Wild American Gooner

When Sports Are More Than Just Sports

Category Archives: Soccer


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Home Field Advantage

The World Cup began with a bang in yesterday’s opener. However, as many great aspects of the game as there were, Brazil vs. Croatia will likely be remembered outside of Brazil for all the wrong reasons. With the whole world watching, and with many people giving the sport attention for the first time in four years, Fred and referee Yuichi Nishimura gave soccer a bad name.

All the cynical viewers out there who criticize soccer for the flopping that goes on saw an egregious dive by Fred rewarded with the winner at the penalty spot. It’s a sad reality that such theatrics will mark the game of soccer at its biggest stage. But even though Fred should be heavily criticized for diving, the real problem here is that the referee felt he had to make that decision. With thousands of Brazilians around him, and millions more watching nearby, Nishimura was afraid to make the wrong call in this game. And that is a problem. Referees need to believe they are safe to make the correct call, even if they will be hated for it. As Croatia coach Niko Kovač pointed out, if the referees provide a home field advantage to the hosts, everyone else “better give it up and go home now.”

As far as the game itself, it was a pleasure to see Neymar step up when Brazil was struggling. He is ready to claim this World Cup as his own and everyone watching will be all the better for it. Going down a goal might ultimately do wonders for this Brazil team. It forced them to see that they need to be focused at at times. They will need to play their best throughout the tournament, and any lackadaisical play like that seen in the opening minutes will be punished by good teams like Croatia.

On that note, Croatia should be given a lot of credit for coming out on the front foot in this game. Many teams would have sat back and approached it much more cautiously. But it’s a credit to Kovač, that his team believed they could win this match. This performance should be an inspiration to all underdogs in this tournament. Nothing good will happen if you sit back against a team with the superior talent and the home field advantage. But if you attack, anything can happen. Croatia will feel aggrieved that they aren’t leaving Sao Paulo with a point, but they should take with them the belief that they are good enough to beat Mexico and Cameroon handily.

Now it is time for my predictions for today’s triple header of games.

Mexico 1 Cameroon 1

These two sides go into Group A with a lot of problems. For Mexico, 2013 was a disaster and coach Miguel Herrera has only made the atmosphere around El Tri slightly better since taking over. For Cameroon, many of the issues have been off the field, with the threat of a players’ strike overshadowing much of their preparation. I see this match starting slowly, with Mexico stymied going forward by Nicolas N’Koulou and his fellow defenders. Samuel Eto’o will strike first for Cameroon from the penalty spot. But a spirited Mexico will quickly find an equalizer through Andres Guardado. They will search for the winner but ultimately will fail to find it. Mexico’s main attacking threat will be on the left, with Guardado and Miguel Layun creating the chances. This might end up being the most exciting game of the day.

Spain 1 Netherlands 0

With all the hype that has been surrounding the rematch of the 2010 World Cup Final, there is little chance this game will live up to expectation. It will be a drab affair, with both teams afraid to lose knowing that the dangerous Chile side will likely top Australia later today. This Dutch side and the one that played Spain four years ago are entirely disparate. They are inexperienced at this level now, devoid of the leadership that Mark Van Bommel and Giovanni Van Brocnkhorst provided. As lethal as Robin Van Persie, Arjen Robben, and Wesley Sneijder can be, few would call them great leaders. As such, the Dutch will struggle for cohesion. The Spaniards will be patient, probing all match looking for space behind the backline. Early in the second half, a goal will come, with David Silva providing for Diego Costa. Once they find the goal, they will keep the ball, satisfied with the one goal lead. Some will call it boring, but Spain will play their game and leave with the three points.

Chile 4 Australia 0

This match will not be much of a contest. Alexis Sanchez’s dazzling form will see him score two and provide another. And Arturo Vidal’s mere presence on the field after injury concerns will inspire the Chileans to a romp over Australia. Jorge Valdivia will convert a third, and the fourth will be scored by Eduardo Vargas. It will be an attacking clinic for Chile, who should be aware that goal differential could be crucial in their efforts to qualify out of a tough Group B. The Socceroos are not ready for this World Cup, taking a very young squad and a manager who has yet to control the side in a competitive game. For the neutral observers who like seeing goals, this will be a fun game to watch.

