Watching the United States fight its way into the knockout phase of the World Cup satisfied my soccer fix.
There were a trio of matches I thought about attending, but as I told a few Americans at my hostel after the dramatic victory, “I’m going to end my World Cup experience on a high note, why ruin it by going to another game?” As it turned out the Slovakia-Italy match proved to be an exciting one; however, my company trumped being with thousands of stunned Italians in Ellis Park.
Lauren, a former au peair for my older sister, picked me up from a mall on the eastern edge of Johannesburg. I was in South African version of Wal-Mart looking for another bag to fit all the possessions I bought for myself and others when she walked up in all black with a big smile and a larger hug.
She was my company for the afternoon and evening and the one who showed me a side of Johannesburg few tourists (intentionally) see.
The plan was to spend my final two days in South Africa hanging out with Lauren and her friends and catch a few museums.
Once she told me that the museums feature things that South Africans learn in school, I was not as enthusiastic about going—since, I was under the false assumption that the museums were a supplement, not a complement, to education. Nevertheless, we did make our way to Soweto to walk through the house Nelson Mandela returned to, albeit briefly, following his imprisonment.
We made our way to Rosebank, her favorite part of town, to watch the exciting finale to Italy’s reign as world champions before grabbing a few drinks at a nearby bar. (As much as I resemble my mother with my non-existent drinking habits, I told Lauren my hard rule was bent in special circumstances.)
Thursday Lauren and I went to a bar in Melville to enjoy what South Africans call a Puza (check the spelling) Thursday. I had a couple more drinks and went into the lower level of the bar where there was dancing and other excitement. (Usually, I do not drink, go to bars/clubs and above all dance, but as I said it was a “special circumstance.”)
Friday was more of the same. I met Lauren’s brother Verny, who is my age and the center of attention. Everyone seemed to know Verny and the relationship appeared mutual.
Verny and his boy Leroy took me for a drive through Eldorado Park where they all grew up. For a few hours I spent time with the fellas, eating, getting a tour of the hood and a deeper appreciation for truth in my reporting. (Both thought Americans had notions that were not completely true because the media in this country highlights the worst of Joburg and doesn’t bother to fill in the edges that were scribbled over in journalistic crayon.)
I told the two that the only difference between Eldos and some areas of the U.S. was not as many people had grass on their front lawns. Eldorado Park had some nice houses and some that needed a lot of work. It was a township of people who not only owned their homes, but lived in them for generations.
I felt like a novelty in that I was “the American” but it was a friendly novelty. Verny and Leroy introduced me to their crew and encouraged me to get comfortable in Eldorado Park. Time leads to intricate details of our conversation being lost to activity, but as we drove through the neighborhood, I couldn’t help but think it was very similar to the area surrounding my grandmother’s house.
To cap off a Friday with the fellas, we all went out to a club in central Johannesburg. Le Mix Room recently opened, but the vibe in the two-level club was an inviting one for conversation, drinking, dancing and “other things.” I partook in all of the above with my motto being “what happens in Africa stays in Africa.”
(Earlier in my trip, someone else mentioned the same line. My instant retort at the time was “except AIDS.” However, there was little possibility of that happening at Le Mix Room Friday evening.)
What can be reported is I dressed up like a preppy American in khakis, a white button down shirt, a red sweater — apparently South Africans call them jerseys — and white and red shoes finish off the motif. Eventually the police shut down the party a little after 3 a.m., but not before I had a few drinks, bought a few more, listened to DJ Fresh and enjoyed a relapse into undergraduate impulsiveness.
The temperatures, and the cops, were not temperate after the party concluded but everyone stopped long enough to take a few pictures to remember the night and the time an American got a true taste of Johannesburg.
Showing posts with label US National Team. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US National Team. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Mass Hysteria!!!
PRETORIA-- The cacophony of noise began an hour before kickoff.
The knowledge that the United States and Algeria had to go for the victory here brought the excitement into and around the Loftus Versveld Stadium. There was chanting and flag waving but most importantly there were people from both sides playing their vuvuzelas.
American fans far outnumbered their Algerian counterparts. The hope from those in red, white and blue was the result would be as lopsided as supporters of both teams.
With the South African sun illuminating the proceedings there was American optimism—which bordered on cockiness—that Landon Donovan and Co. would advance. It was considered a formality that the US would score a goal, or two, and move on to Rustenburg Saturday to play the winners of Group D.
