Soccer fans, fanaticos join me tonite on 790 The Sports Animal for the best in soccer talk.
Of course there is amazing buzz around the unreal advancement of the United States in the Confederations Cup so we will talk about that.
The Dynamo draw against Real Salt Lake is on the docket so tell me about it!

How about Ricardo Clark’s performance against Egypt? The Dynamo midfielder played a big part in the 3-0 win over Egypt as a balancing midfielder.
Will Inter Milan lose Maicon to Spanish giants Real Madrid? These and more topics tonite on Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis as well as ticket giveaways.
Join me tonite!

Call in number 713-212-5790

On another note….with the U.S. showing pride against Egypt will this effort and energy continue to their semi-final match against Spain this Wednesday?

Get your Gold Cup tickets and World Football Challenge tickets at FIESTA TICKETMASTER outlets and save money.
You can catch Mexico vs. Panama and CHELSEA vs CLUB AMERICA …….Dynamo tickets available at HOUSTONDYNAMO.COM

Streaming live at MLSNET.com and 790thesportsanimal.com

Most U.S. soccer fans were hoping for an inspired performance to finish out what had been up to the Egypt game a poor Confederations Cup.
Instead the unthinkable happens in a tournament format that actually still had possibility for the U.S. to advance.
A 3-0 win over Egypt coupled with an even more stunning result with Brazil beating Italy 3-0 advanced the United States in to the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup to take on the world’s number one team SPAIN.

The U.S. deserve credit on this day coming out with some spirit and pride against an African team that quite frankly was stretched out all over the place and reminded us that collectively they are not the best without the ball (see Brazil game).
That aside the credit goes to the United States and an effort that has given for the moment inspiration.
Goals from Charlie Davies, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey secured the 3-0 win and a day where U.S. pride was restored.
Michael Bradley impressed in midfield , Landon Donovan found space to set up the third goal and defensively the U.S. looked more comfortable with Brad Guzan stable in goal.
Dynamo Ricardo Clark plays a big part in an important win and had the smile of a Chesire cat on his face at the final whistle.
It is not time to jump over the moon but all critics would have asked for a response and they got it today.
A solid win against the African Champions and a large thank you to Brazil for giving the U.S. an additional match in South Africa.

Your thoughts on the win and are you feeling better about the U.S. or is this just a temporary band-aid to bigger problems? All that were critical need to weigh in!

Happy fathers day to all!
A late Brian Ching goal gave the Dynamo a 1-1 draw with ten man Real Salt Lake at home.
RSL defender Jamison Olave was ejected and the Dynamo left it late through Ching who connected off a Brian Mullan cross
Were you at the game? Give me your thoughts?

By virtue of the draw against RSL Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear and his staff will coach the MLS All Stars against Everton and Tim Howard in July.

The U.S. take on Egypt tomorrow on Espn at 1:30pm CST. Can the U.S. who has been poor in the Confederations Cup get a decent result and effort against Egypt? Who should get a run in this game?

San Jose Earthquake and former Mayde Creek High School star Arturo Alvarez told me yesterday in Oakland that he will represent El Salvador in the future at the international level due to a recent Fifa rule change. U.S. soccer asked him to re-consider but Alvarez who was left off the Olympic squad has his mind made up. His parents are from El Salvador while he was born in the U.S.
What do you think of his decision?

The Dynamo look to continue their winning ways today against Real Salt Lake at Robertson Stadium.
A couple of quick notes on Real Salt Lake:

*Striker Yura Movsisyan is strong, skilled and dangerous and scored a great goal last weekend in a 2-0 win over LA.
He turned Galaxy defender Greg Berhalter like a top and then smashed his finish past Donovan Ricketts.

*Kyle Beckermann in midfield is no stranger to Robertson having played with Colorado in the Western Conference final against the Dynamo years back.

*Jamison Olave is a big strong centerback who combines with Nat Borchers in the middle.

*Nick Rimando is known for his shot stopping in goal but is suspect on crosses . The Dynamo know it and will get lots of delivery in to test the decision making of the RSL goalkeeper. His backs will need to protect him.

