USA Today's blog spoils, you know. Why can't I?

[Dan Loney]

I cannot believe I'm bowing to public pressure and not ruining the games for you, tapeheads. Yeah, I'm taping SOME of the games, too, but for IMPORTANT ones, I feel it's better to see them live.

If you do know today's scores, ignore this post, because it's pure filler.

After all, the first rule of writing - start off with time-wasting irrelevancies, because God forbid you say something of interest to the reader. Which chapter of Strunk & White was that, again? Keeps slipping my mind.

Yeah, this sucks. So I'm thinking I'll just spoil the morning games anyway. That'll show you.

I'll do it, too. Don't you know I'm loco?

Seriously, why are you still reading? What is your issue? How much more warning do you need?

What is it you hope to learn from this site, today of all days, if not World Cup scores?

If we're going to keep spending time together, I think you need to get your priorities straight.

[bobo81]

r u on crack?

[WolffmanJack]

Poo. That's all I have to say.

[el americano]

Is that why there's no discussion? Incredible! Do people actually expect to go to a soccer site and not see live scores? C'mon, it's up to anyone who'll watch it later to avoid TV and the internet until then.

[Dan Loney]

So. What's red, white and blue, and chokes?

The Czech Republic, too.

There will be time for analysis and blame. Oh, yes. Lots of time for blame. Right now, though, let's weep and rend garments for Claudio Reyna, whose international career could not have ended on a worse note.

And it has ended. We'll have to back up the truck on this team. Reyna, McBride, Keller, Berhalter, Pope, Lewis, Cherundolo, O'Brien, Olsen - done. Thank you for your service, sorry it had to end like this. But Father Time is a mother.

Big question marks on Eddie Johnson, DaMarcus Beasley, and Bobby Convey, from where I sit. By rights, they should learn from this experience and come back strong in the next World Cup cycle. I think we said the same thing about Brian Maisonneuve.

And I hope Landon Donovan enjoys his next four years on the griddle. His saving grace this tournament, if that's possible after putting up a rosy zero goals and zero assists, was his fine work against Italy. Today, though, he was given the armband, given the pilot stick, and named Head Boy. And he flunked. His shots were hideous, his passes were soft - he killed us out there, absolutely killed us.

His treatment back home will probably be reminiscent of David Beckham after 1998, where the whole of England would cheerfully have roasted his flesh in a cannibal-Satanic orgy. It was a long road back to respectability for him, and it's going to be for Donovan, as well. Bright side - he's good enough, he's still quite young, and if he wants respect, the only way he will ever answer his critics will be back at the World Cup. Enjoy this long, long break. He will have doubters every step of the way, and we fans can take comfort knowing that there is absolutely no one else.

Now that Freddy Adu is probably calling up Ghana asking to be an alternate.

Oh, I nearly forgot to predict Bruce Arena's firing or mutual departure or whatever. By an objective measure, his performance this time around was the polar opposite of 2002. I suggest he makes his explanations to Sunil Gulati extremely persuasive, because the 4-5-1 is this year's 3-6-1.

Assuming Arena even wants to deal with it anymore. Eight years is an incredibly long time to coach a national team. Ghana has had four coaches in that time. Oh, wait, no...they've had four coaches since qualifying. The only reason not to go with new blood for the sake of new blood is, well, who do you get? There's always, always someone worse out there. Has Bob Bradley rehabilitated himself? Has Sigi Schmid proven himself to everyone's satisfaction yet? Would even the biggest Mexico fan in the world wish Thomas Rongen or Mooch Myernick on us? Or do we get the fortieth best Dutch coach in the world, once the rest of FIFA has strip-mined Holland looking for talent?

And now this message from bitterness. I hope Brazil (assuming it is Brazil) pounds seven kinds of crap out of Ghana. Their constant, pitiful diving made Italy and Argentina look like the Weeble National Team. It wasn't as if they couldn't play, they just chose not to. That penalty was an embarrassment - it didn't change anything, thanks to Reyna's giveaway and the Czechs forgetting about the other two teams in the group. But it crushed the momentum of the game, as well as being completely laughable on the merit.

