David Beckham, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Landon Donovan, Brian Ching, Josmer Altidore, Maurice Edu... Those are just some very recognizable names in the MLS. But the United States football or soccer (it doesn't really matter to me) has much more than that if you're really interested in enjoying some local action while Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus and the rest of the European clubs are on their break.

Some people might not know but there is, besides the MLS, something called USL (United Soccer Leagues)  which is actually much older and in my opinion better organized than the MLS.

First of all you have a First Division and a Second Division. That by itself is already an advantage over the Major Soccer League. But the USL goes beyond that and offers a PDL (Premier Development League) where 67 amateur teams must have at least 3 players under 18 years old and a maximum of 8 players over 23 in their 26-man rosters. The USL also has a very strong Women's League.

I don't expect any football fan in the USA to abandon their European favourite teams and start cheering for the Atlanta Silverbacks, or Montreal Impact or even the soon-to-become-an-mls-team Seattle Sounders. But while we wait for the kick off in Europe I'd suggest you to at least try to find out if your city has a USL team (no matter in what category) and go there to watch them play.

Remember, the more we support football (or soccer) in the united States, and the more we tell our local radio and TV stations that we want some coverage, the more the sport will improve here.

As a new MLS Season begins, US Soccer Fans start to turn their attention to David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Gallardo, Cuauhtemoc Blanco but I went on a different road. 

Today I took a break from the testosterone of the English Premier League, the Spanish La Liga , the Italian Serie A  and avoided the MLS (for now) to spend my Saturday afternoon with 26 ladies. The USA Women’s Soccer Team. And even better, I got to talk to them and get OLE OLE an exclusive interview that shows how dedicated these women are to US Soccer and the evolution of the sport among women.

Living in the United States I hear a lot of non-sense bulky (sometimes obese) guys telling me that “soccer is for girls”. I think they are right. But we are not talking about the shallow 24-hour Barbie Girls, no sir… We are talking about elegant, talented, fast and tough, very tough superwomen.

I dare any of those guys to go in the air to dispute a header with Abby Wambach… Or to show their fancy footwork in front of defensive midfielder Shannon Boxx… Or yet, to go one-on-one against tough goalkeeper Hope Solo… I’d love to see that…

Anyway… I went to the team’s training session at the Home Depot Center here in California and watched the girls preparing for the Olympic Qualifying that will be played next month in Mexico.

After the practice I talked to former NCAA Champion for USC Amy Rodriguez, to 2004 Gold Medalist Shannon Boxx and to Swedish coach Pia Sundhage:

Amy Rodriguez (number 19 on the right)

Mano Gil: You were on the USC team that just won the NCAA Championship right? How was that?

Amy: Well, playing for USC in the NCAA, well… we were not among the top dogs we were kind of the underdogs in that situation so that was a unique experience, you know. We started from the very bottom and worked our way up and we actually worked very hard to get to the final four and basically busted it out. So, that experience I’ll never forget and I hope to use it here with the National Team.

You're one of the babies of the team, right? You’re only 21 so what do you remember from the former great Women’s National Teams?

Well yeah, I’m only 21, just turned 21, so yeah, I’m one of the babies here but there a few younger than me. I remember… well, the earliest moment or experience that I remember is the 1999 World Cup when it was at the Rose Bowl here in California. Since I’m from California I was able to go to the games. That was the first time I got interested, actually the first time I even knew what a World Cup was. In 99 I was….12? 12 years old? (laughs) Yeah, I was really young. For me it was great to see that. I had no idea that one day I would be here. I just remember watching them and thinking of how cool they were and I wanted their autographs, I wanted to be just like them. It’s unique you know? It’s very special to me to be able to be playing among these people that I once had their posters on my wall.

Shannon Boxx

Mano Gil: Did last year’s defeat to Brazil leave a sour taste? Was it something hard to swallow just like when Norway beat the US in the World Cup semifinals?

Boxx: No, it wasn’t. I think Brazil outplayed us that day. I think it was a tough game. We played with ten men (sic) for over 45 minutes but even before I got called out on that one, I think they were showing a lot more intensity than us. So I think that day they were better than us. That’s what it was. That’s how it happens with soccer.

