Algeria, Ghana & Draw
> What was most impressive about the USA’s 1-0 victory over Algeria was that we never gave up. Even though we flubbed multiple chances to score, and had another good goal stolen from us, we played until the very end and it paid off. The sheer emotional release when Landon Donovan scored in the 90+1 minute is something I’ll never forget as long as I live. Overall I’d say we were the best side in Group C and that we deserved to sit atop the final table. For the record this is the first time since 1930, and only the second time overall, that the Yanks have won their group.
The most encouraging thing to me thus far has been how well our stars have played. Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley (MB), Clint Dempsey and Donovan are all in top form right now. This has made our offense very dangerous as we are creating loads of scoring chances every game. And being that we are not converting them at a high rate I think we are due to explode for a 3 or 4 goal game here soon.
Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit were huge in the back against the Desert Foxes. After a little bit of a shaky start they closed the middle down into an impenetrable brick wall. Tim Howard has also been good for us, albeit not great or fantastic since the England match. He’s made some good quality saves, but nothing miraculous...yet.
> We will have plenty of motivation for our second round tilt against Ghana (6/26 at 11:30 AM Pacific on ABC) since they knocked us out in the third game of the group stage in 2006. That particular match sticks in the USA’s craw because of what else, a referee’s decision. German ref Markus Merk made a horrendous call on Oguchi Onyewu in the box (it was a total dive), which led to a penalty kick for Ghana in first half injury time (45+2). Needless to say we lost 2-1 and were eliminated.
The Black Stars are a very fast side that likes to get up and down the pitch. Our defense will be tested for sure, but we will also be able to stay home more and keep our shape better since we won’t have to push forward constantly like we did against Algeria. Still our boys on the back line will have to mark up and communicate so they don’t get caught out of position on a quick counterattack. We will certainly have our chances to score as long as we are aggressive, but two things do worry me.
First, Ghana is the only African team left in the tournament, meaning all the “neutrals” will be rooting for them. I know the US contingent of fans is one of the biggest that traveled to South Africa but I don’t think their lungs can compete with the home continent factor. With only two off days between the end of the first and beginning of the second round my next concern is fatigue. We are generally considered to be one of the more fit sides around but we looked to be tiring considerably at the end of the last game (good thing Algeria was EXHAUSTED).
> After putting up a clean sheet against Les Fennecs (first time in 10 matches…sorry Guch) I’d say ¾ of our defense has to be set in stone; Boca and DeMerit in the middle with Steve Cherundolo on the right. The only question, as always with Team USA, is who plays left back? Jonathan Bornstein was ok and didn’t kill us last game, but he scares me big time against a side as quick as the Black Stars. I’d prefer Bob Bradley (BB) started DaMarcus Beasley instead. While Beas really isn’t a “true” defender he is faster and more dangerous going forward than Bornstein is. Probably wishful thinking on my part here as I’m sure BB will give Jonathan the call.
Who should take the spot up top running with Jozy is still really unclear in my mind, even at this point of the tournament. Herculez Gomez looked good in the first half against Algeria but was supposedly “knackered” after 45 minutes. Edson Buddle also did well looking dangerous in his 26 minutes and Robbie Findley will be available to play once again. Gomez and Buddle are goal poachers of the highest order and Findley has some serious jets, but to me all three guys have the same problem, they don’t make the right play under pressure in tight spaces. So I’ll leave it to BB to pick between Herculez/Edson to start and I still prefer Robbie coming in as a late substitute.
The midfield is set in my mind with Maurice Edu solidifying his spot as the “other guy” along side MB, Dempsey and Donovan. If needed I’d continue to use Benny Feilhaber as the main sub and possibly consider Stuart Holden for that role as well.
> The soccer gods haven’t been kind to the Yanks on the field costing us two perfectly good goals. But as far as the draw goes, we have been very fortunate both in the group stage and now in the knockout round. Our quadrant of the tournament is set up so that we will not be huge underdogs no matter who we play.
SPI Rank
7. Uruguay
13. USA
17. South Korea
33. Ghana
What this means is that to win the Cup we potentially only have to win two games as massive underdogs. In my mind the semifinals are a real possibility at this point, and as proud as I currently am of our boys, I will be extremely disappointed if we don’t beat the Black Stars. If we are lucky enough to make it to the semis we will face one of…
SPI Rank
1. Brazil
4. Holland
9. Chile
49. Slovakia
…and we are good enough to beat any side on a given day!
