USA World Cup Team Announced
The US named it's World Cup squad. No huge surprises. All my favorites are in.
Just one of those, off topic interests.
Just one of those, off topic interests.
posted by mikevotes at
7:48 PM
11 Comments:
And the cup gets off to a quick start as the USA will have to meet the Czechs in the first game on June 12th.
Who is your pick out of USA, Italy, or CZ to be eliminated in the first round?
By
Praguetwin, at 2:47 AM
I could write on this all day, I'm a huge fan. I was crushed when Mexico got a #1 seed and the US got a #4, despite the fact that we have been ahead of them in rankings for years and are winning the series over the last 12 games something like 6-2. We got a really tough draw, and Mexico got a walk more or less.
As to our group, I'm not optimistic for the US. I think there's a fair chance we may lose the group.
What your going to see out of the US is a pretty high degree of athleticism, a fair amount of speed and a tremendous work ethic. Team concept is good, and close passing is pretty solid and the defense is generally very good.
The problem is still the high skill players. The US skill players are hugely ahead of where they were 4 years ago, but we still will have more trouble with the final ball than anyone else in our group. Play through midfield is fine, and defense is stifling, but the final third is always a problem.
So, the US games against the Euro teams always come down to whether the US can execute and get a goal. There's alot of speed breaking from midfield and McBride is solid in the air, but the question is always can we deliver that ball.
So, I don't know how we do in this group. Alot is going to depend on the passing in the final third. If the US can get a few goals, we we'll go through.
And, I wouldn't write off Ghana completely. They are just crazy athletic and if they hit a run in form, they could be okay.
But if I were handicapping the top two, I would have to say Italy Czech, with the US as an outside shot.
Again, alot will depend on how the Czech defense handles speed and running because they're going to get run into the ground.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 7:13 AM
Oh, and our coach is excellent. I don't know if it would be transferrable to other countries if he ever decided to go somewhere else, but coach Arena is phenomenal with the American players.
Tactically, not too adventurous, but he has a way of staffing his team to cover player's weaknesses. If one midfielder is slow, he compliments that with a little more speed next to him, etc.
Also, the team is extremely responsive to even his minor changes, he can get players to center they're play just ten yards ahead or ten yards infield and they will do exactly that. There are no egos on an Arena team.
Also, Arena has a history of getting teams to peak right around major tounaments. I don't know how he does it, but they have played their best at every major tournament since he took charge.
Last, and probably most importantly, the players will walk through walls for this coach. They will do anything he says without question and without complaint. If he asks someone to sacrifice himself for the team they will.
So, you're going to see just crazy work rate and commitment on par with the South Koreans at the last world cup.
The question is, will that be enough.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 7:22 AM
Told ya I could write all day, want a player by player breakdown, discussion of tactics? Want to hear about the team trainer of chef?
There aren't many US Soccer fanatics, but I am one.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 7:24 AM
Wow,
No kidding. You are a rare bird indeed. I have a feeling that Italy will be eliminated. They have really faded over the years. It seems like they got their seeding based on history more than performance.
You are right about it being a tough group and that Ghana is crazy athletic. They are a young, dangerous team. They did not do well in the Africa Cup, but word on the street was that they had no intention of winning. They were using the tournament as a tune-up for the World Cup.
The group is going to be plenty tough. There were alot of shocked faces walking around here when they announced the group. About the only good thing you can say about the group is that Brazil and England are not in it. Every single game in that group should be competitive.
The Czechs lack a good finisher at striker as well. They have two great scoring mid-fielders (Nedved and Rozicky), but Baros is the only striker that can be considered world class and that is still being debated.
If I had to bet, I would say that USA and Czech will advance, but I am anything but non-biased on this one.
By
Praguetwin, at 8:45 AM
Yeah, I'm well aware of Rosicky, having watched him play for Dortmund a couple years ago, and I don't know if it was just that season, but he was wicked talented. And, with Nedved, I've seen him in highlights and he always looks really good, but everytime I've ever seen him in a big Champions League game(we don't get italian soccer here) he has not been a major presence. Of course, my memory is that he is almost always injured for those games.
And as for Baros, I am a huge fan. I don't know if he's "world class," but the dude works his ass off in even the most meaningless games, and that gets a ton of credit from me. Course he's playing for Aston Villa now so you can't exactly say that he's at the peak of his career. And today's news here is that Jan Koller may be in for the Czechs. I don't know if he's a starter anymore, but coming off the bench he could be a handful.
