Try the powerful search:
Selected WPSN searches:
Football Soccer Formula 1 Rugby Racing Golf Blogs Tennis
U.S. National Team: Brazil Friendly a Reminder of Ongoing Problems With U.S.
Published: August 15, 2010
There wasn't much to celebrate last Tuesday night as the United States played Brazil. The idea that a friendly game against an international powerhouse is the right venue for a "celebration" should have been the first clue that it was going to be anything but a party.
The general assumption is that friendlies are irrelevant and one guaranteed to pack the stands is as good as a time as any to celebrate American soccer.
For a U.S. team lacking a multitude of top-level competition within its region, friendlies carry extra weight especially when that opponent is the hosting nation for the next World Cup.
The friendly could be considered a litmus test. Unfortunately, the results weren't pleasant.
Perhaps the idea for a friendly against Brazil as the perfect time to have a "celebration" came from the same place that has turned the national team into the shell of a Ferrari with the engine of a 4-cylinder KIA Optima.
The team's packaging looks great when the focus is on Landon Donovan or Tim Howard, but soccer is still a team sport, and these players need a base to support their efforts. Otherwise, everyone's stuck in neutral.
At the end of the game, few viewers would have called the game anything but an embarrassment for the United States. The team was beat by simple give-and-go passes, was slow to recognize Brazil's predictable flank attack, and was predominantly undisciplined and demonstrated poor decision making ability.
Even with a number of the players either young or unproven, the errors were at the fundamental level. This is a reoccurring theme left unattended under Bob Bradley, and a flaw better teams are starting to recognize as the best way to beat the U.S. The idea is to stay focused, disciplined and stick to the game plan. Eventually, the Americans will make a mistake.
Call it an education for the U.S. Since the 2009 Confe...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
Latest News
- Former England Manager Graham Taylor Dies at Age 72
- Bruce Arena Names USMNT January Camp Invitees
- Karamoko Dembele Makes England U15s Debut After Playing for Scotland in November
- USMNT Watch: Bobby Wood Nets 1st Bundesliga Goal Since September
- Rugby Player Bruno Andres Doglioli Banned 3 Years for Tackling Female Referee
Sponsors
Bruins Tickets
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
Red Wings Tickets The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League.
Penguins Tickets The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
New York Rangers Tickets play their home games at Madison Square Garden, they are one of the oldest teams in the NHL, having joined in 1926 as an expansion franchise, and are part of the group of teams referred to as the Original Six.
San Jose Sharks Tickets The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States.
Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
New Jersey Devils Tickets The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
Washington Capitals Tickets The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C.
Buffalo Sabres Tickets The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Get the Sabres and all of your NHL Tickets here.
NASCAR season is on of the most attended sports in the world. NASCAR Tickets to the best tracks is a must every year. Some of these tracks are: Talladega Tickets, Lowes Motor Speedway Tickets, Pocono Raceway Tickets, located in Ridgeway Virginia you have Martinsville Speedway Tickets and southern US you have two of the most popular Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets and Texas Motor Speedway Tickets. Don't miss all the racing events this year!
Boston Red Sox Tickets The Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since 1912, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. This is one of the hottest MLB Tickets sales of any team in the major league.
New York Yankees Tickets The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get tickets to one of the hottest games of the season Yankees Red Sox Tickets.
Chicago Cubs Tickets The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
Phillies Tickets The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883.
Orioles Tickets The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.
Do you love wrestling? Get your WWE Tickets and WWE Survivor Series Tickets today!
Red Wings Tickets The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League.
Penguins Tickets The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
New York Rangers Tickets play their home games at Madison Square Garden, they are one of the oldest teams in the NHL, having joined in 1926 as an expansion franchise, and are part of the group of teams referred to as the Original Six.
San Jose Sharks Tickets The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States.
Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
New Jersey Devils Tickets The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
Washington Capitals Tickets The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C.
Buffalo Sabres Tickets The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Get the Sabres and all of your NHL Tickets here.
NASCAR season is on of the most attended sports in the world. NASCAR Tickets to the best tracks is a must every year. Some of these tracks are: Talladega Tickets, Lowes Motor Speedway Tickets, Pocono Raceway Tickets, located in Ridgeway Virginia you have Martinsville Speedway Tickets and southern US you have two of the most popular Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets and Texas Motor Speedway Tickets. Don't miss all the racing events this year!
Boston Red Sox Tickets The Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since 1912, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. This is one of the hottest MLB Tickets sales of any team in the major league.
New York Yankees Tickets The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get tickets to one of the hottest games of the season Yankees Red Sox Tickets.
Chicago Cubs Tickets The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
Phillies Tickets The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883.
Orioles Tickets The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.
Do you love wrestling? Get your WWE Tickets and WWE Survivor Series Tickets today!