Visualized: USA 1-2 Belgium aet

As always, match data from Stats Zone.


There are a fair few of unbelievable statistics in here.

• 39: The most shots in a single match at this World Cup. 25 of those 39 were inside the penalty box.

• 15: The most saves in a World Cup match, by Tim Howard. FIFA has tracked the statistic since 1966, and the previous high was 13.

• 67: The most clearances in a single World Cup match. FIFA has tracked the statistic since 1966.

While Howard's 15 saves were the most impressive statistic, and the main and pretty much only reason this match went to extra time, Belgium's 39 shots seems the most egregious. That's one shot every 3 minutes and 5 seconds. That's indescribably bonkers.

Every single Belgian player except Nacer Chadli – who came on with nine minutes to play, with the USA in search off an unlikely equalizer, after which Belgium didn't take a single shot – took at least two shots and created at least one chance. I've never seen that before. Kevin De Bruyne alone created 10 chances, only five fewer than the Americans took in total. Ten! I've never seen that before either.

The USA didn't allow Belgium the possession that Germany had, but they allowed vastly more shots. Belgium are a very good attacking side, even if they haven't scored prior to the 70th minute in any of their matches. Or, at the least, Belgium have some very, very good attacking players: both as starters and subs. For the fourth consecutive match, Wilmots' changes made the difference: Mirallas contributing much more than Mertens, then Lukaku's pace and strength blowing away tired legs in extra time.

There's more than just one factor involved in Belgium taking so many shots, but my suspicion is Beckerman's absence played a key part. Klinsmann clearly wanted to bring in Cameron for height, to combat Fellaini – who was comparatively quiet for long stretches – but I doubt Kevin De Bruyne has that much space, is allowed to do that much, with Beckerman patrolling in from of the back four.

Or, a change in systems might have helped. If you look at the average position diagrams, it's concerning that Jones, Yedlin, and Zusi were that high up the pitch even though the majority of Belgium's attacking third passes and the vast majority of chances created – mainly through De Bruyne, Hazard, and Vertonghen – came on that side of the pitch, especially the inside left channel. You'd have expected one of the midfielders – probably Jones, but if not, Bradley – to help Cameron in this regard, and you'd expect Yedlin to do more defensive work, even if he (like Fabian Johnson in previous matches) was the main American out-ball in attack. See also: the paucity of tackles on that flank compared to those on the USA left. I may also just be annoyed with Jones (who, yes, had been one of the USA's two best players, along with Howard, in the group stage) for missing the target with all seven (!!!) of his shots: five off-target, two blocked, including three off-target in the danger zone.

As against Germany, as against Ghana, the USA defense mainly sat deep, but this time, allowed that insane amount of shots. And you will eventually get punished from that many shots. Portugal and Ghana each took 21, no small amount, but they were from vastly inferior positions compared to Belgium's. Germany, the side who had the most possession against the USA, took the fewest – which was a credit to the USA defense and tactics in that match (and the fact that Germany needed no more than a draw) – but they also put the highest percentage on target.

The Americans had the worst Total Shot Ratio of any side at the World Cup, by some distance. Nota Bene: TSR = Shots For / (Shots For + Shots Against). The USA took 44 shots, but allowed 94, and somehow only conceded six goals. That's a 6.5% conversion ratio. That's miniscule.

Which leads directly to praising Tim Howard, American Hero. I truly hope he got all that out of his system before rejoining Everton next season. 33 of the 94 shots that the USA allowed were on-target: 35.1%. Which is almost exactly average; the group stage average for all teams was 34.9% of all shots put on target. If not for Howard, the USA don't make it out of the GROUP OF DEATH!!!!1!, let alone nearly hold on against Belgium. Tim Howard is also 35 years old, and is by no means certain to be involved in the next World Cup, no matter the longer tenure for goalkeepers.

But despite the frightening statistics, there has been improvement from the USA under Klinsmann. Klinsmann has done well, if not necessarily as a coach, then at least as the technical director, vastly expending the USA's talent pool. Matching the result from the last World Cup, despite a much harder group and less experienced squad, is at least slightly impressive. The majority of this side should still be involved in four years' time.

It seems we've said similar following each of the last three World Cups (except maybe 2006), but there's something to build on here, and the future still looks fairly bright, no matter yesterday's disappointment.

Visualized: USA 0-1 Germany

As always, match data from Stats Zone and Squawka.


That was an emphatic 0-1 ass-kicking. And it was also the best 0-1 loss in American history.

If I were a German fan, I'd be at least a little worried by that result. Yes, they won. Yes, they did everything they needed to, ensuring qualification as the group winner. But to out-pass and out-possess your opponent by those insane margins, yet only take 13 shots, only put six shots on goal, only create eight chances, and only win 1-0 is a bit disconcerting.

That shot total is right in line with Germany's last two matches: with 13 against Portugal and 12 against Ghana. But against Portugal, Germany averaged 37 passes per shot. Against Ghana, 44 completed passes per shot. But against the USA, it was 53 passes per shot. Yesterday, Germany took one shot for every 17.7 passes in the attacking third. That's a lot of effort for little reward, no matter needing just a point to qualify as group winners.

In my two seasons of doing these match infographics, albeit almost totally for Liverpool, I've never seen such a large passing disparity, a passing total as high as Germany's, or passing accuracy as high as Gerrmany's. Germany had three players with more than 100 passes: Lahm, Kroos, and Mertesacker. Germany completed more passes than any other side has attempted in this World Cup. The only side I can remember bettering those passing totals were Spain in the two previous tournaments and Barcelona at its peak.

But almost all those passes came in midfield. Germany attempted 230 final third passes, completing 192, but few went into the US penalty area, forced to pass sideways 20 or more yards from goal and tentatively probe down the flanks.



Some credit where due. The USA defended quite well. Germany scored just once, a fortunate if incredibly well-placed rebound after the initial set play shot was blocked, after scoring four and two in the last two matches. The Americans sat deep by design, and Omar Gonzalez, starting for the first time, was especially impressive. The LA Galaxy defender made 10 clearances, both inside and outside the US penalty area, six more than the next closest player; won both of his aerial duels; and was successful with all three of his attempted tackles.

But once again, the USA attack looked insipid without Altidore. Sure, partly by design; as against Ghana, the USA dropped deep, willing to concede two-thirds of the pitch in order to protect the last third, and invited pressure. They were content to let Germany do whatever it wanted with the ball in midfield, which makes a certain amount of sense given that the US just needed the draw. But unlike against Ghana, they weren't ahead at any point yesterday, and there was also absolutely no sign of a counter-attack even after Müller gave Germany the lead. The USA took all of four shots in total, none on target. The two American shots from inside the penalty box weren't taken until the 90th minute, with both result and qualification already sealed for both sides.

It's difficult to discern just how much of Germany's inability to convert possession into attack and the USA's utter unwillingness to attack was down to the situation. Neither side needed any more than a draw, and the result in the other match – still in both the USA and Germany's favor, if very tentatively, even when Ghana drew level just three minutes after Müller scored – meant that the result in this match was meaningless in the end.

There was never going to be any 1982-style biscotto. German fans won't allow it after the embarrassment with Austria, and it's just not in the USA make-up. If they didn't play out a simple draw to eliminate Mexico in qualifying, they wouldn't do so here. Still, maybe I'm naive, but I still expected a little more going forward from the Americans, no matter how good Germany is.

The USA was pragmatic, and pragmatism worked, if only just. Just like in the previous two matches, changing the style to suit the opponents, to get just enough of out each contest. But pragmatism probably won't be enough to advance much further, with Belgium – and then possibly Argentina – to come.

Visualized: USA 2-2 Portugal

As always, match data from Stats Zone and Squawka, as well as ESPN FC for the average position diagrams for both sides.


An FYI. Chances are, I won't often include substitutions in the passing networks, but it seemed important to display two of Portugal's: Eder, on in the 16th minute, and William, on at halftime. Both were more involved in the game than the players they replaced.

There were few surprises in the Portugal passing network. Ronaldo and Nani both further forward than Portugal's "striker"; a very tight midfield triangle, with Veloso's average position pushed left because of his switch to fullback at halftime; a lot of interplay between Moutinho, Pereira, and Nani down the USA left, although Nani struggled to keep the ball moving, completing few passes with Portugal's other attackers, creating only one chance and averaging just 66.7% pass accuracy. And, unsurprisingly, Ronaldo was a black hole – except, of course, for his infuriatingly perfect assist on the late late late equalizer (sigh) – taking more shots than any other player. And he clearly wasn't fit either, missing the target with six of those seven shots. The USA's numerous interceptions also helped disjoint Portugal's attack – 19 in their own half, 12 in the defensive third – demonstrating the Americans' smart defensive positioning.

