloupe - that isn't even recognized by FIFA.
U.S. midfielder Sacha Kljestan pretty much summed up his team’s expectations of fan turnout in the Gold Cup when asked about playing at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park and responded, “Maybe it will become the new national team stadium.” He was talking about a stadium that holds just over 19,000 people, just to remind you.
Die-hard American fans are quick to snap at anyone who says they don't show up to games. But if you look at the matches that draw the most fans, you'll see at least half are there rooting for the other nation or a visiting star player. Look at Spain for example. When David Villa and his top-ranked squad played the U.S. at Gillette Stadium in a friendly earlier this month, you could see just as much red and yellow in the stands as red, white and blue.
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/66/un...ues-in-smaller
My predictions:
Costa Rica
Mexico
USA
Panama
I won't pick against the US because I'm a fan and that just feels like quitting, but I think thee's a good chance they lose.
Im a Mexico fan, but Im honestly not hating. Their offensive players are solid but theyre not close to the level of elite teams like say Brasil or Argentina...theyre not even that close to the level of Mexico's offensive players. Especially when it come's to pace and just simply being physically faster and quicker than their opponents. Like I said Mexico used to have the exact same problem when they were fielding players like Franco, Fonseca, Sabah, Bravo, Borgetti, etc that had no pace. These types of players struggle when a team plays them defensive and leave them with no space because they lack that speed and quickness...but excel when the opposing teams takes the initiative and leaves spaces for them to capitalize on, because they do posses some skill.
Thats why the USA is stuck right now and not making any progress. They need a new golden generation like what Mexico has now.
Am I the only one who has seen Mexican fans talk about this 'generation' being so great for some time now?
I've been saying this for some time. USSF has been horrible at scheduling matches, especially the big friendlies. I know the appeal of playing in New York against a team like Brazil (you get a bunch of Brazilians to attend) but it puts $$$ ahead of the development of our team.
Big matches that will draw big crowds should be played in Seattle. When we host Mexico, that is where we should play. For matches of less prominence, we should play in Portland, KC, Columbus, and even the Home Depot center. Soccer specific stadiums where we can generate a good crowd - not a half empty Ford Field.
Definitely agree with all this. Right now I think our most promising player is Holden, who was rated at the top of the EPL for midfielders before his injury (note, I'm not saying he is one of the best MF in EPL, there are certainly a number you'd take ahead of him - but he was rated at the top at the midway point and was included in one of the more respected Midseason Best XI squads).
I'm excited about our prospects with Lichaj and Chandler as wingbacks, and the combination of Holden and Bradley should be there in the CM for a long time - but outside of those positions (and our traditional strength at goalie) we don't have a lot of promising youngsters - especially not ones with world class pace. I fear Jamaica's speed in the match Sunday.
Got to disagree a little on this....I'm not in favor of having our European players have an even longer flight to the west coast for a friendly.
We didn't make up that name the media did. and they're known as the Golden Generation because they won the Under 17 World Cup.
Mexico allowed to replace suspended players.
I wish our players would get suspended so we could replace them.
Fair point.
Allowed by FIFA. CONCACAF hasn't approved of it yet.
Costa Rica v Honduras has been a good game so far.
1-1 2nd half
Costa Rica fails to go up.
That Honduran player fakes getting hit. I hate that trash. I wish he would get expelled.
Another player from Honduras faking a hit.
I just turned on the game. WTF happend?
Guate 1
Mex 0
Goal by the fish.
I missed it wtf happened?
Long pass to Ruiz, who was in the middle of two defenders. Talavera came out and Ruiz kicked it over him.
Yeah just saw the replay. Moreno ed that up.
They're going to bunker down the entire second half. this should be fun
TBH they bunkered most of that first half and still had better chances than Mexico on the counter.
Yea and we're only playing one striker. Need to put de nigris in for castro
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