More learning pains: USA loses to Belgium in friendly

Photo credit: AP

The game started slow enough this evening in Cleveland, a town not known for soccer. A defensive mistake by Geoff Cameron and Omar Gonzalez allowed Mirallas to put a sublime touch on the ball to get it over Howard for the first of the game at just 6 minutes. It looked like a rout.

Team USA had a hard time for most of the first half hour with Belgium controlling most of the possession. Fellaini, Kompany, Lukaku, Dembele and Defour made it look simple and Klinsmann had to scramble for answers. Enter Geoff Cameron in the proverbial set piece and goal for the US. Sadly, Jozy Altidore was never able to establish himself in this match and he was subbed again at halftime, continuing his scoring drought that goes back to November 2011.

The first half ended better for the United States with good play out of Beasley and Jermaine Jones and Zusi and Dempsey waiting to pounce. The second half also started well with Brad Guzan in goal until Omar Gonzalez committed a terrible mistake in lightly touching the ball away while moving towards the USA. The Belgians pounced and Benteke was gifted a perfect ball that he just tapped in. From there, the Americans tried to pull back but the real Belgian team showed up. Great goals by Fellaini and another by Benteke in highlight-worthy moments.

Why are these learning pains? For one is the continuously evolving/revolving back line. Klinsmann went with Cameron at right back, where he plays for Stoke City, Beasley as left back and Goodson and Gonzalez in the middle. Goodson brings experience but he showed slow and disconnected. Indeed, everyone seemed disconnected from Omar Gonzalez, even Omar himself with Belgium's second goal. Cameron is clearly not meant for right back and that position should go to Chandler or Lichaj. Parkhurst has not been in action so he probably should not play at that position.

DaMarcus Beasley had another stellar match tonight. Maybe not so much because of his defense, although he held his own against a superior side. No, it was the dribbling around players like Vermaelen and Mirallas and unleashing his speed down the flank that allowed for plays that ultimately led to Dempsey's PK late in the match. It might be a good idea to have Fabian Johnson and Beasley control the left side for now. They can both play the wing and defend well. Ironically, it's the middle and the right that trouble Klinsmann. Not long ago we had countless talks about the problem at left back and how we were stacked elsewhere.

If the US is to build around Gonzalez as a fulcrum then Gonzalez will first need to clear his head and understand that he is the captain of the defense. Second would be moving Cameron to the middle where he excelled and won his place with the national team and earned his passport to Europe. This should be the start and perhaps we'll see something to that effect in the game versus Germany coming up this Sunday.

The rest of the team had a pretty muted match. Attacks came from Beasley and Jones with Dempsey and Altidore/Johnson/Boyd providing the final attempt. Clearly there was something or someone missing. One can make the case for both Michael Bradley and, yes, Landon Donovan.

Player ratings:

Howard................6

Cameron...............5

Gonzalez...............4

Goodson..............4.5

Beasley................6

Zusi.....................5

Davis...................5

Kljestan...............4.5

Jones...................6.5

Dempsey.............5.5

Altidore...............5

Subs: Guzan (5), Johnson (6), Boyd (5), Holden (5), Evans (N/A), Besler (N/A)

March Qualifiers: No giant-slayers to kill giants

Photo credit: AP

If you are a fan of the US Men's National Team, the title of this post should say it all. Ahead of the most important game in qualifiers, Juergen Klinsmann lost 8 players, some to injuries, others to inactivity. More importantly, there will be no Howard, Fabian Johnson, Bocanegra, Chandler or Donovan.

This is the team called up for the games: 

GOALKEEPERS- Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando, Sean Johnson.
DEFENDERS- Geoff Cameron, Omar Gonzalez, Tony Beltran, Justin Morrow, Clarence Goodson, Matt Besler.
MIDFIELDERS- Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Maurice Edu, Graham Zusi, Brek Shea, Joe Corona, Sacha Kljestan, DaMarcus Beasley, Kyle Beckerman.
FORWARDS- Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Herculez Gomez, Eddie Johnson, Terrence Boyd.

