6/9/2014: Beats By Dre Commercial

What a cool commercial by Beats by Dre for the World Cup:


It's also cool to see a little of the US World Cup a little bit of everywhere.



Time to rev up for The Group of Death.

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6/5/2014: Jurgen Klinsmann Master Motivator In Action

Klinsmann Says "US Can't Win World Cup", Delve Down The Motivation Rabbit Hole With Der Jurgen
By Ryan Kozlowski, Der-Jurgen

Jurgen Klinsmann let the cat out of the bag yesterday by telling the New York Times, "The United States cannot win the World Cup."

Someone woke up on the wrong side of Das Wasserbett

Klinsmann must of (finally) seen Timmy Chandler play fall over and "here's the ball other team" too many times.

Or perhaps realized his wing play consists of snail-like pace, MLS stars Brad Davis and Graham Zusi, or his most experienced center back is Sporting Kansas City's Matt Besler.

Besler, in arguably the most important position on a soccer team at a World Cup, only has 16 National Team Caps and 0 World Cups.

But Besler has played Mexico in Azteca.

Which is like saying for the World Cup, I may not be Ronaldo but I have slept at a Holiday Inn.

Whether it was a look at his players or something else that prompted Klinsmann to say "that the US has no chance," why put it out there right now?

Why say it to an entire public that on the whole doesn't get soccer. A public that only checks in every four years? Even if it's true, even if all U.S. Soccer fans secretly know it, is it a message to be putting out there now to those who don't get futebol?

The answer is yes; because it's unheard of by any American coach in any sport to admit defeat before playing.

Der Jurgen wants to stir up some controversy (Landon anyone), so that all Americans tune into his World Cup master stroke, where 19 year old Julian Green (2 former US National Team appearances) scores five goals in the group stage.

There really cannot be any other conclusion, there can't be any other reason to go all defeatist a week before the official start of battle. Right?

Most U.S. Soccer fans are aware of this. But, isn't that what your supposed to do at a World Cup?

Play the game of your life. 

Leave it all on the field. 

Every game?

Other than Brazil or Spain in a Group Stage game, most teams in this tournament need at least 6 out of 7 games of their lives or pretty darn close to hoist the trophy.

Even USA really only needs 6.

If the stars and stripes get blown out in one group game no big deal. The United States can still win the other two and they'll get to the knockout round with 6 points.

Or sometimes they don't need any game of their life performances to get out of their group; as in the 2010 World Cup the United States played 0 games of their lives but made it to the final 16.

Think about it. I wouldn't consider any of the US performances against England, Slovenia, or Algeria in 2010 to be game of their life inspiring.

Really the only World Cup game I would put the Game of Their Lives tag on was USA vs. Germany in the Quarterfinal of the 2002 World Cup, and the US lost.

But, either way, I digress.

The real problem with this message isn't with U.S. Soccer fans. It's the message Jurgen is giving to American sports fans that just check in during World Cup time.

A perfect example being PTI's Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon.


America likes a winner, they don't have the attention span for losers in soccer, or anything else they can bandwagon ride for a few months.

So for Klinsmann to put out the message that the United States has no chance to win the tournament, normal Americans might say well then why watch?

I think a better approach would've been for Klinsmann to come out to the press like this:


Maybe in a way he is?

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6/5/2014: Denim Red, White, & Blues

U.S. defender Cle Kooiman Looking Classy in the 1994 Denim kit.

vs.

Clint Dempsey in the 2014 Bomb Pop

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6/5/2014: What Do You Think Clint?

 ♫Togetherness, and unity, with OJ, will win in Italy.♫

The 1990 World Cup team made a rap video for their World Cup in Italy with Dej Jef and Dj EricVaughn.. With guest stars OJ Simpson and Marcus Allen? Hmm.

They took their shirts off and high fived on the beach while spitting about getting an education and inspiration.



Not exactly a classic tune. Clint and Drake your turn.

