Brazil 3, USA 0. (Enough said.)

2009-06-20T02:17:12-04:00

2009-06-18T11:55:01-04:00

265

2009-06-18T11:55:01-04:00

2009-06-19T01:11:07-04:00

Miami1962

Miami 796050

251 Re: # 245 A shot on goal is a shot that a goalie must save or it goes in. Hitting the crossbar does not constitute a shot on goal, it's a shot, but it might as well have gone over. 5799735

2009-06-20T02:17:12-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/777/450/thumb/preston.gif 221 CA

89invincible

Vallejo 778110

A shot on goal is a shot that a goalie must save or it goes in. Hitting the crossbar does not constitute a shot on goal, it's a shot, but it might as well have gone over.

265 That's true. But two shots that hit the crossbar is coming closer to scoring than two weak shots directly at the goalie. When you say that a team had zero shots on goal, it gives a mistaken impression that we had no chances. Actually, the US had three chances to score. That said, Brazil actually DID score three times, and had many more chances than that. Our performance was truly woeful, but even so not quite as bad as some are saying. 5813075

2009-06-19T09:50:54-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/794/316/thumb/2263047260_2b3d7f85c9.jpg 67 TX

Giuseppe_Rossi

San Antonio 794976

Giuseppe_Rossi, don't look now, but Iraq's squad has put in a mighty effort with just two basic ingredients, none of them being "popularity of the sport": one - a disciplined trainer. And two - a team that wants to believe in its abilities. Lo and behold, their valiant effort got the country behind a team that previously hardly anyone knew existed, for what's not exactly been a national sport. Until the team kicked butt, delivering a very decent performance.Popularity follows success - it's not the other way around. Don't let the glitzy, shiny stuff distract you, as that's what the so-called "marketing pros" want you to believe. There's no substitute for old-fashioned, sustained boring hard work.

262 You are wrong. Soccer its not only Irak National Sport but also the most popular sport in that country.. 2007 AFC Asian Cup Champions 2006 Asian Games Second Place 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece 4th place 5801705

2009-06-19T12:38:45-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/795/439/thumb/nv1962logox128.png 33 NV

nv1962

Reno 796099

You are wrong. Soccer its not only Irak National Sport but also the most popular sport in that country..2007 AFC Asian Cup Champions2006 Asian Games Second Place2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece 4th place

264 Maybe you don't think so, but I think their 4th place was a very decent result. Or should I dig up the news reports on people suddenly - and quite unexpectedly - taking to the streets in celebration? It's a Big Item *now* - not so much before. Ah, facts... Stubborn things they are! 5805600

2009-06-19T12:06:51-04:00

Jeff1028

No City 796336

263 Bob Bradley HAS to go. The US has looked aweful for some time now in both big games and games that we should handle with ease. They play with little composure, heart, or creativity. Worst of all, they don't make the game look fun. It's been hard to watch, and if you're a kid- who would want to emulate the experience. Time for a new direction- fast. 5804986

2009-06-19T09:41:43-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/795/439/thumb/nv1962logox128.png 33 NV

nv1962

Reno 796099

259 Giuseppe_Rossi, don't look now, but Iraq's squad has put in a mighty effort with just two basic ingredients, none of them being "popularity of the sport": one - a disciplined trainer. And two - a team that wants to believe in its abilities. Lo and behold, their valiant effort got the country behind a team that previously hardly anyone knew existed, for what's not exactly been a national sport. Until the team kicked butt, delivering a very decent performance. Popularity follows success - it's not the other way around. Don't let the glitzy, shiny stuff distract you, as that's what the so-called "marketing pros" want you to believe. There's no substitute for old-fashioned, sustained boring hard work. 5801481

2009-06-19T09:50:54-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/794/316/thumb/2263047260_2b3d7f85c9.jpg 67 TX

Giuseppe_Rossi

San Antonio 794976

2009-06-19T09:46:40-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/795/439/thumb/nv1962logox128.png 33 NV

nv1962

Reno 796099

261 Amen, Raven1971 - well said. 5801602

2009-06-19T09:43:28-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/414/46/thumb/30092009594.jpg 685 BR

Raven1971

Manaus 41666

260 Firing Bradley isn't the solution in and of itself - the fundamental problems within the infrastructure of the American game must be addressed. Unfortunately, the very structure that benefits other games in the States, such as American football, baseball, and basketball, actually inhibits growth in football there - the "high school sport" culture. Lack of competent youth organizations with experienced coaches to teach the fundamentals of the game and instill the passion other nations feel for it are holding back the game in the States. The old argument that "Americans don't like soccer" that so many resort to doesn't hold water; even if only 10 percent of the population liked the game (and I expect the actually percentage is much higher), that would leave a pool of 30 million upon which to focus youth, teen, and adult amateur systems from which to produce a well-structured professional system and top-rate national team players. If a nation like Croatia, with a population of roughly four and a half million, can finish among the top nations at the World Cup, the US should be able to produce a much better squad than that rabble who were on the pitch yesterday. A quick fix solution, such as firing Bradley, might be part of the solution, but isn't enough by itself. 5801526

