Turkey Soccer with San Pedro's Crazy Croats & More

I've watched Scottish games with a bunch of wound-up Scots, games in Germany with every nationality you can think of and now a Croatia game with a couple of hundred Croats at San Pedro's Croatian American Club.

It's the differing nationalities and ethnicities brought together by soccer that makes the sport truly unique and yet the experience, no matter where you watch a game in the world, is universal.

What's more, England are always likely to disappoint.

Check out the atmosphere of the England-Croatia Euro 2008 qualifier here. And thanks to San Pedro's Croatian community for their hospitality.

David Beckham said England's players are hurting (he should try being a fan).

England Coach Steve McClaren was fired as expected today in the wake of the game.

And there's one thing we Brits can do to ease the pain: blame America.

Catch upon the rest of the Euro 2008 qualifiers here.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy named its travel squad late Wednesday for its trip down under.

From the Galaxy press release:

Nineteen players, including the newly acquired Clint Mathis, but not forward Gavin Glinton who was taken earlier today in the MLS expansion draft, will make the trip to Australia on Friday for next week’s games against Sydney FC on Tuesday and Wellington Phoenix on December 1.

The game in Australia will be the Galaxy debut of the club’s new head coach, Ruud Gullit, who will be assisted by Trevor James and Cobi Jones.

The Galaxy’s complete travel squad for these matches: goalkeepers Joe Cannon, Steve Cronin and Lance Friesz; defenders Chris Albright, Ante Jazic, Troy Roberts and Kyle Veris; midfielders David Beckham, Kevin Harmse, Quavas Kirk, Chris Klein, Josh Tudela and Peter Vagenas; forwards Edson Buddle, Mike Caso, Landon Donovan, Alan Gordon, Clint Mathis and Carlos Pavon.

Of those 19 players, two are unlikely to see any action as Alan Gordon and Quavas Kirk are still not match fit. Earlier this month, Gordon underwent surgery on his left foot to correct lingering problem that plagued him for most of the 2007 season. He will join Kirk, who is rehabbing a case of plantar fasciitis in his left foot, in working with the Galaxy medical staff to continue their rehab work.

Defenders Ty Harden and Abel Xavier will not make the trip as a result of injury, nor will midfielder Kyle Martino. Both Harden and Martino underwent a hernia operation in Milwaukee earlier today while Xavier remains in Portugal rehabbing a left knee injury.

Kelly Gray, Mike Randolph and Israel Sesay are all healthy but will not make the trip for various reasons. Gray, who was acquired by the Galaxy in July, is scheduled to be married in Northern California on December 1 and will therefore miss out, while Sesay has already returned to his hometown of Gaithersburg, Md. for the offseason.

Randolph will remain in Los Angeles after having been named to the U.S. Under-23 National Team’s provisional roster for their upcoming camp. The U.S. roster is expected to be announced next week and if Randolph is named in the squad, it will be his first career call-up to the National Team at any level.

Incidentally, These games will be televised in Australia and New Zealand and last I heard the Galaxy were attempting to have them shown in the U.S.

Finally, Thanksgiving Day marks the kick off of the Daily Breeze's annual ball drive.

So give.

Happy Thanksgiving.