My seats in the East stands were about 10 rows up from the field, just about 30 yards away from the goal the United States defended in the opening half. That meant , I saw the Algerian chances in the opening 45 minutes and the Donovan goal that sent many of the 35,000 people in the stadium into euphoria.
Algeria may be an African side, but most South African indicated to me that they are supporting the United States as their secondary team behind the Bafana Bafana.
The United States had a pair of golden opportunities in the first half. When Jozy Altidore missed from eight yards away in the first half my entire section put our hands on our heads wondering how on earth someone could miss from such range.
When Herculez Gomez’ goal was ruled offsides people were wondering aloud whether someone had an agenda against the United States. It was the second straight goal that was disallowed, after a howler of a call in the Slovenia match Friday.
The disallowed goal just set up the high drama that was to ensue.
Unlike the previous two contests American fans did not debate the changes Bob Bradley made to the team. The introduction of Benny Feilhaber, Edson Buddle and finally DaMarcus Beasley excited section NN of the stadium as there was the hope that one of the three would unlock the Algerian defense.
When the fourth official notified the crowd that the United States was four minutes away from potentially going home, the optimism in the crowd remained, but it was mixed with more worry than before. People were nervously hopping up and down—no one was sitting at that point—hoping, wishing and praying that someone would put the ball in the back of the net.
As the Algerians raced down the field in the first minute of extra time, my belief started to wane. But Tim Howard — the only American who was universally praised by fans in all three group contests—was there to start the attack.
When the ball left Howard's hand, there was a collective gasp in the East stands, as American fans hoped his outlet would reach Donovan. It did, and the No. 10 raced right in front of me before whipping the ball inside for the mad scramble in front of goal.
When Donovan got on the end of the ball that sent the US into the Round of 16, not a single person in red, white or blue was in their seat. Everyone was hugging people they didn’t know, shooting pictures of the scene, waving flags, shouting at the top of their lungs or playing their vuvuzela.
To the credit of the Algerian fans, they were not belligerent and gracious in defeat. If anything the Desert Foxes and their fans were in utter disbelief that the U.S. finally broke through their defense.
Those who went to the US-England game had little positive to say about Rustenburg, or its stadium. Then again those comments were made before the United States won its group, and a date in the Round of 16...in Rustenburg.
The knowledge that the United States and Algeria had to go for the victory here brought the excitement into and around the Loftus Versveld Stadium. There was chanting and flag waving but most importantly there were people from both sides playing their vuvuzelas.
American fans far outnumbered their Algerian counterparts. The hope from those in red, white and blue was the result would be as lopsided as supporters of both teams.
With the South African sun illuminating the proceedings there was American optimism—which bordered on cockiness—that Landon Donovan and Co. would advance. It was considered a formality that the US would score a goal, or two, and move on to Rustenburg Saturday to play the winners of Group D.
My seats in the East stands were about 10 rows up from the field, just about 30 yards away from the goal the United States defended in the opening half. That meant , I saw the Algerian chances in the opening 45 minutes and the Donovan goal that sent many of the 35,000 people in the stadium into euphoria.
Algeria may be an African side, but most South African indicated to me that they are supporting the United States as their secondary team behind the Bafana Bafana.
The United States had a pair of golden opportunities in the first half. When Jozy Altidore missed from eight yards away in the first half my entire section put our hands on our heads wondering how on earth someone could miss from such range.
When Herculez Gomez’ goal was ruled offsides people were wondering aloud whether someone had an agenda against the United States. It was the second straight goal that was disallowed, after a howler of a call in the Slovenia match Friday.
The disallowed goal just set up the high drama that was to ensue.
Unlike the previous two contests American fans did not debate the changes Bob Bradley made to the team. The introduction of Benny Feilhaber, Edson Buddle and finally DaMarcus Beasley excited section NN of the stadium as there was the hope that one of the three would unlock the Algerian defense.
When the fourth official notified the crowd that the United States was four minutes away from potentially going home, the optimism in the crowd remained, but it was mixed with more worry than before. People were nervously hopping up and down—no one was sitting at that point—hoping, wishing and praying that someone would put the ball in the back of the net.
As the Algerians raced down the field in the first minute of extra time, my belief started to wane. But Tim Howard — the only American who was universally praised by fans in all three group contests—was there to start the attack.
When the ball left Howard's hand, there was a collective gasp in the East stands, as American fans hoped his outlet would reach Donovan. It did, and the No. 10 raced right in front of me before whipping the ball inside for the mad scramble in front of goal.
