why do ppl even give alexi room to talk, I mean he had a unique style that carried him, plus a hope that having him on a team would sell team licensed product in US etc. His solid display of mediocrity in club football in Europe just showed that he was hype and no substance, unlike ppl like keller, donovan and mcbride who actually have talent.
I feel bad. The sport would only get momentum in US if the team does well. Overconfidence and smack talk of teh type we have seen over the last few months is counter productive, it sets very high expectations ad well as make the team unprepared for what they have to face. For some new footballing nations, just winning a match or two or even putting solid performance against one of the top teams in the world is to gain respect and recognition and to start building more momentum and support homeside for the sport. But when you go in with super high epectations supported by a shoddy ranking system and smack talk, what do you get. There are ppl on this US team that can be a part of any team in the world i.e. truly world class, keller being one, mcbride being another one..but they cant win games on their own. underestimating the competition is just not the way to do it.
I dont know what would happen if US loses to ghana, would that humble pie make ppl take notice and really put more effort in making the team ready for future? i hope so. I still think US can get to the next round, but as of now it is not completely in their own hands anymore.
The US was taught a footballing lesson today. Amidst all the hype, the US got punished by a technically and more skillfully superior side. I always said that the US should've adopted more of a compact defensive approach to this game with more behind the ball. Yeah, the US had some of the ball possession but
let's face it, watching them build from the back is like watching paint dry. They do not move the ball quick or efficient at all. Honestly I do not know what we were expecting.. Hrdwork and fitness doesn't win against good footballing nations. People talk about Beasley and Convey should've ran at defenders more....nonsense, they would've lost possession even more. Those two do not have any style or guile on the ball whatsoever...no unpredictability coming from those two. They just rely on quickness to get by against guys that do not have such athletic capacities or don't have a seasoned footballing mind. I like how the US was so overconfident, some even being cocky because that set up Americans for nothing but failure. Talk is talk...doing it is another thing.
The American media is to share some of the blame. After hearing the commentary on BSPN on these days leading up to the game I felt sick. This team was way overhyped. The analysts made it seem like every player on USA is a star and kept repeating how USA is "ranked #5 in the world." According to Alexi Lalas, "Keller is the best keeper in the world, he just doesn't get recognition becasue he's an American." Has he heard of Buffon before?
Bottom line is USA is not of the same caliber as even the solid European teams, not to mention the spectacular ones. Czech is a good team but this performance was truly a pity.
couldn't have said it any better. during ARG-CIV match, which was exciting from the first minute on, the idiot announcers couldn't stop talking about the USA's game while completely ignoring the action on the field. And the way they talk about american soccer is highly un-professional and reeks of favoritism.
It's gotten so bad that I've often found myself switching over to univision to follow the action while the announcers at ESPN were busy waiving the american pom-poms. And I don't understand **ONE **word of spanish.
It's so bad that now I am starting to root against america to make it to the next round just to avoid the punishment of american announcers over-hyping their team during the later rounds.
interesting games: Czech and Italians both showed they are candidates for the title.
It's a shame that one of these will face Brazil next. On the other hand, Brazil will grow in the tournament and with each round will get better and better, so from this point of view it's better if they face a tough opponent as soon as possible (I hope it's the Czech, cuz they stand more chance to win from Brazil and if they lose Italy will still be there to defend out the whole of the final :D )
ps: I never caught anything about the US-team hype. For me, -as for the rest of Europe probably- they are just a mediocre team, who wants to be equal to great footballing nations with long footballing history. Didn't I tell you I didn't know a single player from the US side: that said enough ;)
It will definitely be a set back if U.S unmanaged to get on score board. WC 2002 was a major step for U.S. - which led to overhype them.
I think Men’s team is under pressure ever since U.S. women won world cup in 1999. Even though, they won it 90 but they were little unknown to majority of American public. In '99, Media was huge and world cup was held in USA.
I can never understand stupid charges to ear red cards, that and dicking around with the ball and crosses in front of own goal rather than going forward. always hated that when my defenders did that and cringe too see when it happens in mathces that I see.
Ah, I thought I'd make just 'one' post here, Italy vs US, awesome game so far, just saw it with a bunch of US soccer hooligans on the screen till half time, amazing game, GO US!!!
