Scoreline, Jun 17, 2006 -
Italy:1
United States: 1
Gilardino 22'; Zaccardo 27' o.g.
"We bled for our country," read the quotes. Yes, Brian McBride had his head split open, and yes we defended like lions. All true.
But lost in all the screaming about if Pope and Pablo deserved to be kicked out is the simple fact that we still haven't managed a goal in two games, and Claudio is playing like total crap.
Clint Dempsey is combining and charging forward like a maniac in the first half. Every time he gives it to Claudio, all momentum ceases while Reyna takes a moment for himself, and then passes the ball to no one. Claudio's service is crap, balls sent into the teeth of the defense, or miles away from their supposed targets.
Compare Reyna's performace with Piro's and you'll see why the US couldn't bash in a goal when we were a man up for over twenty minutes.
We can defend. But defense alone is just sitting around daring your opponent to beat you.
Oh, and the Ref was way outta line on Pope. No way that's a yellow, right off the bat. Pope was getting beat all day, if the ref wanted to be a pro - all he had to do was give Pope a warning, and wait for the inevitable screw up. Then he could throw him out with his head high.
Go Italy.
1 comment:
Oh, the US is in the World Cup? Hadn't noticed. I mean they haven't actually played a game yet have they?
All seriousness, Arena needs to go. The whole philosphy needs to change on this team. Yes, he's done a great job getting the team to where hope is a better 4 letter word than what was being used about the American team. But he cannot get them to the next level.
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