Posts Tagged ‘US Soccer’

Column :: The Clumsy Challenge: “US vs. Spain Soccer Preview”

By Matt Anderson • Jun 4th, 2008 • Category: Columns, The Clumsy Challenge

Column: The Clumsy Challenge

     by Matt Anderson

Midfielder Michael Bradley (front) dispossesses England Midfielder Frank Lampard (whining).
The U.S. look to improve on a lackluster showing against England as they take on Spain today.


“US vs. Spain Soccer Preview”

One week after a rather complacent United States side fell to England 2-0, they are preparing to face Spain in the second of three friendly matches taking place in Europe and the US. This is part of an effort of the United States Soccer Federation to expose their senior national side to the some of the world’s best. If you watched last Wednesday’s match against England like I did, you’re probably just as concerned.

Realistically, the United States stood a legitimate chance to win last week’s game, and even the most ardent of England supporters were expecting a hard fought game. Bluntly, it wasn’t. Instead of adopting an aggressive high speed, guns blazing, extra hot sauce tactic towards the English, the U.S. sat on their laurels and reacted (poorly) to wave after wave of England’s own dangerous attacks. Had Jermain Defoe or Wayne Rooney been able to finish their abundant chances to score, it could have been a thorough and extensive beat-down. Even with the 2-0 score, the United States appeared to rely on mistakes made by the English to stay in the game, which is a policy that will cost them dearly against Spain.

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