Thursday doubleheader

The attention shifts from Miami to Carson on Thursday as we prepare for US-Guatemala and El Salvador-Trinidad & Tobago.

I'm excited. I like doubleheaders, though I'll probably be busy during the second game and might not be able to watch most of it.

It's going to be a busy night for sure. I have at least five stories to write between the two games, probably more that I'm forgetting about right now, plus will have to get stuff for previews of Saturday's games and future stories as well.

Covering international games is a bit different than covering MLS games. In MLS games, we are technically supposed to have locker room access 10 minutes after the end of each game. There are signs posted outside the locker rooms that say as much, but that essentially means nothing because we've waited outside before well after the 10 minutes are up and have not been allowed into the locker rooms. It happened last week after the Galaxy-D.C. match.

In international games, though, there is a "mixed zone" where players and the media are separated by some railings. If players want to stop and talk, they'll stop and talk. If not, they'll just keep on walking. It can make life harder sometimes because you have to wait until the players are showered, dressed and walking toward the bus. Plus, there are times when you want to talk to a couple of players and of course they walk by at the same time so you have to pick and choose on the spot.

I'm ready for these next three days, though. It will be busy and the days will be long (especially Saturday) but that's preferable actually.