Lastly, what an effort by the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. I don’t see a way back for Miami. Anyway, have a great day. And please comment and help spread word about my blog.


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You Broke My Heart, Cesc.

This hurts a lot. Cesc Fabregas was Arsenal. Even when he left, he was always a Gunner. While his exit back in 2011 was messy, there was some solace from knowing that he still loved the club that gave so much to him. Unlike Samir Nasri and Robin Van Persie, Fabregas departed with some dignity. He wasn’t leaving to win trophies necessarily. He was leaving to go home. And you can never fault someone for that.

But today, Cesc has left home to return to London. But not to his beloved Arsenal. He is going to Chelsea – the antithesis of Arsenal. Mourinho’s style of soccer will see the end of the Fabregas that grew up in La Masia and developed at Arsenal. Gone will be the beautiful, graceful player that we all love. In its place will be a shadow of our captain – a player no longer driven by love for his club but rather by greed.

To a certain extent, you can’t fault a player for wanting to win trophies. But Barcelona will always offer that. Even in a down period, a team with Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and a slew of other stars will compete for every trophy there is. I would argue that in the sense of potential to win trophies, Chelsea does not top Barcelona. So why is Fabregas leaving?

He is quoted today as saying: “I do feel that I have unfinished business in the Premier League and now is the right time to return. I considered all the other offers very carefully and I firmly believe that Chelsea is the best choice. They match my footballing ambitions with their hunger and desire to win trophies.”

So much about what he said there annoys me. For one, the unfinished business was at Arsenal. Winning anything at Chelsea will not complete anything he failed to do for the Gunners. And second, his saying the desire to win trophies drove this move is ridiculous. As I said above, Barcelona is still a top club. It seems that he is hiding his real reasons. I’d like to hear him speak about why his dream return to Barcelona didn’t work out. Was it because they lacked ambition? Or was it because he just wasn’t good enough to get in the side?

I won’t fault Arsene Wenger for not resigning Fabregas because clearly he has changed from the boy who loved his clubs for what they meant to him. But I will fault the man himself. You made the wrong choice, Cesc. You could have done great things for Arsenal, restoring them to the top of the Premier League. But instead, you were greedy.

I hope when Chelsea visits Arsenal next year, Fabregas sees the error of his ways. I don’t want the crowd to shower him in boos, because our former captain deserves better. But I hope nobody acknowledges him as a hero. Because this is not the same Cesc Fabregas that loved Arsenal and Barcelona. Goodbye, Cesc. You were once a hero of mine. But now, you are just another unlikable Jose Mourinho pawn. I don’t wish you luck. You made the wrong choice. And you just broke my heart.


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A Great Day for the Sports Fan

I don’t know if I’ve stopped smiling since I woke up. I swear I even heard Ian Darke’s melodious voice in my sleep last night. It’s finally here. In just a few short hours, all that will matter will be soccer. For a few hours each day, we can all sit back and watch the best theater there is.

My plan as far as content goes for the World Cup will be as follows. In the morning, I will post my predictions and preview and for that day’s games (see yesterday’s post for the Brazil-Croatia preview) hopefully by 9 or 10 a.m. eastern time. If I have time, I will write a second article in the evening after the games, offering my analysis on what has occurred. If I don’t have time, the analysis will accompany the next day’s morning predictions. I might add other content to these posts, but that is what you can expect going forward.

However, today is not only about soccer in the sports world. One of America’s best events, the U.S. Open, also begins today. I don’t claim to be the world’s biggest golf fan. Nor am I the best golfer for that matter. But there is something about the U.S. Open that gets me every year. It’s not that it makes for great television necessarily, or that it’s incredibly impressive athletically, but rather it’s the tradition involved and the grace with which the event is held that make it stand alone.

Golf won’t be my highest priority for the next few days, but I will make sure I don’t miss it. Especially if Phil Mickelson is in contention, the U.S. Open deserves attention for being such a classy event.

And that’s not all today. After you’ve had your fill of golf and soccer, we head to Miami for game 4 of the NBA Finals. Tonight could potentially mark the beginning of the end of the big 3 era in Miami should San Antonio pull out the win. For a 3-1 lead would be nearly insurmountable for the fragile Heat. If things don’t go their way early, LeBron might very well have to win tonight’s game on his own. His teammates have not been holding their weight lately, and it makes me wonder whether LeBron will look elsewhere sooner rather than later.

