Klinsmann Takes the Reigns

On Thursday the 28th, Sunil Gulati, president of United States Soccer, announced that Bob Bradley will no longer be the head coach of the US men’s national team.  Though Bradley still had 3 years left in his contract, after a 4-0 loss to Spain in June and a 4-2 loss to Mexico in the Concacaf Gold Cup final, Gulati decided that his time was up.

Bradley was criticized over his tenure as coach.  Some thought he was too conservative, others thought that his favoritism towards certain players was detrimental to the team.

Despite the criticism, Bradley’s record was not terrible.  A 43-25-12 record since 2007 isn’t something to be ashamed of, but some maintain that the team underachieved during his command.  Gulati’s statement summed up the decision:

We want to thank Bob Bradley for his service and dedication to U.S. Soccer during the past five years.  During his time as the head coach of our men’s national team, he led the team to a number of accomplishments, but we felt now was the right time for us to make a change. It is always hard to make these decisions, especially when it involves someone we respect as much as Bob. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Since the announcement was somewhat expected, there was already speculation as to who would take the reigns.  Some speculated that it would be another American, someone who understood the American mentality could better coach the team.  Others hoped for a new perspective.  Someone from Europe?

On Friday, Gulati put an end to the guessing and announced that Jürgen Klinsmann would take over.  The former German player and coach is an accomplished addition to the team and is expected to advance the program, including a revamp of the youth development program that will potentially impact the future of US soccer.

Overall, it is an exciting change for the USMNT, but we will have to wait to see whether or not the long awaited acceptance by Klinsmann was worth the wait.

-HD

Bin Hammam: “The Act of Dictators”

A few days ago I mentioned that Mohamed bin Hammam was under investigation for giving bribes to Caribbean countries in return for their voting Qatar as the World Cup host in 2022.  On Saturday, July 23, FIFA president Sepp Blatter gave Bin Hammam a “life ban from soccer” due to the allegations.  Bin Hammam was outraged, claiming that Blatter was acting like a dictator.  Essentially, he sees it as a move by Blatter to prevent him from taking over the FIFA presidency.

Bin Hammam, who is also the president of the Asian Football Confederation, is appealing the life ban and has asked members of the AFC to support him.  The Court of Arbitration for Sport (I never knew there was such an entity!) will hear the case, but delays in the case are expected.

This is actually the act of the dictators.  You have witnessed through history the dictators, when they think this or that person is a prominent one to replace him, first thing they do they execute him and try to fabricate any allegation against him to jail him or something like that.

On Monday, Bin Hammam told Sky Sports News that the activities he is being accused of are not unusual at FIFA and that his actions did not constitute a bribe.  He also said that he did not exchange any cash for votes, and calls the alleged bribes “gifts” that are a nice gesture.  He then pointed to his wristwatch, “This watch is a gift…It is a gesture.  When I received it, I did not give anything.”

Zhang Jilong, who has been acting as the AFC president since Bin Hammam’s suspension, said of the situation:

AFC respects FIFA’s decision and we also acknowledge former AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam’s inalienable right to lodge an appeal against the decision.

Though the appeal may take a while to go through, it will be interesting to see what arises from this situation and whether or not it changes anything in the administrative world of football.  What do you think will happen?

-HD

 

 

 

Mia: Celebrity Soccer Challenge

When Mia was 5, her family adopted her older brother, Garrett, an 8-year-old Thai-American orphan.  The two were close, supporting each other and competing with each other on the field.  In 1996, despite his declining health, Garrett was at the Olympics to watch his sister win gold.  A year later he passed away.

“I learned so much through him — about perseverance, about grace, about dignity.”  Now she is taking what she learned and spreading the word to others.  She began the Mia Hamm Foundation to support research on bone marrow diseases and cord blood technology.  The foundation began hosting an annual soccer match, the Garrett Game, where players from her college years and professional career would come to play and support the cause.

