(sort of) Kayla's Salute: Hope Solo of magicJack and USWNT

Kayla loves football as much as the next guy, but at the base level, she's still a woman. She appreciates the after-game shirt exchange just as much as the game itself. Kayla's salute is a recurring piece spotlighting the best footballers that also happen to be the best looking. This salute is different because I, Jacen, am highjacking it to pay a birthday salute to a person who has become my very favourite female footballer: Hope Solo.



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by Jacen



Unless you live in a place with no access to popular media, or you do and just avoid all news about the world of soccer, you have probably heard of Hope Solo, the stunningly beautiful, razor tongued keeper who plays for US football club magicJack and the United States Women's National Team. Since returning from the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany, Hope has been seen on talk shows, at premiers, and she even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, a feat in itself being that only 4% of all Sports Illustrated covers have featured women. While she is deservedly riding high at this point in her life, Hope Solo's beginnings were much more humble.

Hope Solo before a match.

Hope was born on July 30th, 1981, in Richland, Washington. Hope's father Jeffrey was a veteran of the Vietnam war, and as with most veterans of that particular conflict, he had several issues that would plague him for the rest of his life. Hope was raised primarily by her mother Judy. From a young age, Hope seemed destined to be an athlete, taking an interest in several sports including basketball, snowboarding and beach volleyball in addition to a growing fascination with soccer, which was first taught to her by her father. Upon reaching high school, Hope played as a forward for her school team, the Richland High Bombers. Over the course of her high school career, Hope notched 109 goals, two of which were scored in the 1999 State Championship. Her exceptional playing also earned her two Parade All American awards. Hope finished high school in 1999 and went onto to play for the University of Washington. It was there that she first switched to goalkeeping. Always being one to push herself and try harder, Hope settled into her new position quickly and very effectively. As The Huskies keeper, she was named a four time All-Pac 10 athlete, and a three time NSCAA All-American. When Hope was a senior, she was the only goalkeeper, male or female, in contention for that year's Herman trophy. Though she did not get the win, Hope had the consolation of leaving as the University of Washington's all time clean sheet leader (18), as well as leader in saves (325) and GAA (1.02).

In the year 2003, Hope's club career got underway when she was  drafted to the newly formed WUSA club Philadelphia Charge. She made 8 appearances for the club before moving to Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC

Hope playing for Philadelphia Athletica

in 2004. Again, after only one year and 17 appearances for the Swedish club Hope moved to Lyon in France in 2005. At Lyon, she made 20 appearances for the club. After 2005 Hope left Lyon and did not play for another club until 2009, when she came back to the United States and was picked up by WPS club St. Louis Athletica. She played for them from 2009 - 2010, making 23 appearances. In 2010, after Athletica effectively folded, Hope joined Atlanta Beat, also in the WPS. In Atlanta she made 16 appearances. In 2011, ownership of the Beat changed, and the club was not only renamed, but moved. Just before the start of the 2011 WPS season, Hope followed her teammates down to Boca Raton, Florida where her new club, named magicJack, would be situated.

Hope has also had a very impressive international career. He received her first senior call up in April 2000. That match was a particular success, as she kept a clean sheet in the 8 - 0 win over Iceland. In 2004, Hope was selected as one of the goalkeepers for the USA's Olympic squad, and in 2005, she was officially the United States starting keeper. One particular record Hope holds, is she once went 1,054 minutes without conceding an international goal, a streak that was ended when the USA played France in the Algarve Cup. Unfortunately, Hope's good fortunes could not last forever. 2007 would prove to be a pivotal year for Hope Solo. She was selected as starting keeper for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, yet the whole experience was marred by three major life changing events, the first coming in April of that year. One of Hope's oldest and best friends, Elizabeth Duncan, was hit and killed by a car while she was out jogging in Seattle. Then in June, just before the start of the tournament, Hope's beloved father Jeffrey, died of a sudden heart attack.

Solo during her post 2007 Semi Final Interview

Pushing her emotions to the back of her mind, Hope chose to focus on the tournament. She was in excellent form, and of the 4 matches she played, she only conceded two goals, both of which were in the first game. In the next three matches, which were against Sweden, Nigeria and England, Hope kept a clean sheet each time. It appeared that Hope was also going to start in goal in the semi-final against Brasil, but coach Greg Ryan had other plans. Despite her four solid performances, Hope was benched in favor of veteran goalkeeper and previous World Cup winner Brianna Scurry. The USA would go on to lose to Brasil 4 - 0. Following the match, Hope, who was visibly upset, famously ranted to the press, speaking out against coach Ryan and his decision to bench her: "It was the wrong decision, and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that. There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves." Following her outburst, coach Ryan benched her again, and Solo was ostracized from her teammates for the remainder of the 2007 US Women's season. Upon returning home to Seattle, Hope retreated for two weeks. "I couldn't sleep in my bed because my body just ached, so I'd start the bathtub. If that's what depression is, I think I hit it. I was a wreck." Hope stopped answering telephone calls and emails, and even lost 10 pounds. "I wanted to give up," She said. "Why show up somewhere where 20-plus people hate you? But I was going to be there to prove to everybody that you can't determine somebody's career by whether you like them or not."

2008 would see a complete turnaround from the previous year. Coach Ryan left the team after his contract was not renewed, and in his place stepped former Swedish international Pia Sundhage. With her came a newer, possession based approach to playing, as well as a call for black sheep Solo to come home. Veteran forward Abby Wambach said: "The younger players have a little bit of that emotional attachment to each other, but less so than in the past. You don't have to like each other, but once you cross that line, if you can like each other for at least 90 minutes, then I think you can be successful." From Hope's return to the roster in 2008 until the ill-fated game against Sweden in the group stage of the 2011 Women's World Cup, the USWNT had not lost a single match. Hope Solo had returned.

