OT: USA vs Spain Soccer Open Thread
4:30 Start time from Foxborough MA. Should be a great crowd to see this US friendly match. The US starts a stretch of 4 games in roughly a week:
Spain 4:30 today Foxborough, MA
Tuesday 8:00 vs Canada at Ford Field
Saturday 6/11 vs Panama at Raymond James Field Tampa Fl
Tuesday 6/14 vs Guadeloupe at Livestrong Park Kansas City.
Edit:
Starting lineups reported as follows:
- - - - - - - - - - - - Howard - - - - - - - - - - - -- -
Spector - - - Onyewo - - Ream - - - - Lichaj
Klejstan - - - - Edu - - - - Jones - - - Rogers
- - - - - - - Agudelo - - - - - Altidore - - - - - -
Further Note: Fernando Torres will not start for Spain.
All reports say they are. Now how long players like David Villa play after just finishing the Champions League Final and then traveling from England I guess is yet to be seen.
I personally would expect a very solid squad since the US beat them last year.
they were sending their World Cup squad. That could have changed between then and now but we'll never live down the Confederations Cup win in their eyes. Still, we played a 1-1 draw with Argentina recently, I like our chances. Lets see how well Barcelona plays without Messi again.
Will be interesting to see how serious Spain takes this game. With a couple of prominent players coming off the League Finals, this might be "friendlier" than if the game was played a couple of weeks later. If Spain comes to play, though, US might be in trouble - that win was huge for the US, but it was the type of upset that won't happen again.
It's funny I love Spain and players like Fabregas and had them winning the World Cup from the beginning but man do I hate Barca......which supplies a lot of the Spanish squad.
I'm feeling good about this game. Would be disappointed if David Villa weren't there though I want Spain at full power when we beat them and he's a great player.
It doesn't matter how tired they are. I have a feeling Spain is going to be out for blood. This should be a good game and a great warmup for the Gold Cup.
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<br>On another note the USA-Canada game on Tuesday will be my first USMNT game. Anyone know what colors to wear/ where I can look up said info?
Red, white and blue
the blue is crucial
What I find more amazing is that a player like Fabregas can't even start for Spain. That should tell you how good their team is.
& Barcelona rule !!!!!! - Lionel " La Pulga" Messi , best individual soccer player at this time worldwide. BAR NONE!
BARCELONA.... BARCELONA...BARCELONA.... BLAUGRANA !!!
Vamos Estados Unidos!
Anyone?
I'm going to the match at Ford Field and am beyond excited. My first ever!
Absolutely cannot wait.
I'll be there!
some channel like ESPN maybe?
ESPN @4:30 ET
EDIT: Channel guide saying ESPN, but espn.com saying espn2. So yes, espn or something.
Today's game against Spain is on ESPN2 at 4:30; Tuesday's Gold Cup opener at Ford Field vs. Canada (and all other USA games in the Gold Cup) will be on Fox Soccer Channel.
I got for my preferred lineup
-----------------------Howard-------------------------
Cherundolo---Goodson---Ream---Bocanegra
Donovan------Bradley------Jones------Dempsey
-------------------------Klejstan-------------------------
------------------------Altidore--------------------------
I really don't like those top 2 at all, but I don't see what we could do any better, bring on Onyewu, Agudelo, Wondo, Lichaj, and Bedoya and someone else, probably a second GK in the second half.
I despise our 4-5-1 formation.
An ideal lineup in my humble oppinion.
------------------------Howard-------------------
Cherundolo----Ream-----Bocanegra-------Lichaj
------------Edu------------Jones----------------
----------Donovan---------Dempsey------------
----------Agudelo---------Teal Bunberry (should be on the squad in stead of Jozy)
I do like Lichaj on the back left, but I don't think that Bradley will start him there in this game. I think we will see him play left in some of the group games to see if he can handle it. I would like to see Agudelo starting, but I know that Bradley won't do it, so that's that. I wish we had Holden for this game, because I think that 4-4-1-1 might actually work with Holden underneath the forward, but with who we have on this roster, there really are no good options for the final third.
This will be the first time since the Confed Cup that I will root against Barca players. Visca el Barca!
Xavi isn't playing, so Spain won't be AS dominant in posession but expect to see a frustratingly defensive USA. Watch for our defensive pressure to start in our own half (laame). Wouldn't be surprised if Demspey was our only "forward" starting.
Early predicton US-0 Spain-2
- - - - - - - - - - - Howard - - - - - - - - - - -
Cherunderolo- - Onyewu - - Ream - - Lichaj
Edu - - - Jones - - Bradley - - - Adu - - - Dempsey
- - - - - - - - - - - Altidore - - - - - - - - - -
I really think you have to be able to push forward against Spain. If you let them just sit in the midfield all day and pick apart the back 4 it will be a very long day for the US.
Edit: Team adjusted with news of Donovan and Bocenegra out. This team will have to counter punch and hope Dempsey can run down long passes in transition
Prediction USA 1 Spain 3
I think Spain will dominate possession, and so we need to exploit our speed on counters.
It will be interesting to see how motivated the Spanish are for this "friendly" -- yes, the Americans embarrassed them in the Confed Cup, but that was two long years ago and most of their players are exhausted after a long club season (the Barca contingent has barely had time to recharge after last weekend's Champions League final). They just want to go on holiday... but instead of time off, the Spanish federation is using them for a North American cash grab. In addition, there may be some festering wounds from the recent set of nasty clashes between Barca and Real Madrid. This excellent column from SI.com's Spanish-based soccer writer spells it out: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sid_lowe/06/03/spain.us.friendly/index.html
Meanwhile, with the first game of the Gold Cup coming up on Tuesday against the Canadians, there's a good chance that our starters will receive limited minutes today -- so if the Spanish do show up with their A-game the results may not be pretty (think the first half of the recent Argentinian game).
