Don't Blink Or You'll Miss It

Porchgaters at 6911 for the Women's WC Final who dallied in moving from the back deck to the TV missed the first goal. Those who grabbed an extra hot dog missed the second goal (left).  We did suggest that there were at least  two matches more worthy of the final than the actual final and the 5-2 blowout seems to support that view.  The match is well-chronicled elsewhere so we'll pass on the details. We will suggest that Jill Ellis, US            Dennis Grombkowski via Getty Images  manager, deserves a lot of credit for guiding this team through the tournament.  Off the early performances it was hard to see the US even making it to the final.  But Ellis made adjustments to personnel and formations and found a winning combination.   Also too, the backline of Klingenberg, Sauerbrunn, Johnston, and Krieger was solid, even when the rest of the team was struggling.  Defense wins championships, right Kenz?


Next Competition

The parade for the USWNT hadn't even been held yet but the USMNT began play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.  First, we have to explain what CONCACAF stands for - Confederation of North, Central American and Carribean Association Football.  The Gold Cup is a competition to determine the regional or CONCACAF champion.  The winner will play the US for a berth in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup; if the US win the 2015 Gold Cup, they will automatically get the berth.  Crap, now I have to explain the FIFA Confederations Cup.  This is a eight-team competition involving the six major soccer association champions (Europe, South America, CONCACAF, Africa, Asia, and Oceania) plus the current World Cup Holder plus the host of the next World Cup.  Aside from being a prestigious competition in its own right, the Confederations Cup provides an opportunity to play matches in the some of the venues for the upcoming World Cup, potentially an advantage for the World Cup competition.

Where was I?  Right, the Gold Cup.  This is a 12-team competition.  Teams are divided into groups of four, with first and second and the two best third place sides advancing to knockout rounds.  As you might expect for a regional tournament, the sides know each other well and the competition can be fierce.  And, though the US is the defending champion, it is not a slam dunk for the Yankees, what with teams like Costa Rica and Mexico in the mix.

Despite not playing very well, the US is off to a good start with wins over Honduras (2-0) and Haiti (1-0).  Klinsmann seems to be continuing various experiments -both personnel and formations, some of which are working better than others.  Frankly, Haiti's counterattack on Friday night regularly shredded the US defense and only poor finishing kept them off the board.  Like the USWNT, they are getting results but will have to improve their game if they expect to do well against the better sides.


Less Talk, More Action

Finally, Newcastle have a signing.  Welcome Georginio Wijnaldum.  He is 24 years old, played midfielder for PSV in the Dutch league, was the Dutch Footballer of the Year last season.  He also played for the Netherlands in last summer's World Cup; check out his goal against Brazil in the consolation match.


Wijnaldum is considered a playmaker so we may finally have a replacement for Cabaye.  More importantly, at 14.7 m (pounds), this is atypically rich for a Newcastle signing.  Sure it could be a bust but at least they're making the effort.  Speaking of Cabaye, he'll be back in the EPL, reunited with his former manager Alan Pardew at Crystal Palace.

Ruh-roh, things look a little funky at Aston Villa.  Delph may be heading to Manchester City (late reports now suggests not). Benteke is still in the fold but the vultures are circling.  Vlaar is likely gone too but that may not be a big deal at this point given his age and health.  They may be able to handle the loss of Delph with the signing of Idrissa Gueye, a Senegalese international who was playing in Lille.  Also, Tim Sherwood keeps talking about getting Andros Townsend from Tottenham.

Apparently, Man United may be signing Bastian Schweinsteiger, which would be great news for those of use who like to say "Schweinsteiger."


The Calendar

Gold Cup group play continues through Wednesday (US Monday night a 9:30 on Fox1) with the quarterfinals set for the weekend of 7/18-19 (the US have already clinched so we know they will play at 5 pm on 7/18 on Fox).

The Union have been quiet but return with a home match vs Portland on 7/11 and away at Toronto on 7/18.  Despite a 2-1 loss at Columbus, the Red Bulls remain in the sixth playoff spot; they face New England at home on 7/11, then Orlando away on 7/18.

Wow, for a supposedly quiet time there's a lot to do.