The weekend gave us some great Yank highlights. Here's a day-by-day look at some of the best USMNTers had to offer:
Friday: In the much-hyped Yank clash between Everton and Fulham in the FA Cup, Landon Donovan was a spark plug for the Toffees, setting up both of his team's goals in a 2-1 win with some quality service from the wing:
Saturday: DaMarcus Beasley is doing good things with Puebla once again. On Saturday, he scored a beautiful 3rd minute goal that eventually proved to be the game-winner, as his side beat Jaguares 1-0 on the road. Check out the gorgeous finish, set up by a good first touch inside:
Sunday: Oguchi Onyewu did it all for Sporting on Sunday, helping them preserve a clean sheet while also bagging a brace in a 2-0 league win over Beira Mar. Check out the awesome "Capitao America" banner, as well as Gooch's finishes, in the videos below:
The USMNT’s January camp closed out with a second 1-0 win on Wednesday night, albeit with a lot fewer of the bright moments and dominating play that we saw against Venezuela.
Instead of the same controlling 4-3-3 that dictated the match in Glendale, we saw a scattered 4-4-2 and sloppy play throughout the lineup. It was, result aside, a step back for most that left a lot to be desired.
But before we delve into the bad, let’s first look at some of the good.
Nick Rimando, earning the fifth cap of his career, made a couple of stellar stops in his 45 minutes of play that preserved the USMNT’s 1-0 lead. Sure, he nearly got caught when he missed the ball on an aggressive rush off his line, but that’s far outweighed by the stunning one hand stop he made on a shot that was already past him, plus the scrambling clearance that followed. Not a lot of positions came out of the January camp having generally succeeded in both matches, but the goalkeeping corps (albeit without a ton asked of them) got the job done very well.
Another good thing to see was the international debut of Jeff Parke, who came on after the Geoff Cameron red card. As I’ve said time and time again, it’s always a special thing for a player to earn his first cap, so it was great to see the Drexel product get his shot with the Yanks. In his debut, Parke was solid (save for one gaffe that led to a shocking Panama miss from close range), helping the back line weather the storm after the US were reduced to 10 men.
Similarly, a first international goal is always special, so it was neat to see Graham Zusi find the back of the net in an otherwise decent but unremarkable appearance.
Well, that’s pretty much it for the good, unfortunately. Slim pickins in Panama City.
In general, many players had off nights. Brek Shea wasn’t particularly effective going forward, Jermaine Jones and Ricardo Clark didn’t exactly wow in the center of the park (so much for the snowball effect for Rico following that Venezuela goal), and Teal Bunbury turned in another underwhelming performance.
The center backs got beaten over the top on several occasions, and Cameron’s night ended in undesirable fashion with his second half red card (there's some debate as to whether or not he made contact, but it looked like he clipped Blas Perez to me, and once that call was made in that spot, the red card wasn't really a surprise). Playing a high line, the duo looked far less comfortable than they did against Venezuela, with Panama attackers finding space behind and threatening goal a number of times. Though, it must be said for them and for others, the squad’s tactics on the night worked to their detriment.
That, of course, falls on the shoulders of one Jurgen Klinsmann.
I said in my preview piece that one strong tactical performance against Venezuela was nice, but I wanted to see Klinsi replicate that success on the road against a tougher opponent. Well, he fell short of that by a decent margin.
Instead of continuing on with the 4-3-3 that was so successful in controlling possession and generating quality scoring opportunities, Klinsmann opted for rather defensive, dare-I-say Bradley-esque tactics with a 4-4-2 of the “empty bucket” variety. With two defensive-minded midfielders, a gap between the strikers and midfielders emerged, leading to a general disconnect within the US attack.
Forwards weren’t often provided great service or support, while the midfield was lost at times at both ends of the field, failing to command the game against a Panama team that was, apart from some veterans, pretty young and inexperienced.
Moreover, without a pressing midfield and front line controlling the match, the high back line that was employed was exposed on multiple occasions with simple probing balls over the top, as the Panama midfield had enough time on the ball to drop passes behind Parkhurst and Cameron. Once again, it could be argued that there was a lack of coherence between tactics and personnel, as Parkhurst and Cameron struggled to hold the high line at times against a Panamanian front line that included Blas Perez.
But most importantly, it seemed to show a lack of coherence between elements of Klinsmann’s larger tactical plan. A high back line coupled with a deep-lying midfield that concedes a decent bit of possession just by the nature of its positioning creates a situation in which space exists both for opposing midfielders to possess the ball, and for opposing forwards to run in behind the defense.
Granted, it did not cost the Yanks in the form of a goal, but there were a number of close calls that easily could have wiped away the US win.
The formation also did few favors for the forwards trying to impress. Chris Wondolowski, while not spectacular, did do well all things considered (mainly the lack of consistent service and support), helping set up Zusi’s goal with a nice flick-on header to get the ball into a dangerous spot. Wondo was also agonizingly unlucky not to score his first international goal, getting absolutely robbed after smartly following the rebound after a bullet from distance by Jermaine Jones.
Did he do enough to merit a call into the Italy camp or at least keep himself on Klinsi’s radar heading into World Cup qualification? I certainly don’t think he hurt his case across the two matches, and I wonder how much Klinsmann will take his own tactical missteps – which hampered the play of many Yanks – into consideration when evaluating the Panama performances, though. Ultimately, a lot will likely depend on what happens with other forwards in the pool, several of whom have a little bit of a leg up as is, being part of Klinsmann's "A-team". And, of course, we aren’t able to see what goes on in all of camp, which very well could impact any decision that is made.
While Wondo was okay – the lack of a connection between the forwards and the midfield limited the effectiveness of those in the front six – Teal Bunbury capped off the January camp with an uninspiring performance. Perhaps it’s a lack of match fitness and sharpness that will come back once the MLS season is underway, but Bunbury looked far from a player capable of breaking into the full team in the coming months.
