11/05/24
September 04, 2005
USA qualifies for World Cup 2006.: In a spirited showing at the Columbus Crew Stadium (OH) yesterday, the US beat Mexico 2-0 to become only the eighth qualifier (of 32). Two well-taken setpiece goals by Ralston and Beasley elevated an otherwise closely-played match, with the US being rewarded for a more attack-minded game than Mexico. USA! USA! USA!
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 10:52 AM - 22 comments
Mexico coach LaVolpe says "his grandmother could play for the US" and to him I say: "Dude, your boys haven't scored--SCORED--on our soil in six years and if not for one lucky break against a first time defender (Onyewu's national team debut) wouldn't have beaten us anywhere in almost that long." I feel sorry for him, really, because the pressure to win is so intense from the fans and press and there is really nothing that compares here. No single sport or team is so constantly in the emotions of our whole country. Still, the US showed last night that we are the better team. I really like Onyewu, I think he can be the defensive anchor for the next decade; in America, of course, defenders are barely noticed but consider that he's in the same age group as Donovan, DMB, Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey and anywhere else Onyewu would probably be (relatively speaking) as big a star. His performances for the national team ought to get him visibility to move to a much larger club as soon as the January window but no later than next summer. Eddie Lewis is combining well on the left with DMB, they were switching off nicely last night on overlapping runs and such. The ref, I don't understand how he allowed the Mexican players to get away with some of the fouls and tackles on DaMarcus but he's clearly toughening up playing for PSV. Add in a healthy Johnson and Brian Ching, push Landon back to midfield in place of Armas and I don't see how the US does not get a top seed in the group round in Germany. My top eight (#1 seeds, in no particular order) right now are USA, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Nigeria/Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Croatia/Italy, Poland/Serbia/Spain. Germany is a wildcard to me because they've hardly played any meaningful games in a long time, not having had to qualify, but I'm sure they'll make it to the knockout stage. The draw, coming in mid-December, should be very interesting.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:43 PM on September 04, 2005
Add in a healthy Johnson ... Everybody loves a healthy Johnson!
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:56 PM on September 04, 2005
You've never seen Ralston?!
posted by StarFucker at 02:14 PM on September 04, 2005
I love the way you SpoFi Soccer Guys (trademark symbol thing) use the good old BBC for your linkys. Makes me feel all proud inside it does. Is it because your own media hasn't noticed you qualified yet? Well done to the plucky USA for making it to the Finals. The group stages finish on 23/06/06 if you want to book your 'plane tickets home. In other news Brazil are cuffing Chile 4-0 and it's only half-time.
posted by squealy at 03:16 PM on September 04, 2005
Squealy, please remind me again how well England did at the 2002 finals, not to mention Euro2004. True, they came over here and beat us 2-1 in May but neither team was fielding a first choice side so I don't see it as a real indicator. I might be sorry later but I've been hoping that we'll get drawn into the same group and get a real comparison.
posted by billsaysthis at 03:47 PM on September 04, 2005
Don't start using facts with me billyboy. You know us Europeans are supposed to patronise and belittle US football. I'm just doing my job. Seriously though, I'm glad you lot qualified. Not that it was really at question in the first place, let's face it. We don't really get to see US internationals or MLS footie over here and it'll be interesting to see how/if it's progressed. Here's to a fabulous summer of football and England to bloody qualify. *raises glass*
posted by squealy at 04:13 PM on September 04, 2005
Was there any doubt to a true soccer fan who would win. Even those of Mexican-America orgin said "I would like for Mexico to win, but the US will most likely win." Great game even though I had to record it to watch it.
posted by spoiledboysx3 at 04:20 PM on September 04, 2005
Squealy, given the common corporate parent of Fox and Sky I think you'll be seeing MLS in the UK sooner rather than later. Plenty of Americans playing in Europe these days too. Actually, an English player came on as a sub for FC Dallas last night as they lost to my Quakes but otherwise not too many European national team players in MLS yet.
posted by billsaysthis at 05:54 PM on September 04, 2005
man it sucks my team lost but i have to give props to the US they played a solid game and they looked very impresive I think its now going to be a Fact of The CONCACAF that Mexico can't Be Beaten at Home and Now Neither Can The US. Congratulations to all americans, now lets see if the rest of the country sees that The US does have an impressive soccer team that deserves to have way more support from its people.