It's true that Carlos Bocanegra is on his way out, so that absence may not be as significant. That the team has lost Tim Howard, the perennial US goalkeeper, and the flanking Germans Johnson and Chandler, puts the team in a potentially-messy situation. Half of the defense is gone. How does the team face Costa Rica and Mexico?

It seems like we have done the left back position story too many times before. When Fabian Johnson took the spot, it seemed to fix the problems. And yet the team has still struggled on that side. Indeed, even the much-maligned Timmy Chandler didn't live up to his Bundesliga talent at right back versus Honduras last month. So were they the permanent fixes? Are we missing Cherundolo that much? May it be that the left back is still up for grabs?

With Klinsmann's team there are always more questions than answers. One thing we may not need to worry about is talent from the midfield up. In the absence of Donovan, Dempsey has taken up the slack by scoring goals and controlling play. The American ace's absence has also given rise to players like Graham Zusi, Brek Shea and Joe Corona. Up top Jozy Altidore and Terrence Boyd are potent European-based forwards and Eddie Johnson and Herculez Gomez are getting things done in the New World for Seattle and Santos, respectively.

And what about Tim Howard? Yes, a casualty of the Premier League and a terrible loss for the US. Then again, these things are going to happen and Brad Guzan, likely to start, has seen his share of action as a starter for Aston Villa in the Premier League. Only communication should be a factor for him, his hands already know the job.

So, do we look at these upcoming qualifiers with optimism? Hard to answer. The back line sounds more like an experimental friendly-type roster as it is. Beltran, Morrow and Besler all have one international cap: against Canada in a friendly in January. Omar Gonzalez just got to know Cameron and it's likely that Cameron might be deployed on the flank, where he has played for Stoke City. 

The midfield options have a couple of defensive options: DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu. Beasley has seen his share of games as a left back, and although he hasn't shined in that spot, his experience playing in Mexico should speak volumes for him. Maurice Edu, on the other hand, has plenty of experience at center back, including a famous win last year versus Mexico at the Azteca. So a back line of Beasley, Goodson, Gonzalez and Cameron in that order isn't so bad. Not perfect but not bad.

But there are missing giant-slayers in this squad: Donovan and Howard. Without both of them we are looking at the next American national team. Anything short of three points in the next two games might make a trip to Brazil highly tenuous. There are giants to defeat: Chicharito, Guardado and Dos Santos for Mexico, Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell for Costa Rica. New slayers will need to rise.

Bradley, a general, and USA ties in Russia

Photo credit: ESPN

There were several subplots in yesterday's international friendly between the USA and Russia in Krasnodar: Josh Gatt and Joe Gyau were new call-ups, Altidore was returning, an army of youngsters headlined the team, and Timmy Chandler had another chance. In the end, the most important part of Team USA was Michael Bradley and he was instrumental in earning the US a 2-2 tie versus the Russians.

Starting from the back, Tim Howard was superb and once more showed why he's one of the top 10 goalkeepers in the world. The score could easily have ended up 5 or 6 to 2 in favor of the Russians. Pure instinct in positioning and impeccable reflexes mixed with great communication saved Team USA time and time again, especially early in the second half in a scene reminiscent of the Americans' win at the Azteca. Without Timmy, this team would struggle.

The defense was supposed to be closer to the ultimate starting group: Chandler was back and ready to take up the right back spot, Johnson was healthy and the left back position is his, Cameron has continued his rise at center back and paired up well with Bocanegra. The aging Boca, however, saw his game end early with an injury. Clarence Goodson, the next best player, came in. Goodson didn't have a good night, however, including the penalty he was forced to concede. Johnson was exposed several times tonight and Chandler didn't show the flair displayed in earlier matches with the USA.

At midfield things were a bit different, and perhaps confused. Three defensive midfielders were trotted out by Klinsmann: Danny Williams, Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley. At times, the three stumbled in figuring out who had which man and who was supposed to attack. Jones was very active in the attack, however, and led to important crosses. Williams had a less stellar night and a mistouch allowed Russia's opening goal.

The 4-3-3 formation had Herculez Gomez and Josh Gatt on the outside and Jozy Altidore as the center forward. Jozy did much better in this game than in recent qualifiers, a cause for him missing out on the final two games in the tournament. He still had some moments of absence and showed trepidation when controlling the ball, perhaps due to his recent form with the national team. 

