Nike Hope Solo & US Women's Team Commercials

Just giving the people what they want:

[VIDEO] Interesting Trick Play on Free Kick

The video of this interesting free kick suggests that it's from a college soccer match; however, considering the video has a May 3, 2011 date stamp, my guess is that's from a high school soccer match. If you have information on the teams involved in this match, please feel free to share it in the comments section. If not, just enjoy the trickery used in this free kick.

UPDATE:

Apparently this occurred in a match between Bryant and Conway High Schools in Arkansas.

Goodbye World Cup Finals 2010: Too Bad We Didn't Get to Host You

Today in Switzerland FIFA announced that Russia would be hosting the 2018 World Cup finals and Qatar would be hosting the 2022 World Cup finals. And with that announcement the dreams and hopes of millions of soccer fans in England and the United States were dashed. The hope of seeing World Cup finals soccer played in a stadium nearby was completely dashed for some and all but dashed for others.

That England had lost out to Russia is not that surprising. Russia's increasing sphere of influence has been increasing lately, and if England is not careful, the RPL could conceivably be a big adversary of the EPL by 2018. A certain segment of the modern Russian society has the kind of money to spend on football and footballers that the upper economic classes in England seem to lack. The increase in foreign investors in EPL highlights the monetary footballing imbalance between England and Russia.

While I don't believe FIFA when they talk about "legacy," the reality is that Russia is a prime market for "growing the game" and holding the finals there would smack of a certain post-Cold War symbolism. In reality though, I think selecting Russia was an easy way for FIFA to give England a figurative slap in the face. English football fans might not like to hear this, but FIFA thinks England has an overgrown sense of entitlement when it comes to the World's game - nobody is allowed to have a bigger sense of entitlement than FIFA, okay.

As for the 2022 World Cup finals, solely on paper, the United States looked like the front runner - a solid, though low profile, professional league; giant stadiums - several with retractable roofs; good transportation infrastructure, good lodging facilities, and sponsorship money galore. Maybe it was politics, maybe it was money, maybe it was this legacy thing, but FIFA went with Qatar over the United States. Qatar has wicked hot summers and is smaller than the state of Connecticut. Not sure what Qatar will do with all the necessary stadiums come mid-July 2022 - they say they'll dismantle them and ship them to smaller, poorer countries, but I got a bridge in Brooklyn I will do that with too.

The biggest loser when it comes to the 2022 World Cup finals is the fan. While Qatar might be small and probably somewhat easy to get around (so long as you don't break down in the desert) it's social environment is alien to a tournament that has witnessed Australians drinking a German restaurant dry. Not to mention that any homosexual soccer fans are essentially unwelcome since homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.

The only bright side - Football folks in England and the US won't feel dirty for spending the next few years in the same grimy bed with FIFA.


UPDATE: Video of Sepp Blatter & Jack Warner celebrating after announcement:

Landon Donovan and the Bejeweled Vuvuzela

So the Knock Out stage of South Africa 2010 ended on Tuesday, and despite the return of Major League Soccer and the US Open Cup, it seems many football fans are going into withdrawals since they no longer get to wake up early everyday to watch a couple World Cup finals matches. This is the perfect time then to highlight the new craze: Landon Donovan and the Bejeweled Vuvuzela!

Since returning to the United States after the US National Team got knocked out of the tournament, 2-1, by Ghana during the Knock Out stage, it seems like you cannot turn on a television in the United States without seeing . . . . .

Landon Donovan on The Early Show (okay, this was last week, but):



Landon Donovan on the David Letterman Show:



Landon Donovan on Live with Regis & Kelly (Who does this guy think he is? David Beckham?):



Landon Donovan on The Daily Show (with Bob Bradley):

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Landon Donovan & Bob Bradley
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

Meanwhile, it seems that people either love the vuvuzela or hate the vuvuzela, there isn't much of a middle ground. Getting into a detailed discussion on whether the vuvuzela is a good thing or a bad thing is to American soccer circles what discussing Democrats v. Republicans is to so-called "news" shows on radio and television. I want to avoid that, so instead, I present you with the crazy story of paying 17000 Euros for a vuvuzela - yes, you read right, 17000 Euros.

It seems somebody in Russia, with way too much money on his hands, bought a vuvuzela covered in white gold and diamonds from a goldsmith, with way too much time on his hands, in Linz, Austria. Apparently, the Russian intends on giving said bejeweled vuvazela to a South African business partner.

Here's the Reuter's piece on the bejewelled vuvuzela.

Finally, the US might be out of the World Cup finals, but - You're Welcome, World Cup

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
You're Welcome - World Cup
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

USA Finishes Atop Group C with 1-0 Victory over Algeria

That picture pretty much says it all, the smile on Landon Donovan's face, the look of stunned disbelief on Rais M'Bolhi's face. Landon Donovan scored an extra time goal to secure a US victory over Algeria, a victory that ensured that the US would advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup finals. Thanks to England's 1-0 victory over Slovenia, the US won Group C on goal differential, the first time the US has won their group since 1930, the first World Cup finals ever held.

