[Updated, later Friday night...]
Sorry. this post won't have the typical bite and banter you've come to expect.
I had to work Friday night and spent the better part of an hour to try to find a streaming video of the U-20 World Cup game between the USA and Brasil in Ottawa. No luck.
Seems like I missed a good game as the US wins their group thanks to a 2-1 win.
Is Jozy Altidore the answer to the senior national team's scoring woes? Right now I can't think of a reason the NYRB doesn't get a shot at the senior level in at least one of the upcoming friendlies in Europe. And don't tell me Bob Bradley doesn't want to strain his friendship with NY coach Bruce Arena. And don't tell me he's only 17. Plenty of great players got run out with the senior team at that tender age. It would be typical, narrow-minded USSF blather not to include him. Throw him to the fire.
One thought I had driving home, wouldn't it be fitting for a Altidore, a son of Haitian immigrants to lead the US to the promised land? After all the 'most famous goal' ever scored by the USMNT came via Joe Gaetjens, a Haitian dishwasher from New York in the 1950 World Cup vs. England in Bello Horiente, Brasil?
Just a thought.
I'm guessing Freddy Adu had another good game as well. And from the gushing phone call I just received from 'Pops' Cardillo, it must have been something. Pops raved about the second goal saying, "Freddy won't be in MLS too much longer."
Guessing Chris Seitz played well in nets, too.
Added thoughts on Seitz...isn't ironic that Real Salt Lake was the MLS team most rumored to acquire Kasey Keller? Not that the dunderheads running RSL probably care since they want to sell tickets (and now Adu).
Who cares if it's only at the U-20 level, beating Brasil is always cause for celebration.
Maybe I'll update this when I get home and watch the DVR. Until then...
Jozy, Jozy, Jozy.....Jozy, Jozy, Jozy Alitdore!
Anyone that watched it live, feel free to elaborate.
Jozy...hate to nitpick, but that goal celebration needs a little work...
Labels: Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Soccer, U-20 World Cup, USMNT
Seitz did a great job. He got lucky that a few shots can near him, but he still reacted a hell of a lot fast than Grandpappy Keller. I'm thinking the U20s could've taken Columbia, but maybe that's just me..
Chris Seitz might've been the man of the match, although he scared the living shit out of me coming out of the box to clear the ball away with his head, TWICE! Freddy Adu was spectacular, especially on the second goal, and Jozy had a terrific finish on the first goal, taking a long distance shot that most of the senior team would be scared to shoot. EJ in the same position would've held the ball up. The U-20 defenders looked a bit shaky, they need a bit more pace to handle top class forwards, but the midfield and strikers played very very well together. It might just be me, but pato was not the most dangerous brazil player, that honor definately went to Jo, he was running circles around our defenders. Fantastic effort by the U-20's however, complete and utter dedication for every single ball, showing a fire that was certainly lacking from the senior squad at copa america.
On the subject of fire, any doubt that the academia (princeton) personality of bradley rubs off on the senior team.
From what I'm hearing on Seitz, the Kasey Keller era is coming to a rapid close.
Perhaps if it weren't for the U-20 Cup, the USSF would have sent the U-20 or at least the U-23 (Olympic) team to the Copa.
I thought Altidore showed the necessary tools for being a quality striker. He finishes better than most of the "strikers" on the full team.
Adu really impressed me tonight. His move to set up the final goal (even though it was a deflection that took it to Altidore) was a thing of beauty that any Brazilian would've been proud of.
I loved seeing Seitz coming out to head the ball away. It is a little scary but it's nice to see that not all keepers are glued to their lines like Keller was at the Copa.
Jozy still needs some polishing. If there's one player that deserves to be playing with the first team, it's Adu. Fuck what ya heard on SI.
- Unlike certain members of the USMNT Altidore buried 2 of the 4 or so chances he had. The first goal was just a very calm cool strike. He had two defenders on him, slowed his pace, and lined up a low right footed shot to the far post. He didn't panic, he didn't run for the touchline awaiting a trailing run from a teammate, he had a plan and executed. The second goal was a right place right time tap in.
- In a word Freddy Adu was dangerous. He clearly has a connection with Altidore. Wait till you see the back-heel he played thru to Jose. The tight skill he showed in setting up the second goal was breathtaking. He turned the corner, cut inside, and shot (which ultimately deflected to Altidore). Say what you will about him, but when playing against others his own age he is lethal. He has that rare ability to dazzle you, and more importantly strike fear in opponents, every time he touches the ball. Amazing that he is still eligible to play on a U-20 team.
- Sal Zizzo plays with tremendous pace, but has a tendency to just push the ball into space and try to outrun whomever is marking him. He showed an ability to force the issue on the outside, but his service left something to be desired.
- Chris Seitz played very well. He made some tremendous saves at key points in the game. His distribution was solid. He made a couple of short-side (hockey term) saves on Jo. I would have liked to have seen him a bit more authoritative in coming out on set pieces, but the U.S. would not have won the game without him.
- I don't know if I unfairly expected Michael Bradley to distinguish himself simply based on the fact he played important minutes while up a level with the USMNT in the Gold Cup, but I was somewhat disappointed with his play. His poor clearance on a header led to the Brazil goal. Other than that he didn't play poorly, but I thought he would stand out more.
- Ofori Sarkodi was a steadying physical presence in the back. He didn't wow me with any explosive plays, but he certainly put in a solid effort and played well.
