My Summer Vacation At The World Cup

I made it back from Germany after two weeks of football, beer, sausage, and a few pretty darn good pretzels and all I can say is, "It was awesome!!!" Wow, what an experience. My favorite part was the three United States games that I got to see live. I have never been in that type of crazy soccer setting before and it beats anything we have, fan-wise in American sports. I wrote in my last post about how the US fans stood for the entire Italy game. Well, we repeated the act during the Ghana game. And, it wasn't just standing and clapping. There were chants going on the entire game (and a few pleads from the fans for a goal). The atmosphere was electric from an hour before the start of the game until well after it ended. Sure, there was disappointment on everyones' faces when the US didn't advance but that was outdone by the pure joy that everyone felt being in the atmosphere of the World Cup.

I must say that one thing I was really impressed with was the country of Germany and how they handled everything related to the World Cup. The logistics of handling such an event are mindboggling yet they had more brochures, more street signs, more signs at the train station, more everything, to just help people get around. I was worried about getting a train after the Italy game since we had to make it from Kaiserslautern to Heidelberg at 11PM at night and the regular schedule only had one train running after the game. No worries, they thought ahead and ran, I'm not kidding, about 7 extra trains, on 80 KM route just to get people home. The security outside the stadium was impressive. In Kaiserslautern, they had over 150 security lines to check people coming into the stadium! Elsewhere in the country from the hotels to the restaurants to the bars everyone was helpful in how to get around the country and experience it in the best way possible. I really appreciate how much work Germany put into organizing the World Cup and don't know if they could have done it any better.

As for the US squad, they had a tough time. I thought I'd take a moment and put down of my thoughts about some of the players:

Landon Donovan - a.k.a. The Invisible Man. Where was Landon? This guy had a breakout tournament during 2002 really putting his name on the map. But then, in 2006, everytime I saw someone handling the ball in the midfield it was Reyna. I truthfully don't know where he went, but I feel like his lack of time around the ball hurt our chances to get the ball in and around the goal.

D'Marcus Beasley - a.k.a. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. If Beasley never wears the colors of Team USA again I might be OK with that, then again, I might not. I don't get this guy. In the Ghana and Italy games most of the time I wasn't sure if Beasley knew he was on the field. Any time he got the ball he would either lose it, pass it back to the guy he got it from, or pass it to someone really close, never looking to do anything big with it. Then all-of-a-sudden you'd see him rush after a ball, tackle it from a defender, or take on three guys and get through them. Too inconsistent for me and just doesn't seem to have the fire to play the whole game with consistency.

Kasey Keller - Disappointing. Here was a goalie that I thought was solid, that I had seen make big saves in the past, and he just didn't have it. There are at least 2, if not 3, of the five goals that opponents scored (PK not included) that I feel Keller should have saved. For example, the first goal in the Ghana game. Sure the guy had a breakaway but that's a save that you need your goalie to make in the World Cup. Those are saves that help your team to advance. Is Keller losing a step with age? Maybe...

Eddie Pope - Done. Eddie Pope has seen his last action for Team USA. He was too slow to handle the teams during qualifying and he was too slow to handle the teams in the World Cup. Eddie Pope has had a long, and distinguished career for the US but it's time to move on. Fortunately, for us, we have a more than suitable replacement, my next player, Oguchi Onyewu.

Gooch - Fantastic. Wow, what a beast. It's too bad that the refs give out so many fouls just because one guy is bigger than another guy. That still doesn't stop Gooch from getting over guys for headers or moving guys out of the way on their way to goal. The foul that led to a PK in the Ghana game was a travesty but in no way overshadows the strong play from Onyewu throughout all three games. Watch out in 2006, he is going to be a great one.

Brian McBride - MFP. Most Frustrating Player. It was painful to watch a guy with absolutely no skills with the ball receive a pass and then have no idea what to do with it. How many times did he try that little chip pass in the Czech Republic game? Too many. How many times did he succeed with it? 0. He was just horrible. I watch these other teams and their forwards and realize why we only scored one goal (by a midfielder) in the three games.

Claudio Reyna - Solid. You may not agree with me, but I feel like Claudio had a solid WC. Yes, he got beat, and beat bad on the first goal in the Ghana game which led to his career-ending injury, in a roundabout way, but I liked that he constantly went to space in the middle of the field and gave the defensive backs and outside midfielders someone to feed the ball to. If only we had another center midfielder...Donovan??? Donovan???

Clint Dempsey - Superstar in the making. Clint had a great World Cup and at least he was able to finish off a ball in the box unlike some others mentioned above (see McBride). My buddy, Sean, mentioned that he liked Dempsey before the World Cup and he was right. Probably the best footwork of anyone on the squad and at least he was willing to take on a guy and beat him...On that point, why didn't we try to beat anyone on the dribble? Wow, that was frustrating. We would see a guy in front of us and automatically pass. We have to get better with out footwork so that we can beat at least one guy and open up more opportunities down the field!! But I digress, Clint, solid all around.

Others that I liked during the World Cup - Eddie Johnson (didn't get enough time on the field), Steve Cherundolo, and Jimmy Conrad

Others that I feel caused me undue stress during the World Cup - Bobby Convey (a great disappointment since I really liked him before the tourney) and Eddie Lewis

The USA drew a tough group, didn't play to their potential, and got beat. Like Bruce said we don't have a team that can compete and win the World Cup right now. But we're getting there. South Africa 2010 is less than four years away!

Go USA!

A World Cup Classic

I would write a longer entry but I am in Belgium and the keys on the keyboard are not where they are on an English keyboard so bear with me...

A classic...one for the ages...at least for US Soccer. The scoreboard had it as a tie but everyone in Fritz Walter Stadium on Saturday night knew who won the match between Italy and the US. Thats right. I wont discuss the first game against the Czechs. They beat us handily, we looked terrible, and thats that.

But last night we dominated and as much as I hate pointing at officials every once in a while you end up with a ref who uses his control of the game, or lack thereof, to influence the outcome. It happened last night and on a stage like the Weltmeistershaft (World Cup in Deutsch) it is the greatest of travesties. The Italian fans knew it too. Not a smile amongst the throngs of them after the game. They knew they were outplayed and snuck out with a point.

I think one of the most unbelievable parts of the evening were the US fans. Sure, there may only be 20,000 soccer fans in America but they were all there last night and in my area we stood and cheered the ENTIRE game. That does not happen in any American sport and it was outstanding. The only time I have ben a part of such enthusiasm like that in America was during my days at Notre Dame when the students would stand for the whole game. I am sure it was a great game on TV but to be there, truly awesome.

One more game left for me and I am hoping for a win and at least one goal scored by a US player before I leave. But I will have the memories of the Italy game for many years to come and wow, what a game!

Heading To Germany!!!

I know, I usually write about personal finance but for the next two weeks personal finance takes a break as I head to Germany for the World Cup! Can't wait to meet others from around the world, sample some great beer, and watch world class soccer. I'll try to blog from time-to-time as I find myself in an internet cafe. More personal finance blog entries to come but for now, GO USA!!!