Time-wasting is one thing - that's the prerogative of a team that's ahead. Kasey Keller would have taken at least as long as Kingson on his goal kicks. But the amount of times the Ghanaian stretcher was rolled out would have turned Florence Nightingale into a screaming cynic. If Ghana thinks they will get a single one of those calls against Brazil, they are in for a pasting. And I for one will enjoy it. Let Ecuador be the adorable underdogs for this tournament.

Yeah, I know, Cameroon in 1990 was dirty as 2 Live Crew. But they didn't fake injuries, and they were beating on Argentina, and sympathy for the world champions at that time was difficult to come by. Had Ghana cheap-shotted us, they would have been lionized. They may still be, of course, but you'll have to apply their praise via magic sponge.

And I really hope Italy wins the World Cup now, simply so the United States can say they were the only team not to lose to them, and we were a man down, unjustly at that, kind of, so there. Cold comfort, perhaps, but it's going to be a hot summer.

I forgot to mention this yesterday, and it has nothing to do with anything, except to note in passing that George Bush probably won't call Bruce Arena again - Tony Blair, the dictator of Great Britain, told a BBC call-in show that he supported Owen Hargreaves. As you may recall, Hargreaves is the Canadian who plays for Bayern Munich, making it hard for English fans to warm up to him. (The Lavolpe naturalization saga with Mexico set to "God Save the Queen," in other words.)

I think Blair was right to stick up for Hargreaves, because, come on, no one needs the Prime Minister picking a national team. Well, England might. However, I cannot tell you how much I wish Blair had said something like, "Hargreaves belongs on the England team. He's as British as the Falkland Islands." Hargreaves would have been a national hero, and Blair would have been granted the monarchy on the spot.

[The Elder]

Landon would make the perfect candidate for a team that is lacking in heart, absorbed with himself, unwilling to take responsibility for his failures, and then unable to deliver when the chips are down...

He is just what the Europeans say he is..a whiner, a soft player, a guy with talent who doesn't want or know who to put his heart on the line...

Go back to the beach....

The Elder

[Mizzle187]

So. What's red, white and blue, and chokes?

The Czech Republic, too.

There will be time for analysis and blame. Oh, yes. Lots of time for blame. Right now, though, let's weep and rend garments for Claudio Reyna, whose international career could not have ended on a worse note.

And it has ended. We'll have to back up the truck on this team. Reyna, McBride, Keller, Berhalter, Pope, Lewis, Cherundolo, O'Brien, Olsen - done. Thank you for your service, sorry it had to end like this. But Father Time is a mother.

Big question marks on Eddie Johnson, DaMarcus Beasley, and Bobby Convey, from where I sit. By rights, they should learn from this experience and come back strong in the next World Cup cycle. I think we said the same thing about Brian Maisonneuve.

And I hope Landon Donovan enjoys his next four years on the griddle. His saving grace this tournament, if that's possible after putting up a rosy zero goals and zero assists, was his fine work against Italy. Today, though, he was given the armband, given the pilot stick, and named Head Boy. And he flunked. His shots were hideous, his passes were soft - he killed us out there, absolutely killed us.

His treatment back home will probably be reminiscent of David Beckham after 1998, where the whole of England would cheerfully have roasted his flesh in a cannibal-Satanic orgy. It was a long road back to respectability for him, and it's going to be for Donovan, as well. Bright side - he's good enough, he's still quite young, and if he wants respect, the only way he will ever answer his critics will be back at the World Cup. Enjoy this long, long break. He will have doubters every step of the way, and we fans can take comfort knowing that there is absolutely no one else.

Now that Freddy Adu is probably calling up Ghana asking to be an alternate.

Oh, I nearly forgot to predict Bruce Arena's firing or mutual departure or whatever. By an objective measure, his performance this time around was the polar opposite of 2002. I suggest he makes his explanations to Sunil Gulati extremely persuasive, because the 4-5-1 is this year's 3-6-1.