ESPN2 it is LA at San Jose in Oakland
Oakland? Yes, Oakland!
The reason being the Earthquakes thought that David Beckham would be with the Galaxy and rented out a bigger stadium.
Both teams are desperate for points.
Darren Huckerby is back in the lineup for SJ while Chris Wondoloski the former Dynamo could see action.
LA has gotten good goalkeeping from Donovan Ricketts and comes off a 2-0 loss to RSL. Without Landon Donovan where does their attack come from?
Catch it at 3:30 this afternoon on Espn2.

ARTURO ALVAREZ injured
The former Mayde Creek start will miss tonite’s game but has been buoyed lately by the change in FIFA ruling that will allow him to represent El Salvador. Alvarez is committed to joining El Salvador it seems after representing the U.S. at youth international levels. He was surprisingly left off the U.S. roster for the Olympics in Beijing, China this past summer.
Should Alvarez be in a U.S. uniform?

What does your soccer weekend entail?

Some pre-liminary rosters are up for the Gold Cup and the Dynamo figure in it for two teams.
Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark are listed for the U.S. and Andrew Hainault for Canada.
It will be interesting as to what changes will be made but the abscence of Brian Ching might be contingent up on his health.
The summer of abscences has begun and the Dynamo seem primed with their depth to handle it about as good as anybody in MLS.
It is not as though manager Dominic Kinnear has not had alot of practice in this situations.

Former Dynamo Dwayne DeRosario hit for three goals against Montreal last night as Toronto FC qualified for the Champions League in Concacaf.

San Jose takes on LA Saturday afternoon (3:30 Central time on Espn 2) before all of you I assume will be heading to Robertson Stadium to see the Dynamo against RSL.
The U.S. takes on Egypt Sunday. Will a positive result or effort change your mind about the current U.S. squad?

You may have been disappointed much like I was.
For the second consecutive game the United States had a player sent off playing against a major world power in the Confederations Cup in South Africa.
To be fair the damage had already been done when Sacha Kleijstan was sent off.
Goals by Felipe Melo (6th), Robinho (19) and Maicon (61) sealed the U.S. fate in a 3-0 loss. The United States wrap up their play on Sunday against Egypt.
The qualities of organization, work ethic and concentration again seemed absent as Jonathan Spector lost Felipe Melo off a free kick in the 6th minute that was headed home.
Then a loss of possession from DaMarcus Beasley off a U.S. corner led to a stunning counter attack that had Robinho scoring for Brazil and then doing an impromptu interview behind the U.S. goal.
Maicon would add a third while the U.S. would hit the crossbar and the post late from Benny Feilhaber and Conor Casey.

Are you worried about the U.S. National team currently and why?

I picked up the paper this morning in Seattle and who is on the front page but Dynamo striker Cam Weaver.
Weaver who played his soccer growing up in Seattle and won a national title at Seattle Pacific has a teammate named Steve Jenkins who is in the hospital battling cancer.
Weaver who was named player of the week in MLS for his goals against FC Dallas goes on in the article to talk about the inspiration that his teammate who battles cancer in noble fashion has given him.
Before the FC Dallas game, Jenkins told Weaver to go out and score a goal.
This is a great read at Seattletimes.com

Espn 2 tonite will bring us a sold out Qwest Field and a reminder that yes teams can draw during the week in MLS!
Seattle Sounders FC and DC United should be an open, entertaining affair if you look at it on paper due to the nature of both teams.
I am interested to see the tactics of DC on the road against Seattle and if they will perform in their normal 3-5-2 set up.
If they do, they will need an outstanding game out of their five man mifield to have success.
United will be missing Jaime Moreno who is out with a hamstring injury and did not accompany the team.

Don’t forget next up for the Dynamo is Real Salt Lake this Saturday night and it includes a fireworks performance.
Brian Ching could return to the lineup and you can get your tickets at houstondynamo.com, alot of special ticket pricing.

FIESTA TICKETMASTER also has tremendous deals for the World Football Challenge between Chelsea and Club America and the Concacaf Gold Cup match which includes Mexico.

Give me your thoughts on the Seattle and DC match plus the Dynamo and RSL?

