Oh the outrage! Or not...

So people seem pretty fired up about the USA not getting the bid to host the World Cup in 2022. Just a sampling...

Gulati's legacy

FIFA's integrity

Defying logic

On the last note, defying logic? Uh... this is FIFA people, the organization does not act with logic.

They are the rulers of global football and like kings and emperors down through the ages, they are corrupt, they act on a whim, they are self serving, and finally they often defy logic.

An old boss of mine often said "the definition of stupid is doing the same thing again and expecting a different result." Over and over again the press, soccer leadership, and fans express outrage at the decisions FIFA makes.

My question to everyone is "Why on earth did you expect anything different?"

USA - Poland

Watched the game last night on the DVR. Does the defense ever need work. Not sure what we are doing starting a guy who hasn't played a club game in a year next to a central midfielder who hasn't played defense since when? Neither am I.

The plus side was that Jermaine Jones looks like he will fit in extremely well. Good motor, great vision, nice touch. I can see how he occasionally gets into trouble with the cards at Schalke (see the aforementioned motor). All in all thought, very excited to see him in the mix going forward.

Looking very much forward to tonight's game and seeing some new blood (Shea and Lichaj). It will be interesting to see if Bradley goes with a different central defensive pair.

Where were you eight years ago?

I was in my near east side apartment in Madison, WI. The alarm sounded sometime after midnight, I dragged myself into the living room and turned on the TV.

I was joined within a few minutes by my wife (then girlfriend), then shortly by two of my Celtics teammates, Brandon and Dan. Both lived in the neighborhood and didn't have cable.

We sipped OJ and ate doughnuts while watching the USA defeat Mexico 2-0 in the quarterfinal of the 2002 World Cup. Goals from Brian McBride and Landon Donovan had us cheering and dancing through the night.

Today the USA is back in the quarterfinals. The opponent is different - Ghana. The menu will be different - brats, potato salad, and brownies with the OJ replaced by beer. The group will be a different mix - four sleepy adults replaced with parents, kids in tow.

The vibe will be the same, a good group of people drawn together by the beautiful game, ready to cheer on the red, white, and blue. Win or lose we will have a good time and be proud of the men wearing the crest of the USA.

This is just one of the reasons I love, love, love this game.

I was kissed by a sweaty Greek man and I liked it...

I watched the final group game today down at Plaka Taverna (a great little Greek place in downtown Madison that doubles as a greasy spoon) with my buddy Nick. We'd been down there just five days earlier with my wife and another friend to watch the USA storm back to tie Slovenia.

The place is small with two modest flat screens, but the atmosphere for watching is great. The fans watching mingle with casual diners who catch bits of the game when they stop in for their eggs and american fries.

Today's match was as intense of a game as I've experienced as a sports fan. Another disallowed goal, chance after chance gone begging, the news that England was leading Slovenia, Jonathan "defensive blunder waiting to happen" Bornstein starting. The tension was mounting. Texts from my wife (catching bits and pieces from her desk at work) included this gem, "I honestly think I may have a heart attack."

Then, finally the goal in the 91st minute, USA 1-0, the place goes crazy, high fives, hugs all around, and one big fat kiss on the cheek from proprietor Nico, who I've been chatting soccer with for more than a decade.

Never been so happy to be kissed by a man in my life, Katie Perry, eat your heart out.

Four years ago...

...the USA played for their World Cup lives against Ghana in the final group game. They fell 2-1 and exited the tournament with a single point.

Bruce Arena was out as coach and Bob Bradley, by all accounts the federation's second choice, was in.

Four years, eighteen qualifiers, two Gold Cups, a Confederations Cup, a Copa America, countless friendlies, and two World Cup group games later the team again plays for their World Cup lives in the final group game.

A few differences of course. Two points this time. A win guarantees advancement, no help needed. No players suspended due to red cards (though Findlay is out with two yellows). If results go the right way a tie can get them through. Even winning the group outright is in the cards.

The opponent is Algeria. My keys to the game:

1) Focus, focus, focus. The "stolen" goal is gone. Done. Can't get it back. The American media seemingly can't let it go. Bradley better have it wiped from his players' brains come tomorrow. As a former boss said "Worry about what you can control". Of particular worry to me is Jozy Altidore, whose penchant for interviews, Twitter, etc... has him (seemingly) focused on things off the pitch a bit too much, both at Hull and with the USA. If the team comes out still steaming about last Friday, Algeria will give them a figurative punch in the mouth, score a few early goals and stroll home.

2) Start Maurice Edu in the middle. More important than what to do with the forward position is making sure Edu is in from the start. It's not that Jose Francisco Torres or Ricardo Clark aren't capable players. It's the effect Edu has on Michael Bradley's game. Edu can play "box to box" allowing Bradley to do the same. Playing either of the other two forces Bradley to concentrate too much on either offense (paired with Clark) or defense (paired with Torres). With Edu in the game Bradley is free to play "his" game, transitioning up and down the field as the game flows.