The US passing network shows a reasonably compact midfield – at least between Beckerman, Bradley, and Bedoya, with Bradley very much the hub – and a clear desire to exploit Portugal's left flank. The US started its attacks on their own left, Howard mostly passing to Besler, working the ball into midfield, before trying to find Johnson, Zusi, or Jones (then Yedlin as a substitute) down the right, a tactic which demonstrably led to the second US goal. It's no coincidence that 12 of Portugal's 15 interceptions were clustered in that quadrant of the pitch.

Altogether, it was a see-saw match, one seemingly necessitated by the game state at the time. Portugal's early goal meant the USA needed to come out, while Portugal retreated into a shell similar to the USA's against Ghana, with the Americans averaging far more possession in the first half compared to the second. After the halftime changes, and the subsequent US equalizer, Portugal responded, and responded even more after the the Americans' go-ahead goal.

The "wave diagram" from Infostrada Sports excellently captures the ebb and flow:



The heat and humidity in Manaus probably had something to do with it as well, requiring each team to take the foot off the gas at times, most notably the USA just before the end of the first half, with the referee calling for a water break in the 39th minute which was very much needed.

Both sides also made crucial substitutions. Eder for Postiga was a wash – neither made much of an impact – but Portugal's halftime substitution was decisive. Veloso's move to left-back helped stem the tide on that flank, while William did well to break up the USA's decent midfield play, attempting more tackles than any other player despite only being on the pitch for 45 minutes, with only Veloso completing the same total. And Varela was the super sub with the late goal, just as he did against Denmark in Euro 2012: like yesterday's from a cross that defenders were in position to prevent.

But the USA's changes were just as important, especially DeAndre Yedlin, his pace responsible for the go-ahead goal, emulating Fabian Johnson's bursts into space in the final third, that pace much needed as the starters tired. The other two substitutes, coming on in the final few minutes, made less difference, although Wondolowski held play up well when given the chance.

Conceding with seconds to play was a kick in the shorts, but on the balance of play, the draw was probably merited by both sides. Portugal with more possession, taking more shots; the USA with better opportunities while matching Portugal in midfield and able to exploit the holes in Portugal's formation thanks to Coentrão's absence and Ronaldo's unwillingness to track back and ostensible lack of fitness. Of course, both of Portugal goals came from preventable mistakes: Cameron's wayward clearance, Bradley's inability to keep possession with the final whistle imminent. If only the USA had held on for 30 more seconds…

United States 1-2 Ghana aet

Howard
Cherundolo DeMerit Bocanegra Bornstein
Donovan Bradley Clark Dempsey
Altidore Findley

Kingson
Paintsil Mensah Jonathan Sarpei
Boateng Annan
Inkoom Asamoah Ayew
Gyan

Goals:
KP Boateng 5'
Donovan 62' (pen)
Gyan 93'

Well that wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

The 90 minutes of regular time were fairly true to form. The first half was standard USA when favored: unsteady and soon behind thanks to individual errors. In this case it was an awful goal conceded in the 5th, with mistakes from Clark, DeMerit, and Howard. Clark feebly gave the ball away in midfield, Boateng charged forward while DeMerit strangely retreated too far into his own box, and Howard was beaten at his near post.

The US was outnumbered in midfield but still tried to play through the center given Donovan and Dempsey's proclivities to cut inside. Ghana played at a higher tempo, clearly boosted by the "home" crowd. To his credit, Bradley quickly changed matters, taking off Clark (who picked up an egregiously petulant yellow right after the goal) on the half-hour mark, and slowly but surely, the US started to blunt Ghana's domination in the middle; the Africans had two-thirds of the possession in the first 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the US had one first-half chance after a Ghana giveaway put Findley through, only to see his tame shot too close to Kingson.

But, just like against Slovenia, the US responded after the interval. Just start every USA game with 45 minutes off the clock and a deficit, and tell Bob Bradley he's got to make a change. This time, he took off the underwhelming Findley for an additional midfielder in Feilhaber, who ostensibly went out left with Dempsey moving up as a second striker. And it could have paid dividends immediately with the USA's best move so far: Dempsey to Altidore to Benny, only to see Kingson come out well to block Feilhaber's attempted close-range chip.

But after increasing US dominance with Ghana retreating, lovely feet from Clint Dempsey won a penalty which Donovan duly converted, sending the keeper the wrong way and his shot nestling in off the post. From there, you'd expect the US to take advantage of the momentum and tiring Ghanaian legs, but it wasn't coming. Bradley shot too close to the keeper in the 76th while Altidore's slipping shot curled just wide of the far post five minutes later. Unlike the stereotype (and regularly seeing Kingson, Mensah and Paintsil play in England, there usually truth in the stereotype), Ghana's defense was excellent, and it was probably the best game I've seen Kingson play. Usually unsure on crosses and bouncing shots, the keeper made absolutely no mistakes today.

Given the drama that surrounds US matches, extra time wasn't exactly surprising. Gomez came on for the disappointing Altidore, who did little other than use his strength to hold up play; he provided next to no threat in front of goal, and comparisons to Heskey look increasingly valid. And it was Ghana's lone striker who struck less than three minutes in, splitting the center-backs on a punt forward, with DeMerit again partly culpable when caught too high up the field. Gyan held off Bocanegra and slotted past Howard. Unexpected to say the least.

Seemingly trying to replicate Ghana's go-ahead goal, although also very tired, the US was limited to hoofing it toward Dempsey and Gomez, few of which came anywhere near threatening. In the heat of the moment, I'm struggling to this of any US shots in extra time until the 120th minute, when Gomez headed Cherundolo's cross towards Dempsey, only to see his volley quickly closed down. As infuriating as it was, Ghana's time-wasting had to be expected – you see it time and time again in situations such as this. And thus, the US is on their way home after being one of the darlings of the tournament. I'm interested to see how ESPN will spin this one.

Work ethic and a never-say-die attitude will only take you so far, especially when the star of the team disappoints outside of his equalizer from the spot. You can only make so many stupid first half mistakes without paying for it.

But the post-match criticism of Bob Bradley is already annoying me. Admittedly, I'm as baffled by his love of Clark as the rest of you, but other than the starting XI, he did nothing – nothing – wrong today. He took Clark out earlier than almost any other manager would and made the right substitution during the break to fix the first half problems. For those calling for his head: can you name me any other US-based manager who's better? And, unlike England (or Ghana, for that matter), the US needs a homegrown manager because of the national team's continuing reliance on MLS players.

More important were mistakes on goals (DeMerit involved in both, albeit far less on the first), Donovan's invisibility and pout worthy of Gerrard on his worst day, and the US' lack of an out-and-out goalscorer (Hi Charlie Davies!). Say it quietly, but Ghana deserved to win. They won the tactical battle in the first half and the fitness battle in extra time. This was easily their best match of the tournament so far.

I'm sorry to see my countrymen out – they had an excellent tournament, exceeding (my) expectations, especially Michael Bradley – but they've only themselves to blame today.

United States 2-2 Slovenia

Howard
Cherundolo DeMerit Onyewu Bocanegra
Dempsey Bradley Torres Donovan
Findley Altidore

Goals:
Birsa 13'
Ljubijankic 42'
Donovan 48'
Bradley 82'
Edu 85'

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE

All the focus will be on the "late winner" that was somehow chalked off. And rightfully so – it was a terrible decision always almost made by weak refs, and the US should have taken all three points after a tremendous comeback. Even I've worked myself into a patriotic lather, and you're all well aware where my allegiances lie.

But Bob Bradley's name deserves to be shouted from the rooftops. His substitutions changed the game, with both of the US' goals coming less than three minutes after each. He's exempt from criticism now. Exempt.

Let's get the cliché about how the U.S. never gives up out of the way. You can't count this team out, but if they were able to start games as they finished them, they'd be a current regular at the grown-ups table. The US started tentatively, clearly weighed down by the favorites label they applied to themselves, and were one-dimensional, underwhelming, and unlucky throughout the first half. And they were deservedly behind after Onyewu's dual errors led to soft goals.

