Sunday’s Fire game against the Colorado Rapids was supposed to be one of the most anticipated games in the team’s history.
The Toyota Park stands were supposed to be louder than they’ve ever been and there was supposed to be a media buzz around the team unseen since it welcomed Mexican hero Jorge Campos or the mercurial Hristo Stoichkov. But the excitement will be tempered a bit.
As expected, Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez named Cuauhtemoc Blanco to his Copa America roster, pushing Blanco’s Fire debut back. Blanco’s first appearance with the Fire will depend on how far Mexico advances in the Copa America tournament.
According to Fire media relations director Daniel Jankowski, the team spoke with several people close to Blanco and his agent and learned that the Mexican striker asked to skip Copa America.
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“The indications we received is that he wanted to join [the Fire] on July 1,” Jankowski said. “But then his country came calling.”
Jankowski got the impression that Blanco’s request was denied due to three other Mexican players pulling out of the competition last week, including Pavel Pardo, Ricardo Osorio and Carlos Salcido. The three cited exhaustion from their European seasons as reasons for missing the tournament.
“The team needed bodies,” Jankowski said.
The Fire has not been given any indication that Blanco will want to take a break following Copa America. This means the earliest he could make his Fire debut would be a July 7 home game against Toronto FC, if Mexico fails to advance from the group stage.
If Mexico is eliminated in the quarterfinals, Blanco could be available for a July 12 home game against the Houston Dynamo. And if Mexico advances to the semifinals or final, his Fire debut could come in an exhibition against Celtic FC on July 22 at Toyota Park.
Mexico beat Brazil 2-0 in its opening game Wednesday. Blanco didn’t score.
Bedrossian released
The Fire announced Wednesday that Pascal Bedrossian’s option was not picked up, meaning the French midfielder’s contract has been terminated. Bedrossian signed with the Fire last August and earned $185,000 a year, making him the fourth-highest-paid player on the team.
Both Fire GM John Guppy and ex-head coach Dave Sarachan raved about Bedrossian’s performance during the preseason, but the 32-year-old midfielder started only two of the Fire’s first 12 games of the season, mainly due to injuries.
Wanting their say
Several players were shocked when Sarachan was fired last Wednesday. One player in particular hopes to be less surprised when Sarachan’s replacement is named.
“I’d like to think that the guys that have been around a while would get input in what takes place,” said Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez, who is one of three players remaining from the team’s expansion season.
Guppy is currently interviewing candidates for the vacancy, including Fire interim head coach Denis Hamlett, with whom he met on Wednesday.
Corner kicks
Fire captain Chris Armas has missed the team’s previous two games with a hip injury but was training on Wednesday. Hamlett will take the next few days to decide whether Armas will play Sunday. … The Fire will travel to Cary, N.C., to face the Carolina RailHawks of the United Soccer League First Division on July 15 in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup tournament. … . Former Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley officially signed a three-year contract with Rangers F.C. of the Scottish Premier League. Beasley spent the majority of last season with Manchester City in the English Premier League.
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