Good morning all. The U.S. men's national kicks off its World Cup preparations tonight when it takes on the Czech Republic (8pm, ESPN2) in a friendly that will decide the roster fate of several fringe players.
On Monday, it was the U.S. team's opening World Cup opponent in action as England's World Cup preparations kicked off with a 3-1 victory against Mexico at Wembley Stadium.
Goals from Ledley King, Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson made the difference against a game Mexican side that played the better soccer through most of the match. Mexico connected on twice as many passes as England, but squandered several quality scoring chances in defeat.
The English weren't the only world power to win in exhibition play on Monday. Argentina flexed its attacking muscle in a 5-0 thrashing of Canada in Buenos Aires. Maxi Rodriguez scored twice while Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero added goals in Argentina's final pre-World Cup tuneup match.
Here are the highlights (along with some other news items from Monday and today):
—————-
Portugal humbled in scoreless draw vs. Cape Verde
If Cristiano Ronaldo is going to have that statue erected like in the new Nike commercial, both he and Portugal are going to have to step up their game.
Portugal failed to score a goal in a 0-0 draw vs. Cape Verde on Monday. The tiny nation is currently ranked 117th in the world.
Hurtado suffers torn ACL
Seattle's forgettable season got a bit worse on Monday amid word that standout defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado had suffered a torn ACL. The injury should keep Hurtado out for the rest of the season, though Sounders officials were still holding out hope that he might be able to return before the end of the season.
Algeria loses midfielder to injury
USA Group rival Algeria won't have the services of Mourad Meghni, who failed to overcome a knee injury in time to make the Algerian World Cup squad.
—————————
What did you think of Monday's friendlies? Impressed with England, or did you come away believing the United States can beat the English? Think Seattle can overcome the loss of Hurtado?
Share your thoughts below.
England beat Mexico the same way we beat Mexico…set pieces, counters and a bend but dont break defensive approach…
Mexico has always been weak on set pieces, especially to teams with big defenders/strikers whom they can serve the ball to on corners and free kicks (how many goals have you seen Bocanegra score against them?)
Given this weakness-Im always surprised that Mexico didn’t make a run at Omar Gonzalez of LA Galaxy-he’s 6’5″ and had the potential to fill a big need for them
That goal from Glen Johnson was epic. It helped too that 5 Mexican players did nothing but ball watch. 🙂 Even King’s header was uncontested by defender #5.
Mexico’s tactics are not going to work against efficient European teams like England and Germany. Mexico need to be more ruthless in front of the goal than squander chances like they had. Seems they always try for the perfect 3rd or 4th pass before someone takes at shot at goal.
Never seen Giovanni dos Santos play with that intensity while he was with Spurs. Had he shown that sort of grit and determination, he wouldn’t have been
loaned out to Ipswich and Galatasary.
“In fact, I’d wager Jozy would outscore Rooney in that situation.”
That’s an unrealistic stretch. But your point is well-made.
Wow, you are so wrong. Seriously, reread that sentence where you said Jozy would score more goals if Rooney were on Hull. You realize that Jozy didn’t even start half the games. You honestly think Rooney would not be starting every game and playing every second? Thank you for proving my delusional point. Just, wow…
Ha, seriously, how many people honestly follow Cape Verde? Your statement is pretty ridiculous. But of course, you clearly are a real fan of world football, unlike us lesser fans…
I do not know what match you guys watched… take away two set pieces and poor goalkeeping and England got waxed in all phases of the game… Mexico tripled them in shots dominated possession and in general controlled the match… only Johnson’s goal is worth a mention… you guys all seem to want to bow down to these guys…”oh they played bad and still won without some of their best players”… HOGWASH
Cashley Cole…ha Donovan owns him…
Lampard…cant hit the broad side of a barn door wearing an England shirt…
If the US can mark Crouch and not get toasted on the flanks…England will have a very tough time with us.. and they know it too…
I really hope not. I’m looking forward to a great match between the Portuguese speaking rivals…don’t dissapoint me!!
