Bottom of the Fifth

US 2 – Brazil 3

The aftermath of the Confederations Cup final seems to have spawned an overall reaction of ‘They showed they can compete, they can build on this’ to the efforts of the US side. I’m not here to put too much of a damper on that sentiment, but in throwing the Fifth’s hat into the ring of the soccer blogosphere, I’m going to offer a much more tempered point of view.

I, of course, agree that they showed a lot of promise scoring 7 goals over their last three games - including four against 2 of the top five teams in the world – and it’s been a lack of exactly that type of offensive output that has plagued this squad up to this point. Additionally, the combo of DeMerit and Onyewu anchoring the back line seemed a steady, calming force for a defense that had given up more than its share of shaky goals of late. Finally, and I think most importantly, Landon Donovan rose to the occasion on the big stage in a way that he hasn’t since the 1-0 quarterfinal loss against Germany in Ulsan 7 years ago in the 2002 World Cup. If he continues his emergence, the national team has a centerpiece to their attack that has been lacking in recent memory.

That being said, this team is weakest in the most important layer, the midfield. Bradley seems to have found Donovan a permanent position as an attacking outside mid, but his choice to play Dempsey in a similar role on the opposite side is a little vexing, especially as Brazil launched assault after second half assault along the sidelines with Kaka and Robinho. The not-so-defensively-inclined Dempsey and Donovan were exposed in last 45 minutes of Sunday’s game, and it was curious that nothing was done about it. Dempsey scored goals in both the Egypt and Spain games from as a striker, I simply don’t understand why he can’t play there full time. Kaka abused him time and again along the left side and, while Spector held his own admirably against the Brazilian for most of the match, the worn down right back was eventually bested as Kaka’s cross was the crucial play leading to the tying goal.

In fact, I felt that tying goal really underscored what is plaguing this team right now. Taken independently, isolated from the rest of the game, the goal was a result of a blown one-on-one as Kaka beat Spector, followed by poor (is poor strong enough?) marking of not one but three Brazilian attackers at the six yard box, which clearly falls on the shoulders of DeMerit and Onyewu. It seemed to be a complete breakdown of the back line. But, when looking at it from the bigger picture of that entire half, as well as most of the Spain game, a more keen observer would put such a goal on the midfielders. I’ve already said my piece on defensive prowess of the outside midfielders, but I should also point out that DeMerit and Onyewu were out of position largely because they were continually forced to press up and take away the area between the top of the box and about 25 yards out. This space, usually the charge of the center mids was left largely unprotected by Clark and Feilhaber (and by Bradley in the Spain game), who were continually chasing the game of the far more talented Brazilian mid field. I don’t see the squad day in and day out, so I don’t know who Coach Bradley has to work with, but without a stronger presence in the center of the field, our defense will continue to face the type of pressure that they eventually wilted against in the second half on Sunday. I don’t have all of the statistics from the last two games handy, but I do know that Spain had 16 corner kicks to our 3 (16 to 3!!!), to go along with a 29-9 advantage in shots. Similarly, Brazil had 10 corners to our 5, and possessed the ball for 60% of the match, including long stretches in their attacking third. They also outshot the US 31 to 9. The story of possession and sustained offensive pressure begins and ends with the midfielders, and ours need to improve, simple as that.

Again, I agree that there are many positive to be taken from teams performance in the final 3 games of the tournament, but the fact remains that teams who count themselves among the upper echelon do not cede two goal leads in 45 minutes. Call me selfish, but I want to see the US counted among that echelon someday and they have a ways to go before that becomes a reality.

US 2 – Spain 0 (I wrote this last Thursday, but forgot to post it)

Lots of rhetoric about how last Wednesday’s win over Spain was as big for the nation as 1980’s Miracle on Ice. Please. Give me a break. Last I checked, every player on the field was a professional and we aren’t currently locked in a nuclear arms race with the Spanish. Further significance was added to that game by the off ice climate. I’m not saying this recent win by the soccer squad wasn’t huge…it was. But it’s ok for us to acknowledge the importance of a victory without comparing it to what was arguably the biggest upset in sports history and what doubled as an allegory for the triumph of American Capitalistic Individualism over the Soviet Machine. I know in this day and age of 24/7 sports coverage every win has to be the most important ever, every new sports villain is the most evil ever, and every promising prospect is the next greatest thing, but resorting to this type of hyperbole not only diminishes the importance of past events, it undermines whatever point you’re trying to make about the present.

On Wednesday, the US beat the #1 team in the world. Let that soak in for a second and don’t let it be corrupted a jubilant Al Michaels asking about your belief in the divine. It’s an incredible thing in and of itself. Yes, Spain didn’t play their best game. Yes, most soccer fans will tell you that they can’t remember another Confederations Cup champion and that this tournament doesn’t really matter. But the US just beat a squad that hadn’t been beaten in 15 straight games. They did it off of American soil. This was a great win, period. It isn’t the World Cup, and a big win like this won’t ever reach Miracle on Ice proportions until it happens on the biggest stage, but let’s give the boys their due. I only hope they can continue it against Brazil (probably, unless the home team pulls an upset) on Sunday.

And yes, I stand on a soapbox to make myself feel taller.

…

Thought I’d try to comment on each of the US squad that saw significant minutes in the last three games listed by position from goalie to forward.

