"Players win Games, Coaches Lose them, and Refs Ruin them"
The title of this entry is a quote from the all-time leading goal scorer of US Soccer, former Chicago Fire player, and ESPN Soccer analyst Eric Wynalda, and it fits more than ever today. Today US soccer hit a milestone or rather a benchmark performance. A 1-1 result against Italy is an impressive feat in its own right, but its made more inspiring considering the fact that referee attempted to be bigger than the game. The US dominated the play, whether it was at even strength, up a player, or down a player. Bruce Arena did a good tactical job of coaching this game to an extent. I will give him credit for starting Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey today, but will qualify it with the question "Why weren't they in the Czech game?". Any one who knows my preferences of players knows that Dempsey and Bocanegra are tough and hardnosed players that the US lacks for the most part. They both look at international powers and don't back down. Why? They don't know any better. This is the interesting thing about this World Cup. The MLS stalwarts on the pitch don't have the respect for the International greats that a Beasley or Donovan do, and therefore they don't back down and aren't afraid. This is what US soccer needs to be about, not backing down. Now onto the play, Landon bounced back remarkably from the abysmal performance against the Czechs. In fact Landon seemed to have his swagger from 2002 back. This is good people. Dempsey was fantastic, as was Boca. Now on to the officiating. The red card on Italy was well deserved. It was an intentional frustration elbow and the fact that he drew blood on Brian McBride made it not only immediate, but necessary. The red on Mastroeni was a joke. Pablo went in from the side and studs down. Yes it was a foul, maybe a yellow, but because it was a star player for Italy that went down the ref got an itchy trigger finger. As for the Pope card, it seemed that it was one of those qualifier fouls. Since Pope had a yellow already it should have been a verbal warning. It could have been a yellow due to it coming slightly from the rear, but only if he didn't already carry one. This ref was out to make a name for himself, unfortunately a bad one. Even Georgio Chinaglia, one of Italy's greats that played for the New York Cosmos in the old NASL said that this was a mockery.
Well now that the rant is done here's how it plays out. The United States still has a chance to play for the right to lose to Brazil. If any of these scenarios plays out the US will advance.
First the US must beat Ghana, by how much depends on what happens otherwise. If Italy beats the Czechs the US only has to win. IF the Czechs beat Italy by 1 - the US must win by at least 5 to knock out Italy on goal differential. If the Czechs beat Italy by 2 the US must win by 4 to advance to be up by a +1 goal differential. I think if the Czechs and Italy tie the US is out due to head-to-head with the Czech Republic, or the US must win by 4 depending on what the tie breaker is.
So with that all Said Let's hope the Azzuri win and we take care of business.
Well now that the rant is done here's how it plays out. The United States still has a chance to play for the right to lose to Brazil. If any of these scenarios plays out the US will advance.
First the US must beat Ghana, by how much depends on what happens otherwise. If Italy beats the Czechs the US only has to win. IF the Czechs beat Italy by 1 - the US must win by at least 5 to knock out Italy on goal differential. If the Czechs beat Italy by 2 the US must win by 4 to advance to be up by a +1 goal differential. I think if the Czechs and Italy tie the US is out due to head-to-head with the Czech Republic, or the US must win by 4 depending on what the tie breaker is.
So with that all Said Let's hope the Azzuri win and we take care of business.