Unfortunately, I was at a hospital all day visiting a family member; needless to say, blogging wasn't a priority. Instead of something new, I'll dip into the vault and bring back an old post which I believe still has some truth to it. Though the USMNT got a pretty favorable draw (this was written beforehand), there are still plenty of folks in the fanbase for which the following still applies. It might also help bring some people down to earth who are already looking ahead to the knockout stages.
I'm hoping to get some posts up tomorrow. Enjoy:
------
Today's official announcement from FIFA regarding the pots for this Friday's draw did not surprise many people (with the Netherlands getting a seed over France being possibly the lone exception). Nevertheless, many fans and writers have already swung into full panic mode, believing our participation in next summer's tournament is nothing more than an exercise in futility. It's odd that this kind of attitude is so prevalent in the US, where the underdog mentality thrives and phrases like "that's why they play the game" are cliche.
Regardless of the draw on Friday, the US will have to get results against good teams. This cycle's field is deep beyond the usual suspects, with many mid-level teams capable of making a deep run in the tournament (the USMNT being one such team). So while we may avoid the Group of Death, it's fairly likely that we will end up in a tough group no matter what. But fear not, as World Cups past have shown us that the group stage can provide us more than a few surprises.
Let's take a look at two recent examples:
2002 Group A: Uruguay, Denmark, France, and debutantes Senegal squared off for two spots in the round of 16, in what seemed like an easy group for the defending champs. But it was Les Bleus who found themselves at the bottom of the table when all was said and done, with longshots Senegal progressing on, thanks in part to a shock 1-0 victory over France in the opening match. So even teams who find themselves in an "easy" group can fall victim to a few surprising results and find themselves watching the round of 16 on TV.
2006 Group E: American fans surely remember this group from the last World Cup, and many feel the USMNT could find themselves in a similar group come this Friday. But what might get lost in the frustrations related to the 2006 tournament is that Ghana, who were thought to have the longest odds of progressing in this very talented group before the World Cup started, moved on to the round of 16 after the games were actually played. This just shows that even in the supposed Group of Death, there still can be a few surprises.
So let's just wait until the World Cup and watch the games unfold before making any conclusions on how the US will do. Instead of self-loathing and pessimism, how about we bring back that "anything is possible" American confidence that permeates our sporting attitude? The USMNT has shown that they play with this attitude, which we saw in last summer's Confederations Cup, so why don't we support them with that same never-say-die spirit?
It's certainly a lot more fun than just mailing it in six months before the World Cup even begins.
Sorry for the lack of posts today, folks. Here's some news to mull over this evening:
Onyewu back in full training
Today, we heard it straight from the man's mouth, as Gooch told his fans the following via Twitter:
"The kid is back!!!! Normal training from here on out, no restrictions.... Bless!!! God is Great!!!"
This is great news with the May national camp now just a few weeks away. AC Milan have just two matches prior to May 15th, when players are expected to report to camp, those being May 2 and May 9 against Fiorentina and Genoa, respectively. AC Milan's final match of the season is on May 16 against Juventus, which could also be a possibility for Gooch if Bob Bradley wants to give him one last shot to get some game minutes (though I don't expect that to be the case). Milan have been very thin at center back lately, so there is a chance that Onyewu could make his Serie A debut before leaving for international duty. If it were to happen, it'd probably be against Genoa, particularly if the results this upcoming weekend allow AC Milan to clinch third place. That being said, I wouldn't put any money on it; the real victory here is that he will get two weeks of full training in before heading to Princeton.
In some other Gooch-related news, AC Milan have confirmed that manager Leonardo will leave at season's end. How this will affect Onyewu is not yet known, but it didn't appear that the Brazilian was too high on Gooch based on his selections in the fall prior to the knee injury against Costa Rica. A new manager might provide Onyewu with an opportunity to prove himself, obviously a plus, but it also might mean some new players brought in to push the former Clemson star further down the pecking order. With that in mind, I do wonder if Onyewu will get some time before the end of the season for evaluation purposes. Who knows, at this point, but we'll just worry about that in August; for now, let's just be glad that he's back to full training.
Here is some video of Milan's training, with a couple glimpse of Onyewu, who appears to be sporting a beard these days.
Holden back, too
Stuart Holden is also back to regular training with Bolton, with manager Owen Coyle suggesting that he may feature in the team's final two matches.Coyle seems to be taking a cautious approach with Holden, but it does also seem that he is keeping the door open for a final appearance or two ahead of his midfielder's probable international duty.
Bradley on ESPN's First Take
Bob Bradley appeared on ESPN's First Take this morning, discussing the team's new home kit, injuries, and some other topics. You can watch the video by clicking here. Was that a hint I heard that Charlie Davies will at least be in camp to get a look? Hmmm...sounds like what most of us have been expecting and hoping for will indeed happen.
Home Kit Officially Revealed
Speaking of that home kit, the USMNT's white jersey was officially introduced today. Though I like the previous jersey and the '06 World Cup jersey better, I still like this one, too:
Now the issue for me is whether to buy a blue one or a white one...
Deuce to Europa League Final, JFT to CWC
Clint Dempsey came on as a substitute in the second leg of Fulham's semifinal with Hamburg this afternoon. Trailing 1-0 in the second half, the Cottagers needed to put together a comeback victory to advance, and they did just that once Deuce came on. Simon Davies and Zoltan Gera scored within seven minutes of each other, with Dempsey involved in the build up to the first, and they managed to hold on for the 2-1 win. Roy Hodgson and company will now face off against Atletico Madrid in the final on May 12 in Hamburg.
Jose Francisco Torres and Pachuca, meanwhile, are headed to the Club World Cup after knocking off Cruz Azul to take home the CONCACAF Champions League title. Torres started and went 81 minutes in last night's second leg.
There aren't many US players in action today, with just Eddie Johnson, Freddy Adu, and Alejandro Bedoya taking the field. But that small group made their presence known on the day:
Both Adu and Johnson got the start for Aris in the first of their Greek League playoff matches against Olympiakos (teams 2-5 in the final standings play a mini league to determine who gets the second Champions League berth and who goes into what qualifying rounds of the Europa League next season). Aris got their playoff campaign off on the right foot, earning a 2-0 victory on the strength of an Eddie Johnson brace.
The first goal (which can be seen below) came in the 39th minute. Aris swung the ball around until it reached Adu on the left wing. Freddy freed up just enough space for himself to get a cross off from the edge of the box, which EJ headed home to open the scoring:
The score stayed at 1-0 all the way until the 90th minute, when Johnson pounced on a weak back pass, rounded the keeper, and finished past a defender to secure the full three points for Aris. It was an opportunistic goal created by defensive pressure and hustle (@ 2:18):
All in all, Freddy Adu had a strong game on the wing, getting forward well and even contributing a couple of good tackles and timely clearances on the defensive end. He set up EJ's first and drew a PK in the second half after flicking a ball over the head of his defender (@ 1:33 of the second video above), though the ensuing attempt by one of his teammates was saved. It's also worth noting that manager Hector Cuper had a substitute warming up and was planning to replace Adu early, but Freddy responded well and remained on the field deep into the match, a nice sign from a player whose ability to respond to tough situations has been questioned frequently over the years. He eventually left the match in the 89th minute to a warm ovation, capping off one of his best performances in an Aris uniform.
EJ, meanwhile, also played well, beyond just the two goals. He put himself in good spots throughout the match and caused the Olympiakos back line a good deal of trouble in the final 25 minutes or so, drawing two yellow cards along the way. His play earned him Man of the Match honors, and it should earn him some more minutes in Aris' remaining matches.
