US-Argentina: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

I have a sneaking suspicion that while the mainstream sports media met the Gold Cup victory with a gaping yawn, US soccer stalwarts may hear about this result tomorrow. The phrase "without most of its regular starters" may be omitted from those references to the US Team.

I had a 9:00 PM EST conference call for my job, so I followed along with Ives Galarcep's hilarious running commentary. I watched the second half on the Univision live webcast. On a related note, I love the internet.

So my assessment is partial and abbreviated:

THE GOOD:

• Lionel Messi - The vision, pace, skill--just breathtaking. In a short period of time in the second half, he changed the entire pace of the game and overwhelmed the US defense.

• Justin Mapp (before he stopped moving altogether around minute 70): Eddie Gaven plays like he knows he's Eddie Gaven. Justin Mapp plays like he thinks he's Cristiano Ronaldo. I like that about him. Sure it makes him try ridiculous things, but he does have talent and I admire his moxie.

• The Univision Commentators: By the time Kyle Beckerman came on, I swear my High School and College Spanish started to come back to me. I also realized that the key to selling soccer to US fans is to obscure the lack of scoring by saying "Goal" 45 times after each score. Throwing in "Golazo" for anything more than a side-footed goal can't hurt either.
  

THE BAD:

• DeMerit and Conrad - Maybe they were great in the first half, but the second looked like I feared it would. The second goal was a keystone cops affair, with these two well-meaning and basically solid defenders falling over each other faced with the pacy and skilled Argentine attack. The third was an embarrassment. While Wynne played matador defense on the cross, you would have thought that someone could have marked the only guy in the box as he surges forward into the middle of the penalty area. Against many teams, even many good teams, I'd be fine with these guys. Playing these skillful, fast South American teams, they're going to get eaten alive.

THE UGLY:

• Not to repeat myself, but I'm going to stick with "I'd like to ask again why the farce that is Taylor Twellman's National team career cannot be mercifully ended." I didn't realize he was on the pitch until he was substituted.
  

FINAL ANALYSIS:

As I've said before, we're not going to win, so Bradley needs to use this competition to determine who he wants to take to battle in the future against this sort of competition in qualifying and World Cup matches. It's not that I don't want to win, I just know that we would struggle with our best team, and this side isn't even close.

So while the half I saw was basically an utter disaster, I really can't get too worked up over it. This should be the most difficult game of the group stage. Hopefully they can make some adjustments and put out a better showing Monday.

Beasley to Rangers

DaMarcus Beasley is staying in the UK by signing today with Rangers F.C. While it is good to see Beasley playing Champion's League football next year, I have reservations about the move.

Some will remember that pundits on both sides of the Atlantic questioned Claudio Reyna's switch to Ibrox due to his susceptibility to injury. While that has always been a concern for Claudio, commentators were particularly concerned due to the physical nature of play in Scotland.

Given Beasley's small frame and his tendency to draw hard fouls from slower defenders, He could have plenty of bruises to match his new uniform. At this point in his career, I'm not sure if Beasley needs to get toughened up.

There is certainly potential for Beasley and for the Rangers. He'll provide needed pace to the Rangers attack, and the player can certainly expect silverware if he stays for a few seasons. I just hope his skills and health aren't squandered in the process.

Mustering the strength to talk about the Henry Transfer...

It is done and dusted and Arsenal's talisman is gone.

Thank goodness for the thrilling Gold Cup final and the US result or this may have been a truly depressing weekend. 16 million quid seems a pittance for the man I unequivocally insist is the world's best striker. I had hoped for getting Etoo as part of the package, but alas, it is cash on the barrel head only. This scenario is troubling for two reasons:

It suggests the quite cerebral Henry was not convinced of Arsenal's near-term ambition. While the Gunners are clearly stocked with young talent, they've lacked the steadying and consistent contribution from senior players in the midfield and in the attack outside of Henry and Gilberto. Given their injury problems and the frenetic fixture schedule for top flight English clubs, success has far too often relied on gifted but untested youngsters.

It seems clear Henry wanted assurance that the team would be spending to bring in more established star talent, and the front office is too mired in bickering to give any comfort in that regard. Not a good sign for Gooners.

It suggests doubts regarding Arsene Wenger's future. Henry was quite clear that the fact that Wenger hadn't signed an extension to his contract weighed mightily in his decision. Wenger is clearly none-too-pleased at the David Dein resignation and the Kronke disputes, and he is always a man in high demand. With one of the world's transcendent talents in your side, silverware always seems within your reach. Now, even with all the brilliant youngsters at his disposal, his loyalty will be tested.

Having seen Bergkamp, Viera, and Henry fall to the wayside, I must admit that my own enthusiasm for the 07-08 season is desperately waning. I hope for good news on the managerial contract and transfer fronts.

USA's Copa America Preview - Roster Strategy

The USMNT will get 3 nights to bask in the glow of their supremacy over CONCACAF (in your face, Guadalupe) before they face a whole new ball game in the Copa America. Many supporters (including yours truly) wanted the US to take on the Copa America challenge so that our top players could get experience in significant international competition.

What I had in mind, of course, was making sure Drew Moor was battle tested.

OK, so maybe the Copa America roster isn't loaded with household names (Charlie Davies, por examplo), but if Bob Bradley played the Gold Cup to win it, he's playing Copa America to throw some young American talent into the crucible and see who has true quality. I don't disagree with his approach. It is a major competition, but we're not going to win it, so why burn up Landon Donovan when he could be slotting away David Beckham crosses on Sportscenter? Get the youngsters in there and let them mix it up.

So what's the skinny?

