Who's Matias de Federico?

19-year-old Argentine Matias Defederico is a forward in the mold of Leo Messi. The Argentine press are like lovesick puppies over the petite playmaker, who earned his first international cap May 20th-- scoring a goal in the process.

Last week, when Marcela Mora y Araujo wrote about the gang violence overshadowing Argentinian team Huracan's revival, she included a link to a video promising "beautiful touches, nutmegs, lyrical passes," and more. The video didn't disappoint. And while much of the talk in Europe has been surrounding Huracan's Javier Pastore, it was his teammate Matias de Federico who caught my eye in the video. Apparently he has caught Liverpool's eye as well.

The Argentine press seems to have fallen over themselves in praise of both players. Other coaches are already using them as a touchstone, with the manager of River Plate talking up his own players by comparing them to the fearsome pair. De Federico (sometimes written as Defederico) doesn't have the most admirable strike ratio, with 5 goals in 18 games. But his 8 assists show that he's also a creator-- and you only have to watch the footage of him to realize why he's been called the new Messi. Count me firmly amongst his admirers. However, I'm not entirely sold on his assertion that his 'speed would suit the English game well'-- only 5'7"ish, he's not quite as stocky as Messi, and I fear that stout defenders will simply stand him up on the dribble. Which would be a damn shame for spectators.

Fernando Torres has told Rafa to buy more small, quality players like Yossi Benayoun, who had such a breakout season last year that you can hardly even call him underrated anymore. Torres mentioned names like Mata, Silva, and Villa, but I suspect that Defederico would fit the bill without breaking the bank. If I were Rafa Benitez I would definitely snatch him up.

If the links above don't satisfy you, some more English-language analysis of De Federico is available here.

-Alex D

Gold Cup Roster

Pos.	Player	Age	Caps	Club
GK	Troy Perkins	27	1	Vålerenga
DF	Heath Pearce	24	23	Rostock II
DF	Clarence Goodson	27	2	IK Start
DF	Chad Marshall	24	4	Columbus Crew
MF	Kyle Beckerman	27	3	Real Salt Lake
DF	Steve Cherundolo	30	51	Hannover 96
MF	Robbie Rogers	22	1	Columbus Crew
MF	Logan Pause	27	0	Chicago Fire
FW	Charlie Davies	23	10	Hammarby
MF	Stuart Holden	23	0	Houston
FW	Brian Ching	31	36	Houston
DF	Jimmy Conrad	32	24	Kansas City
MF	Colin Clark	25	0	Colorado Rapids
DF	Michael Parkhurst	25	5	Nordsjælland
MF	Sam Cronin	22	0	Toronto FC
DF	Jay Heaps	32	0	New England
FW	Kenny Cooper	24	4	FC Dallas
GK	Luis Robles	25	0	Kaiserslautern
MF	Freddy Adu	20	13	Benfica
FW	Santino Quaranta	24	11	D.C. United
MF	Brad Evans	24	0	Seattle Sounders
MF	Davy Arnaud	29	2	Kansas City
GK	Jon Busch	32	1	Chicago Fire

For those who don't know, the Gold Cup is a biennial tournament for CONCACAF teams. It will run from July 3rd-26th in stadium across the US. After the Confederations Cup, the US has largely sent a "B" team. Soccer by Ives breaks down the composition of the squad nicely. The highlight for most people will be Freddy Adu. It would be fantastic if Adu shone, but the problem is he would need to be absolutely devastating in attack to atone for his weakness in defense. I'm not holding my breath, particularly given his lack of playing time.

I am more excited for the potential emergence of Stuart Holden, who has really impressed me the few times I have seen him play. The US MNT really needs attacking options off the bench-- the likes of Casey and Kljestan have not shown enough.