As expected, this was not an easy victory over Algeria for the US. M'Bolhi, the top keeper in Bulgaria's top flight, proved a tough obstacle, surviving 9 other shots on goal by the US. Algeria employed a conservative style, looking to make something happen on the counter attack, but the US defense meshed at the right time and Tim Howard was only bothered by 4 shots on goal.

With a win, the US advanced no matter what happened in the England-Slovenia match.

In the 21st minute it appeared that the US might have picked up the game winner when Clint Dempsey put the ball past M'Bolhi, but the goal was disallowed by a controversial offsides call. Finally, the 90th minute came and, despite numerous chances for the US, the scoreline was 0-0, while England had maintained its 1-0 lead over Slovenia. Unless the US could find a way to get the ball past M'Bolhi, they would be packing their bags on Thursday and heading home. Then it happened:



I was watching the match at Nick's Place here in Houston and the place, which was packed, erupted when Donovan scored the goal. (Note that Nick's Place wasn't even home to any of the sponsored watch parties that were being held around the city.) It's hard to describe that kind of goal, that kind of event, to someone who doesn't watch soccer, but today numerous of causal sports fans around the United States finally experienced it first hand. New fans to the sport hugged, high fived, cheered, cried, laughed . . . Driving home, I was both shocked and pleased that the US victory was the main topic of discussion on all three AM sports talk stations in the Houston market.

While it might be tempting to write about what today's victory means for the long term future of the beautiful game in the United States, I'm not going to do that. I just want to sit back and enjoy what a great day this has been.

Up next, the US faces the second place winner from Group D on Saturday at 1:30 pm central time on ABC.

USA v. Algeria Preview & One Goal: The Road to South Africa

Today's the day, the day the US National Team finds out if it gets to stay a little longer in South Africa or if it is packing up its bags and coming home. Today's the day that the US National Team has to build on the success it has had in South Africa by picking up its first win of this year's World Cup finals. Today's the day that the US's defense needs to step up and ensure that they do not give up an early goal to Algeria.

With two draws in its past two matches the US holds its destiny in its hands, all it has to do is win today's match with Algeria to advance to the knockout stage. Yes, it is possible for the US to advance even if it picks up another draw, but most of the casual sports fans who have been sucked in by this US team have indicated to me that they really want a win, not another draw. Besides, if the US is serious about getting beyond the knockout stage, it would be a good idea to start winning now.

The good news is that since a win ensures survival, the US will start the match on the attack, and one thing we've seen over the past year or so is that when the US comes out with its attacking game, they tend to do pretty good. They do good because the US's attacking style usual limits the amount of time the ball spends near the US's net. We all know that the US's defense has been suspect, so the more its role is diminished, the better for the US.

Meanwhile, Algeria's odds of advancing are slim, but a win could possibly get them to the knockout stage. This means they'll come out on the attack too. Slovenia came out on the attack last Friday, and that resulted in two first half goals for Slovenia. That being said, the half-asleep US team we saw during the first half of the Slovenia match most likely will not be replicated today.

The 3-5-2 formation employed by Algeria could cause the US some trouble, but it can also be exploited by the US. The key to this match will be control of the midfield. While the US will, technically, be outnumbered in the midfield, it can rely on some help from Edson Buddle who has the speed to assist the top end of the midfield and close the gap with Jozy Altidore. Yes, since Robbie Findley is not available due to yellow card accumulation, I suspect that Buddle will get the start up top today. Meanwhile, Coach Bob Bradley should start Maurice Edu who, in Friday's match with Slovenia, showed he's capable of working in the midfield while assisting the defense when needed. Finally, when it comes to scoring, Altidore and Buddle can throw their size around when facing Algeria's three defenders.

The final key to this match is stamina. On Friday, we saw Slovenia worn down come the second half. The US was able to rely on its superior conditioning to come back from a two goal deficit and almost win that match. That being said, last year we saw the US wear itself down in the first half of the Confederations Cup final against Brazil, giving up a two goal lead. In recent matches it seems that the US has learned to pace themselves in the first half and Algeria isn't Brazil, so the US will likely outlast Algeria. If Algeria is losing pace to the US, the match could get chippy, like the second half against Slovenia did, increasing the potential number of set pieces for the US.

I expect the US to win this match by one goal, but it won't be easy. Algeria is no pushover, look at how they held England to a 0-0 draw last Friday. Of course, England looked to be sleep walking through that entire match, but still, Algeria is a competent team that still has a glimmer of hope at advancing.

To bide your time until the match starts, here's some video to watch, One Goal: The Road to South Africa:

Zygo Soccer Report No. 15

Time to talk about the World Cup finals in South Africa. This episode features the music of Eminem.

Episode 15 of The Zygo Soccer Report

The Zygo Soccer Report