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designated players
We are made of time.
We are its feet and its voice.
The feet of time walk in our shoes.
Sooner or later, we all know, the winds of time will erase the tracks.
Passage of nothing, steps of no one? The voices of time tell of the voyage.
-from Voices of time, A life in stories, by Eduardo Galeano (Metropolitan Books, 2006)
Wow - I just watched Eric Wynalda on Pardon The Interruption. I’ve been reading all the papers and checking all the websites, but wow, it just hit rock bottom. Five Good Minutes and all of a sudden US Soccer is a laughing stock. A debacle, embarrassing, stunk it up, throwing darts at each other, a big step back, Bruce calling out players by name, Bruce’s job on the line. Where am I? Two days ago at this time it was best team ever, total confidence, high expectations, etc, etc. But now, this is American soccer? The winds of favor do change quickly in the tempest of the sports world.
I’ve been taking cover for the last 20-odd hours through this blitzkrieg of media bombers. The occasional e-mail my only voice.
—–Original Message—–
From:
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 1:20 PM
To:
RE: US game
What is there to discuss. Arena’s horrible starting line-up (O’brien?, Clint?, EJ?,Landon up top???). Have we ever seen that line-up? Or our horrible playing from the first minute through the whole game? The whole thing was just ugly. I think I kind of saw this coming too. Maybe it was just the objectivity that required at least considering the worst-case scenario I had in back of my head. All our recent games have been half-assed, against half-assed teams, on American soil. We were jogging around the block to prepare for a marathon. And it is official… we have zero offense other than down the wing and cross it. Until we get an unbridled striker (give EJ a chance) - and stop trying to force that upon Landon, we’re screwed. A defense, even when playing well, can’t hold off a good team forever without some help from an attacking offense. And today, we didn’t even have a good defense. Everybody looked bad.
—–Reply Message—–
From:
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 1:53 PM
To:
RE: US game
Like when someone pisses you off at work, and you need to take a breather, walk around the block, then respond to e-mail. Perhaps.
I agree that the starting line-up was a bit shitty…but who knew how flat we’d be when we took the field? Think O’Brien on the field is a very good thing. Landon looked dangerous as hell when he actually GOT the ball. EJ looked dangerous. Maybe people are right about DaMarcus belonging on the left.
I think the biggest issue was how directionless we played. We held 70% of possession through much of the first half, but did nothing with it. We didn’t dare to be dangerous and our services lacked a target. They were prayers rather than pin-point crosses with specific targets in mind.
I kind of feel that Clint may be the one guy who would have said “screw it”, taking it straight at the defense. Surprised he wasn’t used.
And now we wait…
There is only question that matters. How will we play against Italy? Bounce back or fade away? Most agree it is a must win. And even with a win, after a 3-0 defeat, even that doesn’t guarantee we get out of group play.
I stop and reflect of my voyage, our voyage, through the length of four years, time. What have we learned and what have we wrought? Is it too soon to ask? When is time ready, if ever, to be questioned. I have so many questions. So many questions. Time.
up in the air/where the chips may fall
kyle
on Jun 14th, 2006 - 1:16pm
“A phrase, then, of impatience, thud of Blake’s wings of excess. I hear the ruin of all space, shattered glass, and toppling masonry, and time one livid final flame. What’s left us then?”
-James Joyce, Ulysses
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this doesn’t change the fact we have a a better team than 2002. Whether they show up saturday is largely dependent on Arena. It’s his responsibility as coach to make sure that happens.
Brian Garrison
on Jun 14th, 2006 - 1:56pm
When will anyone realize that Landon is a midfielder and play him in the midfield?
Starting Eddie Johnson and Deuce might just be the only thing that changes anyones opinion of the USA. Deuce represents everything that we lacked against the Czechs.
I am not sure I can go through another match like that one this Saturday.
Jared
on Jun 14th, 2006 - 2:45pm
I say that in general people are very much so pessimistic. Everyone knows that Team USA can play with the best of them. I think the loss was a great one, that way we can get the bad game out of our system and play our tails off and win the Cup. Squad USA keep your heads up and know that how one deals with test and trials shows much about one’s character. Can’t wait ’til Saturday. Go get ‘em!!
ruby
on Jun 14th, 2006 - 2:50pm
Or maybe we’re just no good. There’s some pretty good analysis over at soccernista. The article makes me rethink our Landon fixation.
Frank
on Jun 14th, 2006 - 2:59pm
let’s not beat around the bush here: we absolutely sucked on monday, no doubt. it’s not so much the scoreline that’s disturbing but the sheer lack of effort made by the team, with the exception of EJ, O’Brien, and Reyna. aren’t our strengths speed and aggressiveness? there was none of that. i feel bad for keller; his defense left him out to dry on all three goals. bruce looked completely demoralized at the start of the second half, as if he was already planning what to say in his postgame press conference. at least EJ played with some gusto. i can’t understand why we played so flat. for weeks the team was talking about how they were going to prove they can play with any of the elite teams in the world; instead, it looked like france 98 all over again, even down to the uniforms. i do think we have a very good team, but this is the first time the USMNT has had to deal with some media pressure to perform, and i think it had a negative effect on their performance on monday. we’ll see what this US team is made of on saturday. i don’t think we’ll make it out of the group now, but can we at least play with some heart? with that being said, it’s imperative that dempsey and johnson start against italy. they can inject some venom into an anemic offense. the most dangerous team is one that’s wounded, and maybe the US can catch the italians by surprise and get a result, but it’ll take a monumental effort to do so.
