Seriously, doesn't the title tell the story? If you watched the game, you no doubt agree. If you didn't, don't bother watching from minutes 20 - 65. The US completely left the game and it isn't worth wasting your time. Plenty of other bloggers have basically the same things to say as me. So I'll point them out first.
New York Times - Goal,
Yanks Abroad,
Steven Goff - Washington Post,
Rocky Mountain News,
Sports Illustrated,
Sideline Views,
The Red Card - Chicago Tribune,
The Far Post,
Center Holds It,
Glenn Davis - The Soccer Hour,
Soccer By Ives....you get the point.
I'll put it this way, if the US plays every game the way they did last night, they either won't qualify or if they do, they'll make a mockery of US Soccer in front of the World in China. Ok, maybe I am going overboard a little...but seriously I am disappointed.
While the first 10 minutes included a couple sublime shots and passes by Freddy Adu, the remainder of the first half looked like a 10 year old game of bunker ball and a clinic on how not to maintain possession. I sat on my couch cursing every time Edu or Freeman or Hill made a run with the ball that resulted in nothing. And where did Adu go? He dropped off the face of the planet.
I feel like I am being a little over dramatic. To the US' credit, Cuba was never really in this game. They were on their back heels for much of it. The goal they got was a good play but the US could have done better to defend it. It is not like the US was ever overwhelmed by Cuba. But that is exactly why I am so frustrated by the match. The US looked like they were going to destroy them in the first 10 minutes. If you missed the game and have some way to see those 10 minutes, watch them. You'll be amazed at the play of Freddy Adu. Add to that the goal he scored and you'll see why the hopes of American soccer have been firmly on his back since he was 14...or younger.
In the second half Jozy Altidore, who was largely unimpressive as a lone striker, was brought off in favor of Sacha Kljestan. Once the additional midfielder was brought on, the US completely controlled the game and looked as if they would be able to retake the lead. They weren't able to based on the 10 man defending of Cuba and the heroic work of their keeper.
Now let's talk about individual players. First, Charlie Davies. One of the blogs I posted above asked the question, "Do they teach diving in Sweden?" This is totally appropriate. I was actually embarrassed by his play and antics. He went to the grass three or four times when he wasn't touched. Seriously, he looked South American. He got a yellow card for one such dive when he was trying to get a penalty against their keeper, and he earned it. Terrible play. He should have redeemed himself but he shot right into the keeper on a one on one break away. Jozy did the same. There you go, twice the US had strikers going in on goal one on one and muffed. The final score should have been 3-1...or more.
Altidore was played as a lone striker and worked hard, but you could tell it wasn't his day. He was subbed at the half.
The defense: Freeman----Ianni------Sturgis--------Hill
I was impressed with all of them. As a Rapids fan I am all too familiar with Freeman as a right back not defending and a few times I felt like he was playing American Football instead of soccer, but his runs up the left flank were nice and he contributed to the game. Ianni and Sturgis made a nice pair in the center. They could have done better on the play where Cuba scored, but the entire team could have helped. Most of the game they showed good awareness and positioning, stepping into plays to shut down the Cubans before they could get going. Hill was a nice surprise. He showed confidence on the ball and got into the attack. As the game clock ticked down in the second half, Hill was getting more and more forward helping the US maintain possession. He did have one sequence where he left his duties completely and Cuba made a nice counter, but keeper Seitz snuffed it out safely.
Dax McCarty played very well for my taste. He had a great shot on goal in the second half. He distributed well from a deep position. I think FC Dallas fans will enjoy seeing what he can do this season in Texas.
Attackers: Davies-----------Adu-----------Findley
Aside from Adu running the show and being the best player on the field last night, this set up doesn't work. Davies and Findley were ineffectual as wingers. If you read my last post, you know I expected to see Holden, Gaven or Zizzo playing out on the wings...hopefully they will be on Thursday.
Adu really was the bright spot last night. He did get lost there for a majority of the first half but when he was on the ball, taking shots, scoring a goal he was looking great. I am excited to see what else he can do in this tournament and I think Coach Nowak has found his best position.
So there it is, my extended thoughts on the game last night. Things have to get better. I think the formation needs to change, or at least Findley and Davies shouldn't be wingers and Altidore shouldn't be all alone up top. Announcers Sullivan and Bretos said that Honduras and Panama looked bad yesterday, so hopefully they will go down easier than Cuba did.
Labels: 2008 Summer Olympics, US Soccer
