by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
Carlos Bocanegra has been listed as questionable for the United States men's national team's Confederations Cup opener against Italy on Monday (2:25pm, ESPN).
Bocanegra picked up a hamstring injury shortly after scoring the game-winning goal in the U.S. team's 2-1 victory over Honduras in World Cup qualifying on June 6. Although the U.S. captain has been working with national team trainers since arriving to South Africa, his availability for the match against the Azzurri remains up in the air.
Watford defender Jay DeMerit is expected to fill in for Bocanegra if he cannot play.
Do you see Bocanegra playing today? Think DeMerit can get it done against the Italian attack if Bocanegra cannot go?
Share your thoughts below.
The problem with starting a player with questionable fitness is not just in game performance, but also having to waste an early substitute.
Thank god it’s DeMerit and not Califf
I’m an Italian-American but root for the U.S. in these matches because…well, I just do. I don’t try to analyze it too much. It is what it is.
But, Roberto… there isn’t a single player who has ever played for the U.S. that would crack the Azzurri starting XI. And I love the red, white & blue with all my heart.
Let’s look at Italy’s “luck” in the last 15 years: Italy lost a WC final on PK’s in ’94, the quarterfinals on PK’s in ’98, the debacle that was ’02 as the refs gifted S. Korea wins over Spain and Italy, the Euro final against France in ’00, last year’s loss in the Euro’s on PK’s. I don’t buy your “luckiest team on earth” comment…not by a long shot.
OH, WHEN THE YANKS
(oh, when the yanks)
GO MARCHING IN
(go marching in)
OH, WHEN THE YANKS GO MARCHING IN.
I WANT TO BE IN THAT NUMBER
WHEN THE YANKS GO MARCHING IN!!!
No need to panicabout Boca.. It’s just italy, the luckiest team on earth!! I would be worrid if it was Spain .. Come on!! Italy with all it’s wc championships is still overrated and I don’t consider them that dangerous,that’s just me
According to the cablevision channel guide, it’s still on espn. Brazil v. Egypt is ESPN2.
-Mike
(Bradley in deep thought)
Bocanegra out huh? (scratches head) Turns to his assistants ” Hey maybe we can put Donovan Back there…hes fast right? ”
Moron…
If he plays defense like he did vs. Honduras – big loss
now if he plays like he did vs. Costa Rica……. bring on Demerit
This last minute “change” on the ESPN Network is exactly why I always DVR both ESPN and ESPN2 during the game time. This way they cannot dick me over. Come on USA!
My fellow mafiosos,
I’m writing from Ghana, where I’m working for an MP this summer. There is some serious Confed Cup buzz here, though no one particularly cares about the US. The first day I got here, they were showing a marathon of classic Confed Cup matches all day and night on TV. I’m trying to find a place to watch the US game tonight, but I’m in a rural village so it might be difficult… but I’ll find a way, somehow. Oh, and we would miss Boca, but not too much. Demerit is legit.
Announcers mentioned the game is on ESPN later and I checked my guide and the College World Series is on ESPN2 with USA and Italy on ESPN. Not sure where all this talk about the game being switched to ESPN2 came from but nothing to worry about, its still on ESPN.
Lets go Egypt!!!
USA v Italy game is still on ESPN.
COME ON ‘LOS! GET BETTER!… in less than four hours.
I just received a vision…here it comes…Jozy scores a header in the first 15 off of pretty driven cross off of Landon’s left foot. We go in at half 1-0. That’s all I got right now. And Demerit saves a ball off the line.
BRA 2 EGY 1(after 12. min.)
One thing about demerit is that he is gonna play his total heart out for this game. Might be good.
I really want to stay up all night and watch this game. Anyone one know of a good online feed?
Did anyone read Jozy’s Diary on ESPN? He welcomes Jermaine Jones to the Red, White and Blue!!!
It’s good to see he’s being accepted by the guys!!
Who are the back up Center Backs now? Califf and (shudder) Mastroeni?
I guess if push comes to shove, you stick Spector in the middle, and put (shudder, again) Wynne out right…
Does anyone know of a way to catch this game online other than ESPN360?
