Posted by Creaven on March 4, 2010 under USMNT, United States | 
In six months, the United States-Holland friendly on March 3 in Amsterdam will be remembered by U.S. fans for one of two reasons:
1. People will vaguely remember Jonathan Bornstein throwing away any chance of a starting spot at the World Cup and the national team resurrection of DaMarcus Beasley.
Or.
2. People will vividly remember it as the match Stuart Holden’s 2010 World Cup ended before it began.
I really hope it’s No. 1. Not only do I like Holden, but I think he’s a critical player for the U.S. If it was up to me, he would be the starting right midfielder against England even if everyone is healthy. But that’s assuming Nigel de Jong didn’t snap his shin in half (see the previous blog post).
When it comes to the team’s performance, I thought it was a mostly positive 2-1 defeat. To the grades…
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Tags: Alejandro Bedoya, Alexi Lalas, Benny Feilhaber, Bob Bradley, Bob Ley, Carlos Bocanegra, Charlie Davies, Clarence Goodson, Clint Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley, Eddie Johnson, ESPN, Heath Pearce, Holland, Jay DeMerit, John Harkes, Jonathan Spector, José Francisco Torres, Jozy Altidore, JP Dellacamera, Landon Donovan, Maurice Edu, Nigel de Jong, Robbie Findley, Stuart Holden, Tim Howard, Wesley Sneijder
Posted by Creaven on June 21, 2009 under USMNT, United States, World |
“I could explain the scenario to you, on how the United States could make into the semifinals, but we would be on television longer than Jerry Lewis on Labor Day.”
A pretty weak joke by ESPN’s Recce Davis before the U.S.’s Confederations Cup match against Egypt Sunday. In reality, it wasn’t too complicated. The U.S. and Brazil needed to win 3-0. But I get what Davis was saying: it was mathematically possible for the U.S. to get into the semifinals, but highly improbable.
Two hours later, what seemed not just improbable but impossible had happened. A team that hadn’t scored a goal in the run of play in four matches scored three as the U.S. shocked Egypt, 3-0. Brazil scored three times on what has historically been the best defensive team in the world, beating the Italians 3-0 (when was the last time Italy lost by three goals?).
The Confederations Cup: Where amazing beyond comprehension happens.
To the grades…
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Tags: Alexi Lalas, Bob Bradley, Brad Guzan, Brazil, Charlie Davies, Clint Dempsey, Confederations Cup, Egypt, ESPN, Italy, Jay DeMerit, John Harkes, Jonathan Bornstien, Jonathan Spector, Jozy Altidore, JP Dellacamera, Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Oguchi Onyewu, Recce Davis, Ricardo Clark, United States
Posted by Creaven on June 15, 2009 under USMNT, United States, World |
Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press
“Yikes” is what I said when I saw Ricardo Clark throw his legs at Gennaro Guttuso.
“Awwwww,” is what I said when I saw the red card above Clark’s head.
I talked myself into the United States getting a draw against Italy (maybe even winning) but all my hope burst out of me when Clark was ejected in the 32nd minute. Donovan’s penalty did make me think,”well, you never know,” but it was impossible to ignore reality.
The top tactician in the world, up a man, with world-class players was going into halftime to figure out a strategy to break down a backline of Spector, DeMerit, Onyewu and Bornstien. There was no way the U.S. was going to hold on and they didn’t. In 45 minutes, 1-0 U.S. turned into 3-1 Italy. To the grades….
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Tags: Alexi Lalas, Benny Feilhaber, Bob Bradley, Charlie Davies, Clint Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley, ESPN, Giuseppe Rossi, Italy, Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Bornstien, Jonathan Spector, Jozy Altidore, JP Dellacamera, Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Oguchi Onyewu, Ricardo Clark, Sacha Kljestan, Tim Howard, United States
Posted by Creaven on June 7, 2009 under USMNT, United States |
Nuccio DiNuzzo, Chicago Tribune
The United States men’s soccer team is going to the World Cup. No, the States haven’t mathematically qualified, but it’s nearly impossible to envision a scenario in which the U.S. isn’t in South Africa. The 2-1 victory over visiting Honduras wasn’t very impressive and even a little lucky, but with their backs against the wall the U.S. responded with its most important victory in years. Though it was a victory for the players, it was another embarrassing performance by ESPN. To the grades…
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Tags: Alexi Lalas, Benny Feilhaber, Bob Bradley, Carlos Bocanegra, Carlos Costly, Clint Dempsey, Conor Casey, DaMarcus Beasley, El Salvador, ESPN, Frankie Hejduk, Honduras, Jay Demirt, John Harkes, Jonathan Bornstein, Jonathan Spector, Jozy Altidore, JP Dellacamera, Kaka, Landon Donavan, Oguchi Onyewu, Pablo Mastoreni, Ricardo Clark, Steve Cherundolo, Tim Howard, United States, World Cup
Posted by Creaven on June 3, 2009 under USMNT, United States |
Ouch. It was literally painful watching the United States’ 3-0 defeat to Costa Rica Wednesday night. They never found a rhythm and after the first 15 minutes the match felt over (because it was). Adding insult to injury was listening to the nonsense of JP Dellacamera and John Harkes (especially Harkes) for two hours. Even the broadcasters didn’t show up.
Let’s go over the American players:
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Tags: Bob Bradley, Carlos Bocanegra, Charlie Davies, Clint Dempsey, Costa Rica, DaMarcus Beasley, Freddy Adu, John Harkes, José Francisco Torres, Jozy Altidore, JP Dellacamera, Landon Donovan, Marvell Wynne, Michael Bradley, Oguchi Oneywu, Pablo Mastroeni, Sacha Kljestan, Tim Howard, United States
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