AJC.com > Sports > Soccer blog > Archives > 2006 > June > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USA total, utter debacle
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AP / It doesn't get any easier for Claudio Reyna and the U.S., which plays Italy on Saturday.
Making a quick trip back from Hell to tell you about the special kind of Hades in which Uncle Sam’s outfit finds itself.
The AJC’s Mike Knobler just called in from Gelsenkirchen to report that the post-game backbiting was pretty heated in the American camp. More intense than the printed words might indicate. If only they’d have saved that kind of energy for the game …
This is the first real adversity in the Arena regime. It might be more interesting to see how the coach, rather than the players, handle the aftermath, especially after Italy looked strong downing Ghana 2-0. If you thought Nedved and Rosicky were too much to handle, then imagine the nightmarish task of trying to hold Pirlo and Totti in check, among others. Or the nasty, physical tackling of the Azzurri on defense.
The Bruce has a surefire mutiny on his hands if he can’t inspire confidence in the next four days like he has the last six years. For the first time since he took over, players are openly questioning his tactical decisions, and he’s lacerating right back. Donovan and Beasley were spared no savaging, and neither was a very experienced keeper in Keller, whom Arena blamed for the first goal.
Who says there’s not any pressure on the Yanks? Maybe not as far as the rest of the world is concerned, because it wasn’t expecting much to begin with.
But a ton of optimism, and illusions, were shattered this afternoon, and I can’t imagine there being much buzz here on The Fruited Plain before Saturday’s clash in Kaiserslautern. America’s interest in the World Cup plummeted in shocking, rapid fashion.
Welcome to the World Cup, America. This is what happens to nearly every other country with even a small amount of expectation. Except that nearly everywhere else they keep watching, perhaps even more intently, while we tune out.
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Some think this was an entirely predictable result. So don’t fret about it Americans. They’re not in the Czechs’ class.
Still others are of the mind that to call this a crap game does a disservice to crap. Guess which side of the Atlantic they’re on. This one.
Sez Reyna: “Now there are no more excuses.” Shouldn’t that should have been the case before today?
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Mercifully, only two meaningless minutes of stoppage time were added. The end: 3-0 Czechs. And it could have been much, much worse.
For the last 20 minutes or so, there was nary a push from the U.S. The Americans were defending their own penalty area quite a bit.
Dave O’Brien on ESPN2: ‘The U.S. is going in the wrong direction.’
Oh, how it is.
The Boss Man says this reminds him of France ‘98. All the millions plunged into U.S. Soccer for development, and they can’t make a dent in a game of this magnitude?
No. 5 in the world? Ready to beat the best? Lots of talk, that’s all.
U.S. record in World Cup matches in Europe: 0-8-0. Will it be nine on Saturday against the Italians? Wouldn’t bet against it.
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Reyna gets a yellow in the 60th for a very harsh foul on Plasil. Way to go, Captain America. Take a caution into the Italy match on Saturday.
No need for any more rash fouling, not with Rosicky slicing up the Yanks D and a third goal past Kasey Keller. Arena has brought in Stone Mountain and Parkview’s own Josh Wolff to replace an ineffective McBride, but it ain’t gonna matter.
What a debacle. A total, utter debacle.
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Bruce is making two subs to start the second half, trailing by two goals:
O’Brien for Mastroeni. Johnson for Cherundolo. Two offensive-minded players for two defenders. It’s a gamble, a big one, but there’s no other choice.
One of Off the Ball’s colleagues who was mucho excited about this one was spouting off some (non-profane) four-letter words during halftime.
A friend of Off the Ball’s who hates soccer called, she thought, to rub it in. He was impressed how they took Jan Koller right off the field on a stretcher. “In football, they would have taken 20 minutes.” Yes, but the clock stops in that sport.
For the Yanks, every tick of the clock is valuable. Gotta pull one back early in the half, I would think.
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Rosicky jumped all over a Keller clearance and cracked it back past the keeper from 35 yards out in the 36th minute. 2-0 Czechs. Fantastic shot.
The Boss Man said he’d be back from his doctor’s appointment to watch the second half, unless the U.S. is down 2-0. Guess I’ll have the place to myself for the afternoon.
