by Stop Mike Lupica on June 4 at 11:14PM
Let's talk futbol (soccer):
The number one ranked team in the world, ARGENTINA, is here on Sunday to play the US national team in a friendly at Giants Stadium. I will be there, thanks to my wonderful GF.
The US team played Spain in Madrid last night, and lost 1-0 in a defensive battle. The Argentina team took on Mexico in San Diego in a game that started at 11:00 PM EST. Argentina is looking to continue expend on it's number one ranking (it helps come time for the World Cup groupings) over Brazil (they play in Boston on Saturday night) with victories over Mexico and the U.S.
The last time Argentina played the U.S., they crushed them 4-1 in the Copa America tournament (2007). The American team was a bit short-handed then. This time the America team is suppose to be fully loaded, while Argentina will be resting one of the best players in the world: Carlos Tevez of Manchester United, who needs some rest after a long Premiership season that didn't end until penalty kicks earned Man U the Champions League final victory against Chelsea less two weeks ago. But Argentina still has Lionel Messi, Maxi Rodriguez, Hernan Crespo, Javier Saviola and even aging captain Juan Riquelme. It's for that reason that you probably see the odds of a US victory, even in a meaningless Friendly, are so long: 4-1.
One last personal note that nobody who reads this site will care about but me: Boca Juniors lost in the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores against Fluminense ("The Flu" are a Brazilian club) 3-1, eliminating them from a chance to repeat as the champs of South America. Despite having taken 13 shots on goals (that's a lot for a soccer game), Boca could only convert one. Since these teams tied in the earlier semi-final matchup between the clubs (the Copa Libertadores works in that semi-finals are a home-and-road matchup), Boca faced the tough task of going into the Maracana having to beat a team that was undefeated in the previous five tourney games at home, outscoring opponents 13-1. That's a home stadium advantage! The Flu goes against Ecuador's LDU club in the Finals.
The Euro 2008 Tourney starts this Saturday.
Saturday's action:
Noon game: Switzerland vs. The Czech Republic. The most even game of the first round. The Czech team is much better (they are the fourth highest ranked team in the Euro 2008), but since this game is being played in Geneva, in front of a home country Swiss crowd... that makes the #44 ranked Swiss team dangerous - anything can happen. Crucial game for both teams, especially the Czech team. They can't afford to lose this game, in a tight grouping that features the tourney-favorite Portugal, and a strong Turkey team. A loss here could open the door for Turkey to advance to the second round instead of the Czech team. Tough game to open the tourney for the Czechs - having to go against wild home country crowd in a "better win or else" game.
2:45 game: Portugal at Turkey. Turkey would love to pull a tie off with the favorites of the tourney. We're putting our money on Portugal, and Cristiano Ronaldo (the best player in the Premiership this past season) and our old favorites Deco (supremely underrated) and Nani (always on the opposite from Ronaldo, providing a second option to keep the defense honest). It's a good bet, since the Portugal team is only ranked #11 overall, and paying out good money if you take them to win the tourney. This is a team that's done exceedingly well in recent history: Portugal finished second in Euro 2004, and made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup (4th place finish). Bet on them to advance to the quarter-finals, and beyond.
Sunday's action:
12:00 Austria vs. Croatia. The Croatia team is in good position to go deep in the tournament. They will struggle against the mighty (but aging) Germany team, but Austria and Poland are very beatable. Austria is en frio, with only one win in its last 14 friendlies. They are the KC Royals of Europe. On the plus side: they have home field advantage (they are co-hosts along with the Swiss). The hopes of the former Yugoslavia are riding on Croatia. Keep a close eye on Luka Modric of Croatia, the fundamentally-strong passer who recently was transferred to Tottenham for over $35 million dollars.
2:45: Germany will destroy Poland (7-1 underdogs to win) like it's 1941 again. That joke never gets old for me.
Monday:
Cutting work at 12:00 to go check out the Romania-France game, the start of a day of great matches in the toughest grouping of the tournament. Mainly because France looks weak. What's with Romania getting almost respectable 4.75-1 odds here against the #7 team in the world? When did Romania, who failed to make the World Cup two years ago, climb up to #12 overall in FIFA's rankings? It doesn't help that France is possibly without Patrick Vieira, that Thierry Henry doesn't show up enough in big games, that Zidane is retired, and that Franck Ribery is probably should join Zidane in retirement soon.
