Photo by ISIphotos.com
In case you haven't seen them yet, here are the highlights of the U.S. national team's three goals in its 3-0 victory against Egpyt, a win that helped the United States qualify for the semifinals of the Confederations Cup.
Charlie Davies, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey scored the goals that helped the Americans pull off what seemed impossible when the day began.
Enjoy:
Paulo, excellent post. I believe a truly world class player will come at some point. As young immigrants grow up watching the US do well in tournaments, they will dream of playing for the US. That’s why anyone who is cheering for the US to lose so Bradley will get fired is idiotic beyond belief.
Tim, Michael Bradley will one day thank all the “f—- experts in America.” That was the only thing that motivated this team. Finally, the team is starting to be held acccountable when they play like crap.
wow good quotes from Bradley Jr …
but, still, this is one win, let’s see how we do against Spain …
back ’em words up, Bradley, back ’em up on Wed
yeah should’ve done this orginally, but heres the link to the story: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=656457&sec=us&root=us&cc=5901
Wow an even better quote from Michael Bradley.
“We played with 11 guys for 90 minutes,” Michael Bradley said. “All the f—— experts in America, everybody who thinks they know about soccer, they can all look at the score tonight and let’s see what they have to say now. Nobody has any respect for what we do, for what goes on on the inside, so let them all talk now.”
I don’t think Dempsy was bad. Who on the bench is better? Adu?????? He has promise, but at present he can’t play at club level. We need some size and some players who are good in the air and can pound with tackles to have any chance against Spain. I might go with this same lineup.
Great game for the USA — doesn’t mean we’re a top-tier team, but it certainly means we have the cojones to survive a group of death. That could come in handy next year.
BTW, where’s Kizz?
“At the end of the night you walk into the locker room and to be able experience the feeling you have with your teammates, your coaches, with the trainers, that’s why you play,” Michael Bradley said. “To do something special like that, where everything is against you, everybody wants to say how bad you are, everybody wants to write you off, to leave all that bull s— outside the locker room and just be committed to the team, to leave everything on the field, to run for each other, to fight for each other, that’s what we did.”
I thought this after the Olympics and I think this now. This guy should/will be captain, and really is becoming the leader of this team.
Ps2. And my parents, unlike Rossi’s, would have kicked my a$$ had I thought about playing for any other team.
My father came when he was 37 year of age and he is the biggest US Soccer fan I have ever come across …
True story: the ONLY time I have ever seen tears in his eyes was when Germany beat the U.S. in 2002.
My family is the perfect example of an immigrant family that roots for the U.S. with abandon. There are more of us out there.
Ps. I don’t want to start up the whole Rossi thing again, but I think some here should hear my perspective:
– I was born in Brazil and moved here when I was 8. Until an injury knocked me out, I was a very good player (not saying Rossi-level, but still pretty damn good). I can honestly tell you, that no matter how good I would have become, I wouldn’t have thought twice about playing for any other team than the U.S. I believe that there are others like me (and with significantly better skill) in this country … we just have to catch a break and the superstar will come soon enough.
Ulrich, who did deserve to go through then?
lol at ulrich.
Congrats to Mr. BB and the boys! This victory was huge. I definitely am having an extra helping of humble pie tonight (and loving it! USA USA!!!)
Does anyone else think Donovan is averse to shooting these days? Am I going crazy or does he almost always lay off a pass near the goal? Someone please explain.
I am VERY interested to see how we play against Spain … I don’t even care about the score, just the way we play …
Hopefully we don’t bush-league it.
Italy has no business being in the next round after the way they played the last two matches. Egypt has no business being in the next round after the way they played the match today. Get over it!
Bradley has gotten a lot of flack – some fair some unfair – but what was clear today is that the team went after it.
What I find striking it is the third game in a row we have gotten screwed. The handball on the goal line was a penalty and perhaps a redcard – yes that would have been harsh but the officiating just doesn’t even out if you are American. Yet we won in spite of it.