Although I was focused on the U.S. I couldn't help but notice the play of Jo. He is incredibly long, good lower body strength, and fast. He put an unbelievable amount of pace on a shot which Seitz saved to the near post. He backtracked, won balls all night, and generally wreaked havoc in the box. Aside from his Rick James beads there was nothing to dislike about his game.
- Pato - coming into the game I really didn't know anything about him, however he apparently is a prodigy? He drifted for most of the game, but there is just a confidence and maturity to his game that was hard to miss. Although he missed the net on a sublimely cold-blooded first time chip on the run the thought and creativity was there. The game just appeared to slow down when the ball was on his foot.
Only caught the last half hour or so of this game, missed most of the USMT games this year, but a few thoughts:
- Seitz -- Between the sticks: Great game. Probably had 1-2 "wow" stops in the last half hour alone. However, I can't take any keeper too seriously who can't take his own goal kicks.
- I think Freddy Adu made himself a ton of money. I have seen zero performances of his in the MLS ever, but I have to figure between his performance against Poland and the move he made to set up goal #2 (prior to the deflection) will stir the interest of at some large Euro team.
- That "Oh shit!" you heard when Pato missed that chip shot was from no Brazilian, but rather Peter Kenyon, who was rapidly trying to cancel his eBay bid on the youngster.
Actually Seitz does take his own goal kicks he was obviosly injured for the last 30 minutes of the game.
C-H-R-I-S "Out of Seitz"
Actually Seitz does take his own goal kicks he was obviosly injured for the last 30 minutes of the game.
C-H-R-I-S "Out of Seitz"
My misery over Copa America has somewhat diminished, thank god. Like everyone has been saying, Seitz was great, it was also nice to see our full backs prove that you can go forward without committing sabotage. Tony Beltran, I tip my hat good sir. Also very nice to see the sort of hubris that's been totally absent on the national team, attacking verve and not sitting back against putatively technically superior players, I really couldn't believe it.
Also nice to see a coach creating a style and system which is conducive to our player's talents, too bad we gulatied it.
Not to overstate our performance but I'm curious as to what the line would be if the U-20's and the shambolic "A-" squad were to duel.
Just watched it on the DVR. Wow, Seitz had a heckuva game. Granted, the Brazilians missed about 4 sitters, but he made some outrageous reaction saves. Plus, his distribution of the ball was very good -- alot of his long punts actually got to our forwards.
Altidore and Adu were great together up top. Altidore made that first goal, and poached the second one. Adu was just terrific on the ball -- and that second goal wouldn't have happened without his ability to split two defenders in the corner.
While Bradley's soft header tee'd up the Brazilian goal, I thought he was pretty solid all game. I saw him cleaning up the midfield and distributing the ball cleanly.
In terms of the Brazilians, it could've been an easy 3-2 in their favor -- they looked like the USMNT there in the second half. Jo was like a baby Drogba -- huge body, beads and braids a flying and just causing panic in the box.
In terms of the ESPN coverage -- it reminded me of watching EPL. Brit announcer, and he wasn't compelled to talk all the time. It was great to have just have the game played without some random fact being thrown at me. (Yes, I'm looking at you Max Bretos). He was no Martin Tyler, but the game was so exciting it didn't need any filler.
Highlights here.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EmExheyGwKs
Beauy give and go from Atlidore to Adu in the 54th minute.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/fifau20/
here's a link to all the live video of the tournament
I am glad to see that I am not the only one who thought that Jo outplayed Pato. Pato seems a little to confident for me, almost like people have been telling him he is great for so long that now he believes it and he doesn't think he has to try as hard anymore.
My only ESPN complaint has to do with SportsCenter. I watched part of it looking for highlights and the second goal made the top plays, but the started the highlight after Adu had turned the corner. Him splitting the defenders was the part that made the goal so fantastic.
Anyway, team looked great again. If Bradley really wants to evaluate players, give some of the youngsters a chance. The big team needs some passion and these guys seem to have it.
Adu was absolutely wonderful. You could see the Brazilian defense almost flinch every time he had the ball. He's got to go to Europe. The U20 coach obviously is doing something right - these guys played with passion and verve, most impressively they kept it up even when the run of play was going against them.
As good as Jozy's two goals look on the scoresheet, I wouldn't even put him into top 3 players of the match.
Clearly, the first star of the game was Freddy Adu. He was omnipresent. He controlled the game for U.S. The second U.S. goal was all him - I still don't understand how he beat two guys in the corner. He may lack speed, size, and stremgth necessary to become a real star, but he simply is the most skilled 18-year-old in the world.
Jo was get my 2nd star of the game. He should have finished better, but he created a slew of chances and always looked dangerous. The fact that he plays in an ever-strengthening Russian League (right now, top-to-bottom, I think it's the 6th best league in Europe) clearly showed.
Seitz would get my 3rd star. He saved U.S. on numerous occasions, and the goal was definitely not his fault. Overall, the biggest difference b/w watching U-20s and senior-level guys, is the organization of defensive line. While dribbling, shot power, and other major offensive skills are almost fully developed for these guys, lack of composure and overall organization/communication is clearly evident.
Finally, on Jozy - I don't mean to diminish his accomplishment. His first goal strike was pure quality, even if a senior-level defender never lets him get the shot off, after Jozy slightly mishandled the first touch. Second goal was about being in the right place. Great job, but didn't see that much else out of him.
Other comments - sub-par games for Szetela, Sizzo (who I was really excited to see for the first time live, after Poland highlights) and Bradley (didn't really anchor the defence when Brazil was pouring it on).