Do I think any of the guys who haven’t featured with the full team in the past handful of months have a shot at getting called into the Italy camp, now that the January camp is over? Cameron, while not overly impressive against Panama, still seems like someone who could get called in because he resembles the type of skilled center back Klinsmann has been looking for. Do I think that Cameron is capable of filling that role? Eh, it’s hard to say at this point, but Klinsmann’s desire for that type of defender led us to several agonizing appearances from Michael Orozco Fiscal, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Klinsi takes a flier on Cameron in February. Realistically, though, I think that would probably wait until the summer.
Benny Feilhaber’s absence was curious after a solid outing v. Venezuela. Was it perhaps the result of being a little banged up after a long camp? Or was instead an indication that Benny is further down on the totem pole?
Ultimately, I expect the Italy camp to be the usual suspects, with few from this January camp getting the invite.
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All of that aside, it must be said that the Yanks still prevailed on the road in Central America, something that is never easy to do. In the end, it’s good for the players, as well as Klinsmann and his staff, to get that experience ahead of World Cup qualification, where a trip to Guatemala (and likely other Central American destinations) awaits.
I guess it’s just a sign of higher expectations that even a 1-0 road win by a B-team is still met with some consternation stateside.
The USMNT take on Panama tonight in the second of their two January friendlies. Here are some of the things I'll be watching for:
1. Response to a tougher test?
Michael Parkhurst and Geoff Cameron managed to do what was asked of them at center back against Venezuela, keeping a clean sheet and helping build a number of US attacks. But the fact of the matter is that they were rarely tested on the night, in part because of strong play from the center mids in front of them, but also in large part because of a rather toothless Venezuelan attack.
Against a well-coached Panama side that includes Blas Perez up front, how will Parkhurst and Cameron fare? Will they be able to handle the physical presence of Perez, something Tim Ream struggled with during last year's Gold Cup? And how will they manage playing on the road in Central America, an always challenging task that may help paint a better picture for Jurgen Klinsmann as he starts looking towards World Cup qualification.
Unlike the Venezuela match, expect Cameron and Parkhurst (assuming they're the starting tandem again) to be tested in this one.
Behind them, Bill Hamid should also get more work to do than he did in his international debut- a match in which he wasn't forced to make a single save. (Fun fact: Hamid is the first USMNT keeper to keep a clean sheet in his first senior team cap since Matt Reis did it in January 2006.) With a stronger opponent and hostile environment, organizing his defense well and taking command of his box will be greater challenges.
On the sidelines, it'll be interesting to see how the Yanks fare from a tactical perspective. After a miserable couple of months at the end of last year, Jurgen Klinsmann quelled some fears with a strong half against Slovenia in the final match of 2011 (only to renew some concerns with a rather poor second half). He has managed to start 2012 off on the right foot, employing a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 that dominated Venezuela in Arizona. But, like Cameron and Parkhurst, how will he fare against what should be a tougher opponent in a tougher environment? Will the US be as dangerous in the final third as they were on Saturday? Or will they revert back to some of the drab attacking displays that we saw in the first months of Klinsmann's reign?
Let's see what kind of tactics Jurgen puts forward, and how he is able to adjust in-game.
2. Will Wondo build his case?
Teal Bunbury didn't really wow against Venezuela, but fellow striker Chris Wondolowski managed to impress in less than a half hour off of the bench. He put himself in good positions, used his body well to create separation and opportunities, and was quick on the ball in the final third, helping generate a couple of quality scoring chances.
With the USMNT forward corps still in a state of flux (Bunbury wasn't great against Venezuela, Juan Agudelo is still fighting for club team minutes and may move sooner rather than later, Edson Buddle- while impressive against Slovenia- is still very much unsettled at the club level, Herculez Gomez is just working his way into his new team, and Jozy Altidore has come off the bench lately with AZ; and it's not unreasonable to say that a lot more could change in the next couple of months, for better or for worse), I don't think it's beyond Wondo's reach to work his way into the full team picture ahead of World Cup qualification. He has proven himself to be a very capable finisher over the last couple of years (well, most of the time), something that can't exactly be said of many players in the US pool.
I think Wondo could be in line to start tonight. Another strong performance would go a long way towards putting him on Jurgen Klinsmann's first team radar heading into the coming months.
And I'm sure the San Jose Earthquakes star will be gunning for some small measure of redemption after his awful miss against Panama last summer. A goal tonight would be the first of his international career.
3. New faces in MLS
USMNT-centric focus aside, tonight will also give MLS fans a chance to see three of the leagues newest signings. Gabriel Gomez, who was named to the All-Tournament Team in the 2011 Gold Cup, signed with the Philadelphia Union in December and will likely tangle with Benny Feilhaber and Jermaine Jones in the center of the midfield. Blas Perez (whom USMNT fans are likely already familiar with) and Carlos Rodriguez, meanwhile, are both headed to FC Dallas, and will be facing off against their new club teammates Brek Shea and Zach Loyd. With the MLS season still an agonizing two months away, it will be nice to get a sneak peak at some of the league's newest acquisitions.
4. One more debut?
Last Saturday's friendly gave us four USMNT debuts, as CJ Sapong, Graham Zusi, AJ DeLaGarza, and Bill Hamid all earned their first cap.
Of the players currently in camp, there is now just one player who has yet to make an appearance with the senior national team: Jeff Parke. Will the Pennsylvania native get his chance tonight? The odds aren't great, but like Lloyd Christmas- I'm saying there's a chance.
5. Another step forward for Rico?
Saturday night was a feel-good moment for Ricardo Clark and his fans. Now, let's see him build on it. A good outing could help start a snowball effect with his form and confidence (the two aren't unrelated, in my book; what goes on between one's ears can be just as important as what happens with one's feet) at the club level, as he seeks to revive his career (hopefully away from Eintracht Frankfurt).
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Well, that's it for now. The match kicks off at 8:30 ET on ESPN3.com and Galavision. Be sure to come by tomorrow for some post-match analysis, and join in the conversation on Twitter (@USsoccerDaily).
There certainly are worse ways to start off the year than the USMNT's dramatic 1-0 win over Venezuela on Saturday night. Check out the highlights below, which includes Ricardo Clark's record-setting game-winner:
While the win did not come until the dying moments of the match, a positive result never seemed in doubt, as Venezuela hardly ever threatened in their attacking third.
