So what happened to the US team? I didn't get a chance to see the game. I unfortunetely only saw the score, that we got our butts kicked. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Simple answer to me was someone got to the "Gooch" the center defender...he was the reason for the three goals against the US... Maybe he is rooting for Ghana?
The "Gooch" did not cover the first header, kicked the ball to the center of the penalty area and did not defend the third goal who was unopposed! He did not defend against at the end of the match on a shot on goal... the Czech forward had pitty and did not shoot, he just crossed! It could have been five nill...
Last edited by dragonflyer04 on June 12th at 3:37 PM.
Check out the rest of today's blogs. There's plenty of commentary. In short, we played soft, slow and tentative. Keller can't be faulted. First goal was a Koller header when Gooch was way off his mark. Second was a Rosicky blast - great shot into the sidenetting from roughly 30 yards (thanks to a terrible choice by Gooch to head the ball back into the middle of the pitch) Third goal was a nice feed and run by Rosicky, going one on one with Keller. It looked like the boys were scared and no one wanted to take chances. Bad passes throughout. We kept possession pretty well in the first half but made sloppy passes and bad decisions in the second half. When we had our chances and had some men in and around the box we opted for floaters. I only saw two decent crosses, both from Convey and way too late in the game. In my humble opinion, we play with too much care and not enough aggressiveness around the box. If you have ten good chances in a half, whcih is better - spend all ten looking for the perfect setup and get no shots off, or pull the trigger a few times even if you are shooting through traffic? As if it needs to be said...you'll never score if you don't take a strike. We had two shots from outside the box today: Reyna off the post and Johnson just wide. We had other opportunities but lots of players got stuck with the ball at their feet...too many embarrasing turnovers. Read my blog from today for comments on the bad lineup decisions made by Bruce Arena.
http://blogs.foxsports.com/HNRm att/2006/06/12/In_regards_to_the_cr iticism_of_Bruce_Arena
Reality Czech!
USA Pounded by Czech Republic 3-0 in what looked to me like the worst opening game for any team in the World Cup thus far save maybe Costa Rica, but at least they scored in their 4-2 drubbing at the hands of Germany.
From the start of this match the US were outclassed, outmanned, outgunned, out matched and out played in every aspect of the game. Donovan was non-existent, Beasley was pathetic, Pope looked as old and slow as he really is; Which reminds me btw the way, he is not even rated the best defender in MLS anymore, much less the kind of defender who could stop a European powerhouse like Czech Republic, honestly I don't get the thinking there at all.
The rest were just seemingly out of their depth for most of the game. Kasey Keller can say what he wants about the new addidas ball but not even wet leather would have saved him today. My honest review of this "game" today is: The US looked and played like a second division club side against one of the worlds soccer powers, what a let down after four years of waiting! They do have two more games to make it up and advance out of their group but I think there is some astronomical figure like 1 Kajillion to 1 for a team to lose their first game and still advance. I am still an American and still a supporter but today I was embarassed to have wasted a half day of work to watch what was as one talking head called it "The Nightmare in Gelsenkirchen".
Thanks,guys for updating me on what happened. Sounds like we got slottered. I agree with Uncle T, I'm am still an American supporter but dang this is embarrasing. I can only hope to actually watch the next game and hope that we can perform better.
The US lost to the number 2 rated team in the World. I admit those rankings are inflated and some teams aren't as good as their ranking but, honestly, did you think the US would just show up and be escorted to the finals?
I heard some interviews by members of the US team and, I couldnt believe they were commenting on who they would like to play in the finals. I think the team suffers from an inflated head and the Czech Republic adjusted it for them.
Its not over for the US but, now they are forced to beat Italy which is no easy task. In any case, soccer has a way of humbleing even the best teams and today it was the US' turn.
Well you certainly can't blame one man on the entire loss to the Czechs..there were mistakes and many at that, but most of my blame is on Bruce Arena..Since when has Convey been a more reliable player than Clint Dempsey? I am only saying all of this because its what I would have done..
I would have started Johnson up top w/ Mcbride and dropped Landon to an Attacking center mid role, with Reyna and Mastroeni backing him up defensively in center mid (which would more than likely crowd and surround Nedved and his crew of midfielders)..Since there would be three center mids, this leaves only 3 backs but with 3 U.S defenders against Koller- this shouldn't take more than 2 men to shut him down at one time..
Another thing, during the game there were comments from the announcers about how they think Lewis is the answer to the Left-Back situation and that he can step up and be a role player in a spot where is most necessary for his team and country..Guess who else is left footed and arguably more skillful and reliable? O'Brien: 2002 world cup experience and maybe doubts towards his fitness level at this point but you gotta take a few risks..
Main point of this whole opinionated statement is that our midfielders got burned over and this left even more pressure on the backs which obviously can't handle this much pressure at one time. Arena has got to find another left back or you can expect to see Lewis get burned everytime..
I am glad that someone else on here has acknowledged that Donovan is not where he needs to be. Donovan is not a forward, he is too timid to be a major threat up front.
