Official England/US Football (Soccer) Match

[mmbt0ne]

Haven't played each other in 11 years, and now it's time to throw down! 6th in the world, against 10th in the world. Both teams are missing some serious players though, like Rooney, Owen, Lampard, Beckham, Reyna, Beasley, Mastroeni, and Eddie Lewis (If you don't know who plays for which team here, you can probably stop reading).

Here's a nice little segment from ESPN about the game:

Even if this game was taking place a few months after a World Cup and featured several little-known youngster, it would still mean something. Never mind Paul Revere, Concord and Lexington and everything else that transpired over 200 years ago - soccer is the game that England has created. It's also the home of arguably the top league in the world. They have a history that goes back 100 years. The 1934 and 1950 World Cup notwithstanding, soccer history in the U.S. goes back to Paul Caligiuri's goal in 1989.

As much as the U.S. national team has accomplished over the years and despite the development of Major League Soccer, there remains a great deal of respect to be earned around the world. A victory on Saturday won't mean anything in the short run, but it would be yet another indication that the American aren't just capable of playing at the highest level, but that they are at the highest level already.

And for all you who have nothing better to do, at VIP:
314 England (+120)
DRAW (+220)
313 USA (+180)

[BWebb]

Is this on tv in the states? What time does it start?

[BWebb]

Nevermind, just saw 3 est on ESPN. Thanks, I would have missed it.

[pshreck]

[ QUOTE ]
Nevermind, just saw 3 est on ESPN. Thanks, I would have missed it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, now I can avoid it.

[alekhine8]

As much as I hate to say it, you have to favor England. The US has a lot of players injured. If it was a World Cup game featuring the best eleven from each country, I think you'd have a good game.

But the overall depth of England is going to hurt - the replacements for the US for guys like Beasley, Reyna, Lewis, Johnson (declared out for this game yesterday) is a much bigger dropoff to the next guy compared to England not having Gerrard, Bechkam, etc.

Having said that - GO USA!

[Pompey]

ok prediction time

boring scrappy first half 0-0
England get a second half goal to win 1-0

(But then I also thought the champions league final would be settled by a single goal.

I think there's too many uncapped/second choice players starting for us to show any real cohesion or much exciting footy.

[partygirluk]

1-0 to the Eng-er-land

[emil3000]

What the hell? USA's nr 10 in the world at soccer now? That sucks...

[beckham9]

two nil...

[BWebb]

US had a couple of good opportunities, but besides Landon there really isn't a scorer on the field. Don't know what Pope was doing on that second goal, he's usually very solid.