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USA 1990 World Cup Qualification Celebratory Rap Video

March 31, 2011 — by Sean

Back in 1990 the US hadn't qualified for the World Cup in some 40 years, and people were frickin geeked about our boys traveling overseas in search of the gold and malachite trophy—not that anyone knew what the hell soccer was. Confused enthusiasm is the only explanation for the shirtless beach frolicking behind this lyrical misadventure (warning: includes cameo by OJ Simpson), enjoy! Not to ruin the chorus, but a quick glimpse: Togetherness, and unity, means victory, in Italy

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What To Watch Today, the Final Day of the Interlull (Pt 1 of 2)

March 29, 2011 — by Suman

Today is the final day of the Interlull matces which began last Friday, and we pick out a handful of matches in Europe that may be of interest. We'll be back later today with previews of a couple Americas-based matches with later starting times. France-Croatia in Saint-Denis; Lithuania-Spain in Kaunas; Netherlands-Hungary in Amsterdam (all on ESPN3.com starting at 2:30pmET): A choice of three intra-European matchups for you. Lithuania-Spain and Netherlands-Hungary are both Euro2012 qualifiers, featuring the two finalists of WC2010 and probable favorites for next summer's tournament in Poland/Ukraine. Spain is coming off a closer-than-expected 2-1 home win over the Czech Republic on Friday, and have had to travel far north and east to Lithuania. On the other hand, the Netherlands won convincingly 4-0 on the road in Hungary on Friday, and return home to take on the Hungarians in Amsterdam. France-Croatia is a friendly match (un match amical); here

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Part 3 of What To Watch Over the Interlull (Sunday March 27)

March 27, 2011 — by Suman

We're past the halfway point of the Interlull.  We saw some interesting matches Friday and Saturday.  There's less to watch today--then no games tomorrow, but a whole slate of interesting ones on Tuesday.  Here are the two we choose for today, Sunday, March 27: The one getting all the attention is Scotland hosting A Seleção..in London (?): Scotland-Brazil at Emirates in London (ESPN2, 9amET): See our Sao Paulo-based correspondent's rundown of the newish Seleção here.  We don't much about the Scottish side.  If you really want a preview of them, listen to the segment on this week's Guardian Football Weekly Extra pod, wherein they get Scotsman Ewan Murray on the phone in order to discuss the match. But we're equally intrigued by this match in Brazzaville--we're just not sure if we'll get to watch it: [caption id="attachment_1057" align="alignright" width="168" caption="It's not often you get to see this national team play--and

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Commentary

What to Watch This Weekend – Interlull Edition, Pt 2 (Saturday March 26)

March 26, 2011 — by Suman

Part 2 of our 4-part guide to the Interlull.  We choose three fixtures taking place today: one intra-British Euro2012 qualifier and two international friendlies--including one taking place this evening in New Jersey, featuring the best player in the world:
Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey: Arsenal mates on opposing sides today
Saturday, March 26 Wales-England in Cardiff (11amET, ESPN3.com): This game got less interesting once Gareth Bale went down with an injury in the Welsh training camp.  We're not too familiar with the rest of Wales' current squad--a few Premier League players, but mostly guys playing at the Championship level (including striker Craig Bellamy).  We will be looking for young Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, likely facing off against his club teammate Jack Wilshere. The latter's stock has risen to new heights after Arsenal's battles with Barcelona in the Champions League--one even heard the phrase "the English Xavi"

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USA vs Argentina Preview

March 26, 2011 — by Sean — 1

The US play those guys in baby blue and white stripes tonight, so we thought it'd be a good time to pour the mind juices over Bradley's picks (is that guy still the coach?). Having been to the last meeting between these squads at the old Meadowlands, we can say with some surety that most of the fans there will be cheering for Argentina. But let's not forget that there's a team in red out there too. Most importantly the next round of young'ins. Juan Agudelo is a favorite (as you know), and maybe be America's next great hope up top. There's also this kid Tim Chandler, a defender who plays in Germany, who has all of 20 years. Also in defense is Eric Lichaj, who sounds to be pretty foreign, but unlike these last two guys was actually born in America. He's been bouncing around England on loans, but

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What to Watch This Weekend – Interlull Edition, Pt 1 (Friday March 25)

March 24, 2011 — by Suman — 2

The Interlull is upon us.  Just when the domestic and Champions leagues are hurtling towards their conclusions, getting us all hot and bothered...they take a break so the best players can fly all over the world to risk injury playing for their respective national teams in largely meaningless international games.  (Full disclosure: we picked up the "Interlull" terminology from the indispensable Arseblog.) That said, some of these games aren't completely meaningless--included on this weekend's are a handful of Euro 2012 and African Cup qualifiers featuring some nations/players we like to watch. And some of the meaningless international friendlies shouldn't be completely uninteresting--particularly USA hosting Argentina at the (New) Meadowlands (Saturday), Brazil playing Scotland at the Emirates (Sunday), and Ghana playing England at Wembley (Tuesday). But you'll have to come back for our previews of the latter matches.  There are so many fixtures (over 100) spread out over so many days (Friday

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HistoryVideo

Gelukkige Verjaardag Ruud Krol!

March 24, 2011 — by Suman — 1

Ruud Krol at the 1978 World Cup - captaining the Dutch team with his lucky necklace
Ruud Krol, one of the original Dutch masters, was born in Amsterdam on this day in 1949. So: Gelukkige Verjaardag Ruud Krol! Krol was part of the great Dutch generation of the 1970s: he played on the great Ajax side that was managed by Rinus Michels and led on the field by Johan Cruijff, Johan Neeskens, Piet Keizer and Krol.  Together they famously won three consecutive UEFA European Cups (the precursor to today's Champions League), and in doing so introduced totaalvoetbal to the world. Indeed, Krol stayed at Ajax throughout the '70s, after Cruiff and Neeskens had left for Barcelona and Keizer had also left the squad (for retirement?), leaving only in 1980 to spend a year with the Vancouver Whitecaps of NASL, followed by four seasons in Serie A with Napoli

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Newish Look Brazil Meet Scotland on Sunday

March 23, 2011 — by Mark — 1

International qualifiers and friendlies upon us, we look to the wit and wisdom of our Brazilian correspondent Mark Gannon to sort through the samba boys selection vs Scotland for this Sunday, and answer the question, why no Robinho?
Yet another chance to display gratuitous bare torso/boobage.
FWIW, Mano says he's letting Robinho rest now, but that he'll be counting on Robinho for Copa América. And he made a point of reminding everyone that Robinho has been on every one of Mano's previous lists. I wouldn't mind seeing Mano go wild testing players for a few games, but I also wouldn't mind if he started to settle on a group of starters. Either way. I don't see what he sees in André Santos, but finally Marcelo is getting some love, even if in Mano's mind he's just André's backup. If I were Marcelo, I probably would have

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