In 2008, Mia and Nomar revamped the event and renamed it the Mia Hamm & Nomar Garciaparra Celebrity Soccer Challenge.  This year, the game will be held in Washington DC on July 31.  Kickoff is at 11:00 giving fans who watch Barcelona and Manchester play the night before plenty of time to recover and make it to the event.

For only $23, the celebrity game between “FC Mia” and “Nomar United” sounds like a great event for any sports fan.  Kobe Bryant, Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger, Heather O’Reilly, Tobin Heath, Eddie Pope, Jeff Green, John Carlson, and Pep Guardiola will all join in the festivities.  Additionally, a number of members of the press will be taking the field with the sports celebrities.

At halftime, bone marrow donors and recipients will be honored and throughout the event fans will be able to register with Be The Match, an organization that matches donors with potential recipients.  In the past three years over 400 people have been registered at the match as potential donors.

The need for bone marrow donors from ethnically and racially diverse communities is especially acute. Mia Hamm Foundation and the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) are committed to diversifying the NMDP Registry of potential bone marrow donors and cord blood units. The NMDP is a non-profit organization that facilitates unrelated bone marrow and cord blood transplants as a single point of access. Corporations, non-profit organizations and civic groups across the country are working to educate the public and support bone marrow disease research and treatment efforts.

In addition to an entertaining match, the event is for a great cause.  If you’re in DC and you go, let me know what it was like!

-HD

Fútbol Femenino: Where are Spanish Women?

When I was 17 I moved to Pamplona, Spain (yes, they run with the bulls there) for a year-long foreign exchange program.  While there, I lived with a Spanish family and went to a Spanish high school.  I learned the language, the customs and how to navigate a society that was starkly different from what I had known in the US.  I saw first hand the differences between men and women.

It bothered me that my Spanish father expected his wife to do everything for him even though she also had a full-time job and was probably just as exhausted as him.  It annoyed me that men lived with their mothers, as functioning members of society, until they were married.  It astounded me that I had to teach my host brother to open a can and use the microwave, proving to me that without his mom he would be lost.

I have to say, though it astounded me initially, I grew to understand the Spanish mentality.  Sure, it was something that I would never fully embrace, but I did begin to see why things were the way they were.  (And I do very much love Spain, despite their differences and oddities.)

One of the experiences I was lucky to have while there was being able to play soccer.  I played indoor at the local university with my cousin and played outdoor for a local football club.  Since it was the beginning of my exchange and I could barely communicate, the indoor was short lived.  However, as a goalkeeper, some of the hardest shots I have ever taken were on this team.  The women played fast and had great vision.  BUT if they had played my outdoor team, they would have been killed.

My outdoor team played with a level of finesse I only dreamed of while playing in the US.  They played with the aggression and power of the boys.  They had fantastic vision and played a precise game.  They trusted each other and had heart.  When they won, they were world champions.  When they lost, they were devastated.  The things I knew my team back home was lacking were present in my Spanish team.

Our training was intense.  Everyone gave their all.  Don’t get me wrong, we had fun.  But without 100% effort, the team didn’t practice as well.  In addition to our team practices, certain positions would rotate and train with the professional team.  In short, we were constantly pushed to improve our game, and it was evident that this mentality had been instilled at an early age.  There is no doubt in my mind that many of my teammates played and held their own against the boys.

I highly doubt that this situation was unique to the club that I played for.  In fact, I would bet that there are many other clubs in Spain that have the same structure and whose women have a comparable level of skill.  That said, where are the Spanish women on the international arena?  If these women grow up learning soccer with the men, playing a similar style as the men and demonstrating an incredible level of skill, why don’t they have the success of their male counterparts?

I would posit that there are two reasons:  lack of support and coaching.  Spanish fans simply do not care about women’s sports.  With teams like Barça and Real Madrid, the fans have plenty to cheer for already.  Additionally, the stigmas regarding women hinder many from accepting and supporting women’s sports as legitimate.  Sure, there are some fans, but not nearly as many as the men see.

