By SBI SOCCER
One more test stands between the U.S. Men’s National Team and October’s decisive Confederations Cup playoff against Mexico. That test is none other than mighty Brazil, which promises to over just the kind of stiff challenge the Americans need tonight (8:30pm, ESPN2).
The U.S. is coming off a 2-1 victory against Peru on Friday, a match that boosted the stock of a handful of American players. Those players will face a tougher challenge from a Brazil side expected to feature Neymar.
SBI will be providing live commentary on tonight’s action. If you will be watching tonight’s match, please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Tonight’s commentary is after the jump):
0-3 …. disgraceful performance. JK.. your squad is hopelessly lost! Too much plug and play, no cohesion, no representation of diligent training camp and a friggin game plan!
Now it’s 0-4 and probably counting.
BTW.. no one is giving any grief to Guzan, who let a goal line cross go over his head, lucked out that it hit lumber, before falling directly to Hulk’s foot! The first goal, the typical Guzan brainfart that appears in most of his games.. regardless of the many great stops he makes later..
BTW.. what were you thinking with your defensive strategy? Oh and what the f(**&% is with the Oroz/Alvarado center pairing? Were you banking on their experience working together? EFF u Juergen!
PS: Juergen, who are you going to trial for future playing time, during the mexico game? Got any new players to play out of position to higher expectations?
Are you watching the fame? It’s midfield being overrun. We don’t have the technical players or speed. The only thing we could have done was defend…defend..defend. We don’t have a single field player that would make the Brazil 23. Not one. That is HOW FAR behind we are at player development.
Oh beautiful. JK, what’s the excuse going to be this time? Oh, they played hard. I see 6-0 as the final score. You’ve been experimenting with this Team since you arrived. How is the experiment so far JK? Dude, you don’t have what it takes to be a Coach. You look like a deer caught in the beam of a headlight. Dude , do the right thing, walk away.
Do you fail to see how insanely good Brazil is? Touch, speed, vision…
If Klinsmann were the Brazil coach and Dunga the US coach, would the result have been much different? Only a fool would think so. I’m not saying the US can’t play better, but Brazil is a whole different level above.
If Klinsmann were the Brazil coach and Dunga the US coach, USMNT would have cynically and defended more, but still would have lost 3-1, with the play entirely in the USMNT half. It would be like watching Greece play…well..anyone. The truth, US doesn’t have technical players.
Why does Bradley take set pieces?
to be fair it hit his own player, the player should have moved, maybe it was on target, we’ll never know, lol
Because Landon Donovan isn’t available.
Might as well have matching glacially slow wingbacks so they can motor up both sides at will.
Time for the boys to show some pride. Run. Hit. Bite. Push. Pull. If a fight doesn’t break out before the final whistle I’ll lose all respect for this team.
Michael Bradley is quite frankly a liability out there.
Can someone take a shot? I’m bored
This is so bad, incredible
Anyone know how to tackle? Bunch of foot poking and standing around.
After Brazil 2014, we need a new management and coach, and revamp youth system.
Generations go up and down. This is a weak US generation, but the 23 and under are much better.
as Dennis Green once said: “They are who we thought they were…”
Good news is this should just about end the Ream experiment, slow and getting burned all over the place.
Bad news is I wouldn’t have a clue who to start. Jones to the backline again?
I think we just need to experiment more with lineups.
It’s like a non-stop barrage: take or luca lima to bring on lucas moura
I don’t forsee the US getting past Mexico in October.
Ream is silly with his feet, but so, so , slow. So, pretty much the same as he’s always been.
Damn, ream is silky. Frickin auto correct
Spector is also technical and his 40 is done by hourglass. This is international soccer, we have to be mobile.
Remember Spector? What a guy. The difference is speccy doesn’t play for us anymore.
Well don’t I look silly. He’s baaaaaaaack
JK has lost the plot bringing Ream and Spector in, shows how lost he is on how to fix the defense. The second half against Peru flatters this bunch who just suck right now.
Wut r u talking about there isn’t a more dynamic pair in the whole pool. Clearly the most forward thinking choices to
Spector went off into the wilderness last time after teams like Brazil used to run by him like he was standing still. He’s not mobile enough for the level.
And Ream disappeared after similar experiences against teams like Germany a few years back.
Funny but if you go back those are the sorts of games we got drubbed like today.
The defense has problems but they only get worse if backs can’t even keep up with their men.
Spector MOTM
As I pointed out the other day, he is good enough for CONCACAF, but for top teams? I don’t think so. He is technical, but slow. Then we have Yedlin who is fast but not technical. Our players who are both–DMB and F Johnson, weren’t available.
Team is silly with his feet, but so, so , slow. So, pretty much the same as he’s always been.
