|
Post by danhiggins on Mar 26, 2008 15:02:39 GMT -5
Well, it's 25 minutes in and the U.S. is up 1-0. We scored on a perfect free kick from Landon Donovan that Bocanegra headed in.
So far, we've had the bulk of the possession and we're really pressing well. Poland is VERY solid on the back line. They also get back on the attack quickly. Pretty physical so far too, but that's our bread and butter.
Come on you Yanks!
|
|
76ers
Jason Richardson
Posts: 1,536
|
Post by 76ers on Mar 26, 2008 15:04:10 GMT -5
Is it on Espn 8 (the ocho) or something?
GO USA!
|
|
|
Post by The Miami Heat on Mar 26, 2008 15:09:50 GMT -5
Fox Sports Channel
USA just scored on their first corner
2-0
|
|
|
Post by danhiggins on Mar 26, 2008 15:10:54 GMT -5
Another goal for the U.S. It's another Donovan set-up this time from the corner. Oguchi Onyewu heads this one in. Great header. We're just cruising now. We have great control at this point and possession is absolutely ours. Poland looks lost.
The game is on Fox Soccer Channel as we speak.
|
|
|
Post by danhiggins on Mar 26, 2008 15:23:20 GMT -5
Half Time. Man we look good out there. As for the Poles, Their guy up on the right looks pretty good. He's a quick, younger guy. Piszczek I think. What a great first half.
|
|
|
Post by Hornets on Mar 26, 2008 15:42:33 GMT -5
thanks for the update. Austria is leading the Netherlands 3-1 at halftime, but since the opposing goalkeeper is a joke - all 3 goals from our side were bad errors on his behalf - it's less of what we did (which is defend, pretty solid) but hey, who cares, just 3 weeks ago we dominated the Germans (and that's no joke, we caught them completely off guard with heavy pressing and crisp offense) ... but lost 0-3 after they hit their few shots and we missed our many.
|
|
|
Post by danhiggins on Mar 26, 2008 15:46:57 GMT -5
Yep. Donovan just got ahead of the pressing Polish defense and was one-on-one with their GK Boruc, but Donovan pushed it just wide. Of course, had it been on the right side of the post, Boruc would have poked it away. Boruc is world-class. Word has it that Bayern is looking to bring him in from Celtic.
I would suspect (duh) that Poland will be a better team come Euro 08 competition. Who knows, the Austrian U-20 team did well in the last WC.
|
|
|
Post by danhiggins on Mar 26, 2008 16:06:17 GMT -5
3-0 now. Eddie Lewis on a free kick from right outside the box puts it home. This is amazing. I absolutely did not expect this. Great win for us on European soil. Very good.
|
|
|
Post by Hornets on Mar 26, 2008 16:30:36 GMT -5
managed to lose the game 3-4 on two late goals where OUR defense looked horrible. And that after leading 3-0 already.
well, that's Austria ... but better now in a friendly than in 7 weeks in a EURO championship game.
|
|
Heat
All-Star
Mike's an 3lO4SSV
Posts: 2,863
|
Post by Heat on Mar 26, 2008 19:01:02 GMT -5
I ripped a goal on my 5 year old son today. I left him dead in his cleats as I put on right by his left knee.
|
|
Raptors
Jason Richardson
Posts: 1,337
|
Post by Raptors on Mar 26, 2008 21:09:45 GMT -5
The USA shouldn't even bother trying to make the world cup. We all know there not getting past the 1st stage as usual.
|
|
|
Post by danhiggins on Mar 26, 2008 21:17:02 GMT -5
How did the USA do in the 2002 WC? How about the recent U-20 WC? How about the recent U-17 WC? The U.S. is getting better. It's a work in progress. We're not Brazil or Argentina, but we're good enough to go and represent. We'll be fine, especially since we'll participate in the Confederations Cup in South Africa just prior to the WC. We also had a recent friendly in South Africa. We've now beat Switzerland and Poland both on European soil. We're set to play England at Wembley and Spain in Spain. We also have a friendly against Argentina in NY shortly. We're facing tougher competiton, we have more players in Europe than ever before. We have another couple years to get ready. Players like Clint Dempey, Eddie Johnson, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Johnathan Spector, Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, and DeMarcus Beasley will be in their prime in 2010. Guys like Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore will be 20-21 years old. Michael Bradley will be about 22.
In short, we'll be just fine. We'll make it along with Mexico and either (or perhaps even both) of Honduras and Canada. We'll represent well.
|
|
Raptors
Jason Richardson
Posts: 1,337
|
Post by Raptors on Mar 26, 2008 21:34:27 GMT -5
Your right, you guys are moving in the right direction, but Soccer is such a dominated sport, where really the World Cup isn't going to be won by anyone outside of (Italy/Argentina/Brazil/Germany). Then you have those teams like Spain, Portugal, France, Holland, Croatia and Czech Republic who could win it. Aside from those teams, i really can't see anyone else competing.
|
|
|
Post by danhiggins on Mar 26, 2008 22:09:07 GMT -5
Fair. I think you're right. I think it's either Brazil or Argentina that win it in South Africa in 2010. then it will be Brazil in 2014 because the WC is in Brazil. It will likely go back to England in 2018. That will be an advantage to the European teams. The U.S. won't be a favorite to win a WC ever, but we can make a good showing and this will be our "Golden" generation's shot to finish well as they'll all be in their prime. CONCACAF is growing though. We're getting better as a confederation IMO. People keep talking about Africa in the next 20 years, but It's still UEFA and CONMEBOL that rule the world.
|
|
Raptors
Jason Richardson
Posts: 1,337
|
Post by Raptors on Mar 26, 2008 22:48:31 GMT -5
Fair. I think you're right. I think it's either Brazil or Argentina that win it in South Africa in 2010. then it will be Brazil in 2014 because the WC is in Brazil. It will likely go back to England in 2018. That will be an advantage to the European teams. The U.S. won't be a favorite to win a WC ever, but we can make a good showing and this will be our "Golden" generation's shot to finish well as they'll all be in their prime. CONCACAF is growing though. We're getting better as a confederation IMO. People keep talking about Africa in the next 20 years, but It's still UEFA and CONMEBOL that rule the world. Africa is strong, and its getting very strong. CONCACAF is pretty worthless when you stop talking about the USA. I think it stays withing Europe, Africa and South America.
|
|