The USA and the Confederations Cup

Since I have no job and due to the fact that I spend an ungodly amount of time on facebook, I'm going to be inclined to write a note every now and again. This one is going to mostly be about the US national soccer team and my overall impressions of the Confederations Cup.

1. Landon Donovan. Any one who has watched a USA game with me knows that I do not like him. I would always say that he is the biggest waste of world class talent I've seen in my life. Not anymore. Whoever reads this, you will not hear me say anything bad about him for a long time. He showed up big in all five games the US played. His passing in the first half against Italy was amazing. If Altidore and Bradley scored on those through balls he put in, we would have been up 3-0 at the half against Italy! He was leading by example in every match. Can't ask for more than that.

2. Speaking of Italy, what's going on? They can't be successful with the same team over and over again. After 2006 they should have regrouped and broke in younger players instead of worrying about Euro 2008. But Donadoni and a tough qualifying group prevented that from happening. After losing to Spain on penalties in Euro 2008 with the same team from '06, they re-hired Lippi, the 2006 coach. What does he do? Calls up his boys from 3 years ago minus a few who retired. They looked extremely old against Brazil. D'Agostino(!!!) ,Quagliarella, Giovinco, Nocerino, Palombo, Cassano, Pazzini...all players in their prime or up and coming that should get as many games in for Italy as possible before 2010 or I doubt they will make it past the round of 16. Lippi tries to break in Montolivo, but he's garbage. Does anyone know if Totti has a son yet?

3. Michael Bradley. In less than a year he has turned into our most important midfielder. Period. If we get him and Jermaine Jones on the same field, our central midfield MIGHT be the best its ever been (apologies to Claudio Reyna and John Harkes lol).

4. Spain. We showed the world how to beat them. Shut down Xavi, clog the middle and force them wide. If your defense is taller than their attack (and to be honest they more than likely are), the defense will head their crosses out every time. Let Sergio Ramos have as much space as he wants. He won't track back quickly, he hardly ever does. And have your best player where Ramos is suppose to be, get that player the ball, and launch a counter attack from that. Kind of TOO simple of a strategy. Until they win a knockout game in 2010, I don't consider them a contender to win the World Cup.

5. Jay Demerit and Johnathan Spector. If they are healthy, they start. Spector has made that right back spot his. Demerit does not make that one killer bone head play per game that Bocanegra brings to the table.

6. Bob Bradley. I questioned his knack for coaching in the "big game" and after yesterday I still do. I'm not sure he knew what to do when the USA went into halftime leading 2-0 against Brazil(!!!). He probably told them that Brazil would come at them and be prepared for an onslaught, so just play defensive. Way to encourage your team, Bob. After that quick Fabiano goal, their heads were down. At 2-2, Bradley made the most unreasonable substitutions: Bornstein and Klestjan. To me, they are not international players, just good MLS players. Bornstein is a 4th choice left back and Klestjan is probably an 8th or 9th choice midfielder. But under Bradley they get chance after chance because he coached them at Chivas USA. The team needed a creative spark. Someone who could hold the ball and make plays and drive our team on. And yet, Freddy Adu and Jose Torres stayed on the bench (players who are known for being creative).

7. Tim Howard. He received the FIFA Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper of the tournament. With keepers such as Casillas, Buffon, and Cesar playing in the same tournament, that's pretty AWESOME!

8. DaMarcus Beasley. He is DONE. As much as Landon Donovan has progressed, he has regressed the same amount, if not more.

9. Red Cards. Are you kidding me? The US is getting players sent off for ridiculous calls. Are they yellow card offenses? Definitely. But straight reds? I seriously think referees have something against US soccer because I saw many similar tackles from players on other teams, and nothing happened. Ever.

10. South Africa. Their forwards who played in this tournament are not good (except for that unholy free kick against Spain), but the overall team is extremely athletic and seem to not get tired. Matthew Booth (the one white guy on the team haha) has been a revelation at center back. If Steven Pienaar is playing well for them in 2010, they are going to be a lot better than the world thinks they are.

11. Brazil. This is not the free flowing Brazil of 2002. They usually play with two holding midfielders for crying out loud. Teams need to stop being scared of the name and have a go at them. Their outside backs aren't even really defenders. Maicon is always up the field and Andre Santos is a joke. Lucio is old and will probably retire after 2010. But Kaka, Fabiano, and Julio Cesar have bailed this team out recently more than the world thinks or wants to acknowledge.

12. Conor Casey. Sorry but you had your chance. You are just not cut out for international soccer. The down side of this is that Brian Ching will probably be called to the US team again.

13. Jozy Altidore. I understand at 19 he's still a work in progress, but his first touch is horrendous. He needs to go somewhere, anywhere that he is sure to play regularly. If that means coming back to MLS for a while so be it. It would be a joke if we went to the 2010 World Cup relying on a 20 year old striker that doesn't play club at all and as a result gives the ball away constantly.

Last one...

14. Those plastic trumpets (vuvuzelas?) that the fans blow have got to go. I'm sorry. It sounds like Moses and his locusts are in the stadium. If they are allowed in the stadiums next summer, I'll be forced to watch the World Cup on mute. It's just not enjoyable. Every team except South Africa has lodged a complaint to FIFA about those things.