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CONCACAF Abroad: Weekend Rewind

David_suazo_3_ap

While it was a relatively light weekend for American players in Europe, the rest of CONCACAF was pretty well represented this weekend.

Honduran striker David Suazo scored both goals in Inter Milan’s 2-0 win against Livorno on Sunday, making him one of four CONCACAF-born players to find the net in European First Division action.

Mexican national team striker (and friend of Tim Howard) Antonio DeNigris scored a pair of goals in Ankaraspor’s 3-2 loss to Besiktas while Costa Rican forward Bryan Ruiz assisted on KAA Gent’s first two goals in a 3-2 upset of Cercle Brugge.

Canadian-born Feyenoord striker Jonathan DeGuzman delivered the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Vitesse Arnhem on Sunday. I realize that some of you hate him because he has chosen to play for Holland, but he is still a product of the Canadian soccer system and his brother is the Canadian national team captain so he will remain in this feature (And no, I won’t be including Owen Hargreaves).

Trinidad & Tobago striker Darryl Roberts found the net for Sparta Rotterdam, who was shellacked, 6-2, by Ajax on Friday.

As a reminder, my goal is to chronicle how CONCACAF players are doing in Europe’s top leagues. I know some won’t consider Belgium or Turkey top leagues but they are good leagues and, more importantly, finding information on players is possible. I will only update players in first divisions, with the second division in England and Germany being the exceptions. That said, anybody who wants to update us on how CONCACAF players in other European leagues are doing, you are more than welcome to post updates in the comments section.

Now, here is how CONCACAF players in Europe did last weekend:

CANADA

  • Julian DeGuzman started and played 90 minutes in Deportivo La Coruna’s 3-2 loss to Recreativo Huelva on Sunday.
  • Jonathan DeGuzman started, played 90 minutes and scored the lone goal in Feyenoord’s 1-0 victory against Vitesse Arnhem on Sunday.
  • Will Johnson started and played 64 minutes in DeGraafschap’s 1-0 loss to NAC Breda on Sunday.
  • Daniel Imhof started and played 90 minutes in VFL Bochum’s 3-0 loss to Hamburg on Sunday.
  • Iain Hume started, played 90 minutes and scored the opening goal in Leicester City’s 4-0 win against Norwich on Saturday.
  • Patrice Bernier did not play in Kaiserslautern’s 1-0 win against SpVgg Greuther Furth on Sunday.
  • Josh Simpson did not play for Kaiserslautern.
  • Rob Friend started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Monchengladbach’s 1-0 loss to Mainz 05 on Monday.
  • Kevin McKenna started and played 90 minutes in Cologne’s 3-1 win against Carl Zeiss Jena on Friday.
  • Jason Devos started and played 90 minutes in Ipswich Town’s 2-1 loss to Watford on Saturday.
  • Tomas Radzinski and FC Xanthi’s match against AEK Athens was postponed due to heavy snow.
  • Tam Nsaliwa and AEK Athens’ match against FC Xanthi was postponed due to heavy snow.
  • Marcel De Jong started, played 90 minutes and drew a yellow card in Roda JC’s 3-1 win vs. Twente Enschede on Saturday.
  • Richard Hastings started and played 90 minutes in Inverness’ 1-1 tie vs. Dundee United on Saturday.
  • Paul Stalteri and Fulham were off.

COSTA RICA

  • Alvaro Saborio started and played 90 minutes in FC Sion Sitten’s 2-1 loss to St. Gallen on Sunday.
  • Bryan Ruiz started, played 90 minutes and delivered two assists in KAA Gent’s 3-2 win against Cercle Brugge on Friday.

HONDURAS

  • David Suazo started, played 90 minutes and scored both goals in Inter Milan’s 2-0 win against Livorno on Saturday.
  • Edgar Alvarez dressed but did not play for Livorno.
  • Julio Cesar Leon dressed but did not play in Genoa’s 1-0 loss to Sampdoria on Sunday.
  • Wilson Palacios and Wigan did not play.