Though she missed much of the qualifying campaign due to shoulder surgery and the subsequent rehabilitation, Hope was chosen as the starting keeper for the United States for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. It was a big tournament for Solo in many ways. Over the 4 years since the last World Cup, many major events had taken place, and many notable wins were attained, including a rematch against Brasil in the Final of the 2008 Olympics which saw the USA win 1 - 0. But with the past behind her, and the future looming ahead, Hope did what she always did before. She got her head down and forged ahead. Her first two matches started well, with two victories against North Korea and Columbia and Hope keeping a clean sheet both times. Unfortunately, the USA would lose 2 - 1 against Sweden in the ultimate match of the group stage. While the loss was not enough to push the USA out of the tournament, it did set up a World Cup rematch from 4 years earlier. Brasil, who won group D with 9 points out of 9 and no goals conceded, looked to eliminate the US Ladies once again. Initially, luck appeared to be on the side of the USA, with a Brazilian own goal being scored in the 2nd minute. Yet the match was FAR from over. With 8 Yellow cards and 1 controversial Red for Rachel Buehler of the USA, the match itself was hard fought and highly exciting. Hope even stopped the penalty that followed Buehler's Red only to have to do it again due to encroachment. Solo could not stop the second penalty, and the match was level. After the game went to extra time and Brasil scored, things looked over for the USA, until Abby Wambach scored an incredible last minute goal to push the match through to penalty kicks. In the shootout, again Hope managed to save a penalty and ensured the USA went through to the Semi-Final. After beating France in the semi's, the USA went to their first World Cup Final since 1999, where they would play surprise finalists Japan.

Hope celebrating post game

After another astonishing game that saw 2 goals for both Japan and the USA, as well as 30 minutes of extra time, the Final would have to be decided on penalty kicks. Tragically for the USA, and Magically for Japan, the shootout did not go in the favor of the US Ladies. Japan would win 3 - 1, following a string of poor spot kicks for the USA. Though the USA took 2nd place, three awards were given to Hope for her outstanding playing during the tournament. She took home the Golden Gloves as the tournament's best keeper, in addition to the Bronze Ball as the tournament's third best player overall. She was also named as one of the two goalkeepers for the 2011 All-Star Team. Despite the 2nd place finish, Hope and the US Ladies returned home to an overwhelming show of support and love. It seemed that everywhere they went, people wanted a piece. Hope in particular, was shown a great deal of attention after the tournament's end, with everything from people proposing marriage via large signs or Facebook, to her being invited to the premiere of the final season of Entourage, to making appearances on the talk show circuit and beyond.

Today is July 30th. It also happens to be Hope Solo's 30th Birthday. This article is not only a Salute, but a gift to a player that has ridden the waves of success and defeat, and managed to get herself a tan. I can say with all certainty that we'll be seeing more of Hope Solo in the coming years, as her future continues to look brighter every day.



Jacen Curathers is a writer, co-editor and co-founder of the Captain's Armblog. He enjoys reading, drinking himself into a stupor, and playing as a fake, unrealistically talented version of himself of FIFA 11. He invites readers to email him anytime at thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com.

The CAB's Spotlight on Bob Bradley

The CAB's Spotlight is a recurring piece on hot topics in the football world. This edition will focus on Bob Bradley and his tenure as the USMNT coach.

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By Kayla



Today it was announced by ussoccer.com that Bob Bradley, coach of the US Men's national soccer team, has been relieved of his duties. US Soccer President Sunil Gulati made the announcement today after meeting with Bradley and US Soccer CEO Dan Flynn at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.  The announcement comes five years into Bradley's tenure as the coach, during which he led the team to some notable victories and disappointing losses.  A replacement has not yet been named but is likely to be announced by Gulati tomorrow.

Before heading USA's national team, Bradley began his coaching career in college soccer, landing his first coaching gig at the ripe age of 22 at Ohio University after participating in their sports management program.  He was eventually lured away by Bruce Arena and filled in as Arena's assistant while Arena headed up the University of Virginia.  Shortly after, Bradley served his longest tenure to date at his alma mater, Princeton University, where he brought the team two titles in the Ivy League and also brought them to the NCAA Final Four in 1993.

Bob Bradley paired up with Bruce Arena again for his first foray into the newly formed Major League Soccer league to serve as Arena's assistant at D.C. United.  He soon after became manager of the expansion team, Chicago Fire and led them to win a double in 1998 (MLS Cup and US Open Cup), which earned him a MLS Coach of the Year trophy.  He won another US Open Cup for the Fire before he went on to coach the MetroStars.  He took the MetroStars from their underachieving status to their first Open Cup final in the club's history before moving on to manage Chivas USA, where he took them to a third place finish after a loss to Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference.

Bradley first began his post as the US Men's coach in December 2006, taking over Bruce Arena's post after the men's disappointing showing at the World Cup.  Bradley was interim until May of 2007, when he officially earned the title of the manager, despite much speculation that Jurgen Klinsmann would be named the head coach.  During his time as coach for the USMNT, Bradley brought the team Gold Cup victory in 2007 after a 2-0 win over Mexico in the final, which led the team to a runner-up spot in the 2009 Confederations Cup after defeating #1 ranked Spain and ending their 35 match streak.  Bradley also brought the US to the 2010 World Cup, where the team won their group for the first time since 1930, a major moment for the US with Landon Donovan's last second goal against Algeria.

Unfortunately, the US has seemed to be on a decline since their World Cup appearance.  What can only be speculated as the final straw was the US's 4-2 loss to Mexico in the 2011 Gold Cup final, where the US has a 2-0 lead in the first half of the match that brought about a Mexico rally with four unanswered goals.  Here we are a month after that defeat, with the manager's post vacated until an official announcement brings about a replacement.

Bob Bradley has received a great amount of criticism for his coaching during his few years as the manager of the US Men's team, but he has helped the team grow and has propelled them to new heights in the arena of world football.  In a transition period for US Men's soccer, let us not forget the acheivements Bob Bradley brought to the team and to the country.

At this point we can only hope his replacement will carry on the pattern of progress and propel the team to reach goals that were just a little out of reach under Bradley's command.



Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres.  Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

Nando Watch: Introduction

By Kayla

The 2011/2012 English Premier League season is quickly coming upon us.  Many expectations are upon the players and coaches, particularly on one Fernando Torres.  After starting the season with Liverpool and feeling dissatisfaction over their lack of trophy potential, Torres headed to greener pastures at Stamford Bridge.  Transferring to Chelsea at the deadline for a record deal brought about high expectations for the Spanish striker, and unfortunately his debut half-season with Chelsea only managed to deliver one goal.

But a new season is upon us.  Torres is rested.  Torres is fit.  Torres is ready.

In my potentially tragic bout of optimism, I'm predicting Torres will prove he's worth the millions Roman Abramovich dumped into the campaign to bring him to Chelsea.  We've all seen the genius of his playing, and I believe he's due for a comeback after seeming like he's a shadow of his former self for awhile.

Nando Watch will be documenting his progress during his first full season at Stamford Bridge in hopes of capturing a wonderful performance that will have all of the nay-sayers fall silent as they can no longer voice their doubts. It is a potentially tall order, but Torres is well on his way with already one goal under his belt during Chelsea's preseason tour over Asia.

