Love
Behold, a special OO-SAH edition…
The USA Gave Us An Emotional Rollercoaster, But One We’re Glad We Rode
What more can we say about this one? The game itself was edge-of-your-seat stuff worthy of a knockout round, with the US peppering the Algerian goal — and allowing the odd frightening counter-attack via Ziani and Djebbour — yet needing that 92nd minute piece of heroics from Landon Donovan, the real heart and soul of the USMNT if we’re being honest, to ensure safe passage to the next round.
It gives them 1st place in a group, a phenomenal achievement Alexi Lalas might not even have foretold, and as such, their reward is a rematch with Ghana (who broke American hearts in 2006… still cursing Razak Pimpong for his preposterous dive that won Ghana the game-winning PK).
But enough from me… some UFers who experienced the game are gonna share what they learned…
MOONSHINE MIKE: I learned that Bob Bradley is slowly learning how to organize the team he puts out there.
He didn’t stick with Onewyu when he looked lost against Slovenia, though he stuck with keeping Donovan and Dempsey on the wings knowing they can play up and down with the best of them. The team showed they have something that has been lacking in past cup appearances – a spine and a bit of swagger. They used to have that “lucky to be here” aspect, and in 2006 they felt the should of done better and were smacked around.
Now the team is giving the giant F-you and refuses to give in, refuses to sit back and hope they get lucky. They are an attacking squad and are very wonderful to watch. The Confederations Cup showed they can hang with good teams, and that if they hang back with a lead, they get sloppy. England’s win was more emphatic than the final score suggests, and they are getting their guts back. However, it’s a fact that the US has enough stomach and drive to propel two World Cup teams.
IAN: We learned today that heart matters. While some of the star-studded European teams have dealt with internal strife, the American camp has been solid as a rock. The minor Charlie Davies kerfuffle has been quickly forgotten by all involved, and you even get the sense that everyone actually likes each other. Having all 23 guys pulling the same way matters, especially in a knock-out tournament where little things can have a huge impact and the margins between winning and losing are so slim.
Talent-wise, this team is not as good as the major powers. Our best player plays for LA, for Christssake. Over a 38-game season, the US national team would be probably be middling at best. But in a tournament lasting only a month, will, pride, and desire can overcome talent. The US players clearly want to be in South Africa right now instead of on vacation at the beach with their WAGS; I’m not sure that’s the case for every player on some of the European teams. In fact, the way the US is playing as a team, I would be feel comfortable putting them up for 90 minutes against just about any team left standing the tournament.
As for the game, Landon was invisible for 90 minutes, and then put away the biggest chance of his career (and it was no sitter). Tim Howard was stellar in goal once again. Even the rejiggered backline was mostly ok, save for a few early moments of terror courtesy of Jay Demerit. Michael Bradley continues to excel as an old fashioned box to box midfielder. I still worry about his father’s tactical acumen (seriously, DMB?), but he is currently making all the right moves for a US team that is probably the best in history.
So the good ship USA rolls onto into the Ghana game, and there will be a chance for payback. Despite their African-ness, why would you favor Ghana is this game? They have failed to score from open play, and besides Gyan they don’t have much going forward.
Given their emotional high, I think its’ better for the Americans to be playing on Saturday instead of Sunday. There will be precious little time for them to even think over the next 48 hours, and hopefully the can capture some of that energy and
channel it into a stellar performance.
THE FAN’S ATTIC: We haven’t really learned anything new. We just had an epic victory based on all the things we already knew about the USMNT. The USMNT has mental resolve in spades, talent in some locations, a suspect defense and is profligate in its scoring chances. Same as it has been for the last year or so.
Actually, I take that back, we did learn something new; Bradley the elder can throw caution to the wind at times, which is nice to see.
THE NY KID: I learned that I’m in love with Landon Donovan.
PRECIOUS ROY: So about the 70th minute, I overhear this guy talking behind me. He’s telling the group of people that have been standing there since about 20 minutes before kick-off: “Yeah I was driving down the road and saw the bar was open, and then noticed that it was packed inside. So I figured I better stop and check it out.” I think he was one of the strangers I hi-fived after we scored.
Anyway, I learned that if you’re ever driving down the road and you spot a bar that appears to be open and packed at an odd hour, you should pop in and check out what’s going on.