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6/5/2014: Jurgen's "Lost-Cycle"?

Mix Diskerud was the only player from the U-23 squad for 2012 Olympic
Qualifying to make this World Cup.

German-American Players Making Up For Jurgen's "Lost-Cycle"?
By Ryan Kozlowski, Der-Jurgen

When the United States was unable to qualify for the 2012 Olympics with their under-23 team, Jurgen Klinsmann said it has since led to a "lost-generation of talent" that the United States is still making up for.

According to Jurgen, the careers of most players on that team have stalled since; as only Mix Diskerud has made the 2014 World Cup Roster from Caleb Porter's then squad.

A squad that didn't qualify from CONCACAF after a loss to Canada and draw with El Salvador. 

U.S. U-23 MNT 2012 Olympic Qualifying Roster By Position 
GOALKEEPERS (2): Bill Hamid (D.C. United; Annandale, Va.), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire; Lilburn, Ga.) 

DEFENDERS (6): Perry Kitchen (D.C. United; Indianapolis, Ind.), Ike Opara (San Jose Earthquakes; Durham, N.C.), Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo; Huber Heights, Ohio), Zarek Valentin (Montreal Impact; Lancaster, Pa.), Jorge Villafana (Chivas USA; Anaheim, Calif.), Sheanon Williams (Philadelphia Union; Boston, Mass.) 

MIDFIELDERS (6): Freddy Adu (Philadelphia Union; Potomac, Md.), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Mix Diskerud (Gent; Oslo, Norway), Jared Jeffrey (Mainz; Richardson, Texas), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union; Sacramento, Calif.), Michael Stephens (LA Galaxy; Naperville, Ill.) 

FORWARDS (6): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls; Barnegat, N.J.), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund; Berlin, Germany), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City; Prior Lake, Minn.), Joe Gyau (Hoffenheim: Silver Spring, Md.), Brek Shea (FC Dallas; Bryan, Texas), Tony Taylor (Estoril Praia, Jacksonville, Fla.)

That team was without then eligible Jozy Altidore, Timothy Chandler, Alfredo Morales, Josh Gatt, and Danny Williams because their teams would not release them. 

But, still out of that twenty plus the added five, only three have made the 2014 World Cup.

And one of those three is Jozy Altidore, who was already a US senior team international as a 2010 World Cup member.

Jurgen stated:

"[Diskerud] is coming from a group of guys that we had real trouble with getting to the next level, and I mean our Olympic team that was supposed to go to London," Klinsmann said. "There were a few guys, very special players coming with that team, and for whatever reason it just didn't work out the way it should have worked out.

Perhaps Jurgen's dependency on German-American players in this World Cup squad (six of them) and his future focus will be slated a bit from that failure.

People say that Jurgen has more faith in Bundesliga-based American talent; but that may have to do with a lack of development at this level.

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12.11.2013: All 51 USA National Team Goals From 2013

Video I put together today with all 51 USA National Team Goals from 2013:

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6.12.2013: Why The USA Is Currently Better Than Mexico

6.12.2013: Why The USA Is Currently Better Than Mexico
By Ryan Kozlowski/derjurgen.blogspot.com

1.) It's all about creative movement and invention. All teams that fared better this Tuesday night, were more inventive in their attack, and not only in soccer (but basketball too). Two sports that are similar in finding ways to score with creativity, if you played both you would know, are basketball and soccer.

USA was creative this Tuesday, Mexico was not. Spurs were creative, Heat were not.

Costa Rica even had more creativity than Mexico; Costa Rica created more chances through Jol Campbell, Bilanos, Cunningham, and probably should of brought on Jairo Arrieta (much more dynamic of MLS's Columbus Crew) compared to Saborio (of MLS's Salt Lake).

But, currently Mexico does not have the creativity in it's starting eleven, for even de la Torre to believe his statements. 

