Soccer Goals: When the US faced one of the "favorites", Portugal, odds of earning a solid result were slim to none.
Despite the late game (or early game start depending on your take), the USMNT offered a performance that rendered me speechless. Oh, and by the way, I woke up my roommate with cheers of joy, as the US enjoyed a first half lead.
An incredible game and moment in US Soccer history.
I have downloaded this game for your enjoyment thanks to Yanks Abroad Soccer Highlights.
Soccer Goals: For those of you waiting for the USMNT to face the talented Oranje, the final friendly before Coach Bradley selects his South African roster, the gameday has arrived.
With the Oranje boasting the advantage in talent and home field advantage, the USMNT will utilize this game as an audition for the fringe players who will impress and make the squad. The US will have their hands filled on Wednesday night as the Oranje will feature stars such as Robben, Sneijder, Kuyt, De Jong, and Babel. If the US can provide a strong performance against the stacked Dutch side, several positives can be taken from this game.
Soccer Videos: Gameday edition of the USA vs Netherlands
Soccer Videos: Carlos Bocanegra interview
Here is a proposed lineup that I believe Coach Bradley will field against the Oranje.
----Altidore-----Johnson
Donovan-Edu-Bradley-Holden
Bornstein-Bocanegra-DeMerit-Spector
----------Howard--------
If Bradley feels like the 4-5-1 would benefit the USMNT more in the first half, this is a starting Xl that we might see.
----------Altidore-------
Donovan----Torres----Holden
--------Edu-------Bradley---
Bornstein-Bocanegra-DeMerit-Spector
----------Howard--------
If they fall behind in the 4-5-1 formation, it is possible that Coach Bradley will convert to a 4-4-2 with either Findley or Johnson receiving time as second striker.
What formation do you think the USMNT will field? Who will impress in this game? Will the USMNT finally score a goal against the Netherlands on Dutch soil? Share your thoughts.
Included are blogs that discuss Soccer Goals: The Netherland's friendly gameday arrives
Soccer Goals: After a heart-filled display but poor performance against El Salvador resulting in a 2-1 victory, Coach Bob Bradley selected his 20-man roster that will face Oranje. Only three players from the El Salvador friendly were called into this camp (Robbie Findley, ClarenceGoodson, and Heath Pearce).
Soccer Videos: Post game reactions from the US vs El Salvador friendly
Despite a solid display in central midfield and adding the game winner in stoppage time, Sacha Kljestan was omitted from the roster and appears to be a fringe player on the outside. Interestingly enough, the speedy Robbie Findley received another callup despite an average showing.
Rangers team mates, DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, graciously received an invitation and could make a case for their inclusion against the talented Netherlands. Despite their injury woes and lack of consistent playing time, the two could find their way in the starting lineup if they perform well in the camp.
Bradley still rates Jose Francisco Torres highly as he continues to receive his customary callup: But will he earn sufficient playing time? Aspiring to earn playing time with the Pachuca midfielder, Stuart Holden hopes to make a lasting impression and earn a starting spot at right wing.
In the twitter world, Freddy Adu announced that he has picked up a hamstring injury, which could have cost him an invitation, but not playing regular club football for the past two years might have caused his omission, despite his improved form and playing time with Aris FC.
With Freddy Adu sidelined, attacking newcomer, Alejandro Bedoya, receives another camp opportunity, where he can build on his first training camp and game. Considered a long-shot to make the team, Bedoya does offer a two-way game, strong in the attack while remaining defensively committed during the game.
With Eddie Johnson's recent emergence in Greece and the other speedy forwards unable to take grasp of the position, the GAM has received another invite and could provide the speed element, while, also, aptly being able to hold the ball under extreme pressure. If Robbie Findley experiences another sub-par performance, it is likely that Eddie Johnson will assume this position if he continues his recent form.
Here is the US' 20-man roster
GOALKEEPERS- Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Tim Howard (Everton)
DEFENDERS- Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
MIDFIELDERS- DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Landon Donovan (Everton), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), José Torres (Pachuca)
FORWARDS- Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki)
What do you think of the roster? Is Freddy Adu out of consideration? Who will make a statement in this game? Share your thoughts.
Included are blogs that discuss Soccer Goals: Bradley names 20-man roster to face Oranje
Soccer Goals: After the US offered an incredible 2009 Confederations Cup performance, several USMNT supporters greeted Landon Donovan after he returned from South Africa. Shocked by the large crowd receiving him with chants of "Landon Donovan", the US interntional expressed his surprise and joy upon his arrival.
Fast forward a year, and the USMNT that will face El Salvador on Wednesday received a warm welcome from Tampa fans, as they left the tram from Tampa International Airport. With Tampa being considered as a potential city to be included in the World Cup bid for 2018 or 2022, the fans and buz surrounding the game demonstrates the potential in the city, a market that previously embraced the former NASL Tampa Bay Rowdies.
In 2007, when the USMNT faced Ecuador in a friendly where the US won 3-1 thanks to a Landon Donovan hat trick, the US supporters showed their support with a strong crowd, despite the poor 2006 World Cup showing. The attendance reached 35,000 which proved to be a pleasant surprise and demonstrated the fan base in central Florida.
Will the USMNT play more competitively? How many people will attend the game? Share your thoughts.