Be on the lookout for the first installment of Nando Watch as the Premier League begins in coming weeks.  This series will either be testament to a star player bouncing back or a sad but hilarious recount of Roman Abramovich banging his head against a wall.


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres.  Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

The CAB's Video of the Day: Tim Howard's Long, Flowing Locks

Day of the video. Err, video of the day. Yeah!


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By Kayla

Unless you've been living in a hole, you've seen Tim Howard's commercials for All-State.  Each spot features the American keeper standing in goal with an inner monologue running as the game is being played.  This particular one has Tim talking about his blonde, curly locks.  Clearly he has Diego-Forlan-hair-envy.

Video: Allstate via YouTube


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres.  Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

The CAB's Video of the Day: Hope Solo Dunks George Lopez

Video of the Day. 'Nuff said.


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By Kayla


In the continuing storm of the US Ladies hitting every possible media outlet after their return from their World Cup campaign, Hope Solo appeared on The George Lopez Show to show off her astonishing accuracy by dunking George Lopez after a few tries.  Or it's possible that she was angered by his ignorant comment of referring to her as the "World Cup champ" that propelled her to hit the target.  And I'm not the only one who is a bit annoyed that the US Ladies keep being referred to as Team USA, right?  Anyway, here's the video:

Video: YouTube


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres.  Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

The CAB's Video of the Day: Mario Balotelli's Lazy Back Heel

Video of the day. Let's do it!


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By Kayla



Mario Balotelli effectively made an ass of himself on Saturday against the LA Galaxy when he squandered a beautiful scoring opportunity by performing a lazy back heel that rolled out past the goal.  Not that this is anything new for Balotelli.  That goal could've sealed Man City's victory over the LA Galaxy sooner, but  instead the match proceeded to a penalty shootout, where the Citizens edged out the Galaxy 7-6.

Video: ESPNUK via YouTube


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres.  Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

Keeper Wars: Tim Howard vs. Hope Solo

Keepers Wars is a new and (hopefully) recurring piece where we match up one keeper against another and try to determine who will come out on top. Due to the recent buzz surrounding Hope Solo and whether or not she'd ever play in the MLS, this first piece will feature Hope Solo taking on her United States National Team Male Counterpart, Tim Howard.


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By Jacen

For the uninitiated, Keeper Wars is sort of like an all keeper penalty shootout. You take 2 goals and set them up about 7 - 10 yards apart, and put one keeper in front of each goal. Each keeper then takes turns kicking, punting or throwing the ball and trying to score on the other keeper. (see the video on the right for a really real example) The contest can be won a number of ways. Usually a winner is determined by whoever has scored more times in an allotted amount of time. You can also do a format like first to 3, first to 5, etc. Some, other more unique ways to win are being the first to score with a kick AND a throw, or being the first to score in all four corners of the net. Today, we'll be doing a traditional "score more in the allotted time" set up. The scenario will be: Tim Howard vs Hope Solo, winner will be the one who scores most in 120 seconds. To determine our winner, we'll weigh the Pros and Cons of our two combatants and compare and contrast until we have it all figured out.



Tim Howard and Hope Solo both possess exceptional skill out on the pitch. To many, both can be considered among the Top 10 Best Keepers in the world, for both males and females, respectively. Yet there is a single difference. Where Tim sort of floats in that top 10, usually somewhere in the 5 - 10 spot range, the general consensus is that Hope Solo is THE best women's keeper in the world. By that rationale, Hope IS a better keeper than Tim is. But ultimately, you can't weight the two as equals because they are not. The demands and rigors of the men's game and the women's game are not comparable, so we'll have to adjust for that.

As for the players actual skills, here is where the real differences become apparent. Both keepers can be viewed nearly as equals on two major things: reflexes and personality. Both Tim and Hope have the skill to pull off incredible reflex saves, and well as having the natural instinct to get their nose in make dives and punches without waiting until the ball is a foot in front of them. And, as we've all seen in the past, both Hope and Tim can hold their own in a penalty shoot out (check the 2011 Women's World Cup Semi Final for Hope and the 2009 MLS All Star game shootout for Tim). As far as personality goes, both possess the two most important personality traitx that all keepers need: A determination to win and a hatred of conceding goals. They say to be a keeper, you need commitment and passion, in addition to being a bit crazy. Tim and Hope have all three.

But here is where equality ends. Strength would naturally be the most obvious place where a difference would be apparent. Here, Howard has the edge, no question. Tim's size affords him the natural advantage a taller person would have over someone who is a half a foot smaller than he is. Also, the diving save, a move that is essential for all keepers, is also tipped in Tim's favor. He has more range than Hope, mostly due to height difference. (Tim is 6'3 and Hope is 5'9) Tim can use his powerful legs and long arms to seemingly reach all corners of the net. Tim's size affords him other advantages as well. He can make the goal incredibly small behind him, and when it comes to making himself big, many forwards have found themselves kicking right into Tim as opposed to past him. Yet size is not everything. Tim occasionally has trouble getting low and stopping rollers from slipping into the twine. Here is where Hope excels. She can drop and pop better than almost every keeper out there, making secure both the higher and lower parts of the goal. Hope also jumps more frequently than Tim does, erasing a good part of the height difference, especially since most of the players Hope is defending against are not as tall as say the players in the Barclay's Premiere League. Speed is also on Solo's side. Tim, who is very fast himself, cannot quite match the quick movements that Hope can pull off. Stamina is another important factor. A keeper is going to see more action in Keeper Wars than they might in a normal 11 on 11 match. Here again, Hope Solo may have the advantage. She is not only younger than Tim is, but most of her career has been spent playing for her national team as well as being on the Olympic squad, as women's club footy is largely undeveloped throughout most of the world. Sure, the Premiere League is no place for slouches, Tim's age might be his undoing in this contest.

What that leaves us with is scoring ability. Both Tim and Hope have a ferocious goal kick at their disposal, yet in Keeper War, that might not work as effective as a good finishing shot. Here Tim and Hope each have a unique way they could score, which the other player might not possess. For Tim, it is the throw, and for Hope Solo, it's the drop kick. As most fans know, (well, the American one's at least) it was Tim's missile-like throw that set in motion the game winning play for the USA vs. Algeria in the 2010 World Cup. The incredibly accurate Jabulani rocket Tim can launch could serve him very well. Only downside would be that Tim could become very tired very quickly if he was over reliant on the throw. By the same token, Hope Solo's special scoring strategy, the drop kick, might ultimately prove another double edged sword. If you look a few postings back, you'll see the video of the day that featured Hope Solo, Abby Wambach and David Letterman kicking footy balls at passing taxi's, trying to get one of the balls into the cab itself. Hope was the only one able to do it. She has a real sharp kick that could easily breeze past an unwary keeper. Yet Tim is no ordinary, and very infrequently unwary keeper. The time that Hope would need to take her drop kick might give Tim the chance to get himself into position.