In addition to an attacking midfielder like Holden, I would really like to see another pacey striker come forward. Assuming that Altidore, Ching, and Davies are locks for the World Cup, I think the fourth roster spot should go to a speedster, rather than a target man like Cooper. He need not be the most skilled player-- just fast and good enough on the dribble to get to the byline and square it for the late-arriving midfielders. But who fits the bill? Mac Kandji would be great, if only he were available. Here are some other options, including their appearance and goal scoring record (in parenthesis) at their most recent club:

• Santino Quaranta (DC United)-- 40 (7)
• Robbie Findley (Salt Lake)-- 57 (18)
  
• Jeremiah White (Aarhus)-- 59 (6)
  
• Chris Pontius (DC United)-- 16 (4)
  
• Marcus Tracy (Aalburg)-- 5 (1)
  
• Yura Movsisyan (Salt Lake)-- 42 (11)
  
• Jemal Johnson (free)-- 72 (10)
  
• Eddie Johnson (Fulhum)-- 30 (2)
  

What do you think? With the exception of Eddie Johnson, I haven't seen enough of these guys to handicap them. That said, Chirs Pontius, Robbie Findley, and Yura Movsisyan have the best goal scoring records, and the biggest upsides, so I think they definitely deserve a look. Also: how the heck was Eddie Johnson getting games at Cardiff, with only 2 goals and 4 assists in 30 appearences (albeit 25 appearences as a sub)?

Postgame: US vs Brazil (Final)

Lucio points to the sky after his late winner for Brazil. He clearly doesn't know that God is dead.

It would be easy for a US fan to feel deflated by such a tough loss. But there were positives to this game, including one of the best halves the US has ever played.

Had the US been successful, Bob Bradley would have (rightly) taken to clogging the midfield against every strong opponent. However, Brazil's second half taught us that even with the aerial strength of the US defense they can't afford to leave their flanks unprotected. Jonathan Spector was isolated against good dribblers far too often.

Moreover, while the counterattack often works well when the US are leading narrowly, they need to learn how to slow the game down when necessary and keep possession. Against Spain things tended to break the US's way, but allow any team as many opportunites and time on the ball as Brazil got and they will hurt you.

What's more, the US has a less of a target on their back than had they won. I fear that a victory could have become a false dawn, a high water mark which the US would struggle to match at the World Cup. However, after this result the US retains its status as an underdog on the rise-- a position that I rather like. It was a respectable loss, and neutrals will appreciate that US made it a good game.

Preview: US vs Brazil (Final)

Can Benny Feilhaber (l) fill Michael Bradley's size 22 cleats*? And will Dempsey, Donovan, Bocanegra, and Bornstein be able to neutralize minotaur-man Maicon (r)? Another match up to watch: Kaka vs his likely marker, Rico Clark.

In lieu of doing a standard preview, I instead direct you over to World Soccer Daily's Friday podcast, in which Tim Vickery breaks down the Brazilians far better than I could have. He said that Luisao is weak in central defense, and the left back lacks protection; that Brazil's centerbacks tend to leave space in behind which Davies's speed could exploit; and that the cold weather in South Africa favors scrappy play-- a good point. It is really worth listening to.

As far as the US is concerned, I would expect Feilhaber to slot in for Bradley, with everyone else staying the same. And coming off the bench? I am hoping that Torres and/or Adu will make an appearence, rather than Kljestan. Frankly, Kljestan gives the ball away too often. However, on his day he is a good player, so I suppose it depends on how he's been training.

As with the Spain game, the US can do themselves a world of good by scoring first. Brazil's counterattacks will puree them if they are forced to chase the game. I do think that this game will be decided by luck more than tactics. Since Brazil tend not to play through the midfield as much as Spain, they will be harder to neutralize. That said, I'll go out on a limb and predict (nay, pray) USA 2, Brazil 1. The US scores one of their goals on a set piece.

-Alex D

*In some foreign sizing system. The point is that Michael Bradley's are some damn big shoes to fill, especially on the defensive side.

Exclusive! Jermaine Jones video highlights compilation

[UPDATE June 29: on the very same day that I put together my compilation, a beautiful, professional-quality video appears from some Schalke fan. Oh well. I've included the wundervideo at bottom of the post. Enjoy.]

Jermaine Jones in Football Manager 2009 (hey, if Everton can scout players with FM than so can I.) Explosive, driven, and strong with both feet, he looks a fearsome prospect if deployed properly. However, he doesn't make the best use of the ball. And my coaches say he's injury prone, which may be true (Soccer by Ives).

If you are like me, when you heard 27-year-old German-American Jermaine Jones had decided to play for the US you immediately went to YouTube to scope him out. Unfortunately, the only compilations are picture montages which give little idea of his playing style. So I decided to create my own compilation for inquisitive US fans.

