The High Energy team will prevail ...

[HoustonSoccer]

The team that expends the maximum energy in 90 minutes without giving away the first goal will prevail. This was borne out from FIFA's 2002 analysis. I will only add, with a strong defense a high-energy team has a big advantage.

Has anyone commented on the age differences between USA and Italy or USA and CR? And not to overlook Ghana! Ghana should not be discounted from this Group.

I think USA has a younger team then either CR or Italy - I may be wrong. Youth may not be an advantage by itself, unless it is mixed with the right number of senior players.

The US first team, on paper has a lot of pace. The question is – Is it faster then CR and Italy? Ghana will be another team with speed.

Does 90 or 120 minutes of pace matter? I think it does, I think it takes away the technical advantage of a slower team. But it is not enough. The team that has pace and does well in set plays, both in defending and on offence, has a clear advantage.

I believe (IMHO) both CR and Italy are technically superior - but they may give up a lot in 90 or 120 minutes of high energy and high pace game. As far as USA, a lot depends on the early score - when USA scores first it gains a dominant tactical advantage.

CR and Italy will try to score early from Set Plays to put USA in the defensive. Just like France did to Brazil in WC'98.

[Rahbiefowlah]

15 pieces of flair is the minimum.

[novastar400]

Are you mad??? I like the US, but come on, Italy isn't a team built on pace, they have players who are full of skill... Onyewu has to stop Luca Toni which leaves Pope to Gilardino, and Del Piero on the outside as well as Totti coming back... Have you seen any of their qualifiers or friendlies??? Italy in my opinion is the hottest team right now... They are shreading potential favorites and the US is beating teams who are probably going out in the group stages... Unlike Germany(who try to bend it in to people to get a head on the ball), they have people who can put the ball over the wall, look at Pirlo's freekicks against Scotland, pure class... We will have a hard time matching up with them... The Czech Republic I believe we have more of a chance of beating them and Ghana will be a tactical battle... We have a slight chance to make it to the second round... But not through Italy...

[ty webb]

The team that expends the maximum energy in 90 minutes without giving away the first goal will prevail. This was borne out from FIFA's 2002 analysis. I will only add, with a strong defense a high-energy team has a big advantage.

Has anyone commented on the age differences between USA and Italy or USA and CR? And not to overlook Ghana! Ghana should not be discounted from this Group.

I think USA has a younger team then either CR or Italy - I may be wrong. Youth may not be an advantage by itself, unless it is mixed with the right number of senior players.

The US first team, on paper has a lot of pace. The question is – Is it faster then CR and Italy? Ghana will be another team with speed.

Does 90 or 120 minutes of pace matter? I think it does, I think it takes away the technical advantage of a slower team. But it is not enough. The team that has pace and does well in set plays, both in defending and on offence, has a clear advantage.

I believe (IMHO) both CR and Italy are technically superior - but they may give up a lot in 90 or 120 minutes of high energy and high pace game. As far as USA, a lot depends on the early score - when USA scores first it gains a dominant tactical advantage.

CR and Italy will try to score early from Set Plays to put USA in the defensive. Just like France did to Brazil in WC'98.

Wow... I can't understand all of this.

It will take much more than speed or work rate to prevail.

But, yes, every team is much better when they score first. The US as will their opponents will want the first goal. I think we struggle more than others when we allow the first goal. Like always, that will be a BIG key to our potential success.

[mschofield]

The heat/humidity of J/SK in 02 made Euro teams wilt more noticeably than they will in Germany. Unless there's a quick change, this cup might be played in snow.
We'll be very fit for 90 minutes, but everyone we're playing is used to 90 minutes of high intensity play. It's going to be very difficult to run teams to ground this go round (and did we run Portugal to ground last time? I remember starting like wildfire and Portugal finishing faster). IIRCC, we didn't exhaust then overrun anyone. Really doubt that will happen this time.
Everyone is a pro.

[Galaxian]

Coming out with energy is important , but I think coming out with less energy is even more important . If we come out at a low intensity , we will be down 1 -0 before we can say schnitzel .

[small-axe]

We won't be playing any of these three teams for longer than 90+stoppage time.

IMO, the only one of these teams that has an older player who is critical is CR with Nedved. They do have some younger players as well, if memory serves. Fitness has not ever been issue with Italy, as they are usually very well prepared AND they do have quite a few players with impressive pace (Camoranesi and Zambrotta come to mind). Outside of Ghana's mids I don't know much about them, but in general most African teams are more than capable of holding their own athletically.

I think you are looking for an advantage where there is none to be found.

[Caulfield]

The team that plays loose will prevail...forget high energy. The team that gets momentum will prevail...forget microanalyzing tactics.

