What Matters to Galaxy Is the Journey
Major League Soccer’s defending champion is without a victory six games into the season. But that’s not important right now.
What is, at least in the mind of Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid, is that his team continues to improve as it dribbles its way through a season-opening, league-record eight-game trip, a journey that takes the Galaxy to Kansas City tonight.
“The main goal is to play better right now because when you’re in a groove you get to a stage where sometimes you don’t play well and you still win,” Schmid said. “That’s the mark of a good championship team. Right now we haven’t always played well and we’ve still managed to get ties and not lose.”
While the Galaxy, which will open its new 27,000-seat stadium in Carson on June 7, is 0-2-4, Schmid figures his team has been outplayed only once this season -- in a 2-0 loss at New England May 10.
The return of playmaking midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos to the starting lineup last week in a 1-1 draw at Dallas gave the Galaxy a familiar look and a calming influence.
That’s important with the Galaxy missing midfielders Simon Elliott, who has been called up by New Zealand for a friendly Tuesday in Scotland, and Ezra Hendrickson, who must sit out tonight after picking up two yellow cards last week.
The Galaxy will stay in a 3-5-2 alignment and either Jesus Ochoa or Ricky Lewis will start in the midfield.
Women’s World Cup
A decision on whether or not the United States plays host to a second consecutive women’s World Cup will “probably [be made] by Monday,” FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren told Associated Press.
The U.S. and Sweden were the only nations to submit complete bids to host the 16-nation tournament. FIFA President Sepp Blatter, chairman of the governing body’s eight-member emergency committee, has referred to the U.S. as the “front-runner” to take over the competition, which had been scheduled from Sept. 23-Oct. 11, after it was moved from China on May 3 because of SARS.
“If chosen, we’re ready to hit the ground running,” U.S. Soccer Federation President Bob Contiguglia said.
It was also announced that the Canadian Soccer Assn., which had hoped to host one site should the U.S. get the nod, withdrew its bid.
According to FIFA, the original U.S. bid proposed using stadiums in Carson, San Jose, Columbus, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., with the final at the Rose Bowl.
Beckham’s Bad Break
David Beckham broke his right wrist -- an injury originally described as a broken thumb -- in England’s 2-1 victory over South Africa on Thursday and could be sidelined for up to eight weeks.
But he still plans on being ready for Manchester United’s tour of the U.S. in July.
Said England Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson: “I just hope he recovers as quickly as possible so he can have a normal life during the summer.”
Or as normal a life as the most popular athlete in the world -- outside of the U.S. -- can have while on tour. Manchester United, the Premier League champ, is scheduled to play Scotland’s Celtic in Seattle on July 22, Mexico’s Club America at the Coliseum on July 27, Italy’s Juventus in New Jersey on July 31 and Spain’s Barcelona in Philadelphia on Aug. 3.
