CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers roundup

[http://users.livejournal.com/thrace_/]

The CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament starts today in Vancouver. The top two teams will qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. Here's a news roundup, the schedule, and some ways to watch.

* Full Tournament Schedule

* Homicide Occurs in Hotel Housing USWNT
- the players were tweeting about this and then deleted everything, probably to avoid causing panic or confusion

* The Return of MagicJack
- not CONCACAF related, but the big story in American women's soccer right now, and directly related to USWNT players

* Christine Sinclair and John Herdman interview

* Abby Wambach interview

* Fierce Hope Solo interview


Universal Sports Network is broadcasting the USWNT games

CONCACAF TV is streaming ALL games live
- you have to register on the site to watch, but registration is free
- no geoblocking
- also they have a great archive of past games

Residents of CANADA, Sportsnet should be broadcasting all games in HD
This schedule should tell you which Sportsnet channel is broadcasting which match

If none of these seem like a good option for you, check the "uswnt" or "canwnt" tumblr tags on game days. Someone will inevitably post a streaming link.


ETA: THE SPORTSNET LIVESTREAM IS NOT GEOBLOCKED.

I'm personally rooting for the US to sweep the tournament, but I wouldn't mind if Canada came out on top.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_beka/]

(http://tinypic.com?ref=33ek0gz)

[silmerin.livejournal.com]

Borislow, what are you doing. Go away.

On that note, I'm just gonna leave this here:

[burning-moon117.livejournal.com]

ugh I am worried that there are only 2 CONCACAF spots for the Olympics and there are 4 good teams: USA, Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

[hermione-panic.livejournal.com]

woooo! women's international footy is back! gonna be cheering for Mexico, probably :D

[la-fiora.livejournal.com]

wow, I didn't hear about the shooting in the hotel, I hope it doesn't affect them too much.

apparently my WPS home team got Amy LePeilbet? and we just got Sydney Leroux in the draft! I hope I get to see them in a few games before the Olympics next summer but WPS season is so short.

[http://users.livejournal.com/thrace_/]

The Atlanta Beat walked away with like 75% of the Breakers back line. They got LePeilbet, Buehler, and Steph Cox in one fell swoop basically. The gave Cat Whitehill to the Breakers. Not the most even exchange.

[coyotesuspect.livejournal.com]

I am so excited. USA USA

[guingel.livejournal.com]

DJISOJFDIOGJFKLXCJRweioerjwiaelmwaKDJwieojwalsefj NERVES. EXCITEMENT. JOY. TERROR. oh god and this is just the qualifiers.

[sumrndmgrl.livejournal.com]

ngl, i wouldn't have known any of this if it wasn't for this post :) +1000

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

You guys also got Christen Press, another great young attacking player. I'm really curious to see how ATL does this year, it was miserable watching poor Chups work her heart out last season just to lose over and over again.

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the megapost. I forgot which times the games were on.

BTW, that Hope article is amazing. To answer Megan's, question, yes, most other people do find Hope intimidating. Hell, I could feel her intensity coming through that interview, I have no idea how people can interview her.

[la-fiora.livejournal.com]

that's good to hear about her! I saw her name was new but I haven't heard of her before. I'm excited for next season.

[la-fiora.livejournal.com]

that is true :/...but I am very excited for my team!

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

I'm not an expert on her, but she played for mJ last season and won rookie of the year(beating out Alex Morgan), and played for Stanford University, winning the Herman trophy award for best college player(again beating out baby horse). From what I've seen of her she's good.

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

I can't get the streams on the concacaf site to work. It won't let me kick on the games, even though 2 are going on right now. I'm registered and logged into the site.

[harrypotterlvr3.livejournal.com]

omggggg she is seriously my favorite player I love her so much :) she's been a superstar her whole life lol. She really deserves a NT call up!

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

Has she played much for the u-23,u-21,u-18, etc. teams? I remember seeing her up for a roster on the U-23 camp a few months back, but I don't know how much experience with those teams she has. I think that might be holding her back if she doesn't have that experience. Both Alex and Sydney had a lot of experience on those teams and were the highest goalscorerers at the u-20 world cup, which they won.

If Pia does leave after the olympics, like she says she plans on doing, I can see Christen getting the call up when a new coach evaluates the forward situation.

