Author Archives: Mike Woitalla

[CUBA-USA REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 1-0 win over Cuba on Saturday. …

Against Cuba, Clint Dempsey was moved from the frontline into the midfield and scored his third goal of the qualifying campaign after striking twice in the preliminary round against Barbados. After the game, he spoke about the Cuban fans’ warm reception …

Books and artwork are among the few items the U.S. Department of the Treasury allows Americans to bring back from Cuba, so I take a walk down the Paseo de Prado where Havana artists sell their paintings. But on Saturday the pedestrian-only path is overrun by about a hundred young volunteers passing out condoms and educational material on the prevention of STDs. The Plaza de Armas in Old Havana is as usual, with scores for vendors selling used books. It’s of little surprise what books dominate the vendors’ displays.

Mike Woitalla reports from Havana
The USA training session the day before the game was closed so as not to reveal its starting lineup for its game against Cuba on Saturday. But most likely, Coach Bob Bradley‘s squad will closely resemble the team that won at Guatemala, 1-0, on Aug. 20. That means defensive muscle in the middle covering for attacks from the flank. The main question marks are who will replace Pablo Mastroeni in the central midfield and how much Bradley will take into account Wednesday’s qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago.

Mike Woitalla reports from Havana
The corrugated metal roof of Pedro Marrero Stadium, damaged by Hurricane Gustav, was being fixed by brave acrophobia-free men and fortunately no one was hit when one of the panels fell down. Others carried hundreds of plastic deck chairs into the stadium for the front rows. But busiest of all were the two men who cut the entire field by pushing around the kind of two-stroke engine lawnmowers more appropriate for a backyard grass. And what thanks do they get? “The grass is a little long,” said U.S. coach Bob Bradley on the eve of his team’s World Cup qualifier against Cuba.

Cuba has two sets of currency. That’s why I accidentally paid 24 times more for a newspaper than the asking price. And why when I tried to buy a postcard with the peso bill that features Jose Marti‘s face I was told to use the one on which the 19th century Cuban hero is riding a horse. The CUC, or convertible peso, is what foreigners use. The CUP, or Cuban peso, is for locals and is the equivalent of four U.S. pennies – which is what the admission price is for Cuba’s World Cup against the USA on Saturday.

On Thursday evening, the U.S. national team arrived at the Hotel Melia Cohiba, two blocks from Havana’s charming Malecon, the four-mile waterfront walkway. Before heading for the team dinner, Coach Bob Bradley discussed the significance of Saturday’s Cuba-USA game (TV: ESPN Classic & Galavision, 8 pm ET). “I don’t think there’s extra pressure,” he said, “but we do understand the fact that this game will bring extra attention.”

Mike Woitalla reports from Havana
Walking down one of Havana’s longest streets, the Calle Infanta, I’m approached by man in a worn-out striped polo shirt who asks where I’m from. After I answer he says, in a friendly way, “You must come with me.” We walk past one of the street vendors who refills disposable lighters, then take a right turn toward the University of Havana and enter a stylish cafe. “This is where Fidel Castro and Che Guevara discussed many important things,” says my new tour guide, Victor. While now ailing, Fidel still has strong views, in particular on the state of Cuban sports.

For the USA’s first game in Cuba since 1947, Coach Bob Bradley has brought in players based in Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and Mexico — in addition to seven MLS-based men. The experienced squad — half of the 20 players have more than 30 caps — aims for a second straight win in the semifinal group phase of qualifying when it faces the Cubans on Saturday. Less suspenseful than whether the USA can beat a team ranked No. 71 in the world is whether the USA’s frontline finally finds its form.

Mike Woitalla reports from Havana
In the hotel lobby of the Parque Central in Old Havana, the television is tuned to CNN, with coverage of the Republican Convention. Later in the evening, security guard Gustavo switches to ESPN for the Red Sox-Cleveland game. Gustavo, although a fervid baseball fan, is one of the few Cubans I’ve met so far who is aware that Cuba hosts the USA in a World Cup qualifying game on Saturday.

[BY THE NUMBERS] Claudio Reyna, who turns 35 on July 20, played professionally in the top tier leagues of England, Scotland and Germany and in three World Cups. He joined the New York Red Bulls in 2007 and played 27 MLS games. …

[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS] Toronto continued its dismal road run but enjoyed a bright spot when 16-year-old Abdus Ibrahim scored in his league debut. … Real Salt Lake made some club history. … And an MLS coach probably considered least likely to loss his temper was ejected.

All but one of the Los Angeles Galaxy’s six road games this season have drawn more than 20,000 fans. The exception was the Galaxy’s opener at Colorado’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, which was sold out at 18,713. For more on the David Beckham crowd pull and MLS attendance. …