And now, the Spanish Armada

This afternoon, the CounterAttack and Fellow Football Junkie Friend were discussing the improbable: how the US can beat Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinal on Wednesday.

Almost all will say, that's impossible, and with good reason. This is the hottest team on the planet: European champions, winners of a record 15 consecutive international matches, unbeaten since November 2006, FIFA's top-ranked team, home to the attacking force that includes Fernando Torres, David Villa, Andrés Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas....

No, we're not insane, on drugs or for some reason thinking that it's actually a basketball game (or this basketball game) coming up. It is definitely a long shot and admittedly several factors have to go right, but it is not impossible that the Men's National Team beat Spain. We are not the CounterAttack for nothing, after all.

First, it was exactly 12 months ago that the US fought Spain to a veritable standstill for 80 minutes. It took an excellent effort from Xavi to bring the MNT down, 1-0. In this match, the US played smart and disciplined, cutting off Spanish passing lanes and preventing the Spaniards from spreading out and overwhelming the US.

That's one of the keys for the US to beat Spain: squeeze the Spanish attack so that they cannot use their killing speed. It can be done but it would take the same discipline as in last year's game. This time, however, they must also concentrate the entire match.

Michael Bradley will have to be the link between defence and attack. He has to sit back a little, in front of the defenders, shoring up the back and cranking up the attack. His job will be the most critical of all. As important, Donovan and Dempsey will have to fill the slots ahead of Bradley, spinning out to the wing when necessary, crashing inside as needed. All three have demonstrated they can fill these roles, which is encouraging.

Up front, coach Bradley has to pair Jozy Altidore with Charlie Davies again because skilled attack will be vital. Davies' work rate can complement Altidore's goal-facing style. But Jozy has to step it up. He has wasted opportunities in this tournament. This could be the coming-out party for the 19-year-old, but he has to make it happen.

The CounterAttack would have wanted Mastroeni as the midfielder behind Bradley for this match, for his size. By rights, that spot should fall to Jose Torres, who would have the chance to play the game of his nascent international career. There is no margin for error, and Kljestan and Clark just make too many mistakes. Torres can play on the ball and he knows Spanish style football, playing in the Mexican league.

The backs simply have to play as they have but without overcommitting. Gooch Onyewu and Jay DeMerit have created a physical presence in the back. If they can play physically against the smaller Spanish forwards, it might be enough to throw Spain off track. Spector needs to know when to stay home and when he can cruise up in the wingback role.

Most of all, the US has to finish its passes and take their shots on goal. Score early, inside the first 15 minutes, and then keep attacking without getting careless. The squad will be harassed and harried by the Spanish midfielders. If Bradley and (hopefully) Torres can hold the ball and spray it around, it will keep the Spaniards on their heels. Then the US has to score. Altidore showed in the Beckham Game that he can take over a high-profile match. If ever there was a time for him to explode onto the international scene, to prove he deserves a starting role for club and country, this would be it.

The tactics have to be set according to what the US can do, not what they will try to stop Spain from doing. That has proven to be impossible over the past 35 matches. So the MNT mentality must be to play their own game, adjust as needed, and play to the limits of their talents. The physical gap is not enormous, it is the mental hardness that the US has not yet honed consistently. It could be done for this match.

To be honest, while the CounterAttack and FFJF can see a potential US win, it is not likely. It would be enough to suffer a loss in a match where the US goes toe to toe for 90 full minutes. Let the MNT slug it out with the European champions, to show that they do belong. That would be sufficient. But why not try for it all?

After all, mighty Spain had similar overwhelming odds going for them 421 years ago, against another wannabe power, and look how that turned out.

The future, nearly here

Back to back matches for Jozy Altidore, and four more goals to his tally. Six in nine games is a legitimate pace. Can anyone doubt that he is the future of American soccer? Nah, this is what everyone expected from Altidore, the first true international striker the US has ever had.

The fun begins now, though. For the first time, the Men's National Team is solid up the middle. Altidore is a true go-ahead striker with a nose for goal. He is balanced by attacking midfielder Clint Dempsey. It remains a mystery why Deuce is not featured more for his club but the fact remains that this guy can play. Both attackers are supported by midfielder Michael Bradley, who was good enough to play below his own usually-high standards and yet remain effective. Behind them is Oguchi Onyewu, the imposing central defender called Gooch who is a monster in defense, strong enough to make up for lack of pace. And then the anchor, Tim Howard, the latest in a decade-long run of excellent US goalkeepers.

The revelations from the Trinidad & Tobago and El Salvador matches: Landon Donovan is an excellent winger, DeMarcus Beasley can play a wingback from the left side, and Pablo Mastroeni still has mileage left as a defensive midfielder. While Steve Cherundolo should still be the right fullback when he returns, Frankie Hejduk is making himself indispensable. I still think he wouldn't be as effective against top-tier sides; one goal and an impressive game-saving tackle make it impossible to overlook him.

Let's hope that Coach Bradley keeps this formation, with Donovan on the wing and Jozy up front. Heck, even the pairing of Jozy with Brian Ching could be really effective - Brian is strong enough to create space for Altidore if necessary, and he can mop up on goals, putting away second-chance opportunities.

It is the new role for Donovan, however, that really excites. Putting him a little further back in the formation means he gets the ball earlier, which puts his on-the-ball talents to work. He can still shoot and even wander into the penalty area but if defenders collapse on him, then Landon can simply dump out to Altidore... or Dempsey. Both have a nose for goal, and suddenly the US has a three-pronged attack.

Having Beasley as left fullback, in a wingback role where he pushes the ball up from the back, might be another stroke of genius. It all depends whether he can regain his ability to withstand physical challenges. If he can, the tradeoff in defensive abilities would more than pay off.

Of course, playing in Confacaf doesn't provide a good enough test of what's up. Beating T&T is not necessarily saying much. But then again, Holland had to play Macedonia - roughly the same test. That said, it's important for teams to beat up the weaker sides, so a 3-nil victory is indeed impressive. Let's not forget that the MNT can consistently beat second-tier European sides.

The frustration is when the MNT plays the Italys and Hollands in a match, friendly or tournament. One of these days the US will not be impressed by England's shirt and get a win against the Three Lions, which historically flatter to deceive.

What we can see now is the future of the US national side. US Soccer should look to schedule friendlies against top-tier sides, heading down to South America for a different style of play besides playing the usual Euros. And if they play European teams, they should concentrate on playing France, Spain, Germany in favor of the Polands of Europe.

This is a solid team that can begin to establish itself as a perennial second-round-or-better, and eventually perennial quarterfinalists. It's not an automatic path, of course, but watching Jozy makes it a more realistic possibility.