THE STRETFORD END: Here’s what I learned: As much as we’ve given Death Stare a hard time, and as much as he deserves it, he’s learned that he has to adjust the team as the tournament goes along. 2006-era Bob wouldn’t have sat Gooch; he wouldn’t have essentially gone to 3.5 strikers, and he certainly wouldn’t have tried three different starting midfield combos. This team has strength and will, and their manager, as much as I hate him, has taken steps I didn’t feel were possible.
Also, it has to be clear that Jozy is growing up and that Lando is a star. A bona fide, big moment, cool as a cucumber star.
THE LIKELY LAD: Something like we were saying before: we can’t call landycakes landycakes anymore, cos the joke’s on us. he did a tour in the messier zone today. it’s like a good ‘Nam. You leave, but it’s always with you.
I’m assuming that the rest of ‘em were too drunk to respond. Heck, that certainly applies to me.
Oh Go On, I Need To Mention England
It was a nervy performance, never quite assured or comfortable but lacking in those agonizing moments that have plagued the tournament thus far, but England got the job done. The slate is clean now. All the bulls**t can be put to one side, and they can start fresh. Sunday morning yields The Germans, something that’s surely sent all the tabloid sub-editors into a punning apoplexy at present, and in the coming days we’ll get so sick of the match-up that, like the US-England tilt, we’ll just be glad when it’s over.
I don’t know yet whether this side can beat the Germans, but it’s worth noting that Serbia’s gameplan for Die Mannschaft was superb, and I hope that Fabio Capello was paying attention.
Germany, and if they get beyond that, they likely get Argentina. I’m just happy they got this far.
I learned that Rabah Saadane evidently left his testicles back in the hotel room.
I also learned that JP Dellacamera’s radio commentary is pretty close to incoherent. Heard his call of the goal driving home tonight, basically went something like “Altidore… Dempsey… askfhdflh Donovan!!!!” I don’t blame him one bit :-)
What I learned: that 2 weeks of vacation makes me impervious to early alarm clocks – no way I was making it to the bar today before the game. Which does not bode well for me returning to work tomorrow…
That, and Death Stare Bob 1) has a team that believes in him, 2) has become much more aggressive in his tactics, 3) knows what each player is actually capable of, and what he can get out of them, and 4) is no longer afraid to make a quick change when he doesn’t get exactly that out of them…
Bradley, while I still distrust him, is not the guy I hated a year ago. He seems to have figured out (either by intellect or simple desperation) that this group of players HAVE to attack to be effective, whether he wants to pack it in or not…and that is the sign of a coach who knows WTF he is doing. I would not be surprised if he tries his hand in Europe regardless of the outcome this WC…
I learned that people are giving Huh Bob way too much credit. The second half performance was not as aggressive or productive of attacking opportunities as the first half, at least until towards the very end, and I think the substitution of Gomez at half explains much of it. Huh Bob was reduced to throwing all his attacking options onto the pitch, because that’s what you do when you’re in a win-or-go-home situation, not because it reflects mature judgment or tactical genius. Credit for this game goes to the players. They went balls-to-the-wall for 92 minutes. My calculator tells me that they therefore gave 102%. And it was the 92nd minute that mattered most, when they could just as easily have been deflated by that point.
Oh, and I think the player performance reflects the fact that these players play for each other and for the U.S.A., not for themselves. Other teams who are no longer in the tournament, despite being stocked with much greater talent than USMNT, take note.
What I learned today: American sports stores SUCK. Ugh. Being the somewhat bandwagon fan that I am (at least I admit it. I’m now totally into soccer due to this world cup. And I’m okay with it), I tried to see if I could land myself a US World Cup t-shirt (particularly a Landon Donovan one) AND IT WAS ACTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE. Granted, I do live in Minnesota, so maybe if I was in NYC or something I’d be able to find one. HOWEVER, I called about a billion different stores and no one had anything.
Even the Nike Store (which it did say it was more of a running store) in the Mall of America had NOTHING.
I also learned that America rules.
The one thing in defense of those English fans, that goal meant the difference between Germany and Ghana for them… (Unless my math is wrong, in which case F them).
I also learned The Stretford End is still in front, and James T has sole possession of last place:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Aice9cgutB66dHpqZTZxOTUtQjZFRFhjdmhUVGVaRnc&hl=en
Funny you mention that, Goosie… I have some non-soccer friends — I know, crazy that I hang out with folks who aren’t soccer nerds like me — warming up to the USMNT, but none of them could find USMNT kits in any Niketowns anywhere!
