UPDATED w/videos
"Ready Freddy? Crazy little thing called love." -- Queen.
United States 6, Poland 1, U-20 World Cup, Stade Olympic, Montreal, Canada
Though it serves as little consolation was the disaster against Paraguay less than 24 hours earlier in the Copa America, the U-20s put on a nice show. Probably the best show Montreal's venerable Olympic Stadium has seen since Yuppi and the Expos went south.
For all the talk of missed finishes by the senior Internationals vs. Paraguay the young boys took care of business. Wonder if the feed was available in hotel rooms in Venezuela?
At first it looked like the U-20s spent all night watching the Copa, as Poland scored quickly on a porous defensive play when a pair of US players got undressed by the Poles. (Nate Sturgis/Julian Valentin...I think. The Galavision feed was as grainy as the Zapruder film.)
That didn't last long as Danny Szetela drew the team level a few minutes later.
Yet the day belonged to Adu...and no, there aren't any comparisons between Adu and Freddie Mercury and his 'stache.
Wow. That's all I can really conjure about Freddy Adu's three-goal showing.
Yes, it took place against a Poland (screen door submarine) that ran aground very early in the second half. And yes, it's hard to put in a true evaluation of this game since it was played on turf. Whatever.
For everyone, including myself, who forget about the one-time savoir of American soccer -- Adu, this was his chance to say, "I'm not dead."
In fact, this was probably his most memorable moment since filming that Pepsi commercial with Pele a few years ago.
What was so impressive about Adu's game was that each of his goals was of a different variety.
Goal(azo) No. 1 (20th min.) was as nice as an individual goal as you'll find. The Galavision announcers were blown away by it.
Adu rampaged up the right side, put on a nice juke step-over, than pirouetted in a 360 degree movement into the box and placed a beautiful strike that doinked off the inside of the left post. Golazo indeed.
(Jeez, Frenchy...a little excitement?)
Goal No. 2 (45+ min.) was more a credit to young UCLA-midfielder Sal 'The Pizzaman' Zizzo. The young Italian Stallion began a run in his own halfed and burned by a pair of Polish defenders, finally juking past a third in the box to lay off a square ball to Adu who was camped out just inside the penalty area. Adu that fired calmly into the upper left netting to make the score 3-1 at the half.
The most impressive thing, is how many times have we seen players in a US shirt fluff a chance like that with a blast that NASA could chart from space?
Goal No. 3 (86th minute) came via a breakaway set up by a nice weighted through ball from Robbie Rogers just past midfield. Adu dribbled around the goalie, who went to ground at the top of the box, got in position, kept his balance and put it into the net. Well done.
Now, let's hope the Adu hype machine doesn't go into overdrive after just one game. Beside the goals, he did a fine job in the attacking midfield spot...probably aided by the fact Michael Bradley was behind him.
At the very least, this performance gives a little hope to the fans that the future isn't so bleak for the National Team. It also revives Adu's long-standing goal of moving to a club in Europe. What he can do or accomplish in a top flight league is anyone's guess. I'd wager he could be an effective player in spots who can make the spectacular, but might not be that consistent on a game-by-game basis.
Another player who should be on the European radar is Szetela, who added a pair of goal for himself. The first was a fine header a few minutes after the US went down 1-0 on a ball from Tony Beltran. It was the anti-Drew Moor from the night before against Paraguay.
The second came when he split a pair of Poland defenders to chase down a long ball from Anthony Wallace. Looks like some of the coaching of Sigi Schmid is rubbing off on the young New Jersey native.
The final goal was a tap in by Jozy Altidore, who was very active throughout.
That's about all I can add for this one. I watched most of it on DVR fast forward. Couldn't get much of a gauge on anyone else. Seemed like they played well.
I didn't even know the tournament was on Galavision. Can you tell Telefutura, Galavision and Telemundo apart? Especially the sports. It's like ESPN branding on ABC.
