Is this the biggest day in the history of United States soccer? Hard to argue it. Never have more eyes been on the American team than today, when it faces Ghana in the first knockout round of the World Cup.
So will the U.S. rise to the occassion or crumple under the pressure of playing against the only African nation left standing after group play?
It's hard to believe the United States can top the drama it provided in the three games of group play. The lucky goal against England, the hard-fought comeback against Slovenia and the shocking last-minute goal against Algeria. Has any team provided more drama than the United States? I mean on the field, France.
Well, it might have to, as the crowd will certainly be with Ghana, which carries the hopes of the entire home continent. The United States does have the motivation of paying back the Black Stars for knocking it out of the 2006 Cup, but will that be enough?
For me, the biggest question besides how the Americans will react to having a crowd mostly against it will be how they recover from such arduous games over the last week. Bouncing back from the Algeria match just a few days ago is going to be quite a task, and reserves could play an even bigger role than they have so far.
I didn't think Ghana would get this far. In fact, I picked it last in the group. I didn't think the Black Stars could recover from the loss of superstar Michael Essien to injury before the tournament. Boy was I wrong. The Ghana defense, led by center back John Mensah, has been awesome, allowing just two goals. The midfield has allowed Ghana to control play as Kevin Prince-Boateng and Anthony Annan have really stepped up in place of Essien.
The good news for the United States is that Ghana has not been good on offense, as striker Asamoah Gyan has struggled to get much going and the attacking midfielders haven't been very creative. In fact, the only two goals Ghana has scored have come via penalty kick. For an American team that has struggled on the back line, that will be a welcome change. But the United States can't be complacent, as it only takes one breakdown for the very fast Ghana offense to score against a slower U.S. defense and get momentum.
A huge key will be the United States midfield, especially center mids Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu, who have to battle Ghana's mids for control of the ball and not allow any quick strikes coming from the midfield. If they can do that, that should free up Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey on the wings to create and get into the box, really putting pressure on a Ghana back line that will have to focus on the tall, fast Jozy Altidore, who is right on the cusp of getting his first World Cup goal.
So, what will happen?
I think the U.S. midfield will rise to the occassion. I see Michael Bradley having a really strong game and making life tough on the Ghana mids. Landon Donovan's speed will give Ghana some trouble and they'll get sucked into stopping him, freeing up Jozy Altidore inside. Altidore will score his first goal today, putting the U.S. ahead early in the second half. After some scares on defense and more great play by Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey will break free on a counter and show off his creativity, netting a second goal for a 2-0 U.S. win.
Hopefully I'm right for once.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
How'd I Do?
Group play is over in the 2010 World Cup and we're on to the one-and-done portion of our show. No more playing for a tie, because the winner moves on and the loser is out.
The group stage was shocking on a lot of fronts, most notably the incredible failures of France (I know, I know) and Italy. No one expected Spain to lose, but it did. People expected more from the African nations, but only one has moved on, which is too bad. And what about South America? Five teams qualify, five teams are still alive. That's really remarkable.
We've seen some thrilling games, a few great goals, some fabulous goalkeeping, and some really bad reffing.
All that is behind us now, though, as we move on to the most exciting part of the tournament. But, now's a good time to look back at my pre-tournament predictions and see how I did. ...it's not good. But I stand by what I write, so this is what I said, and what actually happened:
Group A
What I predicted: 1. France; 2. Uruguay; 3. Mexico; 4. South Africa
What happened: 1. Uruguay; 2. Mexico; 3. South Africa; 4. France
What was I thinking?: OK, I failed miserably here in picking France, but come on, did any of you really expect a failure of that magnitude? I mean, to the point where France wouldn't even practice? I know many of you thought I was nuts to pick them to go so far, and it turns out you were right, but I don't believe anyone quite expected that complete of a meltdown. So, yeah, France was a disaster. Uruguay, on the other hand, was not a disaster. It wasn't great, but it was good enough. It defended well, Diego Forlan was excellent and it showed that it's not a flashy team, but it's a pretty good one. Mexico had its struggles but took advantage of France's horribleness to claim the second spot ahead of a South Africa team that showed much better than I expected.
Group B
What I predicted: 1. Argentina; 2. Nigeria; 3. Greece; 4. South Korea.
What happened: 1. Argentina; 2. South Korea; 3. Greece; 4. Nigeria.
What was I thinking?: OK, so I was half right. Argentina looked very, very good, and I'm enjoying watching Maradona look like he's having fun, the only coach in the entire tournament to not look like he's headed to his funeral. Argentina is a definite contender as it attacks from everywhere and defends well. I was wrong about Nigeria, which was not as good as I'd hoped. It's too bad things didn't come together better for the Eagles because this was an opportunity to take a step forward, and it didn't happen. Greece was every bit as unentertaining as I expected but what about South Korea? They just run teams into the ground, which is kinda fun to watch. They have more talent than I thought and just keep working, and there's obviously something to be said for that, so congrats, good to see them make up for the 2006 disappointment.
Group C
What I predicted: 1. England; 2. United States; 3. Algeria; 4. Slovenia
What happened: 1. United States; 2. England; 3. Slovenia; 4. Algeria
What was I thinking: Turned out to be a more balanced group than I expected, and how about those Americans? No, they didn't look great, but they were hard-working and clutch, and that was fun to watch. The match against Algeria will be the one that is remembered but the comeback against Slovenia was just as big. People may not quite fathom how impressive it is that the U.S. won its group, particularly a group that features England, but it's enormous. England squeaked in and wasn't nearly as good as I thought it would be. It just goes to show how important it is to have a good keeper (how can England not have one top-flight keeper? Not one?). Slovenia was a solid side and maybe deserved to move forward. Maybe in four years. Algeria was Algeria, combative, not particularly good, not particularly bad, not good enough.