I looked at his stats on ESPN, and found clips of the 2008-2009 games where he had goals or assists (unfortunately, he didn't have any in the first half of the season, but had a late-season hot streak when he registered 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 games). He looks to be an hard-working defensive midfielder who has a strong left foot and can occasionally make blistering runs. He also has a strange tendency to fall down when making assists...

The Germans posting comments over at the NYTimes blog rate him quite highly as a player, less so as a person. German publication Kicker is also a fan: it ranks him as the best defensive midfielder in the Bundesliga! There were even rumors swirling around last summer that Manchester United was sizing him up.

Anyhow, if you have suggestions for additions, please share. Enjoy!

Abridged highlights:


Full highlights:

Jermaine Jones 2009 highlights video. Song: Notorious, by Turbulence. Note: because of the column size, I can't make the clip bigger. However, Windows users can press [ctrl] + [+] to zoom in. Afterwards, press [ctrl] + [-] to zoom back out.

[The Wundervideo. Apparently Kampfschwein means "fighting pig," which is an awesome nickname.]

Where's Ronaldinho? And More!

The smiling, buck-toothed one: still makes my heart flutter. See that golden curlicue signature on his shirt? I have some overpriced shinguards with that symbol scribbled on it. You know you've made it big when you get your own branded clothing, and/or you are the subject of over 100,000 Youtube montages.

Where in the world is two-time World Player of the Year Ronaldinho Gaucho? No, Ronaldinho has not pulled an Adriano (aka a Amir Zaki, aka a Mark Sanford) and temporarily vanished in a puff of purple smoke. But he's certainly not in South Africa, with the rest of his Brazilian teammates. He was left out of the squad. So what gives? It's not like he's over the hill-- he's still only 29. What has happened to the player that once set the world on fire?

Ronaldinho, like many of his Brazilian counterparts, seems to have some 'life style' issues. Benched and then shipped out of Barcelona for his slack application and hard-partying ways, last season he played only sporadically for AC Milan. Following a series of weak performances for Brazil, Brazil coach Dunga decided to give Ronaldinho some tough love by omitting him from the Confederations Cup roster.

"I would like him to come back, but whether he will come back I don't know... it depends more on him than me," Dunga said. (Guardian)

Frankly, I think the Confederations Cup is worse off for his absence-- of the other players at the tournament, only perhaps Robinho is as consistently electrifying as the great Buck-toothed One. And no one else plays with quite as much joy.

***

While searching for pictures of Ronaldinho I came across this beautiful homage...

...wondering who's work it could be, I followed the link to discover a fantastic forum where someone named Black Death has catalogued some of the best stories from the past few years. There is too much good material to share all at once, but I felt obligated to highlight a choice few. The theme is "Samba Style" (aka dirty Brazilian):

• Ronaldinho is "romantically on fire", say Italian press. Months after hiring a helicopter to shower rose petals over the flat of his last girlfriend, the Brazilian has "stolen the heart" of Milan channel TV presenter and "high-class glamour model" Aline Domingos. Domingos told the press the stories are true. "Yes, Ronaldinho and I are going out. He's my Gaucho. But really, I am shy. I don't want to talk about it."

• Brazilian dancer Joana Machado says she's celebrating her "utter love" with Inter star Adriano by tattooing his name below her breasts. Machado says she wanted to be "branded". "Adriano owns me, owns my life: when he signs for Flamengo or Chelsea, I sign for them too." Adriano's agent Gilmar Rinaldi says Joana is "lacking comprehension". "Adriano is going nowhere: he stays at Inter. And he's dating someone else."

• Brazilian club Gremio say they "anticipate no obvious problems" from a new club policy of prescribing players Viagra ahead of high-altitude Copa Libertadores games. Club doctor Alarico Endres says the drug will improve blood oxygenisation. "The studies suggest it will give our boys a real edge for high-altitude games. The fuss about this is simply puerile: my studies show there will be no unseemly consequences."

-Alex D

Postgame: what the Spanish press are saying

What did the Spanish press have to say about the loss? They wrote that Spain had a bad game, while the US worked hard and defended well. AS pointed out that Spain should have played one less striker and added a man in midfield, to play the possession game that worked so well after Villa got injured in the Euros-- however, I fear this might have further clogged an already-congested midfield. There was praise for the US, especially Onyewu, DeMerit, Donovan, and Altidore. Here are the some articles:

Spain lost their style

• "The star- Onyewu: was a collossus in defense and dealt with high balls well
• What a (terrible) day! S. Ramos: huge error on the second goal: didn't clear immediately and was robbed. Overconfident. [N.B. this is tough criticism, coming as it does from a Madrid-based publication]
• The dandy- Donovan: had class, talent, and functioned like the brain of the US team. Did everything well.
• The hard man- Bradley: was expelled at the end for a tackle that could have been a yellow card instead."