Tim Howard – Save after save, again and again. Shots came screaming in near and far and Howard stopped nearly all of them. If we’re being honest he’s the only reason the US makes it to the game against Brazil. There aren’t many goalies as athletic as Howard. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that Time Howard is the most athletic goalie in history… that has Tourrette’s.

Carlos Bocanegra – The captain wasn’t in play against Egypt, but was fairly solid in his time against Spain and Brazil. My only real complaint was that he seems a bit on the slow side, though he’s able to make up for this with a high soccer IQ.

Jay DeMerit – I have to admit that I havne’t followed the team enough to know who this guy was, but I like the full arm tat, and I like that he stays home in the middle of the backfield. He got a bit unlucky when Brazil’s first goal slipped between his legs and he screened howard, and he seemed a bit out of position through some of the second half pressure, but I felt he and Onyewu were really left on an island by their midfield.

Jonathan Spector – Another guy who surprised me. He’s really what you’re looking for in an outside back. He has decent size and ok speed, he’s steady marking a runner down the wing with or without the ball and he can contribute offensively as exemplified by smart balls played out of the back and beautiful crosses on assists to Dempsey against Egypt and then Brazil.

Oguchi Onyewu – Gooch is the rock the defense rests on getting to every ball that comes near him. He must have cleared 15 or 20 dangerous crosses out of the box by himself in the last two games. He still seems to be out of position from time to time, but he puts himself out there all game, every game. The man is a force with which to be reckoned.

Benny Feilhaber – I wanted to make sure and list him, since he was a key substitution in the Spain game and started for the red-carded Bradley against Brazil. I thought he had a little bit of good and a little bit of bad. His stints as a late sub on the outside of the midfield against Egypt and Spain had me thinking quite highly of him, but he really seemed out of place in the center against Brazil. Perhaps he’d be best on the outside of the midfield when Bradley reads this column and pushes Dempsey up front full time.

Michael Bradley – His energy and presence was sorely missed in the center of the field on Sunday. I share the sentiment of most that he didn’t deserve a red for his cleats up challenge against Spain, but the referees had been harsh on the US all tournament and he needs to recognize that before doing something to foolish. That being said, Bradley is the quintessential ‘glue guy’. He never leaves an ounce of effort unspent, gets timely goals, and frustrates the opposition’s midfielders.

Ricardo Clark – He always goes fairly unnoticed in these games. His game isn’t flashy, and he’s mostly charged with holding down the center of the field defensively while Bradley runs rampant. There’s something to be said for playing an understated, underappreciated game, but you don’t win many games if the announcers aren’t saying the name of your center midfielder much. Clark rarely seems to join the attack in any significant way, and his tendency to hang back and react won’t work against most attacking midfields.

Clint Dempsey – I don’t know what to say here. He seems to be having a love affair with most American soccer fans, and after his spectacular header against Egypt, it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t belong on the field. And that was before the clincher against Spain and the first strike against Brazil. My beef with Clint has been, and will likely continue to be, his lack of responsibility in the other half of the field. As a midfielder, you are expected to cover the 100 meters. The problem isn’t that he can’t play defense, it’s that he shows far less interest in front of his own goal than he does inside the opponent’s 18. Take the final goal Sunday as evidence, if that corner is coming in giving Clint a chance to head it home for a goal, you’d better believe he’s sacrificing himself to get a piece of it. I love him for that. As it was, however, the play was happening in the wrong half of the field and gave a half hearted effort, watching the ball sail over his head as ZZZ headed it home for the winning tally. I hate him for that. A few moments of brilliance do not excuse 80 minutes of dogging it if you are a midfielder. The man should play striker, his mentality is better suited for it.

Landon Donovan – Donovan was, game to game, the best non-goalie on the field for the US. Like I said above, we can only hope he’s finally put it all together. If he truly has, I like our chances to score on nearly anyone, which means we’ll be in every game. Like Dempsey, however, I’d like to see a bit more effort in the defensive zone.

Conor Casey – It’s never a good sign when you’re friend texts you to ask how Fred Durst managed to make the US national team. I don’t understand why this guy sees any playing time. He doesn’t have top end speed, nor does he possess the ball particularly calmly. And he certainly doesn’t chase down defenders with abandon, despite the fact that he only plays 10 minutes a game max. He’s more like that slow, fat, old guy you put at striker because he’s too much of a liability anywhere else. I’m going to go ahead and give him the LVP trophy for the Confederations Cup.

Charlie Davies – Tough to criticize a kid who plays as hard as Davies. He scored a great hustle goal against Egypt and played a beautiful ball across the top of the box to Donovan on the second goal against Brazil. He still largely lacks touch and, right now, has zero chance of beating anyone off the dribble. He’s incredibly fast, but fast isn’t good enough on it’s own at this level. You need a forward who can either hold the ball up, or can beat guys off the dribble, and Davies can do neither. He does have immense potential, however, and that speed of his suits the counter attacking style that Coach Bradley seems to be relying on.

Jozy Altidore – I think he’s one of the most promising young players for the US. He’s a physical specimen, and he’s only 19. Like Davies, he lacks many of the attributes you look for in a true striker, but he has room yet to mature and develop many of those skills. I think some combination of two of Altidore, Dempsey, and Brian Ching (if healthy), with the third from that group and Davies available off the bench represents our best attacking option.