3) Benny Feilhaber should come off the bench, even if Clint Dempsey starts at forward with Jozy Altidore. For whatever reason Feilhaber seems to shine in the substitute role more than as a starter. Maybe his ball control game comes good against tired legs, who I am to say?

4) NO EARLY GOALS. Enough has been said about this one in other places.

There you have it. Two thoughts on the "stolen" goal.

The silver lining

If the USA pulls out a win tomorrow then the "stolen" goal against Slovenia may just be the best thing that ever happened to the team from an exposure standpoint. Confused?

Well, nothing brings the sports fan in quite like a comeback. And certainly nothing brings in a patriotic American sports fan quite like the "world is out to get us" / "we was robbed!" mentality. If the third goal had counted there is no way the game makes the front page of the Times or gets played over and over and over again by ESPN and company.

The water cooler talk will only help some of the casual "every four years" soccer fans start tuning in more often for qualifiers and "lesser" tournaments leading into Brazil in 2014.

A win is crucial though, bow out again and you likely lose the momentum.

How quickly they forget...

The "stolen" goal certainly highlights one thing. Players, coaches, media, and fans all have very short memories. It was a year ago in the same country that the shoe was on the other foot. The USA led Brazil 2-0 at half time of the Confederations Cup final. Brazil scored within minutes of the restart and stormed back to tie the game at 2-2 (starting to sound familiar). Then Kaka struck the go-ahead goal to put Brazil in front. Only...

...the ref didn't call it a goal. Video replay showed the ball was at least a foot or two over the line. Even the most biased fan couldn't argue that it wasn't a terrible, terrible call. The Brazilians protested to little avail.

Of course, Brazil being Brazil, it didn't really matter as Lucio headed home the winner in the final minutes of the game and the comeback was complete.

So, for all the self-righteous indignation that has been floating around - yes, we got hosed, it was a horrible call, the goal should have counted.

That's life. Move on. Remember, sometimes the crappy calls go your way. Comfort yourself thinking about how the Irish got screwed worse than we did (who isn't loving the French debacle at this tournament?). Try and sleep tonight if you can (I know I won't be able to). Head out to the nearest gathering and scream yourselves hoarse tomorrow at 9:00 AM (CST, adjust accordingly).

USA v England - an opportunity missed?

Day 3 has come to a close with the Germans clobbering the Aussies 4-0. Not surprised really, they always seem to clobber someone the first game of the tourney.

I am still reflecting on yesterday's USA - England match. Maybe I'm just looking back through "homer" glasses, but the more I think about it, the more this seems like we missed a golden opportunity to punch England in the mouth and steal all 3 points.

England came out flying and took advantage of poor marking to go up 1-0 after only four minutes. The "superior" team then promptly took their foot off the pedal and set the cruise control. The problem was there were 86 minutes left in the match. The Americans slowly worked their way back into the match and even began to put a bit of pressure on the English defense. England never stepped it back up, didn't get Rooney involved until it was too late and generally failed to take back control of the game.

The goal was a gift of course, but really did we expect any different? Green joins a long line of English keepers who have made major gaffes in big situations, fumbling Clint Dempsey's shot over the line. Clint isn't complaining and his post match comments said it all: "They all count the same once they go in."Jozy Altidore had a glorious chance saved by Green and the post late on, though it can easily argued that England spurned more chances to win the game than the "Yanks" did.

The fact is overall England played poorly relative to there talent. If a team like the USA is going to beat them, it is on a day when they are not at there best. Not to take anything away from the USA performance, certainly not from the way they kept Rooney under wraps for better than 70 minutes. However, this was that opportunity and it wasn't seized. If Dempsey and his teammates had played their best game this would have been three points in the bag and a foot in the second round.

All is not lost of course. A point against the group favorites is never a bad thing and the team still controls its own destiny. Win the next two games and they advance.

Giuseppe Rossi? Not a traitor.

Italy announced its' World Cup squad today and to the surprise of many Italian-American striker Giuseppe Rossi was not included. This has delighted American soccer fans all over the message boards (I know, I really shouldn't waste my time). The comments are in the hundreds but let me summarize, edited for language, but essentially:

"Traitor! You got what you deserved."

People are pretty passionate about a decision made by someone else when he was 13 years old (ESPN did a recent feature on him - here). But even if you agree with them (and for the record, I don't), they need to work on their choice of words.

I fully realize I'm quibbling and being a bit of a, well, you know about this one. Anyway to think this one through we turn, where else but to the internet (specifically, dictionary.com)...

From Random House:

trai·tor   [trey-ter] –noun

1. a person who betrays another, a cause, or any trust.

2. a person who commits treason by betraying his or her country.