JAMAICA

  • Jason Euell started, played 90 minutes and drew a yellow card in Southampton’s 1-0 FA Cup loss to Bristol on Saturday.
  • Nyron Nosworthy and Sunderland did not play
  • Marlon King and Wigan did not play.
  • Ricardo Gardner and Bolton did not play.
  • Deon Burton and Sheffield Wednesday did not play.
  • Ricardo Fuller and Stoke did not play.
  • Luton Shelton and Sheffield United did not play.
  • Damion Stewart and Queens Park Rangers did not play.

MEXICO

  • Giovani Dos Santos started, played 74 minutes and drew a yellow card in Barcelona’s 2-1 win against Real Zaragoza on Saturday.
  • Rafael Marquez started, played 90 minutes and drew a yellow card for Barcelona.
  • Carlos Vela started, played 90 minutes and drew a yellow card in Osasuna’s 2-1 loss to Levante on Sunday.
  • Guillermo Franco did not dress for Villarreal’s 0-0 tie vs. Racing de Santander on Sunday.
  • Pavel Pardo started and played 90 minutes in Stuttgart’s 3-2 win vs. Duisburg on Saturday.
  • Ricardo Osorio did not dress for Stuttgart.
  • Carlos Salcido started and played 90 minutes in PSV Eindhoven’s 1-0 win against Willem II on Saturday.
  • Aaron Galindo started, played 90 minutes and drew a yellow card in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 1-0 loss to Hansa Rostock on Saturday.
  • Hector Moreno dressed but did not play in AZ Alkmaar’s 2-1 loss to Groningen on Sunday.
  • Antonio DeNigris started, played 90 minutes and scored two goals in Ankaraspor’s 3-2 loss to Besiktas on Sunday

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

  • Robin Nelisse started and played 66 minutes in FC Utrecht’s 4-1 loss to VVV Venlo on Sunday.
  • Leon Kantelberg dressed but did not play in VVV Venlo’s 4-1 win vs. FC Utrecht on Sunday.
  • Tyrone Loran started and played 90 minutes in NAC Breda’s 1-0 win vs. DeGraafschap on Sunday.
  • Nyron Wau started and played 90 minutes in Roda JC’s 3-1 win vs. Twente Enschede on Saturday.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

  • Darryl Roberts started, played 90 minutes and scored a goal in Sparta Rotterdam’s 6-2 loss to Ajax Amsterdam on Friday.
  • Stern John started and played 90 minutes in Southampton’s 1-0 FA Cup loss to Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
  • Chris Birchall came off the bench and played 15 minutes in Coventry City’s 5-0 FA Cup loss to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
  • Russell Latapy dressed but did not play in Falkirk’s 4-0 win against St. Mirren on Saturday.
  • Kenwyne Jones and Sunderland did not play.

Feel free to include any players I missed. Some players who did not have games were not listed, but have been listed in the past, so please consult past lists before pointing out somebody’s absence.

Share your thoughts on this weekend’s performances below.

Comments

  1. Phil, Swansea is in what amounts to the English third division. If you want to update people on how he’s doing you can feel free to post it in the comments. I’m not adding him to the roll call.

    Reply
  2. Ives,

    Once again I was dissapointed to see you did not include Jason Scotland of T&T (especially since you included a T&T coventry city player) who played 90 minutes and scored twices for 1rst place Swansea City in their 2-0 win over Port Vale. He’s having a great season please give him the attention he deserves.

    Reply
  3. Did you see the news Luis and Andrea broke on their blog? sidelineviews.blogspot.com?

    Chivas Guadalajara has been hiding the fact that they have a US born player on their team!

    Reply
  4. omitting Hargreaves but including DeGuzman and Rossi (in the ‘Yanks Abroad’ section)doesn’t make a ton of sense to me.

    Hargreaves grew up playing in Canada until he was 16 years old. (same as Rossi in the US) but DeGuzman left when he was 12. I mean, it seems like if anyone should be omitted it should be Jonathan DeGuzman.

    (I personally favor omitting all of them since they have decided another nation is their own)

    Reply
  5. Edgar Castillo is different than Rossi because he wanted to play for the USMNT but never got the callup because he was supposedly too small. So he went to Mexico and is now a starter on Mexico’s Olympic U23 team. I have seen him play at Santos and am very impressed with his speed. He scored an awesome goal a couple of weeks ago.