Exactly the opposite of what had to happen for the Yanks. Instead, it’s happened to them.
They’ve gone from possibly being level on Reyna’s near miss to in a big, big hole.
There’s still time, but it looks grim at the moment.
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Both teams are taking their sweet T-I-M-E here. There’s no pace to this thing at all.
Just when the graphic flashed on the screen that Donovan hasn’t scored in his last 11 games for the U.S., he makes his first touch of the day a big one, racing out into open space and getting fouled, a yellow for Rozenhal. Pope didn’t do much with the short diagonal free kick, and that was the end of that.
U.S. has two thirds of the possession in the early going, but like American football it means nothing unless you do something with it. They are operating in the penalty area, though.
Reyna gets the whole midfield to himself and CRACKS ONE AGAINST the left post, 28th minute. Cech wasn’t gonna get it. The Czechs are letting them road around inside all they want.
Now the pace is picking up a lot. The Yanks are dictating play to a certain extent. Again, LOVE to see them picking their spots to attack. They have to.
Before Reyna’s blast, the Czechs had another good chance to double up on Koller’s goal. Nedved got free from Cherundolo on the touchline and served up a cross that Grygera couldn’t do much with on the header.
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Then Koller scores for the Czechs in the fifth minute. USA is down 1-0, very very quickly.
Don’t like Onyewu back there all alone with Koller, not with that yellow card.
U.S. starting to get a little possession now. Two good strong cross in a row by Convey, one saved by Cech, the other a short corner and a wide header by Pope.
Like to see them attacking, although the pace is still a bit deliberate.
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Two free kicks for the Czech in the first four minutes or so, with the latter resulting in a yellow for Onyewu hauling down Nedved. Not good for such a critical defender.
Cherundolo floated one harmlessly on top of the Czech net.
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Here’s the lineup, according to FIFAWorldCup.com:
GK — Keller D — Lewis, Onyewu, Pope, Cherundolo M — Convey, Reyna, Mastroeni, Beasley F — Donovan, McBride
Here’s the Czech Starting XI:
GK — Cech D — Grygena, Jankulovsky, Ujfalusi, Rozenhal M — Galasek, Poborsky, Rosicky, Nedved, Plasil F — Koller
I’ve got the sound down in the office, but the words are flashing across the screen. Probably the best way to take this coverage.
The lineup: Just like many suspected after Arena experimented with Beasley on the right side of the midfield and Convey starting on the left in the last friendly. Like Convey’s ability on set pieces, too.
A recovering Baros is starting off the bench for the Czechs; he could give them some good energy in the second half.
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And what a electrifying start to the day: Australia 3-1 Japan. Just when you thought the Down Unders should have stuck to Aussie Rules, they score three goals in the last nine minutes for a stunning win. A great three points for them, given that they’re in Brazil’s group.
Less than 10 minutes from start time in Gelsenkirchen now. Here come the teams. What an agonizing wait.
At last, ESPN is showing a pre-game ceremony and anthem-playing. They should do it for everybody.
The boys have their blue kits on.
And ESPN2 cut away to commercial before the Czech anthem. Typical.
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Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Horn Guy Dos
June 12, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this
You got it Rob Stone:
1-0 USA, Keller stops a penalty.
I can’t take it anymore.
By Bill
June 12, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this
Time to bring in Reitsma.. That was one of the longest home runs I’ve ever seen. CZech 6 USAnybody care? 0
By gttim
June 12, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the commentary. I had hoped to go watch the second half during lunch. Might not now.
By michelle
June 12, 2006 2:18 PM | Link to this
disappointing…absolutely disappointing show from the guys. what the hell is up with that neanderthal defender of ours getting a yellow in less than 5 mins ticked off the clock?? and i’m sorry…i’ve seen much better play out of tim howard than kasey keller…granted those were 2 awesome goals (didn’t see the 3rd), but i just feel maybe it’s quality over seniority and age.
best of luck against italy….we’re sure as hell gonna need it. :-(
By Rutuger
June 12, 2006 2:25 PM | Link to this
Well that was a complete disgrace. An absolutely uninspired effort—sloppy, weak, pathetic, humiliating. When does 2010 qualifying start?