I mentioned on Twitter prior to kickoff that Geoff Cameron and Michael Parkhurst would be two players that I would be monitoring, as they might provide the kind of possession-oriented center back that Jurgen Klinsmann has been seeking. Neither were greatly tested, thanks in part to strong support in front of them from the defensive mids, but both managed to do what was asked of them without much trouble.
Cameron, who looks capable of making the leap to the full team in the near future, was solid going forward, helping build attacks from the back. One notable example occurred early in the first half, when Benny Feilhaber was able to spring Brek Shea behind the defense, a sequence that began with a properly-placed ball from Cameron into the midfield. Parkhurst, meanwhile, brought his usual understated game to the table, positioning himself well to disrupt attacks without much drama.
In the end, though, Venezuela's toothless attack leaves me not entirely convinced of either center back's merits. Getting tested in a hostile environment against a Panama side that will include a couple of strong, skilled forwards should give us a much better idea of where the two stand at the international level.
As I mentioned above, the midfield was key in limiting the amount of work Parkhurst and Cameron actually had to do, with Jermaine Jones leading the way. Jones looked very much the part of an in-season veteran on a Champions League squad, bossing his way around the center of the park. While he looked to get a little too heated at times (wearing the captain's armband didn't smooth out all his rough edges), Jones led by example, tracking well and helping initiate attacking forays. I was hoping to see Jones show his class instead of perhaps playing down to his competition, and he did not disappoint, turning in a very solid performance after an abbreviated camp stay.
Alongside him, Jeff Larentowicz quitely pulled his weight as well, providing a more under-the-radar kind of support next to the more eye-catching play of Jones.
The big moment of the match, though, came from Larentowicz's replacement, Ricardo Clark. His goal in the 7th minute of stoppage time was the latest second half stoppage time winner in USMNT history. It must be said, also: Jermaine Jones provided the service after hitting several other quality corners throughout the match. That could very well be something that we see carry over to the full national team if Jones continues to produce dangerous set piece deliveries.
As far as Clark goes, though, his time on was largely anonymous until his goal. But that goal alone could go along way to boosting the confidence of a 29 year old who as recently as last year was doing some good things in the Bundesliga. It was a nice moment for a player that left the field at the World Cup nearly in tears, and you could tell by his reaction that the goal really meant something to him.
While some love to write him off or blame him for the World Cup loss to Ghana (this just in: several others were involved in that play, from Bob Bradley to the center backs to Tim Howard), the fact of the matter is that Rico could very well still have more to offer to the national team setup (even if just as depth). He needs a move from Eintracht Frankfurt, which has devolved into a pretty terrible situation for him, but Saturday's goal could go a long way to boosting his confidence as he seeks to revive his career.
In that regard, his call into camp (which some were not too pleased about, for various reasons) has already been a success in my book, and could pay greater dividends down the road than bringing in a fringe young player just to fill out the ranks. And for that, I commend Jurgen Klinsmann for his unexpected decision. We'll see if Rico is able to build off of that against Panama and in the coming weeks as he seeks a move.
As I've always said, in never hurts to have a surplus of experienced, skilled, in-form options. So don't write someone like Rico off just yet.
Elsewhere in the midfield, Brek Shea showed flashes of his quality and was unlikely not to score at least one goal in the first half. Ultimately, though, he disappeared for long stretches of the match, which was a little disappointing. As one of the more talented (and internationally experienced) players in the squad, I was hoping to see Shea do what Jermaine Jones did and really help dictate the match. Alas, he did not, apart from a couple of bright moments in the attacking third.
Benny Feilhaber, meanwhile, did some good things in the middle, setting up a Shea opportunity with a gorgeous through-ball among other things. In the end, though, I found myself frustrated with his outing. While Feilhaber showed his quality and creativity at times, there were also a couple of instances of being "too cute", where he passed up a shooting opportunity for an ill-advised pass. Nevertheless, he reminded us once again that he possesses a skill set that is still pretty unique in the USMNT's center mid pool, which could keep him in the full team picture in the near future.
What irked me, though, was his constant yelling at the ref. Without a doubt, referee Roberto Garcia Orozco missed a lot. A lot. Between several maulings in the box on nearly every corner, the US has legitimate penalty claims on a number of occasions, with Feilhaber often on the receiving end. But Benny let his anger get the best of him too often and nearly cost the US dearly when he kicked out at a Venezuelan defender, an unpunished act that very well could have led to a red card on another night. That kind of petulance or lack of composure takes away from Benny's game and is in stark contrast to the reaction of someone like Chris Wondolowski, who responded to a clear take-down on a corner by getting up and working to get a shot off just seconds later. At 27 years old with 39 caps across some big competitions, Feilhaber simply needs to better at keeping his cool in that spot.
Up front, Teal Bunbury had a little bit of a tall task, playing without another true striker. But he managed to get himself into some dangerous spots throughout his time on. With that being said, though, his finishing and performance as a whole left a lot to be desired, with several good opportunities squandered. While undoubtedly a talented young prospect, Bunbury still has plenty of room to grow before he starts making a big impact with the full side.
zusi, sapong, hamid, delagarza
In contrast to the performance of Bunbury was that of Chris Wondolowski, who came on in the 62nd minute and was highly active and effective up top. The San Jose Earthquakes star was unlucky not to score his first international goal, getting robbed by an acrobatic save from Leonardo Morales. He put himself in dangerous spots and used a little veteran wisdom to create some space between himself and Venezuelan defenders in the final third. Wondo also helped set up a couple of good scoring opportunities with good movement off the ball and quick, well-placed passes. All in all, he was one of the more impressive Yanks on the night, behind the likes of Jermaine Jones and perhaps one or two others.
While many still can't forgive Wondo for his Gold Cup miss against Panama, I still see him as a valuable player in the pool (there aren't many quality finishers) that could very well work his way into the full team picture as we move into World Cup qualification. A strong follow-up performance against Panama could help keep him on Jurgen Klinsmann's radar.