By both definitions a traitor is someone who "betrays".

be·tray   [bih-trey] –verb (used with object)

3. to disappoint the hopes or expectations of; be disloyal to: to betray one's friends.

Seven definitions not remotely appropriate have been omitted for length. The one that is in the ballpark is number three. Rossi definitely disappointed the hopes and expectations of American fans when he chose Italy over the USA. However....

The man didn't verbally commit to the USA, then back out for a better offer (follow college hoops recruiting anyone?). Rossi never, ever, ever did or said anything to engender those hopes among Americans. In fact, many of the "fans" screaming for his head didn't even know who he was when he made his decision almost a decade ago.

Is it really betrayal when the people you are "betraying" essentially manufactured their own hopes and expectations from incomplete and incorrect information? I think not, even if I can't offer a more appropriate word for them, partially because I can't be bothered to look for one.

A leisurely Memorial Day weekend

A few highlights from Memorial Day weekend...

Friday night I went out to help celebrate my friend Brandon's birthday. Unfortunately I had been under the weather and was reduced to raising a celebratory glass of ice water. Better in the long run though since I had a 30-minute drive home afterwards. Soccer did rear it's head of course as I was talking with another friend that evening about his 11-year old's team and soccer exploits.

The 11-year old was still playing with his local club this season, having turned down the chance to play with one of the bigger club's in Madison after making the cut at try-outs. He decided he wanted to play with his friends another year and think about trying out again the next time. Certainly the merits of small vs larger can be argued both ways but kudos to Mom and Dad for not pushing their son into something he didn't want just because it is "supposed" to be better/higher level/etc...

Saturday of course saw the USA come back to knock off Turkey 2-1. A much better performance by the Yanks and a game show by the Turkish, who were playing their third game in eight days. Bradley's charges were much sharper, the offensive flow in the second half was excellent, and the USA fans' collective mood has improved dramatically from Tuesday night.

Sunday saw a picnic lunch on the patio of a local brewery even with temps pushing the 90 degree mark. I also have a new favorite board game as we played a few rounds of Puerto Rico later that night. I had played one time before over the Christmas holiday when my brother and his wife were in town and am now officially hooked.

And then Monday came and (along with yard work) the Special One landed in Madrid. Jose Mourinho basically declared that he was going to take the job (even though it was not open), and Real Madrid, being who they are, obliged by bringing the biggest name in coaching to direct the biggest names in the game. I don't know a whole lot about much, but I do know one thing - this is going to be very, very fun to watch.

Final note - the contradictory headline of the day goes to Sky Sports with these two statements leading off an article:

Howard issues England warning

USA keeper not underestimating England ahead of World Cup

USA v Czech Republic

So I watched the game last night. Definitely a disappointing result overall tempered by a few positives. The most irritating thing to me though is all of the “oh well, the result doesn’t matter attitude” that was prevalent before the game even started and has continued into the post game analysis.

I actually felt like Lalas, Harkes, and company were justifying the performance before the game had even been played. Fringe players, individual performances more important than result, etc… Now, I get that this is a friendly and the result doesn’t count towards the World Cup. However any game, and I mean any game, that the United States plays is about the team. Sure, individual players have goals and things they need to show, but it just burns me that no one seemed to care that aside from the first 20-30 minutes of the game, the Czechs hammered us in a home game.

And leave off with the “fringe players”, B-squad nonsense. The Czechs were also missing almost all of their regular starters. And these guys are in the top 30 players in all of American soccer. The top tenth of a percent (random number as I have no idea how many adult soccer players are in the country). The crème de la crème. Do we really feel like it is ok if at numbers 12-30 on the depth chart we are outclassed? I guarantee they wouldn’t be in England.

Now, I’m not saying hit the panic button or anything. The talking heads are correct in that this is not the team that will be on the field when it counts. But for crying out loud have some pride. Don’t act like “it doesn’t matter” or “it was just the second string”.

We were trumpeting left and right last summer about our performance in the Confederations Cup and it was extremely irritating to read comments from other countries about how Spain didn’t take it seriously and it was “only” the Confederations Cup, not a major tournament. Now we want to take that stance?

I’m not advocating unrealistic expectations. We are a “high mid-major” country in the landscape of world soccer. For us to win the World Cup it will take a perfect storm similar to George Mason’s run to the Final Four a few years ago. And I’m not saying we have no business losing to the Czech’s last night.

But…it sucks that we lost, and it sucks how we lost. Don’t act like it doesn’t matter. It does matter and it’s insulting to the players out on the field to dismiss them out of hand like that. We should expect better from them, whether they are the second string or even the third string.

One last point on this, leading into 2006 the USA had a string of sub-par performances in the lead-up to the tournament including a 1-0 loss at home to Morocco(!). At the time we heard the same sort of comments from the talking heads and we all know how that tournament played out for the team.

