from MVN Soccer,
They only played two matches... but between the two, they attracted over 150,000 spectators and broke records at both stadiums.
Beyond that, the success of the USMNT against a true ARGENTINA first team on Sunday made for a huge boost in morale for the Americans after losses to ENGLAND and SPAIN. This past week, the world's number one men's national side (according to the FIFA Coca-Cola World Ranking), made stops in San Diego, CA, and East Rutherford, NJ.
A few facts from this brief Stateside visit...
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Wednesday, June 4 - Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, CA
Opponent: MEXICO (Argentina wins 4-1)
Attendance: 68,498
Primary Records Set: After a new San Diego attendance record for soccer was set only last year at the same venue, more seating was made available this time. The match sold-out far in advance, and the crowd was the largest ever to see any soccer match held in the San Diego area, and anywhere in Southern California south of Los Angeles. For the stadium, it was one of the top ten attendances of all events held there, including all sports (including Chargers and Padres games, and 3 Super Bowls), and all non-sports events held in the 40 year history of the stadium.
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Sunday, June 8 - Giants Stadium - East Rutherford, NJ
Opponent: USA (0-0 draw)
Attendance: 78,682
Primary Records Set: The highest attendance ever for a USMNT match there, and the fourth highest-ever for any sporting event. This is especially amazing, because this was a 1994 World Cup venue, and is currently home stadium for two NFL teams; the 2008 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants as well as the New York Jets.
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Other notes:
Tim Howard's seven saves in the first half of this game gave the USA one of their best results ever against any reigning world number one side. Landon Donovan also earned his 100th cap Sunday night, and by doing so, was the youngest-ever American to do so.
The biggest draw for spectators on the Argentinian team was Lionel Messi, who played almost the entire game against Mexico, and the entire first half versus the USA. Messi was runner-up to Kaka for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year.
In non-World Cup years, tours like this are becoming more and more popular, and the timing of the series of friendlies played in the U.S. usually coincides with the break between the end of most European leagues' season and the rounds of qualifying that particular year for the next World Cup.
In this case, the U.S. could not have asked for anything better. The season of this tour was perfectly suited to attract throngs of fans hungry for quality futbol to the stadiums as well as to their television sets, and these matches serves as perfect warm-ups for all the teams for their 2010 World Cup qualifying rounds later this month.
As for the U.S. specifically, playing against Argentina as their final match before qualifiers, and doing so well against them - holding them off for the full 90, will energize them and strengthen their resolve ahead of this Sunday's CONCACAF opener against Barbados at the Home Depot Center.
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Further Reading - versus USA
from MLSNet, "Yanks draw with powerful Argentina"
"Howard hounds Argentina in shutout"
from US Soccer, official team Match Report
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VIDEOS - versus Mexico
Argentina holds an open practice on Monday, and an anxious and excited crowd shows up for the free event featuring the national team's most famous star, Lionel Messi. This slide show with music features a series of stills by the Nomads soccer club, who use this facility, WATCH HERE
Great perspective from a fan inside the venue Wednesday night. A panoramic view of the sold-out Qualcomm Stadium, WATCH HERE
Match highlights from Telemundo: All of the goals from Wednesday night's friendly at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium; from the national Spanish-language live telecast, with renowned "GOL" originator/announcer Andres Cantor celebrating all five (4-1 win by Argentina). With a crowd of 68,498 on hand, the sell-out set an all-time attendance record for a soccer match in San Diego, WATCH HERE
ALSO ON THIS MATCH versus Mexico - Read the Special MVN Soccer Series on this history-making match, which includes MVN original articles as well as pics and links to other news stories and data... PART ONE (pre-game) PART TWO (post-game)
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