Condederations Cup Semi-Fina: USA 2-0 Spain (or: Why Every Team in the World Should Play 4-4-2)
First of all, stop rubbing your eyes. This really happened.
The USA (the team that looked all but mathematically out after losing their first two games) just beat Spain (you know, the team that won Euro 2008 and recently set the record for most consecutive international wins with fifteen and tied Brazil by going 35 games unbeaten) 2-0.
Here’s the proof:
In the 26th minute Jozy Altidore muscled/turned his Villarreal teammate Joan Capdevila and hit a shot that Iker Casillas could only parry onto the post and into the back of the net:
Link: 
Then in the 74th minute Benny Feilhaber skipped through the Spanish defence and played Landon Donovan down the right hand channel. Donovan squared it, Puique deflected it, Sergio Ramso thought he had all the time in the world, Clint Dempsey disagreed.
Link:
Before, after and inbetween those goals it was all about Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit and Tim Howard. The USA’s central defensive duo made header after header and last dicth tackle after last ditch tackle to deny David Villa and Fernando Torres. And when Spain did managed a shot at goal, Tim Howard was there to keep it out.
The US lost central midfielder Michael Bradley to a red card for this foul in the final ten minutes:
[all three vids via 101GG]
A little harsh maybe? But seems like Bradley, Clark and Klejstan are making sure Bob Bradley rotates his central midfield by taking turns getting red carded. Michael Bradley will miss the final through suspension, so it will be someone else’s turn to play center mid and get sent off.
But the real story for me is the USA’s formation. Playing 4-5-1/4-4-1-1 in their first two games, the US were woeful and deserved the 3-1 and 3-0 beatings that Italy and Brazil handed to them. But bringing in Charlie Davies to partner Jozy Altidore in a 4-4-2, they’ve now beaten Egypt 3-0 and Spain 2-0.
Basically, 4-4-2 is magic. The #1 team in the world was using it, and the first team to beat them in 35 games did so by using it.
Yes, the US spent most of this game defending. But they showed that you can defend just as well with 4-4-2 as with 4-5-1, but also maintain a threat going forward at the same time.
So how about it every team in the world? What say we ditch the one up front, get as many men as we can in midfield approach, and everyone goes back to playing 4-4-2? That way even games where we all think we know the winner before kick-off can still be enjoyable to watch.
Speaking of which… it’s Brazil vs South Africa in the other semi-final tomorrow. Kickoff is 8:30pm local, 7:30pm UK time, 2:30pm US Eastern. We’ll be LiveBlogging the game here on the front page from about 30 minutes before kickoff.
 |
Soccer Forums | International Results |  |
 |  Travel |
Related Posts
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share        |
Comments
Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 50 comments.
Read the rest of the comments
By Juan | June 24th, 2009 at 6:06 pm 
ALL HAIL ROBOBOB AND HIS SUPERIOR INTELLECT
seriously though we should be having Onyewu and Howards babies for saving our asses 48019820938120392183 times.
Posted from 
United States
By Al | June 24th, 2009 at 6:32 pm I’m happy that Spain finally got their wake-up call, from an underdog team nonetheless.
Still despise the USMNT but I must still congratulate them on their discipline and hard work.
Plus, Fernando Torres’ big mouth needed to be shut for a little bit.
Posted from United States
By Roberto | June 24th, 2009 at 7:17 pm Tim Howard, June 18: “They’re always going to be the better team, right?”
Tim Howard, June 24: “”I can’t explain it any more than you can. Sports is funny sometimes, but when you put your mind to something, you can achieve it.”
http://politicomix.blogspot.com/2009/06/confederations-cup-diary-tim-howard.html
Posted from 
Japan
By LorenzoRosanero | June 24th, 2009 at 7:33 pm Laurie – seriously? Im sure Rossi’s content with his decision lol.
Posted from United States
By Oliviero | June 24th, 2009 at 10:27 pm Doesn’t everyone think this is a bit of an over reaction… #1 it is the confederations cup, which means nothing. #2 the entire Spanish team has had a grueling season and arent in the best physical shape at the moment. #3 US definitely deserved to win the first half but if you did watch the second half the USMT(does anyone else think TMNT every time they type this?) should have lost by four or five goals.
All that aside it is good win for an underdog but it is important to realize that had this been a world cup game Spain would have played differently from the first minute. Good job by the USMT but one game is just one game and this one really was an anomaly.
