OK, the Gold Cup final has come and gone. Even before the final kicked off, I felt that this summer had been second only to 2002 in terms of best summer of US Soccer in the modern era. I decided to rank the results of the summer to put the run in perspective and hopefully set the stage for our trip to Azteca. 1. USA 2 Spain 0 No explanation needed. Best result in the modern era. 2. USA 3 Egypt 0 With all the odds stacked against them, we found a way. Charlie Davies got us going with a hustle goal and coupled with Italy's shocking beat down at the hands of the Brazil, we somehow turned around a 6 goal differential. That stills seems hard to believe just typing it. 3. USA 2 Brazil 3 This team had mopped the field with us in the group stage, and were 2-0 up at halftime. Sure, their class showed in the 2nd, but think about '94 when we parked the team bus in front of their net and high-fived each other for only losing 1-0! We were a worthy of our spot in the final, which turned heads home and abroad. People actually even thought we only lost due to coaching! 4. USA 2 Honduras 1 (WCQ) Nervous times after again conceding an early goal. After just a 3-day turn around traveling from Costa Rica, we came from behind with goals from Donovan (PK) and Bocanegra. Consider going to Azteca on 7 or 8 points in 3rd place with the 4th placed Mexicans on 6 points - that was the situation we'd be facing had we not turned that game around. 5. USA 1 Italy 3 Through the glasses of hindsight, this game looks quite different. We looked to be on top before a dubious (to say the least) red card dropped us to 10 men. Amazingly we still went 1-0 up into the dressing room. The 2nd half was forgettable, with Rossi doing the damage and we were ultimately punished for our numbers disadvantage. It turned out to be the only positive 45 minutes in the tournament for the Italians. 6. USA 2 Honduras 0 (GC SF) The best game played by our GC squad. We bossed play throughout, really probably deserved a few more goals, and they only had two looks on goal that Perkins handled well. 7. USA 2 Honduras 0 (GC Group) A sleepy 0-0 game until we saw the difference in class- introduced as Feilhaber and Davies. Their introduction changed the game and we ended up winning the game comfortably. Shocker by Freddy Adu in his last appearance of the summer. 8. USA 2 Panama 1 (AET) We could only manage a draw after 90 minutes, but we were the superior in extra time and were rewarded by a goal via a PK. 9. USA 4 Grenada 0 Grenada was nice enough assume the position for 90 minutes to get us off to a good start. 10. USA 0 Brazil 3 Beaten on a set piece early, and then Demarcus Beasley forgot how to trap a ball. We were rolled over much too easily in an embarrassing loss. 10. USA 0 Mexico 5 Forget the scoreline, bottom line we were beaten by a better team, it would have been neat if one of our early chances had gone in. 11. USA 2 Haiti 2 For me, worse than the Mexico result due to our supposed superiority. We needed a wonder-goal from Holden to rescue a point vs. Haiti - HAITI! Qualification being assured to the 2nd round had no bearing - we were crap against a minnow of Concacaf. 12. USA 1 Costa Rica 3 Still the most disappointing result/game of the summer. Realistically, a draw was always going to be a good result for us - but we were torn to shreads by the Ticos. Two goals down after 13 minutes, it was a night were we got it all wrong - players, coaches, everybody. Probably didn't deserve the goal we got. We have a 13th and final game this summer. Despite all the early trash-talk, a draw in Azteca would probably automatically move to the top 3 in this list. It would put quite a ribbon on this summer - one that at least has never been dull!
Nice post, I only disagree with your opinion of the red card against Italy. That one was definitely deserved. I don't know how rigorous the MLS referee are acting but he hit his opponoent clearly and than in this situation it is a red.
I agree that the red card was a red. However, it appeared to me (the announcers never really mentioned it) that he had actually suffered a foul before he committed the red card offense. And while even if it was a foul before, he probably still would have been sent off, the referee may have only given him a yellow. But I had no disagreements with the red card there. But the Michael Bradley red card against Spain...
