World Cup – Sports Radio Service

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: World Cup Russia 2018 and USA 1994

Published on June 3, 2018 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @DailyMirror

By: Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The United States did not qualify for this upcoming World Cup. However, I did have the privilege of covering the 1994 USA World Cup for Telemundo Bay Area–the only World Cup ever in the USA–and had great memories of that event.

Like, for example, my exclusive one-on-one interview with the great Edson Arantes do Nascimiento, who’s better known as Pelé. The Brazilian forward is also known as the greatest fútbol player of all time. He came to the USA as an ambassador to FIFA and I recall that he was wearing a sports jacket with the MasterCard logo, one of the biggest worldwide sponsors at that time. I have a photo with him and he even autographed his photo for me. You could not ask for a better person to represent his country of Brazil or the sport in general. I was lucky and privileged to cover the Brazilian team that won the 1994 US World Cup since their plane arrived at San José International Airport. That year (1994), Brazil had the great Bora Milutinovic as their head coach. Milutinovic was born in Serbia and previously coached México, Costa Rica, USA, Nigeria and China.

Brazil also had great players, whom I interviewed as a sports anchor for CH 48 San José, like Bebeto and Romario. It was truly a pleasure to cover that 1994 World Cup in person. A truly unforgettable experience.

The World Cup is arguably the greatest sporting event in the world. Billions of people watch on television and listen on radio all around the world. This World Cup in Russia is just around the corner as it starts on 14 June and ends on 15 July.

From our continent, these are the teams that qualified for the event: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, México, Panamá, Perú and Uruguay.

Brazil has won the World Cup five times in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. Argentina has won two in 1978 and 1986. Uruguay has won two in 1930 and 1950. Colombia, Costa Rica,México,Panamá and Perú have never won. The official languages of the World Cup are English and French.

How come the USA did not qualify? Back in October 2017, the US men’s national team was embarrassed as they lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago. The USA only needed a win or a tie, to qualify for the World Cup. Trinidad and Tobago is a small island in the Caribbean with a population of 1.3 million people. It’s incredible to believe that a small island with very limited resources would beat the USA with all the money and resources in the world. But it happened.

But FIFA is not free of scandals. In November 2017, they were found guilty of millions of dollars in “inducements” to secure contracts to televise matches in a New York City courtroom. This includes the bribes sought by FIFA executives with the power to determine World Cup hosts. There were a number of death threats for cooperating with investigators. Also, dozens of individuals along with two corporations have been indicted, including nine FIFA officials and five businessmen. Anyway, the corruption has been well-documented around the world in many courts of law.

In less than two weeks, Russia will host the 64 matches that spread over 1,800 miles in 12 stadiums in the 2018 World Cup. Their largest venue, Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow), is one of the newest ones with a 81,000 capacity. The stadium reopened this year and it is here that the first game on June 14 will take place as well as the last game and final 31 days later.

Luzhniki Stadium was also the main venue for the 1980 Summer Olympic Games and had a capacity of 103,000 at that time. In 1992, the stadium was renamed Luzhniki Stadium. In 1996, extensive renovation saw the construction of a roof over the stands, and the refurbishment of the seating areas, which resulted in a decrease in a capacity to 81,000.

Germany was the last World Cup Champion. I do not have a favorite on this World Cup, but I wish you all the very best and may the best team win.

In the United States, FOX and Telemundo have the rights for this World Cup.

Germany Reigns Supreme in Brazil

Published on July 13, 2014 by joelamiLeave a comment

By Joe Lami

Germany was claimed to be the strongest team of the 2014 World Cup going into the Final and they proved it on Sunday defeating Argentina 1-0. Germany is the first European country to win the Cup in any of the Americas (North, Central or South), and has claimed their first World Cup since 1990, where they defeated the Argentines.

Germany owned much of the possession in the final, out-possessing Argentina 60%-40%. However, both teams ended the game with ten shots, with the Germans having the upper-hand in shots on goal 7-2.

It took extra time for Germany to claim the only goal of the match, but there were a couple of chances for each side. The best chance came in the closing minutes of the first half when Benedikt Howedes found himself opened for a header off of a corner kick, but couldn’t capitalize on it as he found the right post.

The second half ended with Germany firing on all cylinders, and it showed as in the 91^st minute Andre Schurrle fired a right-footed shot right at Argentinean Goalie, Sergio Romero.

Germany would finally find the scoreboard on one of the prettiest plays of the entire tournament when Andre Schurrle made a run down the left side, crossed it over two defenders getting it to Mario Goetze. Goezte settled the ball off of his chest down to his left loot, and made a sliding shot into the bottom right corner of the net for the World Cup winner.

