In our last few newsletters, we have been talking about things that make the sport of soccer “the beautiful game.” For this issue, we’ve decided to shift gears and address the nuts-and-bolts aspect of hard work. Yes that’s right! Hard Work! Not everybody can be a Romario and saunter around the field applying only one touch to the game, if necessary, to score a goal.

This article is for the little Makeleles, Gattusos and Armases out there, that put in all the heart and hard running for your teams. Without them there would be no Zidanes, Totties and Donavans to adorn the fields with their immaculate skills.

Sometimes we forget that without work rate, skills are often hidden. The skills are hidden beneath one hundred balls that were never received, because the player was too lazy or inexperienced to go get it. How can you show your skills if you never have the ball? Would you choose an excellent player who is lazy, with no work rate?

Most coaches would settle for a less technical player if they have the fitness base and work ethic to make up for their less-refined touch.

Do get us wrong! We’re not saying that work rate and work ethic is superior to being technically superb. We’re just reminding you that you can have all the skill in the world, but if you don’t work and hustle for your team, the only games you’ll be playing in are the pickup games on the weekends.

Obviously, the positions that most come under fire, when it comes to Soccer Industry, are the forward and attacking midfield roles. Be sure to remind and stress to your young players that defensive effort and focused running is essential to every position on the field. Without it we are only a fraction of the complete, total player. Even if you have incredible skill, fighting for the ball in your position whenever it comes close will give you more chances to display what you already have.

We recommend that every player develop an understanding of every positional role in the game. Don’t let your players specialize in only one aspect of the game, especially in training where no harm can be done when exposing players to other positions.

During this time of positional experimentation make sure that the players are working and making decisions as fast as they possibly can. At first it is enough to just get them to move constantly, but after that the real reward comes when they can make decisions while moving at that pace.

A final tip: when your players are good enough, possession games for 5 to 7 minute intervals will keep their work rate up. The reason is because there are no goals, except to keep possession for 7 to 10 passes. This will have your team playing more fluid and specific players will not be able to make any positional excuses up.

The industrious players will rise out of possession games, and the lazy will kick the ground.

Dallas defeated the Rapids (2-1) and take the advantage home for the 2nd leg of this Western Conference playoff showdown.

Dallas took the lead horrifically after a throw-in from half-field allowed for “El Pescadito” to reel in a little goal. Carlos Ruiz “The Little Fisherman” turned one Rapid defensemen impersonating a cone, dismissed Pablo Mastroeni with a one-finger push, then met an ex-Real Madrid player at the penalty spot before rolling the ball under a flapping keeper.

The Rapids had to rely on their South American connection of Niko Presly (the best Elvis lip impersonator) and Martins “the Brazilian Mountain Man” to scrape back some dignity. Despite Colorado’s general three-stooge-esque interpretation of the game, Presly and Martins tried their best to make it a true fight. Martins stole Kyle Beckermen’s chip-into an on-running teammate and hammered a turning, side volley off the post that made the ball flash across its mouth. Cooke the midfielder from the opposite side finished a sound move that proved not all comedy ends bad.

Dallas despite barely showing up themselves scored the winner early in the 2nd half when the defender (I think his name is Gangrene, whatever makes your leg fall) confused himself and step up to the mark in-front of him, leaving someone free behind. The Dallas Maverick was fast enough on the draw to take a touch and finish far post.

Unfortunately, Martins, the Mountain Man and possibly Colorado’s best player, let the passion boil over and was sent off for a deliberate and unwarranted elbow.

It is free parking in Dallas for the spectators on the return leg. Saturday’s game should serve up some laughs as probably the loser in the Western Division finals will be decided.

Colorado gets a Savage Hammer!

The top two teams in Germany will face off on Saturday. Werder Bremen plays host to Bayern Munich at the Westerstadion, hoping to edge ahead of the defending Champions at the top of the table.