Well, now that we have all of that overly long detail aside, it's time to pick our winner.



And that winner is:

Tim Howard, by an eyelash. It is not a victory that comes lightly. Hope Solo would definitely be able to give Tim a run for his money. Yet in the end, we feel that Tim's strength, range and expirience would give him the things he needs to just inch ahead and be the Keeper Wars Champion. No disrespect to Hope, she is no slouch, and deserves a win just as much. But we have now spoken!

First Keeper Wars Champion... Tim Howard!




Also, please enjoy the two videos we have posted below. Both video are keeping highlights for Tim and Hope. You can review these videos and determine for yourself who you think should be the Keeper Wars winner.

All videos curtesy of YouTube.



Jacen Curathers is a writer, co-editor and co-founder of the Captain's Armblog. He enjoys reading, drinking himself into a stupor, and playing as a fake, unrealistically talented version of himself of FIFA 11. He invites readers to email him anytime at thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com.

The CAB's Video of the Day:: David Cameroon's Video Diary

The video of the day is... the video... of... right. Today we look at the exceptional video directed by one David Cameroon, the mysterious film maker who hails from the deep jungles of central/southern Africa.


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By Jacen



David Cameroon is not from Cameroon. Nor is he from the deep jungles of central/southern Africa. (I lied... I'm sorry.) He's actually not even a real person. He's really Salomon Kalou. And he's an ARTIST behind that camera. Closeups of Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and a napping Lampsey and Terry right this way!!!

video courtesy of Chelsea TV via YouTube.


Jacen Curathers is a writer, co-editor and co-founder of the Captain's Armblog. He enjoys reading, drinking himself into a stupor, and playing as a fake, unrealistically talented version of himself of FIFA 11. He invites readers to email him anytime at thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com.

The CAB's Video of the Day: Honda's Incredible Free Kick

The video of the...you know.  Today, we reach way back into the past and see Keisuke Honda taking a set piece for Japan in an under 23 International.
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by Jacen


If you are at all familiar with the Japan National Football Team, or Keisuke Honda himself, you'll know he has the reputation of being a tremendously talented free kick taker. Both at the club and international level, it's a real sight to see him line up his shot and let fly. This video is no exception. Japan, who were already up 2 - 0 over Hong Kong before this free kick, certainly didn't need the goal to assure victory, but it certainly made it that much sweeter. Take a gander, and be amazed!

video courtesy of YouTube.


Jacen Curathers is a writer, co-editor and co-founder of the Captain's Armblog. He enjoys reading, drinking himself into a stupor, and playing as a fake, unrealistically talented version of himself of FIFA 11. He invites readers to email him anytime at thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com.

Kayla's Salute: The US & Japan Ladies in the World Cup Final

I love football as much as the next guy, but at the base level, I'm still a woman. I appreciate the after-game shirt exchange just as much as the game itself. Kayla's salute is a recurring piece spotlighting the best footballers that also happen to be the best looking.  This week's salute is different because it's not only a salute to two groups of people, but they're all ladies.  While the preference is the males, I can still appreciate some ass-kicking women who are also classy.  And the US and Japan's women's teams are just that. 


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By Kayla

The US and Japan ladies treated us all to one of the most memorable Women's World Cup finals in history.  Two teams who had been commended for their talent, heart, and unwillingness to give up kept everyone on the edge of their seats on Sunday as the US consistently dominated the Japanese while the Japanese displayed a stubborn refusal to give up.  The game resulted in the first World Cup final victory for Japan, bringing much needed joy to a country devastated by a tsunami while the US ladies graciously accepted their runner-up medals and showed much respect for Japan as Japan hoisted the cup above their heads.

Getty Images

As a fan, I always prefer a clean, hard-fought game over one riddled with questionable calls and dirty tactics to gain the upper hand.  Many fans do.  In a high stress game where more pressure comes in an extremely important final such as this, it's easy for the emotions to run high as the players fight tooth and nail to do whatever it takes to ensure a victory for their side. 

There's no doubt the women's football does not receive as much attention or money as the men's football.  Men do have more at stake and experience more pressure to succeed, which begins to push the sport into a place where dirty tactics are more acceptable as the "whatever it takes to win" mentality is held in such high regard.

Associated Press

Maybe that's why the women's sport feels much more pure.  The stakes are not so high.  The focus is on going out and putting the best effort forward.  Clearly the women's game is not completely pure as some teams do feign injuries, take dives, and waste time just like it's prominent in the men's game.  Regardless, the Women's World Cup final was an extremely enjoyable match that was played with pride and class between two humble teams with a tremendous amount of respect for each other.  And that's why this week's salute goes to the ladies of the US and Japan's World Cup squads.

For the sake of these wonderful athletes, let's hope those who have had their eye caught by the Women's World Cup stick around and learn to love the ladies' side of the sport, while the ladies who play the sport maintain their dignity and determination to shine with their talent and their talent alone.


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres.  Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

The CAB's Video of the Day: Hope Solo & Abby Wambach on The Late Show

The video of the...you know.  Today is Hope Solo and Abby Wambach's appearance on Letterman last night.

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By Kayla

In the flurry of media appearances since the US ladies have returned home, Hope Solo and Abby Wambach appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman last night to talk about their memorable World Cup campaign.  As with most members of the media, Letterman had no clue what he was talking about in regards to the game, at one point talking about how headers can cause brain damage.  Hope Solo and Abby Wambach kept the interview amusing as they made slight jabs at Letterman's footy ignorance and also beaming as they talked about how proud they were to have the opportunity to represent their country.  And kudos to Hope Solo for gracefully handling the situation when Letterman brought up the topic of her all-but-wonderful 2007 World Cup Experience.

The ladies then take it outside to kick some balls at some taxis. Typical in New York, I'm sure.

Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres.  Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

Transfer News for 7/20/2011

By Jacen
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Well, so far this summer, transfer news has been... a bit lackluster. However, in the last week or so, there have been some noteworthy moves that deserve a mention.


We'll begin by focusing on a single club, and all of the players who are supposedly leaving it and heading toward it. And that club is CF Barçelona.