Speaking of Klinsi, his tactics were good on the night, and the USMNT's issues usually were ones of execution, rather than planning. The Yanks dominated, and the 4-2-3-1 (or, at times closer to a 4-3-3) helped create a fair share of goalscoring opportunities. Really, were it not for an outstanding performance from Venezuela's keeper, the score could have been something closer to 3-0 or 4-0.
With that being said, the same thing that I said about Cameron and Parkhurst applies to Klinsi: Venezuela weren't the strongest side, so I'd like to see him replicate his success against a tougher foe on the road on Wednesday in Panama.
Before closing, it's also worth highlighting the fact that a couple of Yanks earned their first cap, a milestone moment in one's career. While CJ Sapong, Graham Zusi, AJ DeLaGarza, and Bill Hamid (who didn't have to make a single save on the night) did not have particularly remarkable debuts, it's always a cool thing when players get to wear their national colors for the first time.
Last, but not least, one of the big stars of the night was not on the field, but rather in the stands. The crowd of 22,403 in Glendale, Arizona was loud and involved throughout the match, creating a wonderful atmosphere. The numbers and enthusiasm are all the more impressive when one considers that this was a friendly between B-teams. Perhaps with the right opponent (read: not Mexico or certain Central American teams), the Phoenix area could provide a good home-field advantage during World Cup qualifiers. Hypotheticals aside, Arizona fans showed well on Saturday. Kudos, folks.
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After a 2011 that included far too many losses and underwhelming efforts, the Yanks' 1-0 win was a welcome beginning to 2012. Let's hope they're able to build upon that as they take on a much stiffer challenge on Wednesday in Panama City.
I'll have a match preview piece up tomorrow, so be sure to come by and check it out.
What a weekend for Yanks (and other MLSers) in Europe. Here are some of the highlights:
Clint Dempsey played 90+ minutes for Fulham in a 5-2 win over Newcastle. Deuce scored a second half hat trick, the first ever by an American in the EPL, giving him a career-high 15 goals across all competitions. His previous career high was 13, set last year. Considering it's only January, it's looking very possible that Dempsey could end the season with over 20 goals for Fulham. Needless to say, his recent run of form has been absolutely incredible.
Check out the goals:
<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video?vid=b3d31c83-2e5b-4e25-bd59-6e55aefe496b" target="_new" title="">Clint Dempsey is sensational</a>
Elsewhere, Landon Donovan helped set up Everton's lone goal in 1-1 draw against Blackburn:
Donovan played all 90 minutes for the fifth time in 18 days. David Moyes is certainly making sure he gets his money's worth.
Zak Whitbread turned in a strong 90 minutes for Norwich in their 0-0 draw with Chelsea. So long as he stays healthy and in decent form, he is certainly a feasible candidate to get called up for the February friendly against Italy.
In the second tier, Jonathan Spector played the full 90 in Birmingham's 3-0 win, while Robbie Findley and George John did not feature in the West Ham's 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.
In Scotland, meanwhile, Maurice Edu scored the tying goal in Rangers' 1-1 draw with Aberdeen (a result that pushes them further behind SPL leaders Celtic). He got a little help, with his shot deflecting off a defender before finding the back of the net. But to his credit, you can't score if you don't shoot.
In Germany, Steve Cherundolo and Danny Williams went the distance for their respective clubs as Hannover took on Hoffenheim. Williams played at center back, with both Americans helping preserve clean sheets in a 0-0 draw. Fabian Johnson came on for the final 24 minutes, while US U-20 Joseph Gyau was an unused sub after making the match day squad for the first time with Hoffenheim.
Jermaine Jones and Timmy Chandler were not in action with their respective clubs.
Sacha Kljestan played 90 minutes for Anderlecht in a 1-0 road win, while Jozy Altidore came off the bench for the second straight match, playing the final 17 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Ajax.
Last, Michael Bradley played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Chievo's 2-2 draw at Lecce. Bradley has now played all 90 minutes in 17 straight Serie A matches since making his Chievo debut. He has yet to be subbed off with the Flying Donkeys.
Not a bad weekend at the office for Americans across the pond.
With the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations set to kick off in less than 48 hours, here's your mega tournament preview post.
Before we jump into looking at the groups and each of the teams, an important point to be made is that the winner of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations will not earn a spot in the 2013 Confederations Cup. The CAF berth will instead go to the winner of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, as the tournament switches to odd years to avoid falling on the same year as the World Cup.
As such, some of the squads may reflect the fact that no Confederations Cup spot is on the line. But don't expect it to take much away from the on-field play; there is still tons of talent in this tournament and the Africa Cup of Nations never fails to bring some intense footy.
The tournament, co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, will start this Saturday with the opening match in Bata, Equatorial Guinea and will eventually wrap up with the final in Libreville, Gabon on February 12th.
Without further ado, let's dive right in with a look at the teams involved:
Group A:
Equatorial Guinea will be making their first appearance in a major international tournament, qualifying as tournament co-hosts. The nation of just under 700,000 people has a dark history of dictatorship- once being referred to as the "Dachau of Africa"- which continues to this day, with current President Teodoro Obiang proclaiming himself a god. That checkered past and the shortcomings and abuses of the nation will be pushed into the background as they attempt to put their best foot forward as tournament hosts. But it's an area that certainly merits some discussion as the tournament plays out in Bata and Malabo.
As for the national team, well, they'll have an uphill climb. Although FIFA rankings are often flawed, the triple digit (150) ranking for Equatorial Guinea is indicative of a team that has lost matches to Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, and the France U-20s in the past six months. They will have the benefit of playing all three of their group stage matches in front of their home crowd, though, which could help them make up some of the gulf in talent between them and the other teams in their group.
Something interesting to note about Equatorial Guinea is that, of the 23 players in their tournament squad, just 2 were born in Equatorial Guinea. 10 were born in Spain (Equatorial Guinea was a Spanish colony until 1968), 5 were born in neighboring Cameroon, 2 were born in Cote d'Ivoire, 1 was born in Liberia, 1 was born in Colombia, and 1 was born in Brazil. Somewhere, an Equatorial Guinean equivalent of Preston Zimmerman is not too pleased about that. (I kid, I kid.) Libya enters the tournament as one of the stories of resilience and perseverance. Due to the unrest in Libya this past year, the national team was able to play just one of its six qualifying matches at home. Nevertheless, they managed to secure qualification without a single loss.