While many men’s teams are funded by local governments, marketing and ticket sales, women’s teams struggle to get funding.  In the economic downturn, municipalities reduced their funding and companies cut spending on advertisements.  Women’s soccer is the least valued, so it is the first to get cut.  It is impossible for women to survive on the €150 they make a month and without support from their communities in the form of fans and funding, they are at a disadvantage in comparison to other women’s teams who benefit from advertising campaigns and fan support.

In fact, one team had so little funding, they decided to make a nude calendar to make improvements to their facilities and purchase equipment.  I have to give them props for taking the initiative to pay their own way, but shouldn’t a country that places so much value on the sport be as supportive of their women’s leagues as their men’s?  I definitely think that a change in mindset is needed, and that it is slowly happening, but it will take a while for Spaniards to fully embrace the women as legitimate.

I am of the opinion that the lack of support from fans and the Spanish mentality towards women sports definitely play into the coaching.  There isn’t any motive to change the coaching structure, as the women receive hardly any notice.  As such, they have had the same coach for almost 30 years.  Obviously, he isn’t doing well in his position.  In the United States, when a team doesn’t do well, the coach is replaced.  In Spain, this is not the case.

An interview with an ex-women’s national player, Laura del Rio, revealed that the coach is one reason that the best of the best don’t play for the national team and a reason that the team doesn’t do as well as it should.  When asked, why, despite her success, she was no longer on the team, she responded:

Being part of the team was a dream come true. Unfortunately things didn’t work out with Ingnacio Quereda, the manager of the team. He’s been with the team for over 28 yrs. We don’t see eye to eye on many things. I’m not the only one who is no longer part of the team due to this. There are many.

That is an unfortunate reality that the Spanish Football Federation needs to take a look at.  When asked if there was any way she would return to the team, she replied:

Yes, for Quereda to leave.

Not only is the team hindered by the Spanish mentality that men deserve more support than women, the football federation has also impeded the success of the team by deciding to leave Quereda in charge despite his limited success.  The mentality will change over time, but if the team does not have success to begin with, there will continue to be no support.  Let’s face it, people support winners.  With Quereda in charge, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.

If I learned anything from my time in Spain, it is that Spanish women are strong and determined.  They will continue to play irregardless of the support they receive from their country because they have passion for the game.  Still, things need to change.  The world is missing out on a great competitor and Spain is robbing itself of a potential world champion.

-HD

Real Madrid vs. Chivas

Last night in San Diego’s Qualcomm stadium, the Guadalajara Chivas played Real Madrid as part of the World Football Challenge.  I was surprised to see many empty seats in the stadium, but the fans for these teams never cease to amaze me with their enthusiasm for the sport.  Chivas fans threw streamers down from the top levels, and during the second half they shot off full blown fireworks.

During the first half, the Chivas had some great opportunities and held their own against the Real Madrid powerhouse.  In the 14th minute Marco Fabian scored on a play that was called offsides, and there were chances on both sides of the field for the rest of the half.  Though scoreless, the first 45 minutes had some aggressive plays, leaving 3 players with yellows.  Throughout the match it seemed that some players were becoming frustrated with certain calls, but overall I think the officiating team did a pretty decent job with the fairly physical play.

The action really picked up in the second half, though.  In the 72nd minute Ronaldo scored, and it was downhill from there for the Chivas.  The very next minute a ball in from Ronaldo bounced off the crossbar, and three minutes later he put in a PK after the Chivas fouled in the box.  By the 82nd minute, Ronaldo had a hat trick off of a beautiful ball in from Mesut Ozil.  Three goals in 10 minutes was the nail in the coffin for the Chivas who had trouble holding possession in the second half.

Though it is certain that neither team played its best lineup, it was fun to see two teams with over 100 years of history meet.  I hope that in the future the WFC’s matches become less one-sided, but getting to see a hat trick from Ronaldo is definitely one of the benefits of tournaments like this.

