(no subject)
This week saw the third and final presidential debate, the first elections in Afghanistan, violence is Iraq, and the Redskins fall to 1-4. These are all ripe topics for discussion and stuff that I normally like to write about. So, why am I going to ignore all of them? Well, the answer is simple; US soccer qualified Wednesday for the final stage of World Cup qualifying. The team is ranked 11th in the latest FIFA World Rankings and is for the first time in maybe forever, they are the favorite in CONCACAF, supplanting the Mexican dynasty that has ruled North American soccer in what seems like forever.
The United States should defeat Panama, especially at home. However, to crush at team 6-0 is much different than simply beating them. The United States never looked in the slightest bit of discomfort against the overmatched Panamanians, ranked 103rd in the world. The US attack had its way with the Panamanian defense from the start. Brian McBride missed a wide open shot in the early minutes and fullback Greg Berhalter barely missed a header off a corner kick in the fifth minute. The near misses did not deter the US attack. Speedy forward Josh Wolfe ran down a long pass down the left sideline, brought the ball into the penalty area and made a perfect feed to Landon Donovan, who was streaking through Panama's central defense and one touched the ball into the back corner of the goal.
Donovan scored again in the second half off another great feed, this time from his defensive counterpart in central midfield, Kerry Zavagnin. Donovan used his speed to make a perfect break on the ball, staying onside while getting behind the defense, faked out Panamanian goalkeeper Donald Gonzalez and slid between the two defenders pursuing him, scoring on a deflection off of his knee.
Donovan, when at the top of his game, is a terror for opposing defenses when opperating out of his central attacking midfield posisition. He is also capable of playing striker but is much more dynamic in central midfield. His speed and knack for getting to the ball are his best attributes and he showed both last night. Donovan is the US side's best overall player and easily its best goal scorer. He is also still young at, a trend with this team in the last few years.
The team has experienced an influx of new, young talent in the last few years. Players like Demarcus Beasley, Bobby Convey, Corey Gibbs, and several others are the future of the team and are among the squad's best players. The team also has veterans like Cobi Jones, Claudio Reyna, and Brian McBride who have been through the wars of international competition. The two elements have gelled under head coach Bruce Arena and this team is looking to build on the splash it made in the 2002 World Cup.
There are several indicators that the 2006 World Cup in Germany will be even better for US soccer than the quarterfinal result it posted in 2002. For starters, the team is undefeated in its last 11 games, its only loss this season coming against Holland in a friendly. The US is undefeated in qualifying and just as importantly, has shown the ability to salvage games in which it hasnt played well. An example of the ability to win or tie games that they really have no business winning, something that all good teams have, came in the first game at Panama where Cobi Jones scored in the 92nd minute to tie the game. Sure, they should have beaten Panama but they recused a point from a game they had no business doing so.
The bottom line (I'm rather tired of typing and I have a test tomorrow so I have to rest up) is that US soccer is starting to emerge as a force to be reckoned with. The team has a growing pool of atheletic, young players to draw on. It is only a matter of time before the US wins its first World Cup, hopefully it will be in 2006 in Germany because I will be there but mark my words, it will happen sooner or later so hop on the bandwagon before theres no room left.
The United States should defeat Panama, especially at home. However, to crush at team 6-0 is much different than simply beating them. The United States never looked in the slightest bit of discomfort against the overmatched Panamanians, ranked 103rd in the world. The US attack had its way with the Panamanian defense from the start. Brian McBride missed a wide open shot in the early minutes and fullback Greg Berhalter barely missed a header off a corner kick in the fifth minute. The near misses did not deter the US attack. Speedy forward Josh Wolfe ran down a long pass down the left sideline, brought the ball into the penalty area and made a perfect feed to Landon Donovan, who was streaking through Panama's central defense and one touched the ball into the back corner of the goal.
Donovan scored again in the second half off another great feed, this time from his defensive counterpart in central midfield, Kerry Zavagnin. Donovan used his speed to make a perfect break on the ball, staying onside while getting behind the defense, faked out Panamanian goalkeeper Donald Gonzalez and slid between the two defenders pursuing him, scoring on a deflection off of his knee.
Donovan, when at the top of his game, is a terror for opposing defenses when opperating out of his central attacking midfield posisition. He is also capable of playing striker but is much more dynamic in central midfield. His speed and knack for getting to the ball are his best attributes and he showed both last night. Donovan is the US side's best overall player and easily its best goal scorer. He is also still young at, a trend with this team in the last few years.
The team has experienced an influx of new, young talent in the last few years. Players like Demarcus Beasley, Bobby Convey, Corey Gibbs, and several others are the future of the team and are among the squad's best players. The team also has veterans like Cobi Jones, Claudio Reyna, and Brian McBride who have been through the wars of international competition. The two elements have gelled under head coach Bruce Arena and this team is looking to build on the splash it made in the 2002 World Cup.
There are several indicators that the 2006 World Cup in Germany will be even better for US soccer than the quarterfinal result it posted in 2002. For starters, the team is undefeated in its last 11 games, its only loss this season coming against Holland in a friendly. The US is undefeated in qualifying and just as importantly, has shown the ability to salvage games in which it hasnt played well. An example of the ability to win or tie games that they really have no business winning, something that all good teams have, came in the first game at Panama where Cobi Jones scored in the 92nd minute to tie the game. Sure, they should have beaten Panama but they recused a point from a game they had no business doing so.
The bottom line (I'm rather tired of typing and I have a test tomorrow so I have to rest up) is that US soccer is starting to emerge as a force to be reckoned with. The team has a growing pool of atheletic, young players to draw on. It is only a matter of time before the US wins its first World Cup, hopefully it will be in 2006 in Germany because I will be there but mark my words, it will happen sooner or later so hop on the bandwagon before theres no room left.