CONCACAF Football Discussion

[drucurl]

trinidad down to a fake ass jamaican penalty at the half

edit another loss Latapy needs to go I can't see how the players could respect a guy who's never showed an ounce of professionalism as a player. Dwight was a MODEL pro next to this guy.

[crazy4milan]

My team is handing out "Champions" posters....we still haven't won the semifinal return leg (well we're leading 2-1 and we play at home). This smells BAD.

[acmilan4ever]

Originally Posted by crazy4milan

My team is handing out "Champions" posters....we still haven't won the semifinal return leg (well we're leading 2-1 and we play at home). This smells BAD.

Which club would this be? You should stay positive

[crazy4milan]

So when I was like 3, I was called "Macha" cause I had some blond roots in my hair, there was this player that was called el "Machito" or "Machillo" from our WC 90 squad, making the relation of macha-macho, when I played against my brother with our plastic ball in a classic Saprissa vs La Liga matchup, I always said "I'm El Machillo Ramírez". My first favorite footballer ever, at the time all I care was to make the relation of our nicknames, later on I realized he was a classic n.10, with a beautiful touch (he also moved and played with Saprissa ).

20 years later my first favorite player coached my team alongside one of my biggest football idols, El Chunche. We've spent 5 years without winning anything, including a 20 game period vs our biggest rivals where we weren't able to beat them, and a year in which we finished 2nd to last, and another year where we were playing great but a last minute goal didn't let us qualify to the next round AND a lot of heartbreaking losses in all the finales we played vs Saprissa.

Our rival in the final yesteraday was the Inter from CR, if I may, a team that will need a calciopoli to win something again, it's been 17 years since their last championship, and on top of that they've have had in their hands sooooo many times, but somehow they always lose it in the last minutes or against a rival they should've beat easily.

They were beating us 1-0 in a very tactical game, best chances were from my team, but they were pretty organized and dangerous when advancing. The game stinked of saturday's Milan vs Roma. Second half we attacked and attacked but their kepper saved everything, after the last super save by their kepper I started moving around in circles with my head down as well as some friends mine...other friends that are Saprissa fans were already having their fucking smug smile.

And then my team got back the ball. And we all turned our heads to the TV, all thought "this it now or never", 89th minute...this midget took the ball and started running (that's all his good at lol), and made a cross and the guy that had had our best chances and screw them all...took and NAILED IT IN. I'm voiceless.

My team didn't take advantage of ET and the moment of just scoring the goal and our rivals were down. So we head to pks......AND FUCK YEAH WE'RE THE CHAMPIONS .

[Sven]

Sometime ago CONMEBOL was studing the possibility to add Central American and North American clubs in the Libertadores. So it would turn into a Pan-American Championship or something. The MLS was very keen on it.

Opinions here in South America are very divided on the issue. The clubs here would not be very affected by it, except maybe to have to travel more kms to play games.

But I think the opportunity to play in a huge trophy like Libertadores and against brazilians, argentinians, chileans and so on can be a huge thing for the clubs in North and South America. What do you think?

[crazy4milan]

Originally Posted by Sven

Sometime ago CONMEBOL was studing the possibility to add Central American and North American clubs in the Libertadores. So it would turn into a Pan-American Championship or something. The MLS was very keen on it.

Opinions here in South America are very divided on the issue. The clubs here would not be very affected by it, except maybe to have to travel more kms to play games.

But I think the opportunity to play in a huge trophy like Libertadores and against brazilians, argentinians, chileans and so on can be a huge thing for the clubs in North and South America. What do you think?

My team kind of close the doors for a while 4 years ago with a terrible performance in the Sudamericana were we lost 11-2 (global) to Colo Colo. We deserved it cause we were stupid to believe we could big dick our rivals who were in a much better situation than we were (big crisis) . But generally, in the Interamericana games (Libertadores vs Concacaf winners) in the past, all our teams had good performances (AFAIK).

There's a problem with the travelling, as its really not like Europe were distances are small, and I dunno if most central american/caribbean teams have the $$$$ to do it or even held the logistics of such a big tournament like Libertadores. And you have to remember the tv ratings (large reason why only mexican teams from this area go there).

Just thinking about football...I would love it to happen. I think it will develop our football a lot and will help us become more competitive and get a better league, it will obligate us to improve.

Mexican league and football has improved thanks to their participation in those tournaments, that said mexican teams probably make more money than most teams in South America, but they have improved, and it has even helped their NT improve and its a great stage for some players from here that are good to show what they got on a BIG international level.

[Sven]

Well, Conmebol pay the travel cost's to every team in Libertadores, and pay this apart from the bonus for every match. They have very rich sponsorship and TV deals, travels would not be a big problem I think.

