3 Positives From Loss To Brazil

The 4-1 scoreline of last weeks loss to Brazil may have been a little bit lopsided but that doesn't mean there weren't any positives to take from it add we head into todays match against Canada.  Let's take a look at the 3 of the best things that came out of the match.

Bradley continues to star - Coming on the heels of a solid season in Italy, Michael Bradley has continued his inspired play in the center of the park for the U.S. this summer.  The most notable improvement has come in his decision making in the final third.  Bradley has always been a hard tackler with a good work rate but he's now a more complete box-to-box player capable of unlocking the defense with an incisive pass.  The only question now is where in the midfield should Bradley be playing?  I feel like he should be a classic center mid who's expected to defend and contribute in the attack like a Patrick Viera or a Yaya Toure.  Bradley's position in todays match should be a sign of where he's going to be stationed during the World Cup cycle.

Gomez is a lock - Jozy Altidore is the national teams best forward and for too long he's been the only viable option up to, even when he's been struggling.  Gomez has been a beast in Mexico for the last few seasons and his goal scoring for Santos Laguna this year brought him back into the fold.  After his performance on Wednesday Gomez should expect to be a part of the national team setup for the foreseeable future.  He's a hard working forward with a knack for scoring goals which just happens to be something that the U.S. has struggled with under Klinsmann.  Gomez played so well that Klinsmann now has the option of playing two out-and-out strikers with confidence for the first time in his tenure.

Fabian Johnson excels again - Just as Bradley is using his excellent season at Chievo to boost his pay for the Nats, Fabian Johnson is continuing the strong play he showed at Hoffenhiem this season during this current run.  In fact, he's played so well that many people are already starting to forget the whole Timmy Chandler incident.  Maybe Johnson's play was the real reason Chandler turned down the call?  Either way you look at it Johnson had provided the type of two-way pay that has often been an issue for the American's.  When you combine Johnson's play with Cherundolo's slight dip in form (age?) it's beginning to look like the left fullback spot that has been an issue for American teams for as long as I can remember has actually become one of the strengths.

Checkout tonights match to see if these trends continue or if any new ones pop up and check back here for my post match thoughts.

3 Reasons Why Brazil Won 4-1

The United States National Team may be licking their wounds a bit today after falling to Brazil 4-1 last night in Landover in front of over 67,000 people but there were some positives to take from the game.  I'm just not going to discuss them today.  Instead I'm going to focus on the main reasons why Brazil was able to beat the U.S. by such a gaudy scoreline.  Let's look at the three reasons why the U.S. lost the other night.

Poor Defending - Onyewu had an absolute stinker, Bocanegra looked slow and uncomfortable on the ball, Cherundolo was run ragged by byNeymar, the midfield didn't do enough to disrupt the flow of the game and Howard didn't come up with any of his signature ridiculous saves (although one was pretty good).  Only Fabian Johnson acquitted himself well in a match that officially cemented him as the left back for the foreseeable future.  Against the top teams in the world this group is going to have to play at a high level for the U.S. to win and that just didn't happen on Wednesday night. 

Finishing - Brazil dominated this match but they really only had 6 clear-cut scoring opportunities and they buried 4 of them in the back of the net.  The U.S. had, by my count, 8 such opportunities and only managed 1 goal.  Some of those misses were great saves by the Brazilian keeper while others such as Dempsey's failed sitter about a yard off the goal should have been buried.  Brazil was clinical in front of the goal and that was why the final score was not completely indicative of the game itself.  Once again, when going up against a ram like Brazil you have to take advantage of the scoring opportunities you get if you want yo win.  The U.S. did not.

Still Tinkering - Brazil may have had a different squad on the pitch than you'll see during next summers Confederations Cup but the system and roles are clearly defined.  Klinsmann has yet to settle on a formation and is still giving players a chance to solidify their spot on the roster. That means that there is a constant shuffling of players, positions and roles at this point and time.  That should slow down a little as Klinsmann gets more comfortable with the team and with World Cup qualifying right around the corner but the lack of cohesion, especially in defense, was apparent.  Think about who on the team is a clear starter at a single position.  Howard in goal, Johnson, Bocanegra and Cherundolo in the back (although two of them looked out-classed against Brazil), Bradley at center mid and Altidore up top.  Donovan and Dempsey are starters but their positions aren't completely settled and players like Jones, Edu and Onyewu seem likely to start but they aren't locked in yet.  This shuffling is the reason why help defense was an issue and why the offense took such a long time to click.