2009-06-19T09:41:43-04:00

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nv1962

Reno 796099

2009-06-19T09:31:30-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/794/316/thumb/2263047260_2b3d7f85c9.jpg 67 TX

Giuseppe_Rossi

San Antonio 794976

258 Blah Blah Blah???. Now everybody have a way to fix the USMNT, changing players , develop while they are young, new coach, new directive and yet nobody have mentioned that soccer in the USA lacks the required popularity to bring the masses and create soccer stars. the mediocre MLS is still alive because of all the minorities that brought the passion from their countries and are the ones buying the tickets and merchandise, these are the same minorities that are prosecuted and treated like shiiittt (this is what is really being developed when they are young, ask your kids)?????? Sorry , but the US will never be a soccer nation and the USMNT will never be more than a mediocre soccer team ??????. 5801226

2009-06-19T09:28:03-04:00

Lone Goal

Mountain View 796273

257 I agree with a lot of these comments. They lack balls. What happened to the team I watched in 2002 that defiantly dismantled Portugal and then went on to beat Mexico and outplay Germany (despite the loss). Ever since then we've shown brilliance against a steady diet of Caribbean nations and then wilt against big name teams. I miss the boldness. http://lonegoal.blogspot.com/ 5801206

2009-06-19T09:01:42-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/795/439/thumb/nv1962logox128.png 33 NV

nv1962

Reno 796099

256 Luis Aragones is available. Given the desperate need to find a system (ANY system) that players feel comfortable with, and moreover: one that makes sense given what's available in mid to longer term, a fundamental bottom-up approach. That is what's necessary to get - for once and for all - out of that miserable rut, of having a somewhat decent team held together by about half a dozen well-fitting players, and then when they retire the team collapses in a puddle. I'm convinced that there's a pretty competitive US team to be forged - but it takes looking four to six years ahead. Luis Aragones did it for Spain. His own efforts to learn English (and by goodness it'll be a hellish ride on the way) are dwarfed by the magnitude of the fundamental work that needs to be put in by the Federation, scouts, and prospective players. But when that dreadful part of the job is squared away, ho boy. Seriously: Luis Aragones is a much better fit than more or less circumstantially retained "turn-around miracle workers" like Guus Hiddink. Just sayin'. 5800731

265

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/06/18/us-brazil.ap/sacha-kljestan.jpg" alt="Double Click to select a Photo" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">The U.S. was down a man after Sacha Kljestan (16) saw red. Francois Xavier Marit/AFP/Getty Images</div> </div> PRETORIA, South Africa -- Three thoughts after Brazil's 3-0 blowout of the U.S. at the Confederations Cup (<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/06/18/us-brazil.ap/index.html">RECAP</a>): • Welcome back to the bad old days. It's hard to exaggerate how badly the Brazilians spanked Uncle Sam Thursday. Brazil was amazing, but the Americans looked tentative and nervous from the start, barely completing any passes and going down 2-0 by the 20th minute. Worst of all was the way the U.S. gave up those first two goals. The first came off a free kick that resulted after a poor exchange between Oguchi Onyewu and Michael Bradley, and the second came after DaMarcus Beasley's inexcusable unforced give-away on a U.S. corner kick. Now the Yanks are eliminated barely still alive and go on to play a meaningless third game against Egypt on Sunday. If the U.S.' goal in this tournament was to show it could compete on the big stage against the best teams, you can call this a failure. • The Gold Cup will now be very interesting. The U.S. plans on sending a B-team to the upcoming Gold Cup, the championship tournament of CONCACAF. Here's what I want to see: Freddy Adu being handed the keys to the U.S. midfield, told that he'll play in every game and given the freedom to show what he can do. I can understand why Adu hasn't been starting for the U.S. (he hasn't played enough at club level; not that Jozy Altidore or Benny Feilhaber have, either), but the Gold Cup is the perfect setting to put him on the field and give him a chance. It would be good to see José Francisco Torres out there, too. It's hard for me to fathom why it was Sacha Kljestan (red card, ineffectual) instead of Torres who started against Brazil. • What is it with U.S. red cards in big games? Let's see: Kljestan sees red Thursday, Ricardo Clark did three days ago against Italy, and Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope did at the 2006 World Cup against Italy. The U.S. has to find a way to keep its composure in the most pressure-filled circumstances -- especially since FIFA referees won't give the Americans the benefit of the doubt -- because it's hard enough to beat Brazil and Italy with 11 men. With 10 (or nine), it's basically impossible. What were your thoughts on the game? More postgame reaction to come later, so check back with me on the Confederations Cup blog. Grant Wahl's new book, The Beckham Experiment, comes out on July 14. You can pre-order it <a href="http://tinyurl.com/layry6">here</a>. You can also find him now on <a href="http://twitter.com/GrantWahl" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. 67842 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/194/315/thumb/wahl_grant.jpg 11 MD

Grant Wahl

Baltimore 194615