This World Cup run was an incredibly exciting time for American sports. Unfortunately, it came to what feels like a premature end. However, we should be nothing but proud of our boys for the accomplishments they did make and the excitement they did cause. Still, like any big loss, the one versus Ghana hurts. Here is my list of things that can happen to soften the blow:
1) England gets knocked out by Germany - It would be great for USA soccer if we could consider this Cup an overall win over England. After Mexico, England is probably the team we associate with the most and there is no denying that they have always looked down on us for our lack of a top soccer team. But we have already beaten them in group play. Admittedly the win came on overall goals scored, but if FIFA says it counts it counts. If they also lose in the Round of 16 (they are currently down 3-1), then we can safely say that USA soccer beat English soccer in 2010 and that is a huge success for us.
2) Ghana continues to do well - As Americans, we love underdogs. In fact, that is one of the reasons Team USA was SO popular during their run. Well now Ghana is the underdog we can get behind. Plus, it always takes some of the sting out of a loss if the team that beats you does well. It means that you can argue that your team is better than it's finish shows. Finally, in an African World Cup it would be awesome to see an African side to well. No continent has suffered more and this tournament is an opportunity for one billion African's to come together and be united behind a common goal.
3) An elite soccer team wins the Cup - I know I just said it would be good to see an underdog do well, but ultimately the results of the Cup will be easier to swallow if one of soccer's elites (Brazil, Argentina, Germany) wins the tournament. That way, our loss won't feel so much like a missed opportunity for something amazing. Everyone knows we could have beaten Uruaguay next round. But if we had faced Brazil in the Final Four or Argentina in the championship game, we would have been HUGE underdogs. If one of those teams does emerge victorious, the Cup won't feel so much a missed opportunity.
Ultimately, the pain from this loss will go away when Team USA wins the 2014 Cup (you heard it here first!). Be sure to vote in my poll to the right on whether you will continue to watch the World Cup now that we are eliminated.
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
How far can the US go?
After a brief hiatus post about the NBA, I am back to talking about soccer, America's new favorite sport. All I can say about the last USA game is WOW! Those last couple of minutes will go down as one of the greatest moments in American sports history. It wasn't quite Miracle on Ice epic, but it was epic none the loss. But the real question for all us new USA soccer fans is can we make it further? Or is our run of awesomeness doomed to end on Saturday? Here is how I see the American draw going from here on out:
Round of 16 - USA vs. Ghana - I really wish we didn't have to play Ghana so soon. I really wanted the USA to do well and an African team to do well. Obviously those ideas are now mutually exclusive. This game is very winnable for us. Ghana is a very good, very steady defensive team. We, on the other hand, are a good team that shows flashes of brilliance. If we can play this game with same energy we have during the second halves of our last two games, this win should be ours. Ghana is a better version of Algeria in that they play very solid defense and have trouble scoring. If we can catch lightning in a bottle and score just once, this win could be ours. But if we get lax on defense and let them score first, they could lock us down, put everyone behind the ball, and the game could be over. Prediction: USA over Ghana 1-0
Round of 8 (Elite Eight) - USA vs. Uruguay or South Korea - A quarterfinals match up between either one of these teams would have been a surprising pick to anyone before the Cup began. Both of these teams are very attack oriented so our game plan shouldn't be that different regardless of opponent. That being said, I think Uruguay will beat South Korea and advance. Based on their showing versus Mexico, I would say that they have a talent level similar to ours. I think we will advance for three reasons: 1) We have a better goalkeeper, which should be key in what could be a higher scoring game, 2) I think our team's underdog status and exciting play is going to win us a whole lot of fans, giving us the de-facto home field advantage, and 3) I really believe our cardiac kids can make it to soccer's Final Four. Prediction: USA over Uruguay 2-1
Round of 4 (Final Four) - USA vs. the Netherlands, Slovakia, Brazil, Spain, Switzerland, or Chile - While our opponent could be anyone of those teams above, our most likely opponent is Brazil. Unfortunately, this is where I think our amazing run will come to an end. Our team was up 2-0 on Brazil at halftime of the Confederations Cup final and many fans think we could have won that game had Michael Bradley been playing. But the second half of that game is the reason I don't think we can win. When America is playing at our very best, we are an elite team The problem is our very best is the same quality of play that Brazil shows all of the time. Even if we can start out hot, the Confederation's Cup final shows that Brazil has the ability to do whatever it takes to win. Plus, Brazil negates our team's best advantage. Our keeper, Tim Howard, is one of the best goalies in the world. The problem is Brazil's keeper, Julio Cesar, is the best goalie in the world. That being said, if we can somehow come out super hot and post a goalie or two on Brazil, then maybe we can get them to press too hard and make some mistakes. Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen. Prediction: Brazil over USA 2-1
