4.5.13
ASN Morning Read: Come on Home, Herculez
We finish up Herculez Gomez week here on ASN with a plea for him to come back to the United States; elsewhere, Geoff Cameron battles two American friends and a legend loses to some kids.
BY
Jesse Yomtov
Posted
April 05, 2013
9:11 AM
CONCACAF made a few changes to the Gold Cup rules. If a team qualifies for the knockout stage, it can now make up to four changes to the 23-man roster, using players from the provisional roster submitted 45 days before the tournament begins. Certainly a nice luxury to have in the case of injury (though Jozy Altidore’s injury was suffered in the quarterfinals back in 2011).
Brad Friedel started and Clint Dempsey came on in the 63rd minute for Tottenham in a 2-2 home draw with FC Basel in the Europa League quarterfinals. The big news was an ankle injury suffered by Gareth Bale in stoppage time, which required a stretcher and seemed to be fairly serious. Doesn’t bode well for Spurs in their attempt to finish top four and qualify for the Champions League.
In a bold commentary on MLSsoccer.com, Jonah Freedman challenges Herculez Gomez to return to Major League Soccer. “Because at the end of the day, you belong here, Herc. And for all the battles you’ve conquered over the last few years, there’s more for you to prove here than abroad. And it's all stuff you haven't done yet.” For what it’s worth, Sporting Kansas City owns Gomez’s rights if he were to return to the States.
Stoke City hosts Aston Villa tomorrow and Geoff Cameron weighs in on facing compatriots Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj. He says he doesn’t know Lichaj personally, but that he’ll “have a little chat” with him after the match. “Obviously, it’s always nice to come up against your international teammates in games, and it gives you that extra incentive to go out there and win the game, because you want the bragging rights,” Cameron says.
Brian Sciaretta caught up with Juan Pablo Ocegueda to talk about the U-20s’ “Group of Death” draw for the World Cup. “Our team is confident enough to play against the strongest nations,” Ocegueda says. “At the end of the day it depends on who wants it more." In case you forgot, the U.S. is in a group with Spain, France and Ghana.
Michelle Akers lost a bet with a fan during U.S. Soccer’s centennial celebration so she had to play “butts up.” 9-year-olds kicked/threw way harder in my day.
John Todd/isiphotos.com