Delight boomeranged around the Internet before the match – including from yours truly – as the more-attacking Torres started in place of Clark. Needless to say, it wasn't the right decision, as play completely bypassed midfield. Slovenia pushed forward from the opening whistle, and the Americans' sole release value was punting the ball in the direction of Altidore and Findley. I know that's not all down to Torres, but he was one of the few different variables.

"Step 1: Hoof. Step 2: Hope. Step 3: Prepare for Slovenia to attack again" isn't a winning strategy. And the US were punished for it only 13 minutes in. Birsa picked up the ball in space between two staid lines of four, Onyewu – the nearest defender – failed to step out to close down space, and the Slovenian lashed an unstoppable 20-yard shot past Howard.

Without a firm foundation in midfield – crucial with two similarly deployed 4-4-2s – and with limited ideas going forward, the US weren't able to bounce back from the early goal as they did against England. The side only started creating chances ten minutes before the interval – Torres' driven free kick saved at the near post and Donovan unable to slide in on Dempsey's pass across goal – and were soon punished when caught up-field and the offside trap broke down. Onyewu, yards behind the other defenders, stepped up late to put Ljunijankic through on goal. He smartly finished low into the far corner.

But Bradley somehow regrouped at halftime, restoring the backs-against-the-wall self-belief and making the requisite substitutions. Feilhaber and Edu came on for Torres and Findley, with Dempsey taking up the second striker role. The changes not only firmed up the midfield, but also slowly evolved into a 4-3-3 after Donovan pulled one back in the 48th. Through on the right after Cesar dove in and missed Cherundolo's long pass, Donovan held his run until on top of the keeper, blasting a point-blank shot over Handanovic. As easy a target as Landycakes is, he’s "that man" for the US yet again.

Nearly level three minutes later, only to see Onyewu inches away from a flicked-on free kick, the US turned the screws throughout the second half. Altidore remained the main threat with limited chances, but the US at least had some semblance of control on proceedings. Bradley saved his last throw of the dice for the 80th minute, bringing on Gomez for Gooch as the US upped possession, necessarily risking three at the back.

And it was his son, otherwise known as Nepotism Jr. around these parts, who found the second goal. Altidore leapt highest to knock down Donovan's deep cross and Bradley was in the right place at the right time – again – to crash home a rising shot. Say it quietly, but it definitely evoked memories of Gerrard's first in the dramatic FA Cup final against West Ham.

Three minutes later, the US had the winner. With bodies crashing to the floor around him, Edu put Donovan's free kick in the net, only to see the referee throw his hand in the air for what's still a mysterious decision. Both Bradley and Bocanegra could have had penalties of their own on the play. If Bradley was offside, he never touched the ball, which is how linesman had been deciding the 'active/inactive' law. It was completely baffling, and the main source of this strange pro-US feeling in the match report. And it was more proof that the referee was overawed by this game, with questionable calls throughout that mostly favored Slovenia. You often see invisible attacking "fouls" in the area when the referee's unsure what's happened. It shouldn’t happen in the World Cup.

Slovenia had the last two chances of the game, with the US unable to recreate earlier heroics, as Novakovic shouldered a header wide and Howard punched a dipping Radosavljevic shot away. The damage was done. Still, a lot of credit to the US for fighting back as far as they did, and credit to Bradley for making proactive changes, especially those at halftime. Too many managers give their starting side 10-15 minutes to "figure things out." The US needed to change, and change they did.

Yes, a draw doesn’t help much here, although a point’s obviously and always better than none. The US will need some results to go their way to advance. The best bet is probably hoping for England to pull themselves together and win their next two matches, while the US has to beat Algeria no matter what. That would leave England with 7, the US with 5, and Slovenia with 4.

But a draw, as well as the feeling of being shafted by the referee, helps reinstall the 'everyone's against us' mentality and restores the underdog label that the US revels in. Which means you can’t count them out.

England 1-1 United States

Green
Johnson King Terry ACole
Lennon Gerrard Lampard Milner
Heskey Rooney

Howard
Cherundolo DeMerit Onyewu Bocanegra
Donovan Bradley Clark Dempsey
Findley Altidore

Goals:
Gerrard 4’
Dempsey 40’

It’s a historic day. The United States national team is all grown up. Pity it’ll be remembered for England’s suicidal goalkeeping instead of the US’ team effort.

Capello got it wrong. Bob Bradley got it right. Let that sink in for a few seconds. Nonetheless, it's still a draw, and both teams are still on pace to qualify. I expect both nations to overreact in different directions, but this result doesn't necessarily mean the US is now super awesome or that England's preternaturally doomed.

It was two 4-4-2s ramming against each other, and neither really gave way. There was little style to go along with the substance, lots of long balls and set plays, and some crucial mistakes. The US did it better, made fewer mistakes, and deserved to come away with a draw. Yes, had Green not decided to commit hara-kiri, it could have been 1-0, but it also could have been 1-2 if Altidore had taken his chance after skating past Carragher.

But the game will be defined by the errors, and errors led to both goals. England’s was obviously more catastrophic. Gerrard’s early strike, easily ghosting behind Clark to slot in Heskey’s throughball, seemed the perfect start for England, but it also aided the US. England started sitting deeper, trying to manage the game. What was more important was controlling possession, and England didn’t, allowing the US to slowly grow into the game. Still, the equalizer was nothing if not fortunate.

Five minutes before halftime, after much huffing and puffing but little output, Dempsey spun Gerrard 25 yards from goal before lining up a low, simple shot. But Green, not fully behind the ball, somehow fumbled the tame effort into his own net. Paul Robinson who? Green’s now synonymous with English howlers. Congrats.

Unsurprisingly, a mistake like that knocked England off its stride, and needing to make two changes before the second half started didn’t help. First, Milner came off for Wright-Phillips barely half an hour in. Then King, looking gimpy as usual, went off for Carragher during the interval. Aside from a 52nd minute chance from Heskey, put through by Lennon but shooting straight at Howard, England offered little until Altidore sent hearts in mouth in the 65th – torching an already-booked Carragher only to see Green push his shot onto the post.

England somewhat responded, finally getting the previously anonymous Rooney – well-marked by DeMerit – more involved. But Rooney couldn’t find the net, Wright-Phillips shot too close to Howard when given an opening, and Heskey couldn’t keep his headers down. The last throw of the dice with Crouch, with 10 minutes to play, was pretty much throwing good money after bad, and it was the US that deservedly finished stronger.

Milner and Green were the questionable starters and they were the goats. Fat lot of good it does now, but I’d again like to reiterate my belief that Joe Cole and Joe Hart should be in the team. I feel for Green – this is his legacy now – and it’s Milner that’s the more unconscionable inclusion. He’s an unlikely starter in the best of circumstances; if he’s ill, he shouldn’t have been anywhere near the first XI. Not a good day for Don Fabio.

For all of the hype, rightfully deserved in a lot of ways, Capello has a bit of explaining to do. This England looked little different than previous World Cup failures. Tactically, it was still old-school 4-4-2, with the same problems because of the Gerrard/Lampard midfield. The uncertainty over the goalkeeper, no matter what Capello says, seemed to sap both Green and the rest of the rearguard’s confidence, and King’s injury only made matters worse as Carragher was clearly exposed by Altidore’s pace. Yes, Capello was hamstrung by injuries, but he bound his own hands substitutions-wise with the team he chose. Other than Johnson getting forward and Gerrard’s early goal, there was little to be pleased about from England’s perspective.

Regardless, the USA looked more of a team than England throughout. Cherundolo was truly awesome, as were Howard and the rest of the defense. Talent-wise, it’s not close, no matter what Alexi Lalas says. But talent is rarely the biggest factor in team sports. England had little to no fluidity after the fourth minute, and it only got worse as the game intensified. That bodes poorly for the rest of England’s tournament, even if this team still looks capable of beating both Slovenia and Algeria.

Today’s is a bigger result than the much-referenced 1-0 from 1950, and everyone involved should be justifiably proud. Despite Green’s humiliation, this didn't seem a fluke. Teams, not individuals, win competitions, especially knockout competitions.

But grown-ups have to prove it again and again. Now the pressure’s on the US – we’re going to hear that this team’s obviously good enough to beat the no-marks that fill out this group and are certain to qualify along with England. It’s the exact opposite of the Confederations Cup.

At least this result ensures the group will remain interesting until the last day.

