USA Flying High While Mexico Struggles

The World Cup qualifying rounds are starting to get exciting in the Central and North America’s.  USA won their recent two matches this round, with a 2-1 result at Jamaica and a 2-0 win against Panama at home.  However their neighbors to the south, Mexico, haven’t been having a great amount of success on their road to Brazil. 

With five draws out of their first six games in qualifying and only two more home games left, the Mexican team is going to need to make some sort of change if they plan on advancing.  Prior to their most recent 0-0 draw at home against Costa Rica, the manager didn't seem very confident or like he had a plan.  He was saying things that gave the message: it doesn't matter how we play, we just need a result.  If you aren't concerned with how your team is going to play a game, especially at such a high level, your team is going to look sloppy on the field. In the game, Mexico looked unorganized going forward with no real style of play.  The offensive tactics weren't the only thing that appeared to be nonexistent in the game, though.

When a coach makes these comments, it can only lead to negative attitudes from players, coaches, and even fans.  The Mexican players never looked like they had any fire or competitive edge in the game.  The only feeling that came from the players, and really the entire stadium, was a feeling of desperation and defeat.  In their previous draw at home against the USA, the Mexican fans were obviously upset which was demonstrated by all of their 'Boos' and whistles after the game.  After the draw against Costa Rica, the fans were silent.  They are scared and don’t know what to expect of their team. 

On the other side of the border, American soccer fans are feeling great right now. They are top of the table through the first half of the final qualifying round, and still have three games to play at home.  Not only are the results starting to go in favor of the Americans, but they are finally playing an entertaining brand of soccer.  They keep possession and pass the ball around well, and there are incredible improvements in the creativity in the offensive third.

The players have been showing confidence and composure from the first whistle, making their presence in the game known early.  USA needs one more thing (provided they advance like they should) in order to have a chance to do well in the World Cup: consistency.  If the players can keep their current level of form for the next year and if they can keep a consistent group of players together from now to then, they will surprise many opposing and doubting nations in Brazil 2014. 

USA plays their sixth game of the final qualifying round against Honduras on June 18 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  A win will almost guarantee qualifying to the World Cup, but the match will be a much bigger test for the Americans then their previous two.  Mexico doesn't play another game for qualifying until September, so the time off (and their time at the Confederation's Cup this summer) should provide an opportunity to get organized before then.

Celebrating a Century of U.S. Soccer

The United States took on Germany in an International Friendly this weekend, and the game marked 100 years for the United States Men’s National Team.  With it being a milestone, and with qualifying right around the corner, the match was very important to the United States.  However, with a poor result against Belgium in their other friendly earlier in the week, this looked a tough match for the American team.  

Germany (currently ranked second in the world) fielded a team with some big names like Miroslav Klose, Lucas Podolski and Per Mertesacker.  For the most part though, their starters in this match haven’t been getting consistent minutes in their recent qualifying matches.  The team that USA fielded looked very close to their optimum starting line-up with stars like Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey, and Jozy Altidore. 

Altidore opened the scoring early, when he was able to volley home a great cross from Graham Zusi.  Altidore had been showing great finishing abilities for his club team in Holland, but had a long goal drought playing for his country.  It was important for team USA to get their center forward back into scoring form, after not getting a goal from him in over a year and a half.  He also had the assist to the 3^rd goal, another nice cross to Clint Dempsey which he volleyed home. 

Dempsey scored the third and fourth goal for the United States in the match, the fourth proving to be the winner.  His game-winner was a nice curling left-footed shot to the far post from about 25 yards. That fourth goal was also the US strikers 35^th for his country, sending him ahead of Eric Wynalda on the all-time goals list.  Landon Donovan still remains 14 ahead of Dempsey as the all-time leader.

With a 4-1 lead late in the game, team USA looked to be getting complacent with their lead and let Germany back in the game with lazy defense.  The Germans were able to score two quick goals, making the rest of the game very nerve-wrecking for the American supporters.   In the end, USA was celebrating their 100 years with a 4-3 win, and more importantly gained momentum going into the next round of qualifying matches.

The Americans have 3 matches coming up for World Cup qualifying against Jamaica on June 7^th, Panama on June 11^th and then Hondurus on June 18^th.   If the USA can keep their form and momentum from the win against Germany, they should be able to get positive results from these next matches.  However, they shouldn’t be extremely overconfident considering the quality of players that didn’t actually play for the Germans.  USA beat the second ranked team in the world, but keeping things in perspective, it was more like the second team of the second ranked team.

