The International Fixture

True story

As if the world needed any more evidence that soccer can be a sickness, here's one more piece to add to the pile.

Last night, I had this incredibly vivid dream. Somehow, Bob Bradley had discovered me and called me up to the senior national team for tonight's World Cup qualifier against Guatemala. It's still unclear how exactly he found this 32-year-old middling midfielder who failed to score a single goal in 18 games last season in a co-ed pick-up league in Brooklyn. But suffice it to say, Bob saw a speck of talent here and thought I could bring something unique to the squad.

So I flew down to Guatemala City, and it's about a half-hour before kickoff, and I realized I had forgotten my cleats and shinguards. I imagine in real-life there's probably an equipment manager who handles this for the men's national team, but it seemed perfectly logical in my dream that I would be expected to bring my own. Obviously, I was incredibly embarrassed by this gaffe, particularly since I had to wait for my mother to fly down with my shoes. The clock ticked. I was sweating bullets. Thankfully, at that point, I woke up, sparing myself the humiliation of trying to play in my stocking feet.

It's probably a bad idea to share one's dreams on a soccer blog, but I thought this one was funny. It could have been worse, right? It could have been Pia Sundhage calling me up to play against Brazil tomorrow.

- Tom Meagher

Now that the pesky Olympics are over for the men...

We can finally turn our attention to something truly important Wednesday night: some serious qualifying for the World Cup that officially kicks off in South Africa in barely 22 months.

Even as the ladies remain in Beijing and prepare to face Brazil Thursday morning, the men will be in Guatemala City for CONCACAF qualifying. The game kicks off at 10 p.m. Wednesday on ESPN2.

Which game are you more excited about: the Olympics' gold medal game or the men's WCQ? Where do you plan to watch each game?

- Tom Meagher

Recriminations

It's hard to not be depressed when the first thing you read in the morning--eyes not even entirely open--is "USA Eliminated" on Steve Goff of the Washington Post's Soccer Insider blog.

It makes me glad that I didn't wake up at 4 a.m. to try to watch the game live (I know, I'm a Luddite, and I don't have cable.... Unfortunately, I couldn't find a soccer pub that would open that early for an Olympic match). After seeing the young Americans put on such a solid performance for 44 and a half minutes against Holland last weekend, it's tough to not be devastated by this. I can't really comment on today's game, but I can say I was really hopeful after what I saw against the Dutch. All that optimism was shattered by three stupid mistakes (Adu, Bradley and Holden), and now this loss to Nigeria.

So where do we go from here, U.S. fans? Are we of the glass half-full disposition? The U.S. showed at least for part of a game that it can compete with the top European squads, and the boys got valuable big-time experience that will pay off in World Cup qualifying, in South Africa in 2010 and in Brazil in 2014.

Or do we see this as yet another setback for our domestic game? It could be argued that the U.S. men don't need more practice bouncing out of a major tournament after three games (see World Cups 1990, 1998 and 2006). What they need is practice winning.

Will the 2008 Olympics be remembered as the training ground that led the U.S. to strong quarter- or semi-final finishes in the coming World Cups, or will it be further evidence that despite all the progress we've made as a soccer nation in the past 14 years, we still have a long, long way to go?

The best news for American soccer fans right now is that the U.S. women rebounded from a rough early start in the tournament and seem to be peaking at the right time. They face Canada in a quarterfinal match on Friday morning at 6 a.m.

What's your reaction this morning to the sobering news? Are you gung-ho for the Women's National Team? What men's squad are you supporting now that the young Yanks have bombed out?

- Tom Meagher

Advice for the Beijing squad

On Sunday morning, the U.S. men's Olympic team will face Holland in its second group play match in China. Claudio Reyna, the former U.S. team captain and International Fixture contributor, played in two Olympics (Barcelona and Atlanta), notching two assists and a goal. This week, the man nicknamed Captain America--who has played countless games with Olympian Brian McBride and rising star Jozy Altidore--offered his take on the U.S. Olympic team.

I have no advice for Brian, because he's doing great. I don't need to tell him anything. Hopefully, the guys learn from him what it takes to play at the level he's been playing at and to really enjoy the experience. 

It's a great international tournament and a lot of them will be watched closely by Coach (Bob) Bradley to see how they do now that qualifiers and the World Cup are around the corner. It's a big chance for guys...to be included.It's the normal process: Olympic guys are national team players or promising national team players. It's important that they show well and do well. For some individuals (editor's note: Jozy and Freddy Adu?), a lot is expected of them. There's some really good talent in the team.

We have a tough group...to get out of the group would be great.

Reyna's remarks came before Thursday's 1-0 victory over Japan. Going into the Holland game, the U.S. leads the group with three points. A good result against either Holland or Nigeria can help the team advance to the knockout rounds. The game will be televised at 7:45 a.m. Sunday on USA Network and online.

-as told to Tom Meagher on Aug. 6 at Giants Stadium

Divided loyalties

On Sunday, the U.S. men's National Team hosts Argentina, the number one team in the world, at Giants Stadium. Claudio Reyna, the former U.S. team captain, will support his old teammates. But this son of Argentine immigrants has friends on the visiting team. He'll have plenty to root for on both sides of the pitch.

I'm excited. I'll be going there (to Giants Stadium). Obviously, U.S. is always my team, and I'll be going to the game. It's a great thing. It's going to be a great weekend for the local fans to come watch the U.S. and Argentina, some great players.

Internationals are always fun games to go watch. It's a friendly, so it will be a big test for U.S. players. They'll be getting some good competition leading up to the qualifiers, which for Bob Bradley is the most important thing.

Me, I'll be in the stands. I'll be down (on the field or in the locker room), probably after the game. I have a really good friend on Argentina as well, the captain, Javier Zanetti, who I've spoken to. We're going to get together...

I'm going to go to the game and see them, both teams after (the final whistle). Get my kids down to take pictures. It'll be the best highlight to be able to go down there. I'm going to have 50 to 60 friends and family that I'll be bringing and taking to the game and trying to get tickets for--or have gotten tickets for. I'm trying to get more. It seems like requests are coming up every day.

The U.S. v. Argentina friendly kicks off Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN Classic.

Photo by John Todd / isiphotos.com, through ussoccer.com

-as told to Tom Meagher on May 7 at Montclair State University