Wow, guys, sorry I doubted you!

[Dan Loney]

Wait...no, I'm not. Why didn't you play like that against the Czech Republic? You'd be on top of the group now.

Bruce Arena made two changes that worked great, except I didn't think Eddie Lewis was necessarily the anti-Christ. Nice to see Clint Dempsey wasn't intimidated on the big stage. I might have to put "Don't Tread" on my portable player now. But again, thanks for out-coaching Italy, where were you last week? Your pre-game speech must have been up there with the 2002 classics.

Landon Donovan, taking it to Italian defenders, and making good passes. And suddenly the future of American soccer seems that much brighter. Let's face it, he's not going anywhere soon.

Hope there are no lip-reading soccer fans at the FCC, because Bruce Arena might have shut ABC down yesterday. But he didn't have video replay, and we did. Both red cards and the non-goal call were correct. Keep your studs down next time, guys. Especially if you have a ref that's already shown a red.

The legend of Brian McBride continues to grow. At some point you have to ask why he's playing soccer. Why isn't he doing secret missions for the government, or out in space fighting Ming the Merciless? He's overdue for his goal, of course. He's the only guy on the team who has scored in the previous two World Cups, so Ghana better mark him.

The United States has never won the third game of a World Cup, ever. No American has scored yet in this tournament. This means we're DUE, baby!

Because it needs to be said...especially on a blog being written in the wrong hemisphere..."All we have to do now is beat Ghana" is the exact same line of thinking that may have cost the Czech Republic a berth in the second round. If we're not at least as fired up on Thursday, we're getting embarrassed again.

[purojogo]

Wait...no, I'm not. Why didn't you play like that against the Czech Republic? You'd be on top of the group now.

Bruce Arena made two changes that worked great, except I didn't think Eddie Lewis was necessarily the anti-Christ. Nice to see Clint Dempsey wasn't intimidated on the big stage. I might have to put "Don't Tread" on my portable player now. But again, thanks for out-coaching Italy, where were you last week? Your pre-game speech must have been up there with the 2002 classics.

Landon Donovan, taking it to Italian defenders, and making good passes. And suddenly the future of American soccer seems that much brighter. Let's face it, he's not going anywhere soon.

Hope there are no lip-reading soccer fans at the FCC, because Bruce Arena might have shut ABC down yesterday. But he didn't have video replay, and we did. Both red cards and the non-goal call were correct. Keep your studs down next time, guys. Especially if you have a ref that's already shown a red.

The legend of Brian McBride continues to grow. At some point you have to ask why he's playing soccer. Why isn't he doing secret missions for the government, or out in space fighting Ming the Merciless? He's overdue for his goal, of course. He's the only guy on the team who has scored in the previous two World Cups, so Ghana better mark him.

The United States has never won the third game of a World Cup, ever. No American has scored yet in this tournament. This means we're DUE, baby!

Because it needs to be said...especially on a blog being written in the wrong hemisphere..."All we have to do now is beat Ghana" is the exact same line of thinking that may have cost the Czech Republic a berth in the second round. If we're not at least as fired up on Thursday, we're getting embarrassed again.
My one quibble, and you do mention it..is our lack of scoring....you'd think we've had enough time to prepare on this department....hopefully we are due for a breakout (buch of goals) vs. Ghana...since we might actually need everyone of them....

[grapedog]

thats the key, we really do need a bunch of goals to feel secure...if we beat them that is, which is still up in the air. I always figured Ghana was going to put up the best showing of the African teams this year...they looked good.

Did i hear it right though, that both the guys who scored goals for them this WC are going to be riding the pine?

[Kaiser]

yeah, we need 5 goals

I'm, not so high on the bruce. JOB didn't play, is he fit? If not why is he on the roster? Beasley sucked yet again. Eddie Pope sucked hard, yet again. Pope has done nothing the past 4 years that says he belongs on the squad. Finally Bocanegra plays, Bruce doesn't seem to like him, he's our best defender. McBride, yeah he's got heart, he's good in the air but dreadful with his feet. Id on't think he fits our style of play. Reyna ad Donovan like possession and those quick passes just outside the 18, you know why it's outside the 18 and not inside? McBride and Beasley where nicely weighted passes roll to die.

I wanna see Ching, Johnson, JOB, Dempsey, Donovan, and yes Ben Olsen in the next match. I wouldn't mind seeing Albright starting too. We need some fresh hungry guys. Guys that want to score. OUr offense left the field with Dempsey against the Iti's. I think Arena has done a poor job so far this WC. I expected more but I've never been a huge fan of his while he's been coach of the nats. I think now we have a professional league at home, a lot of guys playing overseas and some great youth players coming up. He's just been the benefactor.

[Kaiser]

thats the key, we really do need a bunch of goals to feel secure...if we beat them that is, which is still up in the air. I always figured Ghana was going to put up the best showing of the African teams this year...they looked good.

Did i hear it right though, that both the guys who scored goals for them this WC are going to be riding the pine?
yes, both out due to yellow card accumulation.

