German football great Juergen Klinsmann is celebrating his 47th birthday Saturday as the new head coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team. U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati wanted Klinsmann for the job five years ago, but was unable to reach agreement on a contract. Their talks broke down after Klinsmann was widely praised for leading Germany to third place at the 2006 World Cup, which his country hosted.
Gulati wants to see Klinsmann take the American team to just such World Cup heights at Brazil 2014. And American soccer fans are eager to see what changes Klinsmann makes as he takes over from Bob Bradley, who got the boot after guiding the U.S. team to the round of 16 at last year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Joachim Low, Germany’s current head coach and a top assistant for Klinsmann at the 2006 World Cup, told the Associated Press, “He’ll go into the (U.S.) job with power and shake up a lot of things.” Klinsmann could shake up the American attack, which has been criticized as dull and unimaginative. During his playing days, Klinsmann scored 47 international goals, third all-time in German history.
“I’m excited about the challenge ahead,” said Klinsmann in a statement. “I’m looking forward to bringing the team together for our upcoming match against Mexico and starting on the road toward qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.”
The USA will host regional rival Mexico August 10th in Philadelphia, in a friendly match that officially kicks off the Klinsmann era of U.S. soccer.
The Colombians are justifiably proud of their coffee, so it’s fitting that a steaming cup of coffee is part of the official logo for the tournament. As I sip my cup of 100% Colombian and ponder the chances of the teams in this latest FIFA event, you have to start with South American powerhouses Argentina and Brazil. The FIFA U-20 tournament has been held 17 times previously, and Argentina (6 titles) and Brazil (4 titles) have combined to win 10 of the championships. Portugal, with back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1991, is the only other team in the field in Colombia with two or more championships.
Africa captured its first FIFA U-20 world title at the last competition in Egypt in 2009. But the “Black Satellites” of Ghana, who beat Brazil in a penalty kick shootout in the final in Cairo two years ago, did not qualify for Colombia 2011. The African flag this time around is being flown by Cameroon, Egypt, Mali and Nigeria – a two-time FIFA U-20 runner-up.
No matter which team wins the trophy on August 20 in Bogota, I will toast them with my trusty cup of 100% Colombian.
But in the past few years there’s been considerable growth in American soccer. In 2010 and 2011, both the men’s and women’s World Cup teams gave their nation breath-taking moments and exhilarating victories. Some of that national team support has carried over into the top men’s domestic league, Major League Soccer.
Since 2004, eight expansion teams have been added to MLS, which now has a total of 18 clubs. The 19th franchise will be added next year in Montreal, giving Canada its third MLS team.
Alex Ferguson
The growth of soccer in the USA has been voiced by several famous soccer figures. Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United, commented on the increasing popularity of the American game, based on attendance in Seattle. “That’s a very encouraging sign that soccer is working here,” said Ferguson. “You could understand it from the stadium there was a great incentive to go forward from there and now you’re seeing the fruits of that.”
Another encouraging sign is the recent move by MLS clubs to build their own smaller, soccer-specific stadiums. Twelve of the 18 MLS teams play at their own venues. This helps eliminate the image of cavernous football stadiums being less than a quarter full for a professional match. The energy and following that the national teams have gained can only further the development of the game in the United States. With European powers Man U, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus making the journey to the US to play preseason exhibition matches, American fans should see this as an opportunity to advance the expansion of MLS and US soccer overall.
But, we still eagerly await the day when our professional clubs can be more than a preseason tune-up for international clubs.
This blog post written by VOA intern Nicholas Berault.
Kobe, Yao & Basketball’s Asian Popularity
Kobe Bryant
As I write this, Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant is on a five-city Asian tour that will take him to China, the world’s most populous country, and home to eight-time NBA All-Star Yao Ming. I’m sure Kobe will pay tribute to the Chinese giant, who’s expected to announce his retirement from the NBA July 20th in his birthplace of Shanghai. It’ll be a bittersweet moment for NBA fans, who have seen Yao hobbled by a series of leg and foot injuries the past six seasons.
