The US played…”nice” for 85 minutes. “Safe.” You’d feel comfortable letting your daughter go out with that team. They even looked spiffy in their new blue kit with the white sash.

The team that played the last 5 minutes was lock your doors dangerous. If not beautiful, at least brutally effective.

Basics

For 85 minutes we never looked dangerous in the attack, save one shot. Torres made a nice turn and put a shot on goal that drew an “oooh” from the crow, the only time in the first 85′ our offense elicited such a response for the Dutch masses.

Beasley turned the tide with a glorious free kick that Bocanegra did not waste, putting it the back of the net. This unleashed some slightly crazy but very fun play by the US that saw them nearly equalize several times.

The US capitalized on uncharacteristic poor ball control by the Dutch defense in the 89th minute. Pedoya played an excellent give and go with Bradley and earned a penalty just outside the box. Beasley’s ensuing free kick left something to be desired.

To be fair, we are missing Dempsey and Davies, two key components of our attack. Altidore is not yet a player who can create all on his own. He needs to collaborate, and Findley was floundering before being replaced in the second half. Nonetheless some good play from our subs found us a goal and several good chances at equalizing, including another great effort by Altidore in the waning moments of the game.

Bummer

The refereeing was bizarre, especially in the first half. At times in the first half it seemed if the US came inside a 1 meter bubble of a Dutchman we were blown for disturbing personal space. Then we got the gift of a no-call for a blatant Bornstein handball in the box. Then a severe, late tackle that ended Stuart Holden’s night didn’t garner the much-deserved yellow card.

We can’t complain too much about the PK called on Bornstein with today’s football climate. However,  the brilliant Wesley Sneijder made the most of it and easily could’ve completed the play. I sure get tired of all the flopping in European Football.

Stock went down:

• MLS: not a great showing for our boys playing club ball in the US
• Bornstein. I’m sure he’s a great human being but geez he makes me nervous every time the ball is withing 5 yards of him
• Findley: looked out of his depth. He’s young, but he’s not ready

Bonus

Sans Bornstein we were solid in defense. His needless PK gave up the first goal, then he was unlucky to have the 2nd deflect off his torso and go past a wrong-footed Howard. If we can get Gooch back in the center, shift Spector to the left, and leave Bornstein on the bench where he belongs, we have a solid defense.

If Gooch doesn’t get better…I have visions of Bornstein pulling down Torres or Tevez in the box.

Beasley put out a good showing and in my opinion earned himself at least a spot on the World Cup side.

Stock went up:

• Maurice Edu showed good signs of composure on the ball
• Beasley played solid
• Pedoya showed signs of being dangerous
• Bradley was steady

Backtalk

1. What did the US show you today? Did their energy at the end indicate positive things to come, or was it the last gasp of a disjointed team?

2. Whose stock went up, and whose went down?

International Soccer, Major League Soccer (MLS), US National Team Alejandro Pedoya, Carlos Bocanegra, DeMarcus Beasley, Johnathan Spector, Jonathan Bornstein, Jose Francisco Torres, Major League Soccer, Maurice Edu, michael bradley, Netherlands, Oguchi Onyewu, US Men's National Team, Wesley Sneijder, World Cup

For those of us who have the privilege to live in Denver, we know this is one of the most passionate sports cities in the world. I just signed the petition to bring the beautiful game’s biggest stage to one of the most beautiful cities: Denver. Sign the petition today:




International Soccer, Rapids News and Analysis, US National Team Denver, World Cup

Dear fellow Soccer/Football/Footy lover,

Isn’t it an amazing time to be a fan of the USMNT? A thrilling win Saturday booked our tickets to South Africa for the World Cup. May I gently point out that all 3 goals were scored by perhaps the 2 best players in the MLS.

Now before the nasty MLS hating comments pore in, let me address some of the types of MLS Haters

THE EUROSNOB

“The MLS is inferior to EPL and La Liga.” No kidding. We aren’t up to the level of a Russian or Belgian league either. For that reason, I’m glad we have TV so I can cheer on the Toffees or catch Barcelona’s beautiful interpretation of the beautiful game.

But may I gently point out that we do in fact live in the US of A. There is competitive soccer happening on the pitch every Saturday right here.

THE PRO-USMNT BUT ANTI-MLS FAN

“I still support our American players, but when they are in real leagues over in Europe” (this fan is closely related to the Eurosnob).