Jameson
on Jun 14th, 2006 - 4:08pm
one game changes everything.
thank you ESPN.
Connor
on Jun 14th, 2006 - 7:02pm
Now everyone is saying that if we play as we are capable of playing we can beat the Italians. I’m thinking to myself thats right, this is still within reach but all of a sudden I think, what exactly are we capable of? I try to remember a match or a single strech of time in a match were we looked like we were capable of beating a power like Italy and I can’t. I have to go all the way back to the Portugal game in ‘02 to see evidence of an American team that is capable of hanging around with Europes big boys. The past four years all of a sudden seem like hazed blur, like a dream. I imagine this is what Neo felt like when he emerged from the Matrix. We have suddenly met the truth and it is ugly, except there is no savior for American Soccer right now. who else wants to go back to the ignorant bliss of pre-june 12th?
Frank
on Jun 14th, 2006 - 9:51pm
It’s because between 2002 and now we never really played against a top team like Italy. In four years, we only played against two top european teams on european soil, a 1-0 loss to Holland (I only remember it because I taped it) and the 4-1 drubbing to Germany, which oddly enough seemed like a precursor for things to come. I’m not counting the two games against Poland and Scotland because they’re average at best. CONCACAF is a joke for qualifying, and basically all our friendlies (especially this year) were against the likes of Norway’s B team and Venezuela. We need to face much stiffer competition for friendlies. If security wasn’t such a looming factor we would be playing in the Copa America everytime, and it would do wonders in terms of testing ourselves against great teams in a tough tournament. As we all know, the FIFA rankings are a joke, we’re more like 15th than 5th. We’re not battle tested like the czechs or the italians are. They went through a grueling qualifying process and played in friendlies against other world cup teams. On another note, read the article on donovan on soccernista; the guy makes a really good point, and i think it parallels US soccer’s complaceny in being the big fish in a small pond. As crazy as it may sound, going out in the first round may be a good thing in that it’ll be a wake up call to the USSF to stop worrying about marketing soccer and start worrying how to get the USMNT to play against better opponents, and thus, really testing ourselves to see where we actually stand in the soccer world and look for ways to improve the team.
Jacob
on Jun 15th, 2006 - 12:13am
Despite what happens with the US the rest of the world cup, we honestly will not be able to make up for it for another four years. There will be no more TV ads, interviews, promotions, etc. MLS will more than likely produce only a few star players, and go to the back of programming for networks. Our current USMNT stars will probably look to move over seas to play and further their game, or some perhaps looking to finish their career.
Sad to say, but all this is due to the first game loss against the Czech Republic. The loss was not due to bad calls, injury, or even outstanding play from the Czechs, but from the lack of heart and intensity from the USMNT. Every clip from the game shown, with the exception of one Donovan and the Eddie Johnson clips, has the entire team either walking or slow jogging. There was hardly any pressure, no sprinting to the ball, and the passing was something you see on a eight year old practice field with three offensive players in a triangle and one defending: it just went around and around.
We all know that this team is the best the US has ever brought to a World Cup. This was not what all the hype was for, and they have proven that they are capable of much more. It is a huge disappointment that we as a country, fighting to bring the great sport to the main stream in America, must wait another four years before we can really prove what US soccer has become. Yet hopefully, with what may be the last two games, we can show the rest of the world that we are here in force and what happened in ‘02 was no fluke.
James
on Jun 15th, 2006 - 1:23pm
MLS is not going to wither away at the vine if the US doesn’t get out of their group in this World Cup.
Personally, I think MLS affects the USMNT a heck of a lot more than the other way around. With the opening of Toyota Park, the addition of Toronto, Colorado opening their new building next year, the Red Bulls getting their building in 2008 (hopefully…..), the possible expansion into South Jersey/Philly and back into San Jose, and NE, RSL, and Houston planning on building new stadiums, the future of MLS is solid.
Now back to this World Cup.
Monday afternoon suffered. We all know that. The ultimate question about Bruce, his coaching staff, and his players is how they respond to getting punched in the mouth. Do they do the way of Sampson’s squad in 98? Do they step up and create their own little miracle on grass? Or will it end up somewhere in between?
Right now I’m pretty much where I was on Monday morning: My heart is saying that we can get this done and my head says that we’ve never played well in Europe, so why would things be any different this time around?
I have my strategic thoughts. But, I’m not going to fool myself into thinking that I know more about things than Bruce does.
All I can do know is be hopeful and root the boys on again Saturday afternoon next to my 4yo son with his painted face and his hat with Deuce & DMB on it.
In the end, my son won’t remember the wins or the losses, but hopefully he’ll remember the signing and the clapping, and that we were on the local news!
Evan!
on Jun 15th, 2006 - 2:10pm
we sucked and it was embarrassing. enough said.
yrs-
Evan!
