Youth clubs in Houston are lining up to cancel practices this coming Wednesday to urge players to support the Houston Dynamo against Mexican Club Pachuca at Robertson Stadium.
The game is a historic international soccer match that could lead the Dynamo ultimately to the FIFA World Club Championships in Tokyo, Japan in December.
Pachuca is currently one of the top teams in Mexico and bragging rights will be on the line.
There really is not excuse for youth clubs not to cancel training as it is spring break.
Attending the game is player development at it’s best !!!!
Congratulations to these clubs that should be commended for focusing on the big picture:

SPACE CITY FUTBOL CLUB OUT OF BAY AREA YOUTH SOCCER
TEXANS FC
TEXAS RUSH

Let me know if your club is coming on board by emailing me at GlennDavis@thesoccerhour.com. Congratulations to Space City, Texans FC and Texas Rush you are leading the way!!!

Don’t forget the Soccer Hour with Glenn Davis special edition this Sunday at 8pm on 790thesportsanimal!!

Roy Makaay set a Champions league record scoring after only 10 seconds as Bayern Munich advanced in Champions League to the quarterfinals after a 2-1 victory in Munich.
A 4-4 aggregate scoreline favored Bayern due to away goals and one can only put a huge circle around the goal that Mark Van Bommel scored in the waning moments during the first leg at Barcelona to secure a second goal in a 3-2 road loss.
Lucio provided the game winner for Bayern but a late penalty kick from Ruud Van Nistlerooy make it an anxious and hectic final ten minutes.
AC Milan also advanced to the quarterfinals past a stubborn Celtic of Scotland getting a stoppage time goal from Kaka.
Manchester United picked off a 1-0 win against Lille of France thanks to a goal from Henrik Larsson who continues to bring amazing value to the “Red Devils”.
Arsenal was eliminated when Alex of PSV scored a late equalizer to knock the Gunners out in disappointing fashion after a 1-1 draw.
If you had a chance to watch any of these games it is just a reminder that this is clearly the most intriguing league in the world.
What are your thoughts on today’s results?

Join Glenn Davis tonite on the Soccer Hour on 790AM Radio at 7pm for the best in soccer talk.
How bad is the David Beckham injury? Is Cuahutemoc Blanco a real option for MLS? Champions league review from the day’s matches plus we begin the preview of the historic semi-final match-up of the Dynamo and Pachuca which is only 8 days away.
How do the Dynamo match-up against arguably the best team in the Mexican league?
With a womens soccer league on the horizon can it survive?
Call in tonite at 713-212-5790 with your thoughts, opinions and topics.

Hi everyone, I’m writing to you from Curitiba, Brazil from the training facilities of Athletico Paranaense. We have been here a week and we have played two matches. One here against a lower division club which we won 2-1 and one against Paranaense reserves which we tied 1-1. The game against Paranaense reserves was intense and competitive and we as a group are looking forward to playing their first team on Wednesday.
Other than that, it hasn’t been too eventful cause we are in a gated training facility with armed guards at the gate . Things we do in our free time is play ping pong, pool, and most importantly get on the internet. They have a really nice set-up if you brought a laptop where the internet connection is right next to your bed. (But I do believe that computers are taking away from human interaction….as I walk through the hall, I see everyone on my team on their computers not even saying a word to their roomates….lol ……Guys have gotten to the point where they are IMing each other from down the hall just so they won’t have to leave their room.)
Well, till next time this is Chris saying enjoy your family and football.
PS What to look forward in my next blog: FC Dallas midfielder Ramon Nunez who is also my roomate will be sharing his views about Brazil and the upcoming season.

Let me start by saying cheers to a couple of groups that truly deserve it. The Texian Army/El Battalon and the Screaming Eagles up in DC. Last night I realized how far this game has come and how dedicated the MLS fans are when the Texas AM Stadium filled up and black and red showed up in big numbers at RFK. Needless to say it is extremely important to have a “home field” atmosphere while competing in international games and both teams were provided that luxury last night.
I feel that there is no true favorite going into the semi-finals. Keep in mind that we have only been training for about a month. While the advantage goes to Chivas and Pachuca due to the fact that they have been playing competitive matches for a quite awhile, I think our character and talent level here in the MLS makes us very dangerous teams to play we are full of tenacious and extremely skilled players that desire big games and big wins.
Both teams representing MLS are very structured and disciplined sides that are tough to break down as well. Look for entertaining and emotional games in the weeks to come.
If you have any questions about the games or the league feel free to fire them at me.
Craig

Telefutura and Univision reported that Cuahutemoc Blanco might be a target of the Houston Dynamo.
Don’t believe the hype, do you really think MLS will pay 20-25 million dollars over five years for Blanco who is currently 34 years old? As much as many would like to see more star quality follow David Beckham there won’t be silly money thrown about.
Lots of inquiries have come from agents representing players overseas including the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha (The Nigerian community in Houston would love to see him here) asking for ridiculous amounts.
Yes Oliver Luck met with Blanco and his representation when he was in town way back when. Call it fact finding.
Luck says the Dynamo have no interest in Blanco, the Chicago Fire is another story and do have legitimate interest yet the money mentioned by networks are mind blowing.
Of course MLS will not pay that kind of money and be careful not to believe the hype.
This doesn’t mean a few bigger name players may not end up in the league and it doesn’t meant that Houston will not have a Mexican player one day. What it means is that David Beckham’s signing has brought alot of agents out of the woodwork who have limited understanding of the reality of MLS.
DC United’s signing of Luciano Emilio looks to be due to the benefit of hard work and due diligence. More signing of players like this who can attract a diverse fan base is needed.
Teams will use the designated player in different ways, look for a number of teams spending between 500,000 to 750,000 to try to attract a summer transfer that could take them over the top to win an MLS Cup.
If for one would love to see him in the league but if I were a coach I would have to think very hard about if I would want him on my team.
It would be a roll of the dice with the unpredictable nature of Blanco.

After dropped from first place in the LaLiga after a 2-1 defeat at Sevilla this weekend Barcelona have no time to rest back in action against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday (ESPN2 at 1:30 central). Liverpool hold the aggregate lead 2-1 and this can only be expected to be an outright war in England.
In the post game press conference Frank Rijkaard spoke of how quickly the focus must return to the Champions League as they are on the brink of elimination.
“There is not time to think too much,” said Rijkaard. “We know what to expect against Liverpool. It’s the best time to face up to the Champions League.”
Indeed it is.
Tuesday’s other matches with aggregate scores in parenthesis and home teams listed first:

Lyon vs. Roma (0-0) *Class of France against distant second place Serie A men. Prediction Lyon advances

Chelsea vs. Porto (1-1) * With Drogba in line-up you can’t deny “Blues” but they will have to do it without John Terry. Prediction: Without Terry Chelsea still advances.

Liverpool vs. Barcelona (2-1) *Defending Champions on the edge but won’t get it done. Predicition: Liverpool advances

Valencia vs Inter (2-2) * Yes I know Valencia is at home but I am a huge fan of Inter Manager Roberto Mancini whose club is running away with the Serie A title. Would be a shame if they get knocked out because like Lyon they have large leads in their domestic seasons and could really focus on the Champions League. Italy needs something positive out of the Champions league.
I’m sentimental here. Prediction : Inter

Who do you see going through? GlennDavis@thesoccerhour.com