Four WFC games will be played this weekend.  Check out the schedule and enjoy!

-HD

 

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Four days ago, Chuck Blazer, a FIFA official from New York, admitted to pocketing almost $2 million as commissions from marketing deals during 2010.  Andrew Jennings of transparencyinsport.org reported that in addition to his salary he paid himself approximately $9.6 million in bonuses over the last five years.

In 1990, Blazer played a major role in Jack Warner’s instatement as President of Concacaf in 1990.  In return, he became the general secretary of the confederation; he now serves as chief executive and treasurer, giving him access to the confederations confidential accounts and the right to collect 10% of ‘all sponsorships and TV rights fees from all sources received by Concacaf.’

Despite his own questionable dealings, Blazer had the nerve to blow the whistle on Warner back in May.  Apparently, Warner took a $1 million bribe from Mohamed bin Hamman from Qatar in return for the support of the Caribbean nations in Qatar’s bid for the World Cup, which it will host in 2022.

In addition, Bin Hammam has been accused of bribing lower-level FIFA members to help him oust FIFA president, Sepp Blatter.  I wonder if the bribes to win the World Cup bid would have been an issue if bin Hamman hadn’t tried to throw out the long-standing president.

Gunter Gebauer, a sports philosophy professor (which by the way sounds like an awesome class), says,

It is not democratic and governed by transparency.  It’s a male culture of giving and receiving and making favors and taking favors. It’s a culture which in some respects is the same as a gang.

Certain governments are expressing their concerns publicly.  Both the British and Swiss Parliaments said that they FIFA to take action in this matter.  Last year, $32.6 million was paid out as “short-term employee benefits,” and though the financials do not disclose who received these benefits, I think we can infer.  Especially when at least 4 of FIFA’s executive committee are under investigation.  Everyone knows you get caught when you get greedy.

Still, this problem is not reserved for the highest ranks of FIFA.  In fact, it is a widespread issue throughout soccer.  So much of a problem that “FIFA pledged $20 million in May to create a unit within Interpol” to try to eradicate game fixing in Asia.

Sepp Blatter’s explanation for this decision was that no one will go to matches if they are rigged.  No matches, no money.  No money, no benefits.  You see, it is OK for them to rig the system, but it is not alright if that cuts into their P&L.  (Oh, and it is kinda the right thing to do.)

I do think that both problems should be dealt with, and I think that FIFAs move to create the Interpol Unit is crucial to stopping the spread of rigging.  After all, what’s the fun in watching a game if you know someone is pulling the strings.  The best part of the game, uncertainty, would be lost.

In the past few months there have been more than 100 players, coaches and club officials have been jailed, indicted, and investigated on charges of game fixing.  Such scandals have popped up in Turkey, South Korea, Finland, China, Hungary, Italy, Germany, and Zimbabwe, among others.

The corruption has spread throughout the world and has crept into all ranks of FIFA.  Ronald K. Noble, secretary general of Interpol writes,

Match fixing has been a cancer within football that is only now being recognized for its deadly consequences to the sport.  FIFA’s section of Interpol to develop comprehensive global anticorruption and anti-match-fixing training programs will help to kill this cancer before it spreads further.

Notice how he calls it anticorruption and anti-fixing?  If FIFA wants the game to be more transparent and less corrupt, they need to set the example.  If it truly wants to do as it says, it needs to turn a critical eye at itself as well.

Though there have already been some investigations, FIFA has been anything but eager to share the results of such matters with the public.  The group of soccer diplomats rides around like kings and plays its hand close to its chest.

In the case of bribing countries to support Qatar’s World Cup bid, Bin Hammam says his only hope is that the matter stays within the FIFA family and not “based on the wishes of people outside.”  In other words, the public has no right to meddle.

As things stand, it looks as though we will continue to hear about corruption in soccer for some time.  Or maybe FIFA will just go into lockdown.  I’m sure there’s an armageddon shelter in Switzerland if things get bad enough.