By Wendy Parker
June 12, 2006 2:28 PM | Link to this
Better yet, when does the English Premier League start?
By Eric
June 12, 2006 2:37 PM | Link to this
They played much better than I thought that they would really.. American men shouldn’t be expected to perform well in a girls sport..
By Kenneth
June 12, 2006 2:44 PM | Link to this
The USA looked awful in the warm up matches prior to the World Cup. Slack attitudes. People said that didn’t matter and that we would step it up in the World Cup. The problem is, the other teams step it up too. USA WILL LOSE ALL THREE WORLD CUP MATCHES. That’s sad because soccor in America has become HUGE.
By jerry
June 12, 2006 2:51 PM | Link to this
Just a little correction for Kenneth, soccer has not become huge in America, it is and always will be a niche sport for wimps who are afraid they might get hurt playing other sports.
By Deacon
June 12, 2006 2:56 PM | Link to this
seriously could we have really expected anything more from our squad. who really believes that MLS players are ready to compete with the Nedveds of the world. Our captain plays for a middle of the table Premiere League team and that’s as high as we get in the world order. until our players are competing in the top clubs in the world, repeat I said top clubs not middle of the road Dutch or German teams, expect more of the same. We fallen victim to believing our own hype. let’s hope we bounce back for a respectable showing against Italy.
By Deacon
June 12, 2006 2:59 PM | Link to this
jerry, what are you doing on this site? can’t get enough bucktoothed, brokeback love on your college football blog site?
By Tony
June 12, 2006 3:04 PM | Link to this
Did the U.S. win one air ball in the entire game?!!? They looked like a bunch of scared pencil thin high school brats out there. The marking in the back was lacadasical and the mid field was so slow ( except for Demarcus Beasley ( never slow )). Eddie Johnson actually took a shot or two on goal in the 2nd half , imagine that what a novel concept. The U.S. goes 0-3 in this group no question, they have the heart of a rooster.
By eli
June 12, 2006 3:14 PM | Link to this
pitiful..absolutely pitiful effort…pope cant mark, beasley cant touch a ball…no effort, no hustle…i can trap a ball better than beasley…arena missed the boat with his lineup…and he didnt have his team ready to play…against italy, mcbride and johnson should be up front…onyewu, berhalter, albright and lewis should be in the back, keller in goal…reyna,donovan,obrien and dempsey should be in the midfield
By BigPappa
June 12, 2006 3:18 PM | Link to this
Id like to see all you soft Europeans with a helmet and shoulderpads lined up at the 5 yard line. We’d see who runs the other way!
By BigPappa
June 12, 2006 3:30 PM | Link to this
Deacon-Did you say brokeback. Nice coming from a guy who wears silk shorts and knee socks. Let it be told again, the only kids that go out for soccer are those that get cut from the football team, kicked out of Drama, or ride the short bus to school.
By Set_the_Record_Strt
June 12, 2006 3:43 PM | Link to this
You might be big papa, but you’ve got a little mind. Why in the world would you come into a blog site and bash soccer? Did you get cut from the redneck college football site, kicked out of all intelligent discussion chat rooms, or thrown from the bus?
Soccer is the world’s most popular game—and only ignorant unintelligent Americans place more important on the elitist games they made up than the rest of the world. get a clue.
By BigPappa
June 12, 2006 4:05 PM | Link to this
Nope-played 5 years of college ball, 3 years of Arena, got my MBA while playing Arena, and I’m an exec VP with a fortune 500 company. So much for being cut or unintelligent. I repeat, the only guys that went out for soccer in High School were those cut from the big three. To be as skilled as the Europeans, your top talent has to begin playing at a very young age. Is the record set straight now! Nice knee socks!
By BigPappa
June 12, 2006 4:09 PM | Link to this
By teh way, Kyle Rote Jr. was a very good soccer player. But he was cut from his high school football tem in the eighth and ninth grade. Soccer is a good place for those with a small frame, afraid of contact sports, girls,and looking for an identity. Just never going to be a popular fan sport in the US. We like action and scoring, not watching grass grow.
