Spain 4-0 USA; Embarrassing Loss for US National Team
The US were defeated by Spain 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at Foxborough, Mass. In fact, defeated might be an understatement as the US was overwhelmed in the first half which is when 3 of the 4 goals were scored.
It was understandable that US coach Bob Bradley rested some of his better players on Saturday as the team prepares for more meaningful games in the CONCACAF Gold Cup that starts this week. But one would have to question US Soccer’s motives to schedule this game so close to the Gold Cup that sees group games played every 3rd or 4th day. The most noticeable of those missing from the starting 11 were Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan.
The US were totally outclassed in the midfield which meant very little service to US forwards Jozy Altidore and Juan Agudelo. It also meant the defense were on their back foot most of the half.
It was actually surprising that it took Spain until the 28th minute to score even though they had many chances and came close numerous times including bouncing one off the crossbar.
Santiago Cazorla finally scored with an assist to David Silva in the 28th minute. It was then Álvaro Negredo’s turn in the 32nd minute with an assist by Xabi Alonso, and then Santiago Cazorla scored the 3rd with another David Silva assist. That goal was in the 41st minute.
The second half saw plenty of substitutions for both teams. For the US, Oguchi Onyewu, who looked lost in the first half, was replaced by Clarence Goodson.
Jermaine Jones, who was ineffective at midfield, was replaced by Michael Bradley who hopefully showed his critics why he starts for the US. His presence was felt almost immediately as he held the ball well and took chances dribbling forward and creating space.
Clint Dempsey took Robbie Rogers’ spot. Rogers also was ineffective in the midfield and repeatedly lost the ball for the US. Dempsey dropped deep at times helping the midfield and actually creating chances for the US to move into Spain’s defensive third of the field.
Steve Cherundolo replaced Maurice Edu with Jonathan Spector pushing up to midfield from his right back spot, a role the fit both players much better. Cherundolo made many good runs up the right flank but did get caught on the 4th goal by Spain’s Fernando Torres in the 73rd minute. Borja Valero feed a perfect through-ball to Torres who beat Cherundolo and the offside trap.
The US actually had a few chances in the second half as they gained some control back in the middle of the field. But still, the Spanish side that is ranked #1 in the world and has decimated many a good team, never allowed the US to get back into the contest.
The biggest insult to the US may not have been the goals but instead it came in the 76th minute. That’s when Spain subbed off goalkeeper Pepe Reina for Iker Casillas. Not that either keeper is a lacking in world class skill or less than qualified. But isn’t that what they do in youth games when a team gets so far ahead of its opponent they have no chance of coming back?
While Bradley may have used this this match as a wake up call for some of the roll-players on the team, I’m not sure what other lessons were learned here.
I supposed the biggest lesson may have been to US Soccer. Don’t schedule a friendly against the world’s best national team 3 days before a meaningful competition. It seems more than a bit counter-intuitive and to the educated US soccer fan a bit condescending. You may have drawn a big crowd, 64,121 at Gillette Stadium, but I guarantee those same US fans went home Saturday night with a sour taste in their mouth.
Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard (capt.); 2-Jonathan Spector, 5-Oguchi Onyewu (21-Clarence Goodson, 46), 15-Tim Ream, 14-Eric Lichaj; 16-Sacha Kljestan, 13-Jermaine Jones (4-Michael Bradley, 46), 7-Maurice Edu (6-Steve Cherundolo, 46), 19-Robbie Rogers (8-Clint Dempsey, 46); 17-Jozy Altidore (11-Chris Wondolowski, 46), 9-Juan Agudelo (22-Alejandro Bedoya, 65)
Subsnot used: 23-Marcus Hahnemann
Head Coach: Bob Bradley
ESP: 23-Pepe Reina (1-Iker Casillas, 76); 15-Sergio Ramos (11-Joan Capdevila, 65), 3-Gerard Piqué, 2-Raúl Albiol, 17-Álvaro Arbeloa; 16-Sergio Busquets (8-Bruno Soriano, 46), 7-David Villa (6-Andrés Iniesta, 46), 14-Xabi Alonso (capt.), 20-Santiago Cazorla; 21-David Silva (10-Borja Valero, 65), 22-Álvaro Negredo (9-Fernando Torres, 46)
Subs not used: 4-Carlos Marchena, 5-Andoni Iraola, 12-Victor Valdés, 18-Pedro Rodríguez, 19-Fernando Llorente 24-Manu del Moral
Head Coach: Vicente del Bosque
Stats Summary: USA / ESP
Shots: 6 / 20
Shots on Goal: 1 / 8
Saves: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 2 / 3
Fouls: 11 / 9
Offside: 1 / 4
Comments are closed.
It just goes to show that the US has a lack of depth. I thought Howard looked sluggish in nets. I am glad I missed most of the match.
Did Pepe get to then go out an play as an attacker for the last few minutes?
I wanted to watch that game so badly, but I does not haz satellite. I did watch highlights though, and I noticed a little problem the yanks had that we have here. For whatever reason, and only in soccer, do people cheer for the country of their origin or for their favourite adopted national team. A country they have probably never have been to, and are only fiercely loyal to when it comes to soccer and nothing else.
@Daniel, interesting point about the selection of what team to support. I must admit, however, that I have seen the same thing with basketball, hockey, baseball in international competition. Some of my friends who follow cricket and rugby tell me that it also happens with those sports also.
Soccer is where I see it most pronounced but it does take place in other sports, as well.
Jermaine Jones must have been ill. Otherwise, I would have to call him “lazy and uninspired”.
That game was a great teaching moment. I must have slowed down and rewound the defensive breakdowns 15 times (several times on the same play) in order to point out to my six year old daughter when to close down a player, how to stay with your runner, recover after you lose your runner, the need for better communication while defending, etc.
We watched the mistakes, I “killed” Jermain Jones repeatedly and my daughter’s response was: “yes Papí, you can’t give them the players on the other team so much space, but if Landon Donovan was playing, the USA wouldn’t be losing so much…”
The cult of Landon continues to grow. (I am not saying that I disagree with her in this case–they tend to play better when he is on the field–”out of the mouth’s of babes…”)