Onyewu was good in the air but this performance doesn’t make him a good player, as a matter of fact I think they need to find him a replacement soon because although he was lucky he can’t be lucky every game.
One last thing, does anyone else think that Sergio Ramos doesn’t know how to play defense?
By Sam | June 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pm Weston: Doesn’t matter if you played the ball. If the ref adjudges it to be reckless, careless, or using excessive force, it’s a cautionnable offense, read the rulebook. I would’ve given Bradley a yellow.
By Eric Escander | June 24th, 2009 at 10:59 pm Oliviero maybe to you the confederations cup doesn’t mean anything but rest assured this cup has its value. You win it and you have won a tournament filled with the champs of every football federation. Its something to boast about. Also no matter what circumstance beating a team like spain(Euro Champions)is a big deal. As for the physical shape of spain, that maybe true but having played a man down almost every game I would say the US’ physical shape is not 100% either. I too think of TMNT when I see USMT. Lastly the US could of lost by 4 goals but didn’t and that wasn’t just luck but great heart and defense. Spain was the better team comming in but in the end were the losers. This could of easily happened in the world cup. Remember spain came in this tournament to win it. They fought hard against the US but proved no match. Its time to face facts the US are ready to take center stage in the world of football. I’m not saying that they will win this cup or the world cup, what I am saying is this game proves the US are a world class team that CAN beat any team.
Posted from United States
By Johonna | June 24th, 2009 at 11:01 pm Weston, I heard it too – the commentator flat out giggled! He tried to cover it up but there was definitely some glee.
The only thing I thought was a bit out of line was Donovan’s constant playacting. Especially there at the end when he ran into the back of Pique and theatrically fell down, rolling in agony. Poor Pique got a yellow for nothing.
It was funny (almost as good as his “Dida moment” earlier), but not very sporting.
Posted from United States
By Laurie | June 24th, 2009 at 11:27 pm Oliviero,
Um…yeah. True. So what?
I’m a fan of France. I’m a fan of Seattle. I’m a fan of a couple more teams that never get the lucky breaks, teams for whom the bounce always goes the wrong way.
It’s fun for once to have the bounce go the right way. My way. I’m not sure why anyone wants to take the joy of that away from all the fans like me.
Sure, there was luck involved. Sure, 9 times out of 10 Spain is the better team. But today was the other time. Today they were not. They could have won. They didn’t.
Today my team won. And nothing you can say to belittle that will change it.
Posted from United States
By Josh W | June 24th, 2009 at 11:45 pm “It’s fun for once to have the bounce go the right way. My way. I’m not sure why anyone wants to take the joy of that away from all the fans like me.
Sure, there was luck involved. Sure, 9 times out of 10 Spain is the better team. But today was the other time. Today they were not. They could have won. They didn’t.
Today my team won. And nothing you can say to belittle that will change it.”
QFFT
Most every team I support in any sport is notorious for failing miserably. The team I’m closest with, my college, is a punchline, the gold standard for underachieving, perennial losing, and failure. I said just last week after the Brazil loss “I’m so used to losing I wouldn’t know what to do with winning.”
Well, now I’m learning.
This tournament means something. We made a miracle happen and escaped the group. We played with the best team in the world and outscored them by 2. How many of those 24 shots had a shot of going in, how many got near Howard? In the single digits, and Howard got them all. Thats not luck, thats good defending against the best possessing and best attacking players in the world.
This tournament means something not only because these teams are giving it their all. This tournament means something because we make it mean something.
Posted from United States
By Johonna | June 25th, 2009 at 12:23 am “Onyewu was good in the air but this performance doesn’t make him a good player”
I dunno, he looked pretty awesome to me – especially in the last 10 minutes of the game when Spain was parked in front of the US goal. He was in the right place at the right time more times than I could count. He shut Spain down. It was impressive and I think it does show that he is a good player – especially given that this was all at the end of the game when mistakes usually happen.
I think Spain came into this game totally underestimating the US. I guess the football world will take us all a little more seriously now!
Posted from United States
By MattyDub | June 25th, 2009 at 12:58 am Altidore’s text don’t look so silly now does it!!
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By Juan | June 25th, 2009 at 1:25 am All I see is talk talk talk talk WHO HAS THE BEER WE JUST BEAT THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD.
Posted from United States
By Agragami | June 25th, 2009 at 1:43 am Doesn’t matter, who was the better team on the field. What does is who capitalised on opportunities. Spain had over 20 shots at the goal, they couldn’t convert even with their contingent of world’s top strikers and playmakers.
