I just saw a pretty good documentary about the Palestinian national team and it's quest to qualify for Germany '06. Goal Dreams was shown in July on the Sundance Channel and I recorded it then, hoping to watch it soon thereafter. One thing led to another and I didn't get to around to seeing it until yesterday. While I don't really know why I waited so long to see it, I'm glad I finally did.It's actually quite a story, entirely surrounding the team's build up for a qualifier against Uzbekistan. The Palestinians didn't have to play in the Asian Football Confederation's preliminary round and were drawn in Group 2 in the second round with Uzbekistan, Iraq, and Chinese Taipei. With only one spot available to move into the third and round, the game against Uzbekistan came at a crucial point during the group's fixtures. Only a win would have allowed them to stay in the hunt for qualification.
This BBC article has the backgound on how the film got made. It's never quite explained why all these players are meeting themselves for the first time. Since the team had played three group matches before the decisive match against the Uzbeks(?), you would think that there wouldn't be a situation where players did not know each other. The filmmakers don't fully explain the reason for this. But this is a small quibble about a movie that on the whole, was quite enjoyable to watch.
Give it a look if you get the chance. It might be a little hard to find at your local rental place, but they do have it at Netflix and, if you've got the scratch, Amazon. [BBC]
In other eye-numbing news:
- If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, go check out Amando a Maradona on Saturday. It's a 75 minute documentary that's showing as part of San Francisco's International Latino Film Festival. Here's a trailer for the film, with date/time info. There aren't any subtitles in the preview, but I'd expect the actually movie to have them. If anything, the poster for the movie is pretty sweet. [International Latino Film Festival official site]
- For those of you that need more MLS "analysis," you're in luck. After a season that has seen FSC give up on everything but EPL and Argentine games, I guess this was the only way to go. Who's running that place? [Live Soccer TV]
- Didn't the defenders leave the wall a little early on this one? [The Offside]
These are the games of note on TV through Sunday:
Today
Israel v. Croatia
12:00pm ET, LIVE
Setanta Premium - Closed-Circuit TV
A tie here would suit England just fine.
Switzerland v. Brazil
2:30pm ET, LIVE
FOX Soccer Channel
A great chance to see how ready the Swiss are to hosting the Euros, while also getting a peak into what Dunga is doing to rebuild Brazil.
Veracruz v. Chivas Guadalajara
10:00pm ET, LIVE
Azteca America
The first round of the Mexican playoffs get started. Chivas is one of, if not the, most popular clubs in Mexico. They haven't won a championship in eleven years.
Saturday
Bayern Munich v. VfB Stuttgart
9:25am ET, LIVE
GolTV
Perennial favorite Bayern are four back as they host the surprise league leaders.
Chelsea v. West Ham United
9:55am ET, LIVE
Setanta Sports USA
It should be interesting to how Pardew approaches this match. Chelsea will be pretty tough to handle knowing that they have to keep pace with a Man U side that plays Sheffield United today.
Middlesbrough v. Liverpool
12:00pm ET, LIVE
FOX Soccer Channel
Two teams that have to get their seasons going right now. The big question: will Rafa's men be able to win their first on the road?
Sevilla v. Valencia
4:00pm ET, LIVE
GolTV
The pick of the week in La Liga.
Cagliari v. Palermo
5:00pm ET, Same Day Delay
FOX Soccer Channel
How good is Palermo? I have a feeling that Cagliari don't really want to find out.
Newell's Old Boys v. Estudiantes de La Plata
7:00pm ET, LIVE
TyC Sports USA
As the Apertura season winds down, Diego Simeone's team has to win out to keep up the pressure on leaders Boca Juniors.
Chivas Guadalajara v. Veracruz
8:00pm ET, LIVE
TeleFutura
The return leg in the Mexican playoffs.
Sunday
Borussia Moenchengladbach v. Hannover 96
10:55am ET, LIVE
GolTV
These two might be bottom feeders, but why not see how two of our own are doing? Kasey Keller had to leave last weekend's match after getting crashed into by a Hamburg player. He says that he should be fit to face off against Hannover and Steve Cherundolo.
As always, check your local listings for dates and times in your area.
-ac
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2 comments:
About that Maradona documentary...I wonder, is that the one that Leo Messi narrated?
I'm not sure about that Linda. I know that there are a couple of Diego pics out there. This one has to do with what the man means to the people who love him. I know that a European director has a different on in the works that might be released next year.
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