Bayern Munich: Best in Europe

All of the experts predicted this one correctly, 2-1 for Bayern Munich over Borussia Dortmund.  The game was incredible with so many great chances for both teams.  Manuel Neuer and Roman Weidenfeller made huge saves throughout the entire game, and both keepers had to be on their toes for the full 90 minutes.  

Robben had been struggling to finish his chances, as he always seems to do in important final matches (last CL, World Cup final, Euro 12 final).  He missed three one-on-one’s in the first half, and looked very upset with himself going into the locker room at half time.  His curse of goalless finals was still haunting him.

The dutch lefty came out in the second half and was looking to be involved in every attack, playing with more urgency and purpose.  Actually all of the Bayern squad came out after half-time with something to prove.  Schweinsteiger also improved significantly from his first half performance, where he just seemed to sit in front of the back four and ball watch most of the time.  

The first goal for Bayern Munich came in the 59^th minute.  The goal was a great effort from Arjen Robben to touch the ball around the keeper after a through ball was played to him on the left side of the box.  He was able to cross the ball just before it went over the goal line, and it teed up perfectly for Mario Mandzukic to tap into a nearly empty net.

Dortmund was later awarded a penalty which Ilkay Gundogen scored in the 68^th minute.  The foul was called for Bayern’s center back, Dante, stepping in the private area of Marco Reus.  I could tell watching the play live that it was too reckless and should have been a penalty, but watching the replays made the foul appear more and more intentional.  Dante was very fortunate to not receive his second booking for the challenge he made, and the game would have been much different if he had been sent off the field like he deserved.

In the end though, the night was all about Robben.  I guess you can only get unlucky so many times before the hard work proves successful.  In the 89^th minute, Robben received a ball at the top of the box that was bouncing between defenders. He skillfully settled the ball and danced his way through three defenders putting him in yet another one-on-one with Weidenfeller.  He barely passed the ball across his body, wrong-footing the keeper and leaving him to watch the ball roll slowly over the line and into the net.  The curse is broken!

Bayern so far have won both the German League and the Champions League, and until this final game, they really didn’t struggle with either competition.  They play in the Final on June 1st for the German League Cup (DFB Pokal) against Stuttgart to hopefully complete the treble.  They were one of the most impressive teams ever, but wait.. they are forcing out their current manager that has brought them all this success?  I really see no logic at all in replacing your coach after a season that is probably the closest to perfect in club history.

Congrats to Bayern for now though, they definitely were the best team this year.  I hope, just for the sake of Jupp Heynckes, they can win their third trophy of the season.  

Not So Super Mario Gotze

Borussia Dortmund has announced today that star midfielder, Mario Gotze, will not be playing in this weekend’s Champion’s League Final match against Bayern Munich.  Gotze has already been confirmed to be leaving Dormund to go to Munich in the summer.  This transfer was announced nearly a month ago, days before the German midfielder pulled up with what seemed to be a hamstring injury in their second semi-final match against Real Madrid.  I’m not sure why the two clubs wouldn't wait until the end of the season to make the news public, because now so many things can be speculated.

It seems a little odd, the timing that things were announced.  Bayern Munich had a very easy time with their first match against Barcelona in the Champions League, winning 4-0.  Dortmund also had a convincing 4-1 win against Real Madrid.  With the Champions League Final pretty much set, Gotze and Munich feel that is the time to tell Dortmund that the #10 wants to be released to sign with their rival club.  The transfer window doesn't even open until July 1, so could Bayern Munich be trying to use this as a tactic to get in Dortmund’s minds? 

It may have already worked..

Did anyone else see Mario Gotze's hamstring injury?  There was no contact on the play, which is typical of most hamstring pulls/strains, but he isn't in a dead sprint or doing anything extremely strenuous when he first complains.  The ball comes to him again on the same play and he lobs it over the defense to a teammate who is offside.  He then decides that he cannot play anymore.  I pulled (not strained) my hamstring before after being in a straight sprint, and I needed a little help walking off the field; there was definitely no receiving and playing a ball in the air.  However, I was back to match fitness and able to play three weeks later in our conference tournament. 

I was a junior at the time so I was 20 years old, same age as Gotze.  He also probably has a much better diet than I do, and no offense to my old athletic training staff, but probably much higher quality recovery methods available.  I know that every injury is different, but with the conditions of his situation, I would expect a recovery by now to play in the biggest game of his life..

I want to point out that I am not calling Mario Gotze a faker.  I think that it is very possible that he could have pulled/strained his hamstring and that it is still not healed enough to play 100%.  However, it is possible that knowing he had a sure deal with Munich, Gotze didn't prepare for that Madrid game like he should have leading to his injury.  It is also possible that he hasn't been taking his treatment as seriously as he could to get back into shape to play against his future club.  If there were no transfer already on the table, all of Gotze’s focus would be on returning to the team to play in the Champions League final.