Sanchez with Udinese

Alexis Sanchez, currently a striker and key player for Italian side Udinese has officially been signed by Barça for a reported 27 million Euros plus variables, and an official announcement is expected in the next few days. The Chilean international, who recently finished international duty with the rest of his nation after elimination in the quarter finals in the Copa America, is expected to make the trek to Camp Nou for pre-season training within the next few days. While the 22 year old's skills had also reportedly caught the attention of Man United and Man City, as well as Barça rivals Real Madrid, it appears that Sanchez will be playing for the blaugrana come the new season. The Sanchez move also comes in the wake of continuing negotiations between Bojan Krkic and AS Roma, and as the days tick by, we await the official statement that the 20 year old Krkic is heading to Italy from Barçelona. The Hunt for Cesc Fabregas continues. Or rather, Barçelona's hunt for Fabregas continues. It seems everyone in Europe, with the exception of the staff at Arsenal, want Fabregas back in Spain. Several players, including Barça co-captain

Xavi and Fabregas... destined to be Team Mates?

Xavi Hernandez and Cesc himself have been letting everyone within earshot know: Cesc Wants to Be at Barça!! And it seems that at last, The Gunners might be relenting. Pep Guardiola has himself said that negotiations are underway, and things are looking very hopeful. We will have to wait and see just how much longer Cesc will be forced to "suffer" his time at Arsenal. And at last, we come to Neymar.

The Brazilian faux-hawk sporting striker has been linked with numerous clubs in Europe over the past several months, yet he has finally put his foot down and said that he will not be leaving Santos, his boyhood club, anytime soon.

Carlos Tevez celebrating a goal for Man CIty

In other European news, longtime Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has recently played down rumors that Dutch international Wesley Sneijder will be joining the Red Devils for the new B.P.L. Season. While the deal had looked to be finalized, with Inter even naming their price, Fergie released a blunt statement Monday where he literally said: "Forget it." Over on the blue side of Manchester, the deal to trade Carlos Tevez from English giants Man City to Brazilian legends Corinthians has officially fallen through. The deal, reported to be worth 40 million Euros, was said to be reached on Monday, yet nothing else failed to materialize before the Brazilian Transfer window closed. While Man City manager Roberto Mancici has stated he expects to reach a deal for Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero sometime this week, it appears that Tevez, now 27, is going to remain at Man City for the upcoming Barclay's Premier League Season. The hole that is expected to be left at Atletico from Aguero's departure will not be there for long. Tuesday brought the singing of young striker Adrian Lopez from Segunda Division club Deportivo La Coruna, who were relegated last season. Meanwhile, over in Germany, Fußball-Bundesliga club Borussia

Will Jozy Altidore finally find a home at Alkmaar?

Moenchengladbach has signed Japanese forawrd Yuki Otsu from J-League side Kashiwa Reysolvon. American midfielder Michael Bradley, who is currently signed with the German club, has been recently linked to a number of clubs in the Italian Serie A, including Bologna and Roma. While Bradley's Italian agent Paola Alberto Faccini has stated that "For now, he [Michael] is a Borussia player" a move for the 23 year old American looks like it could be on the horizon. Another American whose future is looking much more certain is 21 year old Jozy Altidore. The striker, who has played for 4 clubs over the last 3 years, has signed a 4 year contract with AZ Alkmaar, in the Dutch Eredivisie. Initial rumors about the move came when Altidore posted a message on his twitter account about the difficulty he would experience in learning dutch.


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images courtesy of goal.com



Jacen Curathers is a writer, co-editor and co-founder of the Captain's Armblog. He enjoys reading, drinking himself into a stupor, and playing as a fake, unrealistically talented version of himself of FIFA 11. He invites readers to email him anytime at thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com.

The CAB's Video of the Day: Cristiano Ronaldo's Strangest Advert Yet

The Video of the Day...yeah. You know.  Today's video is a Cristiano Ronaldo advert that is almost as strange as it is funny.

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By Kayla

Oh, Cristiano. Props to a guy who can poke some fun at himself.  Assuming that is the case and he wasn't taking it seriously.  Then again, how can you take getting a blow job in the park seriously?

Video: TalkSport via YouTube


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres.  Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

The CAB's Video of the Day: Ronaldo's Goal vs. LA Galaxy

The video of the day is...well, you get the idea.  Today's video is Cristiano Ronaldo's insane goal against the LA Galaxy in a match that is part of the World Football Challenge that took place on Saturday in Los Angeles, California

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By Kayla

Say what you will about the man's personal life or about the man himself, Ronaldo is by no means a slouch of a player.  His genius was on full display on Saturday at the LA Coliseum against the LA Galaxy as he makes some of the Galaxy's defenders look like fools before he bangs the ball into the twine for one of four goals scored by Real Madrid in Saturday's match.

At this point, have we really come to expect anything less from him? Of course not.



Video: YouTube

Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres.  Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

A History Lesson: The Football War

A History Lesson features a particular part of Footy history that we feel is relevant and timeless. It can feature players, club victories, title wins, goals, important events, etc.


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By Jacen



It has many names. Some include "The Hundred Hours War" and "The Salvador-Honduras War". However, it's most well known name may be La guerra del fútbol, or the "Football War". While this title may be misleading, it seems to be the most widely accepted name for the 4 day war that took place between Honduras and El Salvador back in 1969. Like nearly every war in history, everything began with politics. Immigration from El Salvador to Honduras was becoming a major point of contention between the two nations. Land reform and demographic problems did little else but fan the growing flames. The nation of El Salvador is only 20% the size that Honduras is. Yet by the time of the war, El Salvador's population was double the population of Honduras. The estimated number of Salvadorians living in Honduras in 1969 was a staggering 300,000. About 15,000 of those Salvadorians made up the peasant population in Honduras, yet very little land actually belonged to any of them. Major corporations and individual large landowners held much of the land in Honduras, and the average landowner barely stood a chance. In 1966, the United Fruit Company banded together with many other large companies to create la Federación Nacional de Agricultores y Ganaderos de Honduras; or The National Federation of Farmers and Livestock-Farmers of Honduras. FENAGH was well known as anti-Salvadoran, and the group put pressure on the Honduran president Lopes Arellano to protect the property rights of the larger landowners. A new land reform law, which was passed in 1967, gave the central government and municipalities a large percentage of the land occupied illegally by Salvadoran immigrants, which was then gifted to native-born Hondurans. Due to most of their land being taken, thousands of Salvadorans, including both temporary harvest workers and longer-term settlers, were displaced and forced to emigrate from Honduras. With nowhere else to go, most returned, beaten and ashamed, to El Salvador.