I would agree that since there are 4 games in 11 days that this could spell short minutes for the US stars, but since we draw Canada (team they should dominate) starters might see more minutes.
Ives Galarcep reports (http://www.soccerbyives.typepad.com/) that Landon Donovan (illness) and Bocanegra (rest) are both out for today's game. Bocanegra is the regualr capatin with Donovan as the man who normally takes the band when Boca is out. Expect Howard or Cherundolo (IMO) to get the armband for today. Bornstein and Adu are also off of today's game roster. My revised prediction for starting lineup
--------------------Howard---------------------
Cherundolo---Goodson---Ream---Lichaj
Dempsey----Bradley----Jones----Bedoya
-------------------Klejstan----------------------
--------------------Altidore---------------------
Lichaj can be seen training on the left side in recent videos released by US-Soccer (http://www.youtube.com/user/ussoccerdotcom?blend=1&ob=5#p/u/3/nxDIbLoQx…)
While traditionally a RB he has been playing extensively at LB while on loan at Leeds this past spring. Onyewu has similarly been playing LB at FC Twente while on loan from AC Milan for what it's worth. I expect Lichaj to be the LB starter with Bocanegra out.
Benny Feilhaber is also ruled out after an ankle injury over the weekend in his MLS game. This is going to most likely mean more minutes for some guys that will be needed during the Gold Cup.
tends to overrated Aguedelo because of goal scored in limited time. One problem with Aguedelo is he tends to make midfield run instead of forward run at striker position which is exactly the same problem that Altidore have in the past few years.
USMNT still lacks the premier goal scorer out of striker position. The fact that Landon is out for the game really hurts USA in terms of playmaking at midfield. That leaves only Dempsey as the only playmaker on the field.
I have to totally disagree with you. Not that USMNT fans overrate him, because we do... but to compare him to Altidore is absurd.
Altidore is consistantly in the wrong position, failing to take on defenders off the ball. Agudelo has shown a willingness to move off the ball (and move well). Against Argentina he was a threat any time Timmy Chandler had the ball on the right side, something we havn't seen since Charlie Davies was on the roster. Agudelo also looks way more comfortable with the ball at his feet when compared to Jozy.
Agudelo's 2 goals have also shown his quality in finishing with his feet. Altidore has never shwon that.
You're trying to compare Denard Robinson to Ryan Mallet. it doesn't make sense.
when there's a speedy striker who can score next to him. Aguedelo isn't one of them. He's a solid player, no doubt but he isn't the striker who can put pressure on the defense with the ball on his feet. Like I said in the past, Jozy is a Emil Heskey type who is more of a complimentary striker to a striker who can score.
The problem with USA is they never have had an goal scorer at striker position. Most of the scoring comes from midfield which is USA's strength.
USMNT if they're bringing in the WC roster and they most likely want revenge from 2-0 loss 2 years ago in Gold Cup semi. USA is shorthanded and is likely to rest some top players for CONCAF Cup.
I am hoping for a competitive game but I just don't see USA winning this one. Spain is great at ball possession. USMNT doesn't possess the ball well and the defense is still a weak link. That plays into Spain's hand.
USA beat Spain in the Confed Cup.
The "Concaf cup" is the Gold Cup. that we're playing Tuesday.
Anyone know how Edson Buddle is doing in Germany? Any other reasons he isn't on the National Team roster?
http://yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=7757
This story sums up his recent season.
If you have whatever Mexican TV station I'm seeing it on (WXFT in Chicago for whatever that's worth). Can't tell what the network is, but I'm getting it in HD. Should be a good time killer until the US match.
1-Howard (c), 2-Spector, 5-Onyewu, 7-Edu, 9-Agudelo, 13-Jones, 14-Lichaj, 15-Ream, 16-Kljestan, 17-Altidore, 19-Rogers.
---------------Howard-------------------
Spector---Onyewu---Ream---Lichaj
Klejstan----Edu-----Jones----Rogers
--------Agudelo-------Altidore---------
Guess this means Bob Bradley really has no intentions of taking a risk of injury in this game. No Dempsey, on top of the three players missing with injury (Donovan, Bocenegra, and Feilharber) shows he is hoping to just get some young guys minutes before the Gold Cup.
I'm getting the same feeling I got last summer for the WC. Premier League just isn't the same for me.
to see bradley mess around with a different formation in a friendly ... i dream of the 4-5-1 but i suppose this is what we are going to get to see more often then not for the next 4 years (again)
Without Stu Holden and with Klejstan and Adu not on form for the CAM role, there's one roster problem. The other thing is none of the strikers(until Jozy pulls his head out and Bunbury and Agudelo develop) can really handle the Lone striker role.
I could have gone to this game. But then I found out Cesc wasn't playing and I decided not to go. I missed watching him when I saw Arsenal play agianst Celtic last season. Without Xavi and Cesc, I think Spain is missing their top two creative midfielders. The US should have a legitimate chance. They can get Spain off their game if they give a strong collective effort.
Also, bring back Charlie Davies.
Fabregas never starts. It's always Xavi and Xabi Alonso doing most of the distribution from midfield with Busquets playing the defensive mid role and Iniesta rotating towards center from his wing position. I like Fabregas, but he's never on form when playing for La Furia.
Starting okay so far, but Spain is mantaining too much possession considering we have both Edu and Hones out there. We almost had a nice counter around 5:30z
our defense is severely outclassed by every Spanish player on the pitch. Wouldn't be surprised if we lost 5-0. The way Spain plays is simply marvelous. One-touch passing, play the way you face, wait for the defense to make a mistake, patience, then from 0-60 in 0.2 seconds. So much fun to watch.