Despite the loss, Argentinean Striker, Lionel Messi was voted the winner of the Golden Ball for the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. German Goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer was awarded the Golden Glove for Most Valuable Goalie of the Tournament.

Howard Amazing, but Not Enough as Belgium Knocks United States Out of World Cup

Published on July 1, 2014 by joelamiLeave a comment

By: Joe Lami

It took 93 minutes for the first goal of the game to be scored, as the last Round of 16 matchup took extra time between the United States and Belgium. This was most part due to an amazing performance by American Goalkeeper, Tim Howard, who recorded 16 saves in the loss, the most recorded in any World Cup match ever. However, it was not enough, as Belgium eliminates the Americans 2-1.

“It’s heartbreaking,” added Howard after the game.

Belgium dominated almost the entire match, having a total of 37 shots, outshooting the Americans 37-10, with an advantage of 16-3 with shots on target. Belgium also had the advantage in corner kicks 17-4.

It looked for a while that as long as Howard kept them in the game, the United States would get a chance to win, and they did in the closing minutes of the match. Chris Wondolowski, of the San Jose Earthquakes, would receive a through ball in the middle of the box. As one of the best strikers and finishers on the team had the game on his foot, he put the attempt just over the crossbar, which would eventually send the match into extra time.

In extra time, Belgium would jump on the board almost instantly, as Kevin De Bruyne sent one past the left side of Howard for the first goal of the match in the 93^rd minute. Belgium would get the next one just 12 minutes later, when Romelu Lukaku would have his third attempt get past Howard. Belgium once again found the bottom left corner of the net on the goal to go up 2-0 to end the first half of extra time.

The second half of extra time was completely owned by the United States, and it all started when an absolute amazing goal was scored by the youngest player on the American roster in Julian Green. Green one touched volleyed on a lob from Michael Bradley to pull within one in the 107^th minute, the latest goal the U.S. has ever scored in a World Cup. The goal added life to the Americans, as they tried their best to find the equalizer, but it just wasn’t there, as the Belgians were able to hold on for the victory.

Coming into the match the U.S. was 31^st out of the 32 teams in the opening rounds of the World Cup in possession, making it a concern coming into the Round of 16. It was something that had improved in the match versus Belgium, but not nearly as good as it needed to be.

This World Cup has brought soccer to the main stage in American sports, and had the country go crazy for the short stint. Hopefully, it can continue and bring the United States closer to becoming a soccer country.

Belgium will move on to the Quarterfinals to take on Argentina, who defeated Switzerland 1-0 in the other Round of 16 match earlier today.

United States Through to Round of Sixteen Despite Loss to Germany

Published on June 26, 2014 by joelamiLeave a comment

By: Joe Lami

The United States Men’s National Team did what many believed wouldn’t happen on Thursday and made it out of the group of death to advance to the Round of Sixteen after a 1-0 loss to Germany. The advance in the World Cup is happening because of a 2-1 win for Portugal over Ghana.

Both the United States and Portugal ended the round robin portion of the tournament with four points each, but the United States had the advantage with goal differential. The U.S. had an even goal differential through the first three games, where Portugal was (-3) minus three.

Germany owned most of the game, out possessing the United States 67% to 33%. The ownership in possession showed ad Germany outshot the Americans 13-4 with a 6-0 advantage in shots on goal. The Germans showed they were the better team in just the opening minutes as the United States hardly had ownership of the ball, and one would begin to worry if the Germans were going to blow out the Americans.

The United States would be able to hold the Germans off of the scoreboard in the first half however with some remarkable play on the back end, especially from Centerback, Omar Gonzalez. Gonzalez had multiple tackles inside the penalty box to knock away German chances.

Germany would get on the scoreboard in the Second Half, when Thomas Muller would find the right side of the net on a shot at the top of the 18-yard box. The play happened off of a corner kick, when a German player headed one towards goal when American keeper, Tim Howard would make the save. However, the rebound found the right foot of Muller for his second goal of the World Cup.

The Americans did have a couple good scoring chances in the second half, but none of them came to fruition, as the game ended in a 1-0 win for Germany.

It would be a different story if Portugal didn’t defeat Ghana 2-1. Ghana was pushing Portugal in the last 20 minutes of the game with a 1-1 score line. A win for Ghana would have put them into the Round of Sixteen with a better goal differential than the US. Christino Ronaldo however ended Ghana’s chances when he put a rebound home in the 80^th minute to help the United States survive the scare.

The group stages are coming to an end, and the Americans have made it through the group of death, with the standings being: Germany (7 Points, +5), United States (4 Points, +/-0), Portugal (4 Points, -3), and Ghana (1 Point, -2).

Up next for the Americans is their Round of Sixteen matchup, as they will take on the winners of Group H, most likely Belgium, who has already advanced through two games.