The result was improbable given the data we all had to work with. Egypt had cleverly dueled and lost to Brazil by the slimmest of margins (4:3). Egypt had upset Italy neatly in a one goal game (1:0).
Egypt had done everything right except to prepare for the unpredictable Americans. In my preview for this tournament, I stated that America would never give up. I stated that they would scratch and claw for every opportunity. This was all shown to be true, as America rallied in a way we have seldom seen. Egypt 0:3 America. I list Egypt’s score first out of respect as they are the current African Nations Cup champions, and playing in Africa were the home team. Egypt have a number of gifted and technically sound footballers. When I watched Egypt’s opening match versus Brazil, my jaw dropped watching them keep pace with the Samba Kings.
Our victory wasn’t a lapse of Egyptian skill, it was the return of our own skills and discipline. Heart has been renewed in the American side. Charlie Davies was sound enough to score a goal off of the Egyptian goalkeeper’s face. Davies never gave up. For his resolve, he was rewarded with a goal. The Clint Dempsey headed goal was so very, very sweet. The Jonathan Spector cross that set it up, was absolutely poetic. America witnessed a change - achieving world class results, in world class style.
Let me take this moment to thank Brazil for giving the sound thumping to Italy (3:0) that was necessary for America to remain alive in the Confederations Cup. Thank you Brazil, thank you many times over. Sometimes I wonder if there is anyone who understands us as a footballing nation, maybe it is Brazil.
Having said all of this makes me realize that the “group of worse than death” has now been augmented. After facing Italy and Brazil in group play, the United States must now face Spain in a semi-final elimination match.
Spain of late are anything but duffers. Iker Casillas starts in goal for Real Madrid, one of Europe’s premier sides. Defender Puyol, and midfield maestro Xavi play for FC Barcelona, the elegant Catalonian giants of football. Fernando Torres plays for Liverpool. Cesc Fabregas plays for London giants Arsenal. Spain are the recently crowned champions of Europe. Their football is fine, and often elegant.
I can’t help but think of the matchups that will take place later this day. Onyewu of the USA in central defense versus the masterful Fernando Torres. In this matchup, I feel Gooch has a fine chance to reign supreme and underscore his massive achievements in Belgium.
The midfield matchups though, create more questions than answers. Spain will have their hands full of Landon Donovan. Unless of course, none of the other midfielders show any threat, in which case it will make it easy for Spain to mark Donovan out of the match. Can Michael Bradley or Ricardo Clark hold Xavi in check? Will the overlapping Spanish outside backs create too much pressure for the USA defense to deal with?
On the Spanish side of things, I wonder if they will find it easy to deal with Michael Bradley. How will they manage to contain his tireless work rate? Bradley excels in ball-winning football. He also excels in making foolish challenges that get him booked. If it’s a dead heat in midfield, wouldn’t America be as likely to work the break as Spain?
The one thing I can be sure of is that there can be no true prediction of how ESP v. USA will end up.
It is up to the people of the world. Will you simply count out America, thinking them completely inferior to Spain? Or will you think they could have a chance, a chance to show greatness under duress?
In the 1990 World Cup’s opening match, Argentina played Cameroon. Argentina was predicted to run away with the match, but Cameroon, even after having a man sent off, were the 1:0 victors. Will this game be this sort of match?
Having followed the USA team from 1989 to present, I can honestly say, that I couldn’t predict the result one way or the other.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
US Soccer - 2009 Confederations Cup Preview
The United States men’s football team is rarely predicted to win games against storied opposition. It is likely that football journalists will predict that America will lose all their group matches in South Africa this June, crashing out of the tournament in disgrace.
However, let me draw your attention back to the 2002 World Cup in Korea for a moment. The USA was given no chance by their critics to defeat Portugal and the players of their “Golden Generation.” Surely the United States wouldn’t be able to keep pace with the likes of Joao Pinto, Postiga, Figo, Pauleta, and Rui Costa. But what happened that day in Suwon shook the foundation of international football. John O’Brien scored on 4’, Jorge Costa compounded the problem by putting one into his own net, and Brian McBride made it USA 3:0 on 36 minutes. The final was USA 3:2 POR.
The United States, against all predictions finished eighth of 32 teams in the 2002 World Cup. The Americans finished ahead of Italy, Paraguay, Argentina, Portugal, Croatia, and France. The lesson learned by Portugal that day was to never count out the Americans. Americans work hard, fight hard, and never, ever quit.
Having said that, the USA are on a spotty run of form at the present. Defenders not on the same page with their goalkeeper and one another, midfielders being caught upfield during the oppositions counter-attack forcing defenders out of position as they try to cover for their stranded midfield teammates. Strikers who are having problems creating chances and trouble finishing the chances they do get.
