All-Whites for the Cup?
New Zealand has qualified for the 2010 World Cup with a fairly thrilling 1-0 win over Bahrain. The All-Whites coach, Ricki Herbert, said the following:
“Tonight is about these boys, about a group who believed and have never stopped believing, and their dream continues which is fantastic. We’ve waited 27 years to resurrect something very important to us. These boys are going to a World Cup.”
We talked about the draw briefly in our Promote/Relegate post yesterday; it’s now three weeks away (from yesterday). The draw will be key for so many nations. We’ll have full coverage and reaction after it’s over, and maybe some type of contest, who knows.
The Galaxy advanced to the MLS Cup final last night with two goals in overtime to defeat a game Houston Dynamo side, 2-0. The RSL/Chicago match is tonight at 8PM EST on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports Español. The Cup Final is next Sunday night at 8:30 PM EST on ESPN and Galavision. I think Chicago will find a way to win tonight, and realistically, for MLS, that’s the best result based on potential television viewers for next Sunday evening.
Some rather large World Cup qualies today, as the UEFA playoffs are taking place, the CONMEBOL/CONCACAF match between Uruguay and Costa Rica is occurring, and a replay of one of the bloodiest matches in African history takes place as Egypt hosts Algeria. Let’s hope for some cooler heads to prevail there today, as it appears tensions are already high. There is some lower-level club footy today, as well, and realistically, the best matches on the card in England are Swindon Town (8th in League 1) hosting first place Leeds United, and second place Charlton hosting third place MK Dons. The English national side is playing a highly controversial friendly in Doha, Qatar against Dunga’s Brazil. The USMNT’s skeleton crew takes on Slovakia this morning. It’s a full-rich day, I just hate these interruptions to the club schedules. Ah well. Enjoy the day and we’ll sort it all out tomorrow. We’ll be here in comments and on Twitter today, as usual, for wisecracks, observations and general tomfoolery.
Television courtesy of Jamie Trecker, of Fox Sports.
WCQ:
New Zealand v Bahrain 0200 FSC
Russia v Slovenia 1100 Setanta
Greece v Ukraine 1300 Setanta
Rep Ireland v France 1500 Setanta P and TV5/DISH
Portugal v Bosnia 1530 Setanta
Costa Rica v Uruguay 2100 No USA TV partner.
FRIENDLIES:
Slovakia v USA 1000 FSC
Wales v Scotland 1000 ESPN360
Brazil v England 1200 FSC/FSE
England v Portugal 1400 FSC/FSE SDD (UEFA U-21 tournament)
Italy v Holland 1445 GolTV
Spain v Argentina 1600 ESPND
CLUBS:
Pachuca v Tigres 1800 Telefutura
Monterrey v Morelia 1800 Telemundo
Jaguares v Atlas 1800 FSE
Puebla v Toluca 1800 Azteca/ESPND
Fire v RSL 2000 FSC
Chivas v Cruz Azul 2000 Telemundo
Queretaro v San Luis 2000 Telefutura
Inter v Once Caldas 2000 GolTV
Atlantes v Tecos 2200 Telemundo
Well, Scotland lose 3-0 to a “C” level Wales side- it was nice knowing you, George Burley!
County earned a draw and remain in 3rd place.
The USA lost to Slovakia on a PK…frankly, that’s far better than I thought they were going to do, but I still get the feeling Bob was looking for a 0-0 final- IN A FRIENDLY!!
In better news, Scotland’s U-21 side thumped Azerbaijan, 4-0.
Am I the only one who thinks the Houston goal in regulation time was totally good and the refs blew that call….you can call me Sir Alex if it makes you feel better.
No, I think it was a goal. Not even a “questionable” one. I don’t want to be “that guy,” but it seems to me that MLS has decided that Landon and David are going to win the championship- or else.
So I saw that Egypt did in fact win 2-0…now what?
Playoff in the Sudan on Wednesday. Awesome, huh?