Goosie, at least here in DC that’s because they’re sold out of everything, because it’s all been so popular. City Sports has been empty/near-empty of US gear for weeks.
@DAN
Ha! I drank too much Kool Aid pre-tournament. Happens. Took my love of tactics to a ridiculous level and it talked me into a few teams. Oh well.
@anon: I think you’re right that people have overcompensated their earlier Huh Bob loathing with gushing adoration. But at the same time, he benched Gooch and started Edu, which showed that he did learn some lessons from the first two games and we have to credit him for that.
@JT: tactics schmactics. You just hate America. Oo-sah!!!
Yeah. They just don’t carry much here. Although the big soccer store that I called in St. Paul was out because they sold out of stuff. I was particularly annoyed by the Nike store because I went to the Puma store at the Mall of America and they had PLENTY of apparel.
BOO NIKE.
I know this because I got a white US shirt for Fathers’ Day and was trying to exchange it for a blue one–Nike booted this one. My local stores haven’t seen them for a couple of weeks and online stores are unified in saying “Sold out until October”. Suffice it to say Nike underestimated demand.
Also, it took me a really long time to realize when you guys say OO-SAH you weren’t referencing Bad Boys 2(Martin Lawrence would say WOOSAH as a means to calm down) . Or maybe you are and I’m just reallllllllllllly confused
I learned that Michael Bradley continues to improve every game (at least the way I see it).
I also learned two things listen to World Cup Daily just now:
1.) The little ditty at the beginning says: “If you don’t pick up a groin strain in the build up, we’ll love it when you score a goal”. I honestly thought it was “If you drink a cup of grolsche.” I don’t even know what that means.
2.) A pundit on there (Barney Ronay maybe?) makes the case that the rules of the game favor South American sides. Are we really down to that level of excuse making now?
@Ryan: We aren’t, no. The English are. ;) I’m not sure I agree with your Michael Bradley point, just because I’ve never been as down on Baby Bradley as everyone else around here. I’ve always seen him as a solid mid, so his good performances aren’t all that revelatory. Although, on the other hand, he has, admittedly, performed better than I was expecting, even as someone who respects his game.
Also: oo, ah! Cote d’Ivoire!
This sounds ridiculous, and perhaps a bit cloyingly sentimental, but I learned today that a sport can still make me smile and jump and yell and just f**king feel. Oh, and a call to my Dad to discuss a game and tactics will always be the best ten minutes of my day.
He hasn’t gotten a single card! THAT is revelatory to me.
@dan: Ha! Good point. :)
I can’t speak for everyone else but my problem with baby Bradley wasn’t necessarily his lack of skill or vision, it was with his tendency to lose concentration and control and to pick up stupid cards. I think he’s maturing and is better able to control his emotions. Of course now that I say that he’ll get a stupid red in the first ten minutes of the Ghana game.
@Anonsters I wouldn’t say I was ever really down on Bradley, more like in the middle compared to what some of his detractors have to say. Even if “solid” is your basis, I think he outperformed that today. I think someone pointed out in the liveblog that that may have been because Dempsey and Donovan were being marked pretty tightly, leaving lots of space for Mikey, but I still think he was very good.
@ef Totally. I still find myself just laughing and smiling watching all the reaction videos from various bars across the country.
@Anon: I seem to remember you getting into it with someone (PR?) about baby Bradley and bringing up my praise for him after the England game which was based on the fact that he wasn’t carded.
@Ryan
That pundit is flat-out wrong.
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@LE
Not true! Don’t hate America. Just over-rationalized what Slovenia were capable of based on US struggles vs. those kinds of Eastern European sides in recent WCs. Underestimated the American spirit. Overestimated Robert Koren. And honestly, I really thought England would win game one, making that US/Slovenia game even more crucial (Slovenes on 3, US on 0).
Oh Well.
Great story, EF!
Goosie-
OO-SAH is USA phonetically in Latino Spanish. TFA has a story about how it came to be, and when he shared it here, it took off.
OO-SAH, therefore, equals USA on UF.
On Baby Bradley — he’s the real deal. I’m glad to see some of the others on here getting on board. I remember NY Kid suggesting he be benched for Eddie Gaven about a year ago.
He will end up at a solid EPL team or Serie A. Apparently, I’ve read he worships AC Milan — it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he ends up in Italy (not at Milan, but maybe Genoa? Fiorentina?).
And, I’m calling it now, he is the American Roy Keane.