The brightest new start today was surely newcomer Josh Gatt. A member of Norway's champions, Molde, Gatt has been showing excellent speed and talent in the Tippeligaen. This was enough for Klinsmann to call him up to qualifiers, although he was injured, and ultimately to this game. Gatt showed his speed, but more importantly, he showed that he has passion for the game and an understanding of his position on the pitch. 

As happens in many friendlies, substitutes tend to be difference-makers. Such was the case with Agudelo and Diskerud. Juan Agudelo's headed back pass to Michael Bradley allowed the Roma man to unleash a superb shot that defeated the Russian goalkeeper and tied the score at 1-1. Diskerud would go on to tie the game at 2-2 in stoppage time in similar fashion to Bradley's goal, with Terrence Boyd as the provider.

Michael Bradley controlled this match. When the score was down 0-1 he managed the midfield and stopped the Russian attack. When he needed to come forward, he did so, and it always turned into a dangerous situation. He scored the equalizer in a dramatic, world class manner, from outside the area. He also set up the second goal with a well-placed long ball to Terrence Boyd. As Alexi Lalas argued, it was his economy at positioning that set him apart. Dempsey may be the offensive key for the United States at the moment, but Bradley is undoubtedly the engine at midfield and a general on the field.

Player Ratings:

Howard.............9

Johnson.............6

Cameron...........6.5

Bocanegra..........N/A

Chandler..........5.5

J. Jones............6

D. Williams.......4.5

Bradley.............8

Gomez..............5

Altidore.............6

Gatt..................7

Subs: Diskerud (7), Agudelo (7), Edu (5.5), Kljestan (6), Boyd (6), Goodson (4)

Azteca falls and USA defeats Mexico

Photo credit: Getty Images

Today the soccer world witnessed history: the USA defeated Mexico on Mexican soil for the first time in history. The Estadio Azteca will never be the same again for American players or fans of the game. Once a mythical and almost indestructible fortress, now the belief that Team USA can beat anyone anywhere is palpable.

There are some basic things to understand about this game. First, neither team was at "full strength," although Mexico fielded most of its starters except for Dos Santos and Salcido. The US, on the other hand, did not have Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore or anyone from its classic defense: no Bocanegra, Onyewu, Goodson, Cherundolo, Bornstein or Lichaj. Instead today we were treated to the Geoff Cameron show and an unlikely partnership with Maurice Edu. Fabian Johnson, the new left back option, shifted from left to right and allowed for Edgar Castillo to slide in at left.

The defense worked. Maybe it was luck on several chances, maybe Cameron really truly is the real deal, and maybe Chicharito has lost his step. Any way you look at this, it wasn't exactly a game that the Mexicans were looking to lose at any point, not after winning the Olympics and having been unbeaten against the US in 24 tries. No, today the back four held their line well and hustled for every play. And when Cameron didn't get there Howard kept us in the game.

We should also recognize that the offense had its ups and downs and didn't quite work with Torres as the playmaker and an ailing Donovan fresh from a Superclasico win by the Galaxy over Chivas USA. When Beasley and Boyd were inserted into the game, things clicked better but an enabler was still needed. Enter  Brek Shea, and just as he did in last year's game versus Mexico, one play from the flank allowed for a nifty pass from Boyd to an unlikely hero: Michael Orozco Fiscal.

Orozco's goal said it all for the US. This was a team win and it didn't matter who scored the goal. It didn't have to be Donovan or Shea or Gomez or even Boyd, it didn't need to be flashy and over the top. All it had to do was cross the goal line and inflate the net behind Gillermo Ochoa. This was a true American win, a win about team work, about strength and athleticism, about belief in yourself and your companions, about a dream that can be reached.

Mexico will claim that Dos Santos (both of them) along with Oribe Peralta and Corona at goal will make the difference next time these rivals meet. Perhaps, yes, but consider that the USA will also have Altidore, Dempsey and Michael Bradley along for the ride. Hopefully the teams will meet again, twice, if they qualify for the Hexagonal in World Cup Qualifying with a chance to prove it all over again in a competitive match. All of us on both sides of the border can't wait.