Group D
What I predicted: 1. Germany; 2. Serbia; 3. Australia; 4. Ghana
What happened: 1. Germany; 2. Ghana; 3. Australia; 4. Serbia
What was I thinking?: Germany was clearly the class of this group, and that was predictable from the start. The Germans are just a good, balanced team that has attacked well (Mesut Ozil is really good) and defends strong (though it can get caught out of position from time to time). As always, it's clearly a threat to go a long way. Serbia must be disappointed, though, after beating Germany only to finish last in the group. Some predicted Serbia could be the group winner so to finish in the basemen has to be quite a blow. But I'm glad I was wrong, because it wasn't that exciting a team. Australia I got right, but I'm surprised it recovered from the 4-0 shallacking it took from Germany in the opener. What happened there? The Australians have to be disappointed as well, after returning the bulk of the 2006 team that made it out of group play. I didn't buy into the Ghana hype but I was clearly wrong, as this is a fun, exciting team with great speed that attacks well. I thought this would be a disasterous tourney for Ghana but instead, it's the only African nation still alive, which is both a disappointment and says a lot for Ghana.
Group E
What I predicted: 1. Netherlands; 2. Cameroon; 3. Denmark; 4. Japan
What happened: 1. Netherlands; 2. Japan; 3. Denmark; 4. Cameroon
What was I thinking?: There was no way Netherlands wasn't going to win this group, and it was never seriously challenged. There's two reasons for that. First, this didn't turn out to be a very good group. Second, Netherlands is really good. As always, this side attacks and is dangerous on offense, but the midfield was stronger than I thought defensively. This is definitely a team to reckon with. Cameroon was a big disappointment, as I thought it would show much better but was in over its head. Denmark finished where I thought, almost getting through but not quite, and not doing a lot to make anyone outside of Denmark take notice. Japan is the real story, as I thought this would be a team that was out of its league but instead it simply outworked Japan and Cameroon and showed some real flashes of greatness on offense. This could turn out to be a dangerous team. With South Korea and Japan advancing while playing away from Asia, this could be a real breakthrough for that region.
Group F
What I predicted: 1. Italy; 2. Paraguay; 3. Slovakia; 4. New Zealand
What happened: 1. Paraguay; 2. Slovakia; 3. New Zealand; 4. Italy
What was I thinking?: From top to bottom, probably the most surprising group in the first round. There isn't a person out there - no you didn't, liar - that thought Italy fail to advance, much less finish last. Yes, this was an old team that probably wasn't going to win it all again, but this was still a strong team that was the clear group favorite. I mean, this was a weak group! So to finish last, wow, we're going to see some major changes for that side, and fast. Instead, Paraguay took advantage and just played well. Justo Villar was outstanding at keeper and the team just played steady and earned the group win. Slovakia, my new favorite team thanks to the Sounders, was the Cinderella story. This is its first World Cup appearance and early on looked over its head but just played steady and then pulled off the shocker against Italy. This team may not go any further but just wait four years. New Zealand, to me, was one of the real stories of the tournament. I thought this was by far. ...by far. ...the worst team in the entire tournament and probably wouldn't even score. I mean, this team only has a couple of really, truly pro soccer players, and I mean that literally. But they just kept tying, and that's great! Good for them. I hope this leads to some added interest in soccer for New Zealand.
Group G
What I predicted: 1. Brazil; 2. Portugal; 3. Ivory Coast; 4. North Korea
What happened: 1. Brazil; 2. Portugal; 3. Ivory Coast; 4. North Korea
What was I thinking?: The one group I got entirely correct. It wasn't that hard. It was clear Brazil would win the group, and it did. This team is dynamite. It defends, it attacks with its usual style, has an excellent keeper and plays with more confidence than any two teams combined. It's the clear favorite, sorry Spain. It was also obvious before the tourney, and even moreso during the tournament, that North Korea was the worst team in the Group of Death. This just wasn't a good team, and there's probably plenty of countries not in South Africa thinking, "What the heck?" So it came down to Portugal and Ivory Coast. Outside of embarrasing North Korea 7-0, Portugal wasn't that impressive, and took diving to a new level. I mean, they went down every time anyone even looked at them. Too bad, too, because there's obviously talent. Ivory Coast missed a fully-healthy Didier Drogba - though it was nice to see him out there, and he showed some real heart - and really, what it came down to is one team bullied the group weakling more than the other, so that team moved on.
Group H
What I predicted: 1. Spain; 2. Switzerland; 3. Chile; 4. Honduras
What happened: 1. Spain; 2. Chile; 3. Switzerland; 4. Honduras
What was I thinking?: The one prediction I'm really happy I got wrong. I thought that Chile's defense and youth would be exposed and while it would be close, it wouldn't quite make it through. I was wrong. The defense was outstanding for most of group play despite usually only having three guys in the back. It made up for it with some of the most impressive attacking in the field, led by Alexis Sanchez, and was one of the most impressive teams in the tournament, despite the loss to Spain. Speaking of Spain, what a shocker it opened up with. But talent won out eventually and there's no questioning this team's talent. But Switzerland did everyone else a favor by showing that Spain is beatable and can't just show up and be crowned. Do you realize how close we came to a Brazil-Spain Sweet 16 match? What a surprise that would have been. Switzerland got great play from its keeper but didn't have too much else, which is good news for the Sounders, who will get Blaise Nkufo sooner rather than later. Honduras had some supporters early on but just didn't have enough talent to keep up with the three other teams in the group.
