Excitement Building over US tournament

Michael Kenrick , 28 June, 20comments | Jump to most recent

It is something of a coup that Everton are one of seven other top teams from Europe joining Landon Donovan's LA Galaxy to compete for the International Champions Cup in major US cities during the summer, as acknowledged by Grant Wahl, a journalist with the massive Sports Illustrated magazine in the States.

“It's great that Everton are one of the teams coming here because there is a lot of interest in them in the United States due to the success the club have had in recent years,” said Grant Wahl, a journalist with Sports Illustrated in the US.

“There are also a lot of American players who have close ties with Everton from Howard to Donovan and even going back to Brian McBride.

“This tournament is organised in a different way to pre-season friendlies in the past which have featured European clubs in the United States, so there is some excitement here.

“Having an actual tournament with some of the best European clubs coming here to play against each other for a real trophy in Miami is a nice way of trying something new.”

He added: “The United States is a massive country where soccer has grown in the last 10-15 years. Smart clubs and the world's biggest clubs want to be bigger in the United States and capitalise on this growing market, so it is a win-win situation for everyone.

“When teams come over here it is great for the fans to see the teams up close who they would usually see on television from Europe during the season.

“It's good for the club to increase their presence here and it's nice for that level of commitment from Everton, the Italian clubs and Real Madrid. Madrid have visited the United States every year for quite a while now and so have other clubs.

“People here appreciate that level of interest and you'll see good crowds at this tournament.”

Everton's first game of the Champions Cup comes on July 31 when they face Italian giants Juventus in San Francisco at the AT&T Stadium.

Martinez's men will then move on to Los Angeles in round two where they will either face LA Galaxy or Real Madrid.

Round three of the tournament moves all teams to Miami with Everton facing one of AC Milan, Inter Milan, Chelsea or Valencia.

All games will be shown live on the Fox Soccer Channel in the US.

Quotes or other material sourced from Liverpool Echo

Reader Comments (20)

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Terry Myers
1 Posted 28/06/2013 at 18:00:30

I just hope we give a good account of ourselves and go out there and play with confidence.

Jon Withey
2 Posted 28/06/2013 at 18:01:22

Hope we have a couple of top signings to look at by then, can't wait.

Jon Withey
4 Posted 28/06/2013 at 19:20:06

Well, I'm excited. I like football.

When they play and stuff.

After all the board-room politics and transfers.

Just me ?

Jamie Crowley
5 Posted 28/06/2013 at 20:05:16

I'm going to Miami and can't wait frankly. Taking 4 of the 5 boys while the Mrs. stays at home with the little one.

Hope we do well. Praying I don't see them play the Galaxy... Beggars can't be choosers however.

This will be a top preseason tournament. Hopefully Everton make it an annual occurrence.

Andy Peers
6 Posted 28/06/2013 at 20:27:26

Got my tickets for Dodgers Stadium for August 3rd. I haven't seen Everton play in person for 20 years. It is a double header with one game at 5pm and the next at 7pm.

Looking forward to it and I am glad I only live 70 miles away from one of our games and hopefully get chance to meet some of the team for the first time. Not exactly sure how you go about requesting meeting the team in person though.

Paul Holden
7 Posted 28/06/2013 at 22:49:56

Hope our fans turn out jn force - sing em off the park lads! US billionaires, give Blue Bill a bell!

Steve Landy
8 Posted 28/06/2013 at 22:52:24

Me and four other Blue Brits will be taking a road trip down from Atlanta for the Miami game.

Gonna be brill!!

James Flynn
9 Posted 28/06/2013 at 23:09:58

Jamie - Thought of that. LD playing against Everton.

With the terrific team we had last year, Landon would have been the last puzzle piece to have us in the CL. Oh well.

Tom Bowers
12 Posted 29/06/2013 at 13:15:20

I'm looking forward to seeing them on Fox Soccer Channel. I remember when they first came to Canada with the title-winning team back in the eighties with the likes of Gary Lineker. It was quite a big thrill for all the Evertonians in the area.

The tournament will serve as a good test for the Blues and give opportunities for players to impress RM against class opposition. The bench players in particular may get the chance to show their best qualities and put real pressure on the current starters.

I am hoping that, under a new boss, some of these players will flourish and that a better way of approaching games will be better than it was.

Al Philby
13 Posted 29/06/2013 at 14:07:46

I recall a pre-season during the 80s against Real Madrid. It didn't look pretty. I hope we will be better prepared this time.

Roman Sidey
14 Posted 29/06/2013 at 17:33:42

I'm booking my tickets right now and am being a tight arse and going for the cheap seats. Anyone else doing the same?

Roman Sidey
15 Posted 29/06/2013 at 17:34:32

In Miami that is.

Jamie Crowley
16 Posted 29/06/2013 at 21:46:37

Roman -

I'm in the nose bleeders as well.... I'm bringing 4 kids out of 5, staying with cousins to avoid hotel costs, eating cheap salami sandwiches all weekend and spending any available dollars on beer.

I plan on being buzzed for games and drunk afterwards.

Quality family time.

Bob Hannigan
17 Posted 30/06/2013 at 01:24:27

“There are also a lot of American players who have close ties with Everton from Howard to Donovan and even going back to Brian McBride.

Don't forget the 1st Blue "Yank", Joe Max Moore who in 1999 on a free transfer from the New England Revolution made me an Everton supporter from across the pond in the Boston area.

No doubt, not the best but contributed a little, much more than some.

Christopher Kelly
18 Posted 30/06/2013 at 11:05:29

Good shout, Bob. That's what got me loving Everton for the first time!!

Silly writer. If you know your history....

Anthony Jaras
19 Posted 30/06/2013 at 12:31:17

Don't forget Preki.

Jack Okell
20 Posted 30/06/2013 at 20:52:32

Should be a nice little tourney this. I wonder how different Martinez's pre-season routines are to Moyes's? I recall a number of players over the years discussing / complaining that Moyes would beast them.

Steven Telford
21 Posted 30/06/2013 at 22:41:08

"The International Champions Cup"

Wow, sounds glorious. and there was me foolishly thinking its was a bunch of glorified friendlies to be played in sparsely filled stadium with adverts squeezed in every perceivable corner of coverage................

I can't wait.

Michael Kenrick
22 Posted 30/06/2013 at 23:15:03

Jack (#076)... "players complaining that Moyes would beast them."

Not something I've ever heard before... that sounds rather, er.... beastly. Or did you perhaps mean something else??!?!

I just wish Eugene was on line to interpret...

Anthony Jaras
23 Posted 01/07/2013 at 08:39:08

Really, Michael?

A 'beasting' is (British military) the imposition of arduous exercises, either as training or as punishment.

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