2:45: The best game of the week: The Netherlands (Argentina's World Cup tormentor) versus defending WC champs Italy. Azzurri is the highest ranked team (according to FIFA) in tourney, being #3 behind the South American powerhouses (Argentina and Brazil). The Netherlands are in their usually range, at #10 overall. They always seem to be in that second tier, in the #7-10 range, just behind the perpetually overrated England team. Not surprisingly, guess who is #9 overall? Sadly, the loser here may not even make it out of the first round, as this group is that stacked with talent.
Tuesday:
Spain vs. Russia
Greece vs. Sweden.
This grouping is a joke. Spain is the favorites here - they are #4 overall, and the second-best team of the tourney. They are big favorites over a weak Russia team,one which failed to make the WC in 2008. Greece may not have made the Cup, either, but they are the defending champs and ranked #8 overall, just ahead of England.
Still, Spain has historically underachieved in big tournaments, and Greece may have won the last Euro, but their World Cup performance is atrocious. Point being, neither team, despite their high rankings, is really clutch. And if another strong team was in this group - say Croatia - I would feel more confident in them than either Greece or Spain. Spain is one of those teams that does well in pre-tourney games because they are very patient, and don't make many mistakes. That's an excellent strategy against weak opponents. Against good teams with talented playmakers, though, you have to eventually step up and make a move. The Spaniards haven't had a big name world-wide talent in a long time.
We'll be rooting for the Greek team, given our affinity for Greek people (The Greek Professor, the various Greek Ex-GFs, Tas from The Basketball Jones).
Thankfully for both teams, they will face little competition from the "slightly better than Denmark" vodka-swigging duo of Sweden and Russia ("we can crush Lithuania!").
Upset pick of the first round: Romania over France.
Most likely to tie: Netherlands-Italy; Czech Republic-Switzerland.
Straight up winners: Portugal, Germany, Croatia, Spain, Greece.
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The number one ranked team in the world, ARGENTINA, is here on Sunday to play the US national team in a friendly at Giants Stadium. I will be there, thanks to my wonderful GF.
The US team played Spain in Madrid last night, and lost 1-0 in a defensive battle. The Argentina team took on Mexico in San Diego in a game that started at 11:00 PM EST. Argentina is looking to continue expend on it's number one ranking (it helps come time for the World Cup groupings) over Brazil (they play in Boston on Saturday night) with victories over Mexico and the U.S.
The last time Argentina played the U.S., they crushed them 4-1 in the Copa America tournament (2007). The American team was a bit short-handed then. This time the America team is suppose to be fully loaded, while Argentina will be resting one of the best players in the world: Carlos Tevez of Manchester United, who needs some rest after a long Premiership season that didn't end until penalty kicks earned Man U the Champions League final victory against Chelsea less two weeks ago. But Argentina still has Lionel Messi, Maxi Rodriguez, Hernan Crespo, Javier Saviola and even aging captain Juan Riquelme. It's for that reason that you probably see the odds of a US victory, even in a meaningless Friendly, are so long: 4-1.
One last personal note that nobody who reads this site will care about but me: Boca Juniors lost in the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores against Fluminense ("The Flu" are a Brazilian club) 3-1, eliminating them from a chance to repeat as the champs of South America. Despite having taken 13 shots on goals (that's a lot for a soccer game), Boca could only convert one. Since these teams tied in the earlier semi-final matchup between the clubs (the Copa Libertadores works in that semi-finals are a home-and-road matchup), Boca faced the tough task of going into the Maracana having to beat a team that was undefeated in the previous five tourney games at home, outscoring opponents 13-1. That's a home stadium advantage! The Flu goes against Ecuador's LDU club in the Finals.
The Euro 2008 Tourney starts this Saturday.
Saturday's action:
Noon game: Switzerland vs. The Czech Republic. The most even game of the first round. The Czech team is much better (they are the fourth highest ranked team in the Euro 2008), but since this game is being played in Geneva, in front of a home country Swiss crowd... that makes the #44 ranked Swiss team dangerous - anything can happen. Crucial game for both teams, especially the Czech team. They can't afford to lose this game, in a tight grouping that features the tourney-favorite Portugal, and a strong Turkey team. A loss here could open the door for Turkey to advance to the second round instead of the Czech team. Tough game to open the tourney for the Czechs - having to go against wild home country crowd in a "better win or else" game.
