Everton to face Juventus first in ICC

Lyndon Lloyd , 29 May, 44comments | Jump to most recent

Game set for 31st July in San Francisco

According to a preliminary schedule Everton will face Juventus in the first of three games in the International Champions Cup that will take place in the United States this summer.

The Blues will take on the Italian champions on 31 July at AT&T Park in San Francisco at the home of the Giants baseball team before moving on to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to play either LA Galaxy or Real Madrid on 3 August.

The eight teams selected for the prestigious tournament are rounded out by Chelsea, Valencia, AC Milan and Internazionale and the full schedule of matches is expected to announced later today.

Each team will play three matches, with the third as either consolation or championship games in Miami, Florida in August.

Quotes or other material sourced from EPLTalk

Reader Comments (44)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Jon Withey
2 Posted 29/05/2013 at 08:10:38

Not too shabby.

Mike Green
3 Posted 29/05/2013 at 08:28:31

Not a bad way to kick off your Everton managerial career that's for sure.....

Dave Roberts
4 Posted 29/05/2013 at 08:39:38

Proper pre season preparation at last! I hope the OS will provide an opportunity to watch the games for a tiny fee!

James Fletcher
5 Posted 29/05/2013 at 08:54:06

If they don't show it does anyone know of any way of watching it over here?

Steve Jones
6 Posted 29/05/2013 at 08:54:02

Did well to get involved in this prestigious tournament, kudos to the commercial team for once. Hope it's available to watch. Juve then Galaxy or RM.
Gutted personally as in SF the week before and in Miami the week after the dates, could have been some preseason, I hope some toffee webbers can get over and send some reports back, would be a nice competition that.

Jamie Barlow
8 Posted 29/05/2013 at 09:35:41

Hopefully it will be on ESPN. They usually show a pre season tournament. Other than that, they might put it on the OS. I wouldn't mind paying for games like this if they sorted the glitches out of last season.

Nick Entwistle
9 Posted 29/05/2013 at 09:42:48

Steve, I was thinking why were We in this tournament... then I realised that Utd and City and Liverpool and and and... would have already sorted highly lucrative Asian friendlies.

And just to look at Utd, they have. Singa All Stars, A League All Stars, Yokohama and Osaka...

Anywa, we're in this, so its all good... even if we were down the list of preferentials. Do you think our cut is the same as Real?

Mike Hughes
10 Posted 29/05/2013 at 09:51:04

At last!
AC Milan, Juventus and Inter are now truly among the elite.
Fear the Mighty Blues.

Peter Thistle
11 Posted 29/05/2013 at 10:03:51

This could be great..... I hope we can hold our own.

Shaun Brennan
12 Posted 29/05/2013 at 10:06:20

If only I held on for another year, went san fran and la last season.

Tony Cheek
13 Posted 29/05/2013 at 10:33:26

Not to sure about that Mike (156).... Could turn out to be a nightmare also......be interesting to see how we play against these boys though!

James Carlisle
14 Posted 29/05/2013 at 10:52:15

Finally some proper pre season preparation, theres no use in playing preston every year. Hopefully this can kick us into gear and we can have an even better start to next season. These teams will probably destroy us though.

Mark Stone
15 Posted 29/05/2013 at 11:03:29

I'd imagine there will still be some games against lower tier English / Scottish Clubs, James. Those games also play an important role. But yes, in terms of quality opposition, this is looking much better than previous seasons.

Gerry Quinn
16 Posted 29/05/2013 at 11:07:48

It will be televised here in the USA.

ICC: 7/27 Valencia-Milan in Valencia; 7/30 Chelsea-Inter in Indy; 7/31 Juventus-Everton in SF; 8/1 Real Madrid-LA in Phoenix.

ICC: 8/3 West semis (LA, Dodger Stadium); 8/4 East semis (NJ, MetLife); 8/6-7 Final 2 doubleheaders (Miami, SunLife).

Gerry Quinn
17 Posted 29/05/2013 at 11:17:37

Not sure how that works, because there appears to be only one group match before the semis????

Gavin Ramejkis
18 Posted 29/05/2013 at 11:24:33

Sounds like great pre season prep for a change, wonder if they'll dispense with Preston pre season now Moyes has gone and change it to Wigan?

Patrick Murphy
19 Posted 29/05/2013 at 12:01:45

As it has been announced that we will play Juve in the first game of the tournament it is perhaps appropriate to remember those who lost their lives at Heysel on May 29th 1985, may they rest in peace.

Lakovos Lasonidis
20 Posted 29/05/2013 at 12:03:06

The truth is I still cannot understand how we managed being in this tournament. I think it is massive — playing strong and high-profile friendlies. Credit to whoever managed this..,

Tony Draper
22 Posted 29/05/2013 at 13:00:15

Agreed Patrick Murphy
And spoken as a true blue.