Tonight’s key for Miami has to be Chris Bosh. That he only touched the ball 12 times on the offensive end in Game 3 is an embarrassment for both the Heat organization and Bosh himself. Chris Bosh is a great player. There’s no doubt about that. But his legacy is on the line as this series winds down. He needs to show that he rightfully deserves to be mentioned alongside Lebron and Dwyane Wade as a lead in their story. Should he disappear again tonight, people might forever think of him as merely a sidekick. His contributions to the previous championships will be written out of the story and replaced with tales of the disappearing acts when his team needed him.

It is in the best interest for LeBron to get Bosh going early tonight. Because LeBron can’t win three games on his own. He can take over one or two more, sure. But not three. He needs his teammates to start playing like champions. And Chris Bosh is the key.

I’ll be at Fenway Park tonight to see the Red Sox take on Terry Francona and the Indians – if I’m lucky the Red Sox might score a run tonight – so I won’t have time to do analysis of the Brazil game until tomorrow. Have a great day watching sports, everyone. If ESPN doesn’t get turned off all day I won’t blame you. Enjoy it. I know I will.

Thanks for reading, and please offer your comments on NBA Finals, golf, or whatever else you find interesting.

 


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Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love you! Tomorrow!

Just thinkin’ about tomorrow

Clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow till’ there’s none…

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow

You’re only a day away!

I woke up this morning unable to get those age-old Annie lyrics out of my head. I’ve been singing them all morning. For indeed, tomorrow is only a day away. And tomorrow will be a great day. We are so close, everyone. The day we’ve been waiting for since 2010 is one night’s sleep away. And then when we wake up tomorrow, we will know that for 31 days, life will be great. Ah, the World Cup is near.

Today, I will choose my winners for the major awards at the World Cup.

Golden Ball

Lionel Messi will take his rightful place above the footballing world with a stellar performance at this year’s World Cup. While Argentina’s diminutive superstar might lose out on some goals due to Argentina’s other talent up front, his play will lead Argentina all the way to the final. Opponents will fear this Argentine frontline, and for good reason. All the doubters will be quieted after Messi’s opening match performance, and he will only continue to get better.

Golden Boot

Led by Edinson Cavani, another South American team will impress in Brazil. Everyone has been focusing on Luis Suarez and the potential impact he will have on this tournament. But when teams focus too much attention on Suarez, Cavani will be equally dangerous leading the Uruguay line. A run to the semifinals will give Cavani enough games to score 6 goals for the tournament. While Argentina will score the most goals, their totals will be spread among four star players, so I believe 6 will top the charts. A potential big money move out of the shadow of Zlatan Ibrahimovic could also motivate Cavani, as he looks to prove that he is one of the game’s best goalscorers.

Golden Glove

Manuel Neuer somehow manages to fly under the radar when people discuss the best international goalkeepers. After stepping in for an injured Rene Adler in South Africa in 2010, Neuer has continuously improved since then, leading Bayern Munich to the treble a year ago. His leadership at the back of a potentially shaky backline for the Germans will be vital, and Neuer will come up with the necessary big saves when called upon. He will also be eager to put the injury concerns about his shoulder behind him. Look for the big German shotstopper to impress in Brazil.

Best Young Player 

Paul Pogba will be a force in the middle of the French midfield. While I don’t think France will advance past the round of 16, Pogba’s performances will stand out enough to earn him this award. Few players possess his combination of speed and power from box to box. Alongside Blaise Matuidi and Yohan Cabaye, the French midfield trio will be among he tournament’s best. Pogba is also one of the most likely players to score the goal of the tournament. If you don’t watch much Serie A soccer, make sure to catch a France game to see Pogba play. Manchester United sure could use players like him.

Now, as I will do each day for the next month, I will offer my predictions for tomorrow’s game(s).

Brazil 3 Croatia 0 

Tomorrow’s opener will be much more than just a game to many around the world. The singing of the Brazilian national anthem will be a moment remembered for years to come. But once the pre-match festivities are out of the way, the Brazilians will be fired up and ready to play. Neymar is too much of a showman not to put one in the back of the net tomorrow. Marcelo will also score, and Fred will grab the third with a sitter produced by Neymar and Oscar. Not having Mario Mandzukic due to suspension is a big loss for Croatia, and as a result they will not have many chances. They will also miss the relief his hold up play provides after long spells of Brazilian possession. I don’t see Brazil losing this one.