Games..no matter what sport most of the time live or die on momentum. We got it going against Portugal, had none againts Poland, and grabbed it againts Mexico.

We had momentum going against Germany and a goal would have set us off in that game.

It's momentum stupid.

[The Big Ticket]

Energy, hmmm...

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7937/united3st.jpg

[giffenbone]

Energy, hmmm...

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7937/united3st.jpg

I wish he hadn't been concussed all of last season. I think he's the best pure finisher in America and would be our starting forward alongside McBride.

But back to the point. Speed helps the US with our disadvantage in pure skill, but even with our speed we are still an underdog.

[HoustonSoccer]

Are you mad??? I like the US, but come on, Italy isn't a team built on pace, they have players who are full of skill... Onyewu has to stop Luca Toni which leaves Pope to Gilardino, and Del Piero on the outside as well as Totti coming back... Have you seen any of their qualifiers or friendlies??? Italy in my opinion is the hottest team right now... They are shreading potential favorites and the US is beating teams who are probably going out in the group stages... Unlike Germany(who try to bend it in to people to get a head on the ball), they have people who can put the ball over the wall, look at Pirlo's freekicks against Scotland, pure class... We will have a hard time matching up with them... The Czech Republic I believe we have more of a chance of beating them and Ghana will be a tactical battle... We have a slight chance to make it to the second round... But not through Italy...

Italy made into the final playing in the heat of USA, but then what killed them in Korea. Heat - hardly. They barely tied Mexico in Group play and then promptly lost to Korea.

Juventus the Serie A "King" was eliminated by Arsenal the "also ran" in Premier League - and this was this year. Explain that!

If Italy is the dominant soccer power in Europe then Serie "A" teams should win Champions League every year. Italy is overrated. Their WC qualifiers are unimpressive. And please winning friendlies do not count much, except for the two knuckle head Euros who devised the FIFA rankings.

[novastar400]

If you were to pick an Italian team that has more of an Italian feel maybe you should pick Roma or AC Milan... Juventus has like what 2 or 3 Italian national teamers??? Where as Milan has maybe 6 or 7... And what does an English team have to do with this discussion when they don't have any Americans on their roster??? I don't care how much energy we have, we simply can not keep up with Italy... If friendlies mean nothing why do people read so much into them??? We're talking about a team that obliterated Holland and completely exposed every weakness the favorites Germany has on the field... I'm all for America winning, but I'm trying to be realistic and all I can go on is what I've seen on the field... The only good thing is we have Keller who can maybe keep us in the game... I'm not saying we can't win at all, just that it will be a long shot... I fully believe that Beasley can slip behind the defense and put in a menancing cross for McBride or Johnson b/c we're not taking that ball through the middle...

[mschofield]

Italy made into the final playing in the heat of USA, but then what killed them in Korea. Heat - hardly. They barely tied Mexico in Group play and then promptly lost to Korea.

Juventus the Serie A "King" was eliminated by Arsenal the "also ran" in Premier League - and this was this year. Explain that!

If Italy is the dominant soccer power in Europe then Serie "A" teams should win Champions League every year. Italy is overrated. Their WC qualifiers are unimpressive. And please winning friendlies do not count much, except for the two knuckle head Euros who devised the FIFA rankings.
What?
While it is true that Italy only had three of eight Quarterfinalists in this years CL, and only has the one semiF, and they may well go out to barca, I don't see where that points out a competitive advantage for the US. By the reasoning, we're far behind Mexico and Costa Rica (concacaf Champions League).
And, yes, Arse did beat Juve, and Juve is faltering late in this season. But they're not an Italian team falling apart against US teams (or players).
While I don't agree with your initial point, that the US is a higher energy team than others and that is a strong advantage in the cup, I understand your point. I'm afraid I'm not following this one.
Serie A is generally considered one of the big three, with La Liga and the prem, and depending on preference, people rank them 1-3. Do you disagree with that, and think that gives the US an edge? How? The US has a few players on the top Euro teams this year, DMB at PSV and Howard at ManU (who didn't get out of their CL group, but are second).

[Adam Zebrowski]

the ball moves faster than players...

so, if usa is chasing the ball the whole time, it might be high energy, but it's a bad sign....

having possession, and doing something with it is more critical...

speed is a bigger factor in the usa attack .....

[HoustonSoccer]

the ball moves faster than players...

so, if usa is chasing the ball the whole time, it might be high energy, but it's a bad sign....

having possession, and doing something with it is more critical...

speed is a bigger factor in the usa attack .....

Wrong!

High Energy is doing everything faster on and off the ball. It is quicker pressure, faster dribble, pass and movements. It is to squeeze the possession time of the opponent players and provide them less space. Neutralizing superior skills with quicker players applying intense pressure. However, it is only effective when the team is good at it.

