Pre-match: USA vs Portugal, June 22nd

For the USA, that's hard to do when your main outlet and holdup man is injured, your creative guy can't breathe due to a broken nose, your ball hog is having a horror show of a game, your starting center back is having hammy issues at the half, your box to box midfielder is carrying a couple knocks and your bench options are limited.

In spite of the win, the first point and the last point above are the most damaging to our chances of moving forward. Jozy had become essential in absorbing pressure, being an outlet and drawing defenders which had numerous positive follow-on effects for our team. I don't see anybody on the team that even comes close to him in that regard.

 

The longer the news takes for Altidore, the more I worry

 

The problem with this is while Beckerman did an outstanding job and made me eat crow his game matches up well to Ghana...Ghana will try to out run you with the ball and being a good 1v1 defender allowed Beckerman to play strong, while Portugal will out pass you with the ball and are much smarter and accurate players. I've seen Beckerman look like a deer in headlights in the middle of a passing war. He is not quick enough for that and will most likely be bypassed.

 

Looks more likely that Neto/Veloso will replace Pepe/Coentrao for Portugal. Both viable options. Coentrao is a huge loss and I just hope Veloso is mentally prepared.

Good luck to both teams!

 

Personally I love the guy. If this were hockey, he'd be an enforcer. The guy is the Scott Stevens of futebol.

 

I might also add the work Jozy did in previous matches of helping our left back and JJ contain passing lanes and movement on the left side. I think our best bet is Wondo. He can be a nuisance and is ok at being at outlet. It's not necessarily what we brought him for or what he excels at but, of our remaining players, he checks off the most boxes.

 

I was looking at it from the Portuguese side of things, but I agree. And I would certainly prefer to be the team who has the luxury of being able to play for a draw. Neither team will be 100 percent and yesterday's results could each be a harbinger or completely misleading. I do know that I have very little confidence Portugal will get the result it needs if only because of the weakened defense and how things went for each side in the openers. Luck (or whatever you want to call it) was very much against Portugal and for the U.S. yesterday and that factor tends to favor or work against teams throughout a tournament.

 

i think you can realistically forget about Altidore at this point. at least for the Portugal game..probably for much longer

 

I'm actually ok with Veloso at LB..he has skill and a great cross so can support well..and once Pepe gets back he can cover for Veloso's lack of pace.

He might get dribbled by a quick winger or attacker though...

 

Any update yet on Jozy?

I'd assumed he'll miss this game, but praying to have him back for the Germany game.

 

This.

Portugal are going to be out for blood on Sunday. They have something to prove and will go all out to get a result.

Our team will need to hit them hard first--if not, like mentioend above, Ronaldo if in right form can win it all himself.

 

How dumb does Bento look now not bringing Antunes. Just stupid.

As for Jozy, he is done. Pulling a Hamstring is serious.

 

I cringe when I hear wondo is our best option

 

Here's my thing: I would much rather have a more talented and experienced player at their second or third best position than a weaker player at their preferred spot. Obviously, I'm not saying put a talented defender at striker, but also don't start a guy at LB just because that's his position when you've got a guy like Veloso who has played there and is unquestionably a more competent player at this level.

I have zero confidence Bento will do anything other than play it safe, which means he's just begging to lose/draw a must-win match. It's time for Eduardo, Carvalho, Neto, Rafa/Vierinha, etc. This team is in desperate need for urgency at this point.

 

Portugals got injuries to some of their best players, we got injuries to some of our best players. Jozy is a big part of our machine, we will have to adapt as well, but I think Bacon/Wondo are up for it

 

slight difference between altidore and Fabio coentrao man.

Coentraos a world class player, one of the 4/5 Portugal have. big big blow. worse than losing 4-0

 

Agreed. Portugal have depth. Guys like Rafael/Vieirinha are sparkplugs and Neto is pure solid. LB is gonna be tricky, Veloso has to be on his game. I'd be shocked if Eduardo starts.

 

Well he's doing the equivalent of flying from Maine to Louisiana to be checked out. It's going to take time.

 

Yeah, I think it is as demoralizing as anything that happened to Portugal yesterday. Pepe acted a fool and got what you'd expect for that, but Coentrao busting his ass and having only an injury to show for it is bound to make you consider that it's just not your tournament. Almeida's injury, on the other hand, is probably a blessing in disguise. If only he were half the player in meaningful matches he is in friendlies.

 

And to think Adu used to play with him at Benfica.

 

And DiMaria.

 

Sucks but what other option do we have. With one striker, the striker has to be able to hold the ball till the midfield can come in. A false 9 depends heavily on interchange and runs from the attack midfield whcich we dont have. AJ wasnt able to hold up play and bang it out. Dempsey drops into the midfield way to much to start him by himself.

 

Very true . . . but the USA have 1 (Howard), maybe 2 (Bradley . . . except last night) such players. So Portugal's loss really hasn't hurt them as much as losing Jozy hurts the USA.

 

Gotta love Brooks's contributions. I think our best setup has GCam, Brooks, and Besler in the back.

---------------Howard--------------
---Cam---Brooks---Besler--------
-----------------------------Fabian-
----------Bradley--Jones----------
--Zusi---------------------Bedoya-
--------Demps-----AJ--------------

We need wing play and some possession badly. I hope switching back to the old 4-4-2 can give us what we've been missing.