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Thursday night land marked another milestone for the MLS as Real Salt Lake opened their new stadium Rio Tinto, with no football logos or hashes, in Sandy, Utah and what a powerful opening it was.
If you had told me you were going to blind fold me and teleport me to a soccer game somewhere in the world, I would have guess somewhere in the north of England or Scotland. There were chants, boos, drums, and even bagpipes to serenade the newly relocated home team.
The field was unblemished, with brand new, top quality soccer equipment everywhere you look. When Real Salt Lake, which sits on the same latitude as Real Madrid, scored through Jamison Olave at the end of the first half the crowd erupted as if Newcastle Utd had scored the winner in a north east derby.
Soccer hasn't just arrived in the US, it is growing faster than any other sport thanks largely to David Beckham and other notable foreign imports.
What an experience. Thank you MLS! Thank you RSL fans!
The season is taking shape and it appears that some premier-SHIPS have left the habour and others are already sinking. Man. City break the bank audaciously to land Robinho, the Brazilian step over master, while further north Newcastle are losing the leagues most patient and most loyal fans, and rightly so...
How can an owner fully hold the manager accountable while attaching restrictive puppet-like strings to his every move? Just 2 weeks after a middle-east based company shocks the world and shells out on Man. City to make them an instant contender to the top four, one desperate fan says "Who in their right mind will want to buy Newcastle United?".
Without disrespect you have to admit that a home loss for the Toon Army to new boys Hull was the coming true of an inevitable nightmare. In the face of adversity they could have it worse; who would have guessed that the near Champions' League qualifiing buster of 3 years ago, Tottenham, would be 3 points adrift at the bottom of the table? Shocking!
We're one month in and the Premiership is as alive as ever!
Euro 2008 hit a new level of quality as David Villa his the tournament's first hat-trick in a fascinating game that could have ended 9-3! Russia started off brightly, but Spain took their early chances and continued to create more.16-6 on shots in favor of Spain is incredible. It's not possible to watch a game of such high quality and want to cheer for a clean, free flowing Spanish team to win!The mastermind Hiddink now has his work cut out. It is not all lost yet, but their next game is critical. In today's second game saw Sweden's Ibrahimovic connect on a stunning, edge of the area, shot that was simply unstoppable! That was followed up with a second as Greece looked a shadow of reigning champions and failed to clear the ball from their own area. Only one clear winner here in Salzburg.
Huge games on show today, Romania play the injury hit France and Dutch orange pit themselves against the World Champions Italy. Great day for soccer - here are my predictions:
Romania 1 v 2 France
Netherlands 2 v 2 Italy
Enjoy!
The other home nation and 92nd Fifa ranked team Austria took to the field today and some may look at it as a victory. They definitely came with purpose and played with heart. They made a dark horse team, that topped the group a tough group in qualifying and knocked England out at Wembley , look ordinary.
Then came, who many deem the favorites... Germany. A good solid performance that prevented their neighbors Poland from getting their first ever win against them. Poland played a very dangerous offside trap, that put them 1-0 early on and they were never able to recover.
so four games and four shut outs so far.
Then in the western world, we had a non-euro 2008 game with the World's top team, #1 ranked Argentina taking on the USA in East Rutherford, NJ where a referring odity saw a US player sent off in the 71st minute. Argentina soon decided to even it up and have a ten on ten battle and the US nearly stole it at the death, but it ended a goalless affair as they set a record for the largest attendance to watch the US Men's Soccer team at 78,682... who said "Soccer" wouldn't take o
We're under way with Euro 2008. Definitely a European style opening ceremony! You have to admire the roly-poly people in circle formation!
First up Host nation Switzerland v Czech Republic and then later the Dancing Portugal v Turkey.
I'm going for a 1-1 draw with the Swiss and Czechs.
Then I say the Portuguese edge out Turkey in an open encounter 2-1.
Ok, are you sick of overpaid sports anchors or washed up players claiming they know the game better?
It is now time to show your knowledge of the game in the Euro 2008 Championship Prediction game. Register at www.PredictTheEuros.com then join SoccerSkillsPro mini-league with code: 24667and we'll see who really knows their stuff.
On the Eve of Soccer's (or Football's) second most prestigious tournament, fans from all over the world gather to crown a new European Soccer Champion at Euro 2008.
Now this isn't just any tournament, this isn't eleven versus eleven, this is country versus country, it is the whole of Germany, the whole of Spain, the whole of Russia, this is what fans live for.
The big question is who will show up? who is going to take it the cup? Most people forget that Greece are the defending Champions, when they stole the show from Portugal four years ago and putting themselves on the map before hosting the Olympic games. The Greek Gods were smiling.
We have the...
Mental tough young Germans who always play well at tournament time.
There's the aged French with the experience of winning.
The upcoming Russians under the guidance of technical genius Hiddink.
The dancing Portuguese with dazzling moves and the World's best player.
The perennial underachieving Spanish who boast huge overall talent.
The world Champion Italians who have mastered the art of winning.
The Dutch orange with the passionate fans - will they be sounding the last chorus?
And there's always home town optimism and don't forget the Swiss took the Italians to penalties just 2 years ago!
The Dark Horses
Many don't see them as a 'dark horse' but you have to fancy Russia. Hiddink just knows how to get 110% from his players. Just look at South Korea in 2002 and his masterminded the demise of the English in qualifying.
I'll also take the Swiss. Recently sound in defense plus they are at home. I see a great start against the Czechs and some close low scoring games.
Also, watch out for under-the-radar Holland to make a run.
The Favorites
Obviously Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal are up there. However, I would highlight the Spanish to finally put the critics to rest.
It all starts tomorrow. May there be many goals, dramatic shootouts and may the best team win!
