What Exactly Did "American Spy" David Beckham Share With the England Camp?

When I heard a month ago that Fabio Capello wanted David Beckham to “spy” on the US team and tell him of their style, tactics, weaknesses, and strengths, I had to laugh out loud.

Seriously. What was David going to share? The complexities of the Lakers triangle offense? The conversations he’s had with Leonardo DiCaprio? Cruz and Suri’s play-dates? His strict diet for those underwear ads?

I mean, c’mon. All David does here is goes to Lakers games. He actually flew to England for the Mexico friendly, and then came back for a Western Conference Finals game before going back for final preparations for South Africa.

I don’t mean it as a knock on David, but that Capello isn’t very smart. I know that he’s smart – he coaches England, a favourite this summer. But even if David were healthy, he plays in the MLS. The best Americans are all overseas.

I don’t think he meant for David to watch games from home (England) on his big screen in his California mansion. The only thing he could possibly learn here is the tendencies of America’s “best player,” Landon Donovan. Now, I think Landon is far from our best, but everyone knows the US will try to work through him.

David can certainly spill about Landon’s tendencies and how he is not just physically but emotionally for either the Galaxy or US, as I’m sure some of it translates mentally.

As for the actual match, I don’t think the US can win. They can, but I won’t pick it. They often fall behind and when they come back, they never overtake the lead and win the match, just draw.

A draw against England would be great.

Listening to Alexi Lalas and Steve Mcmanaman has become more annoying than the vuvuzela.

Alexi has the US 2-1, Steve, England 2-1. Both shocking. Alexi has the US fighting for a quarter-final spot, while he has England out after the group stage. Steve has the US where Alexi does, and England in the semis.

Steve’s predictions and hopes are more likely. I myself agree in part, with both. But Alexi gives absolutely no logic or reason for why he selects like he does. When asked how England would finish, he gave his answer but didn’t look at the camera, as if to suggest he’s just talking smack (which is what he was doing). Alexi can be patriotic but he needs to give reason. He didn’t even attempt to.

Steve did give reason. He has more possibilities because England is clearly superior, but at least he explained why he picked like he did. Both aren’t the best of analysts, but they just bicker the entire time.

The only thing better than them arguing was Alexi trashing John Harkes about the US’s possible formation tomorrow. I was pleased since Harkes is the John Terry of our land and I have no sympathy at all for him. Plus, he’s terrible at calling games. MLS games at that.

Back to my thinking:

I agree that the US can draw England because they constantly fight. They are often down and sometimes out, but never mentally. I don’t see them coming back in every predicament, but they think they can, and this is all that matters.

Stupidly, the Americans have started the smack-talk with England and not the other way around.

Jozy Altidore said they would win 3-0. Smart. Landon said the US would win. Which is what he should say. But Jozy cannot be that stupid to first, actually think that, but then to say it secondly. It’s ridiculous. It’s not even confidence. He’s trying to rile up a team that is obviously superior and far more level-headed than he thinks it is. It’s just dumb.

Jozy had a single goal and three assists for relegated Hull City. Apparently Charlie Davies is going to have to carry the load against England tomorrow from his comfy couch if the US is to win by three (and also not conceding a single goal). It’s more than stupid on Jozy’s part.

The US’s second best defender in my opinion is Jay DeMerit. He plays in England’s 2^nd division. He will probably stop Peter Crouch or Jermain Defoe (I am being sarcastic). So Wayne Rooney should be no issue.

In my view, the US’s weaknesses are aplenty. Especially when they are compared to their opponents (I mean most top-10 teams, not just England). The defence is better than in years past, but still very susceptible. They lack conviction on easy plays. They do better under extreme pressure. The goals they gave up against Turkey the other week were amateur. MLS-like.

As dumb as it sounds, I’ve always said that one of the most undervalued facts is that the best players of any sport not only make the greatest plays, but they don’t mess up the easy things. Anyone can luckily have a great goal or stop a good shot. The best consistently do everything that’s expected of them well, AND do the great goals and things in addition.