Of course would not be a spot for every national champion in Central America but I think they could fight in some kind of premilinary rounds, and the best teams would make to the pre-Lib against the low-rated teams from Equador, Bolivia, Venezuela... Or ready to the group stage maybe. Six games in Libertadores can be a huge thing and a great motivations for a club.

[crazy4milan]

Please forward to 2:06-2:40...according to the refs and his linesman the ball didn't go in. :O.


Also

What a goal!

[Senatore_M84]

Originally Posted by Sven

Sometime ago CONMEBOL was studing the possibility to add Central American and North American clubs in the Libertadores. So it would turn into a Pan-American Championship or something. The MLS was very keen on it.

Opinions here in South America are very divided on the issue. The clubs here would not be very affected by it, except maybe to have to travel more kms to play games.

But I think the opportunity to play in a huge trophy like Libertadores and against brazilians, argentinians, chileans and so on can be a huge thing for the clubs in North and South America. What do you think?

I think it definitely help legitimize concacaf leagues. I can see why MLS teams want it, though we are way too far away from being able to compete with libertadores teams. The main thing, I think MLS thinks it could help them in pursuit of signing better players.

Problem is twofold

1) Only mexican teams could consistently compete now or in the near future.
2) Travel. It takes 16-17 hours by plane to go from LA or san francisco to sao paulo for ex.

Quite frankly, I'm more interested in our national team trying to take copa america seriously first. Unlike 2007 where we sent zero players from the gold cup team and basically sent a B squad to get embarassed by Argentina, Paraguay and Colombia. (Probably why we didn't get invited in 2011, in favor of japan )

Stupid. Not like USA would win, but I think we've proven like Mexican we can compete and be respectable v. south american teams.

A full squad team probably got have beaten out paraguay (50/50), ironically would have placed us against mexico in knockout rounds. Always fun

In an ideal world, copa america would be in same year as euros (or gold cup would move) and we could have a 16 team tourney with more of north and south america. Or I don't know... have it in odd year like they do, invite champion of europe, asia and africa and have 13 other spots to south america and north america. hmmm, would be fun. I doubt any european team would walk into south america and win 'THEIR tournament'

[crazy4milan]

Originally Posted by Senatore_M84

In an ideal world, copa america would be in same year as euros (or gold cup would move) and we could have a 16 team tourney with more of north and south america. Or I don't know... have it in odd year like they do, invite champion of europe, asia and africa and have 13 other spots to south america and north america. hmmm, would be fun. I doubt any european team would walk into south america and win 'THEIR tournament'

Sexy idea . I always wanted this, I think it would be so exciting to see qualifiers for it (hey if they want we can make Brazil and Argentina qualify directly, kind of like Mexico, US and Canada do in Gold Cup). It would help the tournament so much, with the sponsors (considering Argentina and Brazil...and US would have to take their stars; actually in 2004 CR took a B team too, that's bad), and elevating its quality (which has been good but not on the level it should be), much more interesting.

Seriously, doesn't it bother anyone else that its called Copa America and they invite Japan before inviting someone from the continent????? That's just wrong.

[Senatore_M84]

yeah stupid commebol didn't invite us this time because we sent a b squad.

[Sven]

Would not be funny if Japan become Asian Cup Champion and Copa America Champion?

[crazy4milan]

Originally Posted by Sven

Would not be funny if Japan become Asian Cup Champion and Copa America Champion?

It would be as close to reality as

could've been.

[acmilan4ever]

The USA should take certain competitions more seriously, they had a good Confed cup. Though they started poorly, they picked up their game and had a great semi and final. After this they had a decent WC, again they didnt start off properly but ended okay.

They have a good squad and are very capable of an upset or two, just need to take things more seriously as SM84 mentioned. As for the Copa Libertadores, it would be nice to see all teams allowed to participate and the tournament would be diverse and highly competitive.

I wanted to make a point with regard to the UCL, they have started a scheme which allows more minnows like MSK Zilina and few years ago Rubin Kazan/Debrecen to come in and cause an upset as well as get a chance to participate. This is the only way that the smaller leagues in this region will grow and would be willing to invest more in their teams to try and reach the biggest continental tournament of that region.

Of course the Brazilians and Argies are the usual favorites but at least somewhere along the way i'd like to see a team from Mexico, USA or Honduras even cause a big upset like we have seem some of the minnows do it in the UCL. Like this season, Tolima beat Corinthians, that was somewhat a performance of the Giant killing team. I'd like to hear/see that more in the future, maybe implement a qualifying round? Invite more teams than just 3 from Mexico, are the other leagues in the Americas that bad? or like not that good as the level of the Copa Libertadores?