The seven sins of Spain

1. "Nerves
2. Slack defending
3. Individual errors
4. No width
5. No spark
6. No back-up plan
7. No rebounds (aka Tim Howard)"

The threat of Altidore

Hierro: we had to lose eventually

Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque and the Spanish players were graceful in defeat. "We created a lot of chances, but the Americans played with tremendous heart," Del Bosque said. Xabi Alonso and Juan Mata also tipped their hats towards the US. Though Puyol was clearly frustrated with the result, leaving the field immediately after the final wistle, both he and Iker Casillas believe that the hardship will ultimately make Spain stronger.

***

The NYTimes blog has a similar piece.

Preview: South Africa vs Brazil

South Africa will have to stand up and be counted if they hope to get anything versus Brazil today. On a separate note: Meerkat Manor is a good show. And this is a funny ad.

Like the US, expect South Africa to put in a gritty performance against favorites Brazil. Brazil are coming off a deceptively easy passage through the group of death, and may not be as strong as they seem. South Africa meanwhile, has been improving with time and have a triple advantage: an extra day's rest, home field, and nothing to lose.

Brazil:
Brazil is keyed by superstars Kaka, Robinho, and driving full-back Maicon. The team has rediscovered their form following a tough period when it appeared Dunga may lose his job. Though they are famous for samba football, this team is more like Liverpool than Barcelona or Arsenal: it is built upon upon positional discipline and two holding midfielders. The composition of the national team mirrors the trend of the domestic league, which has been bulking up and outmuscling continental competition. For all their strength on set pieces, however, they can still be beautiful to watch in open play, and devastating on the counter.

RAMIRES- the 22-year-old Blue Kenyon, who recently earned himself a $10.5 million move to Benfica, looks a solid player. Expert Tim Vickery says that he is "at his best bursting late into the box to finish." (Last Minute, Second Leg)

felipe MELO- Fiorentina's 25-year-old defensive midfielder is supposedly in high demand, and has shown why with a series of assured displays in this tournament. He has chimed in with three goals over a mere eight games in a Brazil shirt, including one against the US. (FIFA interview)

luis FABIANO- can hardly be considered a breakout star, though perhaps not quite as well known as counterparts like Robinho. However, on current form, that may soon change.

South Africa:
Though Bafana superstar Benni McCarthy has been left watching the tournament from the couch, South Africa has looked well organized and disciplined, and good pace all over the park makes them dangerous on the counter. Everton's Steven Pienaar has given the vuvuzela's somethikng to buzz about with his speed, skill, and on-field leadership, bringing teammates into play from a free-position in the hole.

kagiso DIKGACOI- thought Pienaar is among one of the only names familiar to most foreigners, that may soon change, as Dikgacoi has been attracting strong interest from Fulham. It is easy to see why, as Dikgacoi has played the Veira role well this tournament. Though he rarely catches the eye, statistics reveal that he is essential to the Bafana Bafana. (Goal.com feature)

mathew BOOTH-Booth, on the other hand, can't help but catch the eye. He's 6'6, white, and affectionately "Boo(th)"-ed every time he touches the ball. If he were a little younger, European teams would probably be licking their lips at his composure in defense and on the ball. Virtually eliminated Torres from the Spain game, even if he was beaten by a bit of Villa magic. Definitely the sort of guy I would want on my team.

bernard PARKER- only 23, Parker registered a good brace versus New Zealand-- the only goals South Africa have scored. The first goal was an absolute beauty. Also showed some glimpses of real quality versus Spain, including one or two superb passes that almost unlocked their defense. Apparently had some trouble getting paid at Red Star Belgrade last year, but may have earned himself a more dependable salary after this tournament.

siboniso GAXA- the speedy right back has acquitted himself well.