England v United States 06.12.10

Live on ABC at 2:30 ET

Predicted line-ups:
England:
Hart
Johnson King Terry ACole
Lennon Lampard Gerrard JCole
Heskey Rooney

USA:
Howard
Cherundolo Onyewu DeMerit Bocanegra
Dempsey Bradley Clark Donovan
Altidore Buddle

Key questions:
England:
• 4-4-2 with Barry out, which is what we've seen in the friendlies, or Gerrard back in a free role behind Rooney?
• Can Lampard and Gerrard play together?
• Who starts in goal?

USA:
• Who partners Altidore?
• How healthy is Gooch?
• Can the fullbacks keep up?

It's the match I'm dying to see and yet fairly unhappy about. The country I root for versus the country of my birth. And it'll take place on day two of the tournament. I guess it's always better to jump in feet first...

Most importantly, both teams are better than the sides sent to Germany four years ago.

The difference in England comes down to two factors: Fabio Capello and Rooney's development. Otherwise, it's basically the 2006 team but four years older. Which is evident from the key questions above. We're still debating whether or not Lampard and Gerrard can play together in central midfield, we're still wondering if David James is really England's best goalkeeper, and England's still reliant on Wayne Rooney.

Tactically, the main debate is Heskey v Crouch v Gerrard in a free role. Barry's absence, from this game at the least, means Gerrard will almost assuredly play as a holding midfielder – albeit one that bombs forward at opportune moments. Neither Carrick nor Milner made the most of chances given during the past month. And that means that Rooney will play with another striker up top. We can rule out a little-little partnership with Defoe, but whether Heskey or Crouch gets the nod still seems up in the air.

Heskey's been preferred in the past; as with Owen, managers love how he creates space and draws defenders to the benefit of his strike partner. But he's been unable to buy a goal for club or country, while Crouch has an excellent scoring record for England (21 in 39), even if most have come against the minnows. My guess is Capello goes with the devil he knows best, and we got a hint with seeing Rooney and Heskey paired in the second half on Monday, but I say that with little certainty. No matter which starts, either will be crucial with crosses coming in from the flanks and Oneywu suspect after an extended injury, and that would lead me to pick Crouch.

Meanwhile, the US has continually improved since 2006, something Bob Bradley doesn't get nearly enough credit for. Beating Spain in last summer's Confederations Cup was the high-water mark, but recent low-water marks include eking through World Cup qualification and the earlier rounds of the Confed Cup. And the hero of qualification, Conor Casey – with his two goals against Honduras – didn't even make the squad. But there was no surprise in that.

Despite form, World Cup qualification – like the win over Spain – still demonstrated the US' best attribute. They win games by outworking opponents. The 'never say die' attitude is cliché, especially in reference to an American team, but it's true. And there are assuredly worse qualities to have. Yet England are routinely renowned for the same quality – tactically questionable on the big stage but full of blood and guts.

As go Dempsey and Donovan, so goes America. The US needs both on their game – as they were against Spain a year ago – to succeed. Shocking, right? The team plays well when the two best players play well. But Deuce and Landycakes are head and shoulders above others in the squad. Dempsey's become a big player in the Premiership, which is of no small importance here, while you can be certain that Donovan's loan to Everton took place with this match in mind. Deuce, Howard, DeMerit, Spector, Guzan, Hahnemann and Holden ply their trade in England; Altidore and Donovan spent at least part of last season there on loan; Gooch, Boca, and Feilhaber have played there in the past; and Beasley and Edu are currently in Scotland. Check my math, but I'm pretty sure that's more than half of the squad. It might help.

At the same time, all eyes are on the US' defense. The possibility of Spector and Bornstein at fullback should strike fear into the hearts of any American, especially with the likes of Joe Cole, Aaron Lennon, Ashley Cole, and Glen Johnson on England's flanks. I'd wager any amount of money that's the main point of attack, and we'll see how the Americans cope, especially with Oneywu still recovering from that knee injury. He played sparingly during the friendlies, but if he's anywhere near fit, he'll start, consequences be damned. And it's hard to argue with that decision.

It's also hard to put much stock in friendly results, but there were signs of optimism from both sides. Three wins from three for England, although Mexico and Japan gave them problems and the Platinum Stars barely counted. Meanwhile, although the Czechs walloped the Americans, the USA came back strong against Turkey and Australia. Still, the rickety defense worried, especially conceding silly set piece goals against both the Czechs and Aussies, while Turan torched the US on one break where Spector was caught upfield. Worth noting given England's strength on free kicks and corners (scoring twice against Mexico) and its pace on the flanks.

These two teams are predicted to qualify from the group and rightfully so. But the US has never advanced after losing its first match. England's done it twice – 1962 and 1986. Make no mistake, this will have crucial implications for who progresses and both teams know it. Which leads me to believe the US will set up for and be satisfied with a draw. It'll be up to England to prove why they should be amongst the favorites.

US 2-3 Brazil

Howard
Spector DeMerit Onyewu Bocanegra
Dempsey Clark Feilhaber Donovan
Altidore Davies

Goals:
Dempsey 10’
Donovan 27’
Luis Fabiano 46’ 74’
Lucio 85’

So close and so far. My allegiances were far less conflicted in this match, and no surprise, the result was a bit different. But for a moment there…

The first half was stuff of dreams, even less believable than Victory. The second half was far less surprising, but all the more disappointing given where the US stood at the break. And those Liverpool fans who saw United come back against Spurs a couple of months ago will have felt some déjà vu.

Unsurprisingly, Brazil pressed the Americans early on, but the US was first on the board again, from their first attack. And again it was Spector to Dempsey, and a cross from the right back cleverly redirected with a right-footed volley past Julio Cesar.

Brazil stormed down from the field from the restart, with Howard making the first of countless fantastic saves on Robinho's effort. Two US chances from corners quickly followed after Davies' break, but it didn’t take long to revert to ‘all hands on deck,’ as it was for long stretches against Spain. Notably, Howard had to make two more stops, on Felipe Melo and Maicon, in the 25th and 26th minutes.

And then it was two, with an absolutely textbook counter-attack goal. Donovan broke following a corner and found Davies on the left. Somehow the striker got the ball back to Donovan (seriously looked like he had no angle), Landycakes checked back onto his left at the top of the box, steadied himself, goal. Holy shit.

And the US could have had a third in the 30th, but Donovan’s cross just too far in front of Davies and Altidore, who both looked like they’d beaten the offside trap. From there on out, it was all Brazil, with ESPN helpfully pointing out that the first half possession was 60-40 in Brazil’s favor. Howard made at least three more saves before the break, while Maicon’s deflected cross whistled across the face of goal on the stroke of halftime.

Unfortunately for the US, they suffered the worst possible start to the second half. 41 seconds in, and it’s 2-1. A cross in from Maicon, a wonderful quick turn by Fabiano, fooling DeMerit, and the lead’s halved. If they don’t let it that goal, there’s a chance. A full 45 minutes left with only a one-goal advantage is frightening.

The goal marked the beginning on an onslaught more furious than the one faced on Wednesday. If the possession was 60-40 in the first half, it had to be something like 70-30 in the second. If it wasn’t for Tim Howard, the second goal would have come a lot earlier, and the US would have lost by a few more. First, he stopped a bullet Lucio header at the back post in the 58th before controversy two minutes later when Kaka’s back post header looked over the line before Howard palmed it away.

Donovan and Dempsey shots from distance saved by Cesar in the 65th and 66th were the US’s lone chances during the blitz, while Howard kept the US in front when he took the ball off Fabiano’s foot with the striker through in the 71st.

But the dam finally broke in the 74th. It looked like the crossbar would keep Brazil out again after Kaka’s cross found Elano at the far post, but Fabiano was there for the rebound and his brace. 2-2 after 30 minutes of constant pressure did not bode well, and after DeMerit came up huge against Fabiano in the box, Lucio slammed home the resulting corner. Well, fuck. It was nice while it lasted. There was a glimmer of hopewhen Gooch headed over in the 88th, but it wasn’t to be.

Skeptics will wonder where the hell this team came from. Diehards will claim this is what the Yanks have always been capable of, and they even should have won. The truth, as usual, is probably somewhere in the middle.

As said after the Spain match, it’s a hell of a lot different when you play without pressure. And although there were certainly nerves making the final, against Brazil no less, they still weren’t expected to be there and weren’t expected to win. At the same time, they haven't played as well as a unit in these last two matches since the ’02 World Cup. And the backline was the best I've ever seen from the US.

It’s almost better for the US’ World Cup hopes that they lost today. A win would have raised expectations too high and painted a big target on their backs. This provides incentive and proves they can hang with the big boys.