But hey, look on the bright side, women’s soccer hasn’t been implicated in any of it (knock on wood).

-HD

Criticism for the USWNT?

While doing some research for some of my other posts, I stumbled across across tracingthetree,  a blog with some awesome posts about the World Cup.  This morning I was surprised to see another post about the USWNT in response to the negative media that has arisen since the US’s loss to Japan in the final.

I was shocked at the comments in the article being criticized by Solitary Muser.  In short, the author– a woman nonetheless– said that the US team choked when they lost to Japan, and that our continued support of the team seems like “stereotypical coddling of female athletes.”

Sure, there were some mistakes during the game, but I am proud of their performance.  I am proud that they are my team and I wouldn’t trade them for any other team out there.

There is obviously a ton more to the article than this, and I would highly suggest reading Solitary Muser’s post.  It’s an entertaining read (I personally was smiling and laughing the whole time) and makes some fantastic points that people who want to criticize the team should consider.

Thanks for starting my day off right.

-HD

History Follow Up: Ljungberg and Bouhaddi

In my fun facts post a couple of days ago, I mentioned that I wanted to find out more about the potential hard feelings between France and Sweden that Foudy commented on after Jossan Oqvist was given a red for kicking Sonia Bompastor in the stomach.  The brief comment left me wanting to know more, but with little to work on I would need to stumble across the story to learn more.  While doing research for the post on Pia, I found just what I needed: a name.  Ljunberg to be exact.

Hanna Ljungberg played her first game for Sweden’s national team at the age of 17 in 1996.  In 2009, after a 129 game and 72 goal international career, she announced her retirement from soccer.  She is one of the most colorful players in the sport and is a national hero back home.  By 2003 she was a top contender for World Player of the year, coming in 3rd behind Birgit Prinz and Mia Hamm.  While playing she was a part of several Swedish championship teams, and was a major contributor to the success of her teams.

Football is my life.  For me, [it] is a philosophy of life, much more than a sport.

In 2004, Ljungberg tore a ligament during training and throughout the rest of her career battled injuries.  In 2006, the collision between her and French goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi Algarve Cup forced Ljunberg to slow down, and a few years later she bowed out.

The 2006 game against France was viewed by the French coach, Elisabeth Loisel, as a practice match to give her girls experience.  With a young squad and a few players unable to play, she wanted to get a good game in against a strong Swedish team.

Sweden was known for scoring early, which was evident by the pressure they placed on the French defense from the beginning.  Still, the French held strong, not letting any in during the first half.  In the 51st minute, Lota Schelin took a ball in and was able to slide it in past Bouhaddi.

About 23 minutes later, disaster struck.  A Swedish ball came sailing over the French back line, and Ljungberg, with one defender on either side, looked like she was going to win the ball.  Bouhaddi charged out of her box to make the challenge.  She came in with her head down and collided with Ljungberg midair.  Ljungberg was immediately taken to the hospital with a severe concussion and fears that her jaw was broken.

Sweden took the game and placed 3rd in the Algarve cup, but two players walked away from the game with major impacts on their career.  Ljungberg’s injuries forced her to slow down in the final years of her career.  On the other side, a young keeper had tarnished her name, and may have ruined her career as a result of her aggressive play.

As a 16-year-old, Bouhaddi played as the French goalkeeper in the U-19 European Women’s Championship.  She was a crucial part in their defeat of Norway in the final. In early 2004 she made her debut on the French national team, and was named the starting keeper for the UEFA Women’s Euro tournament in 2005.

Despite her experience and history with the team, she did not make it to the 2011 World Cup, apparently due to the fact that Bouhaddi and Sandrine Soubeyrand, the French captain, hate each other.  Whether or not this is a reflection of Bouhaddi’s questionable character, her dirty play or just a mutual internal conflict, France was left with two subpar goalkeepers.

