USA vs Spain Review

Better, but not great. Spain comes out victorious 1-0.

Spain played well, at times showing the class that makes this team one of the best in the world. The US played fairly well also…at least in the first half. 

The US started the game will a little bit more swagger than they showed in the game against England. The moved off the ball and did the best they could to create space in the middle of the field while also getting the ball out wide to the outside players. Defensively they kept things tighter and didn’t allow players like Torres or Fabregas much time or space on the ball. The insertion of Freddy Adu in the starting lineup helped tremendously. The second half was a little different, the US looked tired, they were dragging their feet, which in large part was due to the fact that Spain had the majority of the possession. I watched, helplessly, as the US defense continued to struggle. Less and less the ball would get over into the Spanish half. I knew what was coming, a goal for Spain. Xavi took care of that with a brilliant display of individual skill, burning past 3 US defenders and slotting the ball past Brad Guzan. It was lights out, there would be no coming back. But I’m not disappointed this time around; now on to some player analysis.

Tim Howard started in goal for the US, he made a couple of big saves early on in the game, but did have one moment of when he came out for a long cross that stayed up on him and went over his out reached hands. He hustled back to it and helped avert a potential disaster, but other than that a fairly solid half for Howard. Guzan came in for the second half and he too made some crucial saves that kept the US in the game longer than they actually should have been. I can’t fault him on the Xavi goal, but I would have liked to have seen him take that a little better, maybe be more instinctual in that situation rather than trying to rely on technique, which it seemed he was doing. Regardless, I won’t blame him for it, and a pretty good all around performance. 

The back line was exactly the same as we saw against England, Steve Cherundolo, Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, and Heath Pearce. I really liked the play of Pearce and Cherundolo on the outsides today. I felt they were pretty solid in marking and defending. Pearce got into the attack a little more than Cherundolo did, and I would like to see Cherundolo getting more involved in that regard, but a fairly solid outing for both of them. Frankie Hejduk replaced Cherundolo for the second half, and while Hejduk was better in the game against England, he was a little out of his element in this game. Spain’s skill was a little too much for Hejduk and he was beat a few times too many, and committed a few needless fouls. Yes, the entire team was weaker in the second half, but Hejduk had fresh legs and in my opinion should have offered a bit more than what we saw. 

Carlos Bocanegra really rebounded from the England loss in this game. His defensive effort was much improved as he helped keep the Spainish forwards from doing any damage. He got caught ball watching one or two times but quickly recovered. The only real fatal blemish was his lack in closing down the space on Xavi’s goal. Had he stepped up sooner Xavi might not have had enough time to make him look him so bad. The only player who ended up looking worse on the Xavi goal was Bocanegra’s center back partner Onyewu. Gooch was really put to shame and was made to look silly by Xavi’s blistering run. It’s unfortunate too, because for the most part, Onyewu had done a pretty good job as well, his play kept Fernando Torres from causing any problems and he showed a good work rate to get back on recovery runs. 

The midfield was shaken up a bit by coach Bob Bradley as we saw Clint Dempsey on the right and Eddie Lewis get the start on the left. Dempsey, again, was non existent. I am beginning to wonder if Dempsey cares more about looking cool than getting his job done. With his flashy orange/red shoes, his insistence on making virtually every pass a flick with the outside of his foot, and his lack of wanting to run at players with pace, I have a hard time seeing him be useful against quality teams like England and Spain. I’m starting to feel I like him better up top, where he doesn’t have as much responsibility to be a playmaker, instead just doing whatever it takes to get the ball in the back of the net, and he has proven he has a better touch for goal than Eddie Johnson (more on that to come). Eddie Lewis, again, was bright spot. He was forced to defend more than I would have liked to see but when he got forward he often was doing good things. Dare I say this, I’m gonna go ahead and compare Eddie Lewis to David Beckham. What?! No, he doesn’t make as much money, and no ladies, he’s not as good looking; but what is he? He is true professional who fights hard on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, he’s not going to the player to beat defenders one on one, but he will be there to take corners (which he did well), take a dangerous free kick (which he was just a few inches off with one against Spain), and provide quality service into the box (which if Eddie Johnson could show any class, would have buried Lewis’ beautiful, pinpoint cross in the 47th minute). 

Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu started in the center of midfield. Bradley had a much better game this time around. He was more intelligent in his positioning and tackling, and he was passing the ball much better. He still needs to improve, but he certainly has plenty of time to do that. By the 75th minute, he was dragging hard and starting to make some stupid fouls. With Pablo Mastroeni on the bench, I don’t know why a sub wasn’t made, because it should have been before Bradley was beat out of position on Xavi’s goal. Overall though, this young talent is one of the best we’ve got for the center of the park. Maurice Edu in for Ricardo Clark; what does this mean? It means we didn’t see a constant supply of needless and reckless fouls in the center of the field, and we didn’t see possession being given up as easily. I don’t want to knock Clark too hard, cause I think he is a good player, he just isn’t the calibre needed against top quality opposition. Edu was very solid in the first half, and he proved he can hack it with the best of them. His tackling and positioning was good, his passing was simple but effective. Again, in the second half he was dragging and probably should have subbed too, but I think Edu is almost ready for the big stage, and a transfer to Europe is on the horizon.

Eddie Johnson. I know I have this before, but Eddie Johnson is the player who teases you. He doesn’t do much, but every now and then he shows a glimpse of something special and you get your hopes up. He just doesn’t have it though. How long can a player be labeled as promising? How many years of not living up to the potential, of not finding a bit of breakout success are needed before he stops getting chances. I know forwards are limited, but there’s Jozy Altidore, Kenny Cooper is finding some great success. Young Robbie Rogers is having a breakout year with the Columbus Crew. Robbie Findley is showing he might have what it takes. I’m not saying any of these players are the solution, but they at least should get a shot. 

And then there was Freddy Adu. Adu really caused problems for the Spanish defense, he was creative with the ball, he was able to get himself into open space, he played quality balls forward and out wide. He did the things needed to create attacking chances. He was true spark in the middle of the field. A playmaker, and the only American who looked as though his play might be able to change the game. He forced the Spanish midfield to stay at home a little bit for fear of the damage he might cause. He helped open up the wings, and let Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu have more space and time to operate. He’s a player that needs to be on the field for the national team. Adu was subbed out at halftime with what appeared to be a foot injury that occurred from a nasty challenge just before half. DaMarcus Beasley came on in place of Adu and the team was weaker for it. Beasley is fresh off a very long absence due to a knee injury, so I’m not going to throw up any warning flags yet, but he is playing a bit timid and has yet to replicate his best form in either of the two friendlies, He is still a threat on the field and deserves to be out there, but he just wasn’t as effect as Adu was.

Josh Wolff saw some more action, but again was pretty much non existent, save for one run through the middle of the field, unfortunately the team was gassed by this point and no help was offered to him. I’m not going to write Wolff off completely just yet, He’s certainly not the best option for the future of the team, but I still think he can help out until some of the younger players have the experience to step it up a bit. That being said, I don’t see him as starter, just a utility player to come on for 20 minutes and help finish out a game. Unless, of course, he can really step it up soon.

Pablo Mastroeni saw 5 minutes, he came all the way from Colorado for that. He should have been introduced in the 65th-70th minute for Michael Bradley in my opinion. 

In the end, a better performance. I’m more hopeful for the upcoming game against Argentina now. 

So? Your Thoughts?