Has there been a change from ESPN to ESPN2? I will need to get the wife to make adjustments.
I know it is sad….I’m slowly stepping into the 21st century….
Give Demerit a shot and let Boca rest for Brazil (and pray that he’s ready by then). The good part is that I’ve seen Specter rise to the occasion when he’s facing overwhelming opposition. I distinctly remember a West Ham/Man U match two years ago where Specter literally shut down Ronaldo. Ferguson actually had to switch him to the right.
I also remember the brave performance Bornstein put into the Argentina match. Messi tried again and again to break down our left flank and Bornstein was there. We’ve got players who can step up their game and deliver. Let’s hope they do!
Jack you still use a VCR?!? Wow.
Conrad has played and did very, very well against Italy in the most important tournament in the world, now he can’t even get called into camp over guys that only sometimes play for their teams. He’s post peak but leadership and experience are still premiums to be sought in your bench options. Maybe we’ll see him and Marshall come Gold Cup.
Hamstrings are tricky, and if Boca’s playing with one he needs to be very careful. Pop that sucker and he’s looking at missing some Qualifiers.
GO USA!
Carlos can not play left back. He’s too slow. But any team can beat any team on any given day. The question is can we do it three games in a row.
Jay played well in EPL when Watford was up so i think he is capable. Would LOS be missed oh yeah. But Jay can step it up for one game.
So this is what I want to see from our team. Attack the Azzurri!!!!! They are down to 3rd choice CB I think. Also, if Gattusso is in the line up he has been out of action for a while. Attack him. If we lose but we take the game to them I am happy. If we sit back and suck up pressure and get beat anyway that is not a building block for the future. GO US!!!!
I also think we can win today. Those performances against Costa Rica and Honduras were a ploy by master tactician Bob Bradley to lull Italy and Brazil into a false sense of security. USA 3, Italy 1. Jozy scores twice. Immediately after the game, I win the powerball lottery and hook up with Jennifer Anniston.
ESPN web site shows it as ESPN and not 2…I set the VCR for ESPN…Ives let us know if it has changed!!!
Sure seems like some key guys have picked up injuries just in time for this tournament. Edu, Ching, Frankie, now Carlos? I’ll be most interested to see how the team gels with an XI that I personally wouldn’t consider the US starting XI.
Frankie = hurt, didn’t make the roster for this one.
Wishing that Chad Marshall was available, but Demerit is pretty darn good. I don’t think there’s a significant drop-off in talent. I think Carlos’ leadership and chemistry with Gooch makes the real difference there.
We can play with these guys… i thinkthis team has grown since last years spain/England trip…
ESPN2???? what is this this?? Another last min change can someone please confirm if that’s a mistake? It was supposed to be ESPN
As long as Califf isn’t in there, I’m happy.
+1 for K1p’s solution.
probably so sox, That being said I think it is fun to speculate leading up to a game. There are victory’s within a game, and measuring sticks to compare oneself with. I wish the “we are going to get pwnd” crowd would just wait and join the “I told you so” crowd and post after the game.
ok, sox, maybe they shouldn’t play then if it’s already decided. Hell, we can all just nap or play golf this afternoon.
look.
we’re getting beat.
demerit or los. it’s happening.
I don’t think they brought Frankie, did they?
Bummer on Bocanegra but don’t rush back a hamstring. Wait for Brazil whose attack is much scarier than the Italians.
Maybe, (just wishful thinking?) Demerit has a good game and Bradley decides to go with him in the middle and Carlos in the left back position from here out.
Is Frankie healthy? How about Spector in the middle and Frankie out wide? I don’t trust Demerit. At least it’s not Califf though.
i would guess that los will play. just my thoughts
While I believe that Bocanegra is a crucial part of our team (he’s the captain, after all…), I’d rather have a fully fit DeMerit than a questionably fit Bocanegra.
We still have Brazil on Thursday.
Captain Claudio Reyna missed out on Portugal in 2002.
That’s it, that’s the only parallel I can draw. That’s the best I can do.
I’m a big fan of the Goochanegra pairing in the center of defense, so it stinks that Boca may not be able to go. But it’s a great chance for Demerit, so I hope he takes full advantage of it and has the game of his life.