With the addition of the Portuguese playmaker, Diego, Bremen is undergoing a resurgence of form, as he adds that little bit of spice needed to enhance the power and industry of players like Klose, Klasnic, Frings, and Borowski. Diego has made an immediate impact scoring goals for Bremen in both league play and the Champions League.

Bayern Munich has shrugged off their sluggish start playing themselves up the table with adequate performances behind their seasoned and structured team. The addition of Podolski has not been as prolific as expected while manager Felix Magath has already called into question his players’ desire in the early stages of league play.

While both teams are attack minded in nature, Bremen holds the advantage as they are playing at home and playing sensational football. Perhaps it is too early for Bayern to have hit full stride, and they could be stabbing at shadows if Diego can conjure his Brazilian magic.

Estudiantes totally demolished their local rivals Gimnasia (7-0) in the La Plata derby this past Sunday to stay within earshot of Boca Juniors and River Plate (both clubs also secured victories at the weekend) in the Apertura 2006. It was the biggest margin of victory in the long history of these two clubs.

The classy veteran Juan Sebastian Veron, who returned to the club where it all started for him, was instrumental to the scoring and undoubtedly put in his best performance since returning and playing under ex-teammate and National team player, Diego Simeone.

Many of the goals were down to his supply of polished and inch-perfect passing. He gave his fellow teammates the opportunities, and they didn’t disappoint. It was his vision that put them through on goal, though it was their finishing touches that wrote them into derby history lore. Jose Calderon hit Gimnasia for a hat-trick of goals while fellow striker, Diego Galvan added a brace. Pavone and Luguerico both added tallies to the rout.

Trailing 3-0 at half-time, Gimnasia did little to help their cause as they had two players sent of in the 2nd half. Their fans also came under scrutiny as a section clashed violently with police. The ill will did not disrupt the game, however, as Estudiantes when on to celebrate in true fashion.

Estudiantes now face lowly side Godoy and will look to bag another three points to sustain the pressure at the top of the table. River Plate looks also to be poised for victory as they host mid-table club, Rosario Central.

Boca have the toughest test this upcoming weekend as they travel to face Racing Club who are also still in the hunt in 4th spot just outside the top three. If Racing can pull the upset then surely the pressure on new manager, La Volpe will begin to boil.

New York emerged victorious (3-2) in the most crucial match of the MLS weekend. With the Kansas City Wizards only needing a draw, the game was poised on the razor’s edge, as the team with the result would continue on to the post season.

Arnado Guevara punished the Wizards for suspect defending as he finished twice from the penalty spot. Guevara then scored his third for the hat-trick in the 75th min. with a solo effort.

New York will now face DC United in the first round on Oct. 21 at Giants Stadium with the return leg on Oct. 29 in Washington.

The playoffs are coming, the playoffs are coming. In the Eastern Conference, the last spot is a big toss up, going to either New York or Kansas City, who by the way will be playing on Saturday to decide which team gets to continue on into the postseason.

Unfortunately, this game will not be nationally televised, so you will have to purchase it through Mlsnet.com, or MLS Direct Kick to catch one of the most meaningful games of the season.

Kansas goes into the game at Giants Stadium only needing a draw to grab the final seed; however, they go into the game with a bit of controversy, as manager Brian Bliss has suspended US National team striker, Eddie Johnson for disruptive behavior. Because of Johnson’s poor form, Kansas may not need him on the field anyway, but still the team does not need the negative attention in the most critical game of the season.

Bruce Arena and the New York Red Bulls will be trying to pull off the great escape with a victory. Just after returning from the World Cup, Arena took over a New York organization that had fallen on hard times, and if he can pull out the victory, perhaps he can save face after his fallout with the US National team. Arena will be looking to players like Kovalenko, Guevara, and young upstart, Altidore to give the club a life-line.

England, who played very unimaginative football in the World Cup, continued their poor run of form in their European 2008 Qualifying matches this past week.