When Donovan got on the end of the ball that sent the US into the Round of 16, not a single person in red, white or blue was in their seat. Everyone was hugging people they didn’t know, shooting pictures of the scene, waving flags, shouting at the top of their lungs or playing their vuvuzela.
To the credit of the Algerian fans, they were not belligerent and gracious in defeat. If anything the Desert Foxes and their fans were in utter disbelief that the U.S. finally broke through their defense.
Those who went to the US-England game had little positive to say about Rustenburg, or its stadium. Then again those comments were made before the United States won its group, and a date in the Round of 16...in Rustenburg.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Congratulations for dodgy goalkeeping
RUSTENBURG--The much-hyped match between the United States and England did not disappoint anyone who filed into Royal Bafokeng Park here.
The US may have been outnumbered 5:1 in fans inside the stadium, by a similar ratio when it comes to world-class players; however, the 1-1 result was all that mattered.
The clocks did not work on either end of the field, but just about everyone in the stadium had a sense of how much time was left in the two halves. A scoreboard was surplus to requirements as the noise in the stadium was the best indicator of not only which team won possession but who was closer to breaking the deadlock.
The television may have shown pictures different from what people inside this loud stadium witnessed, but it was a match where the result was deserved—even if the method in achieving it was not.
England dominated the game in the early going, exploiting space between the two American central defenders. Goalkeeper Tim Howard rightfully screamed at his defense for the lapse that allowed English captain Steven Gerrard to walk in and score on the Three Lions first shot of the game.
Howard eventually made his presence known with his commanding play in goal. The difference between Howard and fellow English Premier League goalkeeper Robert Green was stark—and the Americans I sat with made a point to mention that to the two English men who were in the row in front of us.
(Interestingly: another EPL player was in our midst. Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand, whose brother Rio is the English captain, sat in the row in front of us watching the game with a handful of people from England. That’s Anton who is in the background in my picture after 90 minutes in Rustenburg.)
There were some disagreements about which team got the better of their opponent. But most people in the stadium said the result was a fair one. The U.S. only had two real scoring chances, but in the same context England had more opportunities and squandered them.
When the Brazilian referee finally blew the whistle to indicate the match was over there were handshakes from both sides—of fans—for a good job on the evening and wishes for good luck against the perceived minnows of the group Slovenia and Algeria.
Unfortunately the person who brought a sign indicating all the important victories over the English (1776, 1812 and 1950) will not have another date to add to his banner.
The solace in the draw may be the congratulations many American supporters received from South Africans and many soccer fans about how far the team has progressed since they last saw the stars and stripes at the Confederations Cup.
The US may have been outnumbered 5:1 in fans inside the stadium, by a similar ratio when it comes to world-class players; however, the 1-1 result was all that mattered.
The clocks did not work on either end of the field, but just about everyone in the stadium had a sense of how much time was left in the two halves. A scoreboard was surplus to requirements as the noise in the stadium was the best indicator of not only which team won possession but who was closer to breaking the deadlock.
The television may have shown pictures different from what people inside this loud stadium witnessed, but it was a match where the result was deserved—even if the method in achieving it was not.
England dominated the game in the early going, exploiting space between the two American central defenders. Goalkeeper Tim Howard rightfully screamed at his defense for the lapse that allowed English captain Steven Gerrard to walk in and score on the Three Lions first shot of the game.
Howard eventually made his presence known with his commanding play in goal. The difference between Howard and fellow English Premier League goalkeeper Robert Green was stark—and the Americans I sat with made a point to mention that to the two English men who were in the row in front of us.
(Interestingly: another EPL player was in our midst. Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand, whose brother Rio is the English captain, sat in the row in front of us watching the game with a handful of people from England. That’s Anton who is in the background in my picture after 90 minutes in Rustenburg.)
There were some disagreements about which team got the better of their opponent. But most people in the stadium said the result was a fair one. The U.S. only had two real scoring chances, but in the same context England had more opportunities and squandered them.
When the Brazilian referee finally blew the whistle to indicate the match was over there were handshakes from both sides—of fans—for a good job on the evening and wishes for good luck against the perceived minnows of the group Slovenia and Algeria.
Unfortunately the person who brought a sign indicating all the important victories over the English (1776, 1812 and 1950) will not have another date to add to his banner.