By Set_the_Record_Strt
June 12, 2006 4:14 PM | Link to this
Big Papa, You forgot to mention that you also caught a fish with your bare hands that with this big! VPs with Fortune 500 companies don’t have time to chat online about something they consider to be a lesser sport. So, nice try! No one is buying your fantasy world. … Once again, i have to set the record straight. … by the way, if there’s anything that’s considered less of a sport in the U.S., it’s arena football—what a joke! It’s a game some guy made up in P.E. that 500 people watch on Spike TV. I can’t believe you would even mention that! LOL Not even steroids could help you escape arean league! Look what it’s done to your brain! You can’t even make intelligent arguments. …. ROFL. … Arena League Football! HAHAHA
By jerry
June 12, 2006 4:25 PM | Link to this
Got to give it to you soccer geeks, you really popped big papa’s bubble. I’ll agree that arena football is boring and a made up side light game but, it is thousands of times more exciting than soccer. Half the population of a small European country running up and down the field trying to kick a beach ball into a goal as big as a two car garage and the average game ends in a scoreless tie. Now that is the excitement that is supposed to make Americans forget every other sport and go riot in a stadium and stomp the other teams fans to death. Oh yeah, some fun?
By Rutuger
June 12, 2006 4:33 PM | Link to this
wow, some real class acts on here today! If you hate soccer so much, then step away from the keyboard, finish your cheeseburger, keep making up stories about being a professional athlete (and please, at least pick a real sport if you’re going to do so) and the CEO of some important company, and go check your NASCAR fantasy team.
I would also recommend going back for your GED so you can get a leg up on the rest of your peers in the food service industry.
I’m done with you morons now. Class dismissed!
By BigPappa
June 12, 2006 4:41 PM | Link to this
I sense a little anger there Mr Set it. We’ll, I’m home with our new baby and her beautiful mom, catching up on the news while they nap. You, apparently have no excuse for the time to blog. Except that your knee socks are in the dryer.And I’d like to see you question the toughness of arena ball when you get sandwiched between the wall and number 99. My old number by the way chap.Never catch fish with my bare hands, just buy em fresh at Harry’s.I do hunt boar with a side arm. Takes these big ole steroid filled arms to lift the thing. Oh,yea,since you do have too much time on your hands getting ready to head a few balls, we have an opening in our mail room.
By JT
June 12, 2006 4:46 PM | Link to this
I’m not a soccer fan or soccer hater but I have traveled over most of the world and can tell you why everyone “over there” plays soccer. It is a cheap game, no equipment needed other than a ball and an open piece of dirt. Everyone can play no matter their size or physical strength. Having watched several soccer games in several countries I still can’t fathom the attraction of the game with it’s minimal strategies and lack of scoring but many of my foreign friends can’t fathom baseball. To each his own, just don’t try to force feed soccer to others and act as if people like me who don’t care for the game are unintelligent and that you are better than me and are obviously the chosen people because you “understand” soccer.
By BigPappa
June 12, 2006 4:49 PM | Link to this
Amen J.T. So defensive these soccer nerds are!
By Wendy Parker
June 12, 2006 4:57 PM | Link to this
Let’s keep the discussion to soccer and the World Cup folks.
Take your brokeback obsessions elsewhere.
By BigPappa
June 12, 2006 5:02 PM | Link to this
So Wendy, you just finished the days episode of Ellen and decided to check in?
By JT
June 12, 2006 5:02 PM | Link to this
There you go Wendy Parker, people like you are the very reason that most Americans despise soccer. You can’t defend your game so you insult the fans of other sports and denigrate their sports. Obviously, in your narrow minded view, if I don’t like soccer that makes you superior and allows you to insult me and any sport that I might prefer over your so clearly superior opinion.
By will
June 12, 2006 5:08 PM | Link to this
I really believe one of the best players is in the audience. Taylor Twellman should be playing. He and Clint Dempsey work well together. Truly, we seemed out of shape and non-agressive. Having coached soccer for about 30 years, I found the football players had the least conditioning when they arrived after their season. When they caught up, they were wonderful players. Soccer a game? I feel it is more a way of life.
By Don KeBallz
June 12, 2006 5:15 PM | Link to this
Big Papa, Let me guess your “benz” is the shop so you decided to check your blackberry and join this blog. Arena football? I’m glad you are proud enough to admit playing that weak excuse type of football.