While their (2-0) defeat on Wednesday in Croatia unfolded in a bitter and caustic manner, the real shock was their (0-0) draw at home in England to minnows, Macedonia.

England’s failure to score at home in this fixture is complete sacrilege, and for a National team that boasts some of the highest performing and highest paid players in the world, the manner, or lack their of, in which England performed surely points to a National enigma.

Certainly an identity crisis riddles the English team, and the appointment of an English manager, in this case Steve McClaren, has done little to put an English identity back into the squad.

If the English National team were to play in a particular English style, then you would see a National side applying constant pressure, going forward with complete conviction, and simply just playing until their hearts bleed. However, when you watch England, you usually see a conservative side that is clearly organized, but absolutely faceless in their pursuit of victory.

It was not to long ago when the English press and players were boasting a “no fear” demeanor with some really outrageous and immature claims coming out of the English camp. Clearly the hype and euphoric praise of the English stars in the EPL had given the English mentality a false hope that they are just now coming to realize: even the departure of David Beckham was spun to be a necessity for the overall good of the English team.

While the English still played boring and unimpressive soccer with David in the side, at least Becks could get the English on the board.

Even without red-and-white stalwarts Marcelo Gallardo and Arial Ortega, River Plate humbled Boca (3-1) in Argentine’s 171st Super Classico, to pull themselves within just 1 pt. of leaders, Boca Juniors.

River took the lead in a super-charged match with an incredible back-heel from striker Gonzalo Higuain in the 30th min. Boca responded immediately with a strike by red-hot Rodrigo Palacio in the 32nd min., to pull the scores level before half-time.

Higuain scored another great goal in the 2nd half, rounding the keeper and finishing in the 54th min. Farias Ernesto put the game out of reach in the 69th min., finishing off a one-on-one, set up nicely by the through pass of mid-fielder, Bellushci.

Boca has gotten off to an indifferent start under new manager, La Volpe. While Boca is still on top with a game in hand, River has just made the race more interesting in Argentina.

The MLS is hitting a home stretch of regular season games, leading into the post season, where only one of the twelve MLS clubs is already eliminated. Even Los Angeles has the opportunity to pull off déjà vu, as last year they accomplished the same thing—the last seed from the regular season—but winners of the Cup title.

The two toughest games of the week are the match-ups of Real Salt Lake versus Houston and Dallas versus Los Angeles. 5 and 6 facing off against 2 and 1 of the Western Conference in a nail-biter to edge out that last playoff spot.

Western club, Colorado also plays an important match against Eastern club, the New York Red Bulls, as they only have a slight lead over both Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles in the West.

Are the top dogs—DC, Dallas, Chicago, and Houston—going to fight it out for this years MLS Cup title, or is another sleeping club going to emerge as unlikely champions? Write us back with your pick for the 2006 MLS Cup title.

Mexico hosted one of the most intriguing fixtures of club football as the Mexican blood ties of the people, represented by the club Chivas, faced off against “The Eagles” of America, the cultured, debonair sportsmen of Mexico.

The Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara was thumping in appreciation of the rivalry as the game got off to a quick start. Chivas created the most in both playmaking and chances on goal as the American goalkeeper, Ochoa was forced into some very influential saves to keep the scores level.

The interchange and combination play of Chivas’ creative attacking players caused disruption and uncertainty in the American defense time-and-time again, and Bautista, Morales, and Medina were all unlucky to go in goalless at half-time.

America actually started out the better of the two sides in the 2nd half with goal-scoring veteran, Blanco being introduced. The substitution almost paid off as Blanco showed some quality touches and drew two dangerous free-kicks for his team.

Just as the game was about to go off keel, Chivas exploded with 2 goals in the space of three minutes to end any American hope of victory.

The striker, Bautista struck the first goal from distance off a deflected rebound with an outside-of-the-foot bender past a hapless Ochoa. Bautista’s wonder strike was immediately followed by Medina’s, who carved up an American defender deep in the box and delivered a left-footed cracker inside the back post.