NO! I follow world football and I honestly did not know that.
Put Jozy on ManU and Rooney on Hull and that goal disparity would be rapidly closed. In fact, I’d wager Jozy would outscore Rooney in that situation.
I’m not saying Jozy is as good as Rooney, but what team you play on has a lot to do with how many goals a striker can score (possession, service, etc.).
3-1 is a very convincing win. A- England side against the A team of Mexico. Time for El Tri to worry.
8 years ago…
Meghni is a huge loss to Algeria. Not that they had high hopes, but losing one of their best players is a massive loss. It was a wise choice by the FA however, to not play him since he’s not 100% fit.
I thought Mexico looked very good on the ball. England did not do a good job of sitting back and absorbing the pressure; Mexico should have scored 3 goals in the first half. Did Robert Green win the starting goalkeeping spot? He made some clutch saves.
I still fancy our chances against England. We match up well physically, and will hurt them on the counter. Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole won’t stay home forever. When they push up, we’ll have our chances against Rio and John Slowsky.
Oh, my bad — you’re asking where he WOULD have played. Center-mid, playmaking role, starter….I think.
The scouting report is….he doesn’t play anywhere right now, because he’s out of the WC with a knee injury. Too bad for him; hopefully good for the US: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/790106/ce/uk/?cc=5901&ver=us
To be fair…anyone that follows world football knows that Cape Verde are a much improving side with several players plying their trade in Portugal… It was also an intense rival match for them against their once colonial oppressors…Portugal looked great until the final 3rd the entire match.. they simply looked like the US does when trying to break down Guatemala’s bunker ball style..
Speed isn’t just how fast you can run. Mexico’s pace combined with their skill means they can outmaneuver a solid defense through possession and good movement.
The US version of speed is more of a lull the opponents forward, than look for chances on the break. Can definitely be effective, but not necessarily comparable to mexico.
Inter Milan too. They averaged 47% possession throughout the Champions League and are the European champions. Enough said.
What’s the scouting report on Mourhad Meghni? Would he have been a starter? Is he one of Algeria’s better players? Where does he play in the midfield?…
Thanks for any info.
You mean like giving up three goals to the United States in the first half. Yup that will never happen.
I’m sure Capello was disappointed with the performance, he said he was. Vela just seems too nervous in front of goal. I wouldn’t take too much from this game because there were so many missed chances that 5-5 would have been fair.
Capello said that Mexico’s speed gave them problems. Overall, I’d saw we’re faster than Mexico, so that’s interesting.
If you haven’t seen the new Studio 90 over at the US Soccer site…check it out. Starts out a little slow but ends with a great LD @ Everton piece. Amazing how far that little production has grown since 06.
Sorry Shark but the way i remember it was exactly as Steve C heard it. They defintiely laughed (as did I) when talking about Johnson’s speed vs Blanco. It was funny. Sometimes the truth is funny. It’s ok to laugh – especially at a 37 yr old overweight Blanco.
Pat Onstad is pretty good though… HA!
If you saw the game Portugal still dominated… It’s hard to get motivated playing a team like that and they let some of their goal opportunities slip away, something that will NOT happen in the World Cup.
Another significant note from england-mexico: despite the talk of experimentation, capello started the strongest squad available to him (chelsea players were not in consideration). He did not start an all-audition team.
I’m really hoping bbradley does the same tonight.
He straight up said he is over weight… I think that is disrespectful enough, regardless of how “complementary” he was of him being able to still play.
Bogus… But funny.
I wasn’t too impressed with England. Terry, Rio and King have a hell of a time dealing with speed. Having Ashley Cole will provide some valuable cover for them. Rooney showed glimpses of his old self (earlier in the season) but I don’t think he’s totally fit. Give him a small knock on his bad ankle and it could be trouble for him.