Speaking in Manila earlier this week, Bryant praised Yao’s role in helping popularize basketball in China and throughout Asia. “I think his contribution to the NBA cannot be overstated,” said Bryant. “You know, I mean what he did for the game and opening up the doors, the influence that he had … it’s such a huge magnitude.”
Yao Ming at the free throw line
The huge magnitude of Yao Ming in opening up new Asian doors to basketball has been closely watched by the NBA, which saw its merchandise sales and TV ratings for games soar in China and other Asian countries after the Houston Rockets made him the top overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft.
But the retirement of Yao must also worry NBA marketing executives who push their product in Asia. Some Chinese say they will stop watching NBA games with the league’s tallest player no longer on the court.
When he was on the court, Yao brought out the best in Kobe Bryant and other NBA players. I like to think Kobe jumped just a little higher when he saw Yao in the paint. Check out Kobe’s moves against the Chinese star in this video:
Americans Celebrate Dramatic USA Victory Over Brazil
The beauty of international sports is most evident when an entire country unites in support of their national team. These matches can transcend athletics, and become about the pride of a nation and its people. Six days after the USA celebrated its Fourth of July independence day holiday, the USA’s Women’s World Cup soccer team gave Americans another big reason to celebrate and rejoice in one of the greatest U.S. sports triumphs in history.
The stage was set for a memorable match in Dresden, Germany. Four years ago in China, the Brazilians humiliated the United States, 4-0 in the semifinals, to stun the favored Americans. However, the USA had since defeated Brazil four consecutive times. The Americans took the pitch against “The Samba Girls” of Brazil 12 years to the day of beating China on penalty kicks to win the 1999 Women’s World Cup. In marking the anniversary of that championship victory, the USA would once again need a dramatic penalty kick shootout in Dresden to prevail.
With 120 minutes of play gone, three minutes of stoppage time were added for the faked injury of Erika in extra time. The United States started deep in their own half until play quickly
Abby Wambach celebrates after scoring against Brazil
continued over the midfield line, finally climaxing with Megan Rapinoe’s rocket cross from the left side. The ball sailed past the outstretched mitt of keeper Andreia, and onto Abby Wambach’s forehead. She skillfully knocked the equalizer into the net and let out a yell that was echoed by many American fans. The goal is the latest ever recorded in Women’s World Cup history.
The ensuing penalty kicks were defined by Hope Solo’s save that allowed the United States to clinch the victory, but Wambach’s unparalleled late heroics will be what many people recall from this match. No matter how the American women finish this campaign, they will never be forgotten for what they have already achieved. In a country where neither soccer, nor women’s sports, is widely followed, these 21 women gave their fellow Americans something to come together and cheer about.
This blog post written by VOA intern Nicholas Berault.
Nadal vs. Haye = Class vs. The Crybaby
Rafael Nadal
In less than 24 hours, Rafael Nadal and David Haye gave us great examples on the right and wrong way to lose on the highest stages of sport. One, a tennis player from Spain, lost with class and humility. The other, a boxer from England, lost with excuses and boorishness.
Just a few minutes after relinquishing his Wimbledon title to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, Nadal was interviewed on Centre Court at the All-England club. He began with these remarks: “First of all, congratulations to Novak and his team for the victory of today and for his amazing season. Well done.”
Haye lost his World Boxing Association heavyweight title to Wladimir Klitschko, giving up the belt to the big Ukrainian after being beaten in a lopsided, 12-round unanimous decision in Hamburg, Germany. At the post-fight news conference, Haye opened with these comments:
Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye at a pre-fight news conference
“A majority of the reason (I lost), and I hate when boxers make excuses after fights – it makes me sick – but I broke my toe three weeks ago and there was no way I was going to pull out of this fight.”
Haye did not mention the injury in the build-up to the fight, saying he was in the best shape of his life. Veteran boxing promoter Frank Warren described Haye as “a crybaby,” Klitschko called him “a sore loser” and fans and experts alike said Haye should have either shut up about the injury or withdrawn from the bout.
It’s no secret that while soccer is thriving as the world’s most popular sport, here in the USA it’s still trying to gain a foothold at the professional level, where it competes against the more popular
