Countdown to World Cup 2006

[Brendan]

so, from someone totally uninformed: what are the strengths/weaknesses of the u.s. squad? i'm assuming we're a pretty physical team, and, if that's true, does that imply that the officiating will help dictate the results?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

so, from someone totally uninformed: what are the strengths/weaknesses of the u.s. squad? i'm assuming we're a pretty physical team, and, if that's true, does that imply that the officiating will help dictate the results?

 

From someone less informed than others that post in this thread, I'd actually think from an offensive perspective we're more of a speed team. Beasley is crazy fast, I think every goal I've ever seen Donovan score involved him winning a footrace to a ball, and I believe Johnson is pretty quick as well. IIRC we're pretty physical in the back.

[sethuel1]

I really dont care much for soccer, until the World Cup begins, then I'll get up at 4 in the morning to watch the games if I have to. Hopefully we build on our strong showing at the last World Cup (I can't believe that was four years ago already).

 

i will say from the outset that if the US make it as far as they did in the last WC I will be surprised and pleased.

 

Our group is more difficult this time, and the odds of us going up against the Brazilians in the round of 16 if we get out of the group stage are high.

 

Brazil's attack makes me want to wet myself. Ronaldinho, Kaka, Adriano, Robinho. Ronaldo will probably not even be in the starting eleven. Cafu and Roberto Carlos, though aging, will probably be on the wings, but considering they'll have Kaka and Ronaldinho in front of them, their attacking responsibilities will be lessened. But then again, this is Brazil, so they'll probably go forward, too.

[sethuel1]

so, from someone totally uninformed: what are the strengths/weaknesses of the u.s. squad? i'm assuming we're a pretty physical team, and, if that's true, does that imply that the officiating will help dictate the results?

 

From someone less informed than others that post in this thread, I'd actually think from an offensive perspective we're more of a speed team. Beasley is crazy fast, I think every goal I've ever seen Donovan score involved him winning a footrace to a ball, and I believe Johnson is pretty quick as well. IIRC we're pretty physical in the back.

here's how the US has played for the last several years: We'll start a game mostly playing longballs to the head of Brian McBride up front, who will direct them down into the path of the onrushing support striker-types (Donovan and Beasley). Also we'll run Beasley down the flank and have him cross the ball a lot.

 

In midfield, we generally clog crap up. We haven't got the passers to have a very good midfield-distributed attack, unless Reyna's in great form. If Dempsey continues to improve, or performs as well on the big stage as he has in the lesser games he's played to this point, this will change.

 

Out wide we harrass and scrap. Frankie Hejduk is an excellent example of this.

 

In the middle of the defense we're big and tough. Oguchi Onyewu is one of the best young defenders in the world. By the end of the US-Mexico match in September, Jared Borghetti, Mexico's star striker, had completely given up.

 

In goal, we've got Kasey Keller, who almost always comes up with big saves, is very experienced, and is a steadying influence on the backline. Backing up is Tim Howard, who hasn't performed nearly as well since signing on with Manchester United a couple of years ago, but who has great talent. he won't beat out Keller though, and shouldn't.

[USSoccer]

so, from someone totally uninformed: what are the strengths/weaknesses of the u.s. squad? i'm assuming we're a pretty physical team, and, if that's true, does that imply that the officiating will help dictate the results?

 

Our prinicpal strengths are our outside mids and our goalkeeper. We're a fairly fast team, somewhat physical, and stable in the midfield. Reyna tends to at least control the pace of a game, although IMO he almost slows it down to the overall detriment of the team when the offense runs through him. Donovan is a skilled playmaker, and Beasley will cause major problems on the left side. We counter attack very well.

 

Our main weakness is finishing, and the lack of a true difference maker. We are one of the worst finishing sides in the World Cup-we lack that pure goal scorer that other teams have, and so offensively we tend to rely on the counter-attack too often. If a team gets a lead on the US we typically struggle to equalize, since the defense and mids sag back and clog the offensive third. Donovan in particular tends to choke in high pressure games, so he'll be a tremendous key. Also, if Eddie Johnson makes the roster and starts, it means Arena can use Donovan as a withdrawn forward and take full advantage of his ability to create chances for the forwards. If Donovan starts at forward, he wil HAVE to score in order for the US to advance.

 

Defensively we have one really strong defender who's improved in Onyewu, and the rest of the defense is somewhat suspect, IMO. The games against Poland and Germany will be very key in seeing that uit work together effectively.

[Brendan]

thanks to both of you, seth and us.