    Reply
  6. I thought the point of the concacaf update was so we would be
    more familiar with the competition the US will face during wc qualifying. If a player like deguzman will not play for a concacaf team then why list him?

    Reply
  7. Sadly Julien De Guzmans choice to play for the dutch national team is a result of him supposedly growing up in the dutch system rather then the canadian system. Either way, we are disappointed he didnt decide to join his big brother but understand (to a certain extent) to decide not to play under the Canadian Soccer association (which needs to be destroyed and rebuilt from the ground up). That being said I wish him ill will. If talented players like his older brother and De Ro can suffer through it (out of pride) he can too. Please keep in mind this is one mans opinion.

    Reply
  8. Javier, In my comment I specifically referenced people who express hatred towards Rossi et al. I didn’t say anything about people who simply disagree or are upset by their decision.

    As a Canadian, I am proud of the accomplishments of Hargreaves & DeGuzman even if they never play for Canada. I am also proud of the accomplishments of many athletes who have represented Canada who weren’t born here.

    Reply
  9. Its also funny how everyone bags on Rossi but forgets about our U.S. born player who chose to play for Mexico instead. I don’t even remember his name. Edgar Castillo I think

    Reply
  10. it’s sad and pathetic that people still persist with this Rossi argument, especially the close-minded ones who hate on others for not agreeing with their take on it.

    personally, i side with Canadians/Americans who do not wish DeGuzman/Rossi well, as a result of their decisions…there’s a lot of national pride for some people, and it’s a natural instinct for some of us to turn on people who spurn our National Teams, especially when they grew up here.

    at the same time, i’m able to respect the decisions of the players, and accept that it’s always going to be a part of soccer…if people are influenced because they were friendly with Rossi in high school, or simply don’t care that he wants to play for Italy, that’s fine and they’re just as entitled to their opinion, as i am to mine.

    just because i don’t want to hear about Rossi or see him succeed, does not mean i “hate” him…i think i speak for a lot of us when i say we certainly don’t want the kid to die, or even suffer some horrible fate…i would just rather see him not amount to much, and would prefer it if my opinion was respected.

    seven, you can respond if you wish, but that’s all i’m going to say about this…people disagree with how i think on this, and that’s fine with me…i’m not going to question their national pride, call them stupid, etc…it’s just a lot easier to be tolerant and open minded.

    Reply
  11. Lots of Mexicans getting good minutes for good clubs last weekend. Not a good sign for the US.

    Posted by: Sean H. | February 20, 2008 at 12:21 PM

    So exactly what does the US gain if every other team in CONCACAF sucks? A higher level of competition in CONCACAF is nothing but a benefit for the US.

    Reply
  12. I agree for the most part Andy, especially about Rossi and the ridiculous competition he will face to get into the Italy squad for his entire career.

    You could say the same about DeGuzman too…is he really ever, at any time, going to be one of the best 4, 8, 10, etc. Dutch midfielders?

    The players should do what their heart tells them to, and I won’t complain about it if they do. But they also have to realize the risk they are taking. Let’s face it, Rossi may end up with 20 Italy caps, but he may end up with 0, and it will be his own fault if he does.

    Reply
  13. As far as DeGuzman… if he has a chance to play for the Dutch it makes since financially… you are a much higher profile player if you have Dutch caps under your belt. Same theory with Hargreaves and England….Rossi does not make sense to me given the US Striker situation since Brian McBride left (COME ON JOZY). Rossi in my opinion will never get a real great look at the Italian senior team but would walk directly into the squad for the US.

    Reply
  14. I watched most of the Feyenoord v Vitesse match & the Setanta commentators were raving about DeGuzman & identified him as Canadian.
    While I wish DeGuzman was playing for Canada I understand his decision & think the hatred expressed towards Hargreaves, DeGuzman & Rossi is sad & pathetic.

    Reply
  15. speaking of concacaf, has anyone read about Warner & Greene. I don’t understand how people this corrupt are still at high levels of the sport. Its really unbelievable how FIFA comes down on everyone in football except their own… Blatter is a fraud

    Reply

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