Why We Should Not Be Ashamed of the US Effort

Yes, the US Men’s Soccer team lost 3-0 to the Czech Republic today, but we lost to according to FIFA the best squad in Europe. In qualifying for the World Cup they scored a staggering 37 goals.

When we got the draw with these teams we knew getting to the knock out stage would be a great accomplishment. Played over and over I suspect each time there would be 3 new teams to qualify each time. We have to worry about Koller injury as much as Czech Republic, as we need the Czech Republic to win out.

As coach Bruce Arena pointed out, it was never in the plan to win this game. To steal a point would have been great, but the next two games were the key to our success.

Even if we made it through to the next round, #1 ranked Brazil was the next game.

That being said we have a lot to be proud of.

The US controlled the pace of the game, and easily held the majority of the possession. The Czech Republic were not able to sustain possession, only scoring on US mistakes.

Mistakes that can be corrected. 2 of the goals were allowed because of the extreme youth on the backline. Pope was marvelous but Onyewu who didn’t have any squad to play for last year showed his youth making not technical mistakes but experiential mistakes. Especially on the first goal by Koller’s header where he went to a spot instead of marking the player.

Arena rightly called out Beasley and Donovan who un-chararistically shrank before the occasion. 4 years ago at 20, they were marvelous on the world stage and today they were just horrible. Beasley looked slow and messy and Donovan was just non-existant.

The US game is simple, work hard, make good passes build slowly, and have Beasley or Convey beat people on the outside, crosses to cause havoc; with McBride being the classic finisher.

In the final 3rd, the US looked awful they did everything right but beat people to get good shots. That can be corrected.

The US should hold its head up. First off, the Czech Republic is a good team that took advantage of US mistakes.

The US controlled the tempo of the game and built well.

And finally and ironically; THE US PLAYS THE GAME THE WAY IT IS MEANT TO BE PLAYED. It sort of ironic that it takes the Americans to show the world how to play the game of football or (soccer).

We do not flop, roll around, fake injuries. We play hard nosed, football, working hard to win balls, playing fair and building attacks. When we are fouled we get up and keep playing.

NONE OF THE BULLSHIT that is a shame on the English leagues and all across Europe that makes watching games sometimes unbearable.

In that sense, I am most proud of the US for showing the rest of the world how the game is SUPPOSED to be played, even in a brutal loss.