Ink Blot
on Jun 15th, 2006 - 3:20pm
Monday was a shame to American soccer, I’m not an American soccer fan, but I am a fan of the sport, and I won’t mention what team I love. Hint: we won 2-0 this week.
As a fan of the sport, I take great offense to anyone, whether they’re a star player on my squad or not, ditying it up and ruining it for the rest of us. The US might not want to ever watch their team again after this world cup if they don’t shape up. And now, Johnson says that they’re going to do whatever they have to do, tackles, things while the ref isn’t looking to score goals. Are you kidding me? Who the hell does that piece of crap think he is? This, yet another reason why the US doesn’t deserve the Cup. Didn’t JOGA TV do a spot on the team? Where’s the play beautiful mentality?
Brandon
on Jun 15th, 2006 - 5:36pm
I still believe in the team…did anyone think the red sox would come back from 3-0 down in the series? Im sure there were hardly anyone who thought they would come back and this is sort of the same situation. If you believe then it shall happen. They said the curse had been broken. There are many curses that can happen if usa beats italy. The National team has never won a world cup group game with Renya on the field and USA’s never beaten Italy..just believe theres a reason why we are ranked 5th
christian
on Jun 16th, 2006 - 12:20am
first the line up has to change and playing beasly on the right is soo wrong u cant play people out of there postion it makes them worse…. on top the intesnsity of the players has to rise, U.S. looked reall lazy against Czech, dempsey could be on the right, yeah hes a loose cannon but very creative, and he scores. he has to be on that pitch.
Zechariah Rogers
on Jun 16th, 2006 - 12:23am
Well at least I am half Mexican and can cheer for Mexico instead of the US.
nyonyo
on Jun 16th, 2006 - 1:14am
What’s done is done. For the next match, overall italians are better, and the USA could ever hold them if only they can play more and more and a lot more agressive!! Tackling whoever legs that through their defense and struggling with body contact for penetration into the enemy penalty box.
Italian with the catenaccio will do a total defense if they lose the ball,they’re very good on that with Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro on the back. But be very cautious with the counter attack. Gilardino, Lucatoni and Iaquinta could strike fast and do solo run to shoot the ball.
So USA needs a lot of effort… And hopes, to get tied the game…
May god bless USA (men’s team soccer)…
Patrick Hoban
on Jun 16th, 2006 - 7:02am
3-0 Hummm sounds like another score that happened four years ago. That is right it was against Poland and the US lost and had to watch the scoreboard to see if they would make it into the second round. Did that loss kill US soccer, did it kill MLS, hell did 1998 kill MLS and US soccer. The answer is no they did not. There are always upsets, teams that are supposed to win that don’t, etc. The US has a good team and will hopefully show it the next two days but even if they dont it is not going to kill US soccer. Look back to 1998, and 2002 and find big name teams that lost. In 1998 Spain was a favorite and lost out in the first round. In 2002, France lost two games and drew one after winning in 1998, Portugal and Argentina both out first round. So big teams, powerful teams, good teams sometimes fall flat, sometimes come up against great teams early, sometimes just have a bad couple days. Instead of getting down on our team enjoy that we are here, that we are one of a very few teams that are at our 5th World Cup in a row. Have a party while watching the game, invite over someone who has never watched games before, talk it up regardless of who wins or loses. That is where interest comes from, from sharing experiences with other people who may not otherwise watch a game. Talking bad about your team will only turn away more people.
Monica
on Jun 17th, 2006 - 3:40am
Don’t talk down your team! Especially when it has qualified for 5 straight world cups…2 of those cups in ‘90 and ‘94 fielded college students and no names without a domestic league. In ‘98 our team was made up predominantly of MLS guys with the MLS only being 2 yrs old. Just an infant in the pantheon of soccer leagues. What happened in ‘98 sucked, but it surprised no one. In ‘02, luck was on our side and made it out of the 1st round. We beat Mexico easily (like so many times before) and made our way into the quarters to give Germany a serious run for their money. That was not bad for a country with a 6 yr old professional league. Now in ‘06, the MLS is 11 yrs old, we have exported more Americans to top leagues than ever before, we won the Gold Cup, and 1st place in CONCACAF, with all that said and done it would make sense that the US would have a stellar performance in Germany. Right? Maybe if we would have been a seeded team (which we deserved) it would make perfect sense, but the truth is we’re a couple WC’s away from being seeded and a couple decades away from becoming a powerhouse. Remember, we have come a long way but have yet to catch up with 100 yrs or more of history. Italian Serie A, EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, are among the top leagues in the world (if not THE top) with a vast history, fielding players that have gone on to win world cups. Our humble MLS can’t compare, Yet! The growth and advancement of US soccer has been nothing short of amazing and that’s why we’re able to rant and rave about our loss to the czechs (or any loss for that matter). It’s US soccer’s fault. It has become so good that a loss really, truly hurts. Sure the team didn’t play to their full abilities but, like Pop in “Friday” tells Ice Cube…”You win some; you lose some”. If you’re a true US fan, don’t put the team down! Let foreigners do that…so we can prove them wrong!
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