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(Wednesday June 5, 10am)
Here's the story of the Cup so far: It's ball control vs. speed, and speed is winning. USA's deserved win against Portugal depended on the speed of Donovan and Beasley giving the Portuguese defense all kinds of problems that they had plainly not anticipated. Add to that the pace of Tony Sanneh — who had a blinder of a game — in setting up the third goal, and you had all the elements of an upset. Eddie Pope continued to show why he is one of most under-rated center-backs in the world — in '98, he handled Oliver Bierhoff better than anyone — and Friedel, though not good enough for Liverpool, looked the epitome of safety.
Luis Figo, surely, wasn't fit — difficult to believe that if he had been he would have spent so much time so wide. But this Portuguese team is really good — Rui Costa was wonderful — and will beat Poland. So, however, should the USA, which may be enough to put them through in second place to Korea. (I can't believe I just wrote that sentence.)
Biggest yell of the morning, though, for Robbie Keane, sneaking in for Ireland's equalizer with seconds to go. Nice that the Germans are going to have to work for qualification. I hear Russia were lousy; that's it for the east Europeans, then.
The Miracle on Grass
To my mind, USA over Portugal stands not just as the greatest victory in
American soccer history, but also one of the most unlikely American
performances in any international competition. It takes it place alongside
wrestler Rulon Gardner's gold-medal triumph over Alexander Karelin in the
2000 Olympics, the 1-0 U.S. win over England in the 1950 World Cup and, of
course, the U.S. hockey team's upset of the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter
Olympics. In some ways today's win was even more remarkable than the Miracle on Ice: as in 1980, a young and untested American squad was given absolutely no chance to defeat a powerful, experienced opponent; but this time, Team USA did not even have history to lean on (the U.S. had won hockey gold in 1960), and was missing the services of its two best players. And yet a way was found.
What impressed me most was the team's fortitude against Portugal's Figo-led second half barrage; the Americans showed they were capable of playing sound defensive football — the sign of a mature, disciplined unit that has already established itself as the most skilled the U.S. has ever fielded. I'm sure skeptics will point to the first-half owned goal, Portugal's sizable advantage in time of possession, its unrelenting pressure in the American end and the wondrous skills of Figo and co. and call this U.S. win an undeserved, one-time fluke (as U.S. over Colombia in 1994 proved to be). But the U.S. played a brilliant strategic game worthy of the game's greatest stage — protecting a two-goal lead for 30 minutes, giving Portugal room to run but few real opportunities to score, and then, by dominating the final 10 minutes with precise counterattacks and expert clock management, the U.S. showed it was the fitter, tougher and, yes, better team. This could prove to be yet another false spring for American football, but I doubt it; if Reyna and Mathis return this hungry, talented team should make it out. The silence in Suwon wasn't the sound of shock, but dread, because the United States has shown it finally has what it takes to win the World Cup. Maybe not this year, but someday soon.
Speed is the Key for Underdogs
The USA played a good, inspired match, and demonstrated the kind of
plucky, underdog-football that makes World Cup competition exciting and memorable. They got out in front — way out — and held on. A deserved win.
That said, I'm far from convinced this shows the first signs of a the US soccer bud starting to blossom. I'm more prone to Elliot?s view (regarding other games) that speed and getting down to business right out of bed had more to do with the USA downing Portugal than technical excellence. The U.S. side had put three into the Lusitanian net by the 36th minute — a goal every 12 minutes! Any team that can do that isn't going to lose a lot of games. What amazes me is it took Portugal so long to wake up and get the bean out: they seemed to respond to the first goal as an act of god, the second as a wake up call, and the third (three minutes later) as this shot in the foot that (ironically) finally got them running. The U.S. seemed to come into the game realizing their hopes rested with getting on the board first, and they fulfilled that plan in spades. But I think that was more a function of the Americans hitting the pitch already running, and surprising the Portuguese with their audacity and punch. Indeed, they probably tempted fate by falling back and playing defense in the second half, where the flair and flamboyance of Portuguese play punched holes almost at will.
I'd also agree with Elliot that the most entertaining and exciting matches (Japan, Korea, Senegal, USA) have involved both great explosion and speed with physical presence and solidity. The legendary blend of speed and power coveted in most sports. The U.S. deserved the win, though I must say I'm disappointed for Portugal.
The upside of that loss is at least France wasn't the only team to be upset in first-game encounters. The downside of that upside is this'd be the second of two teams I've publicly applauded that took big-time, defeat-reeking gas. Uh, "Go England...??!!"
Welcome to Arena Ball, Folks
USA's Bruce Arena is a bit of a nut-job, but he has a great instinct for picking players, and you're right, Mr. Elliott, he clearly went for speed — Frankie Hedjuk for David Regis was a big surprise, and so was Pablo Mastroeni. These guys were afterthoughts coming into this thing. Cobi Jones for the hobbled Earnie Stewart at halftime proved a great choice. Cobi looked like Ariel Ortega out there. Sure, Figo and Rui Costa were dribbling fools — but they had to beat two or three defenders at a clip because the Yanks were flying at them.