By Latin stud
June 12, 2006 5:20 PM | Link to this
Big Pappa, Your wife is beautiful, shes with me when fly out on business for your fortune 500 company. Adios, Amigo
By Wendy Parker
June 12, 2006 5:20 PM | Link to this
JT, I just want to keep this soccer blog on topic. You’re being tolerated a lot more here than baseball-bashers would be on a baseball blog.
Big Pappa, that’s why I’m checking in now. I like to keep a long leash on this blog, but you guys are getting a little far out in the deep water.
The topic is the World Cup, and more specifically, the U.S. game today. That’s worth bashing in itself. Try sticking to the topic, please.
By jocko
June 12, 2006 5:29 PM | Link to this
I think that Wendy Parker is really “Windy” Parker and when her nastiness got called by JT it took some of the wind out of her sails because she realized that she was doing what she accuses everyone who don’t like soccer of doing, bashing other folks sports and hobbies. I wish I could be a soccer geek and look down on every other sport. I guess that I’ll just stick with basketball and go off and feel sorry for myself.
By Scott
June 12, 2006 5:48 PM | Link to this
Oh my.. it’s getting nasty here.. You have to have some level of respect for a full grown American man who would put on silk panties and knee socks and go get his head handed to him like our boys did today. I have the exact same level of respect for soccer players that I do Ice Dancers. Their “sports” are very nice to watch when you need a rest on the couch.. kind of like that funny looking white guy with the red afro that paints landscapes on TV on Sundays.. just kinda lulls you to sleep…
-Those that can play football -Those whose Mommy’s place them in a car seat in the Mini-Van, play soccer (Buckle-Up Buckaroos!)
By Brett "the hitman" Hart
June 12, 2006 5:53 PM | Link to this
Fist off Wendy go to hell. Second we could beat Ghana at least. Third the idea of the US getting behind soccar is insane. Ive been hearing about the giant leaps in soccar popularity for twenty years and its still just a small part of sports in the US, but that said its more popular than hockey or curling. Those ex commie Czech b******* are good and they are going to advance no problem in any of the groups. Be happy if we make it to the second round and route for another team because we dont have a chance. Go Nigeria 2010!!
By Greg
June 12, 2006 6:42 PM | Link to this
Why did the U.S. not shoot more at the goal? I mean one of the goals scored against the U.S. was shot from way outside the penalty box. The U.S. needed to shoot a little further out to soften the defense closer in. Czechs were packing their defense close in and we kept trying to pass in. It was a sad. We need a more agressive offense. Also, made some dumb mistakes on defense like not clearing the ball to the side instead of hitting it to the center.
By Paul Hamilton
June 12, 2006 7:17 PM | Link to this
Well I for one will not be tuning out. I have been enjoying watching the world cup, but never had high expectations for the U.S. Soccer is a put up or shut up sport and the Americans just lack the firepower to really scare anyone. We witnessed this today. Donovan and Beasley were pathetic, they have no room to talk at all. I have to disagree with Arena that the first goal was keller’s fault. You wonder why the World Cup isn’t that popular here in the U.S.? Go watch the U.S. get steamrolled and you will understand. I still plan on enjoying the rest of the games!!
By Chris
June 12, 2006 7:55 PM | Link to this
The sports bar I watched the game at was packed. Fans were debating tactics. People in the US are talking about how their national team let them down. The fans at the game were whistling in disconnect everytime Beasley touched the ball. People want to fire the coach.
Congratulations America you are becoming a soccer nation. There will be 30 other countries that will feel the pain and moan about their countries performance and why it wasn’t good enough within the next month.
To the folks that don’t care about soccer. Thanks for your opinions I will file them in my almost interesting folder. I don’t really give a crap what sport you feel is at the epicenter of American Society. I enjoy soccer and have played tackle football and been injured doing it and do not feel that either activity has made me any more of an quintessential American.
By ryan
June 12, 2006 10:14 PM | Link to this
Glad to see a lot of emotion in these messages - for better or worse. This sport strikes a serious chord in the US and the rest of the world on many psychological levels. The US case in point; the energy and vehemence hackneyed haters stateside spend bashing the game. What is it about this game that effects us? Why do people who profess not to care at all, care so much? Is it the fundamental egalatarian nature of the game within a 90 minute window - no quarterback, no pitcher, everyone has a chance to turn the tide, build momentum, make the play, etc.? There is no social or religious divide in the US that maps to a football club, like Glasgow or Milan.
