Pre-game, a win over Spain and breaking their 15 game win streak was a dead set impossibility. It was one of those, yeah sure, throw down a $100 on the United States, they won’t pull it off but they could and if they do you’ve made a nice return.
But the luck they had in just getting into the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup should have shown you that it was in the cards. Right from the start you could tell the US was ready, their speed and strength up front was evident and they were steady in the back.
Charlie Davies has earned himself a spot; it’s his to keep. Dempsey showed why he plays in the EPL. Altidore has a lot of work to do but could very well be a goal scorer in a top league in Europe. Landon is now a savvy player. Ricardo Clark, will surely be a part of the World Cup side, and maybe start. Michael Bradley, so young and so good. The US has two very solid keepers to rely on, both Howard and Guzan proved they can keep the US in games in the coming World Cup.
In time the US will beat teams with their athletic ability. Yeah, it is the old if Kobe Bryant played soccer just what would you have: a world-class team. It is something you can’t deny and I’m one of those people who loves the touch and ability of players, but add in a bit of that with speed and strength and you then have a new type of team that creates new problems the world’s best.
It must be said though, it was the calmness and skill on the ball that setup the second goal. Benny Feilhaber gracefully slipped through Spain’s defense and laid the ball off to Landon to create the second goal for Dempsey. Soccer will always be a game that requires tons of practice on the ball, but the US has loads of athletes and they will change the game in the years to come.
I'd love to see the US face Spain in the World Cup in 2010. The one player Spain were missing, was Iniesta. A player who will dribble at players and wreak havoc. They miss him.
As for their most likely rematch with Brazil in the final of the Confederations Cup, it could be a fun match to watch, with both teams going end to end. But in all likelihood, it was be a Brazil thrashing, with Robinho and Kaka dancing on the ball. But itsn't that what everyone was saying about Spain?
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