It's hard to rush to judgment after one game or one U-20 Cup tournament. As many great players that have emerged from it (Lionel Messi) there are about as many that never panned out. At least this gives some encouragement since everyone seems in love with Mexico's prospects of Gio dos Santos and Carlos Vela. Perhaps Adu and Alitdore can match them. Who knows. For argument sake, here's the 2005 U-20 US roster. Too early to judge, right?
Feel free to add your own thoughts. (Anyone know who's doing the ESPNU feed?)
Well, one final thing.
Valentin got creamed by an elbow midway through the first half and had to come off. It was maybe the most blood I've seen during a soccer game. It was like Ric Flair.
___________________________
** Copa update, with Uruguay gaining a point tonight vs. Venezuela, the US is going to need Mexico to beat Chile...and hopefully by two goals to have a shot to advance...oh right they have to beat Colombia too. Ratfarts.
"Ready Freddy? Crazy little thing called love." -- Queen.
United States 6, Poland 1, U-20 World Cup, Stade Olympic, Montreal, Canada
Though it serves as little consolation was the disaster against Paraguay less than 24 hours earlier in the Copa America, the U-20s put on a nice show. Probably the best show Montreal's venerable Olympic Stadium has seen since Yuppi and the Expos went south.
For all the talk of missed finishes by the senior Internationals vs. Paraguay the young boys took care of business. Wonder if the feed was available in hotel rooms in Venezuela?
At first it looked like the U-20s spent all night watching the Copa, as Poland scored quickly on a porous defensive play when a pair of US players got undressed by the Poles. (Nate Sturgis/Julian Valentin...I think. The Galavision feed was as grainy as the Zapruder film.)
That didn't last long as Danny Szetela drew the team level a few minutes later.
Yet the day belonged to Adu...and no, there aren't any comparisons between Adu and Freddie Mercury and his 'stache.
Wow. That's all I can really conjure about Freddy Adu's three-goal showing.
Yes, it took place against a Poland (screen door submarine) that ran aground very early in the second half. And yes, it's hard to put in a true evaluation of this game since it was played on turf. Whatever.
For everyone, including myself, who forget about the one-time savoir of American soccer -- Adu, this was his chance to say, "I'm not dead."
In fact, this was probably his most memorable moment since filming that Pepsi commercial with Pele a few years ago.
What was so impressive about Adu's game was that each of his goals was of a different variety.
Goal(azo) No. 1 (20th min.) was as nice as an individual goal as you'll find. The Galavision announcers were blown away by it.
Adu rampaged up the right side, put on a nice juke step-over, than pirouetted in a 360 degree movement into the box and placed a beautiful strike that doinked off the inside of the left post. Golazo indeed.
(Jeez, Frenchy...a little excitement?)
Goal No. 2 (45+ min.) was more a credit to young UCLA-midfielder Sal 'The Pizzaman' Zizzo. The young Italian Stallion began a run in his own halfed and burned by a pair of Polish defenders, finally juking past a third in the box to lay off a square ball to Adu who was camped out just inside the penalty area. Adu that fired calmly into the upper left netting to make the score 3-1 at the half.
The most impressive thing, is how many times have we seen players in a US shirt fluff a chance like that with a blast that NASA could chart from space?
Goal No. 3 (86th minute) came via a breakaway set up by a nice weighted through ball from Robbie Rogers just past midfield. Adu dribbled around the goalie, who went to ground at the top of the box, got in position, kept his balance and put it into the net. Well done.
Now, let's hope the Adu hype machine doesn't go into overdrive after just one game. Beside the goals, he did a fine job in the attacking midfield spot...probably aided by the fact Michael Bradley was behind him.
At the very least, this performance gives a little hope to the fans that the future isn't so bleak for the National Team. It also revives Adu's long-standing goal of moving to a club in Europe. What he can do or accomplish in a top flight league is anyone's guess. I'd wager he could be an effective player in spots who can make the spectacular, but might not be that consistent on a game-by-game basis.
Another player who should be on the European radar is Szetela, who added a pair of goal for himself. The first was a fine header a few minutes after the US went down 1-0 on a ball from Tony Beltran. It was the anti-Drew Moor from the night before against Paraguay.
