Like a number of other US commentators, comedian Stephen Colbert, who plays a faux-Bill O’Reilly on his show, had to discuss the future of football in the United States. As he describes soccer in the video, above: “.. The sport that [Americans] are the world champions at ignoring.” The US’s success in the Confederations Cup (against all expectations they made it to the final where they lost, after leading 2-0, to Brazil on Sunday), leads Colbert to mock-ask: “Is it time to care about soccer?” What follows is a send-up of American caricatures of football: rioting, David Beckham and warm beer. It’s satire after all. But then Colbert asks his producer to show some “thrilling soccer highlights” and we see video of players of a team in blue passing the ball around sort of aimlessly. The camera then cuts back to Colbert snoozing.
The thing is, unless Colbert or his producers (and his audience?) were in on the joke, they made fools of themselves with that clip as they missed one of the greatest goals of all time: a 25-pass move that resulted in a goal for Argentina against Serbia in the 2006 World Cup in Germany:
After shocking Brazil with their aggressive, physical style in the first half of the Confederations Cup final, the United States first gave up a two-goal halftime lead and then eventually lost 3-2 to Brazil. Brazilian defender Lucio scored the winning goal with 6 minutes of regular time remaining.
The way the US lost, left The New York Times’ correspondent (who up until the day of the final was announcing a new dawn for US soccer after the shock wins over Egypt and Spain), in a state of depression: “The United States is still a developing nation in men’s soccer,” he opined.
Chicken Dinner–the British blog that’s all about sports betting–suggests you should take your lead from previous match statistics:
1. Brazil have won 14 of their 15 matches against USA (one after extra-time). The USA’s one win over the holders came in the 1998 Gold Cup Final, with former Everton winger Predrag “Preki” Radosavljevic scoring the winner.
2. USA haven’t scored against Brazil in three previous Confederations Cup meetings, with Dunga’s side beating them 1-0 in 1999 and 2003 and winning 3-0 against them last Thursday.
3. Bob Bradley’s side haven’t won any of their last six games against South American opposition, losing five and failing to score in three of the last four.
4. Confederations Cup finals involving Brazil are never short of goals. Their three finals to date have produced 18 goals – an average of six a game.
5. Holders Brazil last attempted to retain the cup in 1999 and on that occasion they reached the final only to lose to the CONCACAF Gold Cup winner – Mexico – in the final. USA are the reigning Gold Cup champions.
Mexico’s Giovanni dos Santos looks good in the video, above, scoring twice in a 4-0 win over lowly Venezuela. But can Dos Santos and this teammates play like this in early August when they meet the United States again in regional World Cup qualifiers? Three teams qualify automatically and the US is currently second behind Costa Rica. Mexico is fourth behind Honduras. Though Mexico has won all their home games (they’ve been less successful on the road), their neighbors, the United States–now also gloating from beating world number one, Spain–currently has Mexico’s number. Which just makes football fan and actor Diego Luna (quoted in lad magazine, COMPLEX) depressed:
F C Barcelona striker, Thierry Henry, in New York City to play in basketball player Steve Nash‘s annual charity soccer game in New York City’s Chinatown, told reporters in New York he might join the MLS’ Red Bulls in about three years:
“Could I play for New York Red Bulls at some point? It could be possible in 2011 … One never knows, but the truth is that it is an option that could be likely. I want to stay with Barcelona for two more seasons and then I will leave.”
The video, above, is a report by the tabloid New York Post on the charity game (the PR for the game is quite good). where some of Europe’s best footballers kicked the ball around with top NBA players on a small municipal field.
Predicting the result of the semi-final of the Confederations Cup between the United States and Spain–which the US won 2-0–Goal.com associate editor, Shave Evans, also made a promise:
“The U.S. and Spain are set to battle, but for my money, I don’t think it’s going to be much of a competition. Spain is superior on all parts of the pitch and will take the game to Bob Bradley’s man quickly. I can see a small settling in period, but I believe after about 20 minutes or so, the Spanish midfield will take over and make life very hard for the U.S. Because of this, I could see the score ballooning to 2-0 before halftime with a final score or 3-0. If the USA wins, I’ll take up ballet lessons.”
The victory by the United States (ranked 14th by FIFA) over Spain in the Confederations Cup is certainly one of the biggest upsets in recent football history. And you can’t blame some US soccer media for celebrating like they won the World Cup or referencing the Cold War and ice hockey. After all they did beat the world’s number one ranked team–that was poised to make a record unbeaten run (this is the first Spanish defeat since 2006)–in a competitive FIFA tournament.
So how did the Americans pull this one off.
One, for being aggressive out the gate. In the early going, the US made most of the attacking and looked like a different team than the players that lost to Italy and Brazil in the first round. Both Charlie Davies (where did he come from?) and Jozi Altidore made shots on goal. Then Fulham’s Clint Dempsey shot just wide of goal in the 8th minute. As a result when Altidore scored in the 28th minute it did not come as a surprise.
Two, once the US had the lead, they relied on counter-attacking and, crucially, defending that lead. That meant confidently fighting for every ball and closing down space when Spain attacked. Carlos Bocanegra, starting a match for the first time in a while, along with centerbacks Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit, and Jonathan Spector, were excellent. Whenever a Spanish attacker launched a shot at goal, an outstretched leg or head would meet the ball from Xavi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, or David Villa.
Three, Everton’s Tim Howard in goal. This was El Hadary against Italy all over again. Howard must have made about seven or eight saves from Fernando Torres and David Villa.
Four, the coach Bob Bradley (who also saved his job with the last two victories) left DeMarcus Beasley out of the starting line-up or did not even use Beasley off the bench. The winger who hardly plays at his club Glasgow Rangers, has certainly lost a yard or two, easily gives the ball away and hardly finishes his passes giving the ball away, and proved a liability in previous games.
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