Assuming Arena even wants to deal with it anymore. Eight years is an incredibly long time to coach a national team. Ghana has had four coaches in that time. Oh, wait, no...they've had four coaches since qualifying. The only reason not to go with new blood for the sake of new blood is, well, who do you get? There's always, always someone worse out there. Has Bob Bradley rehabilitated himself? Has Sigi Schmid proven himself to everyone's satisfaction yet? Would even the biggest Mexico fan in the world wish Thomas Rongen or Mooch Myernick on us? Or do we get the fortieth best Dutch coach in the world, once the rest of FIFA has strip-mined Holland looking for talent?

And now this message from bitterness. I hope Brazil (assuming it is Brazil) pounds seven kinds of crap out of Ghana. Their constant, pitiful diving made Italy and Argentina look like the Weeble National Team. It wasn't as if they couldn't play, they just chose not to. That penalty was an embarrassment - it didn't change anything, thanks to Reyna's giveaway and the Czechs forgetting about the other two teams in the group. But it crushed the momentum of the game, as well as being completely laughable on the merit.

Time-wasting is one thing - that's the prerogative of a team that's ahead. Kasey Keller would have taken at least as long as Kingson on his goal kicks. But the amount of times the Ghanaian stretcher was rolled out would have turned Florence Nightingale into a screaming cynic. If Ghana thinks they will get a single one of those calls against Brazil, they are in for a pasting. And I for one will enjoy it. Let Ecuador be the adorable underdogs for this tournament.

Yeah, I know, Cameroon in 1990 was dirty as 2 Live Crew. But they didn't fake injuries, and they were beating on Argentina, and sympathy for the world champions at that time was difficult to come by. Had Ghana cheap-shotted us, they would have been lionized. They may still be, of course, but you'll have to apply their praise via magic sponge.

And I really hope Italy wins the World Cup now, simply so the United States can say they were the only team not to lose to them, and we were a man down, unjustly at that, kind of, so there. Cold comfort, perhaps, but it's going to be a hot summer.

I forgot to mention this yesterday, and it has nothing to do with anything, except to note in passing that George Bush probably won't call Bruce Arena again - Tony Blair, the dictator of Great Britain, told a BBC call-in show that he supported Owen Hargreaves. As you may recall, Hargreaves is the Canadian who plays for Bayern Munich, making it hard for English fans to warm up to him. (The Lavolpe naturalization saga with Mexico set to "God Save the Queen," in other words.)

I think Blair was right to stick up for Hargreaves, because, come on, no one needs the Prime Minister picking a national team. Well, England might. However, I cannot tell you how much I wish Blair had said something like, "Hargreaves belongs on the England team. He's as British as the Falkland Islands." Hargreaves would have been a national hero, and Blair would have been granted the monarchy on the spot.


I bow to you and kiss your feet. Its good to see someone not scared to tell the truth. I am as big of an American fan as most anyone but to see people deny the truth kills me. Of course they have talent but IMO that didnt have too good of a chance in this cup. I questioned alot of coaching decisions as many other did. Wether or not they did publicy(we know they didnt at the time at least) is another thing. Is Bruce Arena a legend in US soccer? Of course but I think his time has been up. US Soccer needs a new face and style on and off the field. Im gonna say this and I dont care who agrees or doesnt agree. IMO both Beasly and Donovan are MLS players. They shine in the MLS but in the international game they just dont cut it. They are decent skilled players but when you go up against someone with the same amount of skills who is twice your size your usually screwed. For those of us that are fans the only thing we can hope for now is a new coach. A soccer legend and who gives a damn if that person is American. One can only hope to see our MNT program develop a type of effectivness that works for the international game.

[Goal15]

Thank God for honest postings such as this.

Already I am seeing this crap in the mainstream media about how the best athletes in the US do not play soccer so therefore we will never compete. The point is that until our development system identifies the players who have the game in their hearts, not just taught to their feet and brains, then we will make no further progress.