Guiseppe Rossi came off the bench for Italy against the United States yesterday in the Confederation Cup and hit a screamer to bring the Italians even and gain the edge in momentum.
It actually only took one minute for him to score.
Born in Clifton, New Jersey Rossi now plays for Villareal in Spain and is one of the smaller players on the field.
If you watched the last Olympics from Beijing you would have noticed Rossi. If you watch Spain’s La Liga you would have noticed Rossi. If you watched yesterday’s U.S./Italy match you did watch Rossi and you were impressed by his goals and his sublime , razor sharp skills.
Rossi grew up in an Italian family where the “Azzurri” no doubt was talked about. Now I am not sure about the details but apparently Rossi was by-passed in New Jersey for the Olympic Development Program. I am not sure about all this and have nothing to confirm it.
He had the choice to play for Italy or the U.S. and chose Italy. No problem here.
What he really represents is a message to the grass roots level that the players develop physically in very different ways and we must be careful not to write players off too quickly if they don’t measure up to your initial physical standards.
The game at the early stages of the youth level must remain focused on putting a value on one’s comfort and expression on the ball.

NEXT UP FOR U.S.
Brazil this Thursday and Egypt on Sunday. On an additional note Jonathan Spector has raised his stock at right back the last two games, Clark was playing well until the ejection and looked up for the moment, Altidore for being 19 and playing limited time in Spain was problematic at times for Italy mainly for his athletic ability and Landon Donovan was inspired and had the Italian defense twisting and turning on two occasions in the first half while running at their defense. Manager Bob Bradley may have changed his formation due to the abscence of Brian Ching whose ability to hold the ball was definetly missed.

Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis podcast is up at 790thesportsanimal.com, click podcasts, click Glenn Davis and enjoy.

The U.S. lost Ricardo Clark to a red card in the 33rd minute and were forced to play the remainder of the match a man down and in the end could not contain the current World Cup holders.
The U.S. took a 1-0 lead after Jozy Altidore was hauled down in the penalty area minutes after Clark was ejected for the tackle on DeRossi . Landon Donovan converted the penalty kick and the U.S. took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Italian coach Marcelo Lippi inserted New Jersey born Guiseppe Rossi who instantly hit a long range bomb to equalize in the 2nd half and bring life to the Italians.
IT would be the first of two goals for Rossi who would score late after an eye pleasing move from the ever dangerous Andrea Pirlo.
Daniel DeRossi also scored from longer range on a ball that looked as though screened Tim Howard.
Earning a point would have been a great result and the U.S. chances of getting out of group play now dependent upon results vs. Brazil and Egypt.

Brazil got a late goal from Kaka to defeat Egypt 4-3 in a goalfest that ocurred earlier in the day. Kaka scored twice.

BRIAN CHING BREAKS it down with me tonite on Dynamo All Access from 7-9pm on 790 The Sports Animal.
Call in number is 713-212-5790.

Kasey Keller of Seattle, Cam Weaver of the Dynamo, Dominic Kinnear of the Dynamo and Kyle Beckermann all are on the program tonite!!!

Today the LA LAKERS are calling themselves WORLD CHAMPIONS while tonite in SOUTH AFRICA the UNITED STATES NATIONAL TEAM measures itself against ITALY in the CONFEDERATIONS CUP on a global stage.
So are you sneaking out of work to catch the UNITED STATES against ITALY today on ESPN at 1:15?
Dynamo midfielder RICARDO CLARK it seems is destined to start in this one in Pretoria, South Africa.

My former teammate NATHAN SACKS who played on the old HOUSTON DYNAMO’s contacted me recently from South Africa and relayed how abysmal South Africa was in their 0-0 draw with IRAQ. Will the BAFANA BAFANA get on track and play over their heads in the World Cup in 2010? Will they bring back Benni McCarthy who has shunned the squad in the past?
The host nation has a year to get it right.

DYNAMO ALL ACCESS with Glenn Davis tonite on 790 The Sports Animal.
Guests: Brian Ching on U.S. /Italy and more….
Cam Weaver on his new team
Dominic Kinnear on the Dynamo run
Kyle Beckermann of RSL on the upcoming match
Kasey Keller Seattle Sounders

Call in number 713-212-5790, streaming live at 790thesportsanimal.com, mlsnet.com and also accessed at HoustonDynamo.com

Ticket giveaways and much more…..

Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo for $130 million, U.S. Italy, Dynamo atop of the west complete outstanding three games in 8 days, Real Salt Lake the next opponent

POLL QUESTION: One hundred and thirty million for Cristiano Ronaldo….obscene, good business, or both?