[TxFan]

Totally agree with Dan's post. I thought that the team would step up for the Italy game, but for a couple days there I was in an absolute funk about the CZE game. It was heartbreaking. My faith now has been restored. Whatever happens in the upcoming game(s), this has been a great Cup for the US side. When I think of all the young guys who will be back again in 2010, it just highlights how much of a positive experience both the CZE and ITA games were. Beas and Donovan and Gooch and Convey and Dempsey et. al. have gained experiences that can't be replicated in any number of friendlies or Concacaf qualifiers.

We needed a Cup like this where are young players were forced to take a step up the "mental toughness" ladder before we could start getting better. Regardless of what happens now, I think this has been a truly beneficial Cup.

I think this team will be fired up against Ghana and after reading Arena's lips after the Beasley goal was disallowed, he's in my good graces again. :)

[purojogo]

i'd be satisfied only with victory...even if we do not get the five goals (which would be nothing short of amazing).... but if we win...and still were eliminated due to the other game's result..i'd be fine with it...anything but the US winning and/or playing some convincing soccer vs. Ghana...i'd probably be very disatisfied.... We already fooled around too much our first game for me to forgive a second no-show performance.... but this team's attitude certainly seems to have shifted, making a repeat of the Czech game nonperformance quite unlikely IMO...

[USSF REF]

Why didn't Bruce Arena use the 3rd substitue?

My guess is he wanted to leave the team the way it was and try for the point. However, I was hoping to see Eddie Johnson at the end and maybe try for a despairation goal.

Thoughts?

[TxFan]

Why didn't Bruce Arena use the 3rd substitue?

My guess is he wanted to leave the team the way it was and try for the point. However, I was hoping to see Eddie Johnson at the end and maybe try for a despairation goal.

Thoughts?

I'm not sure how much offense we really could have generated a man down against the Italians. Sure, Eddie would have been more exciting to watch and he may have surprised us all.

However, in the end, I think its better that Bruce kept DMB and BMB in the game. The two of them are much better defensively and frankly while getting 1 point isn't the best situation, getting 0 points would have been "game over"...

I have a sense EJ will have a big role to play against Ghana though. :)

[voros]

yeah, we need 5 goals

The big jump for us would be from a three to four goal victory.

A four goal victory would then put is in position should the Czechs tie 0-0 or 1-1, or Italy loses while scoring a goal or less.

[MLSinSF]

Both reds were atrocious calls, especially Mastroeni's.

[USMNT 10]

Totally agree with Dan's post. I thought that the team would step up for the Italy game, but for a couple days there I was in an absolute funk about the CZE game. It was heartbreaking. My faith now has been restored. Whatever happens in the upcoming game(s), this has been a great Cup for the US side. When I think of all the young guys who will be back again in 2010, it just highlights how much of a positive experience both the CZE and ITA games were. Beas and Donovan and Gooch and Convey and Dempsey et. al. have gained experiences that can't be replicated in any number of friendlies or Concacaf qualifiers.

We needed a Cup like this where are young players were forced to take a step up the "mental toughness" ladder before we could start getting better. Regardless of what happens now, I think this has been a truly beneficial Cup.

I think this team will be fired up against Ghana and after reading Arena's lips after the Beasley goal was disallowed, he's in my good graces again. :)

Ditto Bro', our guys really came out against Italy, and with the same attitude and fire we can give it a go against Ghana. We have a decent chance to get to round of 16, provided the Italians show up, hopefully they will, considering they are calling the US game an embarassment for them. But they are so mercurial, there is no telling. We have done well taking it to game 3 before anything is certain, meaning, in retrospect that this is THE grooup of death.

I also agree that 2010 will be very interesting for the Americans. I plan on being there and continuing our support! Go US!!

[guignol]

That was more like it!

Sure the USA didn't play like a Ronaldinho commercial. But they did exactly what they needed to do, played with determination and confidence, and just like Ghana, came very close to beating Italy!

Sure there was an own goal, but zaccardo was in a deadly dangerous spot with mcbride behind and LD (i think) in front... just like on a bad FK nothing can happen, on an excellent one lots of things can happen!

lippi was the first coach to look dumb, with a blunder the opposite of arena's against the czechs: pulling totti for gattuso at 1-1 because he's a man down? so conservative, so negative, so... italian! so when mastroeni walks he has to burn his second card just to get back to go. hats off marcello! but arena was a bit naïve in turn; doesn't he watch enough italian football to realize that someone as green as pope with a yellow has no chance of finishing the match? but 47'? eddie eddie eddie!

and then beasley almost wins the game! i was howling, but not much to beef about finally. mcbride is not just a little offsides (a little bit offsides is like a little bit pregnant, but mcbride was in labor with twins!) i didn't see a good enough replay to know for sure if he does touch the ball, but he clearly tries to, and that seals it.

now ghana! the bad news is that they beat the czechs like a redheaded stepchild. but the good news is that they should have beat them 3 or 4 to nothing, even without the penalty, and just simply lacked the judgement and discipline to take advantage of their boggling superiority. and that's a big weakness.

