Tab Ramos reflects on his U-20 experience in 1983, while some Yanks playing in the Europa League fight to stay alive. And yes, we have the Landon Donovan USC press conference video, too.
BY
Jesse Yomtov
Posted
February 22, 2013
9:55 AM
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The United States U-20s wrap up the group stage vs. Costa Rica tonight at 6:30 p.m. Eastern in Estadio Olímpico Universitario Lobos BUAP in Puebla, Mexico (Fox Soccer; Univision Deportes). The team has already secured passage to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Championship and will win its group with a victory or a draw. With a result tonight the U.S. will face Canada or Nicaragua in the quarterfinals; a second-place finish would lead to a showdown with Group B winner Cuba.
U.S. coach Tab Ramos played in the 1983 U-20 World Cup as a 17-year-old and takes a trip down memory lane to the tournament. He says he had his nose broken in a group match vs. the Ivory Coast. That hurts.
“I want to make sure the players who are here recognize that this will have a big impact," Ramos said. "I know they won’t be able to fully understand because they’re younger players. I remember being in that world and it’s certainly not the same as being an adult later on, but we’re doing the best we can to make sure that they understand that this is really important for them.
In Europa League action Brad Friedel went the full 90 and Clint Dempsey came on in the 66th minute in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw at Lyon, advancing 3-2 on aggregate behind Mousa Dembele’s 90th-minute goal. Spurs will take on Inter Milan in the round of 16. Check out Dembele's brilliant individual effort below.
Injured Steve Cherundolo’s Hannover bowed out 4-2 on aggregate against Anzhi Makhachkala, while Marc Pelosi and Liverpool (yes he was technically on the Europa roster!) won 3-1, but were eliminated on away goals against Zenit.
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis confirmed that Brek Shea will be in the squad for tomorrow’s match at Fulham. He’s not sure if Shea will start but praised the winger, especially for his fitness. “Brek has settled in really well here, and he is an incredibly fit lad, but in some aspects this is still like a pre-season for him because of the time he has been out,” Pulis says. He went on to also call Shea a “naturally fit lad.” Seems like Brek has already made Pulis swoon.
Jermaine Jones picked up a yellow in Schalke’s Champions League draw with Galatasaray on Wednesday (shocker) and will miss the second leg. He may have scored his side’s goal, but isn’t happy about the card. “It's a bit of a downer to be suspended,” Jones said. “I asked for [Selcuk] Inan to be booked, then got the booking myself. It was just stupid."
You already know that Landon Donovan told a USC class that he is still interested in playing for the U.S. national team again, and now we have video confirmation, below.
Brett Whitesell/isiphotos.com