Should we read anything into that Morris is coming on before Johannsson?
Yeah, they both worthless, so the order does not really matter.
Finally! a long range shot!
Has anyone else noticed that under Klinsmann we seem to handle European teams rather well but Latin American teams seem to own us. (Well not Mexico) I dunno why that is….
On the ball that led to the second goal, it sure looked offside, even on replay, unless there was a US player on the other side who was off screen and not visible on TV. Anybody see differently? And Cameron is having a terrible game as he was caught way out of position again.
Cameron is trying to cover for the two jamokes playing the position he should be playing at CB.
Altidore looking like prison-honey…Brazil’s defense has Altidore locked tight.
No long-range shots from USNT.
He didn’t look good against Peru, either, run of play. He lucked into the deflection he put in, and got a PK. This does not make him any good for us in a possession attack or creating chances on tougher nights.
LOL. Neymar with his Altidore impersonation.
i think that play died because jozy needs to move into open space.
the guy in the corner had NO ONE open to pass the ball to.
Oh they’re just so much better than us.
Bedoya got tossed around like a piece of dirty tag. He was slow and out muscled. I think he brought his C game tonight. Any way JK does not have a history of optimization of his players full potential
He always place them in a lose/lose situation.
Zardes and Altidore look lost, while Jones looks very old Tonite.
Yedellin and Cameron are doing alright.
in the first half, i think zardes was frustrated, he dropped WAY back i guess to help out on leaky D and try to get a few touches on the ball?
Zardes just got out muscle
Cameron DID NOT look good tonight. Brazil is a couple classes above.
Every Brazilian has Yedlin’s speed and actual ball handling skills to go with it. USA has played many games against Brazil over the years and this is the worst we’ve played by far.
I find it weird yall are talking about Jozy at all… what is killing us is bad passing in Midfield and Yedlin being unable to pass.
I know we don’t have a real right winger but Yedlin needs to do more than be fast and decent and crossing.
Bradley can play a perfect 35 yard chipped pass, but doesn’t know what a through ball is.
While there can be little doubt that Brazil was the better team, did anybody else find Ian and Taylor’s commentary to be a bit over-the-top? I’ve watched us play Brazil numerous times over the years, and there have been far more lopsided affairs than that 45 mins.
In other news, Jozy looks drunk.
+1
Jones also looks about 50%. Played longer than expected vs Peru, may be showing
Can you just shut up?
I mean the defense isn’t doing to bad. Kind of a lucky bounce, but Jozy again this game doing mostly walking around per usual
Jones should have been taken off NOT Bedoya.
Bedoya, are you serious? You are just taking up space on that Team. Jozy, you are playing as if you are afraid. JK, you are what I thought you are. You cannot evaluate talent or field a cohesive Team.
Are you serious? Bedoya is not a defensive midfielder and getting subbed after 35 minutes is 100% on JK. We now don’t have one of our most dangerous attacking players for the second half because JK asked him to do too much, it didn’t work and he had to be pulled. He could have started Williams and brought Bedoya off the bench if we needed a goal. Also, Jozy needs someone to play off of him, he’s on an island.
You think Bedoya is one of our most dangerous attacking players?
We are going to bring Bedoya on for a goal? He has like 2 in appearances for the US.
44 appearances*
Williams for Bedoya in the 35′? …ouch
Can’t really disagree, he was getting man handled
Sorry but this is a varsity vs JV scrimmage. This lineup is doing nothing
Right, it must be the lineup.
Brazil is bound to lose interest in this game eventually and then we’ll hit them with an Alidore hat trick
Geoff’s flick to Yedlin tho…..
20 minutes in i like what i’ve seen from Cameron
as i type, 21′ giveaway from Cameron, lol
x2…
Some of the worst turnovers have come from Cameron, Bradley, and Jones. The one play where Cameron came all the way to practically the top of the box, cut inside and then made a bad pass,, with him ending up on the other side of the box had me screaming at the TV. A really bonehead play by a seasoned player. He left the defense and especially his side totally exposed. You have to hit a cross or take a shot so you can get back.
what a fortunate bounce off the post to come right to Hulk, darnit…
whats going on with the field?
its grass laid on turf…
Jordan Morris second half brace, calling it
Why are 90% of referees fat? You would think with all the running they do they would not be fat
Well it’s just a really defensive lineup, or safe lineup. Not in terms of persons but style n positions. I really wanted to see Morris get the start just to se how he does against Brazil. Bradley and jones probly gunna be alternating positions during the game and Jozy gunna walk around, I would be shocked if he was pressing half the game
I hope they run thru the CBs like a hot knife through butter. Something has to wake Klinsmann from his coma. Bedoya at DM lmao… watch the clutch and grab as they blow past him.