Overall we have looked like a very capable team that if I were a top side would not want to play in the world cup. The Italy game we looked fantastic until the ref went overboard – and the Brazil game could have been closer if the red wasnt given and if we had had clark and not Beasley on the field.
You are all delusional. The US may have won the game, but it was because Egypt was suffering from hangover shock after beating Italy. Our first goal was an opportunistic fluke – great hustle by Davies, but nothing to write home about. The second goal was classy, but would it have happened if Egypt wasn’t suffering from so many injured players – not so sure about that. The third goal was just luck. Dempsey does nothing all game, loses the ball quite a bit, doesn’t hustle, and he scores this goal…. good for him. While I won’t take anything away from his goal, the fact is that Bradley should have taken him out of the game due to his ineffective play. The ONLY reason he was still on the field was because Bradley is too stubborn to know when a player needs to be subbed – look, every dog has his day, and today was Dempsey’s, but the fact is the US has no business being in the semi-final after the way they played the first two games…..
Had the USA lost this game, Bradley would have been gone, but now we’re going to suffer for the next year because of this win. Mark my words, DMB will find his way back onto the team, so will Sacha, and neither will deserve their place. A lucky game and we’re now stuck with the coach.
What a difference two hours can make! A national soccer writer said a couple days ago that the USMNT is not in the top 50 in the world. Now, everyone is back on the bandwagon.
I sent an e-mail to US soccer this morning that Bradley should be fired. I stand by that statement. This is the problem with rush judgements about one or two matches. I contend that the match against Spain is the most important match in US soccer history (up to this point). The US is a second-tier team so far incapable of beating anyone in the first tier. This is the time to break through that barrier.
We can beat Spain. We match up well against smaller teams that play that style (Mexico, Argentina).
It will not be easy, but we can put the pressure on them. EVERY player must play well though, they better GET UP for this game.
I’m psyched about Spain … I think we can play a good, competitive match. Will we win? Not so sure. We’re still a notch below the Spain and Brazil’s of the world in terms of skill … and in the knockout stages of these world-level tournaments, skill makes the difference.
Saying that, the only way teams like the U.S. (that have B-level skill) win against “better” competition is through organization and attention to detail … as well as self-belief.
Sit back on Wednesday and we get destroyed, plain and simple. Like Lil’ Wayne says “Just let it rock” … attack those AVE-riding, tapas-eating fools:)
I’m trying not to get TOO caught up in the moment (so as not to set myself up for disappointment on Wednesday), but don’t our boys seem to have a bit of “Team of Destiny” aura about them after the good play and even better luck of today?
The haters are pretty ticked off right now. Let it go and enjoy! Sure I want to see Torres but I never would have predicted advancing before the tourney so I’m lovin this.
We are going to need skill on the ball & a tough middle.
—-Altidore——–Dempsey—-
Donovan–Clark–Bradley–Benny
Bornstein-Demerit-Onyewo-Spector
You know what I think? Spector is really impressing. Has he made mistakes? Yeah, but I’m happy with his performances on both sides of the ball. I am looking forward to his continued play for the Nats and hoping his progress continues. I think Spector is a notch on the Pro side for BB’s decision making (though he has had several Con notches as of late too).
It was a nice goal by dempsey but he was a liabilty the whole game.
I was more or less indifferent on Bradley as a coach, but i think he deserves credit today. I thought the US was(finally) in a more attacking mindset. He played with more offensive firepower, had a good plan and it paid off. I truly think that this was what the majority of USMNT fans wanted from him.
I think that Ricardo Clark should go to Europe. He needs help with his touch and passing so he doesn’t give away the ball in deep positions like I’ve seen him do sometimes. He needs to be able to have a higher success rate with his tackling and control his temper as well. If he wants to be a big part of the MNT he needs to go to Europe, that’s the only place he’ll truly develop.
Spain only beat Iraq 1-0 when it still counted. Just saying.
As I said after the Costa Rica “debacle.” All of the hate can come out, and lots of “fans” can give up on what they call “their” team.