The Libyans, who were scheduled to host next year's Africa Cup of Nations until CAF opted to move it to South Africa due to security concerns, will be playing a tournament under their new flag for the first time. With their nation still trying to gel following the upheaval of 2011, a few tournament wins certainly couldn't hurt by bringing some joy and pride to the people.
On the whole, Libya are a solid side that is more than capable of making some noise in the first round. Don't forget: unlike most teams entering this tournament, they are very familiar with and comfortable playing at neutral venues, which could work to their advantage in this tournament.
Zambia will be returning to the site of their greatest disaster. In 1993, a plane carrying the national team crashed in Gabon, killing all 30 passengers, including 18 national team players. Read this fantastic Sports Illustrated piece by Leigh Montville to learn more about the tragedy.
The Copper Bullets, as their known, managed to rebound from that dark day in amazing fashion, finishing as runners-up at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations. They will be hard-pressed to replicate that success this time around, however. While Zambia have managed to beat weaker teams consistently, they have struggled to assert themselves against stronger opposition (e.g. taking just 1 of 6 points from Libya in qualification). Nevertheless, they are tournament regulars with a good deal of experience, something that makes them a team very capable of advancing beyond the group stage.
Senegal are the strongest side in Group A, boasting an impressive forward stable that, among others, includes Newcastle teammates Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba, not to mention Mamadou Niang and Moussa Sow. Ba, 26 years old, is enjoying his finest season as a pro and is among the EPL's league leaders in goals, with 15 in 19 appearances. If he is able to carry that form to the international level, Senegal could prove to be a very dangerous team in this tournament. They've already collected one scalp: Samuel Eto'o and Cameroon will be watching the tournament from home after getting shut out twice by Senegal in 2011.
Senegal also have one of the few MLS connections in this tournament: free agent goalkeeper and former MLSer Bouna Coundoul is on the team's tournament roster.
Group A Bottom line: The hosts will struggle despite home support, while Senegal look poised to take the top spot. Zambia and Libya will renew their mini-rivalry after having battled in the same qualification group; their meeting will likely determine the second team to go through to the quarterfinals.
Group B:
Cote d'Ivoire enter the tournament as one of the favorites to win it all. With the likes of Didier Drogba (even off form, he still poses a great threat), Gervinho, and Yaya Toure in the squad, the Elephants were dominant in qualification, taking the maximum 18 points from their six matches.
Recent friendly wins over fellow qualifiers Tunisia and Libya only further confirm what he already knew: Cote d'Ivoire will be one of the toughest teams in the field and are a safe bet to move on to the knockout rounds. They'll be hoping to redeem themselves after a disappointing 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in which they fell to Algeria in the quarterfinals in an extra time thriller.
Sudan will be playing in their first international tournament since the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and since the country was split in two with the recent independence of South Sudan. While Sudan are no pushovers- they managed to draw Ghana in qualification- they will face a tall task in Group B, and odds are they will not be able to advance.
A fun fact: Sudan are the only team in the tournament whose entire 23-man roster plays domestically. The entire squad comes from just 6 Sudanese club teams.
Burkina Faso are bit of a wildcard, having had each of their last two competitive group reduced from 4 to 3 teams, thereby creating a smaller sample size of matches for outside observers like myself to parse over. In 2010, Togo's withdrawal from the Africa Cup of Nations meant just two matches for Burkina Faso, while in 2011 the withdrawal of Mauritania from Africa Cup of Nations qualification meant Burkina Faso's path the tournament would include just four matches against the Gambia and Namibia- hardly world beaters.
They navigated qualification successfully, thanks in part to a cosmopolitan squad that includes players from 16 different leagues across Africa, Europe, and Asia. They'll be led by 31 year old forward Moumouni Dagano, one of the leading goalscorers in all of the 2010 World Cup qualification process. His 30 goals in 47 caps is an impressive strike rate, but it must be said: though Dagano has featured in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, he has scored just one tournament goal, way back in 2002 against Morocco. If Burkina Faso are to advance, they'll likely need Dagano to buck that trend.
Angola return the Africa Cup of Nations after hosting the 2010 tournament. After a slow start to qualification, they managed to overcome an up-and-coming Uganda side and a plucky Kenya to reach their fourth straight Africa Cup of Nations.
Angola have one of the older sides in the tournament, with 8 players over the age of the 30 and several holdovers from the team that played at the 2006 World Cup. The lone Angolan goalscorer from that tournament, Flavio, will look to add to his total of 25 international goals, leading a forward corps that also includes Porto's Djalma Campos and the splendidly named World Cup veteran Love.
Angola's squad also includes Wilson. No, not this guy; but rather a back-up goalkeeper.
Expect Angola to challenge for a spot in the quarterfinals, though it's unlikely that they'll be able to progress much deeper than that.
Group B Bottom Line: Cote d'Ivoire are a good bet to move on. Angola stand a good chance of joining them in the quarterfinals.
Group C:
Whereas Group A and Group B will take place entirely in Equatorial Guinea, Group C and Group D will take place in Gabon. The co-hosts will take the field in a couple of sparkling new venues in Libreville and Franceville. The Stade d'Angondje' in Libreville opened late last year with a friendly between Gabon and Brazil, a match that wasn't without its kinks that needed to be worked out: apart from a muddy field that retained some water, the power went out early on, delaying the match.
Nevertheless, the stadiums and this opportunity to host are a point of pride for Gabon, who will be seeking to take advantage of the home field advantage and reach uncharted territory; their previous best finish in the Africa Cup of Nations is a quarterfinals berth in 1996. With three group matches in front of their home fans and (potentially) a quarterfinal match in friendly territory as well, plus a navigable (but not easy) Group C, odds are good that Gabon will at least be able to match that 1996 tournament run.