The solace in the draw may be the congratulations many American supporters received from South Africans and many soccer fans about how far the team has progressed since they last saw the stars and stripes at the Confederations Cup.
On the way to Rustenburg
June 12 is the reason Americans traveled en masse to South Africa.
On the 60th anniversary of the greatest upset in World Cup history the United States faced the English in their first game of the 2010 World Cup. Multiple South African media outlets have reported that no other country had more residents purchase tickets to the bottom of the world than the United States.
Rustenberg is nowhere near the country’s three biggest cities, which is where most Americans are based. The two hour drive between Rustenburg and Johannesburg made getting there difficult, but not impossible, for the thousands of fans who not only made the trip, but scored a coveted ticket.
Stefan and Peter Galich saw an opening and organized a bus trip to take more than 200 supporters from Johannesburg to Rustenburg for the contest. The two brothers, who grew up in Pasadena, Calif., have attended every World Cup since it was in the U.S. 16 years ago.
The group met in the Nelson Mandela Square in the Sandton neighborhood of Johannesburg six hours before kickoff. Residents said the area is not just the most affluent in town, but on the entire continent.
Saturday, the square was awash in colors as Argentines wore the colors of La Albiceleste, hundreds of excited Americans were decked out in red, white and blue and people from all walks of life were in Sandton shopping and soaking up the atmosphere that was punctuated with the sound of vuvuzelas.
Moments before the busses were to depart Stefan stood up to announce the plans for the six busses to a loud and deserved ovation.
It was no coincidence the busses were coordinated to coincide with important years in America’s relationship with the English: 1776, 1812, 1950, 1994 and 2010. The sixth bus was called The Short Bus, but was long on revelry.
Everyone wore something that was red, white and blue whether it was a T-shirt, a replica jersey, hats, pants, shoes and anything else one could imagine. There were jerseys, Landon Donovan shirts, Clint Dempsey shirts. One person even wore a Ricardo Clark jersey though the Georgian midfielder will likely not feature in the starting lineup.
If the result atmosphere of the contest rivals the pregame festivities of the rowdy American crowd here the only people who will be disappointed will be the English—after being the latest victim of the giant-killing Americans.
On the 60th anniversary of the greatest upset in World Cup history the United States faced the English in their first game of the 2010 World Cup. Multiple South African media outlets have reported that no other country had more residents purchase tickets to the bottom of the world than the United States.
Rustenberg is nowhere near the country’s three biggest cities, which is where most Americans are based. The two hour drive between Rustenburg and Johannesburg made getting there difficult, but not impossible, for the thousands of fans who not only made the trip, but scored a coveted ticket.
Stefan and Peter Galich saw an opening and organized a bus trip to take more than 200 supporters from Johannesburg to Rustenburg for the contest. The two brothers, who grew up in Pasadena, Calif., have attended every World Cup since it was in the U.S. 16 years ago.
The group met in the Nelson Mandela Square in the Sandton neighborhood of Johannesburg six hours before kickoff. Residents said the area is not just the most affluent in town, but on the entire continent.
Saturday, the square was awash in colors as Argentines wore the colors of La Albiceleste, hundreds of excited Americans were decked out in red, white and blue and people from all walks of life were in Sandton shopping and soaking up the atmosphere that was punctuated with the sound of vuvuzelas.
Moments before the busses were to depart Stefan stood up to announce the plans for the six busses to a loud and deserved ovation.
It was no coincidence the busses were coordinated to coincide with important years in America’s relationship with the English: 1776, 1812, 1950, 1994 and 2010. The sixth bus was called The Short Bus, but was long on revelry.
Everyone wore something that was red, white and blue whether it was a T-shirt, a replica jersey, hats, pants, shoes and anything else one could imagine. There were jerseys, Landon Donovan shirts, Clint Dempsey shirts. One person even wore a Ricardo Clark jersey though the Georgian midfielder will likely not feature in the starting lineup.
If the result atmosphere of the contest rivals the pregame festivities of the rowdy American crowd here the only people who will be disappointed will be the English—after being the latest victim of the giant-killing Americans.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
One week to go!
It’s hard to imagine that in a week I will be waiting for my plane to take off from New York City.
All the work and the preparation for my big trip to South Africa is seven days away. Shoot, I’ve spent that much time watching soccer games over the past four years.
My parents were justifiably concerned for my safety. Other family members wondered aloud whether I could afford it. My girlfriend wanted to ensure I had a place to sleep. But for me, the one big thing that left me fretting many nights was finalized Wednesday.