While EJ and Adu are still a good ways away from the World Cup picture, they both benefit from the fact that Aris have a handful of games in the weeks leading up to the May camp, providing them with some chances to make one final push for Bob Bradley's attention. Prior to the May 11 deadline for preliminary 30 man World Cup rosters, Aris will play three times: May 2 @ PAOK, May 5 @ AEK, and May 9 v. AEK. Now, I'm not saying that I think either have good odds of making the cut, but I'll still keep an eye on it; if EJ can put together a nice run of goals a la Buddle against the top teams, it shouldn't go unnoticed. He remains on the fringes of the picture because of the question marks at the forward position and his previous international experience, despite that dreadful performance in Amsterdam last March. Adu, meanwhile, would have to unseat someone like DaMarcus Beasley or Alejandro Bedoya to muscle his way into the picture, and I think it's just too little, too late for that to happen. Regardless, he seems to have found a good situation at Aris under Hector Cuper, and I expect him to be on the radar for the next cycle.
----
Beyond EJ and Adu, Alejandro Bedoya once again got the start for Orebro in a road match against Kalmar FF today. Orebro lost to 4-1, a disappointing result given that Kalmar was previously winless, though Bedoya did set up their lone goal. He played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card in the 37th minute, which will keep him out of the next match due to accumulation.
While the World Cup is getting bigger and bigger on the horizon, USMNT players still have plenty of business to attend to at the club level, particularly those battling it out at the bottom of the table.
This past weekend, a couple of teams that employ Yanks managed to secure safety. In England, Wolverhampton earned a spot in the Premier League for the 2010-2011 season thanks to a draw with Blackburn and a couple of other results. After a rough start to the campaign, Mick McCarthy and company were able to climb up out of the drop zone in the past couple of months, thanks in large part to the strong play of Marcus Hahnemann. After starting the season 2-4-7 (W-D-L) and giving up 2 goals per game, McCarthy benched GK Wayne Hennessey in favor of Hahnemann, who has since led Wolves to a record of 6-7-10 in the matches that followed, allowing just 1.13 goals per game. Included in that run are two clean sheet victories over Tottenham, as well as clean sheet draws against the likes of Liverpool, Everton, and Fulham.
The strong play has garnered rave reviews from McCarthy, as well as earning Hahnemann an extension on his Wolves contract. Further, Opta Sports has recognized him as the most outstanding EPL keeper this year, using an extensive statistical approach to determine their selections. Not too bad for a guy who started the season as a back up and World Cup fringe candidate.
Elsewhere, Watford won this past weekend against Hahnemann's former club, Reading, to clinch safety, as well. Jay DeMerit didn't feature due to an abdominal injury, but he's been a stalwart in the Hornets' back line for much of the season. Despite the spot in the Championship next fall, though, DeMerit's days at Vicarage Road may be numbered thanks to the clubs financial issues. In terms of the here and now, however, Watford's win renders their final match meaningless, which could provide DeMerit with an opportunity to rest up some more ahead of international duty.
Last, but not least, Michael Bradley and Borussia Monchengladbach officially assured themselves that they wouldn't be making the drop by tying Bayern Munich 1-1 last weekend. To be fair, though, Bradley and company haven't exactly been sweating it out, having remained solidly mid-table for awhile now.
There are a number of players, however, who are on teams that have not yet secured their spot in the top flight for next season. The situations vary from all but mathematically safe to doomed to drop. Falling in the former category are Sochaux, with Charlie Davies, and West Ham, with Jonathan Spector. Sochaux, who have four matches left, are 9 points up on 18th place Le Mans, who have just three matches remaining, so it's a safe bet that they'll be in Ligue 1 come next fall. West Ham, meanwhile, are 6 points up on Hull City with a far superior goal differential and only two matches left.
Conversely, Jozy Altidore and Hull City are all but assured to be in the bottom three after last weekend's results. Fortunately, Jozy's time at Hull was nothing more than a loan, so he won't be following the Tigers down to the second tier in the English football pyramid.
Falling in between those two extremes are three teams still in the thick of the relegation battles of their respective leagues. In Germany, Steve Cherundolo and Hannover have been flirting with the drop all year. They recently finished off an extremely difficult stretch of matches and, all things considered, didn't fare too poorly, keeping themselves in contention for safety. They have two matches left against Borussia Monchengladbach (who will have nothing to play for) and 16th place Bochum, with the latter likely determining their fate. While 15th place and guaranteed safety would be nice, Cherundolo and company will be shooting for at least a 16th place finish, as that would give them a shot to stay up in a relegation playoff with the third place side from the 2. Bundesliga. At this point, I would put Hannover's chances of staying up at coin-flips odds. It all depends on which team shows up; the one that drew Hamburg and beat Schalke earlier this month, or the one that has given up 10 goals and scored 0 in their last two matches.
In Denmark, meanwhile, Benny Feilhaber's team, AGF Aarhus, have been in free fall this spring, dropping down the table all the way into the relegation zone (11th place out of 12 teams). Their decline has been coupled with a strong run of results from previous relegation candidates Randers, who have risen to temporary safety in part thanks to 5 goals in 9 matches from former Real Salt Lake forward Yura Movsisyan. Much like Hannover, Aarhus have a big six-pointer coming up against another bottom feeder (Sonderjyske), but it really doesn't look good for the sixth place finisher from '08-'09. Despite Benny's best efforts, Aarhus have been utterly awful of late, and I'd put my money on them going down this year and Feilhaber moving as a result.
Last, Frank Simek (who remains on the fringes of the national team picture thanks to his March call-up) and Sheffield Wednesday are currently two points adrift of safety with just one match to play. They control their own destiny, however, as a win against Crystal Palace next Sunday will keep them up. I don't expect Simek to play a role in the match, however, as he has been rooted to the bench and floating in and out of the match day squad for much of the spring.
----
So while Clint Dempsey may be drawing most of USMNT fans' attention at the club level thanks to Fulham's European run, don't forget about the guys battling it out at the bottom. After all, relegation battles have provided Americans fans with some great memories in recent years, like Deuce's "60 million pound goal" against Liverpool not too long ago:
For those who missed it, Clint Dempsey appeared on ESPN's E:60 last week. Jeremy Schaap led the interview, which covers topics ranging from his youth in Nacogdoches, Texas to his sister's death and his subsequent rise up the soccer totem pole. Here's the segment:
I'm hoping to see more of these USMNT human interest stories in the build up to the World Cup to help otherwise detached fans feel a little bit more of a connection to the team representing them. We'll almost certainly see a number of pieces on Charlie Davies' roller coaster year, but I'm hoping ESPN can dig up a few more along the way.
A good number of US soccer fans seem to take issue with how ESPN goes about presenting the beautiful game across its various platforms, but it really seems like the folks in Bristol are gearing up to go above and beyond for South Africa. In an interview with Sports Business Daily, ESPN VP John Skipper said that he would be disappointed if World Cup ratings were not up 25-50%. He went on to say that "the World Cup is going to dominate the discussion of sports fans in this country in a way that it has not done previously," with ESPN planning on spending more on the tournament then it has on any other event. You have to expect that that money will be spent wisely on a variety of campaigns across all media. I'm hoping that with this splurge also comes an increased effort to focus on the Yanks, and pieces like the E:60 one above seem to indicate that they are on their way to doing just that.
We're just a month and a half away from USA-England, what promises to be one of, if not the most anticipated USMNT game ever, not to mention the rest of the World Cup, so get ready for what promises to be a deluge of footy talk and promotion on "The Worldwide Leader in Sports".
Normally, I wouldn't set aside an entire post for something so brief, but this is definitely worthy of an exception. For those who missed it today, Charlie Davies announced the following on Twitter:
"I've resumed full training with my club!! It's about time & it feels great! My speed is getting there too! Today was a good day! God Bless"
With this news, an appearance or two before the end of the Ligue 1 season is now a very real possibility. Here's what the rest of Sochaux's schedule looks like:
May 2 @ Stade Rennes
May 5 v. Montpellier
May 8 @ Bordeaux
May 15 v. Auxerre
I'm expecting any potential return to come in one of the final two games, but I'll still be keeping a close eye on the match day squads of Les Lionceaux for all of the remaining matches (after all, Chuck has shown a propensity to surprise us all). Even if Charlie doesn't make an appearance, this news is very encouraging in terms of his health ahead of next month's national team camp.
This is yet another milestone in an incredible, truly unbelievable journey back from that tragic October accident. And, World Cup aside, it's just great to see that Charlie is healthy and can get back to doing what he loves.