McBride is fine up front, as long as you don't expect him to do anything with the ball at his feet, as that is when it becomes kind of embarassing to watch.
Bruce Arena needs to be replaced as head coach. If something is not working, a good coach would try to do something differnent, change things up a little. There were a few times during the game yesterday when they zoomed in on Arena, and he looked like his mind was on another planet - didn't really come across as an intelligent coach trying to win a game. Plus, he can't recognize the need for Donovan to play anything BUT a forward.
The Gooch is not ready for this level of play, and if you take away all the fouling, pushing, grabbing, and shoving he does - he's not a very good soccer player. He's one of those players you hate to play against because you just know that you are going to get fouled and hope that he doesn't hurt you and that the ref catches him.
Overall, the US looked like they would rather be anywhere but on the field. They're supposed to be enjoying this, instead it looked like someone was forcing them to be on the field, but couldn't force them to make an effort. I've seen amateur league teams put more effort into games. I hope they decide that the game Saturday is worth their effort....if not for themselves, for the US fans.
Donovan? Did he play? Oh thats right I saw him touch the ball twice in the second half. I am beginning to believe he is the most overrated player on our squad. Beasley a close second. I think Nike and Gatorade have helped us forget that Landon spent some time in Germany. His highlight reel from that portion of his career is less than stellar. We have benefited from MLS but at the same time it built egos which have hampered our team. Donnovan which the media as choosen as the unquestioned leader/star was the most transparent of big name players on the pitch yesterday. At least Beasley showed up to make a couple defensive plays.
Not taking anything away from the Cechs, they are ranked 3rd in the world, but at some point you have to start living up to expectations. I am not upset that we lost. I am upset because we were totally and completely embarressed. The Chechs put on a clinic. At least Costa Rica managed two goals and Togo held the Sweds scoreless. We were lathargic and motionless on both ends of the field. No one moved off the ball to create chances and passing was inaccurate. I am not going to even start with the defense. Most of our possession time was Keller looking to play the ball deep because nothing was open in the midfield. We looked like scarred college kids on the pitch not world number 5. I knew something was up when all the anaylsts began focusing on our opponent's injuries and scandals as reasons why we should be able to compete and win. Overrated we are. Unfortunatly that has only hurt us. Hopefully we can rebound against It
The entire US team needs to look inward and ask themselves one question... "Does our play reflect the heart of our Captain?" my answer for them is yes. This team Quit!!! Just Like Landon who left Germany for the MLS because he was unwilling to fight for playing time. Anyone who is a true competitor knows that you only get better by playing the best. The MLS is not there yet, everyone knows that. Basically Landon is afraid to fight for a spot on a Bundesliga side and his cowardice is destructive to oour national team. Bruce, please bench him.
a couple of things...
1) the US has their best team ever.. which means very litle in a group with bothe the Czech's and Italy.
2) the US know how to to play when ahead but yesterday's display showed they could not play from behind.
3) They need to show a bit more enthusiasm and play with more passion.
Finally, the US not only need to ply well saturday they need a bit of luck won't hurt!
See ya'
A
Alright, some interesting comments here...but we're spending way too much time focussing on one player. As far as I can see the first person who needs to accept responsibility for this travesty is Bruce Arena. The line-up he went with had two sets of overlapping players and three players playing out of position. Why? Well, we had to find space for the most over-rated player on our team, Claudio Reyna.
I am constantly amazed at how the lack of production that accompanies his entrance into the line-up is ignored. How can we ignore the fact that during qualifying he was in all the games we did not win and only one of which we did. On top of which he has 110 or so caps and 8? goals. That's pathetic.
If the U.S. was to have a chance, we needed to bench him, have Donovon playing in the Midfield where he belongs, bench Beasley who hasn't produced in ages, and had a true left back (Bocanegra) playing the defensive position.
I notice a lot of people taking shots at Pope and Gooch, and honestly can't blame them. However, where were Mastroeni and Reyna, our two center mids were defensive players and yet on the goals they're no where to be found (except Reyna who watched the second goal with an expression like "ooh, pretty" as it went by him).
Ultimately it really is on Arena; put out the team that has shown they can win in the formation that they have done it. and for heaven's sake bench Reyna!
Last edited by Monkeykeeper2000 on June 13th at 2:43 PM.
I am from Colorado. The best state of all! Soccer is my life. My parents were both pro-soccer referees. My mom was a FIFA. My dad for a reason unknown to almost anyone you ask,including himself, did not become one. For me I have been around soccer my whole life! And I love every second of it. The first time I went to a soccer game, I was three days old, watching the USA vs. Uru####, with my dad running the line, so my parents say. I don't remember. But, how much better could it get? Since I was old enough to watch I have been watching and attepting to play. Now I play all the time and enjoy every minute.
My favorite team to win the World Cup is probably Germany! Other than that I like Arsenal and ManU.
Joga Bonito,
Soccergoddess 100