The second came when he split a pair of Poland defenders to chase down a long ball from Anthony Wallace. Looks like some of the coaching of Sigi Schmid is rubbing off on the young New Jersey native.
The final goal was a tap in by Jozy Altidore, who was very active throughout.
That's about all I can add for this one. I watched most of it on DVR fast forward. Couldn't get much of a gauge on anyone else. Seemed like they played well.
I didn't even know the tournament was on Galavision. Can you tell Telefutura, Galavision and Telemundo apart? Especially the sports. It's like ESPN branding on ABC.
It's hard to rush to judgment after one game or one U-20 Cup tournament. As many great players that have emerged from it (Lionel Messi) there are about as many that never panned out. At least this gives some encouragement since everyone seems in love with Mexico's prospects of Gio dos Santos and Carlos Vela. Perhaps Adu and Alitdore can match them. Who knows. For argument sake, here's the 2005 U-20 US roster. Too early to judge, right?
Feel free to add your own thoughts. (Anyone know who's doing the ESPNU feed?)
Well, one final thing.
Valentin got creamed by an elbow midway through the first half and had to come off. It was maybe the most blood I've seen during a soccer game. It was like Ric Flair.
** Copa update, with Uruguay gaining a point tonight vs. Venezuela, the US is going to need Mexico to beat Chile...and hopefully by two goals to have a shot to advance...oh right they have to beat Colombia too. Ratfarts.
Labels: Freddy Adu, Soccer, U-20 World Cup, USMNT
DVR probably doesn't do the game justice. Save for the gaffe in the first 4 minutes—and right after that I was thinking this might be the worst week in USMNT soccer since, well, since last year—that was as thorough of a dismantling as I've seen in a futbol match.
And Poland had knocked off Brazil in their first match, right? I didn't see any of that game, but even for Under 20s Brasil has to be able to put together a side as good as anyone in the world, right?
We created. We attacked. We controlled. We finished. It was nice to watch.
And Adu's first goal alone probably got him a gig in Europe. Thing of beauty it was.
ESPN U feed was some British guy by himself. The only complaint I had was no on screen graphic with the score and time. Very frustrating as I was in and out.
The announcer was also blown away by Adu's first. I was almost equally impressed by the second, you could see Adu check out where the keeper was and then very calmly just place the ball where it needed to go.
All in all a great game, the whole team looked great and made me wonder if maybe some of the youngsters should get the bump up sooner rather than later.
The thing that drove me nuts about the ESPNU feed, besides the lack of a clock graphic, was the terrible audio mix. There were times when he was barely audible and the actual game atmosphere was not exactly deafening.
Great, great game for the US, though it has to be said that Poland completely quit in the second half. A lot of teams would have been satisfied at 4-1, but the US and especially Adu, just kept pushing. A lot of fun to watch.
C-dillo
Totally agree on the 2nd goal. How many "1st team" Nats cooly finish that chance - i.e., put it where the keeper ain't? Does Chingy finish it? Twellman? Johnson? Davies? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?
I half watched the U-20 game against South Korea (flipping between that and the Chile/HugoChavezs match) and the US looked pretty good in that one too from what I saw. They kept getting beat by long through balls and whoever was in goal kept bailing out the D. But the US controlled the ball and Adu had two or three very nice free kicks that he placed into the box but no one could finish them. Freddy also made a few decent runs.
Who knows about Adu's future. When ever I watched him with United, he'd do nothing for 88 minutes, then have a slick run where you could clearly see he was the most talented player on the pitch. I figured he didn't dominate because he was still too young. But he hasn't grown. That hasn't stopped Messi, but Adu seems like the same 'person' as he was four years ago. /Insert Greg Oden joke./
And kk, Twellman probably puts that ball *just* wide. Taylor *just wide* Twellman.
What a great performance! I believe that "Adu" might be the Ghanian word for "where unfulfilled expectations go to die at the hands of Hype" – but Freddy certainly delivered and then some against the Poles. Trying to restrain my optimism, but having trouble doing so.
Are there direct flights from Montreal to Venezuela? Tell Freddy to pack Bradley Junior in his bag and bring him along.