What 'really' happened against Portugal in 2002 ? (R)

[kinstlinger]

Just curious what the opinions are on BS behind our beating Portugal 3-2 in our opening WC02 game

Where do you stand on the following....

#1 Portugal took us lightly.
They had an amazing run through qualifying, and with stars like Figo, Pauleta, Pinto, Costa et al, they were quicky given the title of dark horse, despite no World Cup experience. Regardless of their coach's pleads, they figured their big battle in the first stage would be Poland, and they could go on autopilot versus the US and South Korea.

#2 We were that good.
Nobody outside of the US had ever heard of Donovan, Beasley, or Mastroeni; and despite his club success, JOB had no major international experience to speak of. This game, plus Friedel's leadership ushered in the new breed of US player - not aware that the US was "supposed to" be an international push-over.

#3 Baia was unprepared
In watching the game as many times as I have, I'm stunned by Vitor Baia's lack of composure on the backline. This is a guy who was a mainstay with Porto, but if I remember correctly, hadn't started an international match in something like 3-4 years (?)
How do you send a guy with that statistic out for your first game ?
He seemed more intent on pushing balls away, than catching them, and you can hear him repeatedly yelling at his backline.
I think his shorts were too tight.

#4 They couldn't penetrate our defense/Pope and Mastro.
For all of their club pedigrees, I'm surprised that as the game wore on, how little success they had penetrating our defense.
Our guys made great runs up the wings (Sanneh), but Figo and Costa seemed to disappear.

#5 We shocked them.
I'm assuming their game plan was to wait us out a bit, and then make runs through our defense. But, JOB scores in the 5th minute, and they learnt that Friedel, Mastro and Pope wouldn't allow any easy scoring chances. Plus, they had to be cognizant of our MANY early scoring chances (Stewart, Pope). By the time it's minute 36, we're up 3-0.

#6 Their defense was old and creaky.
Ty Keough made mention about Banderas look-alike Couto, and others who were a bit unflexible, and man did we flex them. I can't really remember them putting up many challenges against our guys. Sanneh makes a run up his wing, fires a beautiful cross to McBride, and nobody picks that up??!!

[appoo]

we scored first. And that played into our hands because they then had to put thier old and creaky backline on islands, where they couldn't handle McBride, Beasley, or Donovan all that well.

If they had scored first, or tied us quickly, I think we lose that match. Portugal ran us ragged in that final 30 minutes IIRC.

[Nerazzuri]

Like you said; it was Baia's shorts.

If you're a defender, and you look back and see your keeper wearing sliders--with nothing over them, isn't there at least a little bit of you that wants to see him get embarrassed?

[Hustletown]

Portugal didn't prepare for us. The coach admitted it after the game. They thought they could just show up and intimidate us.

They had very good attacking players, but their defense was really lacking. Baia was horrible in goal. The Donovan deflection for the second goal should have never found the net.

They underestimated the opponent and paid the price.

[dark knight]

You forgot the other excuse - European schedule burnout meets warm weather.

[Maximum Optimal]

I would add McBride playing the game of his life. I vaguely recall some controversy about whether McBride was a useful player against a strong opponent. That hasn't been a topic of discussion since that match.

The defense played quite well, as can be seen from the fact that Friedel made zero saves. Pope was especially strong in marking Pauleta. And um to add a heretical view, I thought Agoos played well, the unfortunate own goal notwithstanding.

The only US player who played badly was Hejduk, whose passing was simply atrocious. Portugal seemed a bit flat but I think this was mainly a case of the US playing very well.

[JohnR]

That, and stuff happens. Concede a goal early at the Cup and it's generally curtains, unless you have the confidence of Brazil (as well as something like the ability). The U.S. matches vs. Portugal, Poland, and Mexico were all typical examples.

[Eric B]

You forgot the other excuse - European schedule burnout meets warm weather.Don't forget FIFA corruption, that's one too...

[Elninho]

That Portuguese defense was shockingly slow. I don't think they expected our speed up front - our fastest players were guys that hadn't been in the national team picture for long. Portugal probably expected to have Joe-Max Moore running at them, not Donovan and Beasley.

[Chowderhead]

And look at the tape. What will you see? Portuguese players overreacting to things not going their way. And it started pretty darn early in the match. In another words, Portugal's inability to keep its cool didn't help.