Niger enter the tournament as one of the surprise qualifiers, emerging triumphant from a qualification group that included South Africa, Egypt, and Sierra Leone thanks to head-to-head advantage over South Africa and Sierra Leone (the three teams finished with 9 points apiece). That scenario actually led to a bizarre blunder by Bafana Bafana, who began celebrating their final draw against Sierra Leone, thinking it was enough to qualify, only to be told later that they did not understand the tiebreaker procedures correctly.
This will be Niger's first ever international tournament, and they'll bring a squad that is almost entirely based in Africa, with just four players plying their trade in Europe. One player to watch is 23 year old CSKA Moscow player Ouwo Moussa Maazou, who is currently on loan in Belgium. The striker has managed to score a goal in every other game he has appeared in for his country, and could be one of the tournament's breakout players.
He'll struggle, though, if his team is unable to perform away from home, as was the case in qualification: Niger won all three of their home matches, but lost each of their away matches, failing to score a single goal in those losses. Like fellow debutantes Equatorial Guinea, it will be an uphill climb for Niger, and the chances are that their tournament will end in the group stage.
Morocco emerged from one of the most entertaining qualifying groups, beating out Algeria and the Central African Republic for a spot in the field. Their 4-0 thumping of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers paved the way for top spot in the group, and their stingy defense conceded just twice in six matches.
Arsenal forward Maroune Chamakh will be a player to watch in a Moroccan squad that is not short on talent. With that being said, in one of the more wide open groups in the field, Morocco could very well finish anywhere in the Group C table when all is said and done.
Tunisia enter the tournament after taking part in a longer qualification process, having played in the five-team Group K. Though they were unable to claim the top spot in the group, they still managed to qualify for their 10th straight Africa Cup of Nations as the second place finisher.
Questions remain about Tunisia's ability to beat good sides. While they were able to defeat a Togo side that has been out of sorts for some time, they failed to beat Malawi in two meetings and lost twice to Botswana. This has me very skeptical of their ability to advance deep into this tournament. But, with Group C being so tight and their team possessing so much tournament experience, they have a puncher's chance of at least moving on to the knockout rounds.
Group C Bottom Line: Gabon acquitted themselves well at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, and they should only fare better with the home crowd behind them. Niger will need to break their road losing streak, while Morocco seem more than capable of advancing. Tunisia's tournament experience could help them overcome a trend of disappointing performances against good sides.
Group D:
Ghana enter the tournament as one of the favorites along with Cote d'Ivoire. But this isn't the same Ghana side that nearly reach the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup. There are actually just 10 players from that team in the 23-man squad for this tournament, with players like Steven Appiah and Kevin Prince Boateng being a couple of the notable absences.
Nevertheless, the Black Stars bring a lot of quality to the table. But they'll have the tournament Group of Death to contend with, as they look to move on to the knockout rounds and win their first continental title since 1982. They eased through qualification, but will have a much tougher road to navigate this time around, as you'll see below.
Botswana are the third of the three tournament debutantes, and they look the most impressive of the three. Unfortunately for the Zebras, they first go around is in the Group of Death.
Led by a forward tandem of Dipsy Selolwane (former of the Chicago Fire, Real Salt Lake, and Saint Louis University) and Jerome Ramatlhakwane, Botswana were the first non-host team to qualify for the tournament. They were boringly efficient, scoring just 7 goals in 8 matches en route to a 5-2-1 (W-D-L) record, with Ramatlhakwane scoring 5 of those goals. Their lone loss came after qualification was secured, as they topped a group that included Togo, Tunisia, Malawi, and Chad.
Their stingy defense, which conceded just 3 times in 8 matches, will need to hold up if Botswana is to advance to the quarterfinals. But they'll face stiff tests in each of their group stage matches. Ultimately, a lack of offensive punch could keep the Zebras from progressing on.
Mali managed to beat out a decent challenge from Cape Verde in qualification to earn their 7th Africa Cup of Nations berth. While they are not the strongest team in the field, they represent another tough beat in a group filled with tough beats. A more appropriate name for Group D actually would probably the Group of Tough Beats; they might not all be world beaters, but it looks like there sure won't be any easy games.
Mali's Cheick Diabate, currently with Bordeaux, could be another breakout performer in this tournament. The 23 year old forward scored four goals in qualification and has scored 6 times in 13 appearances with his country since debuting in 2008.
Guinea could be one of the dark horses of this tournament. The West African side managed to qualify for this tournament by going through Nigeria, knocking out the Super Eagles thanks to a draw in Abuja on the final match day. They went unbeaten in six matches, including a 1-0 victory over the 2010 World Cup qualifiers at home.
The lone goalscorer in that match, Genoa forward Kevin Constant, will not be taking part in this tournament, but Guinea won't mind: their 13 goals in qualification came from 10 different players.
Guinea missed out on the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, but reached the quarterfinals of the three previous tournaments. They'll be the favorites to advance along with Ghana, but they'll need to clear a couple of tricky matches against Mali and Botswana along the way.
Group D Bottom Line: Ghana will be the team to beat, but any team in this group is capable of moving on to the quarterfinals. Botswana's stingy defense will be tested greatly by the Black Stars, as well as Guinea's diversified attack. I expect some very close games in this group.
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Some general thoughts:
Beware Pot 4: The teams that were in Pot 4 for this draw- Libya, Sudan, Botswana, and Niger- will not be pushovers and very well could make some noise early on.
The Big Boys Are Out: Some of the big names not at this edition of the Africa Cup of Nations: three-time reigning champions Egypt, South Africa (in tragicomedic fashion), Algeria, Cameroon, and Nigeria. That means a whopping 13 of the last 16 Africa Cup of Nations champs will not be present. That has me thinking that we could very well see a first time champion this time around. Speaking of which...
Champion Prediction: It'd be easy to go with Cote d'Ivoire or Ghana in this spot. But I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Senegal will win their first ever Africa Cup of Nations. Take that to the bank. (Sorry for condemning your national team to failure, all you Senegal fans.)