So, 10 out of my 16 picks are moving on, which isn't that good of a percentage. But Chile and Slovakia are moving on and the United States actually won its group, so I'm not complaining. It should be a fun run to the end!
The group stage was shocking on a lot of fronts, most notably the incredible failures of France (I know, I know) and Italy. No one expected Spain to lose, but it did. People expected more from the African nations, but only one has moved on, which is too bad. And what about South America? Five teams qualify, five teams are still alive. That's really remarkable.
We've seen some thrilling games, a few great goals, some fabulous goalkeeping, and some really bad reffing.
All that is behind us now, though, as we move on to the most exciting part of the tournament. But, now's a good time to look back at my pre-tournament predictions and see how I did. ...it's not good. But I stand by what I write, so this is what I said, and what actually happened:
Group A
What I predicted: 1. France; 2. Uruguay; 3. Mexico; 4. South Africa
What happened: 1. Uruguay; 2. Mexico; 3. South Africa; 4. France
What was I thinking?: OK, I failed miserably here in picking France, but come on, did any of you really expect a failure of that magnitude? I mean, to the point where France wouldn't even practice? I know many of you thought I was nuts to pick them to go so far, and it turns out you were right, but I don't believe anyone quite expected that complete of a meltdown. So, yeah, France was a disaster. Uruguay, on the other hand, was not a disaster. It wasn't great, but it was good enough. It defended well, Diego Forlan was excellent and it showed that it's not a flashy team, but it's a pretty good one. Mexico had its struggles but took advantage of France's horribleness to claim the second spot ahead of a South Africa team that showed much better than I expected.
Group B
What I predicted: 1. Argentina; 2. Nigeria; 3. Greece; 4. South Korea.
What happened: 1. Argentina; 2. South Korea; 3. Greece; 4. Nigeria.
What was I thinking?: OK, so I was half right. Argentina looked very, very good, and I'm enjoying watching Maradona look like he's having fun, the only coach in the entire tournament to not look like he's headed to his funeral. Argentina is a definite contender as it attacks from everywhere and defends well. I was wrong about Nigeria, which was not as good as I'd hoped. It's too bad things didn't come together better for the Eagles because this was an opportunity to take a step forward, and it didn't happen. Greece was every bit as unentertaining as I expected but what about South Korea? They just run teams into the ground, which is kinda fun to watch. They have more talent than I thought and just keep working, and there's obviously something to be said for that, so congrats, good to see them make up for the 2006 disappointment.
Group C
What I predicted: 1. England; 2. United States; 3. Algeria; 4. Slovenia
What happened: 1. United States; 2. England; 3. Slovenia; 4. Algeria
What was I thinking: Turned out to be a more balanced group than I expected, and how about those Americans? No, they didn't look great, but they were hard-working and clutch, and that was fun to watch. The match against Algeria will be the one that is remembered but the comeback against Slovenia was just as big. People may not quite fathom how impressive it is that the U.S. won its group, particularly a group that features England, but it's enormous. England squeaked in and wasn't nearly as good as I thought it would be. It just goes to show how important it is to have a good keeper (how can England not have one top-flight keeper? Not one?). Slovenia was a solid side and maybe deserved to move forward. Maybe in four years. Algeria was Algeria, combative, not particularly good, not particularly bad, not good enough.
Group D
What I predicted: 1. Germany; 2. Serbia; 3. Australia; 4. Ghana
What happened: 1. Germany; 2. Ghana; 3. Australia; 4. Serbia
What was I thinking?: Germany was clearly the class of this group, and that was predictable from the start. The Germans are just a good, balanced team that has attacked well (Mesut Ozil is really good) and defends strong (though it can get caught out of position from time to time). As always, it's clearly a threat to go a long way. Serbia must be disappointed, though, after beating Germany only to finish last in the group. Some predicted Serbia could be the group winner so to finish in the basemen has to be quite a blow. But I'm glad I was wrong, because it wasn't that exciting a team. Australia I got right, but I'm surprised it recovered from the 4-0 shallacking it took from Germany in the opener. What happened there? The Australians have to be disappointed as well, after returning the bulk of the 2006 team that made it out of group play. I didn't buy into the Ghana hype but I was clearly wrong, as this is a fun, exciting team with great speed that attacks well. I thought this would be a disasterous tourney for Ghana but instead, it's the only African nation still alive, which is both a disappointment and says a lot for Ghana.
Group E
What I predicted: 1. Netherlands; 2. Cameroon; 3. Denmark; 4. Japan
What happened: 1. Netherlands; 2. Japan; 3. Denmark; 4. Cameroon
What was I thinking?: There was no way Netherlands wasn't going to win this group, and it was never seriously challenged. There's two reasons for that. First, this didn't turn out to be a very good group. Second, Netherlands is really good. As always, this side attacks and is dangerous on offense, but the midfield was stronger than I thought defensively. This is definitely a team to reckon with. Cameroon was a big disappointment, as I thought it would show much better but was in over its head. Denmark finished where I thought, almost getting through but not quite, and not doing a lot to make anyone outside of Denmark take notice. Japan is the real story, as I thought this would be a team that was out of its league but instead it simply outworked Japan and Cameroon and showed some real flashes of greatness on offense. This could turn out to be a dangerous team. With South Korea and Japan advancing while playing away from Asia, this could be a real breakthrough for that region.
