Posted on 05/28/2014 4:04:44 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Second-half substitutes Mix Diskerud and Aron Johannsson scored to lift a heavy legged United States over Azerbaijan 2-0 on Tuesday night in the first of three World Cup warmups for the Americans.
On a night when captain Clint Dempsey was scratched just before kickoff because of a sore left groin, the 14th-ranked Americans had trouble breaking down No. 85 Azerbaijan.
Diskerud, a Norweigen-American wearing the No. 10 jersey that freed up when Landon Donovan was cut from the roster last week, entered in the 71st and scored four minutes later off Brad Davis' free kick.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
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The former Real Madrid player was injured in training at the Dutch team camp, currently being held in Portugal. Medical tests have determined that he will not be able to recover in time for the tournament in Brazil, which kicks off on 13th June.
Wearing traditional clothing including feather headdresses and face paint, about 500 chiefs mainly from the Amazon basin joined another 500 protesters rallying for various social causes in Brasilia's government square and began marching toward the capital's World Cup stadium. As mounted police moved to block the march, some of the indigenous demonstrators rushed their horses and fired arrows in their direction.
I'd like to see some tradition, bringing back navy blue (not royal) and the 1950-type sash each World Cup in some version, like the 2003, 2004, and 2006 Thirds kit.
The sash distinctly says "USA" World Cup.
But without the 3/4 sleeve.
And, of course, the 1950 World Cup jersey that started the USA/Sash jersey:
Not all pressures are created equal, of course, and not all have equal effects. But if we assume for the moment that some situations are naturally more pressurised than others — that a penalty shoot-out in a World Cup semi-final is, for example, generally more pressurised than one in training — then it's perhaps fair to suggest the following.
Leaving aside those cold places in history where fascism, sport and war have coincided, when people have played football in the fear that the wrong result could cost them their lives, this Brazil side that will compete for the 2014 World Cup are about to embark on the most pressurised footballing campaign of all time.
After all, Brazil start with a pretty high bar: they're Brazil.
When it comes to tradition, however, how long did it take you to pick out the Netherlands home and Argentina home? Spain home? Brazil? Our away kit looks French this year, to me. Our national colors have never been red, white, and royal blue.
I demand the sash!
After 33 minutes of the second half, with the score at 1-1, the Uruguayan winger Alcides Ghiggia darted into box and from a wide position shot to the left of Moacir Barbosa, the Brazilian keeper.
"I have never forgotten that moment," says Joao Luiz, who is now 75. "It is still with me. I was right behind the goalposts. It happened in my face!"
The Maracana -- crammed with 200,000 people, the largest crowd ever present at a soccer game -- fell silent. The Brazilian players were unable to respond and, when the whistle blew a dozen minutes later, Uruguay were unexpectedly world champions.
To fans in the stadium like Joao Luiz, the shock was a personal trauma. "Every time I hear mention of Uruguay I still get anxious," he says. "It is like a person who was once bitten by a dog and gets twitchy each time he hears a bark."
If Luis Suarez plays up to form, Uruguay could do it again.
Assuming Suarez heels from his knee injury in time.
Love that 1950 uniform.
Sash Rage!
Honduras’ uniform is such a give up with the “H”. Come on guys, at least try to come up with a badge, for crying out loud.
Suarez was the Premier League's leading scorer with 31 goals this season, despite missing the opening five matches through suspension.
It could have been worse. The jerseys were originally supposed to be tie-dyed in 1994, two years before the Lithuanian Olympic basketball team broke out the (Grateful Dead-sponsored) tie-dyed warmups and uniforms.
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