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The tournament begins on Saturday, as Equatorial Guinea take on Libya in Bata. Here's the full tournament schedule, for those interested.
As usual, I'll try to send along any streams that I can find.
Last week, US Soccer and the Italian Football Federation confirmed what had been rumored for a little while: the USMNT will take on Italy in a friendly on February 29th. The match will take place at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genova (Genoa, for the non-italophones).
With that news, I decided that I'd dig up some factoids surrounding the match. I went with 11 in total- a number with obvious soccer relevance- and if it's a hit, I might consider doing this prior to other USMNT matches.
So read up, and impress your friends when game day rolls around next month:
1. The USMNT has never beaten Italy: The two teams first met back at the 1934 World Cup and have played eight matches in total, but the US is still searching for its first victory after losing five times and drawing three times. The Yanks have run into the Azzurri at the World Cup, Summer Olympics (1934), Confederations Cup, and even the old US Cup, not to mention in friendlies. In those matches, the US has a goal differential of -11.
The US has played two friendlies against Italy, but was shut out in both matches.
2. The USMNT has played more World Cup matches against Italy than it has against any other national team: Of the 29 World Cup matches in USMNT history, three have been against Italy. No other opponent has played the US more than twice on the big stage (with England, Germany, and Ghana being the only teams to have even done it two times). 3. Neither the USMNT nor Italy have ever played on Leap Day: The friendly will mark the first time that either side has played a match on February 29th.
4. The USMNT has never played in Genova: The Yanks have played on Italian soil six times, but never in the port city of Genova on the Ligurian coast. Of those six matches, three took place in Rome, two took place in Firenze (Florence), and one took place in Catania.
5. No American has ever scored twice against Italy: In eight matches, the US has managed to score just four goals, with no player finding the back of the net more than once. If Landon Donovan (who scored against Italy from the penalty spot in the '09 Confederations Cup) is able to score a goal (assuming he's called up) or if another Yank is able to bag a brace, it will be a first.
6. Six USMNTers from the last USA-Italy friendly are still playing: The US and Italy last played in a friendly in 2002, a 1-0 loss for the US in Sicily. Of those in Bruce Arena's match day squad, six are still active: Landon Donovan, Josh Wolff, Brad Friedel, Pablo Mastroeni, Frankie Hejduk, and Jovan Kirovski. Unsurprisingly, Donovan is the only one of the bunch that is under 30 years old.
The lone goalscorer on that day? Alessandro Del Piero, who is still in the rotation with Juventus at 37 years old:
7. Of the matches the USMNT has played in Italy, half have come against teams other than Italy: As I mentioned earlier, the Yanks have played in Italy six times. Included in that is a friendly (2002), World Cup group stage match (1990), and World Cup knockout match (1934) against the Azzurri, as well as World Cup group stage matches against Austria and Czechoslovakia (1990) and a World Cup qualifier against Mexico (1934).
Speaking of Mexico...
8. The first USMNT v. Mexico match took place in Italy: Yes, the rivalry traces its origins to Rome, where the two played each other for the first time in a qualifier for the 1934 World Cup. Thanks to a 4-2 win, the US qualified for the World Cup and got the early upper hand in a rivalry that has become one of the best in all of soccer. It was short-lived, though: it wasn't until 1980 that the US beat Mexico again, losing 21 of 24 meetings in between.
9. Klinsmann returns to Genova: Jurgen Klinsmann's illustrious playing career included a brief stop at Stadio Luigi Ferraris, where he played for Sampdoria for half a season in 1997.
10. Since their last meeting with Italy, the USMNT is unbeaten in competitive matches against UEFA opponents: After losing 3-1 to Marcello Lippi and company in South Africa, the Yanks have managed to beat Spain and draw England and Slovenia. Okay, so it's only a three match unbeaten run, but when you consider the caliber of opponents and the stages that those matches were played on, it's nothing to scoff at.
11. Since debuting for Chievo Verona on September 18th, Michael Bradley has not missed a single minute of Serie A play: Bradley featured as a 71st minute substitute in his debut against Parma, and since then has made 16 consecutive 90-minute appearances with the Flying Donkeys in league play. He has never been taken off the field by his manager. It's just another indication of the kind of solid performance that has been earning Bradley praise and respect in Italy.
In that time, Bradley has helped Chievo rise to the top half of the Serie A table, with big results including wins over Napoli, Genoa, and Fiorentina, and draws against title contenders Juventus and Lazio.
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Well, that's enough for now. Read up to impress your friends or simply to prime yourself for another high profile USMNT friendly as the first FIFA match day of 2012 approaches.
It was a pretty eventful weekend of FA Cup action for USMNTers. Brad Guzan turned in another strong performance in Aston Villa's 3-1 win over Bristol, making several stops and coming within a few minutes of a clean sheet. Even after conceding, Guzan still wowed, adding to his legacy of cup heroics by saving a stoppage time penalty to preserve Villa's two goal lead.
Landon Donovan, meanwhile, set up Everton's lone goal in a 1-0 win over Conference side Tamworth, a match in which Tim Howard kept a clean sheet.
But the biggest story of the weekend came from Craven Cottage, where Clint Dempsey continued his stellar run of form with a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Charlton:
The goals are Dempsey's 10th, 11th, and 12th of the 2011-12 season in all competitions, and the first hat trick of his already storied Fulham career. To put that in perspective, his career high for goals in a season was last season's total of 13. It's only January, and Deuce is already on the cusp of tying his career high. Needless to say, he's on pace to blow past that number in much the same fashion that Jozy Altidore looks set to do at AZ.
Just how many is Dempsey on pace for? As always, there are a number of variables at play that often make extrapolation like this highly inaccurate. For instance, will Fulham make a deep run in the FA Cup? Will Dempsey stay healthy? Will he be at Fulham after the window closes? (For this interested, I think he stays at least until summer). But let's look at the numbers nonetheless, just for fun:
To date, Dempsey has played in all 20 of Fulham's league matches, scoring 6 times. Assuming he is able to match his total of 37 league appearances from last year, Dempsey would be on pace for 11 league goals.
