Brazil vs. USA

I sat down and watched the complate game this morning rather than just the second half as originally planned.

You would have to be incredibly mean spirited not to acknowledge a string of positives in the US’s win over Brazil. There were precious few weak spots and in cases where isolated mistakes were made they were more than made up for in renewed diligence and concentration. 

Seitz made some critical saves and at the group stage looks to be one of the best keepers on show. Centre-back Ofori Sarkdorie started the first two games on the bench and didn’t get his chance until Julian Valentin had to leave thirty minutes into the game against Poland. Sarkdorie has been very impressive as he goes about his job in an unspectacular but effective way.

The two wide players – Sal Zizzo and Robbie Rogers – were excellent particularly in the first half when they managed to get the ball and make deep runs into the Brazilian half of the field. The US had already settled into the game when Jozy Altidore scored his first goal after Freddy Adu made a fine tackle 35 yards from the Brazil goal.

The Brazilian defense was caught napping as the ball was turned over and the Red Bulls striker drilled the ball home from 20 yards. Adu was again the architect of the second goal giving sports shows around the globe a highlight moment with his juggle and turn to take two Brazilian defenders out of the play.

Altidore was Jozy-on-the-spot when Adu’s shot deflected to him seven yards out and left unmarked. It took Altidore’s tally to three for the tournament and he joins team mates Szetela and Adu and Argentina’s Sergio Aguero at the top of the goal scorer’s chart.

With his build and strength I’m betting that Altidore has some European scout’s drooling at his potential.

So the USA qualifies as group winner with two wins and a draw – next opponent still unknown but it will be a third place side. I will be in Toronto to see the game next week.

Poland finishes second with four points and a rather bizarre – although it means nothing – of minus 4. Poland’s prize is a game against Argentina which I will also be attending.

Brazil settles for third place in the group and although they are not certain to qualify it looks extremely likely that will survive to fight another day. Chile is a possible opponent in the last sixteen. If Luiz Adriano had scored with a header from what was virtually point blank range with only seconds left he would have guaranteed that Brazil moved on…….it would, however, have meant a Argentina vs. Brazil showdown on Thursday.

Discipline

From FIFA.com – “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has suspended the Brazilian player David Marinho (#4) for 4 matches and fined him CHF 5,000 as a result of an incident during the FIFA U-20 World Cup match between Brazil and Korea Republic on 3 July 2007 in Montreal.

Video evidence of the match shows that in the 65th minute, David Marinho elbowed the Korea Republic player Shin Young Rok (#18), who was admitted to the hospital as a result of the incident.

According to art. 84 a) FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), the FIFA Disciplinary Committee is responsible for sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials’ attention.

Any suspensions the player cannot serve during the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 will be carried over to the team’s subsequent official matches in accordance with art. 38 par. 2 let. b FDC.”

What Canada  needs to do to defintetly move on.

Must win and…
Hope Scotland and Costa Rica draw or…..
Zambia and Jordan don’t win.

Otherwise it comes down to beaten other three point tems on goal difference,
 

Link to an earlier blog describing how the last sixteen is decided.

You can send any information (fsr@mts.net) that you think might be of interest about the twenty-four countries and I will post a regular selection. If you have a FIFA Under-20 blog go ahead and post your link under comments.

 You can also check out the National Post blog.

The USA came away from this game with what might be a vital point against a vibrant and exciting South Korean side. Despite having to endure extended spells of intense Korean pressure the Americans deserve credit for sticking to the task and pulling themselves back into the game particularly in the last thirty minutes.

The opening goal came from a fine cross from Zizzo that eventually found Danny Szetela at the pack post. A diving header gave us the first goal from open play of the tournament. The South Koreans stormed back and Shin Young Rok wasted two fantastic chances before he eventually made it third time lucky.

This under-20 squad is a carbon copy of the senior national team of World Cup 2002. Playing a 3-4-3 formation the Koreans were constantly trying to force the USA to play at a tempo that was not to their liking. US defenders and midfielders were repeatedly caught in possession and if it was not for some wasteful finishing (another trait of the 2002 WC side) South Korea could have had the game sown up by half time. As it was the Koreans again spurned second half chances although US keeper Chris Seitz pulled off a couple of excellent saves in the second half.

Dex McCarty’s arrival into the game in the second half was instrumental in helping the USA to hold on to ball and eventually create some chances of their own. If the USA was to nip a win it looked as if it was come courtesy of a Freddy Adu free kick delivered from the right side with his left foot. As it was both teams traded late chances but had to settle for a point each.

Lee Young Sung was outstanding for South Korea as was the back three. Chris Seitz looked good in the USA goal while Nathan Sturgis recovered from an early slip to help turn back the many Korean attacks. Zizzo and McCarty also played their part.

The next round of games is on Tuesday with USA vs. Poland and South Korea playing Brazil.

You can send any information (fsr@mts.net) that you think might be of interest about the twenty-four countries and I will post a regular selection. If you have a FIFA Under-20 blog go ahead and post your link under comments.

You can also check out the National Post blog.