USA vs. Italy - Confederations Cup Postgame (R)

They'd be Irish and Hungarian too. But if the kid was born in Finland and lived in Finland the first 15 years of his life, I'd have to say at that point he was more of a Fin than anything else. I'm the American.

And the argument "just because he was born here" is stupid. The whole family still lives here and it sounds like he would too if he wasn't a soccer player. Pretending like he's Zak Whitbread or Brede Hangeland is disingenuous at best.

 

This was a GREAT performance by the U.S. look, they were leading Italy by halftime with 10 men. All Italy's goals were struck 30 yards out, all LONG DISTANCE GOALS. They didn't get past our strong defense during the game, except for one at the last second in extra time when it was obvious everyone GAVE UP. But look at the first half regular time when it was even...we were Clearly the best team on the field until the ref robbed us. Were we expecting to actually win this game ?



With Jones fixing the problems in the middle, paired up with Bradley's hustle, our team is really strong. When you look at it this way, why is everyone pissed about an exhibition game ? Cant wait for 2010.

 

When I was stationed in Germany with the US Air Force, I was friends with a guy who was born and raised in Germany, and grew up as a German. His dad was an American pilot who married a German, so my friend had dual citizenship at birth.

When he turned 18, he decided to join the USAF himself, and more or less gave up his German citizenship.

He had a younger brother, two years his junior. This kid was a pretty talented athlete, and quite a good soccer player. He actually played in Karlsruhe's youth development program, and eventually made it to the lower divisions of the Bundesliga as a journeyman player - he was good, but not good enough to make it to the national team level.

When the younger brother turned 18, he decide that he was a German and more or less gave up his American citizenship.

So it's not as simple as you make it seem.

 

It's BB that puts Bornstien and Clark on the field. I'm not sure that they're even the best MLS based players at their positions. BB has his little group of favorites and no others need apply. In the end it will cost him his job

 

I may start requesting red cards for anyone who starts talking about Rossi in a way that has nothing to do with his actual play in the match. This is out of hand

 

Are the people blasting this "shot" talking about the attempted pass to Donovan (?) in the middle? He should have shot instead, but...

 

Loser mentality a winning mindset would see this as the US blew a goal lead by giving up 2 long distance shots by result of poor defending.

In case you don´t know soccer is played for 90 min not 45 min.

And in case you don´t the confederations cup is a FIFA sanctioned event, just like copa america, the world cup, and god help us the Gold Cup....


On to Rossi... Yeah I was pissed he scored on us last night.... But the best American Born soccer player is wearing the Italian national team jersey now. Two world class strikes....

 

it'll be interesting. jones is better than bradley but they play in the same role. so what will dad do?
i have a funny feeling that not only bradley is untouchable, but whoever plays with him will have to take the secondary part. which would be why clark is the starter instead of someone more creative/talented.

 

You are giving us too much cred. Yes, we possessed and passed better before half-time (actually than ever before), but not stepping up to Rossi (and De Rossi) is not capable defense. We were finally overwhelmed and defended like we usually do, which isn't good. Not only do we have to keep our talented opponent out of the box, but we have to challenge their long shots.

Jones will make a difference and when Edu comes back, our Dmid slot will be solid.

Now, what about scoring on anything else but a penalty? Altidore or Davies alone up front sucks. Donovan and Dempsey are too busy to even get into scoring position. Nice going, Benny, giving away the ball to Rossi. Were you trying to better Dempsey's hairbrain antics in mid-field vs Honduras?

I dread Brazil. Torres is our only option now at Dmid, and this will be his truly first start at Dmid for us. Perhaps if we can begin scoring, a less than stellar Brazil defense (ceded 3 goals to Egypt, who are missing goalscorers) might, with a ref call, gift us a draw?

 

Roy Wegerle was born in South Africa asked to play for England ,
South Africa and Gerrnay but chose the USA. Fernando Clavijo was born in Uruguay chose the USA, a few Mexican Americans have chose Mexico and wasn't it Subotic that chose Germany, same with Tomas Dooley who never stepped foot in the USA until he was 32/33..... Camoranesi chose Italy so what is the difference and or the excuse of all those guys? Everyone does it. Its easy to sit here and say we would all play for the USA but if any one of us were approached to play for Italy, Brazil or Germany, or the USA who do you really think we would pick? I'm sre the majority would play for the stronger nations as they have a stronger national team program. Rossi played at the youth level and the USA knew nothing about him until Bruce Arena asked him to play so I'm sure he didn't "feel american" at all nor was he betraying anyone.

 

I understand his right to do whatever he feels is best for himself. However, I will always reserve the right to be bitter, especially when he scores outstanding goals against us and then celebrates like a mad man. I accept it as a reality of modern football. However, I will always be bitter over it. I guess this is just a thorn that's gonna stick in our side for the foreseeable future.

