The U.S. Men's National Team Reality Check

The U.S. Men’s National Team had a difficult predicament as they battled for it all in the 2009 FIFA Confederation’s Cup Final against Brazil.

When critiquing one of the supreme world powers in soccer one must understand the set mentality of expectation there is set upon a team which in this case is Brazil. Brazil is one of the most dominant forces in soccer, in fact in case anybody noticed Brazil was playing with the “B” Team in this Confederation’s Cup.

Brazil was missing its stars Ronaldinho, Dida, Adriano, Ze Roberto, etc… So before we go proclaiming the U.S. Men’s National Team as a valid contender for the 2010 South Africa World Cup we have to notice what it has done.

The U.S. lost to Italy 2-0 in the Confederation’s opener, and was easily outmatched by the current world champion. After that the U.S. got run over by Brazil 3-0 in a game in which the U.S., men’s national team did not even compete.

Yes there were some opportunities for the U.S., but that is the difference between a world power and a good team, a world power only needs one opportunity, and when it gets it, it capitalizes.

After this the U.S. came into the final game of the first round against Egypt, a game in which everything was believed to be lost, the U.S. beat Egypt 3-0, and combined with the loss of Italy to Brazil put itself into the next round by a matter of pure luck.

Let’s be honest here, if we put it into who deserved to go to the next round it would have definitely been Italy, the U.S. capitalized on an opportunity, and after all that is what soccer is all about.

Now, the U.S. would face Spain. A team that has been ranked as the number 1 team in the world according to the FIFA world ranking. The real truth behind this ranking is that it is based loosely on the amount of FIFA official matches you compete in, and closely related to the results and ranking of your foes.

If Spain played against European powers in the European Championship, then it is obvious that it would rank higher than other teams such as Germany, Italy, Brazil, and Argentina which are world powers.

If a team bases itself on a win over a team that is considered of second level in world soccer, then in reality the U.S. men’s national team is not as great as everyone may think.

The interesting part is the Confederation’s final. Brazil has always been considered a team that can turn the switch on and off at any second, because let’s be honest here they are just that good.

The U.S. soccer mentality for this game was planned wrong, the U.S. should have played to a conservative counter attack, leaving plenty behind in case a ball was lost in the midfield, and in case they did score first, pressure the Brazilians into long balls by playing physical, and allowing them as little time to think what to do, by playing a ¾ pressure on the U.S. side of the field.

This reduces space, and allows the Brazilians to force up a high ball in which the U.S. would clearly dominate.

The formula to beat was Brazil was simple, don’t let them have the ball.

After the two goals from the U.S. Bradley decided to let Brazil play, and was the determinant of the U.S. losing at the end. Brazil’s “B Team” with the exception of Kaka, and Robinho adjusted in the second half, and in the less than 45 minutes vanished any aspiration the U.S. team had of being the victor. This popped the U.S. dream’s, and bubble encompassed by the statistical media in the U.S. that has no clue as to how soccer is played.

According to one writer the formula to beat Brazil was the following:

Don’t be afraid

Attack, Attack, Attack

No stupid mistakes

Be Like Mike

Believe in destiny

Here is my problem with this. The U.S. has to be afraid of Brazil, come on they are better than you, this isn’t men’s basketball we are talking about here.

Two if you attack, then that will create spaces for Brazil, that’s the result of the goal off an error of Beasley off a corner in the first match between these two.

No stupid mistakes? Define that, it is too broad. Be like Mike will get you a red card, and will give Brazil numbers, this is futbol not football.

Believe in destiny, how about you save that one when you play the final for the world cup.

A clear example of another “soccer journalist” that does not have a clue about soccer, and tries to make us think that he does.

Until next time.