[Sven]

Originally Posted by acmilan4ever

I wanted to make a point with regard to the UCL, they have started a scheme which allows more minnows like MSK Zilina and few years ago Rubin Kazan/Debrecen to come in and cause an upset as well as get a chance to participate. This is the only way that the smaller leagues in this region will grow and would be willing to invest more in their teams to try and reach the biggest continental tournament of that region.

Well, Libertadores is limited to South America + Mexico. But in between those who participate, every coutry has at least 2 teams on the group stages and a very good chance to make a third. Brazil and Argentina have 5 spots, the others have 3. A country as weak as Venezuela can put 3 teams in the group stage.

As for the unknow teams, Libertadores has usually way more surprises and shockings than UCL. It's everything but predictable. This decade alone São Caetano and Atlético Paranaense made to the final, the unknow Once Caldas won in 2004 (beating on the way a mighty São Paulo, Santos with Diego/Robinho/Elano and the superchampion Boca Juniors) - that's an achievement one will hardly see in UCL. LDU become the first champion from Ecuador in 2008 - an emerging new power, atough not really a surprise. I think only Bolívia and Venezuela never reached semifinals in Libertadores.

Of course the Brazilians and Argies are the usual favorites but at least somewhere along the way i'd like to see a team from Mexico, USA or Honduras even cause a big upset like we have seem some of the minnows do it in the UCL. Like this season, Tolima beat Corinthians, that was somewhat a performance of the Giant killing team. I'd like to hear/see that more in the future, maybe implement a qualifying round? Invite more teams than just 3 from Mexico, are the other leagues in the Americas that bad? or like not that good as the level of the Copa Libertadores?

C4M must know better than me, but I think teams on Central America are no better than on Peru or Bolivia. But even teams from those countries eventually achieve qualification on group stages. MLS is somehow better I think.

Mexican clubs already made way to the final two times. Cruz Azul in 2001 and Chivas last year. And 3 Mexicans teams is fair I think, they are on par with everyone minus Brazil and Argentina.

[crazy4milan]

My God, the championship in my country is the most corrupted and disgusting thing ever. We play 2 tournaments, winter and summer, there's one winner in each...and only 1 team goes down (who made less pts in both tournaments), which already is stupid. There's 2 groups A and B, each with 6 teams, first 3 teams in each qualify. There's a first round of everyone vs everyone and then teams of group A face just teams from group A and likewise with group B.

2nd plays 3rd of each group and the winner faces the first teams of each group in the semifinals and then a final. Super stupid. The team that finishes with more points gets to close every game at their home.

-So in July 2010 a week before the season started, a team sold it's frenchise to another one (both owners are the ones that destroyed our national football, one of them is in a huge scandal of corruption and was arrested in US 2 months ago). The original one left several debts with players. The move "looked" legal, but had several interests behind (the new owner, which is the one that is in jail, was already president of another club and he wanted to have as many teams as possible under his belt in order to become the president of the Federation, some players of the original team were transfered to another team...of which that owner took charge off since his mom was the owner).

-Due to the debt with those players, the new frenchise (who was the second best team in the league) were froze out from playing several games. A team that didn't face them and won 3-0 was able to qualify thanks to that without playing. At that point the championship should've been froze and that team should've gone down.

-On the other hand the old owner of that frenchise had his new team (Heredia) with a HUGE debt and didn't pay the salaries of his players for 2 months or so, which should've been illegal too.

-Anyway the quarters/semifinals and finals were played, my team (who never got any sort of benefit from this, simply we were best team with most goals in favour and least against, just 1 loss), but that season shouldn't have counted it should've been shut down from start or at least half way through (now that there's a champion and a top goalscorer that's a no-no).

-New season: summer 2011. Saprissa (aka rivals, who finished second to last in the last championshi) poached the best players of that new frenchise, fair enough so far.

-That team was let to play again (inspite of that debt they had to pay), under the condition that they had to pay that debt in 15 days...and then in a month...and then...

-Somehow for an unknown reason, week 10 was played before week 9. In week 9 which was played during the weekend, Saprissa should've faced that team.

-Tuesday: there was a vote made to throw out that team from the league and take 10 pts away from Heredia because of a huge debt they had. Apart from taking those 10 pts away from Heredia, they gave it to the teams they beat, and on top of that they made them won 3-0. Everyone tthat had to play the other team were given 3-0 wins (basically they were missing all games against the teams in their group).

-Saprissa lost 2-0 to Heredia, they were given 3 pts and 3 goals in favour (and 2 less goals against). On top of that they got other 2 3-0 wins because they had to face that other team twice. (specially remembering that for "unknown reasons" week 10 was played before week 9, when Saprissa should've faced them).