The US defence and team in general needs to start doing this.

The US cannot keep a team out of the net if it does score more than two goals. It cannot outscore a great offensive side, and it cannot keep them out enough to beat them either. They cannot keep up either by scoring multiple goals. Worst of all, they often fall behind first.

Their strength is their mental toughness and belief. It’s difficult to watch sometimes because they look so bad for people who have such strong heads. The play does not reflect the care and passion they have. It’s a little odd for me to see. I don’t understand.

It could be that we’re just not good enough.

The only thing Alexi provided was that England comes in less than 100% physically and mentally and that this is the time to meet them. As opposed to when they’re more tired and beat up later on. Just genius.

While I agree that six months ago they looked a lot better than they do now, they are still far superior. With the stupid comments from the Americans and people everywhere not believing in them, I think England comes out very strong. They beat a Mexico side 3-1 and looked bad doing it. The US always beats Mexico and rarely loses to them as well, but in games staged in the US. Mexico rarely loses to or draws the US in Mexico. It’s just how it goes and has been this way the past decade.

England did play Mexico at home, but they dominated at times, and when they looked poor, they were still clearly ahead.

I’m not basing everything on this. In fact, that Mexico friendly means little, but to people who say the US will win, it’s just nonsensical. Give reason as to why; don’t just blurt it out.

England will defend well and strongly thanks to John Terry. Wayne Rooney will have plenty of support, especially if Peter Crouch starts beside him. I’m going England 3 – 0 USA . It’s not a knock on the US, but a statement from England, for England.

England actually scores little in World Cups. They have the most draws ever for a team that’s been to four or more tournaments. In ’06 they scored minimally in the group stages but they were all cracking goals.

It’s good that both play each other first. I have Mexico and South Africa getting out of Group A. I have the US and England in Group C. It was crucial that Mexico and the host nation tied today.

It’s important for the US to try and get the draw or better in their first match. England as well. Both will be favourites to win their other matches in the group. The US need to at the very least, draw one and win the other. If they don’t get to KOs, they should be banned from World Cup play until 2026.

I strongly feel that they should beat the team from Group D that they will potentially meet in the round of 16. They have shown that they can beat the best teams. Germany will be down some men and ripe for the picking. As is England supposedly. Not saying they can’t tomorrow, but they won’t. Later on they may upset a power in the tournament. Just not yet.

The US needs to adopt a different mentality everywhere but the players themselves, if they want to become a soccer power internationally. The players have the ambition. The organization, coach, analysts, and supporters do not. Getting out of the group is “acceptable.” That is crap. They should be in a great fight for the quarter-final every time at least. They should have ambition to get to the final eight every World Cup and a possible semi-final berth.

The game has obviously become more popular and it’ll continue every four years it seems, but there’s been a distinct difference in attention this year.

The MLS will never be as popular as the best European leagues. Maybe in a few hundred years but not any time soon. But soccer as a sport can be as popular as football, baseball, and basketball.

People are stuck on the MLS. That doesn’t have to be the case. If the best Americans play in Europe’s best leagues, why can’t American fans watch their club teams, and the European leagues as a whole? The sport itself can become very popular and rival the current ones. Not the MLS, but the game of soccer.

How does this happen? The national team needs to succeed. A quarter-final this year would be a start. Quarter-finals or better every year from then on and anything less regarded as failure is the necessary outlook to improve upon.

It starts from the bottom. Better coaching, scouting, overall mentality etc. It’s possible, and it can get back on the right track tomorrow, where it left off a year ago.

One last fact: it seems no one knows that the US’s loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup Final last summer was the first (and still the only time ever) match in which it lost when leading by a score of 2-0. Unfortunate for them, there was a second half to be played. And they were run off the field essentially. I wonder and look forward to what we’ll get tomorrow.

Pullin’ for the US to impress but have the exact opposite in England by a hat.