[shnsajax]

I am glad they went back to the old away jersey's ofr the WC.

 

http://us.st11.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/ussoccerstore_1885_251802

 

Of course got to get the Clockwork Oranje

 

http://www.soccer.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/300/119324.JPG

[USSoccer]

Rosters are set for the March 1st game vs Poland:

 

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard (Manchester United, England), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany)

 

Defenders: Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus, Germany), Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham, England), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96, Germany), Todd Dunivant (Los Angeles), Eddie Lewis (Leeds United, England), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium), Jonathan Spector (Charlton Athletic, England)

 

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Bobby Convey (Reading, England), Clint Dempsey (New England), Chris Klein (Kansas City), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City)

 

Forwards: Eddie Johnson (Kansas City), Brian McBride (Fulham, England), Taylor Twellman (New England), Josh Wolff (Kansas City)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What are the odds we see Howard for that Poland match?

[sethuel1]

What are the odds we see Howard for that Poland match?

 

Doubtful

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Bummer.

[USSoccer]

What are the odds we see Howard for that Poland match?

 

Doubtful

 

Yeah, barring injury Keller plays vs Poland and Germany.

 

I doubt Howard sees a single minute for the US unless Keller gets hurt, and even then Arena might turn to Hahnneman.

[USSoccer]

Freddy Adu comments from Bruce Arena:

 

One of the more interesting questions Arena will face during the World Cup buildup is that of the status of 16-year-old Freddy Adu, the D.C. United midfielder-forward who is a long shot to make the team.

 

On Monday, a German journalist asked the U.S. coach whether Adu will be going to the World Cup.

 

"I haven't talked to him. I don't know if he plans on going to the World Cup or not," Arena said half sarcastically and half jokingly.

 

"I don't know. Do you know any 16-year-old players playing in the World Cup this year? But the American team will probably have 14-, 15-, 16-year-old players with them because we're so weak," he said.

 

Then Arena got serious.

 

"It's not likely," he said. "Freddy's a very good player, but it's not likely. But you never know. It's not likely we're going to be carrying a 16-year-old. He's an exceptional player with a bright future."

 

Also, good info on tomorrow's game against Poland.

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=360184&root=us&cc=5901

 

I have to say, I will be dissapointed if the US doesn't come away with a wn here. They're playing a side they should beat, on at the least a neutral field in Germany. The US will actually have the best 3 players on the field tomorrow in Keller, Beasley and Donovan.

 

I call 2-0 US. Goals by Beasley and Lewis.BTW, the game is on at 2pm ET, on ESPN2.

[sethuel1]

I'm gonna have to get used to this "games during the day" thing. Haven't decided yet if I'm going to ignore the games and download them, and try and live without sports Internet, or whether I'll follow the games in real time and then download them and watch while already knowing what the outcome was.

[USSoccer]

I'm gonna have to get used to this "games during the day" thing. Haven't decided yet if I'm going to ignore the games and download them, and try and live without sports Internet, or whether I'll follow the games in real time and then download them and watch while already knowing what the outcome was.

 

That's a question I'm wrestling with as well. I think i'm going to have to either suffer through the day and watch them at night, unless i skip work for the WC games that are during the week.

 

That was the one sort of nice thing about WC 2002-the games were all on at times I was home, even if it meant no sleep.

 

tomorrow's game is getting dvr'd, though.

[brinoch]

I'm going to go with the TIVO route and avoid spoilers online -- at least for the USA games. The other games, I don't so much care to wait. It's fun to watch regardless, just to see the games. But for our boys I have a hard time watching if I know they've already lost.

[sethuel1]

I'm gonna have to get used to this "games during the day" thing. Haven't decided yet if I'm going to ignore the games and download them, and try and live without sports Internet, or whether I'll follow the games in real time and then download them and watch while already knowing what the outcome was.

 

That's a question I'm wrestling with as well. I think i'm going to have to either suffer through the day and watch them at night, unless i skip work for the WC games that are during the week.

 

That was the one sort of nice thing about WC 2002-the games were all on at times I was home, even if it meant no sleep.

 

tomorrow's game is getting dvr'd, though.

 

I had a fantastic time with WC 2002. i luckily wasn't working for the opening rounds, and for the later rounds I'd started my job but by that time I just had to get up at 5 AM to watch.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Grr, I forgot to Tivo the game. :x I saw the score on ESPN, if anyone has seen it, can you give a lil summary?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Italy straight up dominated Germany. I know Germany is struggling with their coach's situation, but perhaps Italy will still be quite potent without Totti.