Take it from a guy who was born in Rhode Island and raised in Massachusetts: that hotheadedness is part and parcel of the Luso game and it didn't surprise me for a second.

I once saw the coach of an Azorean team chase the ref with a gun.

[Anthony]

Portugal didn't prepare for us. The coach admitted it after the game. They thought they could just show up and intimidate us.


Was it Beasley early in the game who tackled a Portugese player who flopped. So Beasley went over to him shaking his finger as though to say "Get up you wimp"

I remember thinking "NO FEAR!"

[Dave216J]

In order, I'd put them:

#5 We shocked them. They actually looked good for about 3 minutes, and they never really recovered.

#3 Baia was unprepared. A lot of our confidence stemmed from the needless early corner he gave up, and a better keeper might well have saved Donovan's cross/own goal. He infected his team with doubt.

#2 We were that good. We ran over and through them with a speed and calmness that was not just surprising, but actually outstanding.

#1 Portugal took us lightly. This was big in setting the stage, but only a moderate factor IMO.

#6 Their defense was old and creaky. When we were running at them, although we would have done well against most teams, it was helpful that there backline was experienced, slow (not fast), and slow (not quick); once beaten, they never recovered on a play, and this hampered their counters and offense.

#4 They couldn't penetrate our defense/Pope and Mastro. Our defense had a solid game, but Pauleta had the odd chance and they had some dangerous free kicks. Our defense got much better as our confidence grew and our run continued; it was mediocre in this first game (as evidenced by allowing two goals).

[pasoccerdave]

I seem to recall reading an interview with Luis Figo recently in which he stated that their program was in complete chaos going into the tournament, similar to the US entering France in '98.

That, and their slow back line that was exposed early.

[monop_poly]

Whatever the answer, I'm not expecting the same preparation or response from the Czech Republic. We won't be underestimated.

I anticipate a dearth of US goals due to dedicated defense in a tough group and needing clean sheets in 2 group phase games if we want to go through.

[McGinty]

I think, naturally, its a combination of all of them. The Portugese probably had no idea that they'd have to face Donovan and Beasley, but even if they did know, I still don't think they would be able to contain them.

They probably expected us to come out and do nothing but defend. They seemed shocked that we were not only truly hit them in the mouth, but that we were able to do so easily. We were that good and that confident.

I do disagree with Baia being unprepared. I just think that he's a poor goalkeeper. He looks lost coming off his line, and his "Tendency to Punch" rating on Football Manager should be something around 28. ;)

It is hard to say that teams will never underestimate us again. 4 years is a long time for many people, and our team still doesn't have the truly sexy names. Coaches may be publicly giving us respect, but convincing players that really don't have time to analyze other teams that the United States can beat you is another thing entirely.

[AndSomeAreAngels]

I like the fact that there's a [R] in the thread title. Wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone who taped it and was going to watch it tonight after work. ;)

[kinstlinger]

(R) = you never know :)

I remember really early in the game, Costa nutmeged Hedjuk.
Whenever I watch it now, I think to myself "you cocky B-lister".. you just wait.

I recall Keough and Edwards were talking about how the key to the game was to keep it "as close as possible for as long as possible", and the job fell to Jeff Agoos. Even our announcers were expecting a blowout.

Whether or not it stopped traffic all over Europe, I can't say.

[stucknutah]

If they had scored first, or tied us quickly, I think we lose that match. Portugal ran us ragged in that final 30 minutes IIRC.
Partially correct...they caused us problems from the 60th to 80th minutes...but, watch the last 10...the US put on a clinic re how to kill a game the last 10 minutes...Portugal rarely got past midfield.

[DaPrince84]

Partially correct...they caused us problems from the 60th to 80th minutes...but, watch the last 10...the US put on a clinic re how to kill a game the last 10 minutes...Portugal rarely got past midfield.
thts what stuck out to me the most... obviously Portugal's offensive talent was gonna shine at some point, adn it did... but that last 10 mins when they put Cobi Jones in... as well as MAx-Moore... that was beautiful... they never regained possession

[Chowderhead]

Indeed. The final assault from Portugal never really materialized; we controlled the last ten minutes.

And that game represented the start of didactic reffing towards the US. Check out the yellows. What a joke.