Despite all these issues there were panty of positives to take from the match as well.  I'll be back this weekend with those thoughts and more.

The U.S. Can Beat Brazil Tonight

On Saturday, the United States National Team put together their most complete performance of the Jurgen Klinsmann era with a 5-1 thrashing of an over-matched Scotland squad.  Today they face an entirely different animal in Brazil while looking to continue the develop the attacking, high-pressure style that overwhelmed the Scots.  Although, whether the U.S. uses the same aggressive approach against Brazil or will Klinsmann adjust the game plan will be the biggest question heading into the match.

Odds are we will see the U.S. fall into a slightly more defensive posture to counter Brazil's ability to control the ball and pick apart teams that spread themselves out too much.  That being said, Klinsmann has spent his entire tenure at the helm trying to implement an offensive style built on possession and pressuring the ball so I don't see him pulling the team into a defensive shell either.  I expect to see a team looking to defend as a team without opening dangerous passing lanes and attempt to control the possession battle as much as possible in an effort to keep Brazil's talented attackers at bay.  Based on the latest results under Klinsmann the U.S. team will be a confident bunch and this young Brazil team could be the prefect opponent to make another statement against.

This match could actually be the most important of the Klinsmann era up to this point.  It's only a friendly but after beating Italy on Italian soil and dominating a European team with a strong EPL presence this could be the type of game that could provide a clear indicator of where the new look Yanks stand.  A victory will boost the profile of this squad and surely erase any doubts about Klinsmann's ability as a manager.  A tie could have a similar effect as a win depending on how the U.S. plays but would be generally positive regardless.  The problems could arise if the U.S. comes out flat and gets overwhelmed which us always the fear when you are playing a world power such as Brazil.

I just don't see that happening though.  Even with Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore either limited or scratched all together do to fitness concerns, this might be the strongest and most confident American team I've seen since they nearly knocked off Brazil in the 2009 Confederations Cup final.  This team won't be run over.  Not with Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu clogging the middle and all playing great box-to-box soccer and not with Landon Donovan and Jose Torres looking do strong with the ball at their feet.  Brazil will have a hard time getting through that midfield and when they turn the ball over those players are more than capable of putting the Brazilian defense on their heels quickly. 

Remember, this isn't the counter-attacking team that they were under Bob Bradley.  This is an extremely confident side looking to take a big step forward on the world stage while building momentum for their World Cup qualifying campaign.  This is the first time I wouldn't be totally surprised to see the United States topple mighty Brazil.  Tune in to ESPN2 at 7:50 tonight to see what happens.

Timmy Chandler Should Be Dumped Now

Maybe it's a knee-jerk reaction (I happen to like knee-jerk reactions) but I think that it is time for Jurgen Klinsmann to officially take Timmy Chandler's name out of the U.S. National Team's player pool.  He clearly does not want to be cap-tied to the United States but he sure is willing to use his call-ups to help boost his career, isn't he?  So like a bad girlfriend (or boyfriend) it's time to send Mr. Chandler on his merry way.  Here you go Germany, you can have him even if you don't really want him.

I don't know Timmy Chandler and I'm sure he's a perfectly nice young man but his actions the last two summers when called upon to take part in FIFA sanctioned events for the U.S. clearly indicate that he is holding out for a chance to play for Germany since he has dual citizenship.  The issue of dual citizenship is nothing new for the United States as players such as Giuseppe Rossi have spurned the United States while others such as Jose Torres, Jermaine Jones (received playing time for Germany), Danny Williams, Fabian Johnson, Luis Castillo (actually suited up for Mexico prior to playing for the U.S.), Joe Corona and Alfredo Morales, just to name a few, have all chosen to suit up for the stars and stripes.

It may seem hypocritical of me to take issue with Timmy Chandler when the number of players choosing the United States far outweighs those who didn't but the manner in which Chandler has made his choice that rubs me the wrong way.  He is currently a first-choice left back in Jurgen Klinsmann's lineup and has taking every call-up that would not cap-tie him to the U.S.  Castillo and Jones made the switch after falling out of favor with Mexico and Germany, respectively, making their decisions to switch national teams reasonable and probably acceptable on some level to fans of both sides.  Chandler is clearly holding out for a Germany call while taking every advantage of his non-binding opportunities to play under Klinsmann.

Maybe I'm wrong but I just find it hard to believe that someone in their early twenties would pass up the chance to lock down a spot on a World Cup bound team to get some additional rest two years in a row.  I guess I can understand his desire to play for a team that has a chance to win a World Cup but chances are he never gets a legitimate chance on the German side.  He's a good player but I just don't see him being good enough to make to be one of the best 18 players in all of Germany.  I just don't.

