MNT marches on, getting ready for ENG

Some positives came through after yesterday’s final tune-up match v Australia:

The midfield seem to get more solid with each outing. This is an increasing trend since WCQs. The unit is tidy and and seems to be hitting its collective stride at the right time. On the attacking end, they offer options, hold onto the ball against pressing defenders, and distribute as and when; all have been historical concern. In defense, the MF work well to disrupt attacks, continuing a formula they discovered v Spain in the Confed Cup semifinal. These days, they seem to spring counterattacks much quicker…and with more accuracy.

The squad knows each other very well. Team chemistry is overrated but players that actually like each other tend to fight harder for one another. These guys seem to really enjoy playing as a squad. This can be a critical edge – a player having a rough patch can be buoyed by his team mates, restoring confidence. There also very much seems to be an us-against-them mentality at work in the US locker room. As Sir Alex Ferguson would say, a tough mental edge can often be more important than physical fitness.

Scoring is suddenly a feature. Let’s take that in context – we’re not saying the US has the next coming of Pele, or even Paolo Rossi. But with Gomez and Buddle clearly in form, Jozy Altidore no longer needs to think he must carry the scoring load. Less pressure might help him. Add proven midfield scorers Dempsey and Donovan into the mix, and the US suddenly seem a threat up front.

Of course, a few negatives have also emerged:

Jay DeMerit cannot start at center-half. He’s looked shaky throughout the warm-up friendlies, unsure of himself and not mobile enough to defend properly. Yesterday, he committed three fouls within 24 minutes. But his replacement would likely be Goodson, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Hopefully Gooch Onyewu is ready and fit for ENG, paired with Chuckie BlackMouth from his inspiring role as left wingback to the center again. Cherundolo on the left and Spector on the right could minimize a lot of damage. It’s all moot, though, if Gooch isn’t ready to be effective.

Robbie Findley and Rico Clark should not get meaningful minutes. Findley wasted two golden scoring opportunities. Goals are at a premium at the World Cup, so Findley condemned himself to the bench with those. Contrast with Hercules Gomez: forced a save and created a corner within two minutes of entering as a sub, and then scored the third US goal. THAT’S how it’s done. Rico is a slightly different issue: he just doesn’t offer enough to leave Torres (our preference) or Edu on the bench. A borderline inclusion to begin with – the CounterAttack thought Robbie Rogers should have been on the Final 23 at Clark’s expense – Rico has done nothing in these friendlies to show otherwise.

Coach Bradley’s conservatism could be a problem. Torres and Michael Bradley would be an excellent pair. There is very little chance, however, of Bob Bradley doing that. Baby Bradley and Torres seem to play the same role – holding MF – so Bradley won’t want to “waste” a spot. But Baby Bradley is more attack-minded, while Torres prefers to be a field general. They could start together no problem. Similarly, Torres and Buddle should start v ENG, with Altidore coming off the bench. Again, Coach Bradley is too dogmatic to even consider either.

Overall, the problems are about lack of depth on the MNT than anything that has to happen on the pitch. That’s ok – few squads have a solid starting lineup throughout, much less depth on the bench (just ask Fabio Capello). Remember: a US “B” side just played the Czechs to a standstill (final score aside) and then beat the Turks. Just five years ago, the MNT A side would have had a tough time against either.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign, however, is that no one seems to take the US seriously. Yes, some MNT supporters are a bit over the top but few others have caught on. The truth is, this is a very talented side. No top-tier superstar, but few are as solid top to bottom. It’s strong enough to go far with a little luck, and the US is due more than its share of breaks this time around. For once, the ball might bounce for the MNT.

Bring on the Three Lions!

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.

Fine Michael Bradley, now get it done

After leading the Men's National Team to a 3-0 win v Egypt, Michael Bradley rounded off on all MNT critics. His legitimacy was the squad's improbable advance to the Confederations Cup semifinal:

"All the fucking 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. You play Brazil and Italy. Breaks don't go your way. We play down a guy for 90 minutes out of 180 minutes against two of the best five teams in the world. It's not easy. We didn't for one second feel sorry for ourselves. We didn't give up. We kept running, We kept fighting. We did the same thing tonight. So what goes on in the team the last two or three days? Nothing different. Guys get ready for the game. Guys believe in one another. Guys are ready for 90 minutes to go out and run and fight and give everything they have for the next guy, put their heart and soul on the field."

Fair enough, Michael, fair enough. A historic win, a tough result v Italy, all true. But now, the CounterAttack's rebuttal:

You talk about heart, running, fighting, giving everything, putting heart and soul on the field?

Prove it.

Play lights out when you're up against a team like Spain, in a match no one thinks you deserve. Show them you do belong. Give the fence-sitters a reason to jump on the MNT bandwagon. Be flashy, athletic, clever, attractive... be American. Own your shirt, your status as an elite player going up against other elites. Be the ball.

You want to say "up yours" to all the critics? Good, me too. Give me a reason to not be disappointed. Because it wasn't about the scores, it was about the silly send offs, the casual goals surrendered, the botched passes, the missed crosses. But we want to believe, desperately and with all our hearts.

Because we're the ones that have to hear the mocking laughter from the other countries' supporters. We're the ones that have to rage against the SportsCenter machine when they list the scorers of the ITA-BRA match... but not of our own national team. We're the ones that have to see our countrymen wear the shirts of other national teams but are embarrassed to wear that of the US. We're the ones that are bothered because American players get valued less or are relegated to the bench, simply because they are American. We seethe, silently.

You see Michael, we're in this together but you're the one that can get it done. Specifically you, Michael, you lovely cocky bastard, you are the one who can make your teammates better because you are that good, the best of your generation, the best on the Men's National Team, one day the best-ever American player. All we can do is try to hold your feet to the fire.

So don't rest on last night's fantastic laurels. Get it done again on Wednesday. Whatever it takes, just get it done. And know that to the true fans, 'getting it done' doesn't mean winning. It just means giving us a chance to win.

It's all we ask and honestly, it's as much as we deserve.

Photo via ISIphotos.com