Third Place Game - USA vs. Germany, England, Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Chile, or Switzerland - Once again, our opponent could be any one of these teams but I am picking Chile. What an incredible exciting game this would be! Both teams would be really proud to be in this game and would definitely play as if it were the final. Chile is a non-stop, attack focused team. They would test our defense in a way that not even Brazil will. However, our attack isn't so bad itself. As the goal for versus Algeria showed, we can be especially good on the counter-attack. In the end, I think our superior goal keeping will be the difference here as well. Prediction: USA over Chile 3-2
Final - Brazil vs. Argentina - I might as well go ahead and pick this game really quickly. While I would love to see the USA make the final, a match-up between these two teams would make great soccer. There are so many ways to view this game. They are clearly the two best teams in South America, both now and historically. Brazil is the world's best team and Argentina has the world's best player (Lionel Messi). Brazil's manager, Dunga, is as steady as can be and Argentina's manager, Diego Maradona, is possibly the biggest loose cannon in this tournament, player or coach. In the end, I think the steady team will emerge victorious. Prediction: Brazil over Argentina 2-2 in PKs (Really that is just what I want to see, but think for a second about how awesome of a finish this would make)
How do you think Team USA will do the rest of the way? Can our boys make it to the Final Four or possibly even further? Leave a comment below and lets talk it out. Also, be sure to vote in the poll to the right.
Round of 16 - USA vs. Ghana - I really wish we didn't have to play Ghana so soon. I really wanted the USA to do well and an African team to do well. Obviously those ideas are now mutually exclusive. This game is very winnable for us. Ghana is a very good, very steady defensive team. We, on the other hand, are a good team that shows flashes of brilliance. If we can play this game with same energy we have during the second halves of our last two games, this win should be ours. Ghana is a better version of Algeria in that they play very solid defense and have trouble scoring. If we can catch lightning in a bottle and score just once, this win could be ours. But if we get lax on defense and let them score first, they could lock us down, put everyone behind the ball, and the game could be over. Prediction: USA over Ghana 1-0
Round of 8 (Elite Eight) - USA vs. Uruguay or South Korea - A quarterfinals match up between either one of these teams would have been a surprising pick to anyone before the Cup began. Both of these teams are very attack oriented so our game plan shouldn't be that different regardless of opponent. That being said, I think Uruguay will beat South Korea and advance. Based on their showing versus Mexico, I would say that they have a talent level similar to ours. I think we will advance for three reasons: 1) We have a better goalkeeper, which should be key in what could be a higher scoring game, 2) I think our team's underdog status and exciting play is going to win us a whole lot of fans, giving us the de-facto home field advantage, and 3) I really believe our cardiac kids can make it to soccer's Final Four. Prediction: USA over Uruguay 2-1
Round of 4 (Final Four) - USA vs. the Netherlands, Slovakia, Brazil, Spain, Switzerland, or Chile - While our opponent could be anyone of those teams above, our most likely opponent is Brazil. Unfortunately, this is where I think our amazing run will come to an end. Our team was up 2-0 on Brazil at halftime of the Confederations Cup final and many fans think we could have won that game had Michael Bradley been playing. But the second half of that game is the reason I don't think we can win. When America is playing at our very best, we are an elite team The problem is our very best is the same quality of play that Brazil shows all of the time. Even if we can start out hot, the Confederation's Cup final shows that Brazil has the ability to do whatever it takes to win. Plus, Brazil negates our team's best advantage. Our keeper, Tim Howard, is one of the best goalies in the world. The problem is Brazil's keeper, Julio Cesar, is the best goalie in the world. That being said, if we can somehow come out super hot and post a goalie or two on Brazil, then maybe we can get them to press too hard and make some mistakes. Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen. Prediction: Brazil over USA 2-1