Player ratings:

Howard...............10

Cameron..............8.5

Edu......................7

Castillo.................6

Johnson................6.5

Torres..................4

Donovan...............6

Jones....................6

Williams................5.5

Beckermann.........6

Gomez.................6

Subs: Boyd (7), Beasley (6.5), Zusi (6.5), Shea (7), Orozco (7), Corona (N/A)

Same Story: US loses to France

Photo credit: AFP

New stadium, new opponent, same story. Team USA lost a friendly today versus France at the Stade de France outside Paris by the score of 0-1. Sounds familiar? It should. After an encouraging start to he Klinsmann era in a 1-1 tie versus arch-rivals Mexico, The US went to lose 0-1 versus a limited Costa Rica at home, 0-1 in Belgium, and 0-1 in New York against Ecuador. There was a win against Honduras in Miami. A bright spot in a difficult start for the new coach.

The match was fairly even today in the first 45. The US back line held up well and was basically a rock until the start of the second half. Altidore and Dempsey proved to be real headaches for France although neither could get a clear shot on the French 'keeper.

The midfield was a different story. While Beckerman showed why he's worth having as a defensive midfielder, he hardly showed why he should start over Michael Bradley (a regular for Chievo in the Italian Serie A). Danny Williams was beaten several times and did not contribute as much going forward. Brek Shea also had a hard time creating plays and was relegated to the defensive end, forcing the team to retreat further.

The addition of Jermaine Jones offered some respite for the central midfield of Klinsmann's team, but his introduction came shortly before Howard's goal was penetrated by Remy. Enter Fabian Johnson: creativity, speed, but not enough to save the day. He and DaMarcus Beasley allowed for Dempsey and Altidore to exploit open spaces. Dempsey payed for this by getting constantly fouled by the French. Altidore's attempts never quite broke through.

So where does the national team stand after this latest setback? Same place, really. They were going up against one of the best teams in the world, even if there were some new faces in Blanc's squad. This was the Stade de France of Zidane and Henry. A 0-1 loss is acceptable. But what of the 1-4-1 record? Clearly one or even two of those should have been wins. At some point, the honeymoon stage with Klinsmann has to end and he will have to start producing on the field with real results. Altidore needs company. Perhaps with Donovan and Dempsey both on the pitch things might be better. But that is likely to not occur until February or March of next year.

Player ratings:
Howard.........................7.5
Chandler.......................6.5
Bocanegra....................7
Goodson.......................5.5
Cherundolo..................6
Shea..............................5.5
Dempsey......................8
Williams.......................5
Beckerman...............6.5
Edu..............................5.5
Altidore.......................7

Subs: Jonson (6), Jones (6.5), Beasley (5), Buddle (6)

Sportsmanship: a short letter to US fans

Anger and disillusionment are natural human emotions. It doesn't matter if you're El Salvador losing to Panama, Holland losing to Spain or US losing to Mexico. We call for the heads of our coaches, question the benching of players, remark about the loss of form of individuals or the phantom calls by referees. But we should not resort to violence, not physical nor verbal.

The most recent emotional event for US soccer fans was the loss of Team USA to Mexico at the Gold Cup final. Fans and critics were irate and suggested Bradley should be deposed as coach. But in the stands there was verbal violence of Mexican fans to Americans and vice versa. And players too. Landon Donovan refused to comment on Bob Bradley's status and also expressed his disillusionment for being benched for the start of two Gold Cup matches. Tim Howard, star goalkeeper for the US, was quoted saying:

“CONCACAF should be ashamed of themselves. I think it’s a (freaking) disgrace that the entire post-match ceremony was in Spanish. You can bet your ass if we were in Mexico City it wouldn’t be all in English.” His apology followed: “I am the father of young children, and I certainly do not believe profanity is appropriate in public comments. I was caught up in the heat of the moment.”

Caught up in the moment indeed. We all do it. Apology accepted. He didn't have the best of nights and he knew it. However, I'm in agreement with the fact that the ceremony should be held in the languages of both participating teams. Where's our FIFA fair play? Howard also said in his apology statement that he stood by his words about the language used at the Gold Cup ceremony.