Group F
What I predicted: 1. Italy; 2. Paraguay; 3. Slovakia; 4. New Zealand
What happened: 1. Paraguay; 2. Slovakia; 3. New Zealand; 4. Italy
What was I thinking?: From top to bottom, probably the most surprising group in the first round. There isn't a person out there - no you didn't, liar - that thought Italy fail to advance, much less finish last. Yes, this was an old team that probably wasn't going to win it all again, but this was still a strong team that was the clear group favorite. I mean, this was a weak group! So to finish last, wow, we're going to see some major changes for that side, and fast. Instead, Paraguay took advantage and just played well. Justo Villar was outstanding at keeper and the team just played steady and earned the group win. Slovakia, my new favorite team thanks to the Sounders, was the Cinderella story. This is its first World Cup appearance and early on looked over its head but just played steady and then pulled off the shocker against Italy. This team may not go any further but just wait four years. New Zealand, to me, was one of the real stories of the tournament. I thought this was by far. ...by far. ...the worst team in the entire tournament and probably wouldn't even score. I mean, this team only has a couple of really, truly pro soccer players, and I mean that literally. But they just kept tying, and that's great! Good for them. I hope this leads to some added interest in soccer for New Zealand.
Group G
What I predicted: 1. Brazil; 2. Portugal; 3. Ivory Coast; 4. North Korea
What happened: 1. Brazil; 2. Portugal; 3. Ivory Coast; 4. North Korea
What was I thinking?: The one group I got entirely correct. It wasn't that hard. It was clear Brazil would win the group, and it did. This team is dynamite. It defends, it attacks with its usual style, has an excellent keeper and plays with more confidence than any two teams combined. It's the clear favorite, sorry Spain. It was also obvious before the tourney, and even moreso during the tournament, that North Korea was the worst team in the Group of Death. This just wasn't a good team, and there's probably plenty of countries not in South Africa thinking, "What the heck?" So it came down to Portugal and Ivory Coast. Outside of embarrasing North Korea 7-0, Portugal wasn't that impressive, and took diving to a new level. I mean, they went down every time anyone even looked at them. Too bad, too, because there's obviously talent. Ivory Coast missed a fully-healthy Didier Drogba - though it was nice to see him out there, and he showed some real heart - and really, what it came down to is one team bullied the group weakling more than the other, so that team moved on.
Group H
What I predicted: 1. Spain; 2. Switzerland; 3. Chile; 4. Honduras
What happened: 1. Spain; 2. Chile; 3. Switzerland; 4. Honduras
What was I thinking?: The one prediction I'm really happy I got wrong. I thought that Chile's defense and youth would be exposed and while it would be close, it wouldn't quite make it through. I was wrong. The defense was outstanding for most of group play despite usually only having three guys in the back. It made up for it with some of the most impressive attacking in the field, led by Alexis Sanchez, and was one of the most impressive teams in the tournament, despite the loss to Spain. Speaking of Spain, what a shocker it opened up with. But talent won out eventually and there's no questioning this team's talent. But Switzerland did everyone else a favor by showing that Spain is beatable and can't just show up and be crowned. Do you realize how close we came to a Brazil-Spain Sweet 16 match? What a surprise that would have been. Switzerland got great play from its keeper but didn't have too much else, which is good news for the Sounders, who will get Blaise Nkufo sooner rather than later. Honduras had some supporters early on but just didn't have enough talent to keep up with the three other teams in the group.
So, 10 out of my 16 picks are moving on, which isn't that good of a percentage. But Chile and Slovakia are moving on and the United States actually won its group, so I'm not complaining. It should be a fun run to the end!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Who's Redder?
Fans of attacking soccer should have a treat today. First we've got Portugal-Brazil, with Portugal coming off a 7-goal performance against North Korea, and Brazil. ...being Brazil.
But the one I really care about - and the one with more at stake - comes at 11:30 when Chile plays Spain in what could be the most entertaining match of the first round. Chile has been one of the most impressive teams of the first round, leading Group H after a pair of 1-0 wins and in position to be the surprising group winner. Spain, the pre-tournament co-favorite, recovered from a shocking loss to Switzerland in the opening match to beat Honduras. Spain and Switzerland are tied, so it's possible that the team considered the best in the world coming into the tournament might not even make it out of group play. Italy. France. Spain? Can you imagine?
The game will feature two of the top offensive teams in the tournament. Chile,which can win the group with a tie but is not likely to play for one, has been on non-stop attack since the plane set down in South Africa a few weeks ago. Spain has some of the top offensive players in the world. What more could you ask for?
Chile will be at a disadvantage as midfielders Carlos Carmona and Mattias Fernandez are both out on yellow-card suspensions, not a good thing against a Spanish team with some of the top midfielders in the world, including Andres Iniesta, who missed the Honduras game with injury.
Two keys for Chile:
1. Can the three-man defensive line continue to hold up against a team as good as Spain? Chile's defense has been surprisingly solid, recovering quickly on counterattacks and somehow preventing even a single goal despite always being left without a lot of midfield help. But Spain is a lot better than Switzerland and Honduras, so we'll see if coach Marcello Bielsa adds a defensive midfielder to the mix.
2. Can Humberto Suazo, the team's top scorer and the leading goal scorer in South American qualifying, be a factor? Suazo missed Chile's first game while recovering from injury and was off his game completely against Switzerland, being subbed out early in the second half. Chile needs Suazo to be a threat in this game and beyond to make a serious run.
So, what happens? Both teams are desperate for points. Spain needs three, Chile one. I think Spain comes out strong and Fernando Torres scores on a counterattack early on. Chile answers close to halftime and the teams end the half tied.
Chile comes out strong in the second half and takes a lead on a goal by Alexis Sanchez, who so far may be the player of the tournament. It looks good for Chile, but in the last minutes, Spain breaks through with a goal and the game ends in a 2-2 tie. Luckily for Spain, Switzerland is upset by Honduras and both of the Red teams move on.
