To Rob Green
(My new favorite goalkeeper)
or, A Tale of Two Sams
(Adams, as in the Boston Lager, vs. Smith, as in the Oatmeal Stout)
or, A Point Is a Point Is a Point...
Yesterday, I went to my friend Hef's house to watch the USA v. England on his TV. I wore my USA jersey (circa 1994, I think) and came bearing beers from the opposing countries. I thought the Sam Adams was the most Yay America beer I could find. The US Soccer fan club, after all, is called Sam's Army. I might have preferred the ale for taste, but the lager had the additional advantage of being German rather than British in tradition. The Sam Smith was the English beer and a fine one at that. Hef and I split it and had a drink to jolly old England. "May they lose gracefully."
As it turned out, the US found itself down 0-1 early, on a quality goal by attacking English midfielder Steven Gerrard. That was a real downer, as I figured the English would slow it down and play safe. But the game stayed interesting and I leaped off the couch when Clint Dempsey fired in a driving, low shot that dribbled in off of English keeper Robert Green's hands. It was clearly mishandled by the keeper, but I give credit to Dempsey for putting a low, hard shot on frame.
The game got nerve-wracking midway through the second half, as it seemed like England was having the better run of play. Too often, the U.S. side looked just a bit sloppy. Luckily, England wasn't able to convert. I blame it on the U.S. defensive midfield of Ricardo Clark and Michael Bradley. Although as I read through the commentary, the views are mixed. Clark is often faulted for being a step behind Gerrard on the English goal, but many commentators credit Clark and Bradley for their hard, thankless work covering for the outside backs and attacking midfielders to do their jobs. My sense was that the Americans were looking good when they were challenging balls all over the field and interrupting passing lanes, not backing off of the English. But other times, they looked sloppy, allowing risky opportunities to the English. But maybe that's what we're going to see out of this U.S. side, a team that's going to need to apply pressure and play a more freewheeling, open style, rather than a defensive, disciplined style.
I think, though, that Jozy Altidore's near miss in the second half helped to combat the "lucky goal" argument. Altidore clearly outlegged his defender and had Green beat with his shot, which caromed off the post after Green got a finger or two on it to barely redirect it.
I came away from the game proud that the U.S. players stood up to the English lads and played them toe-to-toe. They didn't play like a team that was fending off a loss, but a team that was going for the win. And that was exciting, against a top-tier side like England. Hopefully they can keep up that pace against Slovenia and Algeria, countries whom we really should beat.
or, A Tale of Two Sams
(Adams, as in the Boston Lager, vs. Smith, as in the Oatmeal Stout)
or, A Point Is a Point Is a Point...
Yesterday, I went to my friend Hef's house to watch the USA v. England on his TV. I wore my USA jersey (circa 1994, I think) and came bearing beers from the opposing countries. I thought the Sam Adams was the most Yay America beer I could find. The US Soccer fan club, after all, is called Sam's Army. I might have preferred the ale for taste, but the lager had the additional advantage of being German rather than British in tradition. The Sam Smith was the English beer and a fine one at that. Hef and I split it and had a drink to jolly old England. "May they lose gracefully."
As it turned out, the US found itself down 0-1 early, on a quality goal by attacking English midfielder Steven Gerrard. That was a real downer, as I figured the English would slow it down and play safe. But the game stayed interesting and I leaped off the couch when Clint Dempsey fired in a driving, low shot that dribbled in off of English keeper Robert Green's hands. It was clearly mishandled by the keeper, but I give credit to Dempsey for putting a low, hard shot on frame.
The game got nerve-wracking midway through the second half, as it seemed like England was having the better run of play. Too often, the U.S. side looked just a bit sloppy. Luckily, England wasn't able to convert. I blame it on the U.S. defensive midfield of Ricardo Clark and Michael Bradley. Although as I read through the commentary, the views are mixed. Clark is often faulted for being a step behind Gerrard on the English goal, but many commentators credit Clark and Bradley for their hard, thankless work covering for the outside backs and attacking midfielders to do their jobs. My sense was that the Americans were looking good when they were challenging balls all over the field and interrupting passing lanes, not backing off of the English. But other times, they looked sloppy, allowing risky opportunities to the English. But maybe that's what we're going to see out of this U.S. side, a team that's going to need to apply pressure and play a more freewheeling, open style, rather than a defensive, disciplined style.
I think, though, that Jozy Altidore's near miss in the second half helped to combat the "lucky goal" argument. Altidore clearly outlegged his defender and had Green beat with his shot, which caromed off the post after Green got a finger or two on it to barely redirect it.
I came away from the game proud that the U.S. players stood up to the English lads and played them toe-to-toe. They didn't play like a team that was fending off a loss, but a team that was going for the win. And that was exciting, against a top-tier side like England. Hopefully they can keep up that pace against Slovenia and Algeria, countries whom we really should beat.