OT: watch U.S. Men's Soccer vs. Netherlands, 2:45pm ET
For those of us expats with a post-Olympic nationalism hangover hungering for a U.S. win over a top-ranked (the Dutch team is #3) foreign ally.
http://channelsurfing.net/watch-soccer-22.html
edit, 4:45 pm: game over, 2-1 Netherlands win
U.S. midfielder #22 Stuart Holden injured, replaced by #7 DaMarcus Beasley
Kuyt penalty kick goal, 40th minute, Netherlands leads 1-0
Stupid foul by Bornstein.
64th minute: 1-0, Netherlands
US showing some signs of life...
73rd minute, Netherlands goal 2-0.
Home crowd goes wild at Amsterdam Stadium, including a woman waving oversize men's underwear above her head in celebration. Oh, the Dutch; I am glad I can claim ancestry to you weirdos. [/mock hipster smug]
Just when it looks like Bornstein is going to make himself the left back starter, he throws up yet another horrifying game.
DaMarcus Beasley free kick to Carlos Bocanegra header goal at 88:30, USA 1-2 Netherlands edit: final score
:bong hit:
last 20 minutes were pretty good for the US.Not a bad result as clearly NED are in another class. Watched Germany - Argentina at the same time - skill and speed was much better.
I'm curious about the logistics of these midseason national-team games. How long does the team stay together in these cases? Were the guys called up just in the last few days?
Also, where did they practice? In the Netherlands? (I imagine it wouldn't make much sense to practice in the U.S. and then fly over.)
...and national Football/Soccer federations are supposed to direct their leagues to accommodate the matches.
In this case, the US team was made up primarily of European-based players and training took place in The Netherlands.
It's always nice to get a result at one of these, but it's not a shame for the US to lose to The Netherlands on their home turf.
To be clear, this version of the USMNT is not the one that will compete in South Africa. These games serve to showcase who's at top form and what combinations of players works together the best.
This version, at least to start the game, was pretty darn close to the one that will compete in SA. If Gooch doesn't get healthy, the defense had at least 4 of 5 first-teamers including keeper, midfield had at least 2 of 4 and possibly 3 of 4 if Holden continues his form and Dempsey can't get back healthy. And at forward, Jozy certainly starts, and who knows who else if CD isn't back healthy but it certainly could have been Findley if he could have done anything today.
All in all, other than our 3 known injured stars, that was a good deal of our first team, with no fewer than 6 and as many as 10 guys in the starting lineup today who could start in SA.
Which is scary, particularly in defense. Bornstein obviously was terrible, but Spector also looked awful, and the marking in general was shite.
Ah, I see. Follow-up: what if we're playing one of our CONCACAF rivals this time of year? Do we assemble a team with just MLS guys, or do our players who compete in Europe have to make the long trip back to the Americas for the game?
...the former. That's what just happened for the 24 Feb US - El Salvador game as the USMNT roster was made up primarily (but not exclusively) of MLS players. If it's a CONCACAF qualifier then it's situational. Generally as the team makes it's way through the various rounds of CONCACAF qualifying, if US Soccer thinks they can get away with leaving some of their players with their clubs, they'll do so in the interest of maintaining good relations.
Think any of the fringe guys helped their cause tonight? Certainly not Bornstein or Findley. Beaseley I thought was pretty decent, I'd bring him to South Africa if he stays healthy. That might've been it.
Also, Donovan out wide? Just never seems to work, I feel like he needs to be in the middle where he can get the ball more.
...player ratings from the inimitable Washington Post Soccer Insider blog.
Howard 7; Spector 5, DeMerit 7, Bocanegra 7, Bornstein 3; Holden 5, Bradley 6.5, Torres 5.5, Donovan 4; Altidore 5, Findley 4. Subs: Beasley 6.5, Edu 6, Bedoya 5.5, Pearce 5, Johnson 5, Goodson 5.
He may have been kind with the 3 for Bornstein.
...Sir Alex Ferguson in preparing for US-England.
Sir Alex Ferguson [a Scotsman] is one of a group of leading Premier League managers who have been offering assistance and support to the United States before their opening World Cup finals fixture against England. Bob Bradley, the US head coach, has been a regular visitor to Manchester United’s training ground in recent months, when he has watched England stalwarts such as Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand at close quarters. ... “Occasionally, there are some managers in England who subtly let me know they will be rooting for us that day. You can guess that they were not actually born in England. That’s all part of it, I guess.” [Bob Bradley]
1: Crap
5: Meh
10: Boner inducing fantastic
Altidore: 6.8.9 (I doubt anyone will get that joke) - Excellent work rate and had a nice shot late in the game. I really wish he would stop being such a pansy, stop looking for the foul and play like the manbeastchild we know he is. Really needs Davies back to open up space.
Findley: 4 - Found himself in a good position/space a few times but didn't do anything with it. Didn't help his chances of making the 23.
Donovan: 5.5 - Mostly invisible on the offensive side of things. Hustled his ass off like always.
Bradley: 7.5- I'd say US player of the game. Disrupted and distributed.
Torres: 4 - Poor game. Didn't defend well and couldn't connect on his passes. Sitting on the fringe of the 23.
Holden: 5ish - Limited opportunity because De Jong is a dick. Hope he heals up quickly.
Bornstein: 3 - Dumb play giving up the PK, not really his fault on the second goal. His inclusion to the 23 depends largely on how Pearce preforms the next few months.
Bocanegra: 4.5 - Not his best game. Got beat a few times but he did score.
DeMeritt: 6.5 - Very physical and wasn't afraid to throw his body around. My heart sank when he went down after Holden. Solidified himself as # 2/3 option at CB.
Spector: 5 - Got turned around a few times but he played OK. I prefer Dolo on the right and Spector on the left.
Howard: 7 - Nothing he could do about either of the goals. Made a couple good stops including a 1v1.
SUBS
Beasley: 6 - Not too shabby after a long layoff. Worked hard and tried to make some things happen. He controls his destiny and his play the next few months will dictate his making the 23 (and potential future with the Nats).
Bedoya: 5 - Looked more dangerous when he was up-top with Jozy. He's on the outside looking in but if Chuck D can't make it back in time then I could see him being brought in as the 4th striker.
Edu: 6 - Broke some stuff up and looked good coming off his injury. Has a pretty good shot at the 23.
Johnson: 4 - Timid is as Timid does. Didn't run at anyone and tried to dribble is way out of a 2/3 men while in dangerous situations a couple times. Outside looking in, is really going to need to impress the next few months if he hopes to make the team.
Pearce: NA - Only played at the end of the game. I saw him go up-field once or twice but didn't really notice anything else.
Goodson: NA - Played only a few minutes but broke some passes up and almost had the tying goal. I can see him in SA as the #4 cb.
Please feel free to interject if you don't agree with what I think. Actually, I encourage you to because sometimes I think I know more about soccer than I actually do.
I think you're being a little generous to Bradley and a little hard on Torres but otherwise solid analysis. I would've loved to have seen Holden play the whole game, just have a hope his injury isn't serious. Another injury is just the last thing we need right now.