Starts today, with the US's first match tomorrow. For those that don't know, this is the Under 20 World Cup. The US has been drawn in the "group of death" along with Argentina, Germany and Egypt, however I'm hopeful that we can advance to the knockout round since we defeated both Argentina and Egypt in a tournament a few months ago. The future stars of the US National team will be on display, guys to look out for include: Eddie Gaven, Danny Szetela, Jonathon Spector and of course Freddie Adu. All US games will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel starting with tomorrow's opener against Argentina at 10:30 AM. Some info about the team and competition can be found here: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=183563
We defeated pre-tournament favorite Argentina 1-0 in our first match, Chad Barrett with the goal. Adu looked pretty good, but missed a penalty that would have put us on easy street. Unfortunately, Manchester United defender Jonathon Spector was taken off in the first half due to injury, hopefully it's not too serious and he will be ready to go for the remander of the tourney. Great 3 points for the US.
Overall I thought the US did very well. Adu, Wynn, and Barrett all played great. The goalie was the only player that didn't do well at all, he seemed very small to be a goalie and got out of position on a couple of crosses leaving the net wide open. I'm not sure why Argentina didn't start Messi, he seemed to be by far their best player and caused the US the most problems.
I didn't see the game of the Usa. But i'm looking forward to watching Adu play. Argentina was a bit disapointing, i like the team of columbia, and ofcourse the home team
Update: The US with play Germany at 1:30 on FSC in a match between teams that won their first game of the tournament. A win would guarantee the US a spot in the knockout round.
It was huge difference in skill from mls, that was easy to discern, but was good fun soccer. Adu made a nice behind the back pass were he kicked the ball up with his heel (as he was double teamed) and hit it about waist high behind his back perfectly to his teammate 15 feet away. That was probably the high point. He had some flashes that showed how much better he was than the other players. But he did hit the post on the penalty kick. Good clean shot, just got unlucky and hit the post. Our goalie was absolutely horrible tho. First he wears that spike haircut, then on corners he leaves the box and doesn't even get a hand on the ball. He did that like three times. I was so frustrated. He's a wildcard. He's quick on the shots, but on corners and crosses he's like a duck waddling around.
We looked great in the first half, really outplayed the Germans. The second half was brutal for both teams. With 4 points after two games, and the weakest member of the group in our next match, we look like we'll be heading to knockout rounds.
I watched the replay last night at 10PM and the first half the US was in complete control but the second half was horrible for both teams. Germany almost scored twice late in the game but other than that there was little to be excited about. I thought the commentators were hilarious though with their comments about how boring the play was. One of them said that "at least the ball boys are working effectively", and "when the crowd has provide entertainment for themselves by starting a wave then you know the play on the field is bad." I liked their sarcasm. I can't wait for the real World cup next summer.
Here's a site with highlights from all of the games. http://www.nos.nl/noswktot20/dagoverzicht/samenvattingen.html I wasn't able to see the Germany game but it looked like the US was able to create some good chances, most of which were created by Adu. Watching the highlights of Colombia's first game they do look very good, they had a few passes to players making runs that were perfect.
magnomonkey you are right. Quincy has been the revelation of this tournament. Maduro is also a pretty good player. personally i like afelay the best. About the team usa. I think they played with to much respect for germany, they have a better team, but they lacked the killer instinct. I hope holland will win tonight. And i hope the usa will also do good, i want to see more of Adu. does anybody know if Adu has talked to european team? about going to europe?