A win certainly would have caused a media stir, but this’ll still be headline news on ESPN and in local sports pages, and even soccer-haters like Jim Rome will be discussing it tomorrow. And the rest of the world will take notice. It may not be the long-hoped for tipping point for American soccer, but it’s another step in the game’s evolution on these shores.

Spain 0-2 USA

Casillas
Sergio Ramos Pique Puyol Capdevila
Alonso
Fabregas Xavi Riera
Torres Villa

Howard
Spector DeMerit Onyewu Bocanegra
Dempsey Bradley Clark Donovan
Davies Altidore

Goals:
Altidore 27’
Dempsey 74’

And you thought I was kidding when I said I wouldn’t be surprised by a US victory. Well, I was. But it was bound to happen. That’s this sport. That’s why it’s the best. And now a team that lost its first two games by a 6-1 margin is going to be in the final, having beaten the #1 team in the world, one that hadn’t been beaten in 35 games. My result of jinxing teams stands, and it helps to explain why I don’t predict Liverpool games.

I thought of titling this review “Fuck you, play me,” but that’d diminish the effort of the entire US team. Yet it was still eminently amusing to see Jozy Altidore, who barely got a look-in at Villareal and never featured for second division Xerex, announce himself on the world stage with a goal against the country where his club(s) won’t play him.

The US had two good chances in the first ten minutes – through Davies and Dempsey – before Spain’s first – Villa not far off the top corner with a wicked volley. Less than a minute later, Howard sprang a fantastic save on Torres, which was made moot by a incorrect offside flag.

This marked Spain establishing themselves with their usual game - passing and possession. Unfortunately, it was also one of those games where that passing and possession leads to naught. And, against the run of play, the US opened the scoring through Altidore in the 27th. Receiving the ball at the top of the box, he held off Capdevila incredibly well, turned, and fired past Iker, who could only deflect it on its way into the net. And that Capdevila’s his teammate at Villareal makes it even more delicious.

It was a Spanish onslaught for the rest of the half and most of the second, but the US held them off. I’m used to teams shutting up shop and somehow keeping a clean sheet thanks to following Liverpool, but I still don’t know how Spain didn’t score. Demerit, Spector, Howard, Onyewu, and Bocanegra (in approximately that order) were all simply immense.

I could rattle off more than 10 Spanish “chances” that could have gone in on another day, whether a defender made a last-ditch block, Howard came up with an excellent save, or a Spanish attacker just couldn’t get on the end of a cross. But the US goal was impenetrable despite Spain’s dominance in possession. And in the 74th, Dempsey again made the difference after moving up top when Feilhaber came on for a striker. Ramos couldn’t clear Donovan’s deflected center, steering the ball to Dempsey’s toe. 2-0. You have to be kidding me.

The game was won with hustle, heart, and the break of the ball. I don’t want to sound dismissive of the US by writing ‘break of the ball,’ but there were so many moments where if the rebound had bounced differently or a deflected shot that ended with a corner had gone in another direction. But again, that’s soccer.

And that takes nothing away from the US team. I have to draw the inevitable Arsenal comparisons; Spain is prone to the same problems. Even when the team is off, they still see a ton of possession, but can’t make that breakthrough and are often over-intricate in the final third. Yes, Liverpool being guilty of that probably lost them the league last season, but Arsenal’s better known for it.

More importantly, the US simply out-worked Spain, and each player put in a hell of a shift. It also helps to play without fear. The pressure was on in two tough early games against the likes of Italy and Brazil. They were holding their own against the Italians until going down to 10 men, and Brazil is, well, Brazil. But against Egypt and in 4th place in the group, no one expected them to advance. And everyone’s spent the last two-plus days predicting a Spain/Brazil final. Well, as American readers know, the media and advertisers gambled on a Kobe/Lebron final, and we saw how that turned out.

Still, this was the best I’ve ever seen the US defense. Dempsey popped up with another crucial goal despite the criticism he’s received from idiots like me. Donovan (really, when I write “Landycakes,” it’s with love) was absolutely everywhere, and was more important as a defender than as an attacker in the second half. It's a pity Bradley will miss the final thanks to another dubious red card (looked a ton worse at full speed), but Feilhaber's been impressive in his last two appearances, although that might be down to being used as a substitute.

I am disappointed in Spain’s performance, and, yes, partially with the result. I can’t help it. I like seeing Spain win. I’m used to seeing the US lose to better teams. But I am very proud of the US’s performance – honestly – and thrilled for Altidore, who I like as a player, respect for going abroad at 18, and desperately want to see succeed in Europe.

However, I don’t expect the final to look much like this. We’ll see how that prediction holds up on Sunday.

What’s the penalty for treason these days?

I readily admit it. I’m not a huge fan of the US national team. I’ll watch more often than not. I even hope they win more often than not. But I’m usually watching their games with a wry, detached smile.

And yet, I’ve still written about the team on occasion. The most recent post under that tag is from the Spain-US match a year ago, and I wrote about that because I was rooting for Spain in the Euros. The preceding post argues that Bob Bradley should have had his interim tag removed after the 2-0 win over Mexico. After two-thirds of Sunday’s win over Egypt, I was sure Bradley was getting sacked. So, yeah, my insights into US soccer aren’t always on target.

Chances are I’ll have to catch tomorrow’s match on DVR later in the evening, but I’ll probably review the match. Because of the large Liverpool contingent, Spain’s one of the international teams I actually pay close attention to, along with England (guilty secret – my first love in football, since Italia 90, although the more I’ve followed Liverpool, the less I’ve cared about Ingerlund) and Holland (the 1974 World Cup team. That is all.). And yes, I am American; even though I’m a US soccer agnostic, I still can’t hate the national team.

Plus, the way the US backed into the knockout stage of the Confederations Cup was delicious, and another example of why this game’s so great. The US, outside of the first half against Italy before capitulating have gone down to ten men, were absolutely dire in their first two matches. Dempsey looked tired and uninterested after a long season with Fulham. Beasley is a shadow of the player he was three years ago. Red cards have led to an unsettled midfield; only Michael Bradley has come close to establishing himself. And I can’t put it better than Unprofessional Foul did yesterday:

I would say that a goal on Father's Day for the 2nd year in a row is an apt display of how nepotism has allowed you to keep your starting role. I would even say that you and your dad should both still lose your jobs, but that is unlikely to happen given this result.

To be fair, a substitution led to the third goal. And I honestly thought Bradley was insane – needing a goal, the US took off a striker (Altidore, who’s young, but seemed to be playing better as the game went on) and brought on a midfielder, moving Dempsey up front. Dempsey’s probably the US’ best player (sorry Landycakes), but he’s been gash all tournament long. And yet, as soon as he moves upfront, he pops up with a terrific header from an equally terrific Spector cross. Bob Bradley 1, Internet schmucks like me 0.

And thanks to Brazil steamrolling an uninspired Italy, USA goes through with a 1-0-2 record on goals scored. And now they get to face an in-form European champion, playing to set the record for consecutive games without a loss. Alonso and Fabregas have stepped in for the injured Senna and Iniesta, and Torres has been in the mood for murder since returning from injury, whether with Spain or Liverpool.

And yet, with the way this tournament’s gone, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the US nick a 1-0 win. Just another reason why this is the best sport there is.

Spain 1-0 USA

Yep, it looks like I might jinx it. Aside from a moment of brilliance from Xavi, it was a sub-par game with little offered in front of goal by either side, and was about as lackluster as England’s matches last week. I was hoping this wouldn’t be the case, and I apologize in advance to true Spanish fans.

Admittedly, in their final match before Euro 08, Spain were nowhere near guns blazing, while the US was vastly improved from last week’s performance at Wembley. But the first half, which is when both Torres and Alonso were on the field, was nearly unwatchable.

While I’m hesitant to put much stock in it, as it’s the first time I’ve seen Spain since the World Cup and it was, after all, a warm-up friendly, Spain looked very one-dimensional, reliant on their passing game to cut the opposition apart. And the US defended well, better than against the English despite deploying the same back line, and with a number of players crowding out Spanish attackers trying to pass through the center of the pitch.

All too often, Torres was isolated (but a willing worker, showing no effects of the ankle knock), while Capdevilla and Sergio Ramos provided the width from fullback with Alonso, Fabregas, and Xavi frequently congested in the midfield. Outside of Xavi’s header from a Ramos cross and a Torres turn and shot, I’m hard-pressed to think of any concrete chances.