The most encouraging thing to me thus far has been how well our stars have played. Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley (MB), Clint Dempsey and Donovan are all in top form right now. This has made our offense very dangerous as we are creating loads of scoring chances every game. And being that we are not converting them at a high rate I think we are due to explode for a 3 or 4 goal game here soon.
Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit were huge in the back against the Desert Foxes. After a little bit of a shaky start they closed the middle down into an impenetrable brick wall. Tim Howard has also been good for us, albeit not great or fantastic since the England match. He’s made some good quality saves, but nothing miraculous...yet.
> We will have plenty of motivation for our second round tilt against Ghana (6/26 at 11:30 AM Pacific on ABC) since they knocked us out in the third game of the group stage in 2006. That particular match sticks in the USA’s craw because of what else, a referee’s decision. German ref Markus Merk made a horrendous call on Oguchi Onyewu in the box (it was a total dive), which led to a penalty kick for Ghana in first half injury time (45+2). Needless to say we lost 2-1 and were eliminated.
The Black Stars are a very fast side that likes to get up and down the pitch. Our defense will be tested for sure, but we will also be able to stay home more and keep our shape better since we won’t have to push forward constantly like we did against Algeria. Still our boys on the back line will have to mark up and communicate so they don’t get caught out of position on a quick counterattack. We will certainly have our chances to score as long as we are aggressive, but two things do worry me.
First, Ghana is the only African team left in the tournament, meaning all the “neutrals” will be rooting for them. I know the US contingent of fans is one of the biggest that traveled to South Africa but I don’t think their lungs can compete with the home continent factor. With only two off days between the end of the first and beginning of the second round my next concern is fatigue. We are generally considered to be one of the more fit sides around but we looked to be tiring considerably at the end of the last game (good thing Algeria was EXHAUSTED).
> After putting up a clean sheet against Les Fennecs (first time in 10 matches…sorry Guch) I’d say ¾ of our defense has to be set in stone; Boca and DeMerit in the middle with Steve Cherundolo on the right. The only question, as always with Team USA, is who plays left back? Jonathan Bornstein was ok and didn’t kill us last game, but he scares me big time against a side as quick as the Black Stars. I’d prefer Bob Bradley (BB) started DaMarcus Beasley instead. While Beas really isn’t a “true” defender he is faster and more dangerous going forward than Bornstein is. Probably wishful thinking on my part here as I’m sure BB will give Jonathan the call.
Who should take the spot up top running with Jozy is still really unclear in my mind, even at this point of the tournament. Herculez Gomez looked good in the first half against Algeria but was supposedly “knackered” after 45 minutes. Edson Buddle also did well looking dangerous in his 26 minutes and Robbie Findley will be available to play once again. Gomez and Buddle are goal poachers of the highest order and Findley has some serious jets, but to me all three guys have the same problem, they don’t make the right play under pressure in tight spaces. So I’ll leave it to BB to pick between Herculez/Edson to start and I still prefer Robbie coming in as a late substitute.
The midfield is set in my mind with Maurice Edu solidifying his spot as the “other guy” along side MB, Dempsey and Donovan. If needed I’d continue to use Benny Feilhaber as the main sub and possibly consider Stuart Holden for that role as well.
> The soccer gods haven’t been kind to the Yanks on the field costing us two perfectly good goals. But as far as the draw goes, we have been very fortunate both in the group stage and now in the knockout round. Our quadrant of the tournament is set up so that we will not be huge underdogs no matter who we play.
SPI Rank
7. Uruguay
13. USA
17. South Korea
33. Ghana
What this means is that to win the Cup we potentially only have to win two games as massive underdogs. In my mind the semifinals are a real possibility at this point, and as proud as I currently am of our boys, I will be extremely disappointed if we don’t beat the Black Stars. If we are lucky enough to make it to the semis we will face one of…
SPI Rank
1. Brazil
4. Holland
9. Chile
49. Slovakia
…and we are good enough to beat any side on a given day!
posted by D$ at 1:32 PM
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