USA USA USA! Down Goes Spain!
Yesterday I outlined how US Coach Bob Bradley could take a page out of history and use the Rope A Dope to shock the world with a major upset in Africa 35 years after Muhammed Ali stunned George Foreman to win the world heavyweight title. Bradley’s men didn’t win the world title but they took a huge step towards earning respect when the US Men’s National Team ranked 14th in the world by FIFA defied the odds in the Confederations Cup semifinal beating the world’s top ranked team, Spain 2-0 in one of the biggest upsets in US Soccer history.
Spain was the invincible force beating 15 straight opponents and not losing for a total of 35 games. For the US to win two things needed to happen, score and keep Spain at bay for 90 minutes. The downfall for the US in many of their big games has been the midfield not keeping a sound defensive shape and winning the ball. Today, Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey tracked attackers into the corners making it difficult to go to the flanks and draw out the central defenders, Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit. Carlos Bocanegra returned to the lineup playing the left back position that has been a problem spot for years, a development made possible by the solid work of DeMerit during Bocanegra’s recuperation from a hamstring injury.
As predicted, Spain held the ball for the majority of the game making tons of beautiful passes around the perimeter of the US defense but when they tried to penetrate, there was always a body in the way closing out any chances. On the few times when they got past the wall of defenders, Tim Howard showed why he is the undisputed number one goalkeeper for the US with several good saves. The most important was a kick save on a Fernando Torres shot just before the half.
Jozy Altidore leads the US over Spain
The US went into the dressing room at the half up 1-0 on the strength of a Jozy Altidore goal coming from a quick turn sealing off Capdevila, Altidore’s Villareal teammate in Spain. Altidore calmly spun on Capdevila and wrong footed goalkeeper, Iker Casillias overpowering him with a shot that glanced off the post and into the goal.
Spain applied pressure in the second half but could not break through. Ricardo Clark and Michael Bradley controlled the center of the field forcing everything wide keeping Spain’s midfield in check.
The US effectively put the game out of reach in the 74th minute when they counterattacked and Landon Donovan’s cross deflected off two Spanish defenders, arriving at the feet of Clint Dempsey who buried his shot from point blank range.
The only remaining drama was the seemingly mandatory red card going to Michael Bradley four minutes from time.
The reaction from Spain put the lie to bed that this was a tournament that Spain took lightly. The disappointment and anguish on the faces of Spain’s players was clearly evident. Their emotions were matched by the excitement of the US players who fought for each other and their coach who took tremendous abuse just a week ago after losses the Italy and Brazil.
Hopefully, the players learned how patience, keeping a solid defensive shape and finishing off chances that came their way can do for a team like the US. Maybe against Italy and Brazil, the idea that they could take the attack to those teams backfired creating openings at the back that were exploited. A lesson that could come in handy Sunday if as expected a rematch against Brazil materializes.
Robert Woodard is the author of Black People Don’t Play Soccer?: Unlocking American Soccer’s Secret Weapon, a visionary look at the future of American soccer. BPDPS is a compelling analysis of African-Americans and soccer with the bonus of historical accounts of soccer’s development in the US and an encyclopedia of players of African descent around the world. Take a look inside the book at www.blackpeopledontplaysoccer.com
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