Much of the reason for the US improvement was Adu starting in place of Wolff behind Johnson as a lone striker. Adu, and the US as a whole, looked more composed on the ball in the first half, with Adu creating a memorable moment with an excellent long pass out of defense to Johnson, who surprisingly contrived to scuff the shot. In addition, I though both Eddie Lewis (in place of Beasley) and Maurice Edu (in place of Clark) were upgrades from the last match.

The second half saw a number of changes for both sides, with Guiza and Senna on for Torres and Alonso and Guzan, Hedjuk and Beasley on for Howard, Cherundolo and Adu, and with Adu seemingly forced off at halftime, the US had far less attacking impetus. Spain were able to keep possession and put the screws to the US, although they continued to struggle breaking through the US backline.

While both Xavi and Senna hit the woodwork, the longer the second half went on, the more it looked likely to end even, especially with the US seemingly content with 0-0. But in the 79th minute, Fabregas fed Xavi, whose delightful turn got him past Bradley and Bocanegra. The captain eluded Onyewu and Hedjuk as well before slotting past Guzan. I’m not doing the goal justice by any means; it was a fantastic run and a stunning individual goal. Here’s hoping it’s replicated often in the coming weeks.

As it relates to Liverpool, only Reina saw no action out of the four in the Spanish squad. Both Torres and Alonso played the first half, and neither had much to write home about. As said, Torres was often isolated, but got off one shot from a trademark quick turn and looked fully fit. Alonso had a few pretty long-range passes playing as the deepest midfielder (in the role that Senna’s usually in), but as he’s been for Liverpool this season, was wild in the tackle at times. In addition, the trio of Alonso, Xavi, and Fabregas didn’t link up as well as hoped, and while it’s unfair to single out Xabi, both Cesc and Xavi were more influential when Senna was on the field. Arbeloa came on for the last few minutes, with Sergio Ramos pushing up to midfield.

While I watched this game paying closer attention to Spain, I admittedly grew more interested in the US’ progression from last week’s match. Adu was excellent in the first half (as was Lewis), the defense did well to close down Spain’s line of attack, and despite the loss, it wasn’t a bad result for a young team looking to do battle against established international sides.

And with that said, even though this was a friendly, and it’s mid-season for the MLS players, I think this match meant more to the US. They feel they have a point to prove to the footballing world, while Spain was content to use this as a warm-up and get through it unscathed. For the most part, both teams did what they set out to do.

Spain’s first group game, against Russia, is next Tuesday at 11:50am on espn2.

"Interim"

After watching the US demolition (honest, that’s no exaggeration and I’m as surprised as you should be) of both Mexico and Ecuador, it’s absolutely criminal that interim head coach Bob Bradley still has the interim tag.

In the last two games, the US men’s national team has looked more a “team” than at any other occasion I've watched them since the 2002 World Cup. Even with new players being bedded in and some regulars having sat out due to injuries or other matters, they look a far better unit than at any time during the 2006 World Cup.

I understand that both games were home matches, both games were “friendlies,” and that the real tests will come in the Copa America and Gold Cup, but it needs to be said. Bob Bradley is making all the right decisions, and has the team performing at a very good level. Not to mention the rebirth of Landon Donovan under Bradley, although we’ll withhold judgment on that until more competitive matches.

It seems the only reason Bradley still has the interim label is because of US chief Sunil Gulati’s obsession with a big name coach. First it was Jurgen Klinsmann; now, it’s ostensibly Carlos Quieroz or Gerard Houllier (run, run away screaming). Not only are these men pipe dreams, I fail to understand why Gulati has such a hard-on in courting them. Is it because they’ll give the US a bigger name and more PR possibilities? Is that really what matters here?

My main prerequisite in hiring a national team manager following Arena was familiarity with MLS, because for the time being, the national team will be reliant on players from that league. Bradley has impeccable credentials in that regard. Yes, the majority of the first team’s starting 11 is based in Europe, and I’m of the belief that if the US wants to have greater success internationally, more players should think of going abroad (I’m looking at you, Landon). But we’re not there yet. Bradley has the MLS qualifications, but just as importantly, he’s now proven he can manage the national team against their biggest rivals and a strong CONMEBOL outfit. That should have been the only reason why he had the interim tag in the first place, because he’s never held a top level international position. Now, he’s proven the jump to international stage isn’t so much of a leap.

I fail to see the hold up. The longer this goes on, the more this gossip will ratchet up. Please, stop this nonsense now. Klinsmann’s not coming, Quieroz’s not coming, Houllier’s not coming (for the love of God, I hope). Bradley has quickly proven himself to be the best candidate, end of.

The USSF did something right in hiring Bradley. Please don’t screw it up.

Fowler to MLS?

Disclaimer: I absolutely adore Robbie Fowler. I wholeheartedly and fully subscribe to all the feelings that have led the Kop to call the man “God.” He might be the most natural finisher I’ve ever seen. Ever. Please keep that in mind throughout the rest of this.

I have absolutely no desire to see Fowler in MLS, which is seemingly hot news and only a matter of time with all this paper talk. None. In fact, the prospect downright frightens me. An ex-Liverpool player, one of that stature of Fowler, in my backyard? How could it be bad? Easy.

Yeah, it’d be nice to see Fowler link up with Stevie Nicol, in my home country, where I’d have the chance to see him just as much, if not more, than I do now, and certainly more than if he moved to, say Qatar or Dubai (the other paychecks for pensioners footie hubs).

But it boils down to one thing. Would Robbie Fowler care enough to make it work?

Fowler’s mini-resurgence is down to one thing: desire. The only club he could have seen a return to form at was Liverpool, where personal pride and love of the club gave him the ambition to work his ass off (literally) getting into shape. I fear he’d have none of that desire in the USA, and it’d be a return to the Fowler of Leeds or Man City, with diminishing ambition and diminishing returns.

Even in shape, as Robbie is now, you can see that when he gets the full 90 minutes, as against Sheffield United, there’s an awful lot of walking around involved. He was never the quickest or fittest, but age is catching up with Robbie as well. He’s still got the touch, as shown with two smart penalties, but you’re never going to get an outstanding work rate due to fitness levels.

And upon seeing the level of competition in MLS, without the additional drive of wanting to make it at Liverpool, I fear Robbie would pack it in and coast through games. And the absolutely last thing I want to see is big-name footballers coming to the US to coast. That one of those footballers would be the legendary Robbie Fowler, jogging around Gillette Stadium at a half-canter, is even more a dismaying prospect, and nowhere near the finish Fowler deserves for his career.

The last thing I want is for MLS to turn into a catchword like Qatar or Dubai, where footballers go for that last big paycheck. We’ve seemingly come to the conclusion that financially it won’t hurt the MLS as it did the NASL for a variety of reasons, but where it will hurt the league is in appearance. If Fowler comes on the back of the Beckham hoopla, and doesn’t perform to his abilities or appears to coast through games, how is it going to look when MLS signs more name players over 30? Because as of now, those are the only players giving MLS the time of day.

That’s not what MLS needs. That’s not what Robbie Fowler deserves.

US v Mexico minute-by-minute

I have been contemplating doing one of these for a Liverpool game for a while now. However, I figured I’d test it out on a game where there’s less of a chance of me throwing things at the television. Plus, there’s the fun of my unfamiliarity with and moderate ambivalence to the national team.

Pre-match - Bruce Arena is frightening as a commentator. And he’s joined by Eric Wynalda and Dave O’Brien. Awesome. Also, I find it hard to believe Bob Bradley’s future will be decided by this and only this game, but that’s what we’re being told.

2’ - And we’re off to a flying start. And by that I mean about 6 throw-ins and 2 goal kicks deep. Evidently, we’ll be in this stage for a while, according to Arena. I think he means all game long.

4’ - Yikes. US can’t clear, a header puts Howard under pressure, and he fumbles, leaving Conrad to clear for a corner.

5’ - Ref already talking to, and separating Borghetti and Conrad.

7’ - Bornstein outruns Medina (is this why the soccer blogosphere loves him?) breaking up Mexico’s attack, but the US can’t fully clear.

8’ - The US’ first real attack, with good ball movement, but it breaks down when Clark can’t find Donovan.

10’ - That’s the Landon Donovan that shows up every blue moon. Sublime first touch bringing down the long ball, but it only serves to juice him up, and he tries to split 3 defenders unsuccessfully. Calm down, son.

10’ - Bornstein yellow, given for pulling Blanco down. Never a yellow, especially this early in this game.