How am I going to get tickets to the matches?
Through a Facebook group and an obsession with the FIFA website for ticket availabilities I was able to find tickets to all three United States matches and what may be the most intriguing match of the first round Cote d Ivoire vs. Portugal.
From watching in heartache in 1994 as the US had a golden opportunity against Brazil in the Round of 16, to the embarrassment of 1998. There was the joy of the 2002 quarterfinal berth and the disgust for the loss to Ghana in 2006 I have followed American soccer for quite a while. Being able to see my first US matches in person — at the World Cup to boot — is going to be special.
Or as the person I bought my US-England ticket from told me. The World Cup is the one chance to act unabashedly pro-American and have no shame about it.
There are some minute details to hammer out, but the concerns of my family, friends and cheerful supporters have all be answered in one way or the other. Now all that is left is to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.
All the work and the preparation for my big trip to South Africa is seven days away. Shoot, I’ve spent that much time watching soccer games over the past four years.
My parents were justifiably concerned for my safety. Other family members wondered aloud whether I could afford it. My girlfriend wanted to ensure I had a place to sleep. But for me, the one big thing that left me fretting many nights was finalized Wednesday.
How am I going to get tickets to the matches?
Through a Facebook group and an obsession with the FIFA website for ticket availabilities I was able to find tickets to all three United States matches and what may be the most intriguing match of the first round Cote d Ivoire vs. Portugal.
From watching in heartache in 1994 as the US had a golden opportunity against Brazil in the Round of 16, to the embarrassment of 1998. There was the joy of the 2002 quarterfinal berth and the disgust for the loss to Ghana in 2006 I have followed American soccer for quite a while. Being able to see my first US matches in person — at the World Cup to boot — is going to be special.
Or as the person I bought my US-England ticket from told me. The World Cup is the one chance to act unabashedly pro-American and have no shame about it.
There are some minute details to hammer out, but the concerns of my family, friends and cheerful supporters have all be answered in one way or the other. Now all that is left is to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Making the grade, and the plane
The United States announced its final World Cup roster Wednesday.
While there were some positions up for grabs, primarily depth roles and the second striker along with Jozy Altidore, most of this team won their seats on the plan to South Africa during the qualifying round.
It was a given the likes of Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Altidore were locks to make the team. Still there were a few surprises, pleasant and otherwise, that made the final roster. A full breakdown can be found here.
My first thought when looking at the roster is the US may employ a 4-5-1 system for periods of the World Cup, leaving Altidore up front with either Dempsey or Donovan playing in the hole between the midfield and the 20-year old.
Based upon the form Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomez have shown with their respective club teams they deserved a spot on the team. Whether they deserve on the field June 12 when the Americans play England remains to be seen.
“As we move toward the World Cup, players that are on a roll come in handy,” Bradley told ESPN about taking Buddle and Gomez.
Their selection means Floridian Eddie Johnson did not make the final roster. The Flagler County product was a long shot after sustaining a hamstring injury during training camp then being ineffective in a May 25 appearance against the Czech Republic.
Not only did the Americans take just four forwards, but Bob Bradley selected nine midfielders. But with the choices available to him at forward, it’s hard to begrudge the coach with a 35-19-6 record as head coach of the national team.
What may be of bigger concern for the team is the defense. Despite three of the probable starters having World Cup experience, injury and ineffectiveness, or a combination of the two, may keep the U.S. from advancing past the group stage.
Captain Carlos Bocanegra is coming off a hernia injury. Right back Steve Cherundolo made his first appearance for the national team Tuesday after sustaining a shoulder injury in January. Then there is towering centerback Oguchi “Gooch” Onyewu who is returning from a knee injury suffered in the last qualifying match back in October.
Cherundolo and Gooch both played against the Czechs, turning in performances that may have left some fans wanting.
Cherundolo got forward well from the right and partnered with Stuart Holden to provide width and an offensive option going forward. Though he punted the ball in the air a little too much for my liking, Cherundolo was far better than the two men the Americans lined up at left back during the match.
It was mentioned during the telecast Onyewu only had 60 minutes of action for AC Milan before suffering his injury on Oct. 14. That said he was getting back into shape and adjusting to the physicality and speed of a game that cannot be replicated in practice.
