(Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
After the 3-0 loss to Brazil, the U.S. has been virtually eliminated from the Confederations Cup. The U.S. got out-classed and out-coached in their first game against Italy. However, in that loss the U.S. showed plenty of positives and experienced a few tough breaks and a few bad decisions that changed the game.
In the Brazil match, the U.S. showed no positive signs, and continued to raise questions about their ability to play in big games, their ability to score goals (set plays or in the run of play), as well as questions about their discipline.
Before kick off, Coach Bob Bradley already raised some eyebrows with his choices for the starting line up, most notably, DaMarcus Beasley. It’s no surprise to any fan who has been following the U.S. National Team that Beasley’s form has been off and declining for over a year. He has lost speed, vision, touch, and confidence and until all of those return Beasley should not be a part of the national team.
The game started off as expected with Brazil controlling possessions and keeping the ball in the U.S. half. The Americans had a tough time putting passes together and getting any kind of control. This dominance led to a quick goal from Brazil off a free kick.
On replay, it appeared as though there was no foul, but you have to deal with the calls you get and the U.S. didn’t deal well with this one. A beautiful, pin point cross from Maicon found Felipe Melo who headed the ball past Tim Howard.
Jonathan Spector got beat by a step or two from Melo and Howard looked as though he was already a step inside the goal by the time the ball from Maicon found its target. I won’t fault either Spector or Howard too much, because the service from Maicon was absolutely brilliant, and it’s very hard to defend such quality.
Ten minutes after Brazil’s first strike the U.S. finally found a bit of game, only to be betrayed by the plague that is DaMarcus Beasley. A short pass to Beasley off a U.S. corner kick was lost as he let the ball roll under his foot.
The ensuing six seconds went by in a flash with quick touches from Brazil until Kaka released Ramires and he was off on a breakaway on goal. Spector did all he could to defend a two on one situation, but was helpless as Ramires squared the ball to Robinho who slotted the ball into the back of the net.
I was already fuming about the choice of Beasley as a starter, but at this point, I was screaming at my TV for him to get off the field, but it was not to be. A gritty effort kept the Brazilians from scoring again before half.
I got a call from a family member wanting to discuss the first half and I said then that Beasley and Kljestan needed to get taken off. No one U.S. player was particularly good in the first half, but these two were so abysmal I couldn’t see how they could possibly stay out on the field.
Upon the start of the second half, Conor Casey came in for Beasley, but Kljestan remained on the field. It seemed as if Kljestan knew he shouldn’t be out there and promptly committed a hard, late foul and got himself taken off the field with a red card.
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