And do you see the others countries evolving and improving their game?

Yes and that’s great. We were blessed that we started early in Women’s Soccer. We got support from our Federation and we were able to make this sport our job. And now other countries Federations like Brazil, like Germany, are investing in women soccer too. For me this is great. They look at us and they say “look how good they are and we want to be great too”. For me it’s just great to see women soccer develop everywhere.

Are we gonna see Shannon Boxx playing another World Cup?

You know what? I hope so. I’m gonna play until my body tells me I can’t play or someone takes my spot so I’m excited I’m having fun. I’m actually completely recovered from my knee injury. Pia has a passion to play soccer and it’s coming out on me.

And are you going to convince Kristine Lilly to come back?

Yes we are!!! For sure!!! That will be a plus

Pia Sundhage – Head Coach

Mano Gil: Women’s Soccer has developed Last world cup 120 teams played the qualifiers, 16 made it to the finals… Do you think that for the next World Cup it is time to raise the number to 24 teams?

Pia Sundhage: Well… yeah, I’ve been around Women’s Soccer and around FIFA people saying we need more teams. I’d say if you compare the level of 1991 to today so many things have happened I think it’s about time that we get more teams and make that tournament even bigger because the women’s game is improving everyday pretty much.

It’s well known that you’re a very competent coach, a great strategist but with Greg Ryan who is an excellent coach he had one defeat last year and his job was on the line. Do you worry about this pressure, this responsibility, this necessity to win?

No, no… because I get my energy from inspiration. This practice for instance, we didn’t win any game today but we won a lot of things on the field. We talked about the way we want to play, I saw a lot of smiles, I heard a lot of discussions. That’s the way to the next winning game, the way to the gold. That’s what counts It‘s goods to know where we’re going. Everybody wants the gold I want to win the next game and I want to win it in a certain way. It’s not just the about the three points. And if I don’t survive the Olympic Games I had a great time and I’ll have great thing to take back to Sweden or to whatever country I go to next.

 Mano Gil interviewing Amy Rodriguez

 

Abby Wambach signing a souvernir for a fan

Mas que 70mil personas en un estadio de futbol en los EEUU (el Super Bowl en el ultimo domingo tuve cerca de 71 mil personas). Un numero que ja es muy bueno y tornase mas impresionante cuando vemos que es un partido que no valia casi nada. Yo dijo CASI.

 

Un partido amigable entre los EEUU y Mexico. Amigable en el papel pero yo puedo arriscarme a decir que es como un Brasil X Argentina de proporciones mas pequenas.

 

El encuentro se pasó en Houston, Texas. Naturalmente muchos aficionados de Mexicos estuveram allá para apoyar su equipo pero tambien havia muchos rostos en azul y rojo apoyando el equipo de las barras y estrellas.

 

El partido fué interessante con jugadas um poco más duras, o que és tipico de una gran rivalidad, y 2 goles para cada lado.

  

Los dos equipos apresentaran problemas en sus defensas y los goles aconteceran en jugadas de cruzamiento en la area oposta.

 

Mexico no me impresinó mucho. A el equipo de Hugo Sanchez faltó organización en la media cancha y sentió la falta de un jugador para crear jugadas y controlar la pelota em mediocampo, como hacia Cuauhtémoc Blanco. Valla tuve una buena apresentacion y pruebó que estás listo para juga en el equipo mayor. Su primer tiempo fué muy bueno y en el segundo el fué replassado por Gio que no tuve mucho tiempo para mostrar todo su futbol.

  

En el lado de los EEUU la gran decepción fué la “Diva” Donovan. Un jugador que tiene talento  pero que frecuentemente no se encuentra en la cancha y no ayuda a su equipo. Pero por otro lado en la porteria ja podem estar seguros que la camiseta numero 1 es de Tim Howard y Jozy Altidore cada vez más tornase el goleador que los EEUU necessitan. El no tuve muchos momentos con la pelota en sus pies pero cuando la tuve fué un terror para la defense Mexicana.

