Gaspar World Cup on Soccer Nation Soccer News for Youth Soccer, Club Soccer, Soccer Training

I have been fortunate to have worked on three different continents with world class players at all levels. However, I never had the opportunity to participate in the World Cup. In fact I have never even attended a World Cup. That is all about to change.

Since I was notified to join Portugal’s National Team staff, for the past month I have been functioning on a few hours of sleep. From my responsibilities to the University of Hartford to my soccer camps, Connecticut Soccer School and Star Goalkeeper Academy to my family to our two pugs Max and Nuno, my life as been going at an insane pace. But this is my life and soccer is my passion.

It is not often that you get to experience an ultimate dream. Participating in the World Cup competition was the only missing link to complete my professional career dreams.

It is important for me to share that my success is very much a result of the people who I was very fortunate enough to be surrounded by.

People that no matter what had faith and confidence. People who gave me courage to pursue my dreams. People who presented opportunities for me to learn and grow. People who shared their wisdom and knowledge with me. People who were kind and generous. It is to them that I pay tribute for the credit goes to them. I am so grateful to all those who impacted me more than they can ever imagine.

I am proud to be an American born coach who has earned and been given this opportunity. It was in the USA that my formal soccer foundation was developed. I feel I am a reflection of our outstanding coaching system and that in some way, I serve as an ambassador of USA soccer during my international travels.

My goal was to develop my American ingenuity and combine it with my unique European experiences. This combination has shaped me as a coach. I have no doubt that we have outstanding soccer educators in this country and the rest of the world should recognize this fact. I happen to be the fortunate one. This does not mean I am better or special but simply that I am unique. Hopefully, in the near future we will have more coaches like me who will have the opportunity to display their skills in the international arena.

I am so excited about being involved in the South Africa World Cup. What a competition! Think about the magnitude. There were 204 countries that participated in 850 games whittled down to 32 teams that will play 64 games. Finally one team will be crowned “World Champion.” This process is certainly worthy of the title “World Champion”.

My only regret is that it is not possible to put all my friends and love ones inside my body and have the opportunity to see through my eyes what I will be experiencing. I’m sure it will be difficult for me to express in words what I will see and feel.

When I was notified that I was selected to join the Portugal National Team coaching staff, I went through a maze of emotions. It was as if I was a bottle and the cork was removed and all my emotions spilled out. I began to reflect on the sacrifices that I and my family and professional associates had made to allow me this opportunity.

I drove back to Colts Park in Hartford and began walking around in the areas that my father used to train me. The tree that I used to throw the ball off and catch is still there. My father was a former professional goalkeeper in Portugal. He was my mentor, my inspiration and my hero. You cannot imagine how proud he is. In fact sometimes his pride is embarrassing when he is with his friends having coffee or sipping on a glass of red wine. It’s all good. He loves his son and I love him.

Since I was informed by Professor Carlos Queiroz and head coach of the Portugal National Team, the process began for me to mentally and physically prepare myself for the challenges I would be encountering.

Mentally, I started the process by assembling selected motivational songs on my iPod that would be part of my daily life. Physically, I needed to accept who I am today and not what I was 16 years ago when I was also part of Portugal’s world cup qualification process. We lost to Italy in Sao Siro Stadium in the 1993. That lost prevented Portugal to qualify for the 1994 World Cup hosted by the USA. Along with Coach Carr and Coach Kelly’s encouragement we put together a plan that was reasonable yet challenging. The University of Hartford players were very patient with my regime. I received total support from my players and coaching staff. Their support and understanding was awesome.

The goalkeeper preparation has begun in my mind as well as offering suggestions on team bonding and mental preparations to cope with the pressures of the World Cup competition.

I am sad and the anxiety is high as I leave my friends and love ones behind. It’s my comfort zone. Now, I take this exciting adventure and journey to South Africa, thinking and hoping everyday that the Portugal National Team will represent their country with pride, dignity and honor. There are so many factors that we cannot control. One thing is for sure: our players and coaching staff will be as best prepared as possible. No detail will be overlooked. I am confident if there were World Cups awarded for preparation, Portugal would be a very serious candidate to lift that trophy. Unfortunately, there is no such award. It’s about results on the field and the rest is about conversation.

Within the next few hours, I will step off the plane in Portugal and I will smell, eat, drink and breathe soccer. The fierce soccer debates start immediately. From the taxi driver to the little kids to the grandparents, everyone will have an opinion on the Portugal National Team. This is a country that is completely embraced by the game of soccer. They live and breath it. They are consumed by the beautiful game as am I.

Live the World Cup!

MORE news coming soon! SoccerNation.com will keep you up-to-date!
What will happen next? Who will win? Will Cristiano Ronaldo lead Portugal to victory?