11’ - And Chris Rolfe has decided to join us, forcing a foul from Salcido, and drawing a make-up yellow card. Convey’s inswinging free kick goes nowhere though.

14’ - Dempsey shows his skills as well, doing well to keep the ball in play. Very slick, although it leads to naught.

14’ - Nice job by Albright to cut out Medina’s cross. Good positioning.

16 - Another Pardo foul while the US is trying to break out, this time on Convey. He’d better be careful, the Canadian ref seems to like his cards.

18’ - Medina does a ton of work to get the ball to Blanco on the left flank, but his cross is atrocious. Way too long, and Borghetti was available in the middle. Poor.

20’ - For a big lad, Marquez sure falls over easy. Yeah, foul by Convey, but come on Rafa.

22’ - Bornstein again does a good job beating his man, but he’s got nowhere to cross it to. Rolfe and Donovan are invisible. The ‘Kenny Cooper’ chant I’ve started in my living room doesn’t seem to be working either. He's the hot trend, right? All I know is he used to be a Manc.

23’ - Mastro and Clark have started to boss the midfield. Tackling and marking have been quite good, although the passing is worse than poor. When Mexico looks dangerous, it’s balls over the top (usually from Marquez) behind the back line.

28’ - By the ref’s standards so far, Torrado should have seen yellow for his foul on Dempsey. Sweet, let's add inconsistency to being quick with yellows.

30’ - Convey’s threatening run is shut down before he can get in a cross.

30’ - The US would be a lot more effective if they were playing strikers. Just an idea.

31’ - Just to torment me, this time Convey gets the early cross in, but almost takes out the line of cameramen.

33’ - Yellow for Mastro for a foul on Marquez. Mexican free kick and subsequent corner lead to zilch.

35’ - 3 players miss Dempsey’s tantalizing low cross across the face of goal. Super.

36’ - The US is really lucky that Borghetti was flagged for offside there, it really looked like Conrad played him on.

37’ - Wynalda just called Rolfe’s performance “miserable,” moving him up a notch in my book. That brings his total to one notch.

38’ - I think Convey has some sort of deal where he gets paid per second he’s on the ball. Pass, dummy!

39’ - Free kick from the left flank taken by Donovan. It sucked. Hit the first defender and easily cleared.

41’ - Rolfe on a threatening run, beating two defenders before getting a rush of blood to the head, and he’s closed down. Pass, dummy!

42’ - Bocanegra carded. Arena seems to think it’s for shirt pulling.

43’ - And we’re having a second conversation between the referee, Borghetti, and Conrad.

43’ - Ooooh. Borghetti’s header just misses the back post. Should have been 1-0.

44’ - Landon picks up a turnover, and runs past the defender into the box. Tough angle, and his shot is saved. First shot on goal for the US. Yay!

HT - These are the games that are politely described as “cagey.”

46’ - Mexico makes three changes. Guardado for Medina, Bautista for Blanco, and Fonseca for Morales. Shows what I know; I thought the few times Mexico looked dangerous on the ground, it was from Medina.

49’ - Guardado absolutely embarrasses Albright, dribbling past him a couple of times before putting the cross into the box. Great positioning from Conrad to cut it out.

50’ - Mexico’s fourth offside to none for the US (granted, Eddie Johnson’s not in the game yet). They’ve looked much more dangerous since the subs.

51’ - Not enough power on Bautista’s 30+yd shot on goal. That and it was right at Howard.

52’ - GOAL - US. Conrad hits a free header from Donovan’s outswinging corner. Picture perfect corner by Donovan, but abysmal marking by Mexico. I’d claim it was a good use of the US’ height advantage, but Conrad was absolutely wide open.

54’ - !!! Convey tracks back ever so well to break up a Mexican attack. I love defense like that from offensive-minded players.

57’ - Arena just claimed Beasley wasn’t in the team because he’s busy establishing himself for his new team, Manchester United. And I nearly swallowed my tongue. The former US national team manager, ladies and gentlemen!

58’ - Oh wow, what a through-ball and cross across the face of goal by Mexico. Defense cleanly and clearly beaten. Surprise, surprise, it comes from the US’ right side. No one home though. That stings if you’re a Mexico supporter.

60’ - Donovan fouled on a breakaway by Torrado. Yellow, and a smart yellow. Free kick, from the left corner at the top of the box leads to squat.

62’ - Conrad saves a goal, blocking Fonseca’s shot for a corner. Bravo on for Torrado, giving Mexico yet another striker. The corner’s cleared.

64’ - Johnson finally on for Rolfe. Wynalda seems so happy to shit-talk Rolfe. To be fair, he was awful though.

65’ - Damn, Bornstein is fast.

66’ - Oh, a gorgeous throughball to Bravo, deflected wide.

67’ - Another Mexico corner leads to Howard catching the ball right before it’s over the line. Close call again.

68’ - Howard deflects another shot by Bravo. The US is living dangerously, while Mexico is making full use of the 17 strikers they have on the field.

68’ - Gross on for Albright. Better than the Denmark performance, but still much to be desired.

71’ - Smart counter-attacking one-two between Dempsey and Johnson leads to a shot on target by Eddie, but it’s easily saved.

73’ - Yet another Mexico corner, 7 to 2 on the night.

74’ - Ugh. Convey stole the ball in the box, had all the time in the world, but it’s saved by Sanchez. The one time he should have taken more time on the ball. Silly.

75’ - Carroll on for Dempsey. Fulham would like their new player back in one piece, thanks.

76’ - Guardado is still embarrassing folks down the US’ right side.

78’ - Carroll took 3 minutes to pick up a yellow card. Welcome to US v Mexico, lad.

80’ - US needs to keep possession and slow the game down, but they can’t. It’s going to go up and down the field for the next 10 or so minutes as it has for the last 20 or so, but looks to be another narrow US home win.

84’ - Good tempo change by Convey earns a free kick on Mexico’s left flank but nothing comes of it.

86’ - Bravo gets free on the right but the pass is way too long. Think he would have been offside anyway.

87’ - Strong shot by Guardado, too close to Howard though, who knocks it down and smothers.

87’ - Typical Eddie Johnson. Silly step and a half offside when if he slowed down and actually looked at the defense, it’s a second goal.

88’ - Yet another close call. Fonseca should have scored, Howard was beaten. Killer cross from fairly far upfield that Fonseca whiffed on. Tough angle to judge, though.

90’ - 4 minutes of added times?

90+1’ - Hahaha. Donovan breaks away after the ball hits the ref, storms downfield, rounds the goalie, and easily makes it 2-0. To be honest, Golden Balls’ Mini-me has had a decent game, although I've taken my fair share of potshots at him.

90+2’ - Holy shit. The replays show Sanchez half-tried to slide tackle Johnson after the goal. Eric Wynalda’s going to blow a blood vessel, and rightfully so. FIFA should be calling in the morning, even if the US Federation has to mail them the tape themselves.

90+4’ - A couple of late half-chances for Mexico, but full time.

FT - 2-0 is kind of flattering, but the US earned the win. And it was a far better game in the second half. Maybe the announcers were right (gasp!); I actually am more inclined to see the “interim” tag removed from Bradley’s title after that game.

Conrad was easily the man of the match, even discarding the goal. His positioning, defensive heading, and ability in bringing the ball out of defense were superb. Probably the US’ best passer as well. Why isn’t he the captain?

Congrats if you’ve actually made it this far. Hope you did too, because taking these notes actually amused me, so there’s a fair chance you’ll see it again.

Beckham to LA Galaxy (for how much???)

This is why soccer failed in the US in the past. The documentary on the NY Cosmos and the NASL, Once in a Lifetime (which should be required viewing), showed exactly what happened the last time this was tried. And honestly, that's probably the best case scenario for the MLS if they continue on this path.

The Galaxy (AEG and MLS by default) are paying $250 million for a player only 31 and already past it, who has suffered his worst year in the sport this past year. A player who isn’t being offered a contract any longer than one year by European clubs, no matter the spin being put on it. And no matter the quotes about improving the visibility of soccer in America, this is a player who’s looking after his payday and his image rights, not his sport.

MLS has decided the best way to increase revenue is to try the Cosmos method, buy big names at the end of their careers and hope it pans out. Alexi Lalas said as much in November when this story first broke; he said, in his own words, he wants LA to become MLS’ first “super club.” Beckham supposedly brings the credibility that MLS wants so badly.

