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Saturday, June 17, 2006
A miracle point
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AP / Brian McBride and the U.S. -- bloodied, but still alive
Down a man, after having a man advantage, and still pulling out a 1-1 draw with Italy. The U.S. team is still alive after an incredibly dramatic encounter in Kaiserslautern, coupled with Ghana’s shock 2-0 win over the Czech Republic earlier Saturday.
A miracle point, that’s what it is. Everybody else in the Americans’ group has three points. The U.S., which has one, must win against Ghana Thursday in Nuremberg or go home. But given their reduction to nine men after a red card frenzy, this one feels like a win.
A French-owned East Cobb bar was Off the Ball’s the vantage point for this draining epic. The French patrons watched on, bemusedly, smoking and in some cases rooting for Italy. There were a few Scottish brogues thrown in, and plenty of exasperation all around.
And that was before the full effect of the cold glasses of Stella Artois kicked in.
“They all look freaked out!” shouted one of Off the Ball’s amigos as the Americans listened to their national anthem. But this game would be different than Monday’s debacle against the Czechs.
Once the game kicked off, it was like a night at La Scala. After Italy went from a man down to a man up, the Italians went down like there were snipers positioned on the roof of the Fritz-Walter Stadion. When they weren’t going down due to ill-advised tackles by the U.S., they were diving and wailing like Pavarotti. This one had more twists and turns than La Boheme, and was every bit as melodramatic.
The gyrations started when referee Jorge Larrionda of Uruguay red-carded Daniele De Rossi of Italy in the 28th minute for an elbow to the face of Brian McBride, who was bleeding heavily. That came just after Christian Zaccardo’s own-goal tied up the game at 1-1.
It was ugly, rough and out of control most of the time, but the U.S. is still alive. Red cards to Pablo Mastroeni right before halftime and Eddie Pope right after the second half started were senseless, given the way Larrionda was calling the match. And both will be unavailable Thursday, giving Bruce Arena some serious defensive headaches to sort out.
Kasey Keller saved the U.S. in the final minutes, after late sub DaMarcus Beasley appeared to have scored the game-winner, only to have McBride whistled for offside.
A win was there for the taking — for either side. But thanks to some resolute defending by the Americans and some shockingly inept attacking by Italy, the U.S. is alive.
The odds are still a bit long — the best case scenario is that the Yanks and Italy both win. Given what just transpired today, Off the Ball isn’t holding her breath. But at least she can breathe — if even just a little.
Biggest U.S. game ever?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
That’s the question ESPN’s Rece Davis asked Eric Wynalda this morning, referring to the Italy match.
What was Waldo supposed to say? Of course he said yes! Fact is the Worldwide Leader in Sports has to do something to compel people to watch. Not those of us who would watch anyway, but the casual American sports fan to whom they’re gearing their coverage.
Fans used to watching what Waldo famously once referred to as “hot dog” sports, games at which “they can sit on their asses and eat hot dogs.”
Well, Waldo, I’m going to sit on mine and have a couple brews at a nearby oasis of The Beautiful Game, then will return here to recap the vivisection, er, USA-Italy match.