And I’ll still believe in MY team. Believe that in any and every game, a moment like those conjured up by Caligiuri, Stewart, Jones, Mathis and Feilhaber can occur.
This game was one of those games. Today was one of those days.
Kudos to the boys, to Bob, to US Soccer. Results from Brazil and Italy notwithstanding, the team provided what we needed, when we needed it.
We’ll see Spain on Wednesday. I hope they’re ready… (And I’m sure they are…)
Because the Yanks are comin’!
Flat out amazing. Flat out wonderful.
We were always better than our last, woeful performances.
There was so much to be pleased with today.
The sad fact is, Bob Bradley is still completely inadequate.
Spain’s a class above EVERYBODY right now, but if the nats play a smart and assertive game, avoiding cardable challenges, they can give Spain a match.
Donovan showed again that he’s not ready or willing to be the go-to guy for the US, but his effort all over the field today was crucial. As long as you don’t put the game on his shoulders, he’s a more-than-capable two-way player.
As much credit goes to Dempsey for a well-taken goal, he’s gassed and needs to sit. I say put Feilhaber in, keep Rico, Donovan, and Bradley in midfield. Rico covers far more ground than anybody but Donovan, and we’ll need it against Spain. Their speed of play will mean he’s late to a challenge or two, so he needs to keep his head and not put himself at the ref’s mercy.
If Boca’s ready to play, put him out wide and start Gooch and Demerit as CBs. Jozy and Davies (who hopefully got a great shot of confidence, which is so essential for a striker) up top. If/when Spain takes a lead, Adu and Torres are the first two subs off the bench.
I love how Bob Bradley Mr Magoo’d his way into the semifinal and all of the sudden he is this brilliant tactician.
I’m still stunned. The best part about this? We get yet another top 5 team. We really got our money’s worth out of this tournament. I said it before and I’ll say it again, it was a great call to take the A-team to the Gold Cup instead of Copa America.
We won this game in spite of bradley, not because of him. Didn’t we only use two subs?
Why didn’t we sub dempsey for Torres after his goal?
Why put in Conner Casey?
Why didn’t we start Adu or Torres and let Dempsey be the supersub?
Anyway, I am happy for use, but Bradley still has suspect judgement
Alidore-Dempsey
Donovan-Clark-Bradley-Davis
Boca-Gooch-Demerit-Spector
Spain will likely dominate possesion, but this lineup creates speed on the wings(Donovan,Spector,Davis, Crossing will cause problems for Spain)
Bradley and Clark will stop (hopefully) everthing through the center.
Subs:Adu or Torres even both,Feilhaber, other as seen as necessary.
Harry, I’m done with you trying to turn every comments section into a Freddy Adu love-fest. Freddy Adu has NOTHING to do with this post. You’re getting very close to having all your comments blocked so keep that in mind going forward.
4-4-2. Keep it simple. 4-4-1 if someone gets red carded.
Yeah, it’s good to automatically get two more games that really count for something out of this. Spain and then South Africa. We could actually take 3rd! That’d be great considering how we started.
A great victory for the USMNT and a reversal of fortune from the previous games. I know that Egypt may have been fatigued from its earlier matches but so could have the US team been tired (they did play half of their previous games a man down). What was beautiful was the touches they made. They seemed much more relaxed. This series should serve them well as they build to the World Cup. Let’s see if they can keep their composure vs. Spain.
You know what folks? We are what we are – a good team, behind the rank of the top teams, but on any given day capable of beating anyone.
I pointed out a couple days ago that if you change two plays in the first two games, the Clark red card and the Beasley short corner disaster, and we’re having a different conversation. Now we’re in the second round and Gusippe Rossi are going home. We showed heart, character and answered a million critics. Bradley made changes and showed faith in guys he believed in. And it paid off.
Great day to be a Nats fan. We’re not suddenly in the top tier, however, just like we were not plummeting out of the top 100 like some would have us believe a couple days ago. We are still the same team we were heading into the Confederations CUp…and we can be proud of that.