I too support Tim Howard (my favorite player in the world), Onyewu, and Davies on their European sides. However, it is an undeniable fact that the success of the USMNT is directly tied to the success of the MLS. Two reasons:

1. First, if there is no league for American youngsters to aspire to, a league which is a viable possibility for great athletes to make a living at, we will be reliant on immigration to provide our soccer talent. While I am very thankful for that influx of talent, we need to develop our own system as well. We have tremendous athletes in this country, and as the MLS grows it will become an even better option for those elite athletes who would otherwise focus on other sports.
2. We cannot rely on European clubs to snatch up and develop all of our talent in their teens, that is not a viable option for all families. We need to be able to develop talent here, even if the very best talent continues to end up on the other side of the pond.
3. Additionally, while some of my favorite players are struggling to get playing time on a weekly basis (Onyewu, Altidore), players like Conor Casey and Landon Donovan are playing competitive footy every Saturday in a fight for the playoffs. They are at the height of their game and it showed on Saturday.

THE DON GARBER & MLS CRITIC

“_Insert your own rant against the leadership of MLS here._”

Does the MLS have issues? Yes. Of course. Are some of them frustrating? Again, of course. But two things

1. We are not the only league with problems. The EPL has teams in serious financial trouble, including Portsmouth who weren’t paying their players last week and became another team sold to owners with oil money. The English Premier league is becoming less and less…English. You think fans aren’t upset about that? We all have problems
2. The MLS is a young league. Frankly I’m thankful they’ve even survived, and not only are they surviving but are solvent and expanding.

THE PERPETUAL COMPLAINER

If you are angry at the world for soccer not being as big or as good here, I get that. However, there are two ways to make a change. Top/Down or Bottom/Up. Whether the change is social, religious, athletic, or otherwise, changes that are bottom up ALWAYS have greater effect and a longer life.

MY REQUEST TO YOU

On that note (with apologies to Ghandi), be the change you want to see in the MLS. I’m asking all MLS hating soccer fans in the US to go to 3 MLS games a year. That will cost you less than a quality soccer ball, you will see competitive soccer, you will be part of bringing educated soccer fans to the pitch, and you will invest in the future of Soccer in America.

STOP THE HATING AND GET TO THE PITCH

(One Caveat: I am not as familiar with the USL or other leagues in the US, if someone would like to address this topic from their perspective contact me).

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis, US National Team Conor Casey, Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan, South Africa, World Cup

Mark, thanks for taking a moment to chat with CRF!

First off, tell us about when and how your passion for the Rapids began.

I’ve been around since the beginning.  In high school, my teammates and I were skipping classes to watch the 1990 World Cup, so our principal finally gave in and put a TV in the cafeteria Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis, US National Team Colin Clark, Conor Casey, Jordan Harvey, Mark Bodmer, Nick LaBrocca, Omar Cummings, US Men's National Team, World Cup

The good news first: the US has an appeal to international stars like Real Madrid’s Raul for the experience of living in the United States

…As an experience, not just for me but also for my family, I could try to play a year probably in the United States. If I did it, it would be for the experience. Read more…

International Soccer, Major League Soccer (MLS) 2009, beautiful game, Juan Pablo Angel, living in the united states, Major League Soccer, nba championship, NY, passion, Raul, Real Madrid, soccer fans, World Cup

If the comprehensively solid play of the US vs Mexico and the lucky right foot of Michael Bradley weren’t enough, these record-breaking viewer stats should give you a sunny outlook on the state of the beautiful game in the US

1. 1.2 million viewers on ESPN2: the most watched World Cup Qualifier ever on that network Read more…

International Soccer, Major League Soccer (MLS), US National Team 2009, beautiful game, espn2, Major League Soccer, michael bradley, spanish language tv, univision, World Cup

Colorado Rapids defender Cory Gibbs has been called to the US National Team’s training camp by coach Bob Bradley, as reported on the official Rapids website. Cory missed out on the 2006 World Cup with a knee injury, and will hopefully stay healthy on the road to the South African World Cup.

Gibbs will be the only Rapids player in the training camp, and we wish him well!

International Soccer, Rapids News and Analysis, US National Team Bob Bradley, colorado rapids, Cory Gibbs, defender, knee injury, training, training camp, World Cup

US Soccer fans are among the most dedicated on earth, according to a study reported by Soccer365.com. Barclay’s, the sponsor of the English Premier League, was behind the study which seeks to “better understand the attitudes and lifestyles of football fans around the world.” Read more…

International Soccer, Major League Soccer (MLS) american soccer, corporate sponsors, England, English Premier League, fanaticism, football fans, football world cup, iphone, launch, Major League Soccer, mls season, passion, pitch, scarcity, soccer fans, Soccer365, SportsCenter, US fans, USA, World Cup