US played from the heart. It showed on the field. It won and is on to the finals.
For those who feel Confederations Cup is not worth the penny, in my opinion it’s just reflects a bigoted (even if its too harsh a word) mind. Football is a world game, all nations play. Bring together continental champs on one platform is laudable initiative. It would help development of the game worldover, not restricted to European and Latin American nations.
Finally. I’m from India. I am a die-hard fan fo the Oranje (Holland). And I have nothing against Spain or USA. Its just the love for the game that has drawn me in here to express my feelings.
Confederations cup should be encouraged and could be made more broad-based. It would be good for Football.
Anyways, all the best to all US fans down here. See ya all at the final.
Posted from 
India
By Shazback | June 25th, 2009 at 5:00 am “For those who feel Confederations Cup is not worth the penny, in my opinion it’s just reflects a bigoted (even if its too harsh a word) mind. Football is a world game, all nations play. Bring together continental champs on one platform is laudable initiative. It would help development of the game worldover, not restricted to European and Latin American nations.”
Just like the massive development football has undergone since 2000 thanks to the Club world Cup. Especially in Africa, Oceania and Antartica.
Posted from 
Australia
By Michael | June 25th, 2009 at 5:34 am What does mean something is the fact that the US actually could put chances away and look quite good in defense against the big boys. It doesn’t matter where the game was played or when it was played. That is the attitude the US team has to develop going forward. Don’t squander chances and pull together in the back. The fact that Donovan has shown some real toughness in this tournament and really has been a leader on the pitch is the real bright spot.
Posted from United States
By Mike | June 25th, 2009 at 5:55 am Let’s put this in some historical context: Was it the greatest win in U.S. soccer history?
http://bit.ly/X4xqN
Posted from United States
By wob | June 25th, 2009 at 6:11 am Anyone who want to fire Bob Bradley?
Posted from 
Netherlands
By Angelo | June 25th, 2009 at 6:37 am I hate all the glory hunter bandwagon(ers) people who write off the mighty US before the game (and refuse to support their league) against any european competition, and then when the US wins, they hop on the b-wagon and in the celebration….the real fans are the ones who go through the “thick and thin”. impossible is nothing.
THE YANKS ARE COMING !!!!!
Posted from United States
By Hana | June 25th, 2009 at 7:33 am Not to belittle Deuce’s goal, which was beyond priceless (Ramos is going to have recurring nightmares about that one), and he had a solid match overall…but how on earth did he get man of the match again with the herculean effort our defense put in? C’est la vie, I guess.
Of course…I was waiting for the inevitable “Yeah, but like, the Confederations Cup doesn’t really count and stuff” comments. Really? Because it sure looks like it counts when a country puts out their best starting XI in an international tournament, no matter where it is.
And lose. Case closed. Adios.
By Mustafa | June 25th, 2009 at 7:47 am I watched the game in a cramped room with 25 random dudes on a 17 inch tv, and when i jumped up to cheer the altidore goal and i said “YES!!!” i guess everyone realized that there was a yankee in africa :p
btw, HELL YEAH USA
By Victor | June 25th, 2009 at 9:50 am I also complained about the ESPN commentators. I know a good old Latinamerican style GOAL shout is too much to ask, but to have these HUGE goals followed by silence seems antisoccer. Wasn’t Lalas commentating the game? I guess he was the one celebrating in the background.
By quinn | June 25th, 2009 at 1:20 pm Victor, I don’t think it was Alexi Lalas commentating, pretty sure it was Harkes and Hopkins doing it. Or so while I was watching it.
Altidore’s goal was great, and you can expect the fake on-the-ground crap from Spain after he muscled the defender out.
Wish Boca had played better, but I have to give props to Jay DeMerit for stepping up.
By Johanna | June 25th, 2009 at 4:24 pm Johanna, Pique got a yellow for dissent, it was someone else (Riera?) who Donovan flopped all over. Yes, it bothered me a little, as did Dempsey rolling around, but I happen to think that we’ve grabbed a few yellow cards because of other players flopping around after a hard challenge too. Didn’t Landon get booked in the first ten minutes because someone was acting like he’d been shot?
In short, I don’t like it, but if we are going to be penalized because other teams do it, I understand some of our players doing it also.
Posted from United States
By Brad | June 26th, 2009 at 10:50 am nice blog….
Comments are closed