Though Onyewu was beaten in the air for the Czech’s first goal in the 44th minute, he provided an otherwise solid performance for the 65 minutes he was on the field. The American defense was a lot rockier in the final 25 minutes—in part because midfielder Maurice Edu was at center back, but moreso because the 6’4” Onyewu was on the bench.
Once again the United States kicked off its “send-off series” with a loss. However, there are caveats to Tuesday’s 4-2 loss.
First, at least six starters were not on the field for the Americans, including Donovan, Dempsey, Altidore, Bocanegra and midfield bulldog Michael Bradley. Secondly, the Czechs are a much better team, and sparring partner for lack of a better term, than Morocco was in 2006. Finally, and it cannot be understated, the Czechs were trying to erase the sting of losing 2-1 to Turkey over the weekend.
Saturday the Americans will have their own crack at the Turks in the final match on U.S. soil before the team leaves for South Africa May 30.
Bradley told ussoccer.com that the team features a blend of World Cup experience as well as newcomers, all of whom have proven they deserve to wear the red, white and blue.
Now the bigger question is whether this team can win in South Africa.
While there were some positions up for grabs, primarily depth roles and the second striker along with Jozy Altidore, most of this team won their seats on the plan to South Africa during the qualifying round.
It was a given the likes of Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Altidore were locks to make the team. Still there were a few surprises, pleasant and otherwise, that made the final roster. A full breakdown can be found here.
My first thought when looking at the roster is the US may employ a 4-5-1 system for periods of the World Cup, leaving Altidore up front with either Dempsey or Donovan playing in the hole between the midfield and the 20-year old.
Based upon the form Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomez have shown with their respective club teams they deserved a spot on the team. Whether they deserve on the field June 12 when the Americans play England remains to be seen.
“As we move toward the World Cup, players that are on a roll come in handy,” Bradley told ESPN about taking Buddle and Gomez.
Their selection means Floridian Eddie Johnson did not make the final roster. The Flagler County product was a long shot after sustaining a hamstring injury during training camp then being ineffective in a May 25 appearance against the Czech Republic.
Not only did the Americans take just four forwards, but Bob Bradley selected nine midfielders. But with the choices available to him at forward, it’s hard to begrudge the coach with a 35-19-6 record as head coach of the national team.
What may be of bigger concern for the team is the defense. Despite three of the probable starters having World Cup experience, injury and ineffectiveness, or a combination of the two, may keep the U.S. from advancing past the group stage.
Captain Carlos Bocanegra is coming off a hernia injury. Right back Steve Cherundolo made his first appearance for the national team Tuesday after sustaining a shoulder injury in January. Then there is towering centerback Oguchi “Gooch” Onyewu who is returning from a knee injury suffered in the last qualifying match back in October.
Cherundolo and Gooch both played against the Czechs, turning in performances that may have left some fans wanting.
Cherundolo got forward well from the right and partnered with Stuart Holden to provide width and an offensive option going forward. Though he punted the ball in the air a little too much for my liking, Cherundolo was far better than the two men the Americans lined up at left back during the match.
It was mentioned during the telecast Onyewu only had 60 minutes of action for AC Milan before suffering his injury on Oct. 14. That said he was getting back into shape and adjusting to the physicality and speed of a game that cannot be replicated in practice.
Though Onyewu was beaten in the air for the Czech’s first goal in the 44th minute, he provided an otherwise solid performance for the 65 minutes he was on the field. The American defense was a lot rockier in the final 25 minutes—in part because midfielder Maurice Edu was at center back, but moreso because the 6’4” Onyewu was on the bench.
Once again the United States kicked off its “send-off series” with a loss. However, there are caveats to Tuesday’s 4-2 loss.
First, at least six starters were not on the field for the Americans, including Donovan, Dempsey, Altidore, Bocanegra and midfield bulldog Michael Bradley. Secondly, the Czechs are a much better team, and sparring partner for lack of a better term, than Morocco was in 2006. Finally, and it cannot be understated, the Czechs were trying to erase the sting of losing 2-1 to Turkey over the weekend.
Saturday the Americans will have their own crack at the Turks in the final match on U.S. soil before the team leaves for South Africa May 30.
Bradley told ussoccer.com that the team features a blend of World Cup experience as well as newcomers, all of whom have proven they deserve to wear the red, white and blue.
Now the bigger question is whether this team can win in South Africa.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The proper send-off
The vacuum the closure of the club season left will now be replaced by scores of international friendlies featuring countries that are making the last tweaks before the June 1 deadline to glean 23 players from a 30-man preliminary roster.