[mrliioadin]

against the czechs I think Convey defended very poorly. Much better against Italy but a great decision to bring on Beas to keep things bunkered down. Dempsey was effective but also doesn't defend well (better than some still though), another strong decision to pull him and sure up the D. Sort of an obvious decision after the pope red (who was playing like chit all game prior to the red).

Against Italy though, not only did we fail to score by ourselves (though I think that ball was put in cause McB was ready to put it home and the defender missed his touch intending for a corner)... But we also didn't even put a shot on net (except for the beas callbackgoal).

The midfield is hurting right now. We need to start Beas. Play reyna and donovan together in the center with C-demp out right. Then play Johnson and McB together up front. The back should remain Dolo Gooch Conrad Negra.

[Eliezar]

The midfield is hurting right now. We need to start Beas. Play reyna and donovan together in the center with C-demp out right. Then play Johnson and McB together up front. The back should remain Dolo Gooch Conrad Negra.

JOB can go 45 minutes, but can't go a full 90. Since the first goal is so important I don't see a reason *not* to go with:

McBride Donovan

Convey Reyna JOB Dempsey

Boca Conrad Gooch Cherundolo

At half time you automatically put Donovan in the midfield and EJ up front. That's our best chance currently.

[USSF REF]

JOB can go 45 minutes, but can't go a full 90. Since the first goal is so important I don't see a reason *not* to go with:

McBride Donovan

Convey Reyna JOB Dempsey

Boca Conrad Gooch Cherundolo

At half time you automatically put Donovan in the midfield and EJ up front. That's our best chance currently.

I can't get with the 4-4-2 talk. Donovan should not be upfront. The 4-5-1 works better with this team, in my opinion. The 4-4-2 will only go with EJ and McB upfront and then you take Convey out of the middle.

[ToonUSA]

yeah, we need 5 goals
Eh, let's hope for an Italy win shall we?

I'm, not so high on the bruce. JOB didn't play, is he fit? If not why is he on the roster? Beasley sucked yet again. Eddie Pope sucked hard, yet again. Pope has done nothing the past 4 years that says he belongs on the squad. Finally Bocanegra plays, Bruce doesn't seem to like him, he's our best defender. McBride, yeah he's got heart, he's good in the air but dreadful with his feet. Id on't think he fits our style of play. Reyna ad Donovan like possession and those quick passes just outside the 18, you know why it's outside the 18 and not inside? McBride and Beasley where nicely weighted passes roll to die.
Good technique bad mouthing Mcbride. Let's hope it works.

I wanna see Ching, Johnson, JOB, Dempsey, Donovan, and yes Ben Olsen in the next match. I wouldn't mind seeing Albright starting too. We need some fresh hungry guys. Guys that want to score. OUr offense left the field with Dempsey against the Iti's. I think Arena has done a poor job so far this WC. I expected more but I've never been a huge fan of his while he's been coach of the nats. I think now we have a professional league at home, a lot of guys playing overseas and some great youth players coming up. He's just been the benefactor.
You can't be serious.

Like ok, if you say this paragraph was a joke then we can all have a chuckle and I will say you got me.

However, should that last paragraph have been a serious attempt at analysis then may god save us all.

[Eliezar]

I can't get with the 4-4-2 talk. Donovan should not be upfront. The 4-5-1 works better with this team, in my opinion. The 4-4-2 will only go with EJ and McB upfront and then you take Convey out of the middle.

I guess you didn't watch the 2002 World Cup, the 2001, 2003, or 2005 MLS seaons nor did you watch the first halves of the Czech or Italy games? If so I see your point. Donovan totally disappeared in the Czech game playing in a 5 man midfield in front of Reyna and JOB. So that is where you would play him? He didn't make decisive runs nor decisive passes there. /shrug

[USSF REF]

I guess you didn't watch the 2002 World Cup, the 2001, 2003, or 2005 MLS seaons nor did you watch the first halves of the Czech or Italy games? If so I see your point. Donovan totally disappeared in the Czech game playing in a 5 man midfield in front of Reyna and JOB. So that is where you would play him? He didn't make decisive runs nor decisive passes there. /shrug

The USA played a 4-4-2 against CZE. With Donovan up top. I don't think you can compare MLS with the World Cup. I think Donovan is best suited for LM or RM where he can streak up the side and make penetrating runs into the area from the midfield. He is not a good "striker" in my opinion and I think we have seen that this WC.

[ZeekLTK]

We should use a 3-4-3 against Ghana. We used it in qualifying against Costa Rica and blew them out 3-0. Also used it a few other times and had success with it. I don't know why we don't use it any more. We had a 3-man backline against Italy for the entire second half pretty much and we didn't give up any goals... we don't *need* 4 men on the backline.

Put McBride, Johnson, and Wolf upfront, Donovan, Dempsey, Convey/Beasley, and Reyna in midfield and then Gooch, Bocanegra, and Cherundolo on defense.