These past couple of weeks have been a grind here at US Soccer Daily for yours truly, as it gets tough at times to fill the gap between international match days with daily posts on worthwhile, interesting topics. But hey, that's what I get for opting to keep my site focused on the international game; it's what I like the best and what I enjoy discussing the most, so I'd rather occupy my little niche and keep a focus rather than fill space with some things that I'm not as enthusiastic or knowledgeable about.
So that brings to me what I really want this post to be about: what to expect from USSD in the coming months. I would really like to continue the nice upward climb that the site has experienced since its inception, and I believe the coming months will play a critical part in that. From USMNT camp and roster selection to international friendlies, team previews, and the World Cup, there will be tons of topics to discuss with regards to the international game, and it's my goal to make this one of the first places folks like yourself look for information and analysis.
Some of the things that I'm looking to put together in the coming months include:
Get to Know _________
A series on each of the 32 nations involved, giving an overview of the countries as a whole while also discussing their respective teams. As it stands, I don't anticipate starting this until after all the rosters have been submitted, so as to simplify the process of giving an accurate team preview.
Podcast
I have tossed around the idea of getting into the whole podcasting scene for awhile now, but I never really knew how to even go about getting such an idea off the ground (let alone if there'd be any kind of demand for it). But now, thanks to the help of an amigo over at Match Fit USA, doing a podcast seems like a very feasible option. At this point, I'm not too sure about the specifics: whether it'd be weekly/monthly/randomly produced, whether it'd be structured or more of the call-in/Q&A variety. But I really think I'd like to do this at some point, and I'd definitely be curious as to all of your thoughts on the matter. Would you be interested? And, if so, what would you want from a USSD podcast?
Game Reports
This one is pretty much a given, being as they are so few and far between. I will definitely be in Philadelphia for the USA-Turkey match, and I'm trying to get my plans together to make the trek up to Hartford for the Czech Republic friendly, as well. Hopefully, my first hand accounts will be able to add a little bit more to the usual recaps, with some pictures, soundbites, or even a little narrative style thrown in.
Beyond the USMNT, I will also look to give recaps on some other notable friendlies, specifically those of Group C opponents England, Slovenia, and Algeria, as well as fellow CONCACAF qualifiers Mexico and Honduras. That'll require a little more work on my part, but I think the demand will be there to justify it.
Roster Breakdowns
Another thing that almost goes without saying is that I'll be discussing the preliminary and final US roster in a good bit of detail once they are released. This might tie back into the podcast idea, should I opt to analyze it via speech rather than type or if I choose to have a little friendly debate on the selections and snubs. I'm also hoping to get up to Princeton at some point during the May camp, which may add some extra information on where the USMNT stands.
How We Got Here
The cycle is drawing to a close, and four years is a pretty long time. I plan on doing some regular installments of this series to trace the USMNT's path from the disappointment in Germany all the way up to their final World Cup preparations. Some videos, anecdotes, recaps, and perhaps even some guest work will all contribute to my cycle summary.
Interviews
I'm also hoping to set up a couple of interviews in the coming months with some people of interest to US soccer fans. From current national teamers to future prospects to folks behind the scenes, I'm aiming high and hoping to provide you with some interesting pieces.
World Cup Updates
And, of course, I will be giving daily World Cup wrap-ups, summing up the day's action and pointing out some key plays and performers. I may not be able to give thorough analyses of each and every match due to work and other obligations, but I think I'll at least be able to do something similar to Match Fit USA's "The One Thing" series.
----
Those are just the things that come to mind at this point in time. Ultimately, I'm most interested in what all of you would like to see out of this site in the coming months. Feel free to make suggestions via email or the comments section, letting me know what you think about the ideas I listed above or if there's something else you'd be interested in.
US Soccer Daily has been exceeding my modest expectations so far, and I'm grateful to all of you who have made it a habit of supporting the site. I'm hoping that with your help (through suggestions and spreading the word about this blog), USSD can continue to evolve into something even better.
With that, I'm all ears. I'd love to hear any comments or suggestions you have about the site's direction.
It was a busy weekend for Yanks in Europe, with a lot of noteworthy performances to discuss. Enjoy:
We'll start off in England, where Jozy Altidore got the start in Hull's pivotal match against Sunderland. The opening 45 was far from Jozy's best performances, as he looked a little sloppy at times on the ball. Things would only get a lot worse, however, at the close of the half, with his team trailing 1-0. After getting tangled up with a Sunderland defender by the sideline, Jozy had a ball thrown at him and lashed out in response. The headbutt earned him a straight red (the Sunderland player was sent off, too), as well as a multi-match ban that means his time at Hull City is done. See below for video of the incident:
Jozy has since apologized, saying via Twitter:
"I'm so sorry about yesterday. Made a stupid, immature and costly mistake. I apologize to hull city and the fans who I let down. I let my emotions get the best of me and lost my composure. Believe it or not this year playing for hull was to date the best trip I've ever been on."
It's been a long season for Jozy on a poor team where he was rather frequently one of the only bright spots. Nevertheless, he has to learn to control the frustration that comes with such a situation. While some have chosen to chastise Jozy and question his maturity, I'm just going to say that I expect this to be yet another valuable learning experience for a young player. If this happens again, then I'll start really wondering about what's going on between his ears. For now, though, I'm hoping he'll learn from this and move forward to national team camp with a renewed focus.
Elsewhere in England, Jonathan Spector got the start once again at LB for West Ham, as they looked to essentially clinch safety against Wigan. He hasn't exactly been on a great run of form lately, and it only went from bad to worse yesterday. Spector headed home a goal from inside the six in the fourth minute, with a brilliant, low finish that the keeper could do nothing about. Unfortunately, the keeper was teammate Robert Green, and the goal was his own. Beyond the own goal, Spector just didn't look too comfortable on the left side and picked up a yellow in the second half for a bad tackle (which, to be fair, was the result of his covering for his teammates). All in all, it was a pretty poor performance in what has been a string of rough outings. It's clear that Spector isn't nearly as effective on the left, which should help put to rest a lot of the suggestions of him playing there in South Africa. It wasn't all bad, however, as West Ham did get the win and basically secured safety, holding a six point lead and a far superior goal differential over Hull with two matches to play (which, in turn, means that Jozy's stint at Hull will end with relegation).
Marcus Hahnemann, meanwhile, once again played a big part in a Wolves result, as he made six saves in a 1-1 draw with Blackburn. The result ensures safety for Mick McCarthy's side with two games to spare. Hahnemann has played a huge part in Wolves' turnaround this season, consistently providing strong play between the posts. In fact, it was his insertion into the lineup back in the fall that really seemed to spark the team's change in fortunes.
In Germany, Steve Cherundolo started and played 85 minutes for Hannover, wearing the captain's armband in their 3-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen. The match caps off a hellish stretch of schedule for the relegation candidates, who now will finish out the season against Borussia Monchengladbach and Bochum with a realistic shot at avoiding the drop.
Ricardo Clark finally made his debut for Frankfurt yesterday, as well. Rico started and played the full 90 in what finished as a 3-3 draw. He had a solid game, completing a high percentage of his passes and contributing some good tackles along the way. He wasn't involved in any of the goals on either end, and overall he didn't look out of place in a Bundesliga match (despite going months without any minutes). With little to play for in the final two matches, manager Michael Skibbe will likely give Rico at least one more run out for evaluation purposes. Yesterday's performance certainly didn't hurt Rico's case, and a strong finish to the campaign will go a long way towards boosting his hopes for a spot in the World Cup roster.
Michael Bradley started and went the distance for Borussia Monchengladbach, as they held league leaders Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw. He played fairly deep in the midfield in the opening 45 before pushing a little farther up in the second half. Bradley helped keep the dangerous Bayern attack in check and provided some tidy distribution throughout. His hard work in the midfield was also key in the build up to BMG's lone goal, with Bradley picking up the secondary assist on the play. Overall, it was a solid game for Bradley and company, with the result substantially impacting the Bundesliga title race as it comes to a close.
