the second half. They had a decent goal disallowed and created several goalscoring chances, 59% of possession and 31 shots to our nine. We did well to hold out for so long and get so close.2 - I've always been a Bob Bradley supporter but he has surely earned the right to carry on through 2010, barring more Costa Rica-esque calamities in the WC qualifiers.
3 - I remember DaMarcus Beasley telling me the Gold Cup was far more important than the Copa America for the US in 2007 because it allowed passage to the Confederations Cup. I had never rated it as highly, despite traveling to watch the US at the last two. But the Confederations Cup seems more important than ever thanks to a stellar lineup of teams and some great soccer, though the US will remember this longer than the Brazilians. They are used to winning Copa Americas and won the 2005 Confederations Cup, but their elimination by France at World Cup 2006 was more significant. The World Cup is still a mile ahead of the next best thing.
4 -Football is a simple game. The US played a classic 442 tremendously well and showed how vital it is to keep your shape, unless you are a naturally mobile team like Spain or Brazil. The two lines of four formed a soild wall in Bloemfontein and did their job for 45 minutes in Jo'burg. Landon Donovan's breakaway goal, scored with the help of Charlie Davies, came straight out of a textbook for one-touch counter-attacks.
Keeping two upfield instead of throwing everyone behind the ball not only created threats on the break but made the Brazilian full backs wary of advancing, at least until Dunga's half-time pep talk turned the game. There was little we could have done about three quality goals other than mark more tightly, and make sure there's a man on each post at corners.5 -It is a squad game in tournaments and you need 23 good players, not just 11 or 16. With the utmost respect to Benny Feilhaber, losing Michael Bradley hurt us, while the three MLS men who came on at Ellis Park to fight the yellow tide engulfing the US (Jonathan Bornstein, Conor Casey and Sacha Klejstan), looked some way below the caliber of their opponents - impact subs they were not. Until we have an American Kaka or Robinho, we have to make up for it in tactics and teamwork, two things we did really well from the Egypt game onwards.
6 -Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit were fantastic in the last three games. The BBC's studio experts both named DeMerit in their elevens of the tournament, along with Michael Bradley. In fact the whole defense and goalkeeper were superb after the two debacles. Danny Califf, Heath Pearce, Frankie Simek and others offer great back-up. Strong defense is the basis for all winning teams and it is our strongest point.
7 -Forget the hints about the cold weather and altitude hurting the Latin teams in 2010; Brazil, wearing gloves and in Daniel Alves' case a thick polo neck, won this cup.
8 -Let's forget the group defeats to Brazil and Italy, but remember lady luck was on our side in other results. Don't forget its unpredictable hand, though remember fortune favors the brave.
9 -A sad ending to a wonderful dream but let's dry our tears and hold our heads high after earning a ton of respect. "The US is now a very, very dangerous card," confirmed former Spurs star and now BBC pundit Garth Crooks. We dismissed the European Champions and FIFA-ranked No.1 team and then almost stole the big prize. We'll be back.
10 - What do we do with Bease now?
-Sean O'Conor
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2 comments:
Sad to say it, but I think the Beas is effectively done as a regular starter for the Nats. He just has not shown the explosiveness and guile that we could count on him for in his youth. What we need to do is figure out a way to use him as a late sub to give us a late game speed boost.
I always like your posts Sean, wish you would do more.
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