  

El resultado de 2 a 2 fué justo y también um premio para a fantastica afficion que estuve en el Reliant Stadium en esta noche.

 

Y el “título” de “Rey de la CONCACAF” continua con los EEUU que ganó la Copa Concacaf el año pasado. Mexico vás a tener una otra oportunidad de recuperar ese “título” en las Eliminatorias para el Mundial en el proximo verano.

More than 70,000 people watching soccer at a Stadium in the United States (the Super Bowl XLII last Sunday had an attendance of 71,000). That number is already great and it can become even more amazing if we say that the game meant almost nothing. I said ALMOST.

 

It was a friendly match between USA and Mexico. A match that was officially called a friendly but in smaller proportions I’d risk to say that this rivalry could be compared to a Brazil X Argentina.

 

The game was in Houston, Texas. So it was only natural that a big part of the crowd was of Mexican supporters but I saw a lot more USA painted-faces than the usual.

 

The game itself was quite exciting. Typical of a great rivalry. Things heated up after a few rougher plays and 2 goals to each side.

 

Both teams showed weaknesses in their defenses and all the goals happened from crossing balls to the opponent box.

   

Mexico didn’t really impress me. The team showed lack of organization and missed a brain in the midfield to control the pace of the game, distribute the ball and create plays. That used to be Cuauhtémoc Blanco’s role and I didn’t see anybody doing it. The good thing was that Vella proved he’s ready to play for this team. He had a very good first half and left the field under the crowd’s ovation. Gio took his place and besides a few tricks and through balls attempts he didn’t have a lot of time to show more.

   

On the USA side the big deception was Donovan the Diva. A player with talent but who many times disappears in the game, hiding himself from action and not contributing to the team. But on the other hand I’d say goalkeeper Tim Howard is definitely the man for the number 1 jersey and Jozy Altidore is more and more becoming the striker everybody wants to see. Strong, efficient and never giving up a play. He didn’t have a lot of touches on the ball but when he did he bothered the Mexican defense.

  

The 2 x 2 score was fair and it was also a good price for the great crowd that was present at the Reliant Stadium this Wednesday night.

 

And for the “title” of “King of the CONCACAF”. It still belongs to the USA who won the CONCACAF Cup last year. Mexico will have another chance to claim the “title” in the World Cup Qualifying this summer.

After two weeks of games canceled we were excited to be able to play again on our CIF League. And the rain in Los Angeles decided to give us a break exactly to allow us to face our biggest rivals: Panorama High School.

***
 

Last season Panorama was the only team who really beat us severely with a sound 9 x 1 and when the 2007-2008 season started we had decided to focus our goal on them. We didn't even expect to beat them at first. We just wanted to play a better game against them. We wanted them to see that the result from last season didn't reflect our capacity.

 ***

Our first game against Panorama this season was really amazing. We were inspired and we managed to end with a 2 x 2 score which could've been different if the ball didn't insist on hitting the post or going just inches from their goal. We could've won and that was already more than enough to make us anxious to play them again.

***

Curiously that chance came on our following game. With four games canceled in a row we were to face Panorama once again. We got to the field early and we warmed-up properly this time (possibly for the first time this season).  Everybody already knew their positions. Everybody knew what we had to do.

 ***

The field was in a very poor condition because of the heavy rain that has fallen the past 5 days straight in LA. Mud, water puddles, holes, it all made the game a little bit ugly specially in the first half. But we got our first goal anyway. A ball that was kind of lost inside the small box found Jeanette to push it inside the net. We were up by one and in conditions like that, it means a lot.

***

I don't even remember how they tied the game but somehow they did. They are a respectable team and they know how to put up a good fight. But during the first half break I had told Kimberly and Jeanette that this was a good game for them. They had to use their skills and speed to put the ball in front of them and run… nobody would catch them. And I was right Jeanette had two more chances to score our second goal but the shot ended up in the goalkeeper's hands.