Maybe France was frustrated with its mediocre performance, or maybe French players just like to play dirty when theythink they can get away with it, but in the 68th minute when Sonia Bompastor kicked Josefine Öqvist and was kicked back, Foudy commented on the possibility of hard feelings between the players lingering from the 2006 game.

After looking into the issue, I don’t think that is the case.  Sure the memory existed, but I think that in general Sweden is a classy team while France likes to test the boundaries of dirty play.  Bompastor was obviously the initiator of the conflict on the field and should have been sent off; instead, Sweden received its first ever World Cup red.  Sweden remembers what happened, but they did not go for blood in the game to retaliate for things of the past.  Though Öqvist shouldn’t have retaliated, Bompastor got what she asked for.

I think the mentality of Swedish players is commendable.  They always appear to look on the bright side, and the fact that a team like Sweden received their first red card in the WWC this year shows that they like to play clean.

After her injury, Ljungberg made a comment that was the epitome of the Swedish mentality:

 I felt I had the upper hand as we both ran towards the ball – I would reach the ball first, head it over the keeper and score. I really didn’t feel I was doing anything dangerous. I don’t understand what Bouhaddi was thinking the way she went in head first… She probably just timed it wrong.

She gave the French keeper the benefit of the doubt and moved on.  It seems the Swedes always take the more optimistic view.  I will be interested to follow the team more closely in the future.

-HD

Pia: The Eternal Optimist

Pia Mariane Sundhage was born in Sweden on February 13, 1960.  While playing for IFK Falköping as a 14-year-old, Pia began turning heads.  A year later she was called up to the national squad.  She remembers:

It was in 1975 against England and we won 2-0 in Gothenburg. The national coach rang me up and I read a report in the paper too, which was obviously a very big thing for me at 15. But I wasn’t nervous because I had quite good technical skills, more so than some of the others, and that made me comfortable with the group.

By 1982 she was playing for Östers IF where she scored 62 times in only two seasons on the team.  Between her years at Jitex BK and Hammarby IF DFF, she won 4 Damallsvenskan and 4 Svenska Cupen.  It is notable that Pia was on the scene of Swedish soccer from the beginning.  The Damallsvenskan got its start in 1973, and until the start of Women’s Professional Soccer in the US, the Damallsvenskan was noted as the best women’s league in the world.

Internationally, Pia made a name for herself by scoring 71 goals in her 146 international games.  She led Sweden to their first European Women’s Championship in 1984 and scored 4 goals in the 1991 World Cup where the team took bronze.

Needless to say, she became a legend in her country, and was viewed as one of the world’s greatest female players during her career.  She even made it on to a Swedish stamp.

However, there is more to Sundhage than her game.  She does just as well at the helm as she does on the field.  In fact, by 1990 she began coaching in addition to her responsibilities as a player.  For the next 11 years she coached the U-16, U-19 and U-21 Youth National Teams.  At her retirement in 1996, she took over the head coaching position of the U-19 Women’s National Team, winning one gold and two bronze medals in the European Championship during her tenure.

Already a legend in her home country, when she led the USWNT to gold in Beijing in 2008, her popularity exploded.  In fact, a debate ensued as to whether she should be hired as the head coach for the Swedish Men’s National Team, but she stayed put and has done remarkable things for the team.

Bringing a new style and attitude, she led the women to five championships and by 2010 had the best record of any US women’s coach.  When she was instated, the USWNT still had a bitter taste in its mouth from the 2007 World Cup.  The coaching styles of April Heinrichs and Greg Ryan had not worked for the team, and many players left that tournament with negative feelings.

Throughout this year’s World Cup, we heard tales of Pia’s optimism and ever-present smile.  In our US team we witnessed an incredible level of fitness, a new finesse and the determination to leave everything on the field.  Hope Solo, who was left off the team midway through the 2007 World Cup after criticizing Ryan for his decision to start Brianna Scurry against Brazil, said of her coach:

From the moment Pia stepped in she changed the entire dynamic of this team.  She’s one of the more laid-back coaches I’ve ever had. She wants to help the players be creative and think for themselves on the field. I think a lot of American-style coaches, they try to be more involved in every pass, every play.