@Goat: Yeah, b/c I was poking people with a stick (not you, though) about being inconsistent in their treatment of Baby Bradley.
re Young Bradley: for me, his maturation is the reason for his improved play. I don’t think anyone here would question his ability, but he lacked the on-field intelligence and calm that allows the best players to excel. I agree with corky – he’ll be a solid midfielder in the EPL or Serie A.
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@JT, Ryan: Thanks!
Too soon to talk tactics for the next match? Does Bob roll the dice with Bornstein again? Gomez up top again, or does Findley merit a return to the squad after his suspension?
I learned that Tim Howard has one helluva arm, that Deuce has one helluva death glare, and that Donovan (Landycakes no more!) has one helluva killer instinct.
No Findley. That’s my vote. Maybe I should send Bradley an email.
@ Ryan. Not at all! It’s a two-day turnaround. Our guys have played their guts out. I think the lineup will likely remain unchanged with the possibility of Holden coming in and Dempsey going up top. Clint looks a little fried right now. He gets knocked down 5-10 times a game, it seems.
Also, he’ll always be Landycakes to me. It’s just that it has become a term of affection, now, rather than mockery.
@Ryan: I’d like to give Gomez another chance; he has that edge around the box, and his confidence is high. I’d like to see Torres make an appearance, but I can’t decide if he starts or comes on as a sub. But having Dempsey, Donovan, and Torres all on field helps our overall technique. The problem is that Bradley can’t afford to range forward and play as a true box-to-box if there isn’t a DM like Edu behind him.
@corky: Good! I agree about Clint, I noticed that too that he seemed to be down on the pitch an awful lot. Speaking of, that’s how he ended up when Ghana scored their first goal in ’06, hopefully that’s a bit of motivation for him.
A less motivating, but nonetheless important factor for Clint may be that my US jersey with his name on the back finally is due to arrive tomorrow, a scant 38 days after ordering it.
I learned that grown men can all spontaneously burst into tears, hug each other, and generally act like they’re the ones who just scored the goal. It doesn’t matter whether you know the people or not, at that moment, you’re brothers.
I spent 18 hours in a van with 15 people making a round trip to Miami from Tampa to see the Rowdies and Miami FC Tuesday night. We got back in Tampa at 4:15, and sat in the parking lot of the pub until it opened.
When Donovan scored, that celebration beat any walk-off homerun dogpile. After two showers, I still smell like a mixture of sweat, tears, beer, hope, and joy. It may never come out…but god damn if I won’t do it all over again Saturday. I love this game.
I learned that getting drunk at 10 AM is a great sign, and you need to watch where you step in your drunken celebrating, lest you draw blood from a friend’s big toe. So yeah, today was pretty amazing.
I think Gomez needs to start against Ghana instead of Findley. We looked much more incisive with him on the field. But to be fair to Robbie Findley, he played his best game of the World Cup today.
@Dan: i learned that you’ve kept track of my awesome picks better than I have. I better check who I have set for tomorrow!
I also learned what it’s like to scream so loudly while liveblogging that you wake up your 9-year-old son. And when he finds out the USA won the game, he says, “that makes me so happy” and gives you a hug.
Sports are awesome sometimes.
@TSE: Awww, that’s sweet.
@Anonsters: I was already crying a little, and not to go all TMI, but my kids are out for part of the summer, so it was all the sweeter for me.
On that note, I’ll miss Saturday’s game v. Ghana taking them home. Sigh.
@Dan: I’m not going to be perfect after tomorrow. TFA is the only one who didn’t have Cameroon. I’m also the only one who has Slovakia and Paraguay. I’ll need help for that to happen.
Bring back Eddie Gaven!!
@JT, you over estimated a cast-off Baggie? Really? Wow.
I don’t even think I know who Eddie Gaven is.
I learned that it is FUN to watch family and friends start to “get” it when it comes to soccer. I enjoyed talking to an office mate who is amazed that he’s getting so much into the WC. I felt like Henry Higgins while he talked about the “tension of the buildup” and “you have to appreciate just how hard it is to score”. I just smiled and said “Yes! Know you know what I am going on about!”
Great WHWLs, everyone. Here’s hoping the weekend brings some equally excellent tales!
I also learned that, as long as you’re not screaming at your wife on the phone (old coworker did that once), it’s sometimes okay to scream at work.
@TSE — umm….I think you’re about to get 2/2 in group F…
I learned that Michael Bradley is very very good