Ironically, US Fans don’t contest the popularity of gridiron football and baseball, so is it the fact that most fans would rather not have the game commcerialized to fit in to the typical American sports construct? By all means, keep your timeouts if you need them - but don’t interrupt the game. Who knows.
At any rate, I was one of the dozens or millions (who cares) of American fans wearing Red, White, and Blue who watched today over lunch. The performance was dreadful. We had no outside midfielders with the only spark coming from Eddie Johnson. Nedved was deadly in his lateral runs, not to mention some clinical finishing from the Czechs. Pure class.
As for US next steps, is it time to make a change with the gaffer? It was stale football from the US. Can we push our best players in to serious club football in England and Germany (maybe Italy one day) and see what we can do? I’m afraid MLS, like the NASL, is still the league for has beens and wannabees. Serious players must challenge themselves to play against the best.
For the rest of this cup, let’s hope we can pull some sort of cohesive game togehter against the Azzurri.
By Nicholas Irwin
June 12, 2006 10:57 PM | Link to this
First of all, many of these people are the kinds of people who normally populate the other sports blogs on ajc.com (Braves blog, Falcons blog, etc.) They come on for the sole purpose of p** everyone on the blog off for their own enjoyment. That they think enough of soccer suddenly to actually bother to come on here and do it to us might actually be seen as a good sign of some sort. It also shows you that this was on the radar screen for a lot of Americans. Now most of them I’m sure didn’t care about it as much as we did, but hey…it’s a start.
Secondly, that was the worst debacle I have ever seen. That is the worst we’ve played since 1998, by far. And a fine time for it to happen, too. Maybe we did delude ourselves a little bit, but there’s no doubt that we absolutely played like a bunch of five-year-olds wandering around the field picking dandelions instead of actually playing the game. I resent that guy on fifaworldcup.com talking down to us like we don’t even know what we’re watching. A valiant effort??? My a*!!! We acted like we didn’t even care.
Well, let me rephrase that a little bit. There are three people who acted like they cared: Eddie Johnson, Claudio Reyna and Bobby Convey. That’s it. The rest looked like they would rather be back in California or something. I mean seriously, what a joke. I wouldn’t be surprised if Donovan was thinking that, actually. And my God, what has happened to Beasley? The match review by Jeff Carlisle on espnsoccernet.com said it best, “Right midfield is where attacks went to die.” This guy was the best player on the team as recently as last fall, right? I’m not just dreaming that, am I? And now with seemingly no explanation, he’s turned to crap? What the hell happened?
But the final circle of hell is reserved for Oguchi Onyewu. I really would like to know what in the name of God he was thinking about? If it was his contract at Middlesbrough, one can only hope Middlesbrough tore it up after that abortion of a performance. His terrible play was personally responsible for all three goals. On goal #1, he was just strolling around the freaking box for no apparent reason, at least five yards in front of Koller. He forced some poor sap with no chance to attempt to mark Koller right in front of goal (I assume it was Pope. Really, I was so p** at Onyewu that I never bothered to look.) Maybe Arena could explain to us how the hell Keller was supposed to stop that. I sure would like to know. On goal #2, he just half-assedly clears the ball right to Rosicky. And then didn’t even bother to charge him in an attempt to block the shot when it was clear Rosicky was going to take a shot. And on goal #3, I have no clue what the hell he was doing, but what I do know is that he was the last man back and he attempted to intercept the pass like a dumbass, allowing Rosicky through. Add that to the yellow card and another instance where he just refused to block a shot and I would seriously consider planting his a* on the bench, even if that means we have no chance against Italy, which it probably would.