But the one I really care about - and the one with more at stake - comes at 11:30 when Chile plays Spain in what could be the most entertaining match of the first round. Chile has been one of the most impressive teams of the first round, leading Group H after a pair of 1-0 wins and in position to be the surprising group winner. Spain, the pre-tournament co-favorite, recovered from a shocking loss to Switzerland in the opening match to beat Honduras. Spain and Switzerland are tied, so it's possible that the team considered the best in the world coming into the tournament might not even make it out of group play. Italy. France. Spain? Can you imagine?
The game will feature two of the top offensive teams in the tournament. Chile,which can win the group with a tie but is not likely to play for one, has been on non-stop attack since the plane set down in South Africa a few weeks ago. Spain has some of the top offensive players in the world. What more could you ask for?
Chile will be at a disadvantage as midfielders Carlos Carmona and Mattias Fernandez are both out on yellow-card suspensions, not a good thing against a Spanish team with some of the top midfielders in the world, including Andres Iniesta, who missed the Honduras game with injury.
Two keys for Chile:
1. Can the three-man defensive line continue to hold up against a team as good as Spain? Chile's defense has been surprisingly solid, recovering quickly on counterattacks and somehow preventing even a single goal despite always being left without a lot of midfield help. But Spain is a lot better than Switzerland and Honduras, so we'll see if coach Marcello Bielsa adds a defensive midfielder to the mix.
2. Can Humberto Suazo, the team's top scorer and the leading goal scorer in South American qualifying, be a factor? Suazo missed Chile's first game while recovering from injury and was off his game completely against Switzerland, being subbed out early in the second half. Chile needs Suazo to be a threat in this game and beyond to make a serious run.
So, what happens? Both teams are desperate for points. Spain needs three, Chile one. I think Spain comes out strong and Fernando Torres scores on a counterattack early on. Chile answers close to halftime and the teams end the half tied.
Chile comes out strong in the second half and takes a lead on a goal by Alexis Sanchez, who so far may be the player of the tournament. It looks good for Chile, but in the last minutes, Spain breaks through with a goal and the game ends in a 2-2 tie. Luckily for Spain, Switzerland is upset by Honduras and both of the Red teams move on.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
A Fun End to a Fun Day
Wednesday was one of those days that was just, well, about perfect.
In the morning, I watched one of the real transcending sporting events of my life when the United States won 1-0 in a World Cup match that could not have been more thrilling. The only thing that would have made it better was if I was with other people watching it. Unbelievable.
Satchel woke up in a great mood and we got together with my friends Chris Beatty and Jeff Carpenter, and Chris' kids. Satch had a great time playing with his friends and Chris and I had fun catching up with Jeff, who I don't think we've seen since we graduated from high school, 17 years ago. It was good to catch up.
The day was beautiful, warm, sunny, almost like summer was actually here in Seattle. What a concept!
We came home and later in the day, Jess, my Uncle Bob, Satchel, my dad and I played out in the yard. Satchel is big on soccer, and so that's what we did. We played "as a team," as Satchel said, and had so much fun. Satchel really perfected his diving, constantly needing to be carried off the field. I don't know where he got that from, but it's impressive.
But really made the night great was how it ended. Jess, Bob, my mom and I sat on the couch until midnight as my mom and Bob talked about what it was like for them growing up.
My mom grew up in a tiny village in upstate New York named Port Henry. My grandmother and grandfather had eight kids. My mom is No. 3, Bob is the baby (though he's 45 now). He, my uncle Bill and my aunt DeeDee came here last week for my brother's wedding, which was great. It was so fun to see them.
I know a lot about how my mom grew up, but not as much as I'd like, or should. Which is why I love my wife so much (well, one of the million reasons). I'm a journalist, but when it comes to asking questions to my family, I suck. Not Jess. She wants to know. I've learned so much more about my family since I married Jessica than I ever did before.
And so it was so great to listen to my mom talk about how they spent their summers, how my grandparents handled having eight kids in a tiny village where there isn't much to do. It was just great to hear my mom remember things, remember how, while they didn't have much, it was great growing up there. Hearing her talk about fights they had, neighbors they had, places they went. It's a bit hard to describe, but it just allows me to know my mom and that part of my family better, and that's so valuable. I've had similar experiences with my dad - again, thanks to Jess - and that has been just as fun and valuable.
Anyway, it wasn't anything big, but it was the perfect way to end such a great day. Simple, free and fun. What more do you need?
In the morning, I watched one of the real transcending sporting events of my life when the United States won 1-0 in a World Cup match that could not have been more thrilling. The only thing that would have made it better was if I was with other people watching it. Unbelievable.
Satchel woke up in a great mood and we got together with my friends Chris Beatty and Jeff Carpenter, and Chris' kids. Satch had a great time playing with his friends and Chris and I had fun catching up with Jeff, who I don't think we've seen since we graduated from high school, 17 years ago. It was good to catch up.
The day was beautiful, warm, sunny, almost like summer was actually here in Seattle. What a concept!
We came home and later in the day, Jess, my Uncle Bob, Satchel, my dad and I played out in the yard. Satchel is big on soccer, and so that's what we did. We played "as a team," as Satchel said, and had so much fun. Satchel really perfected his diving, constantly needing to be carried off the field. I don't know where he got that from, but it's impressive.
But really made the night great was how it ended. Jess, Bob, my mom and I sat on the couch until midnight as my mom and Bob talked about what it was like for them growing up.
My mom grew up in a tiny village in upstate New York named Port Henry. My grandmother and grandfather had eight kids. My mom is No. 3, Bob is the baby (though he's 45 now). He, my uncle Bill and my aunt DeeDee came here last week for my brother's wedding, which was great. It was so fun to see them.