In France, Carlos Bocanegra returned from a minor injury and played the full 90 at LB for Stade Rennes in their 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain. It was a fairly quiet game for Boca, whose good health is the most important thing at this point.
In Scotland, Maurice Edu turned in another solid performance in the Rangers midfield to help his team to a 1-0 win over Hibernian. The win clinches Gers' second title in as many years, with Edu once again playing a key role in the stretch run.
This morning, Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey squared off at Goodison Park, with both playing the full 90 in what ended up finishing as a 2-1 win for Everton. Howard made two saves along the way, while Dempsey turned in one of his strongest performances in recent memory. He looked very confident on the ball and distributed very effectively and precisely. The Fulham attack ran through his feet, and his decision making on the ball and field vision did not disappoint. Deuce appears to be back into the full swing of things and should play a big part in this Thursday's Europa League semifinal against Hamburg.
Benny Feilhaber got the start as a withdrawn striker for Aarhus this morning in their match against Koge. He played the whole match, but Aarhus once again turned in an awful performance, dropping a 3-0 decision to the last place team at home. The team has been in free fall this spring, and it's looking like they're headed for the drop, as Randers have climbed to the brink of safety with a good run of results. Aarhus was a nice landing spot for Benny after some tough times in England, but it might be time for him to move on to greener pastures. Whether that is within Denmark or elsewhere remains to be seen, but it will certainly happen should Aarhus get relegated.
Alejandro Bedoya, meanwhile, continued to make his push for a World Cup roster spot, making yet another 90 minute appearance for Orebro in their 3-0 home win over Halmstad. He picked up a second half yellow card along the way.
Last, Freddy Adu came on as a substitute in the Greek Cup final yesterday, playing a very effective 10 minutes for Aris. His passing and offensive play for smart and sharp, though he was unable to help his team eventually level the score. Though Adu seems to be out of the picture for 2010, I figured this was worth mentioning since it's not everyday that an American is involved in a cup final.
----
Injured/Did Not Play
Jay DeMerit underwent a late fitness test to see if he could go against QPR yesterday, but was eventually held out of the match day squad. The fact that his status was still up in the air, however, seems to indicate that his injury isn't too serious and that he should be back to full health soon. In his absence, Watford did manage to clinch safety.
DaMarcus Beasley, meanwhile, did not feature in Rangers' win. Something worth considering, however, is that Beasley may be gifted some playing time in these last couple of meaningless matches in order to earn a winner's medal. My sources (aka shoddy internet research) indicate that a player needs to make 10 league appearances to do so, with DMB currently falling two short of that total. So keep an eye on Ibrox in these final weeks, as Beasley may get some minutes and a chance to prove his worth to Bob Bradley ahead of national team camp.
Finally, Charlie Davies has many a US fan buzzing with excitement after his latest tweet:
"I have some good news to tell you all! Let you know soon enough! Thank you for all the support and blessings!"
Fingers crossed, folks...
Charlie Davies (multiple injuries)
Stuart Holden (leg)
Jay DeMerit (abdomen)
Oguchi Onyewu (fitness)
Brad Guzan (unused substitute)
DaMarcus Beasley (unused substitute)
Eddie Johnson (unused substitute)
It's Friday, and my brain isn't functioning too well, so instead of an analytical post, here's something a little lighter to cap off the week.
Doing this was actually pretty tough, as ranking great goals is like comparing apples and oranges. These are nothing more than my opinion of how the goals stack up, but don't get lost in the numbers next to each one; just enjoy watching and reliving some fantastic plays from last summer's Confederations Cup:
10. Clint Dempsey v. Egypt
Jonathan Spector swung in a great ball from the wing, and Deuce showed some great body control to snap a header inside the post. And you got to love that raw emotion after the goal (@ 10:08):
9. Dani Alves v. South Africa
Just minutes after coming on as a substitute, Dani Alves fired home a free kick to give Brazil a 1-0 semifinal win:
8. Jozy Altidore v. Spain
With a display of strength and power, Jozy scored the opening goal of the USMNT's upset win over Spain:
7. Giuseppe Rossi v. USA
Andrea Pirlo showed a nice bit of skill to get down the wing and then chipped in a good ball right into the path of Rossi, who smashed it home on the half volley (@ 9:22):
6. Robinho v. USA
One of the best counterattacks you will ever see, though only the second best in this tournament, in my opinion (@ 1:34):
5. Katlego Mphela v. Spain
Down 2-1 to Spain in stoppage time of the consolation match, South Africa needed a miracle. Cue Katlego Mphela, who hit a bomb of a free kick to knot up the score (@ 3:51):
4. Giuseppe Rossi v. USA
All Rossi/USA animosity aside, you can't help but admire this left-footed strike that eluded the out-stretched arms of Tim Howard (first goal):
3. Daniel Guiza v. South Africa
Guiza gave Spain a late lead against South Africa with this gorgeous chip off the far post from the edge of the box (@ 2:41):
2. Maicon v. USA
I'm a sucker for a great team goal, and that's exactly what Brazil put together against the USMNT (@ 3:24):
1. Landon Donovan v. Brazil
A little bias with this selection? Maybe. But there's no denying that this was a spectacular goal. The US covered 90 yards with three one-touch passes in 10 seconds, with Landon Donovan capping it off with a calm cut a cool left-footed finish (@ 1:16):
Like I said, it's tough to rank great goals like these; on another day, this list might have been completely rearranged. Feel free to comment if you would have done things differently, if I missed one completely, or if you just want to reminisce.
And if, for whatever reason, one of the videos stops working, just let me know and I'll find a replacement.
Some more news and notes to get you through the afternoon:
Suazo's World Cup Status in Doubt
The USMNT isn't the only CONCACAF team dealing with injury issues ahead of South Africa. Honduras striker David Suazo may not be fit for the World Cup after suffering a leg muscle injury with Serie A side Genoa. While he scored just one goal in the final round of CONCACAF qualification, Suazo represents one of the most talented options up front for Los Catrachos, while also adding a good deal of international experience, so his loss would a pretty significant one for the Group H underdogs.
Suazo remains optimistic that he will be able to play in the World Cup, Honduras' first since 1982. Though they are our CONCACAF rivals, I find myself pulling for Reinaldo Rueda's side, and so I'm hoping that Suazo can make a full recovery. Success for CONCACAF teams will eventually help the US in terms of ranking, which could then possibly even lead to a seed in 2014, so you shouldn't feel too conflicted about pulling for Los Catrachos against Spain, Chile, and Switzerland. Heck, even a deep run from Mexico would help us out in the long run, though I don't think many of us (myself included) will be really hoping for that come June.
Charlie Davies Confusion
There was a good deal of worrying amongst USMNT fans this morning when a report out of France had Sochaux President Alexandre Lacombe stating that Davies "will not play this Ligue 1 season" because it is "too soon for a return." Not exactly what fans hoping to see a stanky legg at the World Cup were hoping to hear. That statement left many believing that, after such a remarkable recovery to this point, Charlie would ultimately be unable to make it to South Africa, which in turn set off a ton of panicky conversations on replacement options across the interwebs.
But not so fast. Thanks to the persistence of Greg Seltzer over at No Short Corners, we now know that Lacombe's statement was not based on any type of medical information, but rather it was simply his personal belief on the matter. So, Charlie could still very well be on track for an end of season appearance and, by all indications, still seems to be on course for the May USMNT camp. Via Twitter, Davies had this to say, which further expresses that things are still going according to plan:
"Just to let you all know I'm progressing very well and lucky not to have had any setbacks and I'm working extremely hard every day. Believe!!!!!"
Ultimately, this a non-story in that there really isn't much of an update on how Davies is faring in his quest to return to full fitness and form. Lacombe's conservative attitude is to be expected, given that CD9 is a long term investment for the club, and therefore we probably shouldn't read too much into this. To this point, Charlie has silenced almost every single person who has doubted his ambitions, and this may just serve as further motivation in the stretch run. Until I hear someone with a medical background giving a factual explanation of why the World Cup is not within his reach, I will remain optimistic that Davies will at least be in the May camp to make his pitch for a spot on the plane.
