The Big Game

What a game. The final minute goal is what will be remembered, but I think the headline should be the US came back to score 2 goals after being down 1-0 at halftime against a solid European team. In the past, this would have been unthinkable. And the way they came back, wasn't flukey or even lucky. They made chances for themselves by playing solid soccer. Jones' goal was a brilliant shot. That requires skill.

Portugal is not a great team and Ronaldo was clearly not at 100%. Still, any team from Europe in the  World Cup is strong considering the competition they must get through to qualify.

We must credit Klinsman. Sure, the US got outplayed by Ghana and was fortunate to win. Ghana has superior players. But we were tactically sound during the game and our defense was strong. We played in a way to give ourselves a chance to win and it worked. Against Portugal, the luck went their way at the beginning of the game. Our team didn't panic, however, and played solid. Not too risky, not too conservative and over time both teams were getting chances in the 2nd half. We capitalized.

Now on the final play, Bradley made a huge error by giving the ball away in the midfield. I know the US commentators will say Portugal was still very far from the goal -- but this demonstrates soccer ignorance. Giving the ball away in that position is death -- the middle of the field is the most important and valuable position -- especially in transition.  This is the equivalent of missing a tackle on a 4th down play in football when the other team is driving on offense to win the game.  Sure, you don't give up a score, but you have a chance to end the game and you give life to the other team.

Bradley honestly could have one touched the ball into the corner (or banded it up the field for to the goalie or for a goal kick) and the game would virtually be over. He should have have treated the play like a clearance with the time remaining. Sure, he has a midfielder's instinct to control the ball there and normally the skill to do it. But he didn't. He was tired. Of course he was tired. He hasn't been playing at his top form. He made a costly mistake.

I rewatched the goal this morning and our defender on the play also made a mistake. There was only one Portuguese guy in the box. When Ronaldo was lining up the cross, he needed to get a body on the player and not be watching the ball. All defenders get lazy at points during the game and this happens all the time. But the better way to play defense is to obstruct the guy from having a clean header on the ball. He didn't do it. Nevertheless, the ball Ronaldo played was unbelievable. I cannot fault the defender too much because Ronaldo had not got a ball off his foot like that all game. It would sort be like criticizing the Iranian defender for allowing Messi to get off the left footed shot from distance (in 20/20 hindsight, you must force Messi right).

Nevertheless, giving up a goal in that manner is bound to get analyzed. Still, I think the US should be proud of the result. We learn from this as a soccer nation. I know it feels heartbreaking, but I, like Klinsman, know the US will not win the World Cup. So whether we make the 2nd round or not, is not the only thing that matters. What matters is we play hard, play creative, play with skill, and battle.