Hey Ives, can we get another exciting Canadian Corner soon? I can’t wait to read about the power that is the 6th best team in CONCACAF
Let’s be honest, England didn’t play that great and were missing some of their best players, and they still beat Mexico 3-1. Do you really think the US would have beaten Mexico is they played below par and were missing Donovan, Dempsey and Bradley? No way in hell. I don’t understand why a lot of people on here are acting like we can take England after this game. To be fair, I think most of the fans on this site are just as delusional as the English are. Our best striker scored 1 goal in the EPL, theirs scored 26, and that’s just a small example of their talent compared to ours…
Agreed. To me the take-aways from the match for the English team was the speed of the wingers and their execution around the net. Green looked OK in net, but tended to give up rebounds off shots from distance. For Mexico their Lack of Marking on set plays appeared to be thier biggest weekness. They’ll need to address that in a hurry.
I kind of think England should’ve done their best to completely thrash Mexico to send a message, but they looked slow and out of sorts in the first half. Mexico actually outplayed them the majority of the game, and the game could’ve gone in a completely different direction if a penalty was called on King and Green didn’t make that great save. So, overall…I was happy with the game. Walcott and Lennon did look really speedy.
Not true at all…only once did they say it…and actually Martin Tyler was very complementry of Blanco and his skills at 37….I’m glad we could set straight your misrepersentation of what was ACTUALLY said….oh and they never laughed at him once…you tell good fiction stories though…:)
I would have to agree. There were a few tackles in the second half alone that would have seen a few Mexicans sent off.
no way. their dictator, Little Kim, is going to pull the team from the Cup at the last minute so that they can all help him to sink a few more South Korean ships.
I thought England looked pretty good yesterday, granted the suspect officiating. They’re an explosive team who can find the back of the net with relative ease. I look forward to getting at least a point from such a good side :]
Mexico looked good too. If not for two badly taken shots and a first half, no-call penalty the El Tri may have won that game.
Portugal… wowsers.
Argentina… wowsers (for opposite reasons)
Well, they really only called him overweight once.. and it was Martin Tyler. He was commenting on how he’s 37 now, overweight, but he still brings his style to the team. It wasn’t entirely a knock on the man.
The other time, Tyler commented on Glen Johnson’s speed tracking back for a ball, and the other commentator said something to the sort, “Well, to be fair… he was racing against Blanco.” to which they both chuckled. (I did too)
Argentina looked like they were having fun… but it was Canada afterall – they should win by 5 every time out against Canada.
Guillermo Franco reminds me of Randy Travis.
North Korea
after Brazil who do you pick to pull up second in that group?..
Portugal (Cape Verde?) or Ivory Coast (Sven?)
I wouldn’t read too much into the Mexico-England match, esp. in terms of reading England’s game. Capello didn’t even dress any Chelsea players (three of whom are likely starters). That’s not to say they’re style will be much different, but the execution will be.
if there was a real world cup official refing the game mexico would have been down to 9 men by the end and peter crouch would have been called offside every other time he saw the ball, including his single hand ball goal… and people think MLS is sloppy!
Well, I think the Mex/Eng match gives me more hope of the US defeating England in a few weeks. If the US presses and then can finish they’ve got a good shot. Mexico just needs to finish, they looked dangerous with the ball and awful without it. Let’s hope the US can finish the good chances they get.
Cape Verde? How embarassing. The Portugese team must have been suffering from a letdown after having to quickly find Cape Verde for an opponent after Bhutan backed out of a scheduled friendly.
I found myself rooting for England yesterday, their the lesser of two evils to me. being a hispanic USMT fan who lives in south texas, I have seen the worst of the arrogant Mexico fans. But come June, Im certain my view point will change.
Loved how the commentators kept calling Blanco overweight and laughing at him during the broadcast….LMAO.
England proved its not how much possession you have, but who puts the ball in the back of the net…Scoreline says enough….
England didn’t look sharp, but still managed to get a comfortable home win, so you have to give them credit.
One thing that was notable was the blazing speed of Theo Walcott and later on, Aaron Lennon on the wing.
Not too impressed with England or Mexico. That said, I love how England say they were “experimenting”, playing down the win at home and how Mexico came out with their starting eleven. Good luck on Wednesday, Mexico. Hope this tour works out for you.