I know a lot about how my mom grew up, but not as much as I'd like, or should. Which is why I love my wife so much (well, one of the million reasons). I'm a journalist, but when it comes to asking questions to my family, I suck. Not Jess. She wants to know. I've learned so much more about my family since I married Jessica than I ever did before.
And so it was so great to listen to my mom talk about how they spent their summers, how my grandparents handled having eight kids in a tiny village where there isn't much to do. It was just great to hear my mom remember things, remember how, while they didn't have much, it was great growing up there. Hearing her talk about fights they had, neighbors they had, places they went. It's a bit hard to describe, but it just allows me to know my mom and that part of my family better, and that's so valuable. I've had similar experiences with my dad - again, thanks to Jess - and that has been just as fun and valuable.
Anyway, it wasn't anything big, but it was the perfect way to end such a great day. Simple, free and fun. What more do you need?
A Day Later
OK, I've come down slightly from my high. A little. Kind of. But each time they show highlights of Wednesday's stunning United States 1-0 World Cup victory over Algeria, I get chills again. And I love it!
Here's the scene: I'm watching the game at home, by myself, dying. I'm convinced that the U.S. is not destined to win. I mean, how many shots did they miss? It was a glass-half-empty kind of experience. If they can't make that one, what are they going to make? And another blown call by the ref? It's just not going to happen.
And then it did!
The throws by Tim Howard were incredible. I don't know if people noticed that, but he was throwing the ball so far and so accurately that the Seahawks should think about making an offer. The game, the win, was all about effort, and that is so cool. It's not just that the United States was more talented than Algeria - though it was. What was so great about it for me, was the effort it played with. It didn't play with the laid-back cool that we often seen in our athletes. It played with the desperation that is really going on inside them. And they were rewarded.
The goal wasn't a thing of beauty, except in what it meant. It was about a great throw, leading to a great, all-effort charge ahead by Jozy Altidore, to a great, all-effort finish by Landon Donovan. They didn't let up until they got what they needed. How cool is that?
So Algeria shoots and Tim Howard makes the save. I gasp. They might tie, they might not move on, but at least don't lose! And then another spectacular throw by Howard. I'm watching, transfixed, unable to breathe, keeping one eye on the clock, one on the play. Altidore just keeps going, getting where he had to be.
A large part of me is protecting myself by not actually believing they'll score. A small part of me is believing. The cross gets through! To Dempsey! But of course, the shot is blocked. ...but it's still alive. And here comes a white shirt!
Oh. My.God!!!!!!
But here's the problem. Satchel is still asleep. Yes, I know it's almost 10, but he was still sleeping! So I scream!!!!!!! But in my library voice, as not to wake him. I look around for someone to hug. I've got nothing! What do I do?!!!! I pound my legs, pump my fists, continue to scream internally. Aaaaaahhhhh! I need to yell!!!!! But I don't (I'm such a good father). Never have I wanted to be around people more.
I've seen a million sporting events. Being a sports writer can make you somewhat indifferent, as you feel like you see the same thing over and over. But sometimes, they get to you. They remind you why you care about sports. This was one of those moments. Tears began to well in my eyes. My heart was racing. It was an emotional experience that I completely snuck up on me. And I loved that too!
It was one of the great sporting events I've ever seen, right up there with the 1995 Mariners playoff run in terms of emotion for me. I don't know how else to describe it but incredible.
The United States might not win another game. Chile may bow out of the World Cup soon. There may be other bad referee calls. Players will continue to dive, those horns will continue to ring in my ears. It doesn't matter. This one moment made the entire World Cup perfect, and nothing is going to change that.
Here's the scene: I'm watching the game at home, by myself, dying. I'm convinced that the U.S. is not destined to win. I mean, how many shots did they miss? It was a glass-half-empty kind of experience. If they can't make that one, what are they going to make? And another blown call by the ref? It's just not going to happen.
And then it did!
The throws by Tim Howard were incredible. I don't know if people noticed that, but he was throwing the ball so far and so accurately that the Seahawks should think about making an offer. The game, the win, was all about effort, and that is so cool. It's not just that the United States was more talented than Algeria - though it was. What was so great about it for me, was the effort it played with. It didn't play with the laid-back cool that we often seen in our athletes. It played with the desperation that is really going on inside them. And they were rewarded.
The goal wasn't a thing of beauty, except in what it meant. It was about a great throw, leading to a great, all-effort charge ahead by Jozy Altidore, to a great, all-effort finish by Landon Donovan. They didn't let up until they got what they needed. How cool is that?
So Algeria shoots and Tim Howard makes the save. I gasp. They might tie, they might not move on, but at least don't lose! And then another spectacular throw by Howard. I'm watching, transfixed, unable to breathe, keeping one eye on the clock, one on the play. Altidore just keeps going, getting where he had to be.
A large part of me is protecting myself by not actually believing they'll score. A small part of me is believing. The cross gets through! To Dempsey! But of course, the shot is blocked. ...but it's still alive. And here comes a white shirt!
Oh. My.God!!!!!!
But here's the problem. Satchel is still asleep. Yes, I know it's almost 10, but he was still sleeping! So I scream!!!!!!! But in my library voice, as not to wake him. I look around for someone to hug. I've got nothing! What do I do?!!!! I pound my legs, pump my fists, continue to scream internally. Aaaaaahhhhh! I need to yell!!!!! But I don't (I'm such a good father). Never have I wanted to be around people more.
I've seen a million sporting events. Being a sports writer can make you somewhat indifferent, as you feel like you see the same thing over and over. But sometimes, they get to you. They remind you why you care about sports. This was one of those moments. Tears began to well in my eyes. My heart was racing. It was an emotional experience that I completely snuck up on me. And I loved that too!