 ***

And then came the worst

 ***

I don't have enough words to describe Kimberly. She's is simply the best, most talented, intelligent and skilled female soccer player I have ever watched live in my life. Of course there is Mia Hamm, Marta, Bridgitte Prinz but I never saw those ladies playing live. But I SEE Kimberly. She can take on defenders as if they were just practice cones. She does what many boys her age cannot do. She still has a lot to learn,  but at the level she already is if we had WUSA scouts watching her play they would take her instantly.

 ***

You might think I'm exaggerating. "Oh, you're her coach", one might say. But remember that I am from Brazil. A country where 10-year old kids are taken to European teams to sign pre-contracts. I've played soccer my entire life in Brazil with and against all-level-of-skill players. I, myself, am not a bad player at all. I understand this game more than I understand anything in my life. I'm a very critical sports journalist. So I would never compliment a player so much if I wasn't sure about that player's talent.

 ***

Kimberly is simply stunning!

***
 

But as I mentioned above, the worst happened.

***
 

Ball on the left side of the field, Kimberly face to face with a defender she's dribbles her and a second defender comes like a train wreck and hits Kimberly's right leg; a nasty foul that sends Kimberly in the air. She falls hard on her right shoulder and doesn't get up. I'm all the way on the other side and as the referee doesn't either bother to show a yellow card to the defender I start rushing into the pitch. I knew something serious had happened. I make my way among a circle of players and I look at Kimberly. "Where does it hurt Kimmy?"  "My shoulder, I can't move", she cried.

 ***

I tried to have her stand up but she said it was too painful to walk. I carry her in my arms out of field already hoping that my players are strong enough to restart the game and continue playing with the same focus and determination.

 ***

I laid Kimberly on the bench and had Caesar,  my Athletic Director, help her. We still had a game to finish and now I really wanted to win!

 ***

I screamed my lungs off  telling the girls that we had to win this one for Kimmy. We had to play like never before. We only had 2 subs. Hilda and Paola. Two sisters who were new on the team and had never played soccer before they join the team. I bring Hilda in for Kimmy and she knows that all I want is that she plays as hard as she possibly can. I tell Jeanette – my other amazing striker who scored most of our goals this season – that the game is hers now. She had to really play everything she knew. 

 ***

Everybody was getting exhausted but, playing with all their hearts, our girls managed to score a second goal. Audelina – the engine – sends Jeanette on the right side. Maria – the brain of the midfield – runs in the middle and attracts the defense. Jeanette puts the ball in front of herself and shoots. We score. We are on the lead again.

 ***

But I got nervous when I realized that the other team would not go down without a fight. My girls were tired. We lack practice, we lack tactical drills. We lack support from the school.

 ***

Our opponent knows how important Kimberly is for the team. Right now she is at an ambulance on her way to a hospital. I'm trying to focus on the game and I tell the girls that we have to keep the ball away from our defense at all costs and we tried. But they came strong on us. The second goal came, and five minutes before the final whistle they scored the third goal.

 ***

Game was over. I was crying, my team was crying, the other team was celebrating. Then I realized that even though we didn't win, we had now become a respectful team. Our opponent knew that. They knew the game could've turned our way. They knew that if we had Kimberly on the field they might not have the chance to move up so many players to attack us. They respect us now.

 ***

As for our team… we are sad, very sad. We are also frustrated to see that no matter how much leadership we learn, how much academic improvement the soccer team causes, how much commitment, discipline, dedication these teenagers learn, the direction of the school does not show the necessary support. We have a good AD who wants to help but there is a wall blocking us to achieve further success. No transportation, a practice field that is far for all of the players to get to, no soccer balls for practice.

 ***

The mentality of "College Ready, College Bond" is great and it could be a lot better if they could understand that the Athletic Department plays a huge role in stimulating the kids to improve their Academic Performance. And it has. Players with ridiculously low GPAs had improved their grades so much that now they are safely on the first team (the CIF demands players with a minimum 2.0 GPA). Even the players who couldn't continue on the team due to low grades managed to bring their GPA up from 0.5 to 1.8.

 ***

I love my team. And that's why this is my last season coaching Camino Nuevo HS. The reason is that I wanted to continue with this group and more than half of them are graduating. We are already creating our own soccer club and I know we are going to be very successful.

