If you weren’t hiding under a rock for the past week, you know that everything came up golden for the U.S. Women in Athens, as the nucleus of the team that’s been together since the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991 went out with an Olympic championship in what was the last international competition for most of them. Many of the youngsters shone, as well, so the future looks fairly bright for the American women. The men’s side is essentially a youth tournament – with each team allowed only three players over the age of 23 – so things look very good indeed for Argentina, who were absolutely dominant in finishing unbeaten, untied, and unscored-upon. We’ll be seeing a lot more of those Argentine youngsters over the next few years.
World Cup qualifying resumes in earnest this weekend; the U.S. men continue their campaign for Germany 2006, taking on El Salvador in Foxboro, Mass. (Saturday, Sept. 4, 3pm, Fox Sports World and Telemundo), and then travelling to Panama for a Wednesday game (Wednesday, Sept. 8, 8pm, Fox Sports World). That’s just one part of a huge week for international football – some 134 countries are in action in WC qualifiers on all five continents. Many of these games (Austria-England, Holland-Czech Republic, Poland-England) will be televised on cable and/or closed circuit; check “Soccer Watch Online” or your favorite sports pub for details.
The draws are set for the next rounds of the Champions League and UEFA Cup. The Champs League group phase begins Sept. 14-15; again, see “Soccer Watch Online” for details.
College football: Both the UT women and St. Edward’s men opened their regular seasons last weekend and are in action at home again this coming weekend. UT opened with a split against two nationally ranked teams, losing to No. 12 Clemson, 1-0, and then thumping No. 15 Michigan, 4-1; they play Florida International, Friday, Sept. 3, 7:30pm at Mike Myers Stadium. St. Edwards, coming off a scoreless tie against last year’s Final Four participant Central Arkansas, takes on two teams ranked in the top 13 in NCAA Div. II at the end of last year: Incarnate Word on Friday, Sept 3, 5pm, and Midwestern State University, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 4pm.
This article appears in September 3 • 2004.