Ross Edwards
23 Posted 29/05/2013 at 13:14:24

Naismith and Big Vic will tear Juve and Madrid to shreds.
If Juve score 6 goals we'll get 8! The Martinez philosophy of we'll score 8 if you score 7 will be very successful here!

Tom Bowers
24 Posted 29/05/2013 at 12:32:16

We didn't make Europe but we get to play some cream of Europe. Hopefully the experience will hold good for Champions league 2014/2015.

Anthony Lamb
25 Posted 29/05/2013 at 13:17:46

As Everton have had some difficulties in the past with pre-season matches against lower league opposition both at home and abroad could these matches against the more prestigious/talented club sides (assuming they bring their full squads to the tournament) prove a potential embarrassment with the likes of Naismith, Anichebe, last season"s Jelavic etc displaying their "admirable skills?"

Whichever way this turns out, it seems to be a particularly challenging task to put before the new manager - asking him to be showing signs of developing team shape, pattern, approach, application etc - so early in his tenure in such a potentially high profile event.

Should he, however, get his squad to perform well and to be truly competitive then all power to his elbow but should there be any embarrassments to deal with (eg Real some many years ago?) then let us not judge him too negatively at the outset.

Gavin Ramejkis
27 Posted 29/05/2013 at 14:42:41

Anthony I don't think anyone expects us to win this but given the choice of playing these teams versus some part timers on the equivalent of a farmers field with markings and a shed to sit in, I will take this any day.

Peter Fearon
28 Posted 29/05/2013 at 14:47:45

And remembering that Everton FC was one of the innocent victims of Heysel's aftermath I agree wholeheartedly with Patrick and Tony.

Jonathan Matthews
29 Posted 29/05/2013 at 15:56:21

With NBC outbidding Fox Sport and Fox Telemondo for all the Prem' games next season, it may be worth checking out NBC Sports TV schedule nearer the time. Failing that, and if ESPN don't pick-up these games, the BIEN Sports channel is usually good for games that involve Spanish and Italian teams, and / or games that are televised in parts of the US that have a big latino fan base; Miami, NY area, LA, etc.. With Everton playing in LA and Miami, BIEN or some of the latin american TV carriers may pick those games up. If you know a boozer that can tune their sat' receiver they may be able to check out South America TV providers. Failing all of that, you've got a few weeks to brush up on your Spanglish and surf the Mexican tinterwebs for coverage :)

Gavin Butterworth
30 Posted 29/05/2013 at 16:27:53

Booked the flights to LA! Just something I had to do. Now need to find out who we will play and how to get tickets as EFC can't tell me. Will fly the flag!

Alex Mullan
31 Posted 29/05/2013 at 16:39:20

Whilst I think this is fun and interesting, I feel we stand out as the sacrificial lamb of the group from Europe. Seriously, why would the sponsors want us there? You'd have thought the Red Shite would have been all over this, what with their American owners and the fact they have a bigger profile globally.

Karl Masters
32 Posted 29/05/2013 at 17:26:18

Alex. With our American connections of Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, even Tiny Tim going there as well, I think you will find we are better known now Stateside than you might have thought.

The Final is also very close to the start of our season I believe, which I think only kicks off early because of the World Cup next Summer. Some Clubs may not have wanted the risk of jetlag

Gerry Quinn
33 Posted 29/05/2013 at 17:39:06

Alex and all the other "lambs to the slaughter" supporters, I disagree - being a bit more positive kind of TW person!

Everton were more than a match for Chelsea on BOTH occasions last season, the ONLY difference being that they had natural and in-form goalscorers - even from the bench!), whereas we had a couple of out of form and useless scorers up front. They were no better at possession than us, they were nervous at the back with our movement and if we had taken one or two of those chances that went begging, we would have beaten them.

Let's not be so negative about our boys - they play some excellent stuff at times, but oh how I wish we had that goalscorer to finish our playmaking off...

Mike Gaynes
35 Posted 29/05/2013 at 18:20:58

I live near SF and will DEFINITELY be attending, probably with some of my teammates. Any TW'ers who want to meet up that evening can email me at goalkick9@aol.com.

Daniel Starkey
36 Posted 29/05/2013 at 18:11:54

There's a facebook page dedicated to the tournament

https://www.facebook.com/IntChampionsCup?fref=ts

Gerry Quinn
37 Posted 29/05/2013 at 19:04:46

The event will be broadcast worldwide and will be an ideal showcase through which to expand the VCF brand around the globe. The competition will be shown in 151 countries and will conclude on August 6 th-7th, when the eight teams will head to the Sun Life Stadium in Miami for the championship games. The FOX Soccer station will show 11 of the 12 games live, including the final. FOX Sports will add to the coverage and will show one game likve on Saturday, August 3rd at 20:00 ET.