SECOND REPORT

SN World Cup correspondent Dan Gaspar, University of Hartford’s Men’s Soccer Coach, has joined the Portuguese Football Federation’s national team staff in preparation for the World Cup.

Dan Gaspar is one of the most respected soccer coaches in the U.S. and around the world. He was recently asked to join the staff of the Portugal National Team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and our SN correspondent in South Africa reporting on his experiences. Here is second report as he and the team begin their World Cup experience.

Top Row, Left to Right:Castro, RC Deportivo, Spain; Rolando, FC Porto, Portugal; Pepe, Real Madrid, Spain; Beto, Leixoes, Portugal;Ronaldo, Real Madrid, Spain; Eduardo, SC Braga, Portugal; Edinho, AEK Athens FC, Greece; Daniel Fernandes,VFL Bochum, Germany; Hugo Almeida, Werder Bremen, Germany; Raul Meireles, FC Porto, Portugal; Eliseu,Malaga, Spain; Moreira, Benfica, Portugal; Bruno Alves, FC Porto, Portugal; Ricardo Carvalho, Chelsea FC, England;Tiago, Juventus FC, Italy; Duda, Malaga CF, Spain

Bottom Row, Left to Right:
Boa Morte, West Ham United FC, England; Nani, Manchester United, England; Bosingwa, Chelsea FC, England; Miguel, Valencia FC, Spain; Deco, Chelsea FC, England; Dan Gaspar, SN correspondent and Men's Soccer Coach, University of Hartford; Simao, Atletico Madrid, Spain; Goncalo Brandao, AC Siena, Italy; Moutinho, Sporting, Portugal.

Portugal National Team World Cup Roster Announced and Player Gala

On May 10^th, 2010 Carlos Queiroz announced his selection of 24 players who will have the honor of representing the Portugal National Team and defend the Portuguese national pride.

It was a gala event, not unlike a Hollywood red carpet affair. It was a attended by the Who’s Who of Portugal. Pedro Pinot from CNN was the host, and he did a magnificent job. The honored guests were: Fernando Couto and Carla Couto; former Portugal National Team captains as well as Joao Pinto; Eusebio, Portugal’s legendary player and Portugal National Team Ambassador;Monica Jorge, Women’s National Team Head Coach; Portugal Football Federation President, administrators and Men’s National Team staff; various politicians, and of course there was an incredible number of TV and radio reporters as well as journalists. This event was televised live for an hour. The broadcast covered the history of the National Team, highlights of the qualification games, interviews as well as action highlights of the players that were selected... It was a fantastic production.

Portugal soccer fans were all sitting on their edge of the seats and holding their collective breath in great anticipation of Carlos Queiroz's final selection.

Professor Queiroz and his staff spent many hours in tracking players, both attending live matches and evaluating game footage. It was a very tedious process that consumed a great deal of time and effort, as expected. The staff established rigorous criteria and logged the data collected. The selections were based exclusively on the player’s merit. Professor Carlos Queiroz signed off on the official player roster document with his lucky pen and handed it to the Portuguese Football Federation Director of Sports, Carlos Godinho.

Unlike the typical soccer fanatic who sees a match once and is a loyal supporter of their club. Naturally, these influences affect the fans perspective.

When the team was announced there was an immediate buzz in favor or against. The debates were and continue to be intense. It is impossible to keep everyone happy, and there will always be disappointment at certain players being left home. But there were some far more contentious decisions made by the managers of other countries. Diego Maradona has left the Inter Milan captain, Javier Zanetti, at home; Marcello Lippi has ignored Luca Toni; and the organizers of the World Cup in South Africa expressed their disappointment that Brazilian Head Coach Dunga excludedRonaldinho from his squad. Even the US squad couldn't escape controversy when Bob Bradley told Charlie Davies that would be left home after receiving a letter from Sochaux indicating that the US ace would not be fit, and that they would not medically clear him before the World Cup.

After the ceremonies we had a wonderful dinner. When we arrived at the restaurant it was impossible not to sense some disappointment as well as agreement with the players selected from all that were in the restaurant. We sat, raised our glasses and toasted to “Go Work”.

It was also clear, Carlos Queiroz, the wait staff and patrons at the restaurant, and I all want the same thing -- to win the World Cup.

The next day there was a live broadcast on Sport TV reviewing the player selection. At the end of the broadcast they shared the final results of those who were in favor and in disagreement with the selection. A majority seemed to be not in favor. I cannot think of a better way to motivate the Portuguese National Team players.

Despite the opinions, Joao Pinto former Portugal National Team player said during his TV interview, “From this moment on, these players selected are my National Team”.

Dan Gaspar - Portugal National WORLD CUP Coaching Staff

Men's Soccer Coach - The University of Hartford
Star Goalkeeper Academy
Connecticut Soccer School

Special Report to SN