From USA today, "Adu has ambitions beyond this tournament and this MLS season. He responds enthusiastically about the prospect of training in Europe, and he doesn't deny that he's interested in playing for a big club overseas. Just not yet. "It's a long-term plan. Right now, I'm not ready to go to Europe," Adu said after the loss to Dallas. Still, he is asked constantly about European interest. He laughs at reports of Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson pleading with him to cross the Atlantic, saying he's never met the manager. He says kind words about Ajax when a reporter tells him the Dutch club is watching him but shrugs off any suggestion of immediate interest on his own part or the club's. Next year is when Adu says he'll be interested in checking out European interest. He'll turn 17 just before the 2006 World Cup in Germany; that's how old the great Pele was when he made his World Cup debut. Adu hasn't played for the U.S. national team but is listed in the player pool. In a recent interview with USA TODAY, U.S. coach Arena downplayed the importance of the World Youth Championships in determining his player selection. Adu thinks Arena will be paying attention. "Of course he'll be watching," Adu says. "Bruce always watches.""
From what I've heard, he'll either end up with Chelsea or Man United. Abramovich will throw alot of money at him, but I have a feeling Glazer may want him to further open the American market to United. However, he can't move to England in the near future since he won't be able to get a work permit until he starts playing consistently eith the National Team. I can't see him joining any other league, with the except of La Liga, if Real come calling.
Adu is impressive. In the highlights of the match, everyone can see he is clearly the best player on the field.
I am sure Adu will develop into a great player. But honestly, to see him playing at Manchester United would be .. bad (?) I don't know how to put it. IMO, comparing Wayne Rooney at 16 and Freddy Adu at 16 is no contest. I think Adu is 16, and he can't score in the MLS. Wayne Rooney was 16 and took the EPL by storm. His Rocket against Arsenal was just a beauty to watch. If Adu isn't managed correctly, he won't be half the player that Rooney will both enter their prime years. And I think that Fergie will have retired once Adu decides to roll around to the English spectrum, guys like Carlo Ancelotti and Frank Rijkaard are guys that can make Adu a good player. IMO, guys like Mourinho, and Capello, carry that demeanor that doesn't set a good example. Other managers, Benitez and Wegener, good guys also, but haven't really reached that level of greatness, yet. Even if Benitez carried Liverpool towards winning the Champion's League. It's amazing, Milan beats United, Liverpool beats Milan, but United beat Liverpool, consistently. Wegener hasn't seen success in Europe. But it really comes down to Adu. I've been watching the games, and against Germany he played mediocre. Against Argentina, he made a few good runs, showboated a little. But as of right now, the kid from the Nederlands, Quincy-what's-his-face can really become good. He assisted on goals, and beat 4 Japanese defenders to set up a goal. When I say good I don't mean Maradona or Pele good, which Adu can maybe reach. Quincy is not Cruyff good. But Gascgoine good, Van Basten good (when I say that I am lamenting the fact that his career ended short). You can't compare him to Platini, Zidane, or Ronaldinho, they all play(ed) differently. Adu really can become a brilliant player, but his career could be a lot like Van Basten's. Destined for Stardom, Van Basten easily could've taken the torch from Cruyff, as can Adu, but if Freddy gets injured or lets it get to his head, his career will be a what-could've-been, not a what-really-was. I think Adu can be Maradona, Pele, Cruyff good, but I think people are looking into this a little too much, maybe because he really is damn good, or maybe because he is an American. But right now, he can't be compared with the all time legends of the game, and in my opinion, he can't even be compared to Rooney.
FYI...USA vs Egypt live on FSC @7:30 am on Saturday. A win gets them through. Egypt has been eliminated. Freddie Adu needs to get out of the US as soon as possible. I know part of the problem was that he wouldn't be eligible to play until he was 18 because of the EU's work restrictions. He needs to get to the higher levels soon so that he doesn't plateau in the US. I have a bad feeling that we are seeing the best of Landon Donovan. Not that it's a bad thing. It's jsut that he is capapble of so much more. It's a shame he couldn't make it in Germany because it would have made him a much better player. I can tell a huge difference in Demarcus Beasley since he went to PSV. He is extremely confident with the ball, makes intelligent runs, and plays good defense. You can tell he has really soaked up the "total football" concept. Once Freddie gets some European influence into his game and players like Eddie Johnson get more experience, the US is going to be a force. 2010 is not out of the realm of possiblility for a US World Cup victory if these players can get the experience they need on the international stage.