Included are blogs that discuss Soccer Goals: The USMNT receives a warm reception in Tampa
Soccer goals: With the recent news that the USMNT will face uber competitive opponents in late May, Turkey and Czech Republic, the US' next European foe, the Oranje, have announced their provisional squad that will confront the Stars and Stripes on March 3rd in Amsterdam.
Soccer Videos: Holland vs England highlights - Let the scouting begin!
John Heitinga, Mark Van Bommel, Wesley Sneidjer, Nigel De Jong, Dirk Kuyt, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, and Rafael van der Vaart form a stellar base of stars and offer a glimpse of the talent that will headline and compete with the USMNT. This strong squad should supply a good dose of competition and will challenge the US battered center midfield that has been stricken by numerous injuries.
Netherland's 30-man provisional lineup.
Provisional squad: Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse Arnhem); Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ron Vlaar (both Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Everton) Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg ), Andre Ooijer (PSV), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax); Mark van Bommel and Arjen Robben (both Bayern Munich), Otman Bakkal, Orlando Engelaar and Ibrahim Afellay (all PSV), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Wout Brama (Twente), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax); Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt (both Liverpool), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Eljero Elia (Hamburg
Are you impressed with the Oranje lineup? Will Coach Bradley change his tactics to mask the dinged central midfield? Would you like to see Gringo Torres in the starting Xl?
Included are blogs that discuss Soccer Goals: Oranje announce provisional squad against USA
Soccer goals: The central midfield position is considered the deepest of the USMNT, but several injuries to key player has left the defensive-midfield cupboard empty, as the Red, White, and Blue prepare to face Netherlands on March 3rd.
Soccer Videos: Torres 25-yard bomb against Puebla
With injuries to Ricardo Clark, Jermaine Jones, Benny Feilhaber, and Maurice Edu (who has since returned the Ranger's first team but has seen little playing time since last April), Coach Bradley should be grateful for the remaining in-form prospects, Michael Bradley and Jose Francisco Torres, a player who could offer a different look to the team that will, also, be missing Clint Dempsey, Charlie Davies, and Oguchi Oneyewu.
Focusing on the central midfield that will face the likes of De Jong, Van Bommel, and Sneijder (or several other midfield scenarios), Coach Bradley might have to consider adapting a different philospy against the highly talented Oranje, a team that should hold a majority of the possession during the game.
With fewer horses in the stable to corral Oranje's beautiful football, feisty and diminutive midfielder, Jose Francisco Torres, could earn a starting spot, if Bradley elects the most in-form central midfielder. The Texas native has been performing admirably in league play, where he recently admitted that he had previously rested on his laurels which caused a dip in his play. However, his game has reached new levels as he has earned back his starting position and plays with a newly found confidence evident in the 22-year old.
Previously, Torres' play has offered a mix-bag of reviews on the international stage, where he has been both praised and criticized for the qualifiers against Costa Rica. His major playing time started in El Salvador as a second-half substitute, offering quick exchanges and accurate crossing, while inspiring a stagnant offense to score two-late-game goals resulting in a 2-2 draw. That performance earned the respect of the coaching staff, where his starting debut unfolded tragically against Costa Rica in Saprissa Stadium, resulting in the 3-1 beat down.
As Torres burdened a share of the blame for the defeat, grading his debut performance based on the US' performance is unfair, when the coaching staff should shoulder the majority of the blame for starting with an experimental 4-3-3, that included veteran Pablo Maestroni a fading component in the USMNT scene, while failing to cover ground and offering little leadership. To make matters worse, Bradley debuted two new wing-backs Marvell Wynne and newly-minted left back, DaMarcus Beasley (an experiment that was scrapped shortly after that performance). It is safe to say, that his debut performance should have received amnesty or at least an asterik for the tactical meltdown.
Fast forward to the final hexagonal qualifier against Costa Rica, where Gringo Torres shined brightly as a holding midfielder -- a similar style of play that Claudio Reyna demonstrated for both club and country -- sparking the offense, facilitating possession, and providing crucial defensive stops. His play will not be forgotten by US fans, and he should receive similar accolades from Catracho fans, who adore Jonathan Bornstein for his header and triumphant heroics to qualify Honduras for South Africa.
Now parlaying his international experience with his club play, despite his small stature but creative flair, the Tuzo midfielder assumes his primary duties as a defensive midfielder but is also in charge of jump starting the Pachuca offense. Against Puebla last week, Gringo struck a marvelous 25-yard set piece bomb for the game winner, which also witnessed an athletic celebratory back flip circa 1988 Ozzie Smith .
While playing for Pachucha in this role, the feisty midfielder has offered accurate passing, astute and quick exchanges, and the requesite defensive bite to maintiain good team balance. Against Chivas USA last night, his probing runs and field-switching passes provided excellent ball movement, which is subtle reminder to why he starts for one of the elite Mexican clubs.
Soccer Videos: Torres shines against Chivas USA in 0-1 defeat
To suggest that Torres is currently playing at his finest is not far fetched by any stretch of the imagination. The question now remains: Will he play important role in the Netherland friendly?
Will Torres earn a starting spot against the Dutch? Could you envision Edu earning the nod over Gringo Torres? Share your thoughts.
Included are blogs that discuss Soccer Goals: Will Jose Franciso Torres earn a starting position against Netherlands