Friday, June 26, 2009
Always Believe, or Why I Fear Being a Journalist
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wow. Go USA!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Confederations Cup, Round 2
Some thoughts on round 2 of the Confederations Cup:
--- Fantastic display by the Iraqis against Spain. They kept an excellent defensive shape the entire game, and they were able to attack without sacrificing on the back end. Spain’s still the best team in the world and created multiple chances, but the Iraqi keeper was in otherworldly form to keep his team in it. In the end, one defensive lapse cost them the game, but credit to Iraq for frustrating Spain throughout.
--- South Africa-New Zealand was like an MLS game: lots of pace made it exciting, but sometimes the lack of skill was comical. There were occasional flashes of brilliance, like Glen Moss’ save on Bernard Parker while the score was still 1-0, but all of the key moments seemed to happen through fortunate touches and deflections, even both goals. And this doesn’t even account for the ridiculous miskicks and frequent dumb offsides. The end-to-end style of the game was fun to watch though.
--- Siphiwe Tshabalala might be the most enjoyable name to hear on air. At the very least, this is one thing that the South African team brings to the table next year.
--- Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth are two of the best commentators we have broadcasting in the U.S., especially when they work games together. They always know their subject matter well, they’re consistently entertaining and emotive, and they’re not afraid to express an opinion when necessary. They’ve even been around for so long that they show an eye-opening historical perspective, such as their commentary during Egypt-Italy on the history of Coca-Cola Park and its place in South African political history. Adrian Healey and Andy Gray deserve mention as the other great commentators of today, as does Ray Hudson for sheer entertainment value, but the substance of Rae and Smyth broadcasts is nearly unmatched.
--- Make no mistake; this is Giuseppe Rossi’s tournament. His rampant display against the United States was aided by poor American defending, but he showed against Egypt that he’s always dangerous from anywhere on the pitch. Despite the fact that the whole American-Italian angle is being played up way too much, this might still be his emergence as a quality striker. Here’s hoping Manchester United take up their buyback option.
--- What a great game between Egypt and Italy. Both teams had exciting spells with the ball, but while Italy took most of the chances, the final result came down to defense. On one end, Italy made one defensive mistake at the end of the first half, and Egypt took advantage with a well-headed goal. On the other end, the defense never broke their shape, and Essam El Hadary was absolutely fantastic in goal with at least 5 lead-protecting saves in the second half. Egypt owes their victory to him.
Every team except New Zealand has something play for in the third round, even if teams like Brazil and the U.S. are unlikely to move from where they are. Regardless, a spot is open in both groups, so good news for everybody: the third round should be exciting throughout. Watch this space.USA-Brazil, Live Diary
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Questionable calls, occasional errors, and an expatriate doom the U.S. against Italy
My running thoughts on the U.S.-Italy game, not exactly in diary form:
--- First 30 minutes looked dead even, with equal possession and maybe Italy blowing a couple chances they could have had.
--- The red card against Ricardo Clark still baffles me. That was Clark’s only poor challenge, it was unintentional, and Grosso only got a yellow after intentionally elbowing Donovan two minutes later. Hell, Chiellini didn’t get even a scolding on the penalty, and he was the last man! I honestly can’t see a single way this can be justified, and believe me, I’m trying. Horrendous decision.
--- There were plenty of reasons to be optimistic at halftime, but the 1-0 was misleading. The U.S. had been riding their luck before the first goal, notable examples being the early shanked header by Legrottaglie and lucky offsides on the Bornstein own-goal. Italy had the better run of play, and it showed in the second half.
--- Jozy Altidore is the best American chance at developing a world-class striker, but at moments like his early touchback to Donovan in the box, he shows that he’s got a ways to go. More than the missed touch, his choice to give up a goal-scoring chance shows a worrying reluctance to shoot. He’s only 19, but with his increasing national experience, age can’t be an excuse for much longer.
--- Ugh, JP Dellacamera: “Everybody remembers Zambrotta from the World Cup, with the Zidane incident.” Uh, no, that was Materazzi. Maybe I’m the only one who thinks the higher-ups should have their facts straight on one of the single biggest soccer news stories of this decade.
--- Wow, what a strike by Rossi. I have no problem with Rossi playing for Italy, even if I wish he had decided to play for us. If you can come in and score that first wondergoal for Italy in a major tournament, go right on ahead. God knows you have a better chance of winning major tournaments that way, so from a professional standpoint, more power to you.
--- When we’re down a goal in the 72nd minute, why in HELL are we taking off Feilhaber, both one of our best playmakers and defenders, for Beasley, who got totally emasculated against Costa Rica a couple weeks ago? I’d love to hear Bob Bradley’s explanation for that.