You will know it when you see it and you saw it in WC 2002, especially with Korea.

[HoustonSoccer]

What?
While it is true that Italy only had three of eight Quarterfinalists in this years CL, and only has the one semiF, and they may well go out to barca, I don't see where that points out a competitive advantage for the US. By the reasoning, we're far behind Mexico and Costa Rica (concacaf Champions League).
And, yes, Arse did beat Juve, and Juve is faltering late in this season. But they're not an Italian team falling apart against US teams (or players).
While I don't agree with your initial point, that the US is a higher energy team than others and that is a strong advantage in the cup, I understand your point. I'm afraid I'm not following this one.
Serie A is generally considered one of the big three, with La Liga and the prem, and depending on preference, people rank them 1-3. Do you disagree with that, and think that gives the US an edge? How? The US has a few players on the top Euro teams this year, DMB at PSV and Howard at ManU (who didn't get out of their CL group, but are second).

The premises of my comments were to suggest Italy is not the dominant team in Europe. And take close look at Italy’s WC qualifiers, they tell a different story. As of now, Serie A is a distant third compared to La Liga and Premier League based on CL results, and the pace considerably slower than even Bundesliga.

As far as USA's advantage in WC - all I am suggesting is that it will not be a wash out as many would suggest, rather a closely fought contest and if USA scores first they can win.

As you brought up CONCACAF Cup – MLS has many disadvantages one of them is poor coaching. Anyone ever figured out how the coaches are selected in MLS? We seem to have so many failed coaches being recycled.

[ty webb]

Wrong!

High Energy is doing everything faster on and off the ball. It is quicker pressure, faster dribble, pass and movements. It is to squeeze the possession time of the opponent players and provide them less space. Neutralizing superior skills with quicker players applying intense pressure. However, it is only effective when the team is good at it.

You will know it when you see it and you saw it in WC 2002, especially with Korea.

It seems like you are mixing smart soccer (passing and movement) with running around (US in the 80's). The game is not a track meet or American football. I don't think we will be able to win possession, keep possession, or create chances against organized teams by simply running around faster than the other team. The positioning, movement, intelligence, tactics, and skill are all FAR more important than having quicker players running around more than the other team.

If we somehow beat the Czechs or Italians or Ghana it will be due to positioning, movement, intelligence, tactics, skill, luck, or a combination of these.

Korea will not be playing at home with refs that want to see them advance. I don't think decent and above soccer countries are adopting Korean tactics based on there 02 performance. So, I think the US should use Germany, Brazil, Italy, etc... as a model of success rather than the Koreans.

[ty webb]

As you brought up CONCACAF Cup – MLS has many disadvantages one of them is poor coaching. Anyone ever figured out how the coaches are selected in MLS? We seem to have so many failed coaches being recycled.

I think they just have better top teams and better players on those teams. Half of the Costa Rican national team is on Saprissa and the top Mexican sides are very good.

I seriously doubt the top Costa Rican and Mexican teams have far superior coaching that inhibits us from being able to beat them. The top players are spread out on ten teams in the MLS due to the single entity league. In Costa Rica and Mexico the top teams have wealthy owners that buy better players.

[HoustonSoccer]

It seems like you are mixing smart soccer (passing and movement) with running around (US in the 80's). The game is not a track meet or American football. I don't think we will be able to win possession, keep possession, or create chances against organized teams by simply running around faster than the other team. The positioning, movement, intelligence, tactics, and skill are all FAR more important than having quicker players running around more than the other team.

If we somehow beat the Czechs or Italians or Ghana it will be due to positioning, movement, intelligence, tactics, skill, luck, or a combination of these.

Korea will not be playing at home with refs that want to see them advance. I don't think decent and above soccer countries are adopting Korean tactics based on there 02 performance. So, I think the US should use Germany, Brazil, Italy, etc... as a model of success rather than the Koreans.

So slower teams can beat teams with players who are fast and quick. If it were so then Guam would be ranked number 1. Many East Asian teams are just as skilled as any in the West they just do not run as fast as more athletic teams of Europe.

Just as easily, USA has better athletes then most European teams. Yes speed do count on a quick counter strike. And of course we are talking about soccer not kick ball. USA can never emulate the Germans or other Europeans who play full time zone defense.

Ahh and blame the refs. Good coaches, teams and players know that referee calls in the long run even out. You win some, you lose some but then you stay focused and move on. Only soured Euros who make it a national issue. Koreans and Japanese have many good players who are currently playing in the top teams of Europe.

[Al Trost 76]

15 pieces of flair is the minimum.

"...you know, the Nazis had pieces of flair..." :D