What America does have are the best goalkeepers on the planet. At the moment United States and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard is at the top of the list. We have a European league champion in Oguchi Onyewu. His Standard Liege side has won the Belgian championship both this season and last season. In Josmer Altidore, the Americans have a true center forward who can hold the ball. How good is he? It was worth $10 million to Villareal of Spain to sign him. Clint Dempsey scored 7 goals for Fulham this year in the English Premiership. We have Michael Bradley who holds the record for most goals in a season scored by an American playing in Europe. And we have Landon Donovan, perhaps the best footballer ever produced by the United States.
Although the betting man’s odds may lie with Italy and Brazil, I refuse to count America out of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. More importantly, the American team themselves will not allow themselves to be overlooked.
However, let me draw your attention back to the 2002 World Cup in Korea for a moment. The USA was given no chance by their critics to defeat Portugal and the players of their “Golden Generation.” Surely the United States wouldn’t be able to keep pace with the likes of Joao Pinto, Postiga, Figo, Pauleta, and Rui Costa. But what happened that day in Suwon shook the foundation of international football. John O’Brien scored on 4’, Jorge Costa compounded the problem by putting one into his own net, and Brian McBride made it USA 3:0 on 36 minutes. The final was USA 3:2 POR.
The United States, against all predictions finished eighth of 32 teams in the 2002 World Cup. The Americans finished ahead of Italy, Paraguay, Argentina, Portugal, Croatia, and France. The lesson learned by Portugal that day was to never count out the Americans. Americans work hard, fight hard, and never, ever quit.
Having said that, the USA are on a spotty run of form at the present. Defenders not on the same page with their goalkeeper and one another, midfielders being caught upfield during the oppositions counter-attack forcing defenders out of position as they try to cover for their stranded midfield teammates. Strikers who are having problems creating chances and trouble finishing the chances they do get.
What America does have are the best goalkeepers on the planet. At the moment United States and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard is at the top of the list. We have a European league champion in Oguchi Onyewu. His Standard Liege side has won the Belgian championship both this season and last season. In Josmer Altidore, the Americans have a true center forward who can hold the ball. How good is he? It was worth $10 million to Villareal of Spain to sign him. Clint Dempsey scored 7 goals for Fulham this year in the English Premiership. We have Michael Bradley who holds the record for most goals in a season scored by an American playing in Europe. And we have Landon Donovan, perhaps the best footballer ever produced by the United States.
Although the betting man’s odds may lie with Italy and Brazil, I refuse to count America out of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. More importantly, the American team themselves will not allow themselves to be overlooked.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
US Soccer - World Cup Qualifier: CRC 3:1 USA
The United States Men’s football team faced a match in one of it’s least favorite venues last night. Playing in San Jose Costa Rica has got to be one of the hardest tests in professional football. I challenge any european national football team to try and get a result in the Saprissa Stadium against the Ticos.
The States gave up an early goal that was partially set up by confusion in the American back. DaMarcus Beasley, playing out of position at left back, lost the ball to a Costa Rican attacker. He was able to tackle it away, but he inadvertently smashed the ball into the face of Francisco Torres. This temporarily blinded Torres, and Costa Rica used the confusion to set up an attempt at goal. The shot from Saborio was true and sharply curled over Tim Howard’s outstretched hand - 1:0 to the Ticos. Tim Howard stops this shot if he is closer to his line.
Although the U.S. played well in stretches and arguably had the ball for longer stretches, it didn’t really matter as Costa Rica finished 3 of their 5 chances on goal, whilst the US struggled to even threaten, scoring only on a late penalty for a consolation goal. It was clear from the outset that the Costa Rican side were technically superior on the artifical surface.
Some performances in this game were good for the USA. Donovan had a reasonably good game and he scored the penalty that ruined the Ticos clean sheet. Onyewu played well, as did Bocanegra in the center of defense. Marvel Wynne Junior though seemed out of his depth at times, not using his speed to his advantage, and losing possession in the attacking half forcing others to cover for him.
It seems that Beasley isn’t the answer at left back. It’s not a matter of skill, it’s a matter of physics. Beasley is strong but wiry. If the central american forwards can shoulder him off the ball, the forwards from europe will likely barge him to the ground. Seemingly the plan was that America would raid from the flank with two speedy outside backs. This was not the case as neither Beasley or Wynne was very effective at distributing or holding the ball. The better choices at the wing back positions may be Jonathan Spector and Frankie Hejduk in terms of both technical skill, and work rate. Maybe even Frankie Simek deserves a chance to land the right back spot.
Altidore was good, but didn’t see much of the ball. This is a shame, because Jozy can actually hold the ball like the true center forward/striker he is. If he’d seen more of the ball, I have no doubt that he would have scored.