Clark May Be In Line For Debut
In an interview with the team website, Frankfurt manager Michael Skibbe saidthat he has been very pleased with Ricardo Clark's performance and training and that the Georgia native could get the start against Hoffenheim or Mainz in the coming weeks to prove himself in the Bundesliga. With the Europa League all but out of reach at this point, Eintracht's final couple of games don't have much meaning, so it appears that Skibbe will be using them to see whether Rico is a player he'd like to keep around for the future (the club has an option to extend the contract for three more seasons). This sounds a lot like something that a certain prescient, handsome blogger said earlier in the week.
Of course, a lot of us will only believe it until we see it, but it does really seem like Skibbe is set on giving Clark some minutes before season's end. Eintracht's center mids have not been particularly stellar of late either, only serving as further impetus for such a move. A nice couple of appearances in these last couple of weeks before international duty would go a long way towards earning a trip to South Africa, as Bob Bradley will certainly be watching closely to see how he once first-choice defensive mid has held up during months without competitive play.
Onyewu and Holden Making Good Progress
According to reports out of Italy, Oguchi Onyewu is fully healthy and now working to regain his fitness, along with a couple of other AC Milan defenders. He was in team training, taking part in some possession play, before eventually going off to do some individual work with a trainer. With a real lack of fit center back options, Gooch might not even be too far away from being named to a squad. I'm not saying I expect that to happen, or that that represents that he is ready for the World Cup, just that it reflects the depleted AC Milan back line. Who knows, though, maybe we will get to see Onyewu's Serie A debut in the coming weeks. Regardless, he appears to be making good strides toward South Africa.
Stuart Holden, meanwhile, is also doing well in his recovery from a broken leg. Bolton manager Owen Coyle had this to say:
"Stuart is coming on leaps and bounds from where he was when he picked up the injury. He is getting stronger by the day, and although he isn't ready to join in with training today (Thursday), he is getting closer. But what I would say to add balance is that we won't be rushing him into any game that he isn't ready to play in. We would love to have him fit and available to play a Premier League game before the end of the season but he is going to have to be at 100 percent because I won't jeopardise his long-term future."
Just some more positive news on the injury front (because at USSD, our glass is always is half-full).
Deuce Back for Fulham
As I'm writing this, Clint Dempsey just came on as a substitute for Fulham in what is currently a scoreless opening leg of their semifinal against Hamburg. He's been involved in a couple of good build ups to this point.
----
My apologies for the foreign language links; I'm hoping you're all trilingual with German and Italian and didn't mind at all.
Clint Dempsey will be available for the first leg of Fulham's Europa League semifinal against Hamburg tomorrow afternoon. Deuce had been out of the Cottagers lineup since April 4th after suffering a thigh injury in stoppage time of a comeback victory over Wigan. Thanks to Fulham's meaningless league games, Roy Hodgson has been cautious with Dempsey, holding him out of last weekend's match against Wolves so as to ensure good health for the much more crucial midweek clash in Germany.
Due to the volcanic ash situation in Europe, Fulham made a 17 hour bus trip to Hamburg, not unlike what Barcelona did to get to their Champions League match against Inter Milan yesterday. The Cottagers will be hoping, however, that they can pull off a positive road result following such a long trip, something Barca could not do. In the knockout stages, they have gone 1-1-1 in the road legs, including a 1-0 victory against Wolfsburg in the quarterfinals. With their undefeated run at Craven Cottage in the tournament, another positive away result could very well mean an unlikely trip to the finals for the west London club.
Dempsey has already sealed his place in Fulham lore with his famous goal against Liverpool that ensured safety back in May of 2007, not to mention his sublime chip to knock out Juventus in the Round of 16 last month. Another goal tomorrow will only further cement that status.
For the non-Fulham fans out there who don't really care much about the results, just know that a key member of the USMNT is now fit and will likely feature in a pressure-packed game. Sounds like exactly what we'd want to hear in the lead up to the World Cup.
DeMerit Injury Minor
Jay DeMerit exited Watford's weekend match early in the second half and was held out of their Tuesday match with Queens Park Rangers thanks to what's being referred to as a "muscle problem in the abdominal region". Judging back the lack of any other news, however, it would seem to be a rather minor injury, so I'm not going to worry too much just yet.
Off the field, DeMerit won the club's Community Ambassador Award for the second year in the row. Well done, Jay.
Bradley Chooses Princeton
It has been announced that the USMNT's May training camp will be at Bob Bradley's alma mater, Princeton University. This most likely means that I will be lurking about the wastelands of central Jersey some time next month.
The folks at OneGoalUSA continue to put out quality videos on US Soccer fans. The second installment of their series recounts the trip that a brave group made down to Estadio Azteca. Check it out:
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: along with the USA-Mexico game at Crew Stadium, this is one trip that I feel like I have to make at some point in my life. Going straight into the lions' den, surrounded by 100,000+ inebriated and hostile fans clad in the red, white, and green of El Tri, hoping to go home with an improbable result and, more importantly, my health. I feel like it would be one of the most nerve-wracking days a soccer fan could ever experience, but also one of the most unique and unforgettable. To those who have already done so, I salute you.
At this point, I have every intention of being at Azteca in 2013. We've never won there, and a lot people think we never will. But that doesn't deter me one bit. Even in such an unaccommodating environment with years of futility stacked up against us, I couldn't help but still feel that attitude so common to the American sporting landscape; that David always has a chance to slay Goliath, and that anything can happen on any given day. And while it'd be far from ideal, even witnessing yet another loss in Mexico would be an experience unlike any other I've ever had in and of itself.
The only thing that could potentially ruin my plans would be if Mexico's drug cartel issues escalate to the point that even a two day trip to the capital would be at great personal risk (beyond that involved by simply donning the Red, White, and Blue in enemy territory). Other than that, I don't think there's too much that can keep me away from following the Yanks down to the toughest match of qualification and visiting a stadium that is, all allegiances aside, one of the must-see venues of international football, in my opinion.
For the first part in this excellent series, head here.
Most European seasons are winding to a close, and thanks to the single table system, that usually means a couple of meaningless games for a lot of teams who have already assured themselves of safety, a title, a spot in Europe, or relegation. While those games might ultimately be meaningless for the various clubs involved, they will actually be very valuable to the USMNT over the next couple of weeks.
As much as it's our first instinct to think that playing time is the be all and end all in these final months ahead of the World Cup, we've actually hit a point where some time on the bench might be the best thing for a lot of USMNT players. Of course, this really only applies to those that have already gotten plenty of minutes prior to this point. Fortunately, there are a couple of Americans whose club situation permits this, namely Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, and Carlos Bocanegra.
While Fulham is still in the midst of a pretty incredible Europa League run, they've already firmly secured their spot in the EPL table. They're assured of safety, and another European spot is out of reach, so their final couple of league matches really don't serve much of a purpose other than keeping the Cottagers sharp between their European matches. This situation has given Roy Hodgson the luxury of taking his time with Clint Dempsey, allowing Deuce plenty of time to rest following the thigh injury he suffered against Wigan a couple of weeks ago. This could pay huge dividends come June, as Dempsey will likely be a lot fresher and healthier than he would be if Fulham were in the midst of a relegation battle that necessitated a rushed comeback from the midfielder. Look no further than Wayne Rooney's ankle fiasco with Manchester United to see what a lack of meaningless games can lead to.
Bocanegra, meanwhile, has missed a little bit of time recently thanks to an adductor muscle injury. But with Stade Rennes safe from relegation and without strong hopes of a European spot, Bocanegra has been able to take a decent amount of time to recover from what has been referred to as a "minor injury". Even if Boca finds himself on the bench for the last couple of games thanks to some nice fill-in performances by a teammate, it'll be far from bad thing. The US captain has gotten a lot of minutes under his belt over the past couple of months, so some time off just ahead of national team camp actually might be perfect.