-Saprissa was 3rd place in the overall league (at least of summer 2011)...got 3 3-0 wins out of nowhere now their top of the league (on top of that last game they played they got a disgusting favour right at the 90th) and will more than likely get the advantage of closing games at their place and with the advantage of 2 games less played.

-My team was the only one that beat the team that got -10, of course we got no benefit (and look at the vid I posted in this thread btw, that's fucked up, but anyway, I'm ok with us not getting any benefit, and no one else should tbh). We got 0 from all this. And no team in the group my team is at will get the benefit of a 3-0 win, in fact a team that is fighting for relegation (was second to last), got 3 pts and 3-0, totally fucking up the last placed team (specially because of goal difference).


-Oh yeah just to remind how mind fucking stupid my league is played: my team just had 2 weeks of rest between each championship, clearly we're paying for it atm (which is normal, in a normal played championship all teams should suffer it this way). Saprissa was eliminated in the first one since mid ovember, they had 1 month of rest (which affected them in first few weeks but now its totally giving them an advantage), they even made a preseason, in fact every team that didn't qualify last year is actually doing pretty well right now, meanwhile you can see the other ones being normally exhausted at this stage of the season.

-Oh and well now it's 1 but for 2 months we had 2 teams with no owner, or with their owner at jail unable to pay their salaries. Cmon this isn't professional football.

-Call it off now DAMN IT.

[Senatore_M84]

Charlie davies scored 2 goals in his first match in 18 months since his car crash pre usa-cr in 2009




Great to see you back charlie!

[crazy4milan]

Originally Posted by Senatore_M84

Charlie davies scored 2 goals in his first match in 18 months since his car crash pre usa-cr in 2009




Great to see you back charlie!

You know I've always wondered, you might know better than me, what the hell was Charlie Davies doing past midnight driving? They were concentrated...

[crazy4milan]

The whole inaguration of our new national stadium and all the craze that's been going on is exactly the reason why I love this country. We're just so tiny, one doesn't really think about it, but we're too TINY, the whole country was paralyzed and the only thing we're discussing is the stadium.

Truthfully the only big stadium I've ever been near is the Azteca, I just remember it looked impossing, but that's about it. But today, dear God, at first I felt on international ground it just...it was so pro, so first world. No lines, the stadium was gorgeous, the enviroment felt different (which on a way I like, and on another I don't). But after the initial impression...it was all Costa Rica, in sense that I could smell the gallo pinto and tamal asado and pura vida-ness comming out of it , no but really u get me, like the identity, you realize "wow this is really my country's"

Its the first real building, the first aesthetically pretty edification ever made in my country.The seats I got were in any other conditions horrible, but the stadium is so well made that no matter how far back and up I was, it was still AMAZING, I know, I'm letting my 3rd worldness be seen in that sentence, cause any well made stadium should look amazing at any seat, but I don't care.

Most of you that are probably from better footballing nations (or better sports nations) or more developed countries probably won't get how extremely emotional it is for us to have a stadium like that. It's perhaps a very simple stadium, but for me, for what I'm used to, that's a whole different level of quality.

The act dedicated to best atheletes in our country + the last one prior to the game gave me chills. God, how can't I have chills when I see the video of our one and only gold medal in the Olympics? I even remember I was in tears when it happened back in 96' and still today watching our flag on top of the two Germany flags while our anthem is sounding can make me shed a tear or two. Or screaming Medford's goal vs Sweden (I was a baby, I know, but any costarican knows how amazing that is). Or our U-20 2 years ago. Or Nery Brenes pwning people at 400 mts, or Jose Luis Molina winning the LA marathon.

The last act, is stuff I only see on TV, I never ever would've expect to see that beautiful event live. It was an amazing combination of music, lights and fireworks...I love you Costa Rica .

As for our friendly...awful display, though at least we got to score first 2 goals . Anyway, I do hope we play vs USA at Saprissa, cause this stadium will make them feel at home instead of making them fear it like Saprissa's.

[Senatore_M84]

mls has restarted....

Watched some yesterday. Quality is improving. Most of goals from last week were quality finishes.

Gret goal yesterday:


marco pappa, guatemalan. 23

Originally Posted by crazy4milan

You know I've always wondered, you might know better than me, what the hell was Charlie Davies doing past midnight driving? They were concentrated...

umm he was a passanger.....He was out at a club. As I recall he hadn't had a drink, but it didn't matter anyway since usa had clinched and he wasn't going to start.



He's lucky to be alive. They basically cut his face off to stop internal bleeding in his brain. The scar is nasty.


BTW the drunk woman.... got 2 years in prison