Clint Dempsey was somewhat invisible in this match, never really finding his stride or truly threatening to score.
The young midfielder Torres had good moments and bad moments, sometimes winning balls defensively, and other times giving up possession with rushed passes.
Michael Bradley had been playing reasonably well until his knuckle-headed yellow card in the second half. He will be out through suspension for Honduras’ sojourn to Soldier Field in Chicago.
Mastroeni was good and won his share of balls in midfield, but his slowness of pace didn’t much help the leaden pace of the American attack.
Tim Howard couldn’t truly be faulted for any of the goals scored, and produced a memorable save in the second half.
Sacha Kljestan played a full half of fooball, and I honestly couldn’t tell you what he accomplished.
One wonders why Charlie Davies, and Freddy Adu weren’t starting this match. After they entered the match as substitutes, the American attack looked far more dangerous.
A more experienced selection makes more sense for a World Cup match played in Costa Rica. You must select players who are accustomed to the noise, the high pressure, and the Ticos swift counter-attacking tactics. Attempting to attack early in San Jose, Costa Rica may have been a bit tactically naive. The Saprissa remains an impossible place to win for America.
For those that want to point out that America are inferior at football, consider this:
Have England, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, or any other vaunted world football power ever won a match at estadio Saprissa? If they have, I doubt they have won many. Perhaps the interpretation of this result shouldn’t be that America’s football is inferior, but that Costa Rica deserves a higher than #41 world FIFA ranking.
The States gave up an early goal that was partially set up by confusion in the American back. DaMarcus Beasley, playing out of position at left back, lost the ball to a Costa Rican attacker. He was able to tackle it away, but he inadvertently smashed the ball into the face of Francisco Torres. This temporarily blinded Torres, and Costa Rica used the confusion to set up an attempt at goal. The shot from Saborio was true and sharply curled over Tim Howard’s outstretched hand - 1:0 to the Ticos. Tim Howard stops this shot if he is closer to his line.
Although the U.S. played well in stretches and arguably had the ball for longer stretches, it didn’t really matter as Costa Rica finished 3 of their 5 chances on goal, whilst the US struggled to even threaten, scoring only on a late penalty for a consolation goal. It was clear from the outset that the Costa Rican side were technically superior on the artifical surface.
Some performances in this game were good for the USA. Donovan had a reasonably good game and he scored the penalty that ruined the Ticos clean sheet. Onyewu played well, as did Bocanegra in the center of defense. Marvel Wynne Junior though seemed out of his depth at times, not using his speed to his advantage, and losing possession in the attacking half forcing others to cover for him.
It seems that Beasley isn’t the answer at left back. It’s not a matter of skill, it’s a matter of physics. Beasley is strong but wiry. If the central american forwards can shoulder him off the ball, the forwards from europe will likely barge him to the ground. Seemingly the plan was that America would raid from the flank with two speedy outside backs. This was not the case as neither Beasley or Wynne was very effective at distributing or holding the ball. The better choices at the wing back positions may be Jonathan Spector and Frankie Hejduk in terms of both technical skill, and work rate. Maybe even Frankie Simek deserves a chance to land the right back spot.
Altidore was good, but didn’t see much of the ball. This is a shame, because Jozy can actually hold the ball like the true center forward/striker he is. If he’d seen more of the ball, I have no doubt that he would have scored.
Clint Dempsey was somewhat invisible in this match, never really finding his stride or truly threatening to score.
The young midfielder Torres had good moments and bad moments, sometimes winning balls defensively, and other times giving up possession with rushed passes.
Michael Bradley had been playing reasonably well until his knuckle-headed yellow card in the second half. He will be out through suspension for Honduras’ sojourn to Soldier Field in Chicago.
Mastroeni was good and won his share of balls in midfield, but his slowness of pace didn’t much help the leaden pace of the American attack.
Tim Howard couldn’t truly be faulted for any of the goals scored, and produced a memorable save in the second half.
Sacha Kljestan played a full half of fooball, and I honestly couldn’t tell you what he accomplished.
One wonders why Charlie Davies, and Freddy Adu weren’t starting this match. After they entered the match as substitutes, the American attack looked far more dangerous.
A more experienced selection makes more sense for a World Cup match played in Costa Rica. You must select players who are accustomed to the noise, the high pressure, and the Ticos swift counter-attacking tactics. Attempting to attack early in San Jose, Costa Rica may have been a bit tactically naive. The Saprissa remains an impossible place to win for America.
For those that want to point out that America are inferior at football, consider this:
Have England, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, or any other vaunted world football power ever won a match at estadio Saprissa? If they have, I doubt they have won many. Perhaps the interpretation of this result shouldn’t be that America’s football is inferior, but that Costa Rica deserves a higher than #41 world FIFA ranking.
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