And then there's Bradley, who has really logged a lot of playing time for Borussia Monchengladbach this season. Unlike last year, Bradley's squad isn't sweating out a battle for safety, being all but assured of a spot in the Bundesliga next year with a 9 point lead over 16th place Freiburg with only three matches to go. I'm hoping that the final weeks of the season will bring some much deserved time off for Bradley before heading back Stateside, or at least some shorter appearances, as he typically goes the full 90 in most matches. His form has dipped some in the final part of the season, and I think this might have something to do with the amount of work Bradley has put in over the last year plus. A few weeks on the bench could give him time to get some more life into his legs ahead of South Africa, where he obviously will play a key role in the midfield.
For others, meanwhile, the meaningless end-of-season games could prove to be very useful in their return from injury. Both Charlie Davies and Stuart Holden are targeting the final two games of their respective clubs' seasons for their returns following significant layoffs. As it stands, it looks like everything will fall into place to make those final couple of matches meaningless for both Bolton and Sochaux, meaning Owen Coyle and Francis Gillot will likely have little reservation about giving either international some minutes, assuming their healthy. In fact, I would be pretty surprised if Davies (whose injuries and time away, to be fair, were significantly greater than Holden's) didn't get at least one appearance before the Ligue 1 season comes to the close (once again, assuming he's fully healthy). I'd expect the manager to give it to him, particularly in such a no-risk situation, as a reward for all the work he's put in over the last six months; not playing might actually run a bigger risk of some negative back lash from people within the club or the fans. I'd be remiss if I also didn't include Oguchi Onyewu in this group, but it seems as if he's being purposefully cautious in his approach, not appearing to have any qualms about just waiting for the national team camp to roll around before truly pushing himself.
And finally, there are the players who will be hoping that some meaningless games will finally get them off the bench that they have been rooted to for far too long. In Scotland, Rangers will most likely clinch the SPL title this weekend, leaving a couple of matches at the end of the season without much importance (though that might not apply to the Old Firm, where pride is such a huge factor). Will we finally see DaMarcus Beasley get a consistent string of appearances for the first time since the winter with the league already won? I'm hoping so, and I think that that variable could play a huge role in whether Run DMB ultimately finds himself on the plane to South Africa in a month and a half. Ricardo Clark, meanwhile, might finally get to make his debut for Eintracht Frankfurt once their slim hopes of a Europa League spot are finally dashed (which will likely happen this weekend, as well). In the past four months, Rico has gone from World Cup lock to question mark due to his lack of meaningful minutes across the pond. A couple of starts to close out the season and show he's still sharp, however, would go a long way towards allaying any fears that I, USMNT fans, and (most importantly) Bob Bradley may have.
So, if you're like me and you don't really have any European club allegiances, start pulling for the results to fall in place that will allow the clubs of USMNT players to have some meaningless games at the end of the season. There's no avoiding that some will be involved in tight battles until season's end, like Steve Cherundolo, Jonathan Spector, and Jozy Altidore. But there is the potential for outcomes to render the final couple of matches meaningless in terms of results for the teams of a number of other key players. This has already proven to be pretty helpful in the short term with respect to Clint Dempsey's return from injury, and it could pay off big time in June by allowing some guys to rest up and others to get back on the playing field.
Well, if you weren't paying attention this weekend, you just missed the same old, same old. Edson Buddle bagged another two goals, while Herculez Gomez matched him with a brace of his own. That makes 7 goals in 4 matches for Buddle and 10 in 13 for Herc, tying him for the league lead. Ho-hum.
Okay, obviously these type of goalscoring runs haven't been very common for American strikers of late, so naturally folks are getting pretty excited. Yesterday, Keith Hickey at Match Fit USA made his opinion on the matter pretty clear, with the headline "Edson Buddle Should Go to South Africa". While I'm certainly pleased with the well-timed, torrid run of form, I must say that I am still very hesitant to drink the Buddle kool-aid.
Before I get into this, let me preface my argument by saying this: as it stands, I see Buddle (and Gomez, for that matter, though I'll focus this post on the former. Much of the same logic applies for both, though) as a safe bet for the preliminary group of 30, and I expect him to get a call into camp. But for me, there's a lot more that needs to be seen in the coming weeks from Buddle and from others before I can justify slotting him into the final 23. It isn't as simple as just saying "Player X is playing well, so he should get a spot," because Player X getting a spot means that Player Y doesn't get one. When it comes down to it, spots are scarce, and Bob Bradley has to do everything he can to maximize not just the individual ability of the team, but also the flexibility and chemistry. The latter might sound a little soft and non-essential, but the USMNT has been a team that has proven itself to be greater than the sum of its parts, relying on a system that entails a certain degree of familiarity. And, whether you like the system or not, it's probably not going to change just a month and a half ahead of the finish line.
To go back to the point of Player X and Player Y, let's take a look at the final 23. As it stands now, here's who I think have already earned their place in South Africa (assuming they're healthy):
Defenders: Onyewu, Bocanegra, Spector, DeMerit, Cherundolo, Goodson, and Pearce/Bornstein (one of the two)
Strikers: Altidore, Davies, Ching/Casey (depending on Ching's health)
Add in the three keepers, and that accounts for 21 of the 23 tickets to South Africa. As far as defenders go, there's the question as to whether Bradley will bring 7 or 8, so I'll leave it at 7 for now to maximize the number of "open spots" still left up for grabs. And, like it or not, either Heath Pearce or Jonathan Bornstein will likely make the trip for depth's sake.
In his post, Keith voices his opinion regarding Brian Ching and Conor Casey, believing them to be inadequate and forced attempts to replace Brian McBride. He then goes on to say that Buddle would be more useful than either in South Africa. While I may agree with that in theory, it just doesn't go with the facts; Bob Bradley has consistently utilized a target forward throughout his tenure, and he's had pretty good success doing so. I don't see why he would suddenly deviate from that, so I would be very surprised not to see Ching or Casey on the final roster.
With all that in mind, that leaves a handful of guys on the bubble battling it out for just two spots. Some players in that category would be DaMarcus Beasley, Ricardo Clark, the other half of Pearce/Bornstein, Edson Buddle, and Herculez Gomez. Given Oguchi Onyewu's situation, I wouldn't be surprised to see an eighth defender added to give some cover at outside back if Bocanegra is forced to slide centrally. There's also the point of providing depth at wing midfield to allow Clint Dempsey or Landon Donovan to slide up top if need be (which, at this point, I still believe is a better lineup option than Gomez or Buddle) and adding some more World Cup experience. That adds value to DaMarcus Beasley, who still has decent World Cup prospects despite a lack of minutes at Ibrox thanks to a strong showing in Amsterdam that will not be soon forgotten by Bob Bradley. Then, there's the matter of having a back up option for a position that is critical to the US' scheme: defensive center mid. Should cards become an issue for Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark would be the preferred replacement from the player pool. While other center mid pairings could certainly play together, they would not provide the same defensive ability that a Bradley-Rico tandem would. Just look at Torres-Bradley from USA-Netherlands; the Dutch exploited gaps behind the center mids throughout the opening 45, which led to a number of attacking opportunities. Torres isn't the strongest defender, and it would be a step down to put him in that role over Clark, with the same being said of Feilhaber as well.
So, needless to say, Gomez and Buddle still have some competition to earn their spot on the plane, and it goes beyond just individual ability to team tendencies and available alternatives.
Now, of the course there is still a lot up in the air, such as Rico's club playing time. Granted, this is a big issue. But it's part of the reason I'm not yet ready to jump in and throw my support behind Buddle and indirectly push Clark (or someone else) off my big board. Frankfurt has been in the midst of a race for a Europa League spot ever since Rico made the move back in January. They had a nice string of results over the past couple of months, keeping them in the race, so clearly it was not the time to experiment with a new signing, hence Rico's bench splinters. But thanks to a bad couple of results, Frankfurt are now on the brink of being eliminated from contention for that European spot. It's very likely that the next round of games will put it out of reach, making their last two ultimately meaningless. In that type of low-pressure situation, where the result only matters for pride's sake, I could see the Frankfurt manager giving Rico some minutes to prove himself, particularly since the team's center mids have been less than stellar in the last two matches (a bad loss to Borussia Monchengladbach and a draw against last place Hertha Berlin) and since Frankfurt have yet to decide on picking up Rico's option for the coming seasons. If he gets those appearances and looks decent, he suddenly isn't such a huge question mark. Of course, that may not happen; the point is, I want to wait and see first before I make my judgment.
