National team playing at Toyota Park on Wednesday
This could be a pivotal week for the United States in 2010 World Cup qualifying, and Chicago will play a pivotal role.
The U.S. men traveled to Cuba for a Saturday qualifier, the second of CONCACAF's semifinal round. That will be followed by a Wednesday qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago at Toyota Park.
After winning last month at Guatemala, a couple of more wins this week would put the Americans in good position to quickly clinch a finals berth and get more players experience in what remains of the semifinal round.
"We're excited to play in Toyota Park," coach Bob Bradley said during a conference call from Miami before boarding a flight for Havana. "It's a great facility. It's a place that the players enjoy. ... We've always had very, very good support in Chicago and we've had some success there, and those are factors that work in our favor."
Bradley coached the Fire for several years while his son, Michael, was growing up in the Northwest suburbs. Michael Bradley is one of 18 players his father named to the roster this week, which also includes former Fire players DaMarcus Beasley and Carlos Bocanegra as well as goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who played high school soccer in the southwest suburbs. All four players now play in Europe.
"We have a number of players on this team that have been fortunate to have some experience in Chicago," said Bradley, going on to note the U.S. team won the 2007 Gold Cup at Soldier Field. "It's a special place for all of us."
Live from New York: On the other hand if Juan Carlos Osorio left his heart in Chicago, he's very good at hiding that fact.
Osorio, who bolted the Fire after coaching half a season, returns for the first time Saturday night with his new team, the New York Red Bulls.
"I have said in the past I will always be grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to come back to MLS," said Osorio, who joined the Fire from Colombian team Millonarios last June. "The club, the front office and the fans were very supportive and behind our push to make the playoffs. Fortunately that goal was accomplished. That is history now."
Osorio is more focused on what Saturday's game means in the Eastern Conference standings. The Fire is in third place, 3 points ahead of New York.
"Obviously, it's a very important game for us," Osorio said in a Thursday conference call.
Osorio gained a reputation as a turnaround artist, and he seems to be working that magic in New York, where the Red Bulls are making a late-season push just as the Fire did in 2007.
"We are in the process of turning things around," Osorio said.