Dortmund will have a very tough time without Gotze in the final.  Star center back Mats Hummels is carrying a small injury as well, but has said he is healthy enough to start.  With Dortmund’s #10 on the bench, though, I have to switch my prediction to Bayern Munich as Champions League winners.

United Legend Retirement Trend

I’m sure, by now, everyone has heard the news that David Beckham is retiring from playing professional soccer.  He has a history of going out as a champion, winning titles in all of his final seasons with every club he played (ManU, Real Madrid, Galaxy, and now PSG).  Was anyone else half-expecting him to play one more season with Munich? However, retiring from pro soccer should definitely help his underwear modeling career.  In all seriousness though, he was my first ever favorite soccer player when he was still the #7 with Manchester United.

Beckham’s retirement comes just a week after United fans learned the news of the departure of their long-standing and well decorated manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.  He started a winning legacy at Manchester and was the longest employed manager in the league. Sir Alex will still be around in the front office, but the new boss will be ex-Everton manager, David Moyes. United are replacing Sir Alex with another manager that they hope will be in the position for a while (6 year contract).  Maybe other top clubs will take note on how success is BUILT…

Anyway, Sir Alex and Beckham are not the only United stars to be retiring at the end of the season.  Paul Scholes, who came into the team with the same group as Beckham, recently officially announced that this is his last season, as well.  I think we are witnessing the end of an era.  After this season, it will be tough to find a remaining active member from the fabled treble winning team.  Giggs is still somehow finding energy to run down the wings and looks like he is trying to go another year, but he has been struggling more and more toward the end of this season.   Phil Neville also played this year and wants to keep going, but he is another one that seems to have run out of gas.  Wow.. Could that really be all that’s left?

Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson.. All finishing their careers within a week of each other, all finishing their careers on top as champions. And it’s nothing more than what they deserve.  They will be missed, not just by United fans, but by anyone that enjoyed the game.  

First Post

In this blog, I will post just about anything dealing with soccer.  I've played soccer my entire life, just finished my playing career after 4 years at Winthrop University, and now I am a coach for a local soccer club.  I know so much about the game, but I'm always looking to learn more and welcome discussion.

I mostly follow the English Premier League because I think it's the most entertaining brand of football.  The fast paced attack and physical play is fun to watch, and there are a great number of top players from around the world.  I also pay close attention to the Champions League since it is the highest level of competition at the club level.  I love all of the international competitions, though it is tough to follow the World Cup Qualifying with little coverage in the United States.


EPL

All the important spots in the EPL have been booked entering the last week of fixtures this season, except the last Champions League spot going to either Arsenal or Tottenham.  Arsene Wenger's men have a point in hand over the Spurs, but face a tougher match-up traveling to Newcastle for their last match.  I'm not cheering for Tottenham to win over Arsenal, but I would like to see and American player in the Champion's League next season before the World Cup (Clint Dempsey..)

With Wigan recently losing to Arsenal, the relegation race is now over with no way out for QPR, Reading or Wigan.  It will be sad to see Roberto Martinez and Wigan leave the Premiership after barely surviving  for so many years.  It would have also been nice to see Harry Redknapp turn around QPR's season, but that team never looked destined to succeed.

Manchester United have the league trophy in hand, while Man City and Chelsea have the second and third spots respectively.  Oddly enough though, none of these teams will have their same manager next year.  I have confidence in David Moyes taking over the Manchester United job, especially with Sir Alex Ferguson around to help him along the way.  However, the gaffers taking the Chelsea and City jobs need to be prepared for constant scrutiny.  It seems the club owners accept nothing less than perfection, sacking managers constantly to find new ones that can hopefully produce instant results.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

An all German European Champions League final, with two very different yet very strong teams.  Bayern Munchen are loaded with extremely talented players, arguably some of the best players in the world in their positions.  Dortmund has a genius manager who continues to produce year after year even after losing their better players each season.  Bayern have already confirmed a deal signing the young Dortmund star, Mario Gotze, next season.

Even though the Munich side are such a strong team (beating Barcelona with a combined score of 7-0!), the game should still be very entertaining.  Dortmund v Bayern has been a great competitive rivalry over the years and they finally have the stage of competing to be the best team in Europe.  I want to pick Bayern to win based on their talent and results thus far, it's almost too obvious.  It's tough remembering the massive choke performance they gave us in the final last year against Chelsea, though.

Prediction for now: Borussia Dortmund = Champions League winners.