World Cup Fever

I have to give some mad props to the U.S. Men's National Soccer team today for coming back from 2-0 at half time and getting a well deserved 2-2 draw that, but for a phantom offsides call on a free kick, would/should have been a 3-2 win.

(The blurry crowd filling the bar at The Copperhog)

In my time zone (Pacific time) kick-0ff was at 7 am and I wandered down to the local gastropub, The Copperhog (http://www.thecopperhog.com/) for the game, a full breakfast menu and a vibrant crowd cheering on the USA. I wasn't able to order food--too busy--so i can't speak to the Hog's breakfast menu--dinner/lunch is fantastic--and the coffee service was overwhelmed but the atmosphere was electric. Every positive play from the US was cheered, the Slovenians were jeered and the ref was adequately demonized--all good natured--as the game progressed.

The Slovenian team is well organized, fast, and aggressive and works a unit well. As many pundits have said before me, a very similar team to the U.S. There isn't a lot of standout talent, very few individuals to watch for, rather a collective performance based on the greater strength of the team. On evidence today, that was generally well organized defense and fast counter attack. The U.S., on the other hand, went for broke.

Lined up, officially, as a 4-4-2, they almost played more of a 3-2-3-1-1 to start with Torres and Bradley sitting deep to allow Donovan and Dempsey the chance to drive forward to support Altidore and Findley initially. (Briefly, if Findley starts against Algeria I will be shocked, his pace is terrific but his decision making is atrocious and his lack of big game experience is telling in front of goal, the greatest criticism of the U.S. team is their lack of composure and the ability to put away clinical chances in front of goal.) This is a team whose tactic was to run at the Slovenian defense. Against England, I think that was their secondary game plan as well--after they broke up the play from the middle, of course.

Every player in the attacking third of the U.S. team broke with pace and poise and was comfortable taking on their markers. From Bradley to Donovan to Altidore this team showed great class and composure in running at the defense. It is the American strength and it works time and again. A direct passing approach, the ball on the ground, at speed. The U.S. team doesn't play balls out of the air, in attack, well, they don't flick, they aren't particularly clever. But the game played at tempo down the throats of the defense is the perfect strategy for hardworking, athletic, grafters. This isn't the only time this has worked. Spain in the confederations cup, the first half against Brazil, the game against Egypt. As far back as World Cup 2006 against Italy this has been the American strength. When it works, it works superbly.

And, today, Bradley got his tactics right. Edu on for Torres, Feilhaber on for Findley, and at the end Gomes on for Onyewu. Breaking from midfeild with pace, Micheal Bradley was my man of the match and Donovan and Altidore were runners up, those three were at the heart of everything the U.S. team did that was positive. Great game and a decent result for the boys in S. Africa.

The tournament has come alive. The Swiss beat Spain (Spain=my pick to win it all), Mexico beat France, the U.S. has drawn with England and Slovenia, the German trouncing of Australia and the upset by the Serbs (Serbia 1 Germany 0). It promises to be a classic after a slow start.