Here we go again ! The United States national men's team wins the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition...again, beating Mexico 2-1, sunday.

Sixty thousand people at Soldier Field, in Chicago, will remember this event and the Alfred Hitchkock's type of suspense scenario. With Mexico scoring first, right before half-time, and a US team without great inspiration, the American fans could worry...

Hopefully, the penalty kick transformed by Landon Donovan (the best US player in this competition, according to me) at about half hour before the end, kicked the Americans back in the game. Feilhaber finished the job about 10 minutes later.

The USA wins its second Gold Cup title in a row, proving that soccer is not only a "latino" supremacy. Sure, Mexico is still a great soccer country...Now, coach Bradley's team is heading to Venezuela for the Copa America. Another Challenge. I'm sure the Americans have a good card to play at a competition where no one is expecting them to shine.

Already ! It's already done. After its second victory in a row, the US Men's team has insured its qualifications to the quarter finals in the Gold Cup competition.

Bradley's boys only had to wait a short half hour to concretise a real domination against Trinidad & Tobago yesterday at the Home Depot Center, in Carson California, which is also the National Training Center. At home, after the victory against Guatemala earlier this week, two goals (one in each half) were enough to condemn a team of Trinidad not very well inspired. Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson were the heroes of the day.

But not only. I particularly liked Justin Mapp's performance. What a game. He gave the impression, everytime he touched the ball, to "give air" to his teamates. I want to enlight also the great entry, in the second half, of my favourite Donovan.

Coach Bradley, still, took some risks in changing a lot the composition of the team, right in the middle of the competition. He did well and proved that the USA had a quality team.

With 6 points, the Americans are sure to move to the quarter finals. Last game of group B will be in Foxborough (Massachusetts) in two days against El Salvador. Piece of cake ? 

Well, well, well, it might be too late, but after the US Women's national team lost 4-0 against Brazil after the Worl Cup semi finals yesterday, it looks like coach Greg Ryan feels the heat. His coaching is very critized and now ex-players want Ryan gone.

In public statement today, former stars Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm said the coach failed on tactical and motivational levels. "People say this is a step back, but I think Greg Ryan has put us three steps back – all the way to the starting gate," said Chastain. "He lacks the ability to communicate and is not in tune with his players, and he's obviously not a tactician or he wouldn't have made the decisions he did".

What's your opinion about this ?

Too bad. The girls of the U.S. National Women's team won't make it. The Americans were defeated 4-0 by Brazil in the semi-final of the World Cup, in China. It's hard and the score is severe. An "autogoal" on corner to start, an unfair red card on Boxx...Then the Brazilians did the rest, and we have to admit they're a strong team. I bet on them against Germany for the final.

So the Americans will face Norway for the 3rd place match, on sunday. Probably one of the saddest game to play in a career. Especially if you lose it. So Long, and thank you !

Wambach, Boxx and Lilly. Three girls, three names, three goals. And the United States National Women's team moves to the World Cup Semi-Finals. 3-0 against England, the Americans couldn't dream better. Not only was there no contest of their superiority on the field, but it's excellent news on the psychological front, in a competition where moral and determination is as important as physical conditions. Now, among the last four teams remaining, everything is possible.

The USA will play Brazil on Sept. 27 at Dragon Stadium in Hangzhou (live on ESPN 2 at 8.00 am US Eastern Time). The Brazilian won against a strong Australian team 3-2 in the quarter finals. On September 26th, the other semi-final will be a European confrontation between Germany and Norway. Who wants to bet ?

Continue to follow the competition on OleOle ! And Go Girls !

The 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup is already almost half the way in China. It's a big reharsal for the country one year before the Olympics in Beijing, next summer. The great news is that the US National team is doing great...As usual, I'd like to say. The girls beated Nigeria 1-0 today, with Lori Chalupny scoring after only 53 seconds ! Under a huge rain in Shanghai. Enough to have great memories for the future. It's her first goal in a World Cup.

The US had the guts and the talent to get out of the "group of death", composed by Nigeria, North Korea and Sweden. "I'm very proud of my players because this is a very difficult group" said Coach Greg Ryan. The Scandivians are out and the Koreans will also advance to the quarter...facing Germany.

Saturday, live on ESPN 2 at 8.00 AM ET, the US will play England in the quarter final match.

That's it, the big day has arrived. For every football/soccer fan in Europe, tuesdays and wednesdays  are holly evenings. The 2007-2008 UEFA Champions League starts today. As a French man, I will support Marseille (which won the continental title in 1993 against AC Milan) and Lyon, our six times in a row national champions. Marseille faces tonight Besikats Istanbul at home and Lyon travels tomorrow to Barcelona ! If you like French football, don't hesitate to come on the French OleOle site (www.oleole.fr) to comment, chat, write, react about these games. Have fun !

Soldier Field, Chicago, last Saturday. Brazil wins a 4-2 victory over the U.S. national men's team. OK, looks logical. But what's weird is the Americans always give me the impression that they're still new at this sport and still learning. For how long should we consider the USA as a beginner ? 4-2 against Brazil, it might not seem so shameful. But it looks like the Brazilians really took it easy during this match. And when I think at the desastrous Copa America for the US, after a pretty good Gold Cup (that's true), I'm pessimistic. The US played several World Cup and seems to forget the vertu of experience. Am I too hard on them ?

As we annonced in exclusivity and before everyone else last saturday, the U.S. national men's team will play Brazil on September 9th in Chicago (Soldier Field).

Coach Bob Bradley annonced the roster for the very next game, which will be against Sweden on August 22nd in Goteborg. It's highly probable that the most or the whole 19 men roster will be on the field against the Brazilians. Here it is :

Goalkeepers  – Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
Defenders  – Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
Midfielders – DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
Forwards – Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Kamani Hill (VfL Wolfsburg), Josh Wolff (1860
Munich), Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96)

 

EXCLUSIVE OLEOLE
This is exclusive OleOle news ! The U.S. Men's National team will play Brazil on September 9th at Soldier Field in Chicago ! Coach Bradley's guys will face the most prestigious soccer nation in the world, which just won the Copa America.

This game will take place instead of Mexico vs. U.S.A, that was originally planned in Mexico City at the Azteca Stadium and was cancelled.

I'm sure you fans have some reaction to this ;-)