We Can Win

[MJ-inBRITAIN]

Ok, I'll say it.

It is possible. We can beat Spain.

Anyone that saw our 1-0 loss to them last summer knows we played well against them and had our chances. We know they keep the ball but they can be scored against, their back line isn't that good really.

Sign up for this positive thread if you agree - make it happen, use the FORCE!

[mclip_66]

We know they keep the ball but they can be scored against, their back line isn't that good really.


Are you basing that on the 2 goals they have given up in 6 WCQ matches or the 0 goals they have given up so far in the Confed Cup?

[IKickAndIm50]

Look at their opponents in WCQ and Confed group A, genius....

i agree they are probably overrated at this point but i dont think we can beat them. they are going to try hard to get into a final against brazil, where it will truly be important

[Bruce S]

we match up well with Spain. They play a lot like Mexico but better. They will control possession so we have to keep our shape and our cool and wait for chances.

[Matrim55]

Ok, I'll say it.

It is possible. We can beat Spain.

Anyone that saw our 1-0 loss to them last summer knows we played well against them and had our chances. We know they keep the ball but they can be scored against, their back line isn't that good really.

Sign up for this positive thread if you agree - make it happen, use the FORCE!
Their central defense is among the best in the world, though perhaps a half-step below England. Ramos and Capdevila are exploitable on the wings (Ramos especially), but if you attack them too much they'll just push forward and attack you instead.

This becomes less of an issue with Puyol at right back and Pique/Marchena in the middle, which I think is their best lineup, but I don't expect to see that.

They can also suffer out wide since none of their outside midfielders defend worth a damn. It's not that they can't, it's just that they usually don't have to. If Dempsey and Donovan play with fire, Spain's wide mids can be taken out of their games.

But the real place to look is in the central midfield. As great as Xavi and Xabi Alonso are, neither is a true d-mid and neither is at their best without Iniesta alongside them. Xabi hasn't done as much heavy lifting as he should this tournament and, frankly, Bradley and Clark's workrate and discipline (both on display against Egypt) can give Xavi/Xabi trouble.

I'm not saying that they'll be forced into turnovers, but they won't have a ton of passing lanes to exploit and I expect us to win a ton of second balls, then break quickly. That'll be the key for us - use our speed, use our speed, use our speed.

Spain with Iniesta and Senna are unbeatable IMHO, and their record shows it. Spain without those two are still the best team in the world, but not exactly a thundering juggernaut.

Can we win? Yes. Will we win? I sincerely doubt it.

I just want us to play with two forwards (I'd go Casey/Davies), a true d-mid (Clark's the only one on the roster), and a lack of fear. No matter the scoreline, I'll be happy with that.

[TabLalas]

Anything can happen but if we are to win then the guys need to start burying those chances that they get inside the box and Landon needs to stop dishing the ball off and become a little more selfish when he gets those chances.
Smart play combined with good ball movement and disciplined defensive shape and this team can compete, no doubt, but bonehead and go down to 10 guys and it'll get real ugly, real fast.

[orcrist]

Paging Nermalthecat (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1071319).

He's the one who should be making this prediction. As far as I'm concerned he needs to be hired for the position :D

[FirstStar]

Ok, I'll say it.

It is possible. We can beat Spain.

Anyone that saw our 1-0 loss to them last summer knows we played well against them and had our chances. We know they keep the ball but they can be scored against, their back line isn't that good really.

Sign up for this positive thread if you agree - make it happen, use the FORCE!

I'm all for positive thought, so please don't stop. However, "anyone that (should be "who") saw our 1-0 loss them them last summer" knows that they consistently attacked with only 4 or 5 players and both teams played to not hurt any Spanish player, since it was their last tune-up before Euro.

It was a great experience for the USA and playing one notch below all-out was the right thing to do (no one wants any team to have to repeat the Cory Gibbs situation just before a major tournement). Drawing conclusions from that game, however, is more difficult that you state. I think they are going to be playing to win against us on Wednesday and there will be a LOT more players in the attack.

I'd still like to see Freddy out there, just because I think he's the kind of player to give Spain some trouble.

[cc-atl]

Ok, I'll say it.

It is possible. We can beat Spain.

Anyone that saw our 1-0 loss to them last summer knows we played well against them and had our chances. We know they keep the ball but they can be scored against, their back line isn't that good really.

Sign up for this positive thread if you agree - make it happen, use the FORCE!

I like the optimism, but I think there backline is a lot stronger now then when we played the last summer. Pique was the best defender on a Barcelona team that was one of the best teams of all time.

His emergence has really helped solidfy Spain's backline.

[HoosierToon]

Spain will be looking towards their finals showdown with Brazil.

We will have our chances................it's yet to be determined if we'll take advantage.

[Albirrojo]

Spain's defense is excellent as well with Ramos and Iker in goal.

Clearly though, they've scraped by to defeat Bosnia who are a real goal scoring machine and look to be in the World Cup and Spain too, won the hard fought battle against Turkey.

Someone who dismisses their qualifying group that includes Belgium too, obviously are not informed on the game.

[Nyghtewynd]

I don't know if we *will* win, but we certainly *can*. Momentum can be worth a lot, especially if the US comes out with an attitude that jumps on the match in the first ten minutes and plays loose. If they get one of those early goals that everyone seems to get against them, it could make things very interesting.

[Nermalthecat]

Paging Nermalthecat (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1071319).

He's the one who should be making this prediction. As far as I'm concerned he needs to be hired for the position :D

Sadly, I suspect we'll lose 2-0 or so.

But for the sake of this thread and in keeping with the epicness ...

US 2, Spain 1

Come get a second taste of us, Brazil!!!!!

[lurking]

Sadly, I suspect we'll lose 2-0 or so.

But for the sake of this thread and in keeping with the epicness ...

US 2, Spain 1

Come get a second taste of us, Brazil!!!!!

Dude.. you ruined it. :(

Its the incredible optimism that had the power, now its just staged cynicism.

[Dr. Gamera]

For people like us
In places like this
We need all the hope
That we can get...

Oh, I still believe. (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1072420)

[MJ-inBRITAIN]

Yeah baby, Come and get some Spain!!!!

We're gonna send you home to your mommies!

[BoondockTodd]

ok, i'll say it.

It is possible. We can beat spain.
reverend!!!!!!!

[tbgh]

1-1 in regulation and extra time followed by who knows what in penalty kicks. We can do it!

[DDCaptain]

Yeah baby, Come and get some Spain!!!!

We're gonna send you home to your mommies!



Or hot women that will drop their panties at the site of them unlike any of our players.:p

[Galaxian]

I think we can pull off an upset as well, but the problem is, Spain did their research.

In all of the pre game articles, they basically had our style of play in a nut shell: we pressure high, try to play collectively, get the ball to LD and Dempsey, while our two central midfielders try to break up opponents attacks.

This is why I hope Bradley throws a curve ball and puts Adu in to mix it up a bit, and take some of the game to them .