Gerry Quinn
38 Posted 29/05/2013 at 19:05:16

Teams will be divided into East and West regions with Chelsea, A.C. Milan, Valencia and Inter Milan playing in the East while Real Madrid, Juventus, the LA Galaxy and Everton battle in the West.
The East region will begin July 27th asA.C. Milan and Valencia face off at Mestalla. Three days later, Chelsea and Inter Milan will meet in Indianapolis. The four teams will face-off in the tournament semifinals on August 4th in New York. The West region will kick-off as Juventus meets Everton on July 31st in San Francisco whilst a day later Real Madrid plays against the LA Galaxy in Phoenix. On August 4th the four West region teams will face off in the semifinals in Los Angeles.
All teams will play a mínimum of three games in the tournament, including one fixture at the Sun Life Stadium.

Gerry Quinn
39 Posted 29/05/2013 at 19:08:29

Full schedule here

http://internationalchampionscup.com/

Gerry Quinn
40 Posted 29/05/2013 at 19:10:16

Hands up all those that are now totally confused by this format!

Steven Telford
41 Posted 29/05/2013 at 19:25:01

its beyond me how people believe that these tournaments are "prestigious"
all they are is glorified friendlies, that generate cash for somebody - I am not sure who exactly, sponsors maybe.
The outcomes scarcely matter to either the player or the "watchers", and they are often very dull to watch. Half empty stadiums with zero real atmosphere.

A club of our squad size have to take extra care

Graham Mockford
42 Posted 29/05/2013 at 19:31:12

Steven #563

Well done on managing to get a negative comment on what to most people is a 'good news' story.

I believe if there was ever a post on TW entitled ' Everton sign Messi' someone would come on and say he's a bit one footed.

Mike Gaynes
43 Posted 29/05/2013 at 20:00:52

Graham #564, well said.

And in addition to being ridiculously negative, Steven is also flat wrong. These games are often wildly entertaining, far more likely to end 5-3 than 1-0. And I guarantee that in the US at least, most of these games will attract capacity crowds. Real, Inter and Juve all have considerable fan bases here who never get to see them in person. They'll turn out.

Gerry Quinn
44 Posted 29/05/2013 at 21:08:26

Steve, although I moved away from "home" many years ago, too many to mention, and have ended up living here in the States, I can assure you that Everton will not be treating these matches or these tournament games as friendlies at all.

Having witnessed their numerous visits over here to the US at first hand, along with attending their training sessions/build up for those matches, and speaking to the players themselves, they let us know in no uncertain terms that they certainly do not "do" friendlies!

As for the attendances, I agree with Mike #585 - I can almost guarantee that you will not see "half empty stadiums with zero real atmosphere". Although the majority of the fans attending may be of Latino origin, I can also assure you that they are probably more fanatical about football than you and I. It will be interesting to see the viewing figures for this tournament going out live to 150 + countries.

Less of the doom and gloom, leave that to RS fans with Scandinavian accents!

Eugene Ruane
45 Posted 29/05/2013 at 23:12:59

Just to confuse every fucker.

On the facebook page, on the first match-ups poster at the top, we have the new (designed by a blind shit-house) crest.

But scroll down to picture below (of all the club's badges) and..

Fucking amateurish and I can just hear..

"I DID send the new one as well....yeah no but when you said send...no. no no, I was told, make sure NOBODY sees the new one...and I had to send something so I thought well it won't do no harm like..." etc

Dennis Stevens
46 Posted 29/05/2013 at 23:35:18

Indeed, you are correct Eugene. What a marvellous fuck up - we now have an even less clear identity than if they'd just stuck with the original badge! The club seems to be run by clowns - zombie clowns!

Lyndon Lloyd
47 Posted 29/05/2013 at 23:43:40

Steve, 563: The tour is prestigious because of the teams in it. Yes, of course, they are glorified friendlies but Everton are in a tournament alongside some of the biggest clubs in Europe and there will be plenty of exposure in what is an emerging footballing market.

I think it's a big coup by the club so why try and take the shine off it? With all due respect to those clubs, it beats the usual northwest tour against the likes of Preston and Tranmere.

Steven Sturm
48 Posted 30/05/2013 at 03:03:37

Nice! Driving distance to both for me... that's American driving mind you. Great work by the club on this one, good warm up for the new manager, should bring in some cash and recognition. Oh, and it's "Dodger Stadium", not "Dodgers Stadium". Third oldest stadium in baseball, but not really that old...

Steven Sturm
49 Posted 30/05/2013 at 03:28:11

Now, since Everton are playing in Dodger Stadium, how do we convince Magic Johnson and associates to buy Everton? Blues and Blues. Toffees and Trolley Dodgers.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.

About these ads