Tuesday, May 25, 2010

World Cup Talk Continued

The US Men's National Team will take on the Czech Republic tonight at 8pm on ESPN (with coverage starting at 7:30). This is an international friendly, so the result typically doesn't mean very much. However, there are plenty of reasons to watch the game tonight. For one, the United States has a chance to get some revenge on the team that abused us in the first game of the 2006 World Cup. Good Ol' US of A was thrashed to the tune of 3-0, looking feeble and impotent the entire match. I would very much like to see a different US team today. Secondly, you will get a chance to see just what form that our previously injured players are in. Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, Jay DeMerit, and Stuart Holden are all coming back from injuries. The first 3 players listed also double as our top 3 options for the 2 central defender roles, so that's a key area to watch. Finally, you will want to keep an eye on these players as they battle for a spot on the final 23-man roster (the roster is currently at 30 men):
  • Jonathan Bornstein v. Heath Pearce - Left Back - There probably isn't room on the roster for 2 extra left backs. Pearce has more experience, more height, and seems less prone to mental blunders. Bornstein is the better athlete and the better man-to-man marker. I am looking for Bornstein to win the job as Pearce is basically a less impressive version of Carlos Bocanegra, whose starting job is not being questioned. Bornstein is also capable of playing a midfield role on the wing, adding to his versatility (and Coach Bob Bradley loves himself some versatility).
  • Chad Marshall v. Clarence Goodson - Center Back - If they're all healthy, you can go ahead and book tickets to South Africa for Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, and Jay DeMerit. That most likely only leaves one more spot for a center back, and I am guessing it will be Clarence Goodson. Goodson has been in better form recently than Marshall. Marshall is an inch shorter at 6'3", but he's about 20 lbs thicker. Theoretically you would like Marshall to be the one to win the job because of that, but Beanpole Goodson is the better choice right now and has been starting for a Norwegian club, IK Start. Clarence is excellent in the air and gives you some of the same strengths as Onyewu. Goodson had the lone goal in the most recent friendly against the Netherlands and he's the type of player who could actually mark a giant like England's Peter Crouch on a set play.
  • DeMarcus Beasley v. Robbie Rogers v. Alejandro Bedoya - Left Mid - The spot behind Landon Donovan on the left side of midfield will be hotly contested. I envision 2 of these 3 players sitting at home watching the World Cup. Beasley gives you great speed, familiarity with players on the team, and experience, having played in 2 previous World Cups, but nobody really knows how good his form is right now since he hasn't played for his club team in weeks. Bedoya on the other hand is a young up-and-comer playing his club soccer in Sweden and blasting onto the scene with a strong showing against the Dutch on the last friendly. Rogers is both young and talented, but seems to wither in the clutch, and ultimately I see him heading home. I really think that the player who has the best showing against the Czechs will be the one to book their ticket, and I'm going to guess that player is DeMarcus Beasley.
  • Sacha Kljestan v. Jose Francisco Torres - Center Mid - This is another tough battle to call. One of these players will most likely head home, although I could theoretically see both of them being left off the final roster in favor of Bedoya or Rogers. But my gut tells me Bob Bradley will want another midfielder who players centrally more often than not, and that player would be either Kljestan or Torres. I like Torres better. He makes fewer mistakes with the ball and has a cleaner, tighter game. Kljestan has good skill, but he needs room to operate, and he won't get that room against the level of talent present in Group C. For every magnificent pass from Sacha there are 5 boneheaded passes to take its place. I like Torres as an option on the bench instead, and I am guessing Bob Bradley feels the same.
  • Edson Buddle v. Herculez Gomez v. Eddie Johnson v. Robbie Findley - Striker - 4 players for 2 spots, and it's anybody's guess who will get them. Johnson and Findley have the most experience with the national team, with Johnson having a huge advantage there. Eddie has been playing well for his Greek team, Aris Salonika, putting in several goals towards the end of the season. Robbie Findley is well-liked by Bob Bradley, but has never been able to stand out at the international level. However, you could almost say the same for Johnson, as he has not been a consistent scorer for the USMNT since around 2005. I like one of these two to go to South Africa, and my best guess is Johnson. That leaves one spot for a USMNT newbie, going to either Buddle or Gomez. Both are having tremendous success right now for their club teams. Gomez plays in arguably the better league in Mexico, while Buddle plays for a solid team in MLS, playing alongside Landon Donovan for the LA Galaxy. Gomez is lightning-in-a-bottle fast and furious. Buddle has size, strength, and the ability to score multiple ways. Ultimately, I think that Buddle's relationship with Landon Donovan will be what gets him on to the 23-man roster, and I'm totally fine with that. I'd love to see what Buddle can do in a super-sub role.
So you see, lots of hot action to check out in tonight's game. Maybe the phrase "hot action" just made you blush a little bit. That's okay, just let it happen. We're all friends here. The final 23-man roster will be announced tomorrow, I think. I could be wrong about that and if so I will apologize later. Go soccer.

(Speaking of soccer, my intramural team plays tonight at 8:15 for the chance to move into the quarterfinals for the Copa Bruce... a fun, single-elimination tournament for teams from the 2nd division to the 7th division and even the Veterans division, loaded with 40+ year old players. We play a team from the veteran's division tonight... I'm sure they will be crafty and physical, yet terribly slow. Our team, Great Scott, currently resides in the 3rd division and is looking to move up to 2nd division after winning the 3rd this season. Just wanted to brag on that for a sec. Okay I'm done.)

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