The same situation applies for Beasley as well, as Rangers will most likely clinch the SPL title this weekend, leaving them a couple of meaningless games at the end of the year. Knowing that his player is still on the USMNT bubble, there's a chance that Walter Smith gives DMB a good chunk of minutes to prove himself.
And of course, the health of Charlie Davies is also something to consider. But once again, let's wait and see how he looks if/when he gets some minutes at the tail end of the Ligue 1 season and in the send-off series. It might sound ridiculous to suggest that Charlie might be close to his old self by the time June 1 rolls around, but really, has anything that this guy has done to this point been normal? Would it really be that much of a surprise after all he's already done? How effective Davies will dictate whether another striker option beyond the aforementioned trio is even necessary.
Like I said, I see Buddle and Gomez as safe bets for the preliminary 30, and I see at least one of them (probably both) getting the call into camp. But there's still a lot that could happen between now and June 1, and I'd rather exercise some patience and let things play out before putting all my support behind someone who has really only been on the national team picture for a couple of weeks (or, in the case of Gomez, a couple of months).
I agree with Keith in that a lot of variables are still in play. Buddle's form could drop off completely, or health issues with other options might arise. If things fall into place and he continues to shine, then I would definitely start to reconsider my position on the matter. But until that happens, I'm just going to continue to watch all the fringe players (Buddle included) intently and consider their potential value to the national team in South Africa.
Jozy Altidore came on as 76th minute substitute in Hull City's match against Birmingham this morning with the score level at 0-0. Up until that point, the Tigers really hadn't done much offensively, opting to play a more defensive, counter-attacking style despite their desperate need for points down the stretch. Once Jozy entered, however, he made an instant impact, injecting life into a sputtering attack. In his time on, Jozy helped create a couple of opportunities with some good passing and hold up play, turning in a very nice performance given the limited minutes and lack of support around him. In the end, the match ended in a scoreless draw, with Hull now three points adrift of safety.
In addition to the defensive approach, the Hull lineup selections make me seriously question manager Iain Dowie's competence (as if things before this already didn't). Homerism aside, Jozy should have started; he's been one of Hull's best players for awhile now, so to leave on the bench for 76 minutes of a crucial, winnable match down the stretch is pretty baffling. Granted, the Tigers' upcoming schedule is a little crowded, but they just don't have the luxury to rest key players at this point when they're in such a desperate situation. Hull were a completely different team with Jozy on, one that looked capable of actually winning the game. Of course, some rest for Altidore ahead of May is great from a USMNT perspective, but I just don't understand it from Dowie's point of view. American fans should just be grateful that this is a loan and nothing more because the Tigers look destined to drop.
Elsewhere in England, Tim Howard allowed two goals and made four saves in Everton's 3-2 victory over Blackburn. It wasn't the best game for Howard, who had some issues with corners early on and didn't appear to have a great command of his area. He couldn't really do much about either goal, however, both of which were spectacular strikes from Rovers worthy of the highlight reel.
Marcus Hahnemann, meanwhile, earned yet another clean sheet in a very uneventful match against Fulham. There was just one shot on target the entire match, which Hahnemann saved, while Bobby Zamora came close to opening the scoring when his second half shot hit the post.
In the Championship, Jay DeMerit once again got the start for Watford in their road match against Leicester City. It wasn't a great day for Wisconsin native, however, as he was called for a foul in the box that led to Leicester's opening goal from the penalty spot in the 36th minute. The call was pretty questionable, particularly considering that the Leicester players didn't seem to make any kind of protest when DeMerit's challenge knocked the ball out for a corner. It went from bad to worse in the second half, when DeMerit was subbed off in the 56th minute due to some kind of injury. I'm not exactly sure what the injury is or how severe it is, so I'll try to update this as soon as some news gets out. Leicester went on to win by a score of 4-1. Steve Cherundolo wore the captain's armband for Hannover today, as they looked to steal a result on the road against first place Bayern Munich. Unfortunately, they came up way short of that. Way, way short. Bayern cruised to a 7-0 victory, a result that erased Hannover's goal differential advantage over relegation candidates Freiburg and Bochum.
Last, Michael Bradley started and went the distance for Borussia Monchengladbach in their 3-1 road loss to Schalke. Up nine points and a goal differential advantage of 15 on 16th place Freiburg with just three matches to play, safety is essentially guaranteed for Bradley and company (barring a cataclysmic string of near-impossible events). So, with little on the line, he can now shift his focus to international duty, using these last couple of matches as some final tune-ups before heading back Stateside.
----
Injured/Did Not Play
Clint Dempsey was still out of the lineup this weekend for Fulham. On a positive note, though, Roy Hodgson seems to believe that Deuce should be ready for this Thursday's Europa League semifinal match against Hamburg. Carlos Bocanegra, meanwhile, was not in the match day squad for Rennes today due to a minor injury. He is taking part in full training, however, and there doesn't seem to be anything to really worry about. If anything, once again, a little rest might be a good thing ahead of international duty.
Stuart Holden (leg)
Clint Dempsey (thigh)
Carlos Bocanegra (minor injury)
Charlie Davies (multiple injuries)
Some Friday news and notes to help get you to the weekend:
Ching Back in Training
Dynamo and USMNT striker Brian Ching is practicing once again, two weeks after suffering a hamstring strain against Real Salt Lake. He's not yet back to full strenghth, just doing some ball work and running, but he appears to be upbeat about the recovery process, saying:
"If you said I'd be running and doing all this when I first hurt it I would have been skeptical. I'm recovering pretty good...Hopefully I can continue on this rate and I'll be back sooner than I expected."
Going along with what seems to be a theme this cycle, Ching appears to be on his way to a smooth return from injury ahead of South Africa, welcome news to Bob Bradley and all of the USMNT fans worrying about the final roster. If he is healthy, I fully expect him to be on the plane to South Africa, and this development seems to indicate that that is very likely at this point.
Bradley Expected to Call More Than 23 to Camp
This isn't a big surprise, given the injury uncertainties surrounding several key players, but it's being reported that Bradley will in fact bring more than 23 players to the May USMNT camp. Though Bradley will announce a preliminary 30 man roster by May 11, he won't necessarily bring all of those into camp (in fact, it'd be pretty unlikely for him to do that). But expect a handful beyond 23, with late chargers like Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomez currently making their case for one of those spots.
The location of the camp has not yet been revealed, but it's almost a foregone conclusion that it will be on the east coast given that the send-off friendlies are in Hartford and Philadelphia. The team will have enough time in South Africa prior to their group opener to acclimate to the high altitude, so that won't be a concern when choosing the site. For the sake of proximity to USSD (based in the City of Brotherly Love, for those who don't know), I'm holding out hope that Bob will head back to his alma mater and choose Princeton, NJ. I wouldn't be surprised, though, to hear Cary, NC in the mix.
Hahnemann Expects to Play Into His 40s, Discusses an MLS Move
Talking to Sky Sports, the Wolves and USMNT keeper said that he feels he's in the best form of his career and believes he can play on into his 40s. Hahnemann also discussed the possibility of moving back Stateside to finish out his career in MLS, naming his hometown of Seattle as a possible destination. He went on to mention that with Pacific northwest cities Portland and Vancouver coming into the fold next year, it might be an enticing option in the summer of 2011. Hahnemann did go on to state, however, that he is very happy in England, where he has spent the last 11 years of his career, saying "I just can't see me going back, everything is just too good here."
He's been one of the main reasons that Wolves have climbed out of the relegation zone and are on the brink of guaranteeing safety, and he has essentially assured himself of a return to the World Cup with that stellar play. While, as an MLS fan, I'd love to see another quality American come back home, it sounds as if he's content to remain where he's at, so I won't be holding my breath. Then again, if his rise from Wolves backup and World Cup fringe player to EPL starter and USMNT #2 have shown us anything, it's that a lot can change in one year's time.