It was one of the great sporting events I've ever seen, right up there with the 1995 Mariners playoff run in terms of emotion for me. I don't know how else to describe it but incredible.
The United States might not win another game. Chile may bow out of the World Cup soon. There may be other bad referee calls. Players will continue to dive, those horns will continue to ring in my ears. It doesn't matter. This one moment made the entire World Cup perfect, and nothing is going to change that.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Can They Do It?
Remember about 10 years ago when the United States introduced Project 2010, which was geared toward the Americans winning the 2010 World Cup? Seemedd of ambitious at the time, and it turns out, it was. The United States probably isn't going to win the World Cup this year.
But, that doesn't mean it can't be a successful tournament. But only if the U.S. beats Algeria today (right now, in fact!). A win and the Americans move on to the knockout stage. A loss, and they're probably out. And they can't afford that.
Not after failing miserably in 2006, not getting out of group play and losing most of the momentum they'd built up with a solid 2002 tournament.
After a solid tie against England and a disappointing but well-fought tie with Slovenia, the United States are in position to move on to the next round, and even surprisingly win Group C. That would be a big step for U.S. soccer.
So, can the United States win today? Of course, and they should.
Coach Bob Bradley made some surprising moves today, most notably leaving out Oguchi Onyewu, who has struggled at center defense coming back from injury. A huge key will be the play of Herculez Gomez at forward alongside Jozy Altidore. The U.S. needs Gomez to be a threat.
The United States has to come out strong, something it has yet to do. They have to attack from the start and put Algeria on its heels. Algeria is not a strong attacking team and the United States have to prevent them from having any easy chances. The U.S. marking in back hasn't been great and teams have gotten too many easy looks. Nothing can come easy for Algeria. That means strong marking on set pieces and preventing counterattacks.
Mostly, the United States have top play like the favorites. They have to be confident, strong, attacking and set that tone from the start. Game's on! Let's see if they can do it.
But, that doesn't mean it can't be a successful tournament. But only if the U.S. beats Algeria today (right now, in fact!). A win and the Americans move on to the knockout stage. A loss, and they're probably out. And they can't afford that.
Not after failing miserably in 2006, not getting out of group play and losing most of the momentum they'd built up with a solid 2002 tournament.
After a solid tie against England and a disappointing but well-fought tie with Slovenia, the United States are in position to move on to the next round, and even surprisingly win Group C. That would be a big step for U.S. soccer.
So, can the United States win today? Of course, and they should.
Coach Bob Bradley made some surprising moves today, most notably leaving out Oguchi Onyewu, who has struggled at center defense coming back from injury. A huge key will be the play of Herculez Gomez at forward alongside Jozy Altidore. The U.S. needs Gomez to be a threat.
The United States has to come out strong, something it has yet to do. They have to attack from the start and put Algeria on its heels. Algeria is not a strong attacking team and the United States have to prevent them from having any easy chances. The U.S. marking in back hasn't been great and teams have gotten too many easy looks. Nothing can come easy for Algeria. That means strong marking on set pieces and preventing counterattacks.
Mostly, the United States have top play like the favorites. They have to be confident, strong, attacking and set that tone from the start. Game's on! Let's see if they can do it.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Who Needs What?
What a bizarre World Cup it's been. An incredible amount of close games, some top clubs (Italy, France, England, Ivory Coast) all struggling to even advance out of group play. Portugal went from zero goals in its first game to seven in its second. Switzerland stuns Spain, then falls to surprise Group H leader (and Allende family favorite) Chile. Unfortunately, the reffing is getting a lot of attention. I felt like refs did a great job early on, but right around Germany's second game, followed by the U.S.-Slovenia game, things started to go downhill.
All the close matches have made these third and final group stage games (starting tomorrow) fascinating. There really are some marquee teams that could fail to advance. A disastrous tournament by African teams could reach its low point if none of the squads advance out of group play, which could easily happen. South American teams have not lost a match, which goes to show where the best soccer is played.
So, I've decided to try to break down, in as simple terms as possible, what each team has to do to advance to the knockout stage. The final group stage games are played simultaneously (for each group) so as to not allow teams to take it easy or conspire to play for a particular result. So, get your remotes ready or find a second nearby TV to monitor action on.
Remember, tie breakers are as follows:
1. Goal differential
2. Total goals scored
3. Head-to-head (if three teams are tied, it's determined by the above two criteria)
4. The mysterious draw of lots
Group A
Uruguay
All the close matches have made these third and final group stage games (starting tomorrow) fascinating. There really are some marquee teams that could fail to advance. A disastrous tournament by African teams could reach its low point if none of the squads advance out of group play, which could easily happen. South American teams have not lost a match, which goes to show where the best soccer is played.
So, I've decided to try to break down, in as simple terms as possible, what each team has to do to advance to the knockout stage. The final group stage games are played simultaneously (for each group) so as to not allow teams to take it easy or conspire to play for a particular result. So, get your remotes ready or find a second nearby TV to monitor action on.
Remember, tie breakers are as follows:
1. Goal differential
2. Total goals scored
3. Head-to-head (if three teams are tied, it's determined by the above two criteria)
4. The mysterious draw of lots
Group A
Uruguay
- Wins the group with a win or tie against Mexico
- Can advance with a loss if France and South Africa tie or if the winner of France-South Africa doesn't make up tiebreakers.
Mexico
- Wins the group with a win over Uruguay.
- Can advance with a tie against Uruguay.
- It can also advance with a loss if France and South Africa tie or the winner of France-South Africa doesn't make up tiebreakers.
France
- Can advance only if it beats South Africa and makes up tiebreakers against the loser of the Uruguay-Mexico match.
