Falcao, AS Monaco taking on Atletico Nacional tonight

Early in the afternoon of July 21, French soccer team AS Monaco took to the pitch of the FIU Soccer Stadium to practice for their match tonight at 8 p.m. in Marlins Park. AS Monaco had some help from both FIU men’s and women’s soccer players including senior forward Ashleigh Shim.

FIU Women’s Soccer team Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt and first year FIU Men’s Soccer Head Coach Scott Calabrese also watched the team.

“I think whenever you have the opportunity to watch top-level professionals I think it is a really good educational experience for [the soccer players of FIU] with an opportunity to see how they train, how they carry themselves and how they interact with the media,” Calabrese said. “Ultimately, these are the players that we want to emulate. Not just in the way they play, but there are other reasons why they have reached this level and I think it is important that these guys take in that whole experience.”

Calabrese also admitted to always learning more about his coaching style and bringing in information he learns by watching the staff and the team.

“I am always watching top-level coaches and I take whatever I can from training sessions, whether it be a specific detail or the whole training session overall with whatever topic that they are focusing on. The ability for me to watch the coaches of the top-level is an education experience,” Calabrese said.

The team, which is lead by superstar forward Radamel Falcao Garcia, will take on Atletico Nacional to begin the Copa Euroamericana.

The 28-year-old Falcao received a key to the city from Mayor Tomas Regalado at a press conference following the team’s practice on Monday. According to an official press release Falcao has been cited among the top of his position in the world. He surpassed the record of 15 goals set by current US Men’s National Team Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann by getting 17 in a single annual club football European competition UEFA Champions League campaign in 2011.

AS Monaco is one of many prestigious clubs to take part in the second edition of the Copa Euroamericana from both South America and Europe. Others include Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina.

The Copa Euroamericana consists of eight “all-or-nothing” games where the winner will be decided by penalties if need be.

The winner of each game will be awarded one point and the continent with the most points at the end of the competition will be named champions of the tournament.

AS Monaco was – at the time of production – also the home of 2014 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez, who, according to a report by The Guardian where at the time of production Real Madrid was closing in on the signing of Colombia forward James Rodríguez.

 

-rhys.williams@fiusm.com

 

About the Author

Rhys Williams
: Sports Director, Class of 2016, Physical Education: Coaching (Major), Communication Arts (Minor), Sports Enthusiast with a Focus on Football and Track & Field.

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