None of the players on the pitch for the USA today were creative playmakers like Adu. He and Donavan are the two best attacking midfielders we have had in a while, they both "think" the game ahead of everyone else, and that makes a huge difference.....they are like our elite PGs..... DD
I agree that you can't use missing players as an excuse, but not being able to bring guys because of injury can affect the end result of the tournament. It's like saying we didn't miss having Yao in the playoffs against the Jazz. We could have still won without him, but it's a lot harder. But the guys that did play should get a lot of credit, to play a man down for 87+ minutes is tough. And in the end they almost pulled it off.
good tourney guys, and like someone said we will see you in the confederations cup! That will be a big test for the US... I believe mexico beat us in the final in 99 and thats there proudest moment. Anyways we got to deal with cameron. Im dont like the matchup...African nations always give us problems in olympic play
There are a number of things that one call question Nowak for doing. For example the player selection. 3CBS-Parkhurst, Orozco and Ianni, 1 RB and no Left back especially after Sturgis went down. Too many similar Center mids( Why the need for Dax McCarty???). Giving McBride too much PT despite the fact he hasn't played competitively since May while keeping Davies on the bench till today despite the fact Davies has been red hot in Sweden this season. I never rated Nowak well as a coach and I still don't but at least it's not all his fault, only partly. Stupid foul by Orozco but a little harsh by the ref to show the red that early instead of giving him a yellow and warning him. Silly mistakes by my boy Stu towards the end of the match vs Holland and a silly 2nd yellow by Adu in the 2nd match. Bradley and Adu both got BS yellow cards in the match vs Japan but that is part of the game and players learn from it. Good learning experience by the US, It will sting but they'll be better for it. Plus Marvell, Stu, Mo Edu and even Charlie Davies in his short stint enhanced their case for the full Nats team.
brasil V Argentina Semis Should be good. ARG will probably be favored to win. Their playing well and they will have the two best players on the field (messi and riquelme). BUT, we do have their number and they are known chokers So I like our chances. I wish ronaldinho had more desire, if he was motivated he could still be the best in the world. The problem with brazilian stars is that they are lazy... Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho...
man, we looked like we were going to take that game...we outplayed them in the first half...than that clear handball goal turned that game upside down and they waived off a clearly legal goal later in the half...just not our day
Ummm....Romario and Ronaldo are all time greats who have had long and accomplished careers! (in fact I think Romario is still semi playing somewhere). Ronaldo's declined b/c of injury but started when he was 17 and was great til the last 3 years or so (he's suffered multiple ACL tears and other knee injuries). I love Ronaldinho but he looks like one lazy mofo with no heart-what a shame
dude, Im from brasil AND let me tell you Romario is Notoriously lazy… Sure the guy loves to play on game day but you will never find him on the practice field…Romario make Iverson look like Yao ming in regards to commitment to practice… One story I heard in Barcelona was when Romario was there back in 94, he told his coach he would score 30 goals and he wouldn’t practice, of course romario scored 30 goals and didn’t practice…Also Romario never leaves the penalty area, he is famous for that in brasil. We say he stays in the “bathtub” in Portuguese. Ronaldo I love the guy but he’s also another lazy mofo…look at how big that guy got the last 5 years…
