When announcers make us laugh

There are certain disadvantages to watching soccer in English.  For example, I didn't know this brilliant commentary existed until reading the Dirty Tackle's interview with Teal Bunbury.

Here's that dance again:

Kits! Shiny!

After most major disasters, it's always interesting to see the different ways that people show their support. My favorite gesture was made by Valencia, who printed all the players names in Japanese for their game against Sevilla.

Source: Uni Watch, Yahoo Sports

Also, check out Brasil's all black kit. They will be like ninjas! The Beautiful Gear blog (which is a beautiful, beautiful blog) has me really excited about all the new national kits. I might actually buy the new USMNT third kit. The red base is really striking, I can't wait to see them in action against Argentina on Saturday.

Who to cheer for: USA or Brasil?

I've been asking my friends recently who they would choose to cheer for if their favorite teams (usually from different leagues) played each other.  If the USMNT  played Arsenal, who would Brewster choose?  If Tottenham played Barcelona, who would Diego choose?  When the US plays Brazil, who do I choose?

To most Americans, this would be an easy question to answer: support your home country.  But for me it wasn't so clear cut.  I didn't really start watching soccer until the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.  It was perfectly timed because I could sleep most the day and watch the games live during the wee small hours. But then Germany knocked USA out and Brazil went on to win it all.  They were a beautiful, unstoppable team; Ronaldo won the Golden Boot and Ronaldinho was just beginning to shine.

Then I went to college, and other than a few Notre Dame games (our women's team won the NCAA championship while I was there), I really didn't have much exposure to the sport.  That all changed when I started learning Portuguese. As it would happen, the only thing that some Brazilians talk about is futebol.  Still, I might have remained a USMNT supporter if not for my stay Maceió, Brazil occuring at the same time as the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.  Brazil beat arch-rivals Argentina to win it, and the whole country seemed to celebrate go nuts.

After that trip I began to follow soccer a bit closer, attempting to keep track of where the Brazilians were scattered and how they fared in club play.  Robinho was my favorite, but I expected big things from Kaká too.  I was at a wedding during the 2006 World Cup game when they lost to France in the quarterfinals, and I think it ruined the reception for me.  I let soccer slip back to being slightly less important than hockey and enjoyed the Detroit Tigers' World Series run.

Outside the odd international friendly, I haven't watched my two favorite national teams play each other since I became a fan.  Though they could've potentially met in the semifinals at the 2010 World Cup, both US and Brazil were eliminated earlier in the knockout stage.

So I'm left asking: who will I cheer for when it matters?

Fortunately for the Yanks, the United States Mens National Team has this guy:

No, not that guy, and not the one on the left either.  In 2010, Brazilian-born Benny Feilhaber made his first World Cup appearance. And that, as they say, has made all the difference. 

Bradley to AV. They can use him.

I know that Aston Villa just picked up Darren Bent (unfortunately for the Citizens), but the Villains, who have never been relegated from the Premier League aren't out of the danger zone. As Americans have been proving effective this month, I think that Bradley might be the extra spark to keep the Villains safe for one more year. Plus it's nice to watch guys from the USMNT in a league that actually gets some air time. 

Source: USA midfielder Michael Bradley loaned to Villa - ESPN Soccernet

Road trip Nashville, anyone?

The US Men's National Soccer Team (USMNT) is hosting two games in March, the first on March 26th against Argentina at the Meadowlands and the second on March 29 against Paraguay in Nashville, TN. While watching the Yankees possibly not lose to Argentina would be amazing, Nashville is only three and a half hours away. Tickets go on sale 1/21/11, so let's try to get a group confirmed by the 19th or so.


(Tempting as the $150 on-field seats are (and the opportunity to keep the chair), ticket prices actually start at $20.)

Game v. South Africa

U.S. Soccer Mens team against South Africa:

22 Agbossoumonde, Gale

17 Agudelo, Juan
7 Bedoya, Alejandro
6 Borchers, Nat
12 Bornstein, Jonathan
9 Bunbury, Teal
16 Carroll, Brian
23 Cervi, Dominic
14 Diskerud, Mikkel
20 Findley, Robbie
11 Gaven, Eddie
21 Goodson, Clarence
18 Guzan, Brad
13 Lichaj, Eric
15 Pause, Logan
5 Ream, Tim
8 Rogers, Robbie
2 Spector, Jonathan

Who are these guys? They look really young. I recognize some of them from the World Cup, others from the USMNT blog, but still.

Here are some handy facts about today's game and the Nelson Mandela Challenge.

International Soccer Friendlies

Who's ready for some more international football? With Bob Bradley still at the head of the US Men's National Team, I'm pretty excited about our upcoming games:

The U.S. first takes on Poland at Chicago’s Soldier Field on Sat., Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. CT, with the match to be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision. Three days later, the U.S. will host South American rivals Colombia on Oct. 12 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. Kickoff for the USA’s first match on the Chester waterfront is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Galavision. Fans can follow both matches live online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and at twitter.com/ussoccer. 

US Team (club team):

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Étienne), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), Jermaine Jones (FC Schalke), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)

Source: Bradley Names 20 Players for Upcoming Friendlies