The bottom line is that Chandler isn't willing to commit to the United States so it's now time to cut ties with Chandler and start taking a good hard look at some of the other promising young backs that are coming through the ranks.  It was nice knowing you Timmy now get out and stay out.

USA vs Mexico Gold Cup 2011 Preview

Tonight marks another battle between the two kings of CONCACAF, USA and Mexico.  The two teams are coming into the match going in seemingly different directions with the USA struggling and Mexico riding the hot hand of El Chicharito Javier Hernandez into the finals.  But if history is any indication then the match should be a classic, regardless of current form, when these two fierce rivals take to the pitch.

So who wins tonight's match and rides into the Confederations Cup in 2013?  All signs point to a Mexican victory but the Mexicans haven't beaten a full strength US squad on American soil in quite some time and they'll struggle to break down the Americans tonight as well.  That being said, the US has struggled mightily to put forth a consistent attack during this tournament and they may struggle to pressure the Mexican backline when they have the ball.

For the US to win Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones will need to control the middle of the field and currently disrupt Mexico's controlled possession game.  Counter attacking will be crucial for the Americans and Juan Agudelo and Clint Dempsey must hold onto the ball to give the US defense time to regroup.

While I believe the US will win this game in my heart, the blogger in me is going to predict a 2-1 victory for Mexico.  Alright forget that, I'm going with a 3-1 USA win.  Suck it.

USA vs Mexico World Cup 2002 Highlights

I thought you might want to revisit the biggest win the U.S. has ever scored against Mexico in preparation for the Gold Cup Final match tomorrow.  Absolutely brilliant first goal by the USA.  More highlights to come.

One Of My Favorite Goals Of All-Time

This goal is absolutely nuts.  The first few angles look like a very well struck freekick but wait until they show the final angle.  That shit is bonkers.  How is it possible to bend a soccer ball like that?

Just thought I'd share.

Jermaine Jones Finally Lives Up To The Hype

When Jermaine Jones switched his allegiance from Germany to the United States fans of the Red, White and Blue started to dream of the possibilities that his addition to the squad would bring.  Unfortunately, injuries delayed his arrival and forced him to miss the World Cup last summer but during this summer's Gold Cup we are getting our first real chance to see him perform.  The results, to date, have been a mixed bag but his performance against Guadalupe could be a sign of things to come.

Paired with Michael Bradley in the middle of the park, Jones played his best game for the Stars and Stripes.  By sitting deep in the midfield with Bradley playing mostly in front of him, Jones was able to receive the ball from the back and move forward with precision and accuracy.  Being set back also allowed him to use his speed and power to either cut out Guadalupe's counter-attacks or simply dispossess his opponents as they pushed forward.

Guadalupe is no powerhouse but the ability of the Americans to move the ball around with ease had more to do with Jones' comfort level on the pitch than it did with the opponents lack of quality.  As competition gets tougher in the knockout rounds the tandem of Jones and Bradley, and how they combine, will be the determining factor in how far the U.S. goes.  The good news is that Jones has finally started to hit his stride and his ascension could be what secures the Nats a spot in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.

U.S.A. Needs To Find A Goal Scorer...Now

The U.S.A. continues to struggle in the 2011 Gold Cup and while nobody really appears to be on top of their games at the moment the biggest struggle seems to be up top.  Goal scoring has always been a point of contention for the U.S. squad but it seems like recently they have not been able to find a consistent goal scorer that is able to put pressure on the opposing backline.

Jozy Altidore may have scored a brilliant goal tonight against Guadalupe and added another tally in the opening match against Canada but those goals ended a pretty lengthy scoring drought for the young striker.  Juan Agudelo, Chris Wondolowski, Teal Bunbury, Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley and Hercules Gomez have all failed to pressure the goal consistently and have caused the spot next to Altidore to become a revolving door of sorts.  In fact, it is starting to look like the best option for the second forward spot may be the same person who last held down that spot, Charlie Davies.

Davies is still making his way back from the horrific car accident that he was involved in a few years back but he would have most likely been on the Gold Cup roster if he hadn't pulled his hamstring a few weeks back.  Davies has shown us this year with D.C. United that he is starting to round back into shape and has already recovered his knack for showing up in the right place at the right time to put the ball in the back of the net.

It may be too early to declare Davies the savior once again but after watching the U.S. struggle against Panama the other night one thing is clear.  The U.S.A. National Team needs a goal scoring savior and they need it now.