***

We are not simply a soccer team anymore. We take care of each other. We are a family!

Kimberly (number 6 in black jersey) about to leave defenders in the dust

 

If you walk around almost every lower class neighborhood in Los Angeles (and I imagine that this might happen in many other big cities in the USA) you will see a soccer field or a park with kids and teenagers of different backgrounds playing soccer.

As right now I'm still recovering from my ACL surgery all I can do is sit and watch them play. But standing by the side-line it's possible to see a lot of talented young teens that could've already been scouted by the MLS teams but that's something you can forget about.

The 2008 season is going to start in March and on the MLS Official Website one can already find news about the College draft that will give the teams  the chance to pick the new talents from Universities from all over the country. I've always admired this school-oriented way that the American sports have to stimulate the students/athletes to pursuit their dreams while studying. I wish I had that chance when I was younger BUT I also believe that it would be a great advantadge for the league and for the evolution of soccer in the US to have a stronger scouting program.

The teams do promote tryouts but what kid, from Compton, Inglewood, Echo Park, South Central... will pay about $150 bucks for ONE day of tryouts???

Most of these talented kids that I've seen have hispanic backgrounds and are not even legal in the country. They come here with their parents to work VERY hard to give their family a better opportunity and they play an important role in the American society and economy.

And what is the most important for our subject here: THEY LOVE SOCCER!!!

So, why can't the MLS Teams get out of their comfortable zone and send some scouts out there. Make them go to the ghettos, (not only to the fancy suburbs) and bring some more passion into the league?

It's just an idea... What do you think?

Anyway... I'll get back to this subject soon!   

Well, what is there to say about Paraguay vs. USA?

The old saying once again stands: if you don't transform your oppotunities in goals sooner or later your opponent will...

The young american team definetely put up a fight and play as hard as they could BUT THEY SIMPLY CAN'T SCORE... The last pass, the last shot, the decisive moment... that's when we see the USA fall before more efficient teams.

Not much to say after all...

Paraguay played the ball very well, made the ball run and was awarded for being more efficient...

Soccer is quality, not quantity...

And the decision of the group C tends to be between Paraguay and Argentina after all...

GAME PROFILE:

 

 

 See ya soon ...

Well, well, well... it seems my crystal is back to work ... I predicted the socre and I got it right... but that isn't really the most important let's actually talk about the game...

It was really surprising when within 8 minutes of the first half the USA "B" team opened the score in a penalty kick by Eddie Johnson... I honestly didn't even have time to break a sweat: 1 minute later Hernan Crespo tied the game and the American Dream (of beating Argentina) was over.

Nothing very interesting really happened on the first half until Veron forced Keller to make an amazing saving by the end of the half...

End of first half: ARGENTINA "A" 1 X 1 USA "B" (and Bob Bradley probably went to the locker room happy... if only he knew)


The second half starts with Argentina prepraring the ground for what I like to call the "killer bee attack". Even though Messi seemed lost on the field he started the play to Riquelme that would deliver the ball to Crespo whom in a good diagonal shot, scored the second goal on the minute 18.

"Killer bee attack" was about to start. Pablo Aimar took Cambiasso's place and Carlos Tevez came in for Messi (who didn't really play well). The substitutions were the catalyst for the massacre!!!

Naturally, as if they were playing a pick up game on a sunday afternoon, Pablo Aimar and Carlos Tevez scored the goals that made my prediction absolutely correct... "killer bee attack" was quick, efficient and lethal.

It really pays off to have a Riquelme on the team, doesn't it?



Final Score: ARGENTINA 4 X 1 USA




Maradona was happy on the stands of the stadium.

Too bad Mr. Bob Bradley decided to spare the best American players... to play in the MLS (???) ...
Does Argentina care about that??? I don't think so...



In time:

*Even with the 3 goals difference today Argentina will have to wait until next game to try to get the first place in the group after Roque Santa Cruz and Cabanas gave Paraguay a sound 5 X 0 victory over Colombia.

 

'NEXT GAME --> Venezuela vs. Peru

 Peru beats Venezuela 3 X 1 ... that's my prediction




See you all tomorrow