Boy, before this tourney started, I'd bet most of you had this one down as an almost certain "W" - and now?
Even with a snowball's chance in Royal Bafokeng Stadium of advancing to the Confederations Cup semifinals, the U.S. National Team will have much more to do besides be in it to top Egypt by at least three and hope Brazil does the same to Italy.
No, the 'Nats will be charged today with a few tasks more important in "the long run" (which we all know is measured in four-year segments, with the current ending next summer). We could go down tactical, technical and spirit matters our boys need to get right for an hour and we could recap a wide array of beefs aimed at coach Bob Bradley of late all day, but all examples lead to two essential points.
The USMNT must get their attitude back and they must get their public back.
This time, instead of predicting who will will start, I am going to indicate who I think should take the field today: Howard, Spector, Onyewu, Bocanegra (if he doesn't pass the late fitness test, then Demerit), Pearce, Clark, Bradley, Adu, Donovan, Altidore and Torres in a proper 4-3-3. I will also accept Feilhaber as #10, with either Torres on left wing or Donovan moving there for Freddinho to play the right wing.... man, I love saying "I will also accept".
As for advancement, that rightfully seems a lost cause and by the end of the day, we will have gone three-and-out in all four intercontinental cups since World Cup 2002. But what they can accomplish is proper footing heading into the final year countdown to South Africa 2010 and some much needed breathing room for the boss.
Then again, who knows? Maybe a bunch of Egypt players got caught this weekend filing a false report after being embarrassingly robbed by hookers and they won't be quite as focused on field matters today.
Ahhhh, nothing like a Sunday morning spent in the reading room, makes me wish we also had a crossword puzzle...
- USMNT match notes
- FIFA.com match preview
- Zidan ruled out for Egypt
- The coach Bradley/Donovan pre-gamer in text and in mp3
- USMNT Blog on our Egyptian-born GK coach
- 'Nats want to come correct on Sunday
- Michelle Kaufman on the U.S. lack of spark
And finally, ESPN's Alexi Lalas checks in with his preview thoughts:
A quick NSC programming note: there will not be a LIVE today, but I will do a wrap-up post with highlights and will of course have U.S. Player Ratings up by the time you poor 9-to-5 bastards make it to the office on Monday morning (computer willing).
- Greg Seltzer
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28 comments:
New lineup or no, I'm not getting my hopes up. According to FIFA.com the match will be ref'd by Michael Hester (New Zealand). You may remember him as the guy who issued 5 yellow cards (4 to the US on only 11 fouls) in our Olympic match vs. The Netherlands (14 fouls). Those included Adu and Bradley's second yellows of the Olympics (earned in the 78th - foul on the keeper - and 91st minutes - time wasting - respectively), which kept them out of the determinative Nigeria game.
He's averaging 5 yellows a game (55 in 11 matches) and a red every three games (3 in 11).
Also, interesting side note: FIFA's 'official' player rater, the Castrol Index (0-10, 10 best), has Dempsey rated a 7.44 the second-best US player (.02 pts behind team-leading Donovan and .09 above Bradley). The only other player above 5 is Altidore (5.05)
Bill Murray marathon on AMC today. Will certainly get more joy out of that than the lackluster performance the US is sure to put on.
It's time for the nats to step up and keep their rep up.
Torres and Adu on bench. Brilliant.
Guzan on? So you want to keep things the same by using Dempsey, but you bring in Guzan?
Don't be surprised if Guzan costs at least one goal. I'm not sold at all on Guzan's abilities.
"Guzan on? So you want to keep things the same by using Dempsey, but you bring in Guzan?"
Please stop reading my mind.
CHARLIE DAVIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THERE'S ONLY ONE CHARLIE DAVIES!!!!
Thank you C.Davies.
Get dempsey out of there, pleaes.
Dempsey is just brutally bad.
Charlie Davies.
Charlie. MFing. Davies.
In case you guys hadn't noticed, Brazil scored three times in the final eight minutes of the first half against Italy.
That means we've gotten a lot closer to pulling off a shock advancement. We still need at least two more here, though.
And btw, I thought Dempsey was rather good the opening 30 minutes or so.
So how hard will it be for Bradley to sack up and make some offensive changes?
Namely dropping Deuce to the bus and bringing on Torres or Adu or Feilhaber?
With Brazil up 3-0, we miraculously have a chance at moving on.
WE NEED GOALS
Greg - my problem with Dempsey is that he's just wandering everywhere. We absolutely lack any semblance of position discipline on the wings, because Landycakes and Deuce just aimlessly move about. It's really causing problems for Bornstein and Spector, and also forcing Clark to be constantly lost on the field.
Out of place, no hussle, terrible give aways. Adu or Torres now please.
I think Clark being lost is his own ordeal and you can't fault guys for dribbling to the inside. I also don't know if them setting up a little to the inside as the half wore on was a coaching move, it may well have been, to form more of a box midfield.
That all being said, I do agree the overall shape/spacing has been mediocre so far today - hardly the first time in this set.
I'd say Donovan killed more rushes than Dempsey did in that half.
One more U.S. goal and we may be in business to advance!
WHY THIS SUB?
Folks, we are now one goal away from sole possession of second place in the "live table".
INSANE
If my grasp of the tiebreakers is correct, the U.S. will advance if all ends as is.
Yeah, that's what the announcer on the ESPN broadcast are saying.
Brazil 3-0 FT
Do you believe it?! The U.S. have advanced!
And Bradley's job is safe until 2020.
Those criticized subs look pretty good now.
Ha! Wasn't me criticizing! ;)
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