Week Winding Down

Internationals

It's been a slow week for me posting soccer events. There were some internationals going on including qualifiers for Euro08. The most interesting results from those are Northern Ireland's win over Spain and Italy, the current World Cup winners, only managing a tie against Lithuania and then losing to France

US Open Cup

The Chicago Fire and Los Angeles Galaxy won their semi-final matches to advance to the US Open Cup final. If the Los Angeles Galaxy win the USOC, they will be the first team to win it back to back since the early 1980s. It would also be the first piece of silverware for Yallop at Los Angeles. The Chicago Fire have one the USOC every 2 or 3 years since they came into the league (1998, 2000, 2003). This would be their 4^th US Open Cup title.

Bolton

Last Kick mentions that both of Bolton's two new faces, the Iranian Teimourian and the infamous Frenchman Nicolas Anelka, are set to make their debuts against Watford. Last Kick thinks Teimourian will be put straight in given the extent of injuries in Bolton's squad.

Oh Canada

FC Toronto, the MLS's 2007 expansion team, has signed their first player.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060908.wtorontofc8/BNStory/Sports/OtherSports/

They signed Jim Brennan. He did a decent job with Southampton last year in England's Championship (div 2). He turns 30 next May so he's not over the hill. He won't be the best player in the history of the MLS or great goal scorer. But he should be one of the better players on the team. It'll be interesting to see how Mo plays him. He can play as a wingback, fullback, center back, or even in the midfield. I'm wondering if Mo Johnston will utilize him as a defensive midfielder. We'll find out next year.

US Men's National Team

Now that Bruce Arena's reign is over with the US Men, USSF is looking to hire a new coach. The fan favorite has been the German Jurgen Klinnsman. Klinnsman actually lives in Southern California and has an American wife. We'll see if that happens. Right now the rumor is that they're in talks with Jose Pekermann.

Pablo's Antics

Say what you will about the post game antics of the Colorado Rapids in their game last Saturday in Slat Lake City against Real Salt Lake but the MLS didn't find anything wrong. MLS's commissioner Garber is playing the role of a parent who has to step in and calm the kids down when one of them feels wronged. Nothing bad happened so no one's grounded. But he's going to sit down and talk with them so both the kid that feels wronged at least feels somewhat vindicated but more so just to remind them that he's in charge and keeping an eye on them.

You can read Garber's Statement here .