SpartanMilan
Milan Legend
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2009
- Messages
- 10,376
- Reaction score
- 2,447
- Location
- New York
- Fav. Players
- Pirlo, Maldini, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Theo
Landon Donavan strongly considering retiring
"The way the stadium is, the fans are right on top of you," said former U.S. national-team coach Bruce Arena. "That's intimidating for players, of course, but even more for officials."
In the old days, the security was nonexistent, almost," Arena said. "It was very tough to get any close call when clearly the officials didn't feel safe."
Arena's vehement arguing against a handball call made by referee Peter Prendergast against defender Gregg Berhalter in 2000 led to a multiple-game suspension for the coach.
Berhalter had a similar take when he recalled the incident. "They were going nuts and the referee was a bit nervous for his life, maybe. He made up a call."
In Arena's day, the stadium actually boasted a grass field, but Costa Rica's rainy season wrecked havoc on it. "A very bad field is worse than a good turf field," said Arena. "That old field was just horrible. They'd get these late-afternoon rains and it would turn into a pit. The heat is also a factor."
The criticisms didn't end there. "The visiting locker rooms, it was as if they'd start preparing them a year in advance -- they'd be filthy," Arena continued. "I leave it to your imagination what can accumulate in that sort of environment. The smell was terrible."
Berhalter had a few words for outsiders who insist that CONCACAF qualifying is a joke. "Go down there and play," said the Galaxy defender. "The Germans, first of all, they'd die of the heat. Second of all, the antics going on would drive them crazy. The fire alarms in the middle of the night, the radio stations blaring in front of your hotel. The 12 o'clock kickoff in the middle of July. That stuff, they wouldn't deal with that. The sandwiches, the rocks, the batteries."
Though he didn't play in the 3-0 loss, Landon Donovan did dread a return trip to Costa Rica. "Saprissa feels like the most difficult place to play." said Donovan, pointing out events off the ball. "In Salvador, they're a ways away, and even in Azteca, it is a ways away. You can feel it, you can hear the fans right there. It makes it tougher."
I know.Arenas was coach 98-06 and he said in the old days....
so yeah, he's refering to a while ago
Don't do it. Ours is too, because of our own coach decision to use the worse backline available...on March we can get to finally see a 4-5 type of result.US backline is a mess right now. Need to get our shit together
This team is very close to become champions after 73 years. Its perhaps my favorite football story of the year. They were fighting for relegation by the end of December, made some changes and went up, up and up.
They're not my team, but all of us want to see them win the championship. They're one of the 4 big teams in CR (mostly because its the main team in one of the top 4 provinces in CR), though its been frustration after frustration for them...over and over and over. They have been relegated, and have had to fought back from relegation zone several times.
Their province was the first capital city of CR, its beautiful in terms of landscape, but its a running joke around here its the most boring place to be...hell the people from there admit it themselves its boring for a big city. But they've been extremely loyal fans all throughout their lives.
They were around 8th place once and they filled up their stdium cause one of their players was breaking a goalscoring record in a season, and pushed for pks and whatnot. A 92 year old man said on Monday that the only reason he's alive is cause he needs to watch his team winning the 2nd championship in his life.
And I'm telling you, I should resent them, they're the reason my team is out...but deep down all of us want to see them become champions. Vive vive Cartago vive!
what happened to the Brujas FC?
Mrtinique and PAnama with the surprises. Sweet. Gold Cup > WC > Copa America + Euro..
Congrats Juanes!
Mrtinique and PAnama with the surprises. Sweet. Gold Cup > WC > Copa America + Euro..
Congrats Juanes!
Chepo can go eat a dick for all I care.
Same goes for the whole Federation. Mexican NT is a joke.
You bench Oguchi....we bench Sabo bitchez (and Sabo > all your 9s). We underestimate TOO.