If we’re not even gonna try to play against teams like this, how can we complain about not getting enough respect? You have to earn respect, and while I agree that we were getting somewhat unfairly overlooked, how can you argue when the best you can do in one of the biggest matches of your country’s history is look like you don’t give a damn? After ‘02, we kind of adopted this too cool for school attitude, and it is completely unwarranted. It works in CONCACAF, because we can bully them around and we know that going into the game against any CONCACAF team (save for matches in Estadio Azteca), we’re going to win. That doesn’t work at the freaking World Cup for us yet. We can’t just how up and expect to win. We also can’t carry ourselves like punks and expect the best teams in Europe to be intimidated like CONCACAF is. This team has no reslience whatsoever. It is so used to just stomping all over people that when the other teams scores first, we’re completely doomed. We don’t know what to do. Do they know who we are? How dare they! Instead of working to get it back, we’ll just go the rest of the match looking indignant. It’s stupid and it had better stop. Maybe, if the team doesn’t kill each other first, this will jar us back to reality and we can put a good performance in the rest of the World Cup as we realize that we’re not the freaking best team in the world and that teams in Europe don’t give a s** how many times we beat Jamaica. If this happens and we get some very large breaks, I suppose it’s even possible that we could have the chance to get run by Brazil. If we don’t snap to that realization however, this is going to get uglier than I think any of us can imagine even now.
By Matt
June 12, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this
“afraid they might get hurt playing other sports”?
Jerry, you moron. Soccer is one of the toughest, grueling sports on the planet. There are more serious injuries in soccer than other. It is pathetic losers like you who give the south a “dumb” impression.
By Wendy Parker
June 12, 2006 11:27 PM | Link to this
Actually, Nick, I believe I’ve been sent to the Ninth Circle without my supper by some of the earlier posters here. ON MY OWN BLOG! They’re filling out their SEC football depth charts now, after kicking American footy about on a rather gloomy day. Second string QB at Vandy? That makes their day. And I don’t boot them off, despite their hostility toward the beautiful game.
Onyewu will have to settle for the Eighth Circle, at worst, but I thought he was hardly the biggest of the problems for the Yanks.
Ryan, you are spot on about the dearth of U.S. players making a serious headway in Europe. Donovan would rather hang with his actress girlfriend in SoCal than push himself beyond the charmed life of the L.A. Galaxy. It’s hard to live in Manhattan Beach and play in Leverkusen, or vice versa. It’s also hard to aspire to world-class status this way. If the iconic figure of your sport isn’t willing to venture beyond his own comfort level, why should anyone else? As much as I want MLS to get better, it’s not the place for someone of his talents to spend the rest of his career. Sorry.
It’s just one game, but so many concerns that have been renumerated here, and not just by me, are coming home to roost. Obviously The Bruce has done a yeoman’s job getting the U.S. to where it has been in the last few years. But what is it going to take to climb the next step? If we don’t get more guys playing regularly in Europe, against the best competition there is, it remains stagnant. It regresses, even.
We get a cold, hard slap in the face, like today. Like Gloria Swanson whacking William Holden in “Sunset Boulevard.” And it hurts almost as much. Look what happened to him. Face down in a Hollywood pool. Never knew what hit him.
By indocumentado
June 12, 2006 11:55 PM | Link to this
Viva Mexico cabrones! Welcome to reality, US soccer team.
By Nicholas Irwin
June 13, 2006 12:45 AM | Link to this
It’s alright. Your dose of it will be coming soon enough. You guys are at least as delusional as we were, probably moreso. By the way, while we’re at it, it’s such a terrible thing that LaVolpe let the Brazilian and the Argentinian on your team. They only are the ENTIRE REASON WHY YOU WON THE GAME!!! Does anyone wanna explain to me why I should regard the complaints about that as anything other than xenophobic hysteria? I hesitate to even bring this up, because I don’t wanna paint myself as some sort of anti-immigration nut (trust me, I’m not), but the hypocrisy between that on the one hand and the current U.S. immigration debate on the other becomes ever more hilarious the more I think about it.
By fanaticodelfutbol
June 13, 2006 8:25 AM | Link to this
We have to have one of the worst performances from set pieces of any team in the world cup, if not the worst. I know Reyna’s not Beckham but could he at least have put one ball in the box for a decent chance? I saw ZERO chances from set pieces and as I think all of us have seen, these are key in soccer and especially this world cup where almost all goals seem to be scored from them.
We better improve quick or it’s over before it started…
By soccerdiddy
June 13, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this
Hey — there’s apparently some good news out of this disappointing loss — the American team has picked up a new corporate sponsor — QUIK TRIP…..