Yet the worst was to follow. Qualification for the 1970 FIFA World cup was well under way, and on the 8th of June 1969, when the second CONCACAF qualifying round reached the two tumultuous nations, all hell broke loose. The first match, which Honduras won 1 - 0, was marred with fan violence and rioting, while the Salvadorian team, which spent the entire night before being taunted and threatened by a mob as they tried to sleep in their hotel, claimed to have been robbed of the result. Yet the Salvadorian team were not the only ones filled with despair. Amelia Bolaños, an 18 year old Salvadorian girl, committed suicide after the match by shooting herself with her father's pistol. Her death proved to be yet another major catalyst toward the seemingly inevitable military conflict. Amelia, who was now hailed as a martyr by her home nation, had her funeral televised nationally, with not only the Salvadorian national players attending, but even an army honour guard and the president of El Salvador himself were shown walking behind her coffin. The second leg of the qualifier, which took place just one week later on the 15th of June, saw a renewed El Salvador defeat Honduras 3 - 0. Again, the match was marred by even more violence off the pitch, this time being even worse than the first. June 26th brought the third and final match, which took place on the neutral ground of Mexico City, Mexico, and saw El Salvador win 3 - 2 after extra time. Unfortunately, the "Football War" did not end with the games. The real fighting was about to begin.

Mere hours after the match ended, El Salvador dissolved all ties with Honduras, and within the next several days, both countries had their borders attacked. The several clashes between the two countries eventually led to concerted military action. Honduras had the more efficient military, yet it was El Salvador who made the first move. Using civilian passenger planes as makeshift bombers, the Salvadorians struck several strategic locations, including an airport facility at Toncontin, which took Honduras by complete surprise. The Salvadorian army continued their blitz and eventually pushed the Honduran army so far back that 8 cities fell under Salvadorian control, including the Honduran departmental capital of Nueva Ocotepeque. A Honduran national headline which read: "Salvadoran Army Advance Unstoppable", gave credence to the confident talk that El Salvador's army was not only standing up to the much larger Honduran army, but that they were actually winning. Yet, Honduras continued to persevere. As the Salvadorian army headed toward the capital city, Honduras staged an aerial assault of their own, targeting air and oil facilities. While mostly unsuccessful, Honduras' superior air force managed to win back control of the skies for the remainder of the war. El Salvador continued their blistering campaign and despite being a poorer, weaker nation, they managed to keep their military together and assure themselves victory.

Just one day after the conflict began, the OAS met and called for an immediate cease-fire and a withdrawal of El Salvador's forces from Honduras. While El Salvador initially resisted the pressures from the OAS, demanding that Honduras first agree to pay reparations for the previous treatment of Salvadoran citizens and guarantee the safety of those Salvadorans remaining in Honduras, a cease-fire was eventually arranged on the night of 18 July. The actual war lasted only 4 days, but by the end 3000 people, including Amelia Bolaños were dead.

While football was not the actual cause of the war, it certainly exacerbated the conflict more than quite possibly anything else could have at that time. Sadly, even to this day, in some nations, such as Egypt, football rivalry still incites violence, rioting and even death. Footy is, and always will be more entertaining with a good rivalry, yet this war can be viewed as one of the biggest negative examples of how that rivalry can be taken entirely too far.



Jacen Curathers is a writer, editor and co-founder of The Captain's Armblog. He enjoys reading, drinking himself into a stupor and playing as a fake, unrealistically talented version of himself on FIFA 11. He invites readers to email him anytime at thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com.

Megan Rapinoe vs. Stuart Holden

By Kayla

Since the beginning of this Women's World Cup, the comparisons between the US Women's National Team midfielder and the US Men's National Team midfielder has become evident.  We here at The Captain's Armblog have to agree.  Here's the list of startling similarities below:

• Both Midfielders
• Both born in 1985 (almost a month apart no less)
• Great with set pieces 
• and crosses
• Hair has Twitter (Rapinoe's & Holden's)
• Has played for three domestic teams (if you don't count her recent transfer to magicJack)
• Or Holden being plagued with injuries during his short time at Sunderland
• Baby faces
• Blondes
• Americans (duh)
• Pale whiteys
• Crowd favorites
•  Silly personalities

It's only a matter of time before they find out they have super powers and are adopted by a millionaire who wants them to blast open Witch Mountain.


Images: Rapinoe - ussoccer.com; Holden - fifa.com


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres. Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

The Morning After: US vs. Japan Women's World Cup Final

The Morning After is a recurring piece highlighting matches the morning after or whenever we get around to posting it. This edition of Morning After focuses on the Women's World Cup final between the US and Japan.

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By Kayla


No matter which side you were cheering for, everyone was treated to a wonderfully entertaining World Cup final today.


Another dramatic game from the US brought about a different result for the #1 ranked team in the world.  Gaining and losing the lead twice and losing to Japan in the penalty shootout placed the Lady Nats in second in the Women's World Cup.  The game stayed 0-0 through the first half and into the second, with several close goals on the US's part.  Alex Morgan, who substituted in for an injured Lauren Cheney after the half, was responsible for the first goal for the US in the 68th minute.  Aya Miyama of Japan then scored in the 80th minute to equalize and keep hope alive for Japan.  After the game rolled into extra time, Abby Wambach put another goal into the net with another deadly header to pull the US back into the lead at 2-1 in the 104th minute.  Homare Sawa then responded in the 117th minute with a wonderful goal that put the game into penalty kicks.

Unfortunately for the US, this was not the same team that took penalty kicks against Brazil in the quarter finals.  The ladies that were calm, cool, and confident just a week ago today, seemed tired, rushed, and unsure.  Shannon Boxx took the first penalty kick that was easily blocked by Japan's keeper Ayumi Kaihori.  Carli Lloyd followed Boxx and launched her kick above the cross bar.  Tobin Heath failed to convert her kick in a similar fashion as Boxx, leaving Abby Wambach to show the only ounce of composure as she slotted her kick into the goal.  Hope Solo managed to save one kick by Yuki Nagasato, but it was not enough to save the US.  Japan claimed the title for the first time for their country, and no one can deny that it was well-earned after eliminating the hosts Germany, Sweden, and finally the US.

Despite the disappointing penalty effort from the US, the US ladies played an excellent campaign and managed to rally a country behind their efforts, including the Commander in Chief himself.  The Lady Nats have nothing to hang their heads about, and after the outpouring of appreciation and support, I'm sure they will return to the US with their heads held high.

Any monumental tournament like World Cup captures the attention of people who normally would not pay attention to the sport.  Soon after, it fades away from the forefront of the minds of society and things return to normal.  Let's hope in the case of the US ladies, they have gained new loyal fans that will not only continue to cheer them on, but also help bolster the financially suffering domestic league here in the US.