[harrypotterlvr3.livejournal.com]

She's been one of the best (if not the best) forwards in her age group for the last few years. She played with Kelley at Stanford, and those two were consistently unstoppable together. They were one of the most powerful offensive forces in the nation. When Kelley graduated, she ofc did her thing with FC Gold Pride and kept excelling as a forward. Christen continued to deliver at Stanford, became the all-time leading scorer for the school, tied Kelley's record for goals scored in a single season, and really established herself as one of the best. She rightfully won every award under the sun, and went on to play incredibly well with magicJack last season. She is crazy good.

Sooo with Kelley, Christen, and Sydney at ATL, RIP everyone's defense etc etc. I expect big things from them all!

[la-fiora.livejournal.com]

I never heard about her winning rookie of the year! that's awesome

[la-fiora.livejournal.com]

she sounds so cool, I will definitely be paying attention to her!

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

I'm a moron I read the times wrong. The Costa Rica/Cuba game just ended. I didn't watch all of it but I was impressed with Costa Rica's passing. They beat Cuba 2-0.

[burning-moon117.livejournal.com]

Go Canada!

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, that Haitian keeper just made a brilliant save!

[burning-moon117.livejournal.com]

It was amazing

[burning-moon117.livejournal.com]

Christine Sinclair!

[http://users.livejournal.com/thrace_/]

YEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH CAPTAIN CANADA.

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL Sinclair!

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

These commentators are speaking the truth about Sinclair. So underrated, and deserves more respect in her country.

[http://users.livejournal.com/thrace_/]

Preach.

[http://users.livejournal.com/thrace_/]

Also KK's hair is fly as fuck. As usual.

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

Sophie Schmidt is having a great game, but I'm not in love with her corner kicks. They seem to have all gone too long tonight.

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

Another goal for Sinclear. Great buildup play by the entire team.

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

Poor Sesselman. Hope she's ok.

On a happier note, Herdman is even more gorgeous when he talks with his accent.

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

Oh no Lamoge is down. That's the second Haitian forced off the field because of injury, and the third player over all. Poor things.

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

Game over 6-0 Canada.

Four goals for Sinclair, whose international total rises to 124, just one behind wambach, whose third on the all time female goal scoreres list.

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

Edit: Abby's fourth all time not third. She's behind Mia, Kristine,a dn Brigit.

[arcticmeangirl.livejournal.com]

Well I had fun narrating this game pretty much by myself. Goodnight all, see you tomorrow for the Mexico and USA games.

[liltipsyfyi.livejournal.com]

>:D yea Canada! Sinclair was a bamf as usual. Schmidt was good! I really miss Diana Matheson, she brings so much pace and intensity. The plays looked really slow without her running around. I hope I can get to one of the games!

I've been watching the build up to the tournament and I'm getting the vibe that a lot of sports personalities are hating on Morace which I bugs me. Yeah she screwed up big time but you can thank her for the revival of the team, their FIFA rank, and for some trophies. She should still be respected for all the work she did. The thing that stands out to me is that the team was willing to go on strike for her, it's like everyone has forgotten that.

[http://users.livejournal.com/thrace_/]

Morace definitely tried to help evolve the team to the next level, but she just mentally checked out on the team in the WWC and I get the sense they haven't really forgiven her for that. You could tell in Sinc's interview when she said they maybe "bought into" Morace a little too much, that she has some negative feelings there. The team did go to bat against the CSA for her (and for themselves), and then she just left them hanging when things went to shit in Germany.

[liltipsyfyi.livejournal.com]

I totally agree, Morace screwed up big time. She pretty much betrayed the team and the fans with her poor showing at the wc. I guess I've forgiven her while the rest of the country is still sore.

I just keep thinking I only started watching Canada because of Morace. I remember watching Canada in the Olympics before Morace came in and just being horrified at the long ball style they played. She made Canadian soccer enjoyable. Honestly the Canadian women's team is one of the few things that makes me proud to be Canadian and I feel like that Morace is responsible for improving the team so much. A bit silly but it's important to me none the less. :P

[http://users.livejournal.com/thrace_/]

Well there's no question Morace > Pellerud. Oy. Talk about "reliant on Sinclair."

[braided-one.livejournal.com]

Is anyone here watching this USWNT game?

[http://users.livejournal.com/thrace_/]

I am, but it's just embarassing. And now Krieger is down. This is the worst.

[burning-moon117.livejournal.com]

I am!

[braided-one.livejournal.com]

It is really kinda awkward.

Also Kriegs being hurt is killing me.

[braided-one.livejournal.com]

Yay! <3