And, I agree with you on the Italians. They've had poor team chemistry and discord for years, but I'm hesitant to write them off because of the wicked skill and heavy defenders. If it snaps into place, they're suddenly very good.
And on your US players to watch list. I would guess you know about the US midfield, Reyna, old slow, a great passer, Beasley, incredibly quick, Donovan, underachiever, quick, with mad potential skill, and John Obrien, ex Ajax.
The unknown guy to watch is forward Eddie Johnson. He plays in our piddly little league here and has this strange manner about him where he doesn't look like he's playing all that hard, and then bam! something great. The Man U's and Spanish and Italian teams of the world have been sniffing about after him in the last few months. The rumor is they're talking a $5-7 million transfer fee. So, good, young, but not great.
It'll be interesting. I just find I'm not as hopeful as last time around.
Mike
(By the way, I don't get much chance to talk soccer here, so I tend to go crazy when given the chance.)
By
mikevotes, at 9:00 AM
I too think this is a solid squad that will do us all proud ... I was surprised by the inclusion of Ching over Twellman, and as a longtime DC supporter, my heart is still with Eddie Pope and I was thrilled to see he made the cut ... as someone lucky enough to be going, I can only say bring on the Czechs!
By
Reel Fanatic, at 2:25 PM
Mike,
Wow, you aren't kidding. I am impressed with your knowledge. I was never a huge soccer fan until I moved to Europe, so I know absolutely nothing about USA players. I do know they have been getting better and better for as long as I can remember.
I hadn't even heard that Koller may show up. He lives a couple of blocks from me (when he is in Prague). I see him at the supermarket now and then. Hard to miss THAT guy.
The thing about Rosicky is that, yes, he is crazy talented, and still pretty young. He is still playing for Dortmund last time I checked, but no one else seems to be. Nedved is unreal. For a midfielder, I'd take Ronaldinho and then Medved (I just don't like English players). He tends to get hurt around tournament time. He even said he wasn't going to play because he was more concerned with Juventus, but he broke down. Baros? I just don't know. He is good, and he works hard, but there is something missing. I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe that is about to change. He was a bit of a disappointment in Liverpool. Good, but everyone expected more.
This is the last chance for the Czechs. There are no new players coming up, and there is no money here for the youth programs: they are a total disaster right now. Hockey is number one for the Czechs. Always will be.
I'm not saying Italy is bad. Assuming they will make through this group would be a mistake. Hell, assuming anyone will make it through THIS group is a mistake.
This is going to be good.
By
Praguetwin, at 4:59 PM
Reel Fanatic, I was kindof surprised by the Ching over twellman as well, but Arena really likes the big man little man combination and Ching is closer to McBride in style, then you've got Eddie Johnson and and Wolff as back up. I also think that Twellman's personality wouldn't sit on the bench as well without maybe causing some trouble.
And Pope was in all the way.Assuming he's healthy, he's the defensive anchor. I'm a little surprised Berhalter got left out. He was definitely a backup, but he's solid especially in the air. But, I guess some of the other D can play both inside and outside whereas Berhalter is only central D
And congrats on going, that's pretty cool.
And, PragueTwin, I'm a huge hockeyfan, too, and if you've only got the hockey team, you're still in pretty good shape. I'll be curious to see what the team looks like after Jagr.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 5:52 PM
The backline scares me, and Reyna is too brittle. Should be interesting, to say the least. Tough, tough group, though.
By
QuakerDave, at 9:57 PM
I agree with both Dave. The defense scares me, too. Pope's not too bad, but there's nobody else in there I am completely sure of. Of course in the last world cup, that was the case. Agoos was the only one I felt comfortable with and he was a complete disaster while the other three, Pope and Sanneh I remember distinctly, were great.
And, Reyna will be OK if we get him decent defensive cover. And, if he does blow that bad ankle again, I think we're OK; we've got 5 or 6 good midfielders competing for the four spots. I'm wondering in the midfield who gets benched.
Certainly BEasley left side, but then how do you lay out Reyna, Donovan, Obrien, Mastroeni. (and maybe Dempsey?)
Donovan right, Reyna center, obrien or Mastroeni as holding midfielder? Or, do you move Obrien right and play donovan Reyna center with no defense? Or do you put Dempsey out right, like Arena kept playing him in qualifying? Or does Reyna get benched?
I just don't see a clear midfield four, but on the other hand, I do see tons of flexibility to set up a midfield for speed, possession, defense, etc. with just one substitution.
As you might guess from all this writing I'm doing, we're probably going to have more world cup threads as it gets closer.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 7:19 AM
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