Fulham's European run is over, so Dempsey will not add to the 3 goals he has scored in continental competition.
Fulham are now in the fourth round of the FA Cup, having drawn Everton (setting up a mouth-watering match-up of Yanks, with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard)- for the sake of this quick exercise, we'll say that Dempsey scores once more in cup competition. So that's 4 total cup goals.
All told, that would give Deuce 18 total goals for 2011-12. 18. With interest in his services from other clubs already at an all-time high, a season like that would only boost his stock further ahead of the summer window.
While those numbers likely won't exactly mirror reality when all is said and done, this point remains: Dempsey is playing some stellar soccer right now that is commanding respect and drawing a lot of attention from clubs in Europe. With World Cup qualifying set to begin in June (with one of the two matches being away to Guatemala, arguably the US' stiffest test due to the hostile environment), Jurgen Klinsmann will be hoping Dempsey can keep that form up.
Speaking of the USMNT, let's take a look and see what Dempsey has managed to do since June of last year with both club and country. With 5 goals in 11 international appearances (3 goals in the Gold Cup), Dempsey's totals since last June come to 17 goals in 39 appearances, a damn impressive strike rate that's all the more impressive when one considers how much of that time was spent in the midfield.
Last year, prior to the Gold Cup, I hailed the upcoming season as "the Summer of Deuce", anticipating big things from the Texan. But perhaps I was a little short-sighted, as Dempsey seems determined to make this the Year of Deuce instead. He'll be 29 years old in a few months and has stated time and time again that he wants to play in the Champions League. With his continuous upward rise to the top tier of Premiership players (you read that right), there might not be a better time for him to take the leap to a top tier club.
But all of that is in the background. For now, Dempsey seems content simply bagging goal after goal with the Cottagers.
For those who didn't get a chance to see Everton take on Bolton yesterday, you missed an American scoring a remarkable goal. No, it wasn't Landon Donovan in the first match of his second tour of duty with the Toffees.
It was Tim Howard.
Howard hoofed a back-pass forward and got plenty of help from the wind, with his clearance taking one big bounce before sailing over Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan's head and into the back of the net. The goal is the first of Howard's career; check it out:
And don't mistake that non-reaction to the goal as an "act-like-you've-been-there-before" coolness; rather, it was out of empathy for the opposing keeper in an embarrassing moment that he himself has experienced:
Unfortunately for Howard, Donovan (who played a solid 90 minutes in his first Everton appearance of 2012), and the rest of the Toffees, the goal did not hold up, with Bolton eventually winning 2-1 despite some fantastic stops from the USMNT keeper.
The goal, though, does bring back memories of another Yank goalie finding the back of the net, albeit in a more conventional, celebration-worthy fashion. I'm talking about none other than Brad Friedel, of course, who ventured forward into the opposing box in the dying moments of a 2004 EPL match against Charlton, finishing a loose ball with one touch to dramatically level the score:
Like Howard, though, Friedel ended up on the losing end that day, as Charlton scored soon after, giving them a 3-2 victory.
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With the USMNT's struggles at striker, maybe Jurgen Klinsmann will give Timmy his chance up top (I kid, I kid).
Everton will look to rebound this Saturday when they take on Tamworth (who play in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football) at Goodison Park (10 AM ET). We'll be on Twitter with Donovan-watch updates...and perhaps with news about another Howard goal.
(Before we truly embrace 2012, I'd like to take one last look back at what I believe was the defining moment of the past year and discuss in a less conventional manner- think some prose/analysis hybrid not unlike my piece on Landon Donovan's goal from last December. Enjoy.)
"Dagger."
It's a word used time and time again in sports conversations and broadcasts across the country. It signifies the final nail in the coffin, the final push that sends the boulder of momentum careening unstoppably down into the opponent. It quite literally inflicts pain to those on the receiving end, be they fans, players, or coaches.
Never in recent memory has that description been more apt than June 25, 2011, when Giovanni dos Santos, he of the punchable face, embarked on a mazy endeavor to shatter American hearts.
The moment was not simply momentous; it was tectonic. With one goal, one could feel the earth of CONCACAF shifting with one last violent jolt, ending 90 minutes of slow but evident movement in the North American soccer landscape.
It was a bildungsroman in the form of a football match. A hungry, talented, young bunch took their lumps, responded to adversity, grew together, and ultimately achieved great success as a result, all over the course of two halves. Mexico's Golden Generation came of age, and after years of American dominance, the stage for that true emergence could not have been better for El Tri.
While the phrase "dagger" might understate the massive nature of the shift that that one play represented, it couldn't be more appropriate to describe the feeling that it instilled to those supporting the USMNT on that fateful day.
The play built from fairly innocuous origins. With four defenders and Tim Howard accounting for just three Mexican attackers around the box, the situation seemed to be under control, albeit with the perpetual air of stress that comes with trailing in a final.
But then the pass. A slow, agonizing opening slit that left us all squirming. Tim Howard seemed to be out and capable of closing dos Santos out, snuffing out the play in its nascent stage. But each delicate touch from the former Barcelona midfielder left Howard (and those supporting him, vicariously) reaching in vain for a dangling carrot. It was as if dos Santos, in the heat of the moment with 90,000 fans around him and millions of others watching, made some conscious decision to make the moment as torturous as possible. Some great retribution for years of gut-punching moments from those gringos to the north.
And with each touch and each bit of ineffective American defending (close him down, Jermaine!), a crescendo of discomfort and worry built for USMNT fans.
Then, in a manner that truly did maximize the pain inflicted, dos Santos' coup de gras was not a thunderous blast, emphatically making a statement. Instead, it was a tormentingly world class chip that- naturally- was just out of the reach of a leaping Eric Lichaj. It was the final twist of a knife that had been thrust into the collective American soccer gut, killing an era (that of Bob Bradley, and one of sustained American dominance) in the process.
Friedrich Nietzsche once said, "To see others suffer does one good; to make others suffer even more: this is a hard saying but an ancient, mighty, human, all-too-human principle...Without cruelty there is no festival."
You would think Gio dos Santos read that before taking the field at the Rose Bowl last summer.
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