Let me get this straight . . . Fiji had a military coup . . . . and New Zealand is standing up for freedom and democracy by refusing to allow a goalie into the country . . . . talk about drawing a line in the sand . . . quite valiant.

"Pros vs. Joes," a sports reality game show

Please tell me Steinberg has an audition!!

At the very least you made me look up exactly where the Faeroe Islands are located. I am now feeling sheepish, but will DVR this not-really-a-classico match v. Les Frogs.

The Maryland-Virginia Tech match could have a lot of ACC significance. I'd go, but DCU never considers my schedule so I'll be at RFK.

Fear The Hokie

http://www.rfmf.mil.fj/

Of note is their claim to have ETHOS and VALUES!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Fiji

6,000 active members with a budget of $74 million

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji

I'd say Argentina-Chile is as big as Brazil-Colombia. Chile had a better Copa America than Colombia and is coached by the former coach of Argentina's national team Bielsa. It'll be an interesting game. It would have been bigger if it were in Santiago instead of Buenos Aires.

the New Zealand story is quite interesting. How is it the goalkeeper's fault that his relative happens to be an MP? Unless that person was somehow directly involved in the coup I don't see how it is defensible to keep the guy out. The New Zealand federation's response is also somewhat odd. Why not work with the foreign ministry to get the guy admitted? I think FIFA had to intervene. Otherwise you could have all sorts of shenanigans with countries denying entry to star players from other teams on some trumped up reason or another.

My prediction: Virginia Tech 3-1 Maryland; Argentina 4-1 Chile; Brazil 5-2 Colombia; Ukraine 1-1 Scotland; France up 2-0 Faeroe Island half time - but first goal was offside even though it's not given!! Germany v.Ireland and Spain v. Denmark should be the games to note! DC United 3-1 Chicago. See you all at RFK!! Thank you Goff!

Oh man, Scots up 3 and wins.

Goff,
How does Ryan still have his job? And why isn't anyone else asking this question?

Is the FIFA that is intervening on behalf of Fiji the same FIFA that banned Yugoslavia from the Euro 96 finals?

Just wonderin'

Goff,
How does Ryan still have his job? And why isn't anyone else asking this question?

Posted by: zj | October 13, 2007 12:30 PM
____________________________________________

If Hope Solo had done the right thing and kept quiet, Ryan would have been gone already. The USSF won't fire Ryan for a while, yet, because it would be telling the world that Hope Solo was correct.

Steven-

I think there's one bigger remnant of the Nationals, other than the foul poles. And it's the gaping hole where there should be seats behind the North goal. Unless your article isn't telling us something...

Thx,

Jay!

I used to love soccer for the triumph of sport over soccer. Countries that hate each other could use 22 proxies to fight for national pride. Now I'm just disgusted with it all. Iranian-heritage German refusing to play a game in Israel? Adult Fijian goalkeepers refused entry because a father is in the military? Has no one any shame anymore?

Lilly, Scurry, and anyone else from that generation just need to retire as soon as the tour is over, and Ryan should be announcing his resignation any day now. The WNT is dead to me 'til Ryan is fired and they right that sinking ship. The "veterans" need to get over the whole Hope Solo thing. It's to the point that their collective statements and behavior in overreaction are now more suspect than Solo's originally.

France just squeaks by the Faroe Islands 6-0.
Latvia 4 Iceland 2 . .

Oh, sorry. Perhaps someone was recording these and I just blew it for them . .

Can we tell Jaime to feign injury and sit out these two WCQ games?

I mean that ankle needs to rest for the playoffs.

COPA was one thing, but this is so close to the Cup that he I fear he could tweak it, leaving him on the injury list for several weeks.

Any word on tonight's atendance?

I sure hope the live taping of Pros v. Joes isn't on a Thursday night... We would all REALLY be pissed to miss that.

Moreno starts, down 3-0, 58th min, playing 10 men since half.

jaime subbed for in the 59th

Mexico vs Nigeria tomorrow, 3pm, univision.... Vamos El Tri!!

We'll be coming, we'll be coming,
We'll be coming down the road,
When you hear the noise of the Tartan Army Boys,
We'll be coming down the road.

Go Scotland!!!!! We'll be comin' - We'll be comin - We'll be comin' down the road - When you hear the noise of the tartan army lassies - We'll be comin' down the road!!!

What a great win for Scotland, it is nice to be winning for a change. Lets hope they can keep it up against Georgia and then get a result against Italy (fingers crossed on that one).

looks like the USWNT made up for the lack of goals in this game; round 1 goes to the US with a score of 5-1.

also, Solo has issued an official statement: http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_3014656.html

[this game = DC United's]

France just squeaks by the Faroe Islands 6-0.
Latvia 4 Iceland 2 . .

Oh, sorry. Perhaps someone was recording these and I just blew it for them . .

Posted by: | October 13, 2007 01:56 PM
-------------------

Good thing you didn't mention Slovakia 7 - San Marino 0 or Sweden 3 - Lichtenstein 0. I would like to thank FSC for "Minnow Saturday." If that weren't enough, they've been re-running FAR-FRA like it was a final.