Stepping off the soapbox and getting back to the game, here are a few of my high level observations.

Beasley – He looked sharp, was involved on both ends, and was drawing fouls like he did a few years back when he was in his best form. It appears his lack of consistent playing time with Rangers over the last few years hasn’t killed his chances of making an impact at the WC. Probably not a starter anymore but showed he deserves to go to South Africa.

Holden – Looked as good as he ever has in a USA uniform. He is fully recovered from the break he suffered against the Dutch. Stuart is positioning himself to get significant minutes in South Africa either off the bench or as a starter.

Gooch – Played 65 minutes and looked decent. Unfortunately decent isn’t going to cut it at the WC. He still has a few weeks to improve and two friendlies to show his stuff, but based on last night I don’t see how he gets the start on June 12th. Hopefully he can make the push because he is an integral part of the team and when healthy allows Bradley options with Bocanegra (read on).

Left Back – Oh man are we in trouble. Bornstein and Pearce have been “competing” for the left back spot for the last four years. And consistent with the results of that time, neither man made a strong case for himself last night. Our best bet at this point is either Bocanegra or Spector who would both could be used to better effect elsewhere.

The forwards – Ching seems recovered from his injury, contributing his usual game last night, so he will go. Gomez scored a goal and hustled. Buddle contributed to the first goal, earning the foul and helping to disrupt the keeper on the ensuing free kick. He also showed a lot of hustle and “want to”. Gomez offers the “super-sub” aspect which would be useful as neither of them will be starting barring injuries to others. Buddle offers the partnership with Donovan that has developed playing together in LA. Probably only one of these guys goes, your guess is as good as mine (which is Gomez incidentally).

Cheers, by the time you read this roster decisions will have been made and we’ll be down to the final 23.

Discipline Schmisipline

The USA's recent discipline history in major tournaments is pretty poor.

Confederations Cup 09: Three red cards in five games.

World Cup 06: Two red cards in three games.

Now USA fans get to add another name to the list of random card risks they need to worry about in South Africa this summer. Hull City forward and US international Jozy Altidore lost his cool and got ejected for a head butt in the team's 0-1 loss to Sunderland this weekend.

Dumb

Dumb

Dumb

Hopefully this is a "one off" and doesn't become a recurring problem.

Dynamite Dempsey

Clint Dempsey struck an unbelievable goal last night to cap a Fulham victory over one of the true giants of international club football, Juventus.

After two months out of action with a knee injury it was a superb way to announce his return. He'll get plenty of games in the run-in with Fulham still alive in two cup competitions and should be in top shape by June. Here's hoping that Davies and Onyewu also recover in time to play a part for the US in South Africa.

If you haven't seen the goal or just want to see it again, Ives has a video on his site.

This goal is just really, really sick. After receiving the ball he never looks at the goal or the keeper once, yet still manages to pick it out perfectly. Donovan may be the "best" player the US has ever produced, but Dempsey is certainly has the best combination of skill, tenacity, and sheer audaciousness.

Don't know much about Slovenia and Algeria?

Well, Franco Panzio over at "Soccer by Ives" is your man. He is tracking performances of the USA's World Cup opponents in leagues across Europe.

Algerians/Slovenians Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Netherlands 2-1 United States

Managed to get through the first half live and watched the rest about an hour later.

Disappointed but not unduly surprised. I’ll leave it to other sources to break down the game and just give you a few thoughts on a few players who likely improved or solidified their chances of making the final World Cup roster.

Jay DeMerit and Maurice Edu – both players for me showed why they were consistently a part of the national team prior to injuries last year.

Sconnie native DeMerit was solid throughout in central defense picking up right where he left off during his fine run last summer in the Confederations Cup and qualifying. Jay is one of the top three center backs right now in Bradley’s eyes.

Edu solidified the defense in the second half slipping in to the defensive midfield role. He consistently popped up in exactly the right spot to cut off Dutch passes and showed excellent poise on the ball and in distribution. I think as long as he stays healthy he has to be on the plane to South Africa as well.

DeMarcus Beasley – of course we know that he fell off the map last year following the Brazil debacle and the injury bug. Tonight he wasn’t brilliant or even consistent but he showed flashes of the talent he hasn’t brought to the team in a few years. I have a feeling that he may make the roster after all. Bradley knows exactly what he gets from Beasley and as long as he is healthy it may be a case of going with the devil you know.

A few quick hits...

Another example that the team goes as Donovan goes, if the best player on the squad is not involved they have a steep hill to climb to win games against top teams.

I wish Jonathan Bornstein didn’t have a tendency to make boneheaded plays in key situations.

Jozy Altidore had a few nice plays, the back heel was sweet, splitting the defenders for the final shot was slick – needs to be more consistent (I know Harkes, he’s young, blah, blah, blah).