• A significant concern with this roster is the lack of pace in defense. Conrad, DeMerit and company are solid defenders who are strong in the air and good positionally, but they really risk getting skinned by pacy South American attackers.

• Ricardo Clark will also be tested. He looked very sharp in the Gold Cup final, but he and Olsen are the only midfielders with a bit of an edge to them. They'll need a disruptive bulldog to keep from being overrun, so hopefully he'll step up.

• One hope is that the painfully underrated Kyle Beckerman can step up in this tournament. He does so much for his team in MLS, and I feel like he's capable of a lot more.

• In attack, it's pretty soft. Twellman should lead all strikers in the tournament in shots off goal. Eddie Johnson should excel, but will meander hopelessly and then give up on runs. I happen to be a Hercules Gomez fan, but there's no Donovan, Beasley or Dempsey to make things happen in the scoring third for players like Gomez. This could be the time for Justin Mapp to become that creative force. At this point, however, our best hope for goalscoring is 5 or 6 25 yard volleys from Benny Feilhaber during the tournament.
  

Now the main challenge is finding these games on TV.

Gold Cup Final - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

A great performance by the National Team in an engaging and well-played final. Though it was hardly a home game for the US, the partisan crowd created an electric atmosphere. And despite the fact that Soldier Field looks like a spaceship eating the Parthenon, it is a great venue for a soccer game.

OK right to it:

THE GOOD:

• Benny Feilhaber's Goal -- Without digging too deeply into the memory banks, I can't remember a higher quality strike since maybe Jovan Kirovski's rocket in a friendly against Germany in the late 90s. As I've said before, the kid is dripping with class and it is hard to imagine a better feeling than launching a thunderbolt to win a final in your first senior team competitive final.

• While I know it was a quiet performance until his injury, Jonathan Spector continues to impress--so confident and composed on the ball and he reads the game very well. I initially blamed him for being out of place on the first goal, but reviewing the play, he was sliding over to mark Blanco for a slow-to-recover Bocanegra. He made the right decision to address the more immediate threat, and couldn't do anything to stop the magical play by Castillo.

• Speaking of which, Nery Castillo mesmerized the spectators and anyone marking him today. He sliced through the US team on several occasions with remarkable pace and close control. A special player.

• Carlos Batres and his officiating crew deserve considerable praise. Excellent officiating is required for an excellent game and this crew kept control of an emotionally charged final but still let the men settle the game on the pitch. They called more bookings against the US and over twice as many fouls, but they accurately called the game while allowing for physical play by both sides. Bravo.

The BAD:

• The USMNT new penchant for turning easy wins into nailbiters. In the worst examples, Ching and Beasley faced open goalmouths and spurned chances in which missing the back of the net carried a high degree of difficulty. For so long in this game, a well-organized Mexico defense and the freakishly athletic Oswaldo Sanchez made the US team work hard for any chances. Given a chance to finish off the game, they were woeful in front of the goal. Speaking of which...

• I know he wasn't in the game very long, but I'd like to ask again why the farce that is Taylor Twellman's National team career cannot be mercifully ended. Unless the USMNT is going to be playing (a) vastly weaker competition, (b) the Colorado Rapids, or (c) Norway, he's not helpful. Short, wasteful, and usually physically overmatched.
  

THE UGLY:

• Injuries to Mexican Players - Obviously everyone's prayers should be with Jose Andres Guardado and his family. Moreover, if anything spoils the win, it is the injury to Jared Borgetti; while Oscar Bravo played well in his stead, Borgetti is a talismanic player for El Tri and it would have been good to have seen him finish the match.

• Hugo Sanchez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco's post-game antics. Sorry to be harsh here, but this just solidifies the reputation of two classless, washed-up jokes. Blanco has made a career of being a jerk to officials (and teammates, and reporters, and coaches...). And while I understand Sanchez has to be stressed as he waits for a slip of paper roughly the same shade as his polo shirt, he sullied the ending to a fine game by harassing a fine officiating crew. Good riddance.

A final to remember and an promising tournament for this transitional USMNT. Copa America will prove a much starker challenge, but for today, it is a result that re-asserts the US team's regional dominance.

Gold Cup Final Roundup and Thoughts

Great previews from trusted names:

• Ives
• Wahl
  
• Jeff Carlisle

In short, "I have a bad feeling about this."

Maybe it is the back spasms I'm suffering through or the sharp pain somewhat lower caused by my Arsenal team facing a future without Thierry Henry and David Dein and possibly sans Monsieur Wenger. Maybe it is that this transitional version of the USMNT gives me fits with its dodgy defending. But I don't feel as confident as I have in recent years going up against El Tri.

As Carlisle notes, much of the US attack has been, and will need to be, focused around the Donovan and Beasley, who with Dempsey have produced some really fine counterattacking soccer in spots during this tournament. And with a surprisingly strong Frankie Hejduk suspended, a young defender (I hope and expect Jonathan Spector) will be asked to step into Frankie's shoes--providing solid defending, timely runs, and twelve-yards-behind-the-goal crosses.

more tomorrow...

Congrats to USWNT and U-20 team!

Some usual suspects (Lilly and Wambach) tally goals for the US in a comprehensive victory over Brazil.

Also, in a game I didn't get to see, the U-21 team, apparently with a fine contribution from Freddy Adu, beat Chile 2-1 in their final warm-up before the U-20 World Cup.

Fashion analysis - you bet

Honestly, Gold Cup analysis is forthcoming...

Nearly as significant, Slate (consistently one of the best reads on the web) has an accurate, knowledgable, and funny analysis of the woeful history of USMNT strips.