Iraq won its 1^st ever Asian Cup title on Sunday as they defeated 3 time winners Saudi Arabia 1-0.

It was fitting that the lone goal came from captain and top striker, Younis Mahmoud, whose towering header at the back post (from an Iraqi corner) in the 71st min. was enough for the war-torn nation to lift the trophy.

The Iraqis showed the greater courage on the day as the Saudis looked a bit fatigued and lacked any real creativity to unlock a stingy Iraqi defense that only gave up 2 goals throughout the tournament.

Perhaps the only real downside to the beleaguered nation’s triumph was the fatalities that occurred after both their semifinal and final wins. As if the death toll in the Middle Eastern region wasn’t enough, excess celebratory gunfire and bombings also ended in loss of lives.

The country will now turn its attention to World Cup Qualifiers, but it seems Iraq will have to do without Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira, who has decided to call it quits having taken Iraq to an indescribable victory.

 

To read July 28, 2007 Edition, Click here

To learn more about Aerobic Soccer Training, Click here

Now that the Superliga and International club friendlies are getting underway in the MLS mid-season, one could say that the media coverage of the Beckham sightings was not just overkill, but maybe even narrow-minded.

MLS executives should have put their media use to better use with some coverage and promotion of unveiling the Superliga program and other friendly matches that MLS has worked together in conjunction with La Liga de Mexicana and other top professional clubs during this league intermission.

With 8 teams involved in the mid-season Superliga tournament, the lack of coverage really cuts at the national fan base and attention by keeping potential fans at a loss as to what is actually happening from a league stand-point.

It is not everyday that Americans get the chance to witness teams like America, Chivas, Pachuca, and Boca Juniors bring their game to our stadiums. Much more should have been done to market these exciting fixtures, to foster a national attention that games like these deserve.

And no knock intended for the Spanish-language stations doing justice by covering these events, but an American fan should not have to rely on Univision to get a sight of the games. In fact we should be looking at their broadcasting methods and learning how to package games for air-time.

It is the experience and exposure of games like these, not the star-status of name dropping, that will both develop and promote the sport by bringing up the level and awareness of every player and fan in America.

 

MLS clubs sides, the Galaxy and the Dynamo are the only teams to collect all 3 pts. in the opening matches of the SuperLiga, a pre- and mid-season tournament involving 4 clubs from both Mexico and the US.

The Galaxy edged Pachuca 2-1 while Houston defeated Club America 1-0. In the other 2 matches FC Dallas managed a 1-1 tie against Chivas de Guadalajara while Morelia scratched back a 1-1 stalemate with DC United.

The games were competitive enough, but the American clubs have produced to too many heavy, rough and tumble fouls while the referees seemed to have swallowed the whistle and are not protecting the creative aspects of the game by allowing cynical fouls to go unpunished.

Otherwise, the Mexican teams have demonstrated their ability to hold and advance the ball in possession far better than their American counterparts. I hope everyone north of the border is taking note of this as we must get our own teams to display this level of congruency in our own game.

Well, whatever your view is on the Mexican/American Soccer debate and this SuperLiga, tune in this weekend to catch the 2^nd round of matches which will feature:

SAT., JULY 28, 2007
FC Dallas vs. CF Pachuca, Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas, 8 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chivas de Guadalajara, (TBD), 10 p.m. ET

SUN., JULY 29, 2007
D.C. United vs. Club América, RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., 8 p.m. ET
Houston Dynamo vs. Morelia, Roberston Stadium, Houston, Texas, 10 p.m. ET 

This Sunday the AFC Asian Cup Final will feature Iraq and Saudi Arabia in a Middle Eastern contest for the 2007 crown of Asia.

The Saudis defeated rival heavyweights Japan (also with 3 Asian Cup titles) in a 3-2 semifinal goal-thriller and now have the chance for regional soccer supremacy by lifting the Asian Cup for the 4th time.

Their opponent, Iraq, has some how transcended immeasurable circumstances to reach the final, overcoming Vietnam and then South Korea in the knock-out stages. Even with the easier route to the final, the Iraqi players are a testament of what cooperation and unity can achieve, if only in the world sport.

Of course you would never think about betting against the Saudis in this one, but if Iraq pulled out the miracle, it would be the Cinderella of cinderella-dreams.

 

Defending u-20s World Cup Champions Argentina defeated Austria 2-1 on Sunday to win its 6th Championship title. The Argentineans have proved to be the best in the business, having won 5 of the last 7 tournaments and will be aiming to add a 3rd consecutive title come 2009.

Argentina actually started off the tournament with 0-0 draw against the Austrians and needed all off their experience against a physical Austrian side which actually took the lead in the 2nd half from a wonder-strike by Martin Fenin. After receiving the ball inside the penalty with his back to goal, the Austrian striker turned and hit a stunning opener.

The Argentines, however, kept their cool and leveled the score immediately as tournament’s top scorer and most-valuable player Sergio Aquero rolled the ball coolly past the Austrian keeper after being spotted alone by midfielder Ever Banega.

With the game looking destined for overtime striker Mauro Zarate then scored the winner in the dying minutes for the Argentines to claim the title in Canada.

Of course the quality of the Argentines can not be denied as players like Aquero and Zarate are already reeking havoc in the Argentine and European professional leagues.