Every player likes to have a bit of freedom on the field and it brings the joy back to us, back to the time when you’re a little kid and just played for the fun of it.

Though she often appears serene on the sidelines, her coaching style is one of “positive reinforcement, loyalty and…endless optimism.”  It is said that Pia only ever tells her players positive things and leaves the criticism to her assistant coaches.  She is almost always happy, sometimes singing songs for her team (and even for the press).

“My glass is always half full,” says Pia.

I think it’s contagious.  We didn’t end up on top this time, but I am confident that Pia’s eternal optimism will continue to give spirit to the US team and lead us to great things in the future.

Thanks for being our coach, Pia.  And for reminding us to believe.

-HD

World Football Challenge

With an exciting Women’s World Cup over, soccer fans are no doubt hungry for more competition.  The World Football Challenge comes to the rescue.

The tournament is the second exhibition of clubs from Europe and North America and will feature 13 teams, 9 more than competed in 2009.  Chelsea FC is the reigning champion, but this year’s tournament features plenty of capable teams that are sure to generate excitement.

The tournament began on July 13th, with Manchester United beating the New England Revolution 4-1.  Three days later, Manchester City beat Club América and Real Madrid beat the LA Galaxy.  It will continue into August, and the winner will be determined by point totals accumulated throughout the tournament.  Points will be awarded on the following basis:

• 3 points for a win in regulation
• 2 points for a penalty kick win
• 1 point for a penalty kick loss
• 0 points for a loss in regulation

The teams will not play overtime if they are tied after regulation, but will go directly to penalty kicks.  Teams will also be awarded a point for each regulation goal, up to 3, regardless of if they win or lose.  More specifics on tournament rules can be found after the jump.

The tournament features some of the best teams and players in the world.  From abroad:

• Manchester City FC – English Premier League
• Manchester United FC – English Premier League
• FC Barcelona – Spanish La Liga
• Real Madrid – Spanish La Liga
• Juventus FC – Italian Serie A
• Club América – FMF Primera Division
• CD Guadalajara – FMF Primera Division
• Sporting Clube de Portugal – Portuguese First Division

Additionally, the MLS will be represented by teams from the Eastern and Western conferences.  Rather than playing three games each like the foreign teams–except Portugal, which will only play one match–the games played will be split between teams of the conference.  For the Eastern conference the Chicago Fire, New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union will all play one match.  The Western Conference will be represented by the Los Angeles Galaxy, playing two matches, and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, taking one.

Tonight at 10:00 EST, the Vancouver Whitecaps will take on Manchester City who won the 2011 FA Cup.  The rest of the schedule is as follows:

• WED 7/20, 11:00 PM EST: CD Guadalajara vs. Real Madrid
• SAT 7/23, 5:00 PM EST: Chicago Fire vs. Manchester United
• SAT 7/23, 7:00 PM EST: Juventus vs. Sporting Clube de Portugal
• SAT 7/23, 9:00 PM EST: Philadelphia Union vs. Real Madrid
• SUN 7/24, 4:00 PM EST: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Manchester City
• TUE 7/26, 8:00 PM EST: Club América vs. Juventus
• THU 7/28, 8:00 PM EST: Juventus vs. CD Guadalajara
• SAT 7/30, 7:00 PM EST: Barcelona vs. Manchester United
• WED 8/3, 8:30 PM EST: Barcelona vs. CD Guadalajara
• SAT 8/6, 4:00 PM EST: Barcelona vs. Club América

All games will be available to watch on ESPN3.com; ESPN2 and ESPN will combine to televise the majority of the matches as well.

Seems we might still have some great games to watch in the next couple of weeks!  Enjoy!

-HD