Third Place Game - USA vs. Germany, England, Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Chile, or Switzerland - Once again, our opponent could be any one of these teams but I am picking Chile. What an incredible exciting game this would be! Both teams would be really proud to be in this game and would definitely play as if it were the final. Chile is a non-stop, attack focused team. They would test our defense in a way that not even Brazil will. However, our attack isn't so bad itself. As the goal for versus Algeria showed, we can be especially good on the counter-attack. In the end, I think our superior goal keeping will be the difference here as well. Prediction: USA over Chile 3-2
Final - Brazil vs. Argentina - I might as well go ahead and pick this game really quickly. While I would love to see the USA make the final, a match-up between these two teams would make great soccer. There are so many ways to view this game. They are clearly the two best teams in South America, both now and historically. Brazil is the world's best team and Argentina has the world's best player (Lionel Messi). Brazil's manager, Dunga, is as steady as can be and Argentina's manager, Diego Maradona, is possibly the biggest loose cannon in this tournament, player or coach. In the end, I think the steady team will emerge victorious. Prediction: Brazil over Argentina 2-2 in PKs (Really that is just what I want to see, but think for a second about how awesome of a finish this would make)
How do you think Team USA will do the rest of the way? Can our boys make it to the Final Four or possibly even further? Leave a comment below and lets talk it out. Also, be sure to vote in the poll to the right.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
A Great 24 Hours of Sports (and the bad officiating that went with it)
Thursday night and Friday morning were what being a sports fan is all about. Two huge games that were battled to the very end by teams that left everything they had on the court (or pitch). Since it came first, lets talk about the NBA Finals Game 7 first. I haven't written about this series at all, so let me go ahead and say I desperately wanted the Celtics to win. Not because I really like the Celtics, but because I just really don't like the Lakers. But regardless, this game was exactly what defensive basketball is all about. That is why it pained me as a sports fan to see the horrendous officiating in the 4th quarter. The Celtics couldn't help but foul the Lakers with the way the refs were calling the game. Towards the end there was a possession where Garnett "fouled" Gasol even though he had his hands tucked into his chest to avoid fouling at all costs. And this was far from an isolated incident. I'm not saying the Lakers didn't deserve the title, I'm just not happy with the way it happened. I've got a couple other observations from the game as well. Even though he played well, the Celtics did the smart thing by putting the ball is Artest's hands in the 4th quarter. If you watch him for any length of time, it becomes clear that he is not fundamentally good at the game of basketball. Yes, he is a great defender and very athletic, but when it comes to shooting, passing, and dribbling, Artest is a gamble every time he touches the ball. Also, even though he is an awful shooter, Rondo's 3-pointer at the very end of the game was absolutely incredible. He got the rebound about halfway between the basket and the 3-point line, dribbled out, and immediately turned around and drilled a huge shot without really squaring himself up. If he can ever develop a jump shot, he could entire the Lebron-Kobe-Wade level of superstardom
I was going to make this post all about the NBA Finals, but then I watched the USA soccer game today. That game serves as a perfect example of how our team operates. We always play to the level of our opponent. And we can only play well when no one believes in us. During the first half, when we were supposed to be doing well, our team was just short of terrible. Slovenia easily had the game in hand. But in the second half, with the game already out of reach, we came out and absolutely dominated. That was a second half for the ages. Donovan's goal was exactly the type of performance we need from our best player if we are going to be serious contenders. And Altidore's header to Bradley's foot for the second score was one of the prettiest goals I've seen since I started really watching soccer. And then there was the third goal. The goal that was going to cap off one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history. The goal that would have propelled us into the knockout rounds. The goal that got absolutely robbed from our boys. I totally agree with the referee that there was holding on that play (I really don't think play is the right term, so if someone know better, please let me know). And it was on Slovenia. Bob Bradley says he saw three separate US players being held by Slovenian players. I don't know enough about soccer to recognize that many, but I know what the Slovenian player was doing to Michael Bradley stopped just short of assault. And much like in football where holding happens on every block during every player, in soccer holding happens on every player during every set piece. The rule for the refs is you only make the call if the penalty is blatant. And there is no blatant USA holding on that play. Regardless of the fact that it should of been a win, we should still be proud of our team's comeback in the second half. We are still in a great position to advance and make it to the knockout rounds, where anything can happen. Go USA!
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