Another summer month has come and gone, and the soccer world in Southern California continues to evolve and change by the minute. First, I want to give a quick shout out to The LA Galaxy's Under 16 Boy's Academy and the Pateadores Under 18 Boy's teams, that recently won the US Development Academy's National Championships in Milwaukee. Congrats to Pat's Coach Matt Tutton, & to Jose Villareal (scoring 2 goals in the Final vs FC Dallas) for getting called into the USA Under 18 National Team that is competing at the Northern Ireland Milk Cup. Also, special congrats to the LA Galaxy - where our own Eddie Soto and Billy Bizzaro are staff coaches in their Youth Academy!
The crazyness that is referred to as the 2011 Copa America, down south in Argentina, was eventually won by the up and coming Uruguayans. Led by Liverpool's Luis Suarez, and Athletic Madrid's Diego Forlan - Uruguay crushed a defensive minded Paraguay 3-0. How about this for a fun fact: Diego Forlan isn't even the 1st Forlan to win the Copa America! Actually, he isn't even the 2nd either! Forlan's grandfather and father BOTH won the Copa America before he did! Very impressive blood lines, huh! In the meantime, Argentina decided that maybe Diego Maradona really might have been a better choice - in hindsight - than Sergio Batista in leading the National team. After only several friendlies, and only 4 games in charge - Batista was sent packing. The Argentines should never have ran off Marcelo Bielsa - who went on to change Chile for the better, and is now coaching in Spain...good luck finding a new coach Argentina!
Meanwhile, here in So Cal - Beach FC hosted the Nike Pyramid Cup in Long Beach, and it was a smashing success - as expected. Over 150+ teams played, and next year, there is discussion on adding several "Super Groups" that will be the start of a Beach FC college recruiting showcase. Check out the most recent Beach FC newsletter and website for the list of teams from Beach that came home victorious! Thanks have to go out to all of the countless volunteers who made the tournament possible, and especially to Shelly Marsden, who put it all together with many a sleepless night changing and arranging game schedules!
Finally - we look ahead at the end of summer and the beginning of Fall, and all of the soccer that it brings. Surf Cup (youngers weekend) hosted 3 of our Beach FC teams this past weekend, with 2 older teams this coming weekend. The inaugural So Cal Developmental Soccer League (SCDSL) kicks off in September; the US Youth Soccer Far West Regional League has begun (with the winner advancing to the 2012 FWR tournament in Hawaii!); the GU16 White has been accepted to compete in the USYS National League (winner and finalist go straight to the USYS National Finals in 2012!); and the college season is around the corner, with the Long Beach State Women's Team kicking off at USC on the 19th of August. After touring the world and running up scores against weaker opponents - the Premiership, La Liga, Ligue 1; Bundesliga, and Seria A all kick off in the next several weeks. Who you got? Me - I see Real Madrid in La Liga; Chelsea in the Premiership; PSG in France's Ligue 1; Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga - and finally - AC Milan in Seria A. Give us your predictions and maybe you could win something....then again, I think I have already won with my picks above! HA!
Talk to you soon - Go Beach FC
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