All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

I think Borgetti pulled his hamstring chasing down Bocanegra. Watch the replay and you can see him pull up lame right before Bocanegra moves around him.

 

So what have we learned in these last two weeks?

* The gap between the US/Mexico and the rest of CONCACAF isn't as large as it once was. Unlike the rest of the region, though, the Big Two have the depth and experience to pull out wins when they're not at their best. Could Canada have beaten Mexico with Stalteri and DeGuzman out? I doubt it.

* This is not your father's -- or even your older brother's -- US national team. These guys aren't just athletes who happen to play soccer. They have technical ability and mental acumen, both very important when negotiating the bunkered defenses of World Cup qualifying. Having followed this team since before the 1994 World Cup, it's astonishing to see the improvement in ball movement and off-the-ball runs. They still can't finish, though, and that needs to change toot sweet.

* The other 1.5 CONCACAF qualifying spots are wide open. The US and Mexico, barring complete disaster, will make it. After them, though, then who? Costa Rica is in transition, Honduras is as enigmatic as ever, Panama and Canada are quickly trending upward and the Caribbean is devoid of much quality right now (though Ol' Bora is trying to work his magic with Jamaica).

 

Thanks for the analysises.

 

Fox Soccer Channel's production during the trophy presentation was horrific.

The sideline reporter hid in the tunnel. WTF?

There was hardly a mention of what was going on with Guardado's situation until well after he was placed on a backboard...I kept thinking to myself..."Are these bozos seeing this?"

And everything that comes out of Max Bretos' mouth seems like it's a shout. He's got to learn to turn down the volume. And he's painfully unfunny.

 

I completely agree about the FSC production. One of my biggest complaints was the use of replays. They either showed them so long after something like a goal that you missed a good deal of the action to follow or they waited eons to show a replay after a great play. I don't think we saw one kickoff after a score and once when they went back to action Mexico had a great chance, but how was it set up? And I'm glad I had a DVR a few times to go back and watch a play again.

But it was a lot of fun to watch, and I guess at least it was on TV somewhere in English.

 

I watched the tail end of the Mexico Guadaloupe match on some Asian TV stream on the internet and the production was stunning. I don't know the source of the feed, but I was thinking to myself "Now that's how it's done!".

 

I believe I saw some added maturity in the U.S. offense today. In the past, it always struck me that the world's "developed" soccer nations understood passing angles and lanes and we just didn't. Today, I saw more imagination on passes, better vertical runs. I feel better about U.S. soccer today than I have in some time.

 

All part of American soccer's slow, consistent progress. Project 2010, Generation Adidas, broadened investment in MLS, more players learning and playing abroad ... all baby steps in growing the game in our country.

I'm as big a Bruce Arena fan as you'll find (save maybe Kenny Arena), but I don't recall an Arena-led US team ever playing like that. Now they can afford to go after Mexico instead of just playing on the counter. Now they can miss sitters -- though I wish they wouldn't -- and still win close games. Now they have intelligent players like Donovan, DMB and Dempsey who can function as an attacking unit up front instead of relying on the Token Target Forward and sheer physical will.

Shotty's right, this is all quite exciting. No matter what happens Thursday or in the rest of the Copa, the progress from this tournament gives, or should give, US fans optimism for 2010.

 

A fine job by the selectors of the All-Tournament team. Mastroeni and Heydude named to the team, Donovan and Beasley honorable mentions.

Makes you wonder why they put it out in the first place.

All-Tournament Team
Goalkeeper: Franck Grandel (Guadeloupe)
Defenders: Felipe Baloy (Panama), Richard Hastings (Canada), Frankie Hejduk (United States), Carlos Salcido (Mexico)
Midfielders: Walter Centeno (Costa Rica), Julian DeGuzman (Canada), Pablo Mastroeni (United States), Pavel Pardo (Mexico)
Forwards: Carlos Pavon (Honduras), Blas Perez (Panama)
Honorable Mention
Goalkeeper: Jose Francisco Porras (Costa Rica)
Defenders: Jorge Samuel Caballeros (Honduras); Paul Stalteri (Canada)
Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (United States); Jose Andres Guardado (Mexico)
Forwards: Jocelyn Angloma (Guadeloupe); Landon Donovan (United States).

 

The FSC production and announcers were horrible.

The cameras showed Guardado laying on the ground three or four times after the match. If the announcers weren't watching the monitors, somebody in the truck should have whispered into their earpieces about it. They didn't mention it until he was being trucked off in a neck brace and on a back board.

I laughed out loud when the PBP man said "few people have left" just before the trophy presentation, when the wide shot showed about half the people had fled the stadium.

The constant use of "We" when talking about the USMNT grated on my nerves ... even though I'm a member of Sam's Army.

 

That list is fully deserving of a big, fat "whatever." I'm shocked Warner didn't find a way to slip a few T&T guys on there.

Mexican fans will undoubtedly complain about the PK, thus blissfully looking past the 21 fouls and five yellow cards the US received (nine fouls, two yellows for Mexico). Pro-American refs, my hairy ass....

 

Donovan again proved his class. The guy sees things that no other American player even thinks about. He really needs to make a shot at Europe. Two well taken goals and another nice PK by Landon.