Right now the ODP system caters to the rich and famous, and ODP selectors couldnt be bothered to get outside of metro areas to see players. Do you think Clint Dempsey, one of the only bright spots in this debacle would have ever been noticed if his parents hadnt sacrificed everything to get him to Dallas three times a week so that he could be "seen" in club play? For every Dempsey rags to riches story there are thousands of equally talented players that will never even get a sniff. What the US soccer brain trust has not figured out is that we cannot compete by merely making good technicians of the game.

That was clearly proved by putting our 11 "best technicians" on the field against the Czech Republic, but failing to add the requisite amount of heart and passion. The effort against Italy was heroic indeed and today was a better accounting of at least trying, but we need an MNT that is thrilled to be playing every single time they step on the pitch representing this country, not just going through the motions.

[YankHibee]

I can't decide who to scapegoat here, but I think you covered most of the areas deserving blame. It was a piss poor display from all but the fans. Manager, players, ref, opposition, it all stunk. So that I don't say what I'm thinking (because that'll be me banned), I'll look at the one positive: that we now have a fan base that knows what a stinking pile of a display that was by our players and management and will hold them accountable.

[Vasco]

WE NEED TO START LOOKING SOUTH.

instead of looking across the atlantic.

from the bottom (youth players) to the top of the pyramid (pros)

[Pbourgeacq]

Yeah, I'm taping SOME of the games, too, but for IMPORTANT ones, I feel it's better to see them live.Exactly! Some people have apparently never thought of using vacation!
That's all I got. Thanks for reading.

[Ismitje]

Only one thing I'd change in the list of goodbyes: Cherundolo is only 27 and may well yet play a part in WC2010.

[Bill Schmidt]

Right on Donovan, and right to use the "if" in "if he wants respect."

I think he doesn't, or at least not enough to do what it takes to earn it. He wants to be in Southern California and the U.S. for personal reasons, and that's the final word. Once again on the international stage, he has been weighed, measured, and found wanting. Doesn't matter. His personal life is his priority and playing soccer in the U.S. is but a relatively enjoyable and well paying means to that end.

[the101er]

Marcus Merck: he strutted on the world stage like the shiny German peacock replacement for Collina. And the referees are having a field day with this world cup.

And I'm not blaming him for the early USA exit. But, I go to soccer matches to watch soccer, not to watch referees attempt to steal the show.

The best referees are the anonymous ones. Merck is a disgrace and I hope he gets banned by UEFA and FIFA. But instead, I'm afraid he's what we should expect more of in the future.

[Vasco]

Right on Donovan, and right to use the "if" in "if he wants respect."

I think he doesn't, or at least not enough to do what it takes to earn it. He wants to be in Southern California and the U.S. for personal reasons, and that's the final word. Once again on the international stage, he has been weighed, measured, and found wanting. Doesn't matter. His personal life is his priority and playing soccer in the U.S. is but a relatively enjoyable and well paying means to that end.

I am starting to think he has the big paycheck now, and now has no desire anymore.

[seahawkdad]

I wonder what kind of reaction he's going to experience during introductions at opposing team's stadiums on his return to MLS?

[soccermoms2]

Thank God for honest postings such as this.

Already I am seeing this crap in the mainstream media about how the best athletes in the US do not play soccer so therefore we will never compete. The point is that until our development system identifies the players who have the game in their hearts, not just taught to their feet and brains, then we will make no further progress.

Right now the ODP system caters to the rich and famous, and ODP selectors couldnt be bothered to get outside of metro areas to see players. Do you think Clint Dempsey, one of the only bright spots in this debacle would have ever been noticed if his parents hadnt sacrificed everything to get him to Dallas three times a week so that he could be "seen" in club play? For every Dempsey rags to riches story there are thousands of equally talented players that will never even get a sniff. What the US soccer brain trust has not figured out is that we cannot compete by merely making good technicians of the game.

That was clearly proved by putting our 11 "best technicians" on the field against the Czech Republic, but failing to add the requisite amount of heart and passion. The effort against Italy was heroic indeed and today was a better accounting of at least trying, but we need an MNT that is thrilled to be playing every single time they step on the pitch representing this country, not just going through the motions.