posted by J3sUsD at 06:01 PM on September 04, 2005
In the US team, McBride plays for Fulham, Reyna for Man City, Lewis for Leicester (?!), and Keller plays for who? (Didn't he use to play for Spurs or something?) And squealy, for the record, BBC is top of my list for soccer reads. I used to read the London Times, but they're site took too long to load. I still read the Guardian for the skinny and some cheek. I grew up watching Big League Soccer (w/ Clive Allen?) on Saturdays, and reading Roy of the Rovers and Beano. So I don't think you know who you're making fun of. ;-) ESPN Soccernet is OK, but it's not my first read. I hate the way the site has been redesigned, and the pageload is crap. Also, American media (print, online, TV) coverage of soccer is still shite. Hearing or reading only-in-the-US soccer terms like "in-bounds pass" (it's a fecking throw-in!) and "midfield stripe" (it's the centerline, fercryingoutloud!), "assistant referees" (linesmen, linesmen!) just make me cringe. Read some English or Euro soccer articles before you report the sport, idiots!
posted by worldcup2002 at 06:08 PM on September 04, 2005
How come you dudes in CONCACAF get 3 and a half qualifying places? Is the third or fouth team (Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, Costa Rica?) comparable to any of the European or African teams that may miss out? Or is the number of places meant to make sure the USA always qualifies and hence the TV megabucks keep rolling in? Just asking.
posted by owlhouse at 06:09 PM on September 04, 2005
btw, my fave national teams are Brazil, England and USA, in that order. Altho, I'd be pleased as punch to see England or USA win it over Brazil.
posted by worldcup2002 at 06:13 PM on September 04, 2005
owlhouse, I think you've just answered your own question there... Billsaysthis, USA top 8? Oh please.
posted by salmacis at 06:15 PM on September 04, 2005
England win the World Cup?! I'll have some of what he's on. Keller's at Borussia Moenchengladbach now. Which is easy for me to say. Lewis is at Leeds, which you wouldn't wish on anyone. To be fair, "assistant referee" is technically correct though of course nobody actually calls them that. I normally use a word for them that can't be repeated on a family-orientated forum like SpoFi. bill, mark wilson playing for FC Dallas eh? Well you learn something new every day. Cheers for the pointer. He's a Scunthorpe lad by birth. And there's a phrase about that.
posted by squealy at 06:35 PM on September 04, 2005
Irons fans complain that the word 'Scunthorpe' often doesn't make it through internet filters....
posted by owlhouse at 07:01 PM on September 04, 2005
because "thor" is a bad word? hoohoohoo.
posted by worldcup2002 at 08:50 PM on September 04, 2005
USA made the final 8 in 2002, going out on a 1-0 loss to Germany. I don't see the problem including them in the top 8 now after the way they handled Mexico Saturday.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:15 PM on September 05, 2005
Read some English or Euro soccer articles before you report the sport, idiots! USA made the final 8 in 2002, going out on a 1-0 loss to Germany. You lot aren't helping yourselves. That should read "The USA reached the quarter-finals in 2002, going out in a 1-0 defeat by Germany." Just sayin'. *ducks for cover*
posted by squealy at 04:32 AM on September 06, 2005
squealy, you're hurtin' America.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:23 PM on September 06, 2005
Why do you hate freedom?
posted by StarFucker at 01:40 PM on September 06, 2005
Squealy shame on your for abusing the ducks! What did the poor ducks ever do to you?
posted by billsaysthis at 03:32 PM on September 06, 2005
I was really impressed by the US's 4-3-3 (4-3-1 (Reyna)-2?) formation against Mexico's 4-4-2. I even remember that at one point the US were pulling the offside trap as far up as inside the middle third of the field. That takes some cojones and confidence that your players can read the line correctly and have the speed to cover mistakes. Onyewu was solid in defence (I've never seen him before), and a threat at setpieces, especially when he set up that first goal. Ralston (I've never seen him before either) seems to have good positional sense, especially that time he put himself right in front of goal unmarked to put away the rebound from Onyewu's header. Beasley was terrorizing Mexico on both wings. He got clocked several times and I was concerned he might pick up an ankle injury especially after his goal. That goal was sheer class. With the entire Mexico defence pushing up to get an offside, Beasley's timing (and Reyna's through pass) followed by his curling left-foot finish around the keeper were exquisite. OK, it looks like Mexico, for all their conservatism, weren't tight enough in the center of defense. Or perhaps they were stretched enough by the US's wingers that it all came apart at the crucial moments. Seems that very often the defence were content to boot the ball out, rather than play their way out. And again, viva Telemundo! They had Cantor on there with his trademark GOOOOOOOOOOOOL call. Good times, good times.