Monday, June 12, 2006

USA 0 : 3 Czech Republic

Well, that was a pretty lame way to spend two hours. Before I get to the game, I should badmouth the people I watched it with, since I really doubt they're reading this: I get it. You're probably some sort of Europeans and thus incredibly sophisticated when it comes to soccer. That doesn't mean you need to be jerks and laugh when the US makes a mistake or when Marcela Balboa says something dumb. There are plenty of "pubs" and "crack dens" in Chicago, and I'm sure they get ESPN2. Feel free to take your business elsewhere and leave me to my NUTV. I'll be watching the Ghana game at home, I think.

As far as the US team was concerned, I understand that it's hard to keep your chin up after letting in a quick goal. That doesn't really explain why no one on the team ran to the ball at all for 90 minutes. Even Claudio Reyna's near miss couldn't liven things up.

I thought the biggest problem, however, was not morale but the starting lineup. Arena didn't put out anyone to attack from the right side. I like Bobby Convey as much as anyone, but he and DaMarcus Beasley play the same position; don't need them both at once. Clint Dempsey at right mid or Chris Albright at right back would have given a balance to our anemic attack. It would have stretched the Czech back line and opened up the middle for McBride, Donovan and Reyna.

And if you knew how much I hate Clint Dempsey, you would understand how serious I think this mistake was. If we don't have offensive success against Italy, and these guys don't see time, it will be a major statement about how little confidence Bruce Arena has in them.

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