USMNT v France + EURO 1st Legs

(Who wouldn't love an NFL Quiniela, does this exist?)

In case you missed it, our beloved USMNT went down at the Stade de France 1-0 behind Loic Remy's goal in the second half. The John Harkes of the world might like to tell you that this was a heroic effort for our boys to hang in there with the French on their home soil. But anyone who watched the game, and remembers French teams of yore, will tell you that we were poor, and should come away with the one glaring truth from this game: France are still that South African funk, and struggling to find their feet in the post-Zidane era. Klinsmann will no doubt be kicking himself that he couldn't jump start his career with that marquee win over what was a very beatable French side.

The Positives
Jozy Altidore has a nice set of tools, he seems to excel with his back to goal, his finishing will only get better. He is 23. Maurice Edu was our MOTM for me, and I see no reason he can't become our regular CDM. He is 25.

The Negatives
There are obviously plenty of negatives that occurred in this game, most of them are obvious, so I'm not going to dwell on them here. I guess this is as good a time as any to point the finger at little Landon Donovan. He chose to stay at home and prepare for his MLS cup final instead of playing his supposed role as USMNT talisman. This is the same guy who had a chance to permanently move to England, and elevate the profile of our team and hopes of our country along with it. If we keep pinning all our hopes on this guy, we're going to get burned every time.

Europe
Only one big shock from the first leg of the Euro Qualifiers. That being the big fat egg laid by the Turks at home. Maybe they realized that they'll never get into the EU, and they aren't really in Europe in the first place, and didn't want to spoil everyone's fun. That is the only plausible explanation for their defending on that third goal. Shocking.

Montenegro will feel like they have a chance if they get an early goal, but the Czechs experience combined with their stoppage time second goal in the first leg should carry them through. That was a back-breaker in a tie that was never going to yield many goals. Ronaldo throwing a vintage hissy-fit over the bit of the turf that caused the ball to bobble at a critical moment was probably the highlight of the first leg in Bosnia. Portugal will like their chances at home, but you'd be a fool to bet on Portugal. And good for Ireland getting that monkey off their back. But they better be coming with a little better than old man Robbie Keane next summer. He is as washed up as a beached whale. Remember when he signed for Liverpool?