Legendary Victories 1. USA 2 Spain 0 - Obviously Lance Armstrong was instructed by President Obama to throw the Tour de France for Contador so Spanish-American relations weren't completely destroyed this summer. Incredible 2. USA 3 Egypt 0 - Those last 30 minutes where 1 goal by Egypt, Italy and the United States wins 2nd place might have been the most uniquely exciting tournament experience of all time. What a feeling! Statement Games 3. USA 2 Honduras 1 (WCQ) - Delayed the Bigsoccer explosion at Bob Bradley for 2 weeks. 4. USA 2 Brazil 3 - Most painful game of the summer, but not embarrassing by any means. 5. USA 2 Honduras 0 (Group) - The only Gold Cup game with an actual B-team. Well done to pull out the victory Gold Cup Victories 6. USA 2 Honduras 0 (Semi-Final) - eh 7. USA 2 Panama 1 - eh 8. USA 4 Grenada 0 - eh Bigsoccer = Irritating to log on 9. USA 2 Haiti 2 - Robles will be back in 2 years 10. USA 0 Mexico 5 - I mean, we count that 3-0 victory in 2000 over that small squad, so this counts. Doesn't really hurt though. 11. USA 1 Italy 3 - The Rossi stuff began one awful 6 day period on Bigsoccer. Bigsoccer = Tempting me to suicide 12. USA 0 Brazil 3 - This was one explosive and painful forum to read for 3 days, and the Bob Bradley hatred climaxed. Probably the worst moment to be a Bigsoccer member since Ghana 2006 (at least I imagine so). 13. USA 1 Costa Rica 3 - Man this game was embarrassing. I'll admit I liked the lineup pre-game. I didn't think that 3 out of our 6 defensive players would stink. I hate how Torres was collateral damage in the legit scapegoating of Mastroeni, Beasley and Wynne. The 2009 version of the Bob Bradley fun commenced that day. However, Bigsoccer did not get as explosive as it was 2 weeks later.
I agree on all except for #11. The worst three results for me were by far the Costa Rica qualifier where we were utter garbage and the first brazil match, which again we had nothing but at least the opponent was Brazil and not Costa Rica. The Mexico match is a disgraceful result but at least we played well in the first half of it. The other two matches we looked like an amateur side.
I think that does a pretty good job of ranking the games, except for 5, 6, and 9. I'd merely switch 5 and 6. The Honduras group match included an out of form Adu as well as Cherundolo, who brought unequalled experience to the match. Also, the entry of Feilhaber and Davies, our true A teamers, blew the game wide open. That was expected. However, the semifinal team lacked ALL of the experience and talent that separated the two teams in the group stage. Frickin Jay Heaps was starting for the US! It showed that the US's 3rd and 4th string players were even better than the 1st and 2nd string players for one of the region's best teams. When your backups can beat a rival's starters, that's making a statement. The match versus Haiti consisted of the weakest lineup that any US fan will ever see. We got to see the mental fortitude of the US's future prospects and the true emergence of a possible future national team star. I'll take a crappy tie and a coming out party of a player like Holden any time, especially when the game is meaningless.
Spain: A. They had to hold on for dear life, but a result is a result. Egypt: A. Fight and Skill. And an assist from Brazil. Costa Rica: F. Completely outclassed. Gold Cup final: D-. The loss is excusable. The way they lost certainly isn't. Brazil (group stage): D. The team quit, but Dempsey's trick session saves the result from being a complete failure. At least I laughed. Everything else: C+/B-.
Here's my take, considering both the result and the importance of the game: 5 Star 1) US 2 - Spain 0. Still absurd. Win of the year. 2) US 3 - Egypt 0. ...and then you TOTALLY redeem yourself! 3.5 Star 3) US 2 - Honduras 1. Courageous Bocanegra goal saves the day. 4) US 2 - Honduras 0. Comprehensive performance to advance to the final. 3 Star 5) US 4 - Grenada 0. Completely outclassed the opposition. 6) US 2 - Honduras 0. Davies and Feilhaber make the difference. 7) US 2 - Panama 1. Left it late, but Beckerman shone. 2.5 Star 8) Brazil 3 - US 2. For a half, I thought we would accomplish the impossible. This still hurts...the one that got away. 9) US 2 - Haiti 2. Game meant little to nothing, but great strike from Holden. 2 Star 10) Italy 3 - US 1. A bit of revisionist history on the boards here, as we didn't look good, but given the red card, I can't penalize this too harshly. 1 Star 11) Mexico 5 - US 0. At least we showed up for a half, unlike... 0 Star 12) Brazil 3 - US 0. We were Grenada for a day. 13) Costa Rica 3 - US 1. Our worst display of the summer. Bradley - 3 star Took us to two cup finals. Got the WCQ win at home. Somehow prepared the team to play against Egypt. Took care of business against lesser teams. Team looked poor everytime we deviated from a 4-4-2. Unsettling habit of giving up a goal within the first 5 minutes of a half.