Having proved a goal-scoring phenom at Independiente, Aquero now plies his trade for Atletico Madrid in Spain while Zarate has also shown the scoring touch in big games for Velez Sarsfield.

The sheer amount of quality players churning out of Argentina has every other country green with envy and miles behind the South American giant.

Ready, Set, Action! Thank you Soccer Gods, it’s almost over–the MLS All-Star game is done and dusted (hopefully forever) and the Grant Hill-like suspense of will-he-or-won’t-he-play in regards to tomorrow’s mid-season Galaxy/Chelsea friendly for David Beckham. It will soon be back to the modest grindstone of MLS league season matches on Sunday.

Objective oversight and biased generalizations are always on the tips of the tongues of US Soccer Administrators when it comes down to justifying soccer decisions in the US. Yet, when it comes down to the Nickelodeon-style marketing campaigns like the MLS All-Star Game, I guess one can see their need for words.

With the mere appearance of David Beckham to promote a mid-season friendly, a half-time show that smacked of budget constraints, or inept production, and an average European opponent in the historic, yet limited, Celtic United, MLS must really be grasping at straws when they continually have to remind the public that the league is producing top quality ball.

Don’t they know not to call a mule a donkey by now (or something like that)? Unfortunately, in all the uproar of hype, it seems the marketing geniuses actually forgot to remind the public of the game (a Thursday night?).

The necessity for the league to turn out a baseball- or basketball-style format to the season is an enigma. Who ever heard of an All-Star game that played a team outside the league anyway? And does anybody really believe that Celtic connotes “all-star” status? (No offense to the Celtic faithful!)

With everybody always raving about the progress of MLS soccer, I guess they have forgotten to sit down and actually watch a match. The best thing for everybody to do is to catch every minute of the game this Sunday between New England and Houston (as the leaders of their respective conferences) and ask themselves “is it really worth watching?”

For all their Senior-side heartbreaks, Argentina looks likely to win their 6th u-20s World Cup Championship title this Sunday when they kick-off against the Czech Republic.

Argentina did away with the tournament’s best defensive side in Chile in the semis to continue their impressive success. Coming into the game, Chile had not conceded a goal, but finally felt the sting of 3 in this one to leave them branded in the fields.

Of course the fact that they were also shown 2 red cards had the Chileans fuming that foul play was at hand, and ugly scenes followed as the referees were in flight as angry fans and players demanded some type of restitution to no avail.

In contrast to the fiery and tempestuous all-South American semi, the Czech’s 2-0 victory over Austria looked like a sterile affair. The Czech’s claimed the game by the 15th min. as they put 2 goals away against an Austrian side that seemed to have nothing left after their over-time victory against the Americans.

The same will probably be said for the Czechs though after this one. Watch out for another Argentine stampede this weekend!

 

If you haven’t noticed savages, Manchester United’s pre-season football tour is not the only soccer being played in Asia. Real World Football is being played in the Far East as the AFC Asian Cup reaches its quarterfinal stage.

Stagnate giants of Group A and B, Australia and Japan will face off in the first quarterfinal match on Saturday followed by a surprise match-up between Iraq and Vietnam in the other quarterfinal.

Both Japan and Australia staggered through the opening round games with inconsistent form, receiving heavy criticism from every possible angle. Still 2-time Defending Champions, Japan finished top of Group B while the surprise form of Iraq bested Australia in Group A. Now all 3 have a chance at glory.

The pressure for the Japanese actually seems to be mounting as they will face a tough test against Australia and as defending champions have everything to lose. Iraq should have no real problems with Vietnam and seems to have one foot already in the semis.

On Sunday, Iran will play South Korea. Iran topped Group C while the Koreans, teetering on elimination, had to pull out a 1-0 victory against Indonesia in their final group match to sneak by in Group D.

Saudi Arabia will play surprise newcomers Uzbekistan in the final quarterfinal match. Uzbekistan trounced China 3-0 in a critical final Group C match for the opportunity to confront Saudi Arabia, who came through winners of Group D.

As for semifinal predictions, 1st time participants Australia will sink the Japanese and meet up with Iraq, easy winners over Vietnam. The other match will see Iran, just edging out South Korea, play the Saudis, who will end Uzbekistan’s wildest dreams.

Argentina was duly given a dose of déjà vu on Sunday, playing second fiddle to their South American neighbors yet another time. It only took 4+ minutes for Brazil to inflict another Argentine title wound in the Copa America Final in Caracas.

Julio Baptista, the wayward Brazilian attacker, was on the end of a quick and early counter to blast the under-performing Brazilians into the lead, and Brazil never looked back.

Coming in on high style and goals, Requilme, Veron and Co. could not unlock a stingy Brazilian defense on the day—bringing back the stale taste of defeat for Alfio Basile and the crew. The momentum and class of the previous matches unfulfilled once again as Argentina came up short of answers when it mattered most.

Brazil grabbed some opportunistic insurance as defender Roberto Ayala was forced to put through on his own net—as Argentina scrambled back to try and stop another effective Brazilian counter right before halftime.

In the 2nd half nothing changed as Brazil continued to disrupt and cancel out Argentina’s attacking rhythm. Brazilian defender, Dani Alves then heaped up all the laurels for Brazil when he scored in the 69th min., ending all hope for the finally defeated Argentineans.