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Chicagoans are in for another soccer treat this year when the United States National Team hosts Brazil at Soldier Field on September 9. Originally the 'Nats were slated to play Mexico in Mexico in what would have been a rematch of the 2007 Gold Cup final that took place earlier this summer in Chicago. Due to financial problems that game has been called off, though Chicagoist thinks it might have something to do with the U.S. continuing to dominate Mexico as of late. Others more accurately believe it has to do with television rights for the game.
Instead the United States and Brazil will meet in what U.S. Soccer is promoting as the "Clash of the Champions" when they take on five-time World Cup Champions, Brazil. The "Clash of the Champions" does not refer to World Cup Championships but instead regional championships as the U.S were 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup champs and Brazil were this year's winners of the CONMEBOL Copa America.
Brazil has dominated the United States, winning 11 out of 12 match-ups. The lone U.S. victory came in the 1998 Gold Cup when goalkeeper Kasey Keller served up a shutout while Preki scored the game winner. A Washington D.C. based rock group celebrated Keller's shut and the historic victory for the United States by recording one of the best soccer songs ever written, "Kasey Keller".
This visit will serve as Brazil's first trip to Chicago. The game will also air live on ESPN2 and Univision. Tickets for this event are pricey, ranging from $40 - $250 and go on sale to the public on Friday (There is a pre-sale on Thursday for registered USSoccer.com fans). Chicagoist's only complaint is the date of the event, which falls on the first Sunday of NFL action which will likely limit the game's exposure to soccer purists.
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Chicagoist's only complaint is the date of the event, which falls on the first Sunday of NFL action which will likely limit the game's exposure to soccer purists.
I think you meant "football" purists. I doubt there is much overlap between fans of the silly American game and football fans.
Guest #1's right about the lack of overlap between football and soccer. Anybody dead enough to sit through a game where the contestants frantically run around for an hour or so to score one point, maybe, isn't going to be able to follow anything as complicated as real football. Folks like Guest #1 would probably be better served by staying home and watching cricket on BBC.
Guests 1/2
both sports are filled with idiots who don't deserve 2-3 hours of anyone's time. morons who sound sophisticated with their Euro accents are still morons all the same. and NFL players are too stupid to do anything "complex"
having an argument about whether grown men kicking a ball in a net or trying to end up in a zone with a ball is better demeans both of you.
the only fun from either sport is the drinking that takes place beforehand.
#3 must prefer baseball, because he speaks like a true Cubs fan.
That's a lot of money to pay to see Brazil's 5th string players.
I guess the first commenter is right that the majority of the fans that will be at the Brazil game would call it football over soccer. Either way I disagree that there is no such thing as fans of soccer and American football. I will be at the Brazil v. U.S. game with my DVR recording the days NFL action for viewing later that night.
I also disagree with Guest5.0 who thinks it will be a 5th string team. Brazil begins World Cup qualifying this year and this game falls during an international friendly window so U.S. officials are expecting Brazil to bring first stringers including two-time FIFA Player of the Year Ronaldinho.
guest #5 here.
chicagoisttodd - Recent history suggests FC Barcelona is not going to allow their most prized property to miss the first regular season games for a friendly that has no bearing on world cup qualifying. I'm sure France is playing a few friendlies this Fall too - will FCB let Henry go off for those? Doubtful.
The reason I think we will see a top squad is that the date was selected to coincide with a break in the European club schedule play to allow for international games.
FC Barcelona is off that week of this game as are clubs in the EPL, Italian Serie A and German Bundesliga and French La Liga.
Now will their club coaches let their players play in an international friendly so early in their club season and risk injury, not sure. But, I am optimistic we will see a strong side.
#2: I totally agree. Anyone who would prefer watching a bunch of supersized bruisers participating in a spectacle rigged to ensure that they beat the living crap out of each other is not going to enjoy watching a REAL athletic competition.
My advice to you is to stay home and watch Sumo wrestling or the W.W.F. reruns - the closest things to American "Fatball".
A real athletic competion? These guys fall to the ground acting like they are Jesus on the Cross if another player comes within a foot of them, only to get up perfectly fine thirty seconds later. And the officals amazingly believe it every time.
Soccer guys are such pansies, growing up in the suburbs having their wealthy parents drive them to the field to play with the other J-Crew advertisements.
Watch a triathalon if you want to see real athletes.
You're in America, so don't bother calling soccer football. I don't go to England and correct everyone who calls a shitter a loo, do I? If it's a bunch of people chasing a round ball around for a day or two and comes out with a score of 1-0, then it's soccer.
And that's my problem with soccer. These little guys run around for months, it seems like, and pull off what seems like incredible shots, only they never go anywhere, and they never have any bearing on the outcome of the game. I don't care how awesome a kick Mr. Spice Boy can pull off, if nobody scores off it, or if it doesn't contribute to someone eventually scoring, then it doesn't matter. It's just boring.
What do mean the shots never have any bearing on the outcome of the game and that nobody scores off Mr Spices kicks? Were you not glued to your TV on Wednesday night watching the Beckham Cam when he scored his first goal for the Galaxy? Check it out: http://tinyurl.com/33hpqc
Um, no, I wasn't glued to the TV, because it's absurd to waste time watching a sport where it takes that long for an overpaid athlete to score his first goal. That's exactly the point I'm making. He's been in the game for weeks now, and he's just now getting around to scoring? And you think that's somehow exciting. B-O-R-I-N-G.
I was being sarcastic about you being glued to your TV, I kind of get the impression you are not interested in the sport. But, to be accurate Beckham has been here for weeks but has been recovering from an injury and has played minimal minutes. To have scored a goal and provided an assist in his first start is pretty impressive actually.
Which, again, is why the sport sucks. I don't think Beckham sucks ... he certainly deserves to be one of the highest earners in his sport. I just don't think a top earner in soccer--especially American soccer-- justifies that kind of money. I think a good sport is one in which it's not all that impressive when someone contributes to scoring in his first start, because scoring actually happens on a semi-frequent basis.