Thursday, June 24, 2010

OK, so it wasn't 3-0 but USA won group C and will play Ghana in the round of 16 on Saturday.  Saturday happens to be my First Anniversary!  Landon, Clint, Tim and Jozy, y'all can give me the best anniversary present possible if you WIN!  I am hoping for Uruguay to beat South Korea for two reasons: 1) I can't stand South Korea and 2) Beating Uruguay will bring more prestige.

I have nothing to say about the game that hasn't already been said, but I will add my voice to those acclaiming this team for it's heart and refusal to die.  I'm not one for jingoism, but I will say this team is everything I like to root for in a sports team or any group of people.  I have found the USMNT to be well worthy of fanatical support since qualification for the 2002 World Cup, and this edition is the best of all.  It is gratifying to see Landon Donovan mature into a great team leader, and I see the best yet to come for him in this Cup.

Saturday will be huge.  I would say that as round of 16 games go it could not be bigger than the 2002 game, but any World Cup knockout stage game is of monumental import and historic significance.  If we win, we will be one of a very few nations to make it to the quarterfinals of two World Cups in the twenty-first century.  Despite what people will want to say about our style or quality of play, those types of results in the most significant tournament in world soccer necessarily make a nation a member of the elite.  The world will have to admit that the USA has become a world soccer power.  It is a goal that I and many other Americans formed in the mid-90s as we were drawn into this game.  For me it was 1997 when my son was five and our soccer careers (his playing and mine coaching) began.  Thinking back to where American soccer was then and comparing it to what I see now -- on youth and scholastic fields as much as on professional and World Cup fields -- the growth in our game is astounding and something that everyone who has been a part of US Soccer (and that includes ALL youth players and coaches, as we are all members of the USSF) can be proud of.  The efforts of ALL of us have brought the USA to this historic moment, having won a group for the first time in modern soccer history.

I know that over on The Shin Guardian they are saying that the USA might be only the third or fourth best team in this knockout group, but I don't seeing any of these teams knocking us out.  This team has grit and perseverance.  It has Will.  It is going to take a Power to put us out of this tournament, and neither Uruguay, Ghana, nor South Korea is a Power.  The semi-final berth is there, and Landon Donovan is going to lead this team into it.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Filip Bondy is like the football commentator who says halfway through the fourth quarter that the trailing team 'has to score here to get back in this game,' then the team fails to score there but comes back to win later. He wrote in the daily news that the USA had to beat Slovenia to stay alive.  We all know what happened, and the USA is still very much alive.

Fact is, the USA is not only in great shape to advance, but also to win the group. Contrary to Bondy's reflexive negativity, the USA is probably the most likely team to win the group outright.  The only way the USA does not have a chance to win the group is if Slovenia defeats England, an outcome that while quite possible is unlikely.  The English side has too much quality to continue playing punchless football.  A draw is the worst result likely for England.  If England and Slovenia draw, a US win over Algeria will put USA top of the group unless Slovenia scores  more goals than USA scores.  Highly unlikely the Slovenes will pull that off if the USA is winning its game.

If England beats Slovenia, it will depend on goal differential.  If USA defeats Algeria by more than England defeats Slovenia, then the USA wins the group, and vice versa.  If the margins of victory are the same, USA wins the group unless England scores 2 more goals than USA scores.  Again, highly unlikely.

Basically, if USA beats Algeria by two goals, that will probably make USA the group winner.  Winning a WC group will be a step forward for US Soccer, regardless of what happens in the knockout stages.  It will also set USA up for a deeper tournament run.

I feel good about this USA team, and think this is going to be a special Cup for America.  In fact, I am predicting a SEMI-FINAL appearance!  Yes, I am irrationally exuberant, but with reason.  I love the heart of this team and believe that they will catapult from the Slovenia injustice to a series of good performances.  We have seen that the USA can beat and compete with the BEST when playing at our best.  I believe that Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra and Michael Bradley will will this team to strong performances from here on out.  Cup history is replete with deep runs from teams that struggled early in group play.

This team has ability.  Jozy Altidore is going to score some big goals.  Landon Donovan is a world-class elite player, and he is finally in his prime.  Remember, he was the outstanding player of the U-17 World Cup back in the day, and that tournament featured some names that are among the pantheon of today's pros.  Bradley is the type of young, up-and-coming professionals who make their bones in the World Cup.  He's a tremendous player and will prove it.  He has more big goals in him.  Clint Dempsey is able to make magic.  We are coming into our own as an attacking team.

Defense is the problem, and I would pin it at concentration.  Our guys have not been able to bring the constant focus that is required for defense.  I think the Slovenia game will focus our men.  Nothing like a sense of having been wronged to motivate men.  If our defense prevents the lapses in coverage, Howard will deliver clean sheets.

Fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride.  A 3-0 thumping of Algeria will put the USA on top of the group, and into the round of 16 against Ghana or Serbia.  I want Ghana.  I want revenge for that 2006 travesty.  After that, one upset win of a more favored team puts us in the semifinals where a true contender subdues us in a taut, thrilling match that leaves US fans thirsting for more.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

The Next American Hero: Tim Howard

I've been a fan of Howard for about ten years now.  It is wonderful to see him get his chance on this stage.  I guess he was the keeper in '06, but that team was dysfunctional.  Now there is a solid team in front of him, and he provided the edge in outperforming England.  Even after getting cleated in the chest, possibly suffering broken ribs, he didn't let it show and played an outstanding match.  He's had bigger performances, such as Spain last year in the Confederations Cup, where the US withstood a more potent onslaught, but this one is to date the most significant.

It seems that Oguchi Onyewu was as much at fault for the England goal as was the more obvious Ricardo Clark.  Yes, Clark should have marked Gerrard's run, but Onyewu abandoned his space in the back four to go for the ball, and it was that space Gerrard ran through.  Had Onyewu maintained discipline, he would have been in position to defend the pass to Gerrard.  Onyewu made the same mistake several times, but only that one was punished.

Overall, though, the US defense did quite well.  Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney are an attacking trio as able as any in the world, and they were held in check.  Rooney was a non-factor for most of the game, and even late was not able to impose on the game.  We will need better from Onyewu in future games, but he was playing his first full game, and his first meaningful game at all, since October.

Next up is Slovenia on my daughter's birthday.  I know next to nothing about Slovenia except that it is an eastern European side.  I have no idea if we should be favored or not, but I want to see a win.  If we win that game, we will probably be in shape to advance.  But I don't want to just advance.  I want to win the group.  I want the prestige and the competitive advantage of winning the group.  I'm looking for Landon Donovan to lead us there.  A goalkeeping hero can keep you in the game, but it takes a field player to win it.