I dont think this alignment with these players will be competitive. Im going with 3-1 Brazil
If the Gold Cup wasn’t a wake up call then why would Brazil be one.
Because JK lives in an alternative universe and is in total denial He needs his nose rubbed in it tonight and by Mexico
Hulk vs Jozy arm wrestling match
I actually don’t hate this lineup. I’m not sure I would’ve picked it exactly like this but it’s better than some I’ve seen from JK.
Same. Jozy up top, Guzan at the back for certain. He likes Zardes and Yedlin as his best wingers, and they seemed to have good chemistry working with the same outside backs last game. Gotta play Jones and Bradley, and Bedoya needs to be the last dude in midfield because he’s better than every other option. So when Besler is gone, Brooks is hurt, and Ream is locked outside, Alvarado is really the most logical choice at LCB. Orozco vs Gonzo is a toss up.
Really… I’m agreeing with slow?!
We’re doomed.
This game is a tuneup for Mexico. The result doesn’t matter. What matters is how well we play. It doesn’t matter if we play better than Brazil because anyone who thinks the US can play better than Brazil is delusional. They are faster, quicker, and more skilled at practically every position. What matters is how well the US plays compared to how well it usually plays.
Then we’re still doomed, except in an aesthetic and technical sense.
I’ve always been in favor of Klinsmann, but this lineup is just f***ing weird.
We only have 3 CBs (Alvarado, Orozco, Omar) available because Ream and Cameron are playing out wide. I would probably have gone Omar and Alvarado.
Orozco and Alvarado pairing. Hah! That’s the one pairing that nobody on SBI predicted. Probably nobody in the United States predicted it. Score another point for Klinsmann, he is kicking our butts with these lineups. Just when we think we got him figured out ……
I can’t decide if I like it or hate it. I am neutral on this one.
It’s all over. We’re done. Might as well turn off the TV now. It’s moments like these that I wish I didn’t give up alcohol.
With Brooks out and Besler back in KC, I think the only controversial choice is Omar. Either there’s something he doesn’t like what he sees or he’s choosing speed over Omars presence in the air. Probably why the
4-2-3-1. I guess he could have gone with Williams over Bedoya
I can’t see the US doing to well with this lineup. Hopefully JK will make the right changes in the second half. That is if it’s not already hopeless.
Maybe but my question is why does he get it wrong in the first place
I have no idea, but it always appears that the US plays better after changes are made. I’m pretty upset though that he chooses to lineup like this before the big game with Mexico.
US lacks anything going forward 2nd half he should throw on mix for yedlin, sliding Bedoya out wide and dropping MB where he should be. Pull off Jones and throw AJ up top. Who cares about the back line its so messed up anyway.
JK will probably put young fast guys up top instead that really should not be playing before such a big game knowing that they wont/should not be playing in a big game.
This game is all about psychology. We need to go into the Mexico game confident and with positive momentum.
Ideally Mexico gets their behinds kicked by Argentina later tonight and limp into the Rosebowl next month.
Does anybody remember when the US team played a much better Brazil team than we saw tonight, in a game that actually meant something (as opposed to this game which — like recent Holland and Germany games — was completely meaningless and a scrimmage to our opponents)…and we won that game in the Confederation’s Cup? Hard to imagine now — with the complete lack of direction this team has displayed for years now. Very sad. Remember that Confederation’s Cup — it happened and was real. Hard to believe now. Where are we headed? And this is not on the players. Sunil and Jurgen, you played us for a while. But the truth comes out after a painful honeymoon to nowhere.
Um. Brazil beat us in the Final 3-2. It was Spain we beat in 2009.
Yeah, we were up on Brazil 2-0 but then Spector and Co. couldn’t keep up and they won 3-2.
Listen, from a Brazilian, let me tell you the Confederations Cup means NOTHING! (and we beat the USMNT). It is a glorified friendly. I support the US as well, but real/strong football nations don’t hold the Confederations Cup as anything. The US team did not play well, but all we did was expose a US team that was (1) slow, (2) lacks technical players (in midfield especially), (3) can’t string passes together, (4) lacks creative players.
While JK is not the best coach in the world, the only thing US could have done was be more defensively organized, but Brazil still would have score 3 goals on them.
USMNT cannot bunker and counter against Brazil because Brazil is FASTER. All 4 points have to do with what players the US develops (and not coaching), and this generation is weaker (technically) that the previous — ’05-’11. The US has a plethora of MEDIOCRE players and fewer stars/technical players. Coaching changes are not going to affect that problem. All Mourinho would have done is cede possession, defend with 8/9 players and leave 1 or 2 as an outlet.