Ditto. I have seen it time and time again. We gloat about how our home grown players can compete with the rest of the world, but guess what...this WC shows WE CAN'T!

In order to be a world class soccer player you have to be complete in every aspect of your game. Technically, tactically, creatively, drive, passion, etc.
Our US system is failing us in all aspects except technically. Drive, passion, and energy is a given.

And it all boils down to coaching, especially in the youth national levels. You need a coach who can recognize the intangible potential of a player who understands the game like chess, the inherent creativity to implement with technique, who has total field vision, and has the heart to do what it takes to compete. These are the players US Soccer needs to invest in. And...
There are lots of young players out there right now that fit this bill. Sadly they are being overlooked by the severely politically handicapped scouting system of US Soccer.

The past 8 years plus (of Project 2010) have given us players that are perhaps athletically gifted (by US Soccer standards) yet can't even take a decent shot at goal. Or at the very least create some quality opportunities for scoring. Decision making skills are poor at best. Predictable, archaic, and dull is the norm rather than the exception. That is the perfect description of US Soccer as it stands to date, 2006.

I just hope the powers that be in Chicago get a clue before more of the sponsors (and our) good money is wasted. I for one would be glad to volunteer my time to be be part of the committee to REVAMP US Soccer NOW movement.

First item on the agenda...a new head coach! Hiddink, please...are you available?

[collegesoccer]

A couple things:

One our desire to win the World U-17 and World U-20 Championships rather than competing to produce a better full national team is rediculous. By the way, does anyone remember how our U-20s fell apart when something went wrong. We are a bunch of spoiled babies who need to whipped into shape sooner or later. "Residency" produces posers not winners.

No captain or best player of any great national team (other than those in Spain, England or Italy or maybe Germany) plays their soccer in their domestic league. Landon has to decide that he wants to be great. If he doesn't, fine, but then we have to move on and find someone who has that drive. Living in Malibu with your hot girlfriend is a great quality of life, but at 24 it is not about quality of life, it is about achieving your highest possible level. There are warm places to play in Spain, France and Portugal that would take Donovan. He needs to get out of LA. Germany, again, has been very cruel to Landon.

Klinsmann could be a great fit. International knowledge, player reputation and a feel for the american way. He is the guy who should be sold quality of life, paid a boatload of money and see if we can step up internationally.

[562nation]

I think its time to look for a new coach from another country. Not a recycled one from USSoccer or MLS, My biggest dissapointment was the lack of intensity and urgency, Donovan is complete Crap. i will no longer cheer for this guy even when he scores for us. i hope he flames out just like Mathis and never wears the US jersey again. the guy is completely useless out there. Dempsey & Onwenyu were the only bright spots for me. I wish them the best in their careers. they were the only players out there that did their job. one more thing Ussoccer needs to nut up and start putting our players in competitions like Copa America and Libertadores this is were players get the expierience, they need for the big show, As much despise Mexico i give them that they make the effort and play these tournaments for repect and improving their players.
We are lacking in this aspect.

[Vasco]

I think its time to look for a new coach from another country. Not a recycled one from USSoccer or MLS, My biggest dissapointment was the lack of intensity and urgency, Donovan is complete Crap. i will no longer cheer for this guy even when he scores for us. i hope he flames out just like Mathis and never wears the US jersey again. the guy is completely useless out there. Dempsey & Onwenyu were the only bright spots for me. I wish them the best in their careers. they were the only players out there that did their job. one more thing Ussoccer needs to nut up and start putting our players in competitions like Copa America and Libertadores this is were players get the expierience, they need for the big show, As much despise Mexico i give them that they make the effort and play these tournaments for repect and improving their players.
We are lacking in this aspect.

agree with you about donovan, but then again i started that a half and a half ago.

your thinking right too, look south. if you can compete in the south you can compete on the world stage.

we need a new coach, plenty of south americans in the US.