Reading fans comments in several soccer blogs I found silly language and unfortunate prejudice. And yet, through it all, I reminded them that this country is unique. For some of us, when two national teams play it might just be the case that you will find no qualms with either team losing. You might be cheering for the country you love for a moment and the country you were born in a minute later. There was an image that struck me before the match started: a fan wearing a green Mexico jersey holding his right hand on his heart as he sang the Star Spangled Banner.

Rekindled: US defeats Jamaica in Gold Cup Quarterfinal

Photo credit: US Presswire

Bob Bradley may have saved his job a little while longer. The US dominated and defeated Jamaica by the score of 2-0 in a match that served as a preview of what the team can do without Donovan or Altidore. Donovan was left on the bench for two thirds of the match and Altidore (2 goals in the Gold Cup) had to be subbed off early in the game due to a hamstring strain. But team USA responded with smart plays by Kljestan and Bedoya and great teamwork in the defense.

This game was also Dempsey's game. He was severely criticized by media and fans alike (myself included) after the game against Guadeloupe. Indeed, the "Deuce" missed three or four chances in that match that could have increased the scoreline to a more appropriate difference between two squads with considerable spacing in quality and experience. But today Dempsey responded with constant attacks, shots on goal and a superb strike to put the Americans up 2-0.

When Altidore went down injured at the start of the game, Americans nationwide held their breath. Might he miss the rest of the tournament? Would the US still be able to get past Jamaica? But Agudelo picked up where Jozy left off. He provided an additional spark and passes that gave way to the goals scored. His center provided the assist for Clint Dempsey's strike. The youngster proved why he belongs with the team and why he is a player to watch for the future.

Another hero tonight was Jermaine Jones. Always controversial and full of pride, Jones received a yellow for an unnecessary foul but was involved in the attack much more than in previous games. He had his share of chances and his strike from outside the area proved to be the difference-maker in this game.

The back line also had a solid game today. Goodson and Bocanegra held the middle of the field with great poise, although they were outrun on a couple of occasions by the speedster Dane Richards. Cherundolo and Lichaj were great at countering the wings and also by providing great crosses for the US attack. Lichaj, in particular, impressed with his poise and positioning. Hopefully this means more playing time in the Premier League or wherever he ends up next.

Up next is Panama, who just defeated El Salvador on penalty kicks. This could be both good and bad since the players will be full of pride after defeating the Cuscatlecos but also tired from the 120 minutes on the pitch. Team USA will have to undo the damage done by Panama in the group stage loss to the Canaleros. A tough task indeed, but if they play like today then the outcome is likely to be positive.

Player ratings:
Howard.................7.5
Lichaj.....................7.5
Bocanegra..............6
Goodson.................6
Cherundolo............7.5
Dempsey................8.5
Jones......................7
Bedoya....................7
Bradley..................7
Kljestan....................7
Altidore....................(N/A)

Subs: Agudelo (7), Donovan (6), Edu (6.5)

Agudelo strikes again: US vs Argentina

Photo credit: Getty Images

What a match. Just three years ago, at the old Meadowland, Tim Howard and company were able to hold off Lionel Messi and Argentina in a thrilling 0-0 tie. Tonight was no different. New Meadowland stadium. Capacity crowd of 78,000+. But with goals.

Once again it was Tim Howard that came up big. At least 8 or 9 bona fide saves by the Everton goalkeeper. But he alone cannot keep the Americans afloat. Bocanegra and DeMerrit continued their composure at the back. Spector also rekindled the right back stellar role that excelled at Confederations Cup 2009. Onyewu had a few mishaps but he made up for it with timely challenges and highlight-worthy slides.

Messi was nothing short of incredible except for the final shot. The same goes for Di Maria. It's also a shame that Cambiasso and Zanetti were not included in Maradona's South Africa squad. Cambiasso showed why when he cleaned up a lose ball in another Messi play. This Argentina team has been resuscitated and they warrant close attention heading into this year's Copa America and the next World Cup.

Bob Bradley's squad started the game with a defensive-minded 4-5-1 formation with Altidore as the lone striker and with Bradley-Jones-Edu as the three-headed defensive midfield monster. It didn't work out too well. They defended well in the final third but were confused in taking off and Dempsey and Donovan saw few passes in their direction. Both of our World Cup stars had their moments in the second half, however.