Images: Getty

Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres. Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

The CAB's Video of the Day: Pia Sundhage Singing Simon & Garfunkel

It's self-explanatory. The video of the day is a footy video for your enjoyment.  Enjoy!

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By Kayla

Ahead of the Women's World Cup final, the US ladies have been making the rounds with the media.  In a press conference in Frankfurt Pia Sundhage talked about her laid back approach to coaching.  To demonstrate this, Sundhage began singing Simon & Garfunkel's "Feeling Groovy".

Now if we could only get Bob Bradley to sing at press conferences.


Video: YouTube 


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres. Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

The Morning After: US vs. France Women's World Cup Semi-Final

The Morning After is a recurring piece highlighting matches the morning after or whenever we get around to posting it. This edition of Morning After focuses on the US's World Cup semi-final over France to send them through to the final for the first time since 1999.

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By Kayla 

After the dramatic match against Brazil, the US were ready to take on France.  Although probably not as challenging as the Brazil match, France still put up a great fight and had the US play hard for the entire duration of the match.

The scoring started early for the US as Lauren Cheney found the back of the twine, but France were not ready to give up.  France gained the upper hand as the first half waned, forcing Hope Solo to make some crucial saves to keep the US ahead.  Particularly in the 30th minute, France had several close chances to equalize early on, while Abby Wambach had a headed attempt that was just off the frame late in the first half.  Persistence paid off for the French ladies as they equalized in the 55th minute with a Sonia Bompastor goal.

Just as the US ladies looked to be in trouble, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe were subbed in and brought fresh legs to the squad, helping the US gain control of the game once again.  Shortly after Abby Wambach came through for the US and put them in the lead with a headed goal in the 79th minute.  Alex Morgan set the US victory in stone with a third goal only three minutes later.  They held on for 10 more minutes to win the match 3-1.

Japan also won 3-1 in their semi-final match against Sweden.  Japan and the US will face each other in the final on Sunday, the first ever for Japan and the first for the US since 1999.

Many people will have their eyes focused on the final on Sunday to see if the US ladies pull out another win to take home the Cup, but it seems they want a particular person to be present for their potential win.  In the midst of the US ladies partaking in many telephone and video interviews, the ladies revealed they have invited President Barrack Obama to be present for the festivities on Sunday. 

I'm sure if Obama does attend, he will not be disappointed with this talented group of ladies.  Oh, and at the request of Megan Rapinoe, make sure you have plenty of room for the sqaud on Air Force One for the ride back home.

Images: Getty

Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres. Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

The CAB's Video of the Day: Megan Rapinoe's Song & Real Madrid at UCLA

CAB's Video of the Day highlights a particular footy video that we find entertaining. Since we were slacking off yesterday, here's two videos for double your viewing pleasure!

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By Kayla

First up, we have a lovely folk song about Megan Rapinoe. Performed by a fella named Alex Kreller posted on YouTube, it's sure to get some hits while the Women's World Cup is winding to a close. Whether or not it grabs Rapinoes' attention is yet to be seen.

Next up, we have what we on the internet call an EPIC FAIL. Real Madrid will face the LA Galaxy on Saturday in Los Angeles.  In the meantime they've been training at UCLA, and while being toted around the campus by convoy of golf carts, a young woman plows right into one of the vehicles.  The CIQ (cart in question) stops for a few moments and then continues on. Hard to tell if she was late for class or if she was dazzled by Cristiano Ronaldo's smile. Or distracted by a squirrel.

 

Videos: Youtube

Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres. Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

The CAB's Video of the Day: John Spencer's Alaska Airlines Commerical

The CAB's Video of the Day will be a daily piece on a footy-related video from, what else, Youtube! Today's video comes from the always entertaining John Spencer, a former Scottish footballer and the current coach of the Portland Timbers.

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By Kayla

After watching this, you'll wish every flight you get on has John Spencer as a flight attendant.  Here's a commerical he did for Alaska Airlines.  So shut your haggis traps and listen up!

 

Video: Youtube

Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres. Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

MLS All-Star Game 2011: First XI Announced

By Kayla

No surprises here, ladies and gentlemen.  The votes are in on the First XI for the MLS game and the fans went with some big names of the league.  Luckily they are also talented so the All-Stars shouldn't have too much trouble when they play Manchester United in the All-Star Game.  This won't necessarily be the starting line up, but here's the list of top fan picks:

Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders)- Keeper
Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy) - Defender
Sean Franklin (LA Galaxy) - Defender
Rafa Marquez (NY Red Bulls) - Defender
Tim Ream (NY Red Bulls) - Defender
David Beckham (LA Galaxy) - Midfielder
Jack Jewsbury (Portland Timbers) - Midfielder
Brek Shea (FC Dallas) - Midfielder
Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) - Forward
Thierry Henry (NY Red Bulls) - Forward
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes) - Forward

Based on the voting, a 4-3-3 formation was selected because the third ranked forward received more than twice as many votes as the fourth ranked midfielder.  This first XI received the most votes for their respective positions based on three different ways of voting - MLSSoccer.com, Twitter, and text messaging.  The ballot for voting was based on the six players from each club that received the most votes from members of the media.

Another addition to the lineup is Sporting Kansas City's Matt Besler, who received 30% of the text votes.  This will be the 24 year old's first MLS game.

The MLS All-Stars will face Manchester United on July 27th at Red Bull Stadium.


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres. Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com

The Morning After: US vs. Brazil Women's World Cup Showdown

The Morning After is a recurring piece that highlights matches the morning after they occur. Or whenever we get around to posting the damn thing. This edition focuses on the riveting match between The US and Brazil that resulted in the US moving to the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup currently going on in Germany. 

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By Kayla & Jacen


If you missed yesterday's quarter final match between the US and Brazil in the Women's World Cup, you're definitely kicking yourself by now.
The US ladies treated us to one of the most heroic and surely historic matches in a World Cup. A match full of ups and downs for both teams and some controversial calls ended in a dramatic penalty shootout that propelled the US Women to the semi-finals and to the forefront of the minds of Americans.