Who do you think will win those awards? What’s your predicted outcome in tomorrow’s opener? Please comment! Have a great day, everyone.


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Some Thoughts on Arsenal, the World Cup, and the Red Sox

We’re almost there. Only two more days until the big day. Today I want to share a few thoughts on a couple different subjects. There will be some Arsenal, some World Cup and even a little Red Sox.

In the Arsenal calendar year, June might be among the most frustrating times to be a Gooner. The season is over, and the transfer market is open. Well, open for everyone else it seems. There are hundreds of silly transfer rumors every day that I try to avoid, but inevitably get carried up with. Just this morning, I’ve seen reports linking us with Bernard, Sami Khedira, Nigel De Jong and Steven Caulker among others.

Sometimes, these reports are so mouthwatering that I want to believe them. The Sami Khedira rumor in particular has me seeing trophies lining up before my eyes. And I find that one piece of information – in this case, that Özil is known to be close friends with Khedira – that makes me believe it might just happen. But on the other side of that, some rumors – like the Caulker one – are so strange that I fear another Park Chu-Young signing. Please, Arsene, don’t sign Steven Caulker.

Regardless of what I hope or fear, Arsenal will not be signing any of these players anytime soon. Recent history suggests the good ones will sign for Chelsea – Juan Mata and Eden Hazard were both heavily linked with Arsenal before opting for the Blues – and us Gooners can go back to waiting for Wenger to figure out his plans once the market price for everyone has gone up. Maybe he’ll splash some cash, or maybe he won’t. But I’m fairly confident that none of the big stars linked with Arsenal this month will sign anytime soon.

I wish I could stop reading those articles, but they’re the only Arsenal ‘news’ out there, so I can’t help myself. I end up driving myself crazy with nightmares of Cesc Fabregas wearing blue. But as long as we make it through June and July without any major letdowns, I have faith that this will be a good summer for Arsenal. Until then, all I can do is worry and hope.

Now, to Brazil. Many people ask me for whom I will be rooting once, in their words, “When the U.S. is out.” After I tell them off for their lack of patriotism, I usually stall long enough for them to express their views instead of pressing me for mine. By this point, most people change the conversation, and I am safe. Safe from having to declare my secondary fandom. It’s a complicated question for me. For while many of the people that ask me will be rooting for the countries rather than the players, I will be rooting for great soccer.

Great soccer comes from the best teams, and as a result, I want to see the best teams and the best players do well. I would rather see a semifinals with Brazil, Spain, Germany and Argentina than one with lesser teams on exciting runs, with the exception of the U.S. So while I like rooting for an underdog in some sports, the World Cup is not where I do that. I want the games to be close, but I want the best players to decide the games with moments of brilliance.

I guess if you are going to force my hand at naming a second team that I will cheer for, I might say Germany. They will have the most Arsenal players, and I have a bit of German blood, so they would be the natural choice. But even so, I can’t rule out rooting for another team against the Germans should I so choose. I also enjoy teams that attack more, so I want to see teams like Italy and Japan do well.

Lastly, I want to say a few words about the Red Sox. They are struggling right now. It seems every time they take a step forward, they leap back three. But while this team is frustrating, these players have earned my trust that they will fight out of the hole they are in. These are the same players that continuously stepped up for big moments last year, and I expect them to try and do the same again this summer. Dustin Pedroia will heat up, Jake Peavy will win a second game, and at some point, they will start to pull things together.

This team’s struggles have reinforced how spectacular a season last year was. Everything that needed to go right, did. Every time I see Daniel Nava strike out nowadays, I think back to the player he was a year ago, and how lucky we were to have him hitting as well as he did. I thus can’t be disappointed with this team, because they gave everything to the championship run and delivered. For the rest of the summer, I will patiently wait for them to turn things around. I know things are different this year without Jacoby Ellsbury. But this group of players and the manager have earned my trust for the considerable future. The Red Sox will figure it out.

Have a great day, and check back tomorrow for some final pre-World Cup thoughts. Leave any comments and give me feedback as I try to make this blog the best it can be. Thanks for reading.