--- I give up. How is it not a penalty to jump on Donovan’s back as he’s going up for a header in the box? This decision infuriates me more than anything else, because there is no doubt in my mind that if that’s called correctly, we stop pressing forward and this ends 2-2. If this game doesn’t deserve to be looked at by FIFA, I don’t know what does.
--- I love Charlie Davies because I watched him in high school, but in that situation, Jozy puts that 90th minute header away. Unfortunate.
Despite some of my criticisms, the U.S. played a good game overall. Some terrible decisions went against us to kill off most of our chances, and we gave them a couple opportunities ourselves, but we did very well with 10 men for an hour. The main problem is our habit of making a couple of dumb mistakes per game, such as Onyewu’s indecision on the second goal. If we want to beat the best (and this shows that we can), these types of errors must stop, because the best teams will make you pay. The game against Brazil should show us how far we might progress towards that aim.Tuesday, June 16, 2009
At the Confederations Cup, the action takes a backseat to the hints of the 2010 Experience
The Confederations Cup is a godsend this time of year. I mean, as much as I love MLS, there is almost nothing to watch once the season ends, and regardless, I’m ecstatic about any excuse to get some of the world’s best teams together (and New Zealand). Plus, this is saving us from hearing exclusively about Ronaldo, Ribery, Tevez, etc. over the next month.
Let’s just clarify something: a lot can happen in a year, and in no way does this tournament definitively predict anything. Certainly, the 8 teams show how they react to the big stage, and the more high-profile matches are excellent previews of what could come, but that’s the thing: we have no clue what’s going to happen. These teams might lose form, or not even make it to 2010, like Egypt is threatening to do in Qualifying. There are clearly other teams outside the Confederations Cup who look like strong candidates, like England and the Netherlands. Matches like France-Brazil from 2006 are why the World Cup is always so enthralling: forget how teams have been playing recently, anything could happen.
No, the tournament’s biggest upside is the overflowing excitement that it creates for the World Cup. Seeing the culture in South Africa gives some of the best indications we could have received: that 2010 will have few logistical problems, and that it will have one hell of an atmosphere. In other words, the 2010 Experience is going to live up to expectation. Those damn horns in every stadium are going to get obnoxious, but with all that national pride in every stadium, atmospheres like the ones we’re seeing certainly send chills down your spine. Get excited. The countdown to the World Cup is on.
Random thoughts from the first round of games:
· --- I don’t care who you’re playing, a hat trick like Fernando Torres’ deserves a hearty standing ovation. Better teams would have fallen to the strikes he produced.
· --- Funny how Alexi Lalas sounds disappointed in their performance when he says at halftime that “for New Zealand, it’s basically over”. Wasn’t it basically over when they, you know, arrived? I understand that anything can happen in this wonderful sport, but come on, no team wins that gives away a 5th goal through the last defender’s legs.
· --- Goals like Kaka’s first one make him worth 56 million pounds. No way the Egypt defenders could have done more without bowling him over, he had that ball within 3 feet of him the whole time. Incredible.
· --- Discussing it at halftime of Brazil-Egypt, you have to love how American commentators want to make it seem like Conor Casey is doing a great job as the U.S.’ supporting striker. Holding the ball up for others is necessary to allow others to get upfield, but it’s not very helpful when you lose the ball half the time. We need American commentators who don’t feel obligated to be ridiculously optimistic about almost everything American.
· --- Brazil-Egypt was a perfect advertisement for soccer. It had everything to excite the mainstream crowd: pace, skill, power, superstars, goals, controversy… in other words, everything Iraq-South Africa lacked.
· --- I love the way Egypt plays. Their style is much more European than African, possession-based without sacrificing attacking spirit. If they can snap out of their qualifying funk, 2010 will be more entertaining for it.
· --- As always, Mohamed Aboutrika is showing that he is an unbelievable playmaker, and frankly it’s a shock he hasn’t played in Europe. As the story goes, he stays in Egypt because he is satisfied playing in his homeland, and he feels no need to chase glory in Europe, but it’s a shame that the world misses out on seeing his skill regularly.
· --- Ahmed Al Muhamadi only has himself to blame for that ending. That’s why you stand on the far post on set pieces, not just near it. Pitiful display of sportsmanship too.
· --- There is way too much to talk about in the U.S.-Italy game, it’s getting it’s own separate post.
Should be an exciting second round of games, with most of the semifinalists to likely be decided. You’ll be sure to hear from me.