Brazil's Aline taking on Abby Wambach

The match started great for the Lady Nats 74 seconds in when the Brazilian defender Daiane scored an own goal in a failed attempt to deflect a Shannon Boxx cross.  The 1-0 lead was held through the first half as the US dominated Brazil.  Brazil started showing signs of frustration at the end of the 1st half and both teams returned from the 2nd half just as they left in the 1st.  Trouble struck for the US in the 65th minute, when Rachel Buehler was sent off with a straight red card for a phantom foul on Brazilian standout Marta in the box.  Cristiane stepped forward to take the penalty, which was saved by Hope Solo.  The celebration of the wonderful deflection was cut short by the referee Jacqui Melksham calling what appeared to be encroachment on the US's part and resulting in a Hope Solo yellow card due to her arguing vehemently.  Marta stepped up to take the second penalty which she coolly slotted by Hope Solo to even the score 1-1.  The composure of the US started to slip as the Brazilian's began dominating in possession.  Playing with only 10 players started taking its toll as the US began showing signs of exhaustion as the clock wound down to end regulation time.  Extra time began and two minutes in Marta scored the goal that seemed to be the end of the US's World Cup campaign, a controversial incident since it appeared Maurine, who made the pass to Marta, was offside.  The goal was followed by desperate attempts to equalize from the US and time-wasting tactics from Brazil, including a feigned injury from Erika that resulted in a yellow card after she hopped off the stretcher and ran back on the pitch.

Time ticked away quickly as we saw more failed attempts by the US to score.  Then the latest goal to ever occur in a Women's World Cup match came from a moment of brillance from a Megan Rapinoe cross to a Abby Wambach header into the twine.  Abby Wambach's equalizer mirrored the same moment of genius from Landon Donovan's equalizing goal last summer in the final group stage match against Algeria that placed them at the top of their group and sent them to the knockout round of the Men's World Cup.  After the last minute of extra time, the score remained 2-2 and the game continued into penalty kicks.

Rachel Buehler's Red Card

Any penalty shootout is a nerve-wrecking experience, but it felt especially so for the US fans who sought justice after a match that was anything but fair.  The US ladies were confident as Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd, Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe and Alex Kreiger each stepped forward and successfully converted each penalty kick.  The first two penalty kicks from the Brazilian ladies came low and left, and once Daiane stepped forward and kicked hers in a similar fashion, Hope Solo quickly dove to deflect it.  Alex Kreiger's converted kick sealed the victory for the US as cheers erupted in the stadium and all over the world.  Quite the way to celebrate the 12 year anniversary of the US women winning the 1999 World Cup in similar fashion when they defeated China in penalty kicks.

Abby Wambach and Hope Solo were the heroes of the match, but Hope Solo had more at stake than any of the other Yankettes.  Hope Solo was benched in the 2007 Women's World Cup semi-final against Brazil in favor of Brianna Scurry, despite the fact that Hope Solo had only allowed two goals in four games in the campaign up until that point and keeping a clean sheet in the previous three matches.  Brianna Scurry was selected for the match because of her experience even though she had not played a full match in three month's time.  The result was a 4-0 loss that eliminated the US from the competition.  Hope Solo gave an emotional interview after the match that she issued an apology for the following day as her response to the match came across as criticism directed at then coach Greg Ryan and Brianna Scurry.  A backlash occurred and Solo's international career appeared to be over.  Fate had other plans for Solo as a new coach brought a new chance.  In the four matches between the 2007 and 2011 World Cup meetings with Brazil, Hope Solo held clean sheets all four times and proved she is worthy of facing the Brazilians.  Yesterday's match cemented that fact as she showed confidence and poise in the penalty shootout and contributed to the hard-fought victory for the US. 

Hope Solo's saving Daiane's penalty kick

The victory not only keeps the US women's World Cup dreams alive, but also gives a much needed boost to US Soccer as a whole.  After a disappointing Gold Cup final from the men, when they lost 4-2 to Mexico after gaining a 2-0 lead, the Lady Nats have pumped up the spirits of US soccer fans everywhere.  The ladies will face France in the semi-final on Wednesday, and the winner will proceed to the final on Sunday.  After the match that was fit for a final, the US are more than ready to face France. 


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres. Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com
 

Kayla's Salute: Fabio Cannavaro

I love football as much as the next guy, but at the base level, I'm still a woman. I appreciate the after-game shirt exchange just as much as the game itself. Kayla's salute is a recurring piece spotlighting the best footballers that also happen to be the best looking.

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By Kayla

This week's salute comes a day early in light of Fabio Cannavaro's announced retirement from football as of yesterday. It seems appropriate to cover such a decorated player's illustrious career. Plus it's time I cover someone that's not American.

 Playing for Italy's national team and serving most of his domestic career in Italy, Cannavaro has had quite the career.  Starting as a ball boy at Napoli, Cannavaro quickly ascended to a spot on the first team, alongside some of the idols he watched with admiration on the sidelines.  He made his debut in Serie A on March 7, 1993 in a match against Juventus. After the loss of Maradona, cash-strapped Napoli were forced to sell Cannavaro to Parma in 1995.  Instantly earning a spot in the starting 11, he earned the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia with the squad.  During his time at Parma, he received call-ups to the national team and also earned Serie A Defender of the Year. He soon earned a €23 million transfer to Internazionale, where he played for a couple of seasons, missing a huge portion of his second season there due to injury. During his stint there Internazionale finished second in Serie A and also reached the semi-finals of the 2002-2003 Champions League. He was then sold to Juventus, where he won two Scudetti with the squad in 2005 and 2006 and also won a Football Oscar for his debut season at Juventus.  Shortly after the 2006 World Cup, Juventus were relegated to Serie B, and Cannavaro soon followed then manager Fabio Capello to Real Madrid.  Cannavaro earned FIFA World Player of the Year in 2006 for his time at Juventus and Real Madrid, and was also a part of Real Madrid's squad that won La Liga in '06-'07 & '07-'08. Cannavaro returned to Juventus in the summer of 2009 and then went to Al-Ahli Dubai in the summer of 2010 on a free transfer after the World Cup. He only made 16 appearances for the club before his retirement.

Cannavaro's international career has also been impressive.  Participating in 4 World Cups, 2 Euro Cups, and serving as Italy's skipper from 2002 to 2010, Cannavaro has earned 127 caps.  He took over as captain after the 2002 World Cup and lead Italy to win the 2006 World Cup after defeating France in the final.  Lifting the trophy was special on that particular occasion because it was his 100th cap for his country.  He was one of two players to play every minute of every match for his country and did not earn a single card during the 690 minutes of the tournament.  Sustaining a ligament injury in training, he did not participate in the 2008 Euro Cup.  Plans for his retirement were put on hold after Euro 2008, due to his determination to captain his country for one more World Cup.  He announced his retirement from international competition after Italy failed to progress past the group stage in the 2010 World Cup.  


The announcement of Cannavaro's retirement from the game came yesterday, after doctors said he would no longer be able to play due to a serious knee problem.  Cannavaro's wonderful career has earned him a spot in football history and this week's salute.  You will be missed, Fabio.


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres. Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com