And this brings us to the attacking front. As soon as Agudelo was inserted for Jones and newbie Timothy Chandler came in for Spector. The result was pure magic: more forward runs, passes completed, and the all-important set pieces. We have to hand it to Alexi Lalas when he states that the Americans best weapon against world-class teams are set pieces. And where Altidore had been largely ineffective while on his own in the first half, Agudelo's smart moves and attention-grabbing play gave the World Cup veteran more room to create spaces for Donovan and Dempsey to attack.

Then there's Agudelo. Need we say any more? He is fast, opportunistic, and on a roll. And you never leave the table when you're in the Heater. Bob Bradley understands this and it is why the young Colombian-American gets his role as a supersub. That's three games for the national team that he has played in and has made a difference. He scored against South Africa in his debut as a 17-year-old, then drew a penalty to tie a friendly versus Chile. Tonight he was brought on to spark some magic for the US and he didn't disappoint. A clutch goal very Davies-esque. He may be the Charlie Davies that Jozy has needed for the last year and a half. A true #9. So what do we do when the real Charlie Davies comes back? It's a good problem to have.

Player ratings
Howard....................9
Bocanegra...............7
Onyewu...................6
DeMerrit................7
Spector...................6.5
Dempsey...............6.5
Donovan................7
Jones......................5
Edu........................6.5
Bradley.................7
Altidore.................5

Subs: Chandler (7.5), Agudelo (8)

Too much hype: USA vs Slovenia

It may not be as hyped-up as the US-England match, but tomorrow's contest against Slovenia is generating plenty of hype in the soccer world and the US media. Most alarming, perhaps, is the overconfidence shown by soccer outlets inside the US. It is claimed that the national team is favored to win the match and have too much firepower to be denied. The response to that statement may, unfortunately, be no.

Tying the match against England was a great achievement given the European squad's star power, history and role as a contender for the title. The match was about defending against some of the best in the world. The US did it with discipline after the first goal and with an injured goalkeeper. Making a claim that they are the favorites for the Slovenia contest based on the first game is stretching it a bit too much. Slovenia is a highly-defensive squad. They allowed the fewest goals than any other team in Europe during qualifying and eliminated Andrei Arshavin's Russia (semifinalists at Euro 2008).

We would all rather see a comprehensive win for the United States. A tie is a more likely outcome with the Algeria match being more accessible. But, as Landon Donovan said: "if we can't beat Slovenia then we don't belong in the next round." Wise words indeed. Have fun tomorrow. Enjoy the match and the World Cup stage. Being considered the favorites may seem like a burden, but the very fact that they are and that US fans outnumber Slovenians in the stadium is the real triumph for team USA.

Tim Howard: outstanding goalkeeper

Simply amazing. Howard was the FA Cup here for Everton over the weekend. Two penalties stopped against none other than Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand. Clearly, we have an awesome superstar here, not to mention the fact that he's a former Man U keeper as well. It's no fluke that the back line of the US national team just seems to gel better when he'd directing things from his goal.

Meola. Keller. Friedel. Hannehman. Perkins. Guzan. The list goes on. Outstanding US goalkeepers making their mark here and abroad. They have the most impressive resumes of any US player. Why is that? I venture a couple of educated guesses:

1. Americans love upper body-oriented sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football. All rely on arms mostly although speed and motion are important as well. This fact allows for a seamless transition into soccer. Much less knowledge of the sport is necessary. Saves, reflexes, elasticity are important. Think diving for a football/basketball. I venture this notion also because my wife was a goalie back in the day. She also played basketball and rugby. Seamless transition, right?

2. Development. Around the world, goalkeeping is often an afterthought. You need scorers and playmakers first, defense second, and if you have a chance maybe a goalkeeper too. That's the way it goes usually. Just facts. But here in the US all facets are taking seriously, including goalkeepers. It is part of the developmental process and starts with boys and girls at the youngest of levels.

That's my rant for today. Feel free to share your thoughts. Meantime, a few seconds with Howard, stopping mighty Manchester United, and reaching for glory in the FA Cup.