[reggiemiller rules]

Grr, I forgot to Tivo the game. :x I saw the score on ESPN, if anyone has seen it, can you give a lil summary?

 

Nothing really happened in the first half, neither team really set the tempo. Poland probablly played a little better. In the second half the US defintley took it to them and finally got a goal from Dempsy on a rebound. Keller played the first half and made a few nice saves. Howard played the second but wasnt really tested at all.

[sethuel1]

Italy straight up dominated Germany. I know Germany is struggling with their coach's situation, but perhaps Italy will still be quite potent without Totti.

 

The young guns for Italy all seemed to be playing at their highest levels in a while. Pirlo, Gilardino, Toni and De Rossi all looked fantastic.

[USSoccer]

The US looked really out of sorts in the first half, very choppy and inconsistent. Part of that was probably rust, from having this be the first game with the Eurpoean players...

 

...but part of it was also that certain guys played like crap. Donovan and Beasley in particular weren't any good, and Eddie Johnson was useless.

 

In Donovan's case, he really needs a better defensive center mid behind him, otherwise he gets lost and doesn't attack offensively. Zavagnin might has well not have been out there, so it's hard to completely blame Landon for not doing anything. He was better in the 2nd half, but still not aggressive enough. Maybe Germany just brings out the worst in him as a player.

 

Not sure what was up with Beasley, he just wasn't that big of a factor. Didn't make his usual dangerous runs, and since the passing wasn't crisp at all, he didn't get involved very often.

 

And the more I watch Eddie Johnson play, the more I watch his body language, the more I hope he is not on the team. The guy has cancer/wasted talent written all over him. He pouted about bad balls, straight up yelled at Beasley or Cherundolo once, and when he did have chances, squandered them. He's either not game fit, or all the rumors about him being Clint Mathis 2006 are accurate. That said, there's as much chance of him being left off the roster as there is Brinoch and I being added on, so I hope Arena can make sure this guy is focused on a team goal.

 

That said, the 2nd half was a lot better. The US attacked, and really should have scored more than the 1 goal. Twellman played so-so in his first real test, but managed to create the opportunity for Dempsey to score, and Demspey was a holy terror for Poland the whole game. He and Cherundolo played the best out of everyone. Howard was only really tested a couple of times, and did well, and Keller was his usual self.

 

I was really impressed with Cherundolo, though. He took a dead ball from maybe 25 yards out and bent it around the wall, just wide in the 1st half.

 

Onyewu played strong, and so did Eddie Lewis at left back. Bocanegra took a stupid and unnecessary yellow for kicking a dead ball away. Bobby Convey actually looked useful after he came on in about the 65th minute-he looks like a good bet to be Beasley's backup on that side. He attacked very well all game.

 

Despite all those negatives, the US still managed to beat a World Cup side in Europe (albeit on neutral ground with a pro-US crowd). The US just doesn't usually win in Europe against good teams, so 1-0 is a good result. At the least, it builds confidence and shakes the notion that we cannot beat European teams in Europe. At most, it shows the depth the US has to win a game like this without Reyna, O'Brien, McBride (who didn't play at all, I guess he tweaked a groin), and without their 2 best players doing much.

[USSoccer]

Mexico also beat Ghana 1-0 in Frisco, TX. Not sure what that means, except that I know we can stomp Mexico anywhere but the Azteca, so that result is a little encouraging for us. Also, the Czechs drew on the road 2-2 at Turkey.

 

 

Also, in regards to the beatdown Italy put on Germany, part of that was playing Italy away, part of it was that Klinsmann can't coach, and part of it was that Germany isn't all that great. In 2002 they rode 2 hot hands (Ballack and Kahn) to the final, and should have lost to the US in the quarters.

 

That said, it might not be pleasant for the US in Dortmund in 3 weeks. You'll see a very motivated, angry team in front of a home crowd. The US will have a real test, that's for sure.

[shnsajax]

Germany also lost to England 5-1 before the last WC.

 

I read a pretty disturbing article on Johnson on espn.com not to long ago suggesting everything you just stated.

[sethuel1]

Evidently Beasley has been in bad form almost all season at PSV, so his performance yesterday wasn't much of a surprise to those that have seen him a lot this year.

 

Zavagnin is crappy.

 

Donovan needs to play in a more advanced role. he simply can't hold the ball in the midfield.

 

Dempsey drew a hell of a lot of attention and really powered his way through it. he looked pretty good.

 

The Gooch is a hammer in the back.