 

A friend of mine knew Rossi when he played in NJ. I think his dad was coaching there too.

I think people shouldn't be down on the dude. Yeah he chose Italy so what? I thought he made a mistake cuz for USA he would be bigger than Donovan in no time. For Italy, a little tiny slip and he won't even made the WC team. But hey, it's his choice and I will respect him for it.

 

Come on who doesn't celebrate their first team goals for both the club and country they are playing for? That means nothing. He chose Italy and he is playing for them and hasn't been to the USA since he was 12 years of age. Therefore, why not celebrate?

 

in that situation, against italy, leading, but down a man, in the second half basically you're going to play in your own end. everybody has to defend. many times you'll have 6 or 7 of your guys guys parked inside your own penalty area. winning is almost impossible, a tie would be great.

instead, i got the feeling that onyewu and demerit were still expected to do the bulk of the defending by themselves. it doesn't work, those poor guys can't make that many plays. believe it or not, in that situation most of the defensive plays need to be made by players other than your two central studs. that way, the central defenders can make the few 'emergency' plays that will be needed.

 

Yeah, born isn't really the point, it's being raised in the schools and neighborhoods of the country that ties you to it. Rossi was probably just like every other immigrant kid where the parents spoke to him in Italian and he spoke back in English. He's a Jersey guy.

 

So if he chose to play for the US you'd condone Fins Abroad and Finland News and Analysis calling him a traitor, saying fcuk him, saying to take him out, etc...? You wouldn't be proud that he feels American? You wouldn't accept that he feels American? You'd damn him to never qualifying for the World Cup?

"Sorry son - your not allowed to be American like me. I forced you to live here in Finland, so you're Finnish. Now go eat some Karjalanpiirakat - I'm heading to McDonalds."

I've been mostly ignoring this discussion for a couple of years. I'm going to try to start ignoring it again. Sorry to all who are also sick of the subject, but I felt like saying something.

 

He wouldn't feel American.

 

He could have shown a little more restraint and respect for the country he was born and raised in. Other players do it all the time. Players who haven't (or won't) score nearly as many goals as he have, have done it. Pump your fist, give your teammates a high-five, run back for the restart. Don't twist the knife, that's all I'm saying. He's allowed to be happy, of course. They were spectacular strikes, can't take that away from the kid.

 

Losers mentality? Dude youre joking. The USA public barely even knows what soccer even is, i saw almost zero in the national sports media about this match. Shut up about loser mentality, we played the 4 time world cup champs and #4 rank in the world. Loser mentality? Are you insane or just stupid?

 

Just a point of fact, it was not his first goal for Italy. He scored in a friendly against Northern Ireland for the Azzurri a week or so ago. Though I am bitter about him playing for Italy, I don't begrudge him that. I do agree with folks who thought the celebration was over the top and did not show a lot of class. Lukas Podolski was the exact opposite when he scored for Germany versus Poland. No need to rub it in anymore than the goal. I'll excuse it slightly b/c he is so young, but it was not a class move to be sure, especially since he is fully aware that American fans all wish he had chosen to wear an American uniform.

 

Yes ... loser mentality. We (as supporters of the US) area allowed to be pissed off when our team blows a lead and continues to make stupid mistakes and lose matches we should win (regardless of the opponent). Some of us here are tired of the mentality that "we played hard", "the calls went against us, oh well", and "well they are the #4 team in the world" I understand why some are able to say those things and get over matches like this easily, for some reason I cannot. I expect better, I think we can win these games. I don't think it's too unreasonable to be angry when we lose, especially in the manner we lost yesterday. Many of us are tired of the justifications for losing and the excuses. That's all. Perhaps I am insane (that's a relative term), but if being disappointed by my team is stupid, then I'm a right nincompoop, and 90% of the people here on BS are too!

 

Thats probably what Bob Bradley told his team after the game! Talk about inspirational!

Am sorry for asking no wait DEMANDING the US team beat world powers....And Yes USSF and Bob Bradley do have a LOSER mentality...

Oh and F the US non soccer public... We are US SOCCER FANS and deserve better.. This team has been playing like crap for 2 years... And some fans have had enough....

 

Most frustrating aspect of this entire thread is the number of people on here claiming Rossi was the best American who played yesterday. Donovan played the entire game. Rossi had the good fortune to have a tired US side desperately trying to hold on for dear life. His strikes were great, but they were against a depleted side. Donovan converted a PK against Buffon, arguably one of the best keepers in the entire world. He also made 2 weighted passes that created good scoring opportunities for the US. Furthermore, Italy definitely focused on him. Italian players committed some hard fouls on him and Landon continued to play his game.

 

Rossi's value on the world market is much higher than LDs.

 

You can't say that.