There was no dangerous group play between the top six players for Mexico, no one in their midfield worked a Michael Bradley to create issues for the Costa Rica back five. No one took his space, opened things up for a Fabian Johnson to play a beautifully challenging ball in the six that two players can latch onto. USA did that, Mexico did not.

Instead a Mexico usually known for their creativity and tricky feet were instead relying on corner kicks and dead balls (despite mostly being 5'8) for their best chances. That has to make you say huh?

They were also relying on over the top balls to Chicharito who was glaringly offside, inside of working one-two's to get there instead.

The patience isn't there on the field, or well anywhere in the Mexico camp.

2.) (Without Vela) Mexico has no one to pair with Chicharito.  Di Nigris, some Atlas striker? Everyone always talks about how far behind the USA is compared to Mexico lately. But, here's a shock, that might become fact for others, I would take a hot Jozy Altidore and his 31 Dutch goals compared to the season that Chicharito is coming off of. 

Chicharito had 10 goals in 22 appearances as mainly a bench player for Manchester United in 2012-2013, and 3 of those coming in one day against a paltry Aston Villa back line. 

Also, Altidore has 3 goals in 3 international outings, the light bulb has went off for Jozy. The hotter he gets, the more interesting things become in Brazil. In contrast, the closest Hernandez has gotten lately to a goal is an outstretched toe tonight that was about 5 seconds too late. And, that's perhaps being nice as a highlight for Mexico.

Not only is Altidore comparable to Chicharito in my opinion. Dempsey had a considerably as large, if not larger role, in his first season at Tottenham (29 appearances with 7 goals, 4 assists) than Chicharito had in his third season at Manchester United. 

Dempsey also had more important/timely goals, in my opinion, that kept Tottenham in Champions League discussions.

Then you look at the role players behind an Altidore and Dempsey. 

If Klinsmann keeps Fabian Johnson in left midfield where he belongs (Johnson has always been quality in my eyes and maybe hasn't gained as much attention as he deserves because some Americans don't understand the type of quality he brings, but Johnson is also a midfielder not a back), Michael Bradley has central midfield locked down (30 appearances at AS Roma), and 'Der Jurgen' has a bunch to choose from on that right side between Eddie Johnson/Graham Zusi/and perhaps the only place an outside looking in Landon Donovan might fit in.

Put a strong Jermaine Jones, backed by a Geoff Cameron (who looks like he might belong more in defensive midfield for Stoke and country) behind Michael Bradley, things start to become interesting.

Mexico achieved a U-21 Olympic Gold Medal win and one impressive Gold Cup defeat against the U.S., but De La Torre has snuffed out their momentum with three unheard of ties at home.

And if the fans don't rally around the team, the only trip that Mexico could be making to Brazil is for the Confederations Cup. 

3.) Mexican fans don't help. The atmosphere at Estadio Azteca is poisonous. Instead of an atmosphere of "I can't wait to see nice plays" it's "what are you going to do to make me happy." And then when I'm not happy, "how can I boo you to keep myself entertained."

And when that gets boring, can "I blame it all on the other team's striker (this time Bryan Ruiz) and throw bottles at him" potentially ruining my team's chances in the future by FIFA perhaps moving the venue or making us play behind closed doors.

Then again, perhaps playing somewhere else other than Estadio Azteca would be a breath of fresh air for Mexico. 

Perhaps the fan attitude combined with the altitude, especially since most of the players now play in Europe or only play at Estadio Azteca in the league 4 times a season, doesn't help them but instead makes them flat for every home game.

Think about it. The only time Mexico looked half-decent was in Houston vs. Nigeria. Perhaps they look more lively offensively at the Confederations Cup in an atmosphere where the pressure is off. And when there not playing on a smog filled mountain top.

The Estadio Azteca atmosphere might be just as responsible as de la Torre for Mexico's problems, and future problems. 

4. Most importantly, the US looked the best they've looked in a very long time offensively. It's only Panama but tell that to Mexico.

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