The United States joins the party this evening as it will prepare to face the Czech Republic in the first of three games that are being dubbed the “send-off series”. Of course completing the 90 minutes unscathed on the injury front will be the primary concern for head coach Bob Bradley.
For players on the fringe of that 30-man roster — this means you Eddie Johnson, Robbie Findley, Heath Pearce and Sacha Kljestan — the contest represents a final opportunity to impress head coach Bob Bradley and the U.S. coaching staff that they are fit for the final 23-man roster. Bradley is slated to announce the team on ESPN Wednesday afternoon.
Unlike the 2006 send-off series the results may not matter as much this time around. Most of the core of the American team has played in big international matches, including previous World Cups, so the atmosphere surrounding the event should not be overwhelming.
Also, the competition in this year’s edition of the series is much better than what the Americans faced in 2006.
Morocco, Venezuela and Latvia were teams that were not close to qualifying for the Germany 2006, yet the Americans found a way to be unimpressive in all three contests.
Losing to Morocco on home soil was dispiriting enough, but to watch winger Bobby Convey utterly gassed after 65 minutes less than a month before a World Cup should have been a sign the U.S. was not going to make a return to the quarterfinals four years ago.
This time Bob Bradley’s team will face a quality opponent in the Czechs, Turkey, a semifinalist in Euro 2008 and an Australian team that qualified for South Africa and has the talent to make the quarterfinals.
Of the six combined matches against the Czech Republic—which includes a match as Czechoslovakia at the 1990 World Cup—Turkey and Australia the Americans have never won a contest. Granted, the 3-0 blowout to the Czechs at the 2006 World Cup was the only game that has been contested within the past five years.
“We expect a very good challenge,” U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan said during a recent press conference. “If you can’t play one of the teams that have qualified for the World Cup, there’s not many better teams that you can pick that the Czech Republic.”
However, for the American public to no longer consider events like the 2009 Confederations Cup run a surprise, as Donovan himself once noted when accepting an ESPY award, playing teams like the Czech Republic should evolve from a challenge to a tune-up for bigger conquests.
The United States joins the party this evening as it will prepare to face the Czech Republic in the first of three games that are being dubbed the “send-off series”. Of course completing the 90 minutes unscathed on the injury front will be the primary concern for head coach Bob Bradley.
For players on the fringe of that 30-man roster — this means you Eddie Johnson, Robbie Findley, Heath Pearce and Sacha Kljestan — the contest represents a final opportunity to impress head coach Bob Bradley and the U.S. coaching staff that they are fit for the final 23-man roster. Bradley is slated to announce the team on ESPN Wednesday afternoon.
Unlike the 2006 send-off series the results may not matter as much this time around. Most of the core of the American team has played in big international matches, including previous World Cups, so the atmosphere surrounding the event should not be overwhelming.
Also, the competition in this year’s edition of the series is much better than what the Americans faced in 2006.
Morocco, Venezuela and Latvia were teams that were not close to qualifying for the Germany 2006, yet the Americans found a way to be unimpressive in all three contests.
Losing to Morocco on home soil was dispiriting enough, but to watch winger Bobby Convey utterly gassed after 65 minutes less than a month before a World Cup should have been a sign the U.S. was not going to make a return to the quarterfinals four years ago.
This time Bob Bradley’s team will face a quality opponent in the Czechs, Turkey, a semifinalist in Euro 2008 and an Australian team that qualified for South Africa and has the talent to make the quarterfinals.
Of the six combined matches against the Czech Republic—which includes a match as Czechoslovakia at the 1990 World Cup—Turkey and Australia the Americans have never won a contest. Granted, the 3-0 blowout to the Czechs at the 2006 World Cup was the only game that has been contested within the past five years.
“We expect a very good challenge,” U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan said during a recent press conference. “If you can’t play one of the teams that have qualified for the World Cup, there’s not many better teams that you can pick that the Czech Republic.”
However, for the American public to no longer consider events like the 2009 Confederations Cup run a surprise, as Donovan himself once noted when accepting an ESPY award, playing teams like the Czech Republic should evolve from a challenge to a tune-up for bigger conquests.
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36 Hours in Cape Town
Safari Time
Ellis Park & Longest Friday Ever
A Day in Durban
Eastern Cape
United States vs. England
Opening Day 2010 World Cup
Photos from June 9-10