Soccer Hall of Fame Still Looking For a Home
A group in Kansas City is trying to bring some of the Soccer Hall of Fame to the midwest, helping to relocate the museum that was forced to close its doors in Oneonta, NY last year. The proposal would bring the moved memorabilia to the Kansas City Wizards' new soccer-specific stadium, due to open in Wyandotte County, Kansas some time next year.
Jonathan Ullman, president of the Soccer Hall of Fame, has stated that there haven't been any specific discussions to this point, but he made it a point to explain that they will likely pursue a policy of decentralizing the museum, distributing the Hall's contents amongst several soccer communities across the country.
Davies and Faty Chat
Not really news, but here's a fun chat from the Ligue 1 website between Charlie Davies and Sochaux teammate Jacques Faty.
There was just one USMNT player in action in Europe today, but he made his presence felt. Alejandro Bedoya started and scored his first goal of the 2010 season, the lone tally in a 1-0 road win for Orebro over Brommapojkarna. The goal can be seen below; a nice header at the back post to finish off a cross from the wing:
The goal is just another step forward for Bedoya, who has been a key contributor throughout the opening weeks of the season. With six starts in six matches, he hasn't missed a beat after a very successive offseason that vaulted him from relative unknown to World Cup prospect.
----
At this time last year, I think it's pretty safe to say that most of us didn't really know much about Alejandro Bedoya. Thanks to the success he had in his first season as a professional, though, his name was soon floating around the conversation for the USMNT's January camp. I, like many others, wasn't expecting too much when Bedoya did get the call to camp. I figured he would make his debut in a fairly meaningless match, hoping that yet another young prospect for the future could get his first taste of the international game. Little did I know how the first couple of months of 2010 would go for Ale.
I can't say that I knew to much about him prior to that January cap. Of course, I had read up on him (at USSD, we always try to do our homework), but there's no substitute for actually seeing someone play. And with the comparative lack of Orebro streams on the interwebs, I really didn't get many opportunities to do just that. So I watched intently last January, despite the scoreline and the utter debacle that was foxsoccer.tv (worst $5 purchase of my life, for the record). Like many others, I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw. Some pace, some creativity, and a visible confidence on the ball. He didn't look like someone making his first cap, with few, if any, visible signs of nerves. While I liked what I saw, I was still cautious in my evaluation; after all, there's only so much to take from a friendly between domestic-based squads in front of a crowd that was far from intimidating (in numbers or temperament).
Following the match, I took part in the obligatory post-game analysis, praising the 22-year old's debut. But DaMarcus Beasley's winter revival and Stuart Holden's move to England had me confident in the USMNT's wing options, and with just one FIFA date before World Cup preparations began in May, I didn't expect to see Bedoya until the 2014 cycle. As nice as his first appearance was, I wanted to keep things in perspective. But football is a funny thing, and injuries, playing time, and some stuff behind the scenes have a way of keeping us all on our toes.
Too often, (and I know I'm not the only one guilty of this) I over-simplify a national team camp into just the end product, the 90 minutes of game play. But there's so much training and tactical work that we really don't get a chance to see that can be equally meaningful in a coach's evaluation. So when Bedoya got called into the March camp, I figured his time in Los Angeles at the beginning of the year must have played a role in his rapid ascent. Factor in his solid debut, some midfield injuries, and the Glaswegian roller coaster that is DaMarcus Beasley's time at Rangers, and it started to make sense that Bradley brought him in for some time with the so-called "A" team. Even at this point, though, I still looked at it as a young player getting some valuable experience ahead of the next cycle, without really thinking about South Africa.
But the surprises kept on coming. Bedoya came on as a sub and, in front of a much larger, partisan crowd against one of the best teams in the world, he once again played like anything but a youngster with almost no international experience. He added energy to the US attack, with aggressive runs off the ball and some good touches in the final third, displaying that aforementioned offensive confidence. It was an appearance that, all things considered, really impressed me and forced me to rethink my beliefs on where he stood in the national team setup. All of a sudden, Bedoya wasn't just a guy for the future, he was a guy for the here and now, a World Cup dark horse making his late charge.
Fast forward a month and a half, and Bedoya continues his rapid rise toward the USMNT's final 23. With his bright start at Orebro and DaMarcus Beasley's continued struggles with injuries and playing time, it's to the point that I actually consider the Miami native to have the inside track heading into the stretch run. While he may not make a splash against England or even make the bench for any matches, Bedoya at least looks like a legitimate favorite for one of the few, coveted spots on the plane to South Africa that are still up for grabs. Not bad for someone who was a relatively unknown entity just a year ago.
----
It seems like every cycle, there's at least one player in the final roster who earns his place by bursting onto the scene with a well-timed run of form. Alejandro Bedoya seems to be 2010's version of this footy archetype. But at the rate things are going, expect him to be a lot more than just a flash in the pan. His smooth transition to the professional ranks and now the international level have me and many others believing that this is just the beginning for the budding Orebro star.
For now, though, I'm just wondering what surprise he has in store for us next.
Ever since the initial excitement of the World Cup draw died down back in December, the talk around these parts and a lot of other sites has been primarily focused on Group C. I'm hesitant to give full previews of all 32 teams before final rosters are released, but I do still want to give some attention to the rest of the field. So, here are some facts and figures regarding the World Cup field to help fill the gap:
2:
There will be two Korean teams in South Africa, the first time this has happened in World Cup history. Since the peninsula's division, South Korea has made seven appearances ('54, '86, '90, '94, '98, '02, '06) with their northern neighbors making just one, back in 1966. Don't expect these political adversaries to meet on the playing field, however; the earliest that they could play each other would be in the semifinals.
2:
There will also be two teams from Oceania (the geographic region as defined by the UN, not the confederation) for the first time ever. Australia will be making their third appearance and second in a row, while New Zealand will be returning for the first time since their debut in 1982.
0:
There will be zero debutant associations at this summer's tournament, another World Cup first. But...
2:
There will be two teams competing for the first time in their current form after previously being part of former nations. After once playing as Yugoslavia, then Serbia and Montenegro, it will just simply be Serbia taking the field this time around. Slovakia, meanwhile, will make their first appearance since the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993. 0:
There will be no teams from the Middle East (per the traditional definition of the region) for the first time since 1974. From 1978 to 2006, one or more of Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Turkey, and Kuwait were present at FIFA's quadrennial showcase. This time around, however, the AFC representatives all hail from the far east, with Japan joining the aforementioned Korean duo and Australia.
2:
There will be two reigning continental champions absent from the tournament. Both Iraq (2007 Asian Cup) and Egypt (2010 Africa Cup of Nations) will not make the trek to South Africa after previously doing so for last summer's Confederations Cup. The same happened back in '06, when Egypt and Greece missed out on the World Cup after winning their respective confederation tournaments.
6:
There will be six African teams at this summer's World Cup, the highest number ever. After being represented by no more than three teams up until 1994, CAF has sent five teams for the last three tournaments (thanks to the tournament's expansion to 32 teams). Now, with South Africa earning an automatic berth as the host, that total gets pushed to six, with Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, and Cameroon rounding out the record group.
309,068,000:
The participating nation with the largest population is none other than the US of A. If only team ability was directly correlated, then we'd be entertaining serious thoughts of lifting the trophy come July 11. It does, however, set up an interesting contrast within Group C because...
2,056,340:
Slovenia has the smallest population out of the field of 32. Of course, when it comes down to it, a national team is made up of just 23 players, not millions, so this massive discrepancy won't play much of a factor when the USMNT and Slovenia square off in their second group stage match.
101:
There are 101 stars total on the flags of the 32 teams playing in the World Cup. This stat is utterly useless.
---- As always, feel free to correct me if I made a mistake; I know I'm far from perfect. Stay tuned for another post later today, and enjoy the afternoon, folks. Click here to read more...
If you'd like to inquire about advertising or freelance work, or if you would just like to pass on suggestions, thoughts, questions, or anything else to US Soccer Daily, feel free to contact us at US.Soccer.Daily@gmail.com
Posts
