OT: USA vs Spain Soccer Open Thread

Submitted by Fhshockey112002 on

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.

turtleboy

June 4th, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^

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.

bronxblue

June 4th, 2011 at 12:55 PM ^

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.

JohnnyV123

June 4th, 2011 at 1:06 PM ^

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.

Rabbit21

June 4th, 2011 at 1:19 PM ^

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.
<br>
<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?

Genzilla

June 4th, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^

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.

swan flu

June 4th, 2011 at 1:49 PM ^

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)

Genzilla

June 4th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^

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.

swan flu

June 4th, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^

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

Fhshockey112002

June 4th, 2011 at 3:02 PM ^

- - - - - - - - - - - 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

djs

June 4th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^

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).

Genzilla

June 4th, 2011 at 2:23 PM ^

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---------------------

Genzilla

June 4th, 2011 at 2:28 PM ^

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.

Michigan4Life

June 4th, 2011 at 2:38 PM ^

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.

swan flu

June 4th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^

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.

Michigan4Life

June 4th, 2011 at 5:35 PM ^

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.

Michigan4Life

June 4th, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^

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.

blue95

June 4th, 2011 at 3:10 PM ^

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.

hailtothevictors08

June 4th, 2011 at 4:14 PM ^

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)

BrownJuggernaut

June 4th, 2011 at 4:19 PM ^

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.

Rabbit21

June 4th, 2011 at 4:51 PM ^

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

swan flu

June 4th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^

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.