Well, this is going to sound egotistical, and I don’t mean it to be, but I watch soccer. I’m exactly who the MLS is trying to get to be a regular viewer. I’m fanatic, for lack of a better term, about European soccer, and yet fairly clueless (comparatively speaking) when it comes to the MLS. And yet, this brings no credibility to the MLS in my eyes. None.

What it tells me is they’ll spend any amount of money, stupid money in fact, in the hopes of fooling people into thinking they’re a big league. Well, soccer fans know David Beckham. They know he was a one-trick pony in his prime. They know he’s here for the paycheck and here for Hollywood. How that supposedly brings credibility, and more importantly, stability (which really is the most important thing, look at the history of failed leagues, and not just soccer, in this country) to the MLS is beyond me.

Who wants to take bets on how long the hype lasts? How long will the Galaxy see increases in revenue from jerseys and ticket sales? Will it be worth it? What happens when the hype subsides? Who’s going to be paying off Beckham’s contract when he’s not playing anymore, because with the amount of money involved, it seems it would have to be staggered over a number of years. Will Becks resist Hollywood’s siren calls that long?

It’s funny, but nowhere in this post have I asked how Beckham will fit with the Galaxy, how he will co-exist with Landon Donovan, so long used to being the biggest fish in his pond, or anything else related to on the field play. Because, honestly, that’s secondary to this deal. And, sadly, it’s probably secondary to this deal in the eyes of Lalas, AEG and MLS. Which is certainly not the way to make a better product.

Whoa, they make trades in MLS?

Freddy Adu’s on his way to Real Salt Lake. Well done to all parties involved, because this came completely out of left field, which is a rarity thanks to the pervasiveness of the media these days.

With DC United not getting a ton for Freddy, it’s readily apparent he’s expected to go to Europe sooner rather than later. Adu, along with keeper Nick Rimando, was traded for future considerations (a portion of Adu’s transfer fee, no doubt), a major player allocation, backup keeper Jay Nolly, and a conditional draft pick. On face value, it doesn’t seem like a whole lot, and it isn’t. But it’s a trade that DC United wanted and needed to make, especially to please Adu, and it’s not surprising this is what they’ve gotten.

Still, with the trade having been made, you can expect Adu to stick around MLS for at least one more season. Which he probably would have anyway, considering he doesn’t turn 18 until June, but this cements it.

Having lived in DC when Adu was drafted, I was lucky enough to see his first few games, and continue to have a soft spot for DC United. And despite the best intentions of both sides, Adu in DC hasn’t quite worked out. It’s easy to blame Nowak, as Freddy doesn’t fit into his style and is up against more established players in his position, but Peter Nowak is Peter Nowak. You know everything he does is because he thinks it’s in the best interests of his team, and it's done his way. Unlike in DC, Real Salt Lake, which in Utah is absolutely crying out for a marketable player, will completely build around him. He will fortify the franchise on the field and off (new stadium, please). Not to mention that RSL’s coach was also Adu’s gaffer for the Under-17s.

Granted, I don’t have any dog in this fight save wanting to see the best for Freddy, so I’m pleased about this. This is pretty much the situation I wrote about earlier, with him furthering his development stateside and seeing as much first team action as possible before moving on. Now he’s in a situation where he’ll start every game. He’ll be the man, and he’ll have to adjust to having this weight on his shoulders. But, and no offense meant, it will be a ton less pressure simply because it’s MLS. It will give him more time to grow as a person and a player before being baptized by fire across the pond.

Good for Adu, good for RSL, good for MLS, and good for the US MNT. Whether or not it’s good for DC United depends on how they use the allocation and draft pick.

No Jurgen for US

Klinsmann withdraws candidacy as U.S. Coach

I pretty sure I'm in the minority here, but this doesn't bother me. Don't get me wrong, Klinsmann wouldn't have been a bad option, but I don't think he would have been the best either. Something just didn't seem right; absolutely everything seemed to fall into place for him with the German side at the World Cup.

I think his man-management and his ability to bring the German team and the country together for the World Cup were qualities far more important than his tactical nous. I don't want to play down the changes he made to the national team, updating the training methods and bringing more youth players along, but neither is a major problem for the U.S. team. I also think that much of Germany's success had to do with the fact that they were the home team, as seems to happen every World Cup. Klinsmann has stellar playing credentials but the fact remains, the German job is his sole coaching experience. I can't help but think he's been overrated by success in one tournament (albeit the biggest tournament in the game).

The US manager needs two main qualities as far as I'm concerned. One, familiarity with the MLS, as for the foreseeable future a lot of players, specifically young players, will come from the national league. Two, international experience. Playing, managing, whatever. The manager needs to be familiar with styles abroad, specifically European teams, because I think that's the major competition. Klinsi seemingly has both qualities, being based in California and considering his playing career. I just cannot get it out my head he's been plumped up far too much.

Who do I think should be national team coach? Stevie Nicol.

I know, I know, I will get a lot of stick for this, thinking I've gone for him solely based on Liverpool connections. Believe me, that's nowhere near the sole reason, but it certainly doesn't hurt; I find it hard to believe it would hinder a manager to have played under Paisley, Fagan, and Dalglish.

My main sticking point is that we know he knows the MLS. A former MLS Coach of the Year, and he's taken the New England Revolution to the MLS Cup finals the past two seasons. But it's not as if he's unfamiliar with the European game. He played for both Scotland and for League and European Cup-winning Liverpool sides, and played recently enough to have seen the Prem. He's got the familiarity with both the US and European games needed in the next manager.

I know Klinsi has a lot of the qualities that I see in Nicol, but Nicol's experience with MLS and the youth set-up, plus his additional coaching experience, even if it isn't on the international level, wins out for me. I don't like all "big names," like Jose Pekerman, Bruno Metsu, or Gerard Houllier (not going there) that have been tossed out, simply because I don't know if they're familiar enough with the players over here. And on the flip side, does Bob Bradley, who looks to be named interim manager, have enough international experience?

Plus, you just don't argue with a international-class Scottish defender. Doesn't happen. Another of my favorite qualities in a gaffer, striking fear into both the opposition and his own players.

On Freddy Adu...

I prefer to leave MLS commentary to those more capable, but I can’t let the beginning of Freddy Adu’s "trial" at Manchester United pass without a mention.

If the United States wants its national team to succeed at the highest levels, its stars must be playing abroad. Hopefully, in a few years, that won’t be the case anymore. But it is now. Nearly every single nation has its best players plying their trade in Europe, no matter their geographic origin; currently the Premiership has players from Togo, China, Oman, and Chile among others. Perusing Yanks Abroad, the exodus from MLS has increased, and most of the players are better for it. Don't be fooled by the results from the last World Cup, the national team is too.

I’m firmly convinced Freddy Adu is the exception to that rule, at least at this stage. Age is the main factor in the equation. On a personal level, I think he’s still too young to go abroad, end of. He’s only 17; no matter the work permit considerations, just remember yourself at age 17. But it goes farther than that.

There will be an enormous weight on the boy’s shoulders when he goes abroad. He would be the highest profile American ever to play overseas. I fear too much would be expected too soon, and he’ll barely be 18 when the next season starts in Europe. That’s something few 18 year olds would or should be able to bear.

Since the age of 14, Freddy Adu has had “LeBron” levels of hype (if you don't get the reference, lucky you). The fact that soccer remains somewhat of an unknown in America seems to be the only thing keeping Nike from trying to make him a major marketing phenomenon. And I don’t believe he’s ready to live up to the hype that would be created when he goes.

Granted, he’s made great development this season with DC United, more than I thought he would. His talent is obvious, and it’s little wonder that the Uniteds and Chelseas of the world are sniffing around him; especially when you see the money splashed around at Theo Walcott and John Obi Mikel. The trend is long in place where the big clubs get at the prodigies as young as possible, and I’m not surprised Freddy’s fallen in that line. Doesn’t mean I agree with it, mind you.

Not to mention it’s in Freddy’s, and the US’s, best interests to have him seeing regular first-team action. That’s not going to happen at any of the big clubs in Europe. Adu’s development may be shockingly quick, but it’s nowhere near complete. While playing against better competition would help, the most important thing is to be playing regularly. And I’m not counting a youth or reserve side as regular competition.

Also, and I hate to look at it from a commercial angle, but when you see so much gossip about MLS needing a marketable star, and the “Beckham rule” looking to bring its namesake or Luis Figo to these shores, I find it hard to believe MLS is thrilled about the prospect of Adu leaving, especially so soon.

Please stay in MLS, Freddy, because you need it as much as it needs you.