Category — Mexico

U.S. National Team coach Bob Bradley announced the 20-man roster (shown below) for his team’s clash with Mexico on February 7.

In anticipation of next Wednesday’s tilt with Mexico, ussoccer.com has posted an interview with Pablo Mastroeni. It’s probably worth listening to the whole thing but I didn’t make it all the way through because I heard everthing I needed to hear in these four quotes:

“Words really don’t bring into perspective a game of this magnitude.”

“Play[ing] Mexico on American soil…it’s not really pro-American; and its something that you have to grow accustomed to in this country, unfortunately.”

“Anytime you beat Mexico, it feels as good as winning a qualifier.”

“Just seeing Mexico with their heads down, that’s the kind of feeling that gets me motivated.”

Me too, Pablo. Me too.

As the end of the year draws nigh, we’ll all have fun reading and then growing weary of those nostalgic year-in-review articles. Since I don’t fancy myself better than anyone else, I’ve compiled what I believe are the three biggest U.S. soccer stories of 2006.

3: Bruce Arena

When the U.S. made their inauspicious exit from the 2006 World Cup, Bruce Arena was fired. While that was interesting, if expected, it was merely the lighting of a fuse. Soon after Arena was hired to take over at Red Bull New York, he unleashed a scathing review of the U.S. Soccer Federation and Sunil Gulati, who he called a “super-fan.”

Bruce would later apologize for his remarks, labeling them “distasteful,” thus ending the controversy and putting to bed an incredible eight years in U.S. soccer history.

2: The Search

After Arena was let go by the Federation, fans believed the search for his replacement would begin in earnest. While the world anticipated the crowning of Jurgen Klinsmann, the days went by, the list of candidates narrowed, and rumors and speculation took center stage.

Klinsmann was rumored to be fielding an offer from Mexico. Frank Yallop stated that he didn’t want the job just as Steve Nicol said he’d be happy to take the job, thank you very much. In November, Jose Peckerman was rumored to have accepted the job and later that month, Steve Cherundolo told German TV that Klinsmann was in. This was confirmed in December when various media reported that the deal was done.

Then, depending on your disposition, everything came together or fell apart when talks with Klinsmann broke down and he withdrew from consideration. Shortly thereafter, the Federation named Bob Bradley the coach with a caveat.

Of course, neither of the above stories would have been news had it not been for the story below:

1: U.S. Men’s National Team ousted at the World Cup.

Honest observers will admit that the World Cup run was cursed from the day the U.S. Men’s National Team was drawn into the Group of Death. Despite our over-inflated FIFA ranking, the proposition of facing Ghana, Italy, and the Czech Republic in group play was enough to crush the expectations of even the most cockeyed optimist.

Nor did the games leading up to the tournament inspire any confidence. Among the lowlights were a dismal showing against the Germans, a draw with Jamaica, a loss to Morocco and a slim victory over Latvia.

And yet, when the World Cup began, we believed.

In return for our belief, we were crushed—both emotionally and on the pitch. The cavernous gap in class was all too evident during the Czech Republic game. The ease with which Jan Koller scored the winner was a harbinger but still we believed in a rally.

And rally they would. The game against Italy will forever occupy a spot in the hearts of fans. Brian McBride showed the world how to play the game. Jorge Larrionda showed the world how not to ref. By the end of the tournament, the U.S. boys could claim that they were the only team not to lose to the champions.

With everything riding on the Ghana game, the odds looked good. Deuce finally got his team on the board but it wasn’t enough. Ghana would celebrate a deserved victory as U.S. fans secretly wished to sue someone for Claudio Reyna’s slip-and-fall, which effectively ended four long years of anticipation.

Your turn.

What do you think were the biggest stories in U.S. soccer this year?

M says: The death of Lamar Hunt (Story on ThroughBall)

The U.S. Men’s National Team will face Mexico on February 7, 2007 in Glendale, Arizona. This will be the second game for the team under interim head coach, Bob Bradley. The U.S. will play Denmark at the Home Depot Center on January 20.

I guess we can put to bed the Mexico/Klinsmann rumors.

Roland Eitel says that the former Germany manager has received offers from Mexico and the U.S.