Posted by Rafa

Yes, of course we are bummed that the United States lost the Gold Cup Final (well, I don't know about Kenny), but the neutral must have watch this game smiling like a kid with the up and down action on the field, strong attacks from both side, brilliant goals and lots of them!

I guess what I'm trying to tell the American supporters is this: "buck up!"

It was a great game. You should be happy you made it to the finals after a weak overall tournament performance.  AND MEXICO WERE THE BETTER TEAM!

Moving on...

So it was quite the event for us WFD boys (Casey, Kenny and my self.  James was an idiot and forget to sign up for credentials before the deadline, but no worries... he's beating himself up for it). Both Friday and Saturday was good fun and quite the experience.  On top of players and coaches to interview, we ended up getting to meet several of the guests we have on the show regularly, putting faces to voices finally.  For example, here is Alex Labidou and myself chatting about future world domination while our national team trained. Nothing major really.

On Friday, we actually headed up to the Rose Bowl to watch the team train and catch a couple players for pre-match interviews.  We spoke to several of the boys and it was really great to look at the squad and note that only a select few have yet to join WFD in some capacity: whether on the show in a phone interview or in the locker rooms after an MLS match. 

So when I saw Mo Edu leaving the field and hollered, "hey Mo, whattup!"

Mo came back at me with a handshake, a smile, and a "whattup man!"

Quite the cool feeling.  But it was really the same for Ale, Clint and several others, so big thanks goes out to the USMNT and US Soccer for being so gracious with their time for us.

Although I must say, one of the best things about Friday wasn't the national team. Oh no.  It was Ines Sainz from TV Azteca.  Wow.  She's pretty much everything they say she is and more.  I almost got lost looking for her on Saturday, but on Friday we became good friends.

Ok, so good friends is a bit much.  But both her crew and ours were working side by side for much of the day and when we were waiting for players to come down the mix zone, we chatted for about a minutes forty-five seconds.  True statement. 

Actually, it was quite funny to see my fellow journalist and media personnel starring and even asking for photos with her.  She was always more than happy to pose with each requester and I was "this close" (you can't see me pinching my fingers really close together) to asking for a photo with my iPhone myself, but then Casey talked me back.  Probably a smart idea from my colleague there.  Good one Casey.

Saturday was long.  How long you ask? Well, we met up around 1, only to return home around twelve hours later, not to the chagrin of our women waiting for us.  "But all in a days work honey."

Isn't Casey such a believable camera guy? 

Well, I think so.  And actually, Casey is the Video Producer for World Football Daily and every video you watch on WorldFootballDaily.com is a product of his labor. Although, not everyone believes him when he says he's a professional, but that's a tale for the Behind the Glass Podcast perhaps.

Here is Casey chilling in the South end of the Rose Bowl just behind the net. Not a bad seat, especially when Michael Bradley opens the scoring directly in front you.

(story behind the photo: papa hassan gets so welled up with emotion about seeing his little laddies grow up right before his eyes, he feels it necessary to document every minute of this match with photos taken on his iPhone to later be sent to rafa, clogging up his inbox.  no worries kenny, i forgive you.

The game itself was a "cracker" as Kenny surely must have said in show today.  But it's true.  Quite a game for the neutral.  And if you were a well education supporter of the game, whether you were American or not, you have to admit that there was some incredibly entertaining football on display that evening.  (Will the rest of America be open to it??? Probably not.)



There is the view from the press box.  I was sitting about two seats to the left of Leander Schaerlaeckens of ESPN and Jonah Freedman of MLSsoccer.com.



Above is some of the free swag that CONCACAF gave away to the media in the Press Box towards then end of the game.  Others were saying that this didn't happen in Houston or the other venues.  HA HA! (that's rude, I know)

What's that really sweet website on the screen there?  Oh yea, that's right.  Only the best damn football online community ever! 

Below you see Casey and Kenny posing on the pitch while the match is being played.  No, we are not tourists in Old Trafford.



Don't these two look adorable.  Hard at work obviously.  This photo was taken by Stuart Holden who was supposed to be on his set taping a segment right at this moment but he told his producer how important Kenny and Casey were so they let him get away with it.

Below is Casey and Kenny wallowing in depression after the US loss at Lucky Baldwin's after the match.



Here is a Mexican Marching band leading a group of fans up to the stadium.  They started way back where we were parked which meant the guys with the big ass drums and instruments had to carry them and play them for over nearly a mile across the golf course.



And last but certainly not least... I wanted to leave you with yet another picture of the beautiful Ines Sainz who must have liked the way we all smelled because she stayed so close to us.  (ok, not really, but clever joke... ha, ha, yes?)

Make sure to send in your Gold Cup memories... or lack thereof, to show@worldfootballdaily.com or download the free World Football Daily Sample Podcast from iTunes for free!