It’s kind of nice to know there aren’t really any set rules about commenting here (none that i’ve seen anyway) and our valuably-time spent (ha) posts are getting deleted. What? My voice ain’t important like everyone else’s? j/k Ives, still love the site.
lol Harry, I posted a comment ABOUT your video, not a post of a video, and it got deleted. I think if you type the word video or youtube it gets deleted several minutes later lol.
I don’t actually hate him or call him a traitor… but for me the only way this could have been sweeter is if that own goal in the Brazil game was off of Rossi. No hard feelings for his choice to play with Italy (mostly because we just stole Jermaine Jones), but I would have fallen to the floor laughing if the tale had twisted that way.
F’in right doggie, that’s good cake.
I love the Galavision announcer. What is his name? His Happy Birthday goal call a few weeks ago was classic.
The real miracle here is that the U.S. finally played and finished with 11 men!! It makes the game so much easier. Clark send-off against the Azurri took a little wind out of the sails but the U.S. played well enough for a tie. I think the sub for Altidore was a mistake even though the youngster was clearly gassed. Did you see how he stretched out the Italian defense 3-4 players on him most of the time. That was 3 players who coul;d not attack. US lost Beasley in another stupid call and had to play Brazil shorthanded, although not as long as the Italian game.
Get all the players to stay on the field and goog things can happen like today.
Coach Bradley cannot be faulted for his choices and rotation of his players. The fitness of the US team was evident in all three games. The technical skill by the US opponents and costly US mistakes in the Italy and Brazil match were somewhat offset by the US’s fitness.
The Spain game may be interesting, but I think the US will be playing in the 3rd place match on Sunday. But you never know…..
What a miracle! Gotta love US soccer. Still in disbelief, wow.
Don’t Tread on Me. USA BABY!!!
I just hope Bob wakes up in the tactical area…………
———–Altidore—-Demspey–
-Donovan————————Adu
———-Bradley—-Torres/Clark—-
And then Davies as the supersub with his speed.
first goal went in, I was like “wow…thank goodness for a goal from open play”. Then as the game wore on and it was suddenly 2 and then 3-0 to Brazil, and I was like, “no way…Brazil’s done the work, but we need 2 more goals. Goal #2 for the USA then involves me flipping incessantly back and forth from the Italy/Brazil and USA/Egypt games (because I did not feel the the ESPN broadcasters would keep me up to date enough on the situation). Goal # 3 from Dempsey involved me jumping from the bed spilling water all over the floor and dancing around like an idiot. Then another tense channel flipping escapade for the final minutes of the game. At the final whistle I was just exhausted. I could not believe that after 2 terrible red cards, uncalled handballs in the box (Germany, you know I’m talking to you too), that the soccer gods would actually bless the USMNT.
Just a great day to be a fan.
Harry, I agree that Adu needs to be a super sub…Altidore can play 65 mins then have Dempsey go up top for him and let Adu fill in the attacking mid role… Donovan needs to keep up the attacking so that they cant focus on either one. Spain showed against Iraq that they are not like Brazil…they are very good but still beatable… not sure that Brazil is beatable at the moment so 3-0 does not look so bad now.
Now that we are playing Spain….the same exact team that Adu was our best player by far and he was the only US player to be able to figure them out………….lets see Adu get the start against Sapin. It probally wont happen but he shoudl at least be a 60′ minuter sub. man, the way Adu was corkscrewing Puyol,Sergio ramos and Alonso last year was sweet.
Now official…the likelyhood is very small. 3-0 for US over Egypt and 3-0 for Brazil over Italy puts us in by goals scored since Egypt will be -3 and US and Italy -2 but US scoring 4 goals to Italy’s 3…head to head means nothing in 3 team tiebreaker…
Anybody want to take bets on Brazil playing its trainers?
Posted by: Andy in Atlanta | June 18, 2009 at 04:29 PM
Just thought I would post the above for those that feel USMNT fans have not faith….We played well against Italy until Rico and the Ref…. Brazil showed they are another class so who cares… the point is we were not as bad as people wanted to make us out to be and that showed today. Well done boys, I believed in you…