2:45 game: Portugal at Turkey. Turkey would love to pull a tie off with the favorites of the tourney. We're putting our money on Portugal, and Cristiano Ronaldo (the best player in the Premiership this past season) and our old favorites Deco (supremely underrated) and Nani (always on the opposite from Ronaldo, providing a second option to keep the defense honest). It's a good bet, since the Portugal team is only ranked #11 overall, and paying out good money if you take them to win the tourney. This is a team that's done exceedingly well in recent history: Portugal finished second in Euro 2004, and made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup (4th place finish). Bet on them to advance to the quarter-finals, and beyond.
Sunday's action:
12:00 Austria vs. Croatia. The Croatia team is in good position to go deep in the tournament. They will struggle against the mighty (but aging) Germany team, but Austria and Poland are very beatable. Austria is en frio, with only one win in its last 14 friendlies. They are the KC Royals of Europe. On the plus side: they have home field advantage (they are co-hosts along with the Swiss). The hopes of the former Yugoslavia are riding on Croatia. Keep a close eye on Luka Modric of Croatia, the fundamentally-strong passer who recently was transferred to Tottenham for over $35 million dollars.
2:45: Germany will destroy Poland (7-1 underdogs to win) like it's 1941 again. That joke never gets old for me.
Monday:
Cutting work at 12:00 to go check out the Romania-France game, the start of a day of great matches in the toughest grouping of the tournament. Mainly because France looks weak. What's with Romania getting almost respectable 4.75-1 odds here against the #7 team in the world? When did Romania, who failed to make the World Cup two years ago, climb up to #12 overall in FIFA's rankings? It doesn't help that France is possibly without Patrick Vieira, that Thierry Henry doesn't show up enough in big games, that Zidane is retired, and that Franck Ribery is probably should join Zidane in retirement soon.
2:45: The best game of the week: The Netherlands (Argentina's World Cup tormentor) versus defending WC champs Italy. Azzurri is the highest ranked team (according to FIFA) in tourney, being #3 behind the South American powerhouses (Argentina and Brazil). The Netherlands are in their usually range, at #10 overall. They always seem to be in that second tier, in the #7-10 range, just behind the perpetually overrated England team. Not surprisingly, guess who is #9 overall? Sadly, the loser here may not even make it out of the first round, as this group is that stacked with talent.
Tuesday:
Spain vs. Russia
Greece vs. Sweden.
This grouping is a joke. Spain is the favorites here - they are #4 overall, and the second-best team of the tourney. They are big favorites over a weak Russia team,one which failed to make the WC in 2008. Greece may not have made the Cup, either, but they are the defending champs and ranked #8 overall, just ahead of England.
Still, Spain has historically underachieved in big tournaments, and Greece may have won the last Euro, but their World Cup performance is atrocious. Point being, neither team, despite their high rankings, is really clutch. And if another strong team was in this group - say Croatia - I would feel more confident in them than either Greece or Spain. Spain is one of those teams that does well in pre-tourney games because they are very patient, and don't make many mistakes. That's an excellent strategy against weak opponents. Against good teams with talented playmakers, though, you have to eventually step up and make a move. The Spaniards haven't had a big name world-wide talent in a long time.
We'll be rooting for the Greek team, given our affinity for Greek people (The Greek Professor, the various Greek Ex-GFs, Tas from The Basketball Jones).
Thankfully for both teams, they will face little competition from the "slightly better than Denmark" vodka-swigging duo of Sweden and Russia ("we can crush Lithuania!").
Upset pick of the first round: Romania over France.
Most likely to tie: Netherlands-Italy; Czech Republic-Switzerland.
Straight up winners: Portugal, Germany, Croatia, Spain, Greece.
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6 Comments
Comments
Barnesgasm
said
I, too, will be attending the argentina game sunday at the meadowlands, with about 15 friends of mine who are more interested in soccer than I am. I will be sporting a javier saviola barcelona jersey that I bought when i was at least 8 inches shorter than I am now, so, if you see that guy walking around, you know who it is.
stopmikelupica
said
Barnes, you are always at the same games I am. What's up with that, man? You're like my blog shadow...
Big Man: Thanks for the links. As always, you are appreciated!
Barnesgasm
said
ha.
Vlad Reznik
said
Cool article, need more people online writing about Argentinian Soccer!
I would like to thank you for the endeavors you have made in publishing this article. I am trusting the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your fanciful writing abilities has inspired me to start my own blog now. Genuinely the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it.
http://slamonline.com/online/2008/06/gametrification/
Thought this might interest you. Didn't know if you saw it.