Portugal are used to playing from behind (England in the Euro Cup, for instance) because their defense is Jello, but making up a three-spot is too much to ask — although certainly Jeff Agoos made the job easier. He looked like a dog lifting up his hind leg. At least we won't shoot him.
I just hope the U.S. doesn't make the mistake of thinking they have a genuine attack. (Certainly, Ireland would never make that mistake.) Next week sure got interesting.
USA Are No Puppies
The USA played a very solid game, and there is nothing to diminish that. I don't think it can be ranked ahead of all those great American sports events. A lot of the U.S. players compete in good European sides, so they have international experience. Portugal was heavy favorite and I agree with that, but nobody can say these players were a bunch of puppies left out in the middle of the street. Arena's plan was smart, and Portugal's wasn't. They were conservative — only one real forward, Paulta — and they came out over-pressured and overconfident, if such thing is possible. They were surprised by the early goal; after that the excessive pressure took over. Figo did not exist. We only saw his shadow, in one of the most embarrassing performances I have seen of a star player; disappeared for large chunks on the game and never took responsibility. It was Rui Costa and Sergio Coceicao who tried the hardest. One of the most telling plays of the game was an attack led by defender Jorge Costa, I believe, and nobody from the vaunted offensive players would offer himself to receive the ball, basically relinquishing the responsibility. The play ended in a corner kick and an infuriated Costa, who chastised his teammates.
Portugal has internal quarrels that have contributed to his poor showing. The USA was smart and lethal when it had the chance, a proof that it's become a serious international team. It was a great victory and they should be very happy. But let's keep things in perspective. The USA still has a long way to go to win any Cup.
Germans Eased Off Too Soon
What a cracker! The Irish never stopped trying, never gave up hope — and the
Germans decided, just a couple of minutes too soon, that they had the game
all wrapped up.
The boys in green simply outlasted their more experienced rivals: when was the last time anybody did THAT to a German team? As the game progressed into the second half, the Irish began to run harder — just as the Germans began to slow down. Their fans, too, never flagged. Robbie Keane's at-the-death equalizer was no more than they deserved, and the roar almost took the roof off the Kashima Stadium.
The lesson of the night for Ireland is that they need Niall Quinn's height and muscle from the get-go, not just in the last 10 minutes. The game turned from the moment he was brought on, as a substitute. The Germans were obliged to put two men on him, opening up gaps in their rock-solid back line. Quinn is a bit long in the tooth, but if he can't run for 90 minutes, he should be employed for the first 60. Little Robbie Keane thrives in the bigger man's presence, running into space for Quinn to find with his headers.
German coach Rudi Voeller won't be overly disappointed by the night's result. Yes, his boys should have had the three points, but they played well — and well within themselves. For much of the game, the team kept its shape on the pitch, with Ramelow and Hamman dominating the midfield. Oliver Kahn had a superb night, pulling off two pointblank saves and reminding us why, even at 33, he is the best 'keeper of his generation. And although Carsten "Tank" Jancker was kept out of it with surprising ease by the Irish, his strike partner was excellent: Miro Klose was full of clever running and industry — already, he's Germany's find of the tournament. With four goals in two games, he is the leading contender for the Golden Boot.
But the best outcome of the match is that, for the second game running, the Irish have rubbed Roy Keane's face in the mud. "Are you watching, Roy Keane?" the fans sang at the final whistle. But surely even a man as uncouth as the Manchester United bruiser would be too ashamed to watch.
Ireland must now outscore Cameroon against the Saudis and hope the Germans beat the Africans in the final game of the group. Can the pluck of the Irish hold?
England-Argentina: Just Don't Talk About the War
Tactical switch from the Argentina camp on Tuesday. Earlier this week, it was all chest-thumping nationalism, invoking the bitter memory of the 1982 Falklands War (or Malvinas War, as Buenos Aires would have it), and warning England that Friday's encounter is "more than just a game." Said stand-in captain Veron, "This match is about more than the men on the pitch — it's also important in the historical context." Goalkeeper Cavallero was even more forthright: "Maybe you shouldn't mix things like football and the war, but it's really hard not to do it." But Veron and Cavallero weren't even sent to Tuesday's presser, and the players who represented Argentina had only the nicest things to say about the English. They were at pains to stress that Friday's encounter is nothing more than a game of footie.
So why the switch? After all, we know that Cavallero is onto something — international football is often, if not the continuation of war by other means, then at least a satisfying simulacrum for the same jingoistic passions. (Good thing India and Pakistan aren't playing...) And even Argentina's president has made a point over the past couple of months of ratcheting up the anti-England rhetoric over Las Malvinas. One reason for tamping it down could be that the nationalist rhetoric creates unnecessary pressure on the players. After all, they're a far better soccer team than England, so why remind them of an episode in which Argentina was hu