Seriously, the American squad looked just as lethargic and disorganized against Czech as it did against Morocco — if Arena starts Donovan anaywhere but midfield against Italy he should not be retained for the third match — anyone who knows anything about soccer knows WC matches are won and lost in the midfield and Donovan brings more effort and danger there than anyone else we have.
By soccerdiddy
June 13, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this
…oh and I realize all these folks bashing soccer as a sissy sport with “minimal strategy” are all probably long gone from the board, but as it has been in America for ages — it just shows who has truly played the game and who hasn’t. Step on the field folks and take a shoulder charge from an outside back on a dead run — without shouldr pads and a helmet — your points are no more valid now than they have been since they were created.
By michelle
June 13, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this
JC you people are real a**holes. why don’t you go back to drinking your PBR and watching your stupid cars go ‘round the circle-track. and honestly, making fun of uniforms? your heroic manly ‘roided football players wear their own knee socks and tight spandex pants and slap each other on their asses…what could be more gay? how boring is it to watch a bunch of sweaty pigs in HELMETS AND PADS (LOL) line up like it’s the 1700s and go at each other all primal? soccer can’t make it in america because americans are simplistic and there’s too much going on for them to pay attention.
By Johnny
June 13, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this
All I need to know about soccer is that it is the favorite game of the Islamic terrorist murderers. Reason enough to ban the game from this country.
By Chris
June 13, 2006 1:18 PM | Link to this
Wendy,
In taking a quick look on espn.com from my count there are currently 45 American players in Europe. That number is amazing when you consider how many Americans were making the move to Europe 10 years ago. To become World class at any sport takes years of training and proper diet. At all levels in the US the sport has grown, the level of play has increased and there will be many great soccer generations to follow. On this blog you criticized the Silverbacks and their efforts to create a full fledged soccer institution in Atlanta instead of putting the focus on their pro team. Large clubs will not be flocking from around the world anytime soon to the YMCA’s and elementary schools of America to look for kids to bring to their soccer acadamies. A combination of domestic and international options need to be available for great players to flourish and continue to elevate the level of US soccer. Next year via promotion the US will have 3 more players starting in the EPL. On Saturdays next year there will be around 10 Americans playing soccer in possibly the best league in the World. The bar has been raised and it continues to be raised.
By Chris
June 13, 2006 1:37 PM | Link to this
Nicholas,
I think you might be mistaking confidence for caring. When the lights get brighter than you have ever seen it is sometimes a little frightening unless you are used to the glare. It takes a lot of confidence to perform under the pressure. You have to be confident with yourselve and the plan that you are trying to execute.
By ConyersDawg
June 13, 2006 1:40 PM | Link to this
First of all I am a huge football fan and I don’t know much about soccer. But I do love the US squad and watch them every time they qualify and play in the World Cup.
For any one to say that soccer is a wimpy sport is crazy! Soccer is a very physical sport.
Now I will say that I believe the coach was wrong to call out his players. If he really felt the way he did then why not substitute the players earlier for not giving you any effort. Beasley stunk no matter what and the team has to play with more intensity.
By Midfield
June 13, 2006 1:47 PM | Link to this
Arena’s fingerpointing is ridiculous. I guess, he’s already bitter in anticipating being fired. US was badly outcoached. Eddie Pope should not even be on the field. He can’t play defence on this level and he proved it long time ago. To blame the first goal on Keller’s kick-out is beyond cheap. Also, dude: when your most of your oponents are old and injured you run and shove, not stand around and watch. It’s like sports 101.
By Steve
June 14, 2006 9:10 AM | Link to this
Things for Jerry and others like him to learn about soccer (from a Brit). 1. It’s not a sport for wimps (American Football, where the girlies wear all that padding - compare Rugby in the UK - is) 2. The US soccer team are high quality - not the best, not as high as their ranking, but decent enough 3. Italy aren’t necessarily as strong as the Czechs - but both teams are capable of winning the World Cup. Losing to either is no disgrace. 4. “Why not shoot more from long range?” someone asked - you try it… it’s not easy to hit goals like Frings of Germany or Rosicky of the Czech Republic did.