- It can not advance if it ties, or if Mexico-Uruguay ties.
South Africa
- Can advance only if it beats France and makes up tiebreakers against the loser of the Uruguay-Mexico match.
- It can not advance if it ties, or if Mexico-Uruguay ties.
Group B
Argentina
- Advances with a win or a tie vs. Greece.
- Will also advance if South Korea loses or ties Nigeria.
- It can advance with a loss as long as South Korea and Greece don't make up tiebreakers.
South Korea
- Advances with a win over Nigeria as long as Greece doesn't either win by a greater margin than South Korea does or Greece and South Korea win by the same margin and Greece doesn't score two or more goals than South Korea does.
- Will also advance with a tie over Nigeria and a tie or loss by Greece.
Greece
- Will advance with a win over Argentina and a loss or tie by South Korea against Nigeria.
- Will advance if it wins by a greater margin than South Korea does.
- Will advance if it wins by the same margin as South Korea and scores two or more goals than South Korea does.
- Will advance with a tie if South Korea loses to Nigeria.
- Will advance if it wins by three or more goals.
Nigeria
- Can only advance if it beats South Korea and Argentina beats Greece.
Group C
United States
- Advances with a win against Algeria.
- Can advance with a tie if Slovenia-England tie and England doesn't outscore the United States by two or more goals.
- Will also advance with a tie if England loses to Slovenia.
Slovenia
- Advances with a win or a tie against England.
- Can advance with a loss if the United States ties against Algeria.
- Can advance with a loss if Algeria beats the United States but doesn't make up tiebreakers.
England
- Advances with a win over Slovenia.
- Can advance with a tie and a United States-Algeria tie if it outscores the United States by at least three goals.
Algeria
- Advances with a win over the United States if Slovenia wins or ties England.
- Advances with a win over the United States and an England win over Slovenia if it makes up tiebreakers against Slovenia.
Group D
Ghana
- Advances with a win or a tie against Germany.
- Can advance with a loss if Australia-Serbia tie if Serbia doesn't make up tiebreakers.
- Can advance with a loss and an Australia win over Serbia if Australia doesn't make up tiebrakers.
Germany
- Advances with a win over Ghana.
- Can advance with a tie and an Australia-Serbia tie if Serbia doesn't make up tiebreakers.
- Can advance with a tie and an Australia win if Australia doesn't make up tiebreakers.
Serbia
- Advances with a win over Australia.
- Can advance with a tie and a Ghana win over Germany.
- Can advance with a tie and a Ghana-Germany tie if it makes up tiebreakers on Germany.
Australia
- Advances with a win over Serbia and a Ghana win over Germany.
- Advances with a win over Serbia and a Germany win over Ghana if it can make up tiebreakers against Ghana.
- Advances with a win over Serbia and a Germany-Ghana tie if it can make up tiebreakers against Germany.
Group E
Netherlands
- Has already advanced. It will win the group if it beats or ties Cameroon.
- Can win the group with a loss if Japan and Denmark tie.
- Can win the group with a loss if the winner of Japan-Denmark can't make up tiebreakers.
Japan
- Advances with a win over Denmark.
- Can win the group if it beats Denmark, Netherlands loses to Cameroon and Japan makes up tiebreakers against Netherlands.
Denmark
- Advances with a win over Japan.
- Can win the group by beating Japan, Netherlands loses to Cameroon and Denmark makes up tiebreakers against Netherlands.
Cameroon
- No chance, has been eliminated.
Group F
Paraguay
- Advances with a win or a tie against New Zealand.
- Can advance with a loss if Italy and Slovakia tie.
- Can advance with a loss if Slovakia beats Italy but doesn't make up tiebreakers against Paraguay.
Italy
- Advances with a win over Slovakia.
- Advances with a tie and a New Zealand loss to Paraguay.
- Advances with a tie and a New Zealand-Paraguay tie if Italy outscores New Zealand.
New Zealand
- Advances if it beats Paraguay.
- Can advance with a tie and an Italy-Slovakia tie if New Zealand outscores Italy.
Slovakia
- Advances with a win over Italy and a Paraguay win or tie against New Zealand.
- Advances with a win over Italy and a New Zealand win over Paraguay if it can make up tiebreakers against Paraguay.
Group G
Brazil
- Has already advanced.
- Will win the group with a win or tie against Portugal.
Portugal
- Advances with a win or tie against Brazil.
- Can advance with a loss if Ivory Coast loses to North Korea and fails to make up the goal differential with Portugal.
Ivory Coast
- Advances with a win against North Korea, a Portugal loss to Brazil and if it can make up goal differential against Portugal.
North Korea
- No chance, has been eliminated.
Group H
Chile
- Will advance with a win or tie against Spain. It will also win the group in this scenario.
- Can advance with a loss if Switzerland loses or ties Honduras.
- Can advance with a loss and a Switzerland win over Honduras if it can maintain its tiebreaker lead over Switzerland.
Spain
- Advances with a win over Chile.
- Advances with a tie against Chile and a Switzerland tie or loss to Honduras.
- Can advance with a loss if Honduras beats Switzerland and Spain maintains its tiebreakers over Honduras and Switzerland.
Switzerland
- Advances with a win over Honduras and a Chile win or tie against Spain.
- Advances with a win over Honduras and a Spain win over Chile if Switzerland can make up tiebreakers against Chile.
- Advances with a tie against Honduras and a Chile win over Spain.
- Can advance with a loss if Spain loses to Chile and Switzerland holds tiebreakers over Spain and Honduras.
Honduras
- Advances with a win over Switzerland and a Chile win over Spain and if it makes up tiebreakers over Spain and Switzerland.
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