Continuing on the Benfica theme:
Headline highlight: Benfica names Jesus as coach
Transfer gossip: Adu expects to be sold

U.S. fights for monumental victory

U.S. forwards Jozy Altidore (l) and Charlie Davies. Altidore, only 19 years old, muscled his way around Villareal teammate Joan Capdevila and fired the ball past Spain's Iker Casillas for the US's go-ahead goal in the 27th minute.

Wow. USA 2, Spain 0.

Makes for some superb reading. Even better viewing.

Stats: Confederations Cup

Donovan and Torres are dangermen for their respective countries.

What the numbers tell us about the US vs Spain in particular.

Having fun with the Castrol Index.

1) Which three players have covered the most ground?
2) Name any one of the three fastest players.
3) Name two of the three players with the most completed passes.
4) Name two of the four players who have made the most solo runs.

***

1) Michael Bradley (22.6 miles), Clint Dempsey (21.6 miles), Landon Donovan (21.3 miles). Comparatively, Spain's hardest worker, Xavi, has run a mere 16.5 miles. Consider also that Spain has had an extra day to recover, and it seems fatigue will almost certainly be a factor when the teams play each other on Wednesday. Bob Bradley will want to dig into his subs bench early, even if it means taking off some of his better players.

2) Steven Pienaar (19.7 mph), Andre Santos (19.6 mph), Emad Mohammed (19.6mph). Comparatively, during last years Premiership season Gabriel Agbonlahor reached a meteoric 21.1 mph. The comparison is unfair, but readers may be interested to know that Usain Bolt easily topped 25 mph. However, interesting as they are, don't put too much stock in any of these numbers-- pure speed means relatively little in soccer. Although I would really have liked to see Bolt train with Real Madrid-- he would be an absolutely terrifying forward if he had even a modicum of skill.

As far as Spain goes: it is worth noting that Fernando Torres was the 5th fastest player in the EPL. I thought that Mathew Booth did an admirable job marking him out of the game against South Africa, but no one will underestimate the threat Torres poses. Indeed, the attention devoted to Torres seams to be one of the reasons Villa has flourished the past two games. That and the fact that Villa is a damn smooth criminal.

3) Xavi (229) is a gimme. He easily topped Italy's midfield powerhouses, Andrea Pirlo (159) and Danielle De Rossi (158), beating them by more than 44%. Xavi must be shut down if Spain's opponents are to have any hope of competing.

4) Few surprises here: Robinho (12 runs), followed by Xavi, Maicon, and Capdevila (10 runs). Capdevila terrorized Spain's opponents down the left during the first two games, registering 3 assists in the process and combining well with Riera and Mata. Jonathan Spector will have his hands full tomorrow.

Lessons for the US versus Spain: unfortunately, the numbers don't tell us much beyond what we already know: make early subs for weary legs, watch out for Xavi on both the pass and the dribble, reinforce the right side of defense.

Source: group stages statistical stars

Spain's on-field line-up against South Africa (l) (2-0) and Iraq (r) (1-0). Blue dots indicate Spanish subs. Spain's player numbers available here. Note how Sergio Ramos (#15) effectively plays as a midfielder-- unfortunately, Adu aside, the US lacks a good left sided attacker to take advantage of the space he leaves in behind. However, the Spanish defense is not unbreachable: Altidore's height could give Puyol fits; Davies speed has the ability to expose Marchena or Pique; and Capdevila, a converted winger, has defensive frailities Dempsey and Donovan can exploit. All this depends, however, on disrupting the Spanish midfield. Using a high defensive line to compress the field-- like Iraq did-- might be a worthwhile gamble, despite Spain's dangerous speed up front.

Postgame: US vs Egypt

Michael Bradley (c) was defiant in victory, slamming doubters for their lack of faith. Young Bradley delivered a father's day goal for his dad, US coach Bob Bradley, for the second year running.

Coming off the elation of a completely improbable US passage into the semi-final of the Confederations Cup, I find that I do not actually have much to say except that I am glad that the US has managed to answer some of their critics. I have never felt strongly either way about Bob Bradley, in part because reputable sources have repeatedly said his job was safe, and in part because coaching stability seems to generally benefit teams. It seems that coaches ought to be given time to learn and improve, so long as they haven't loss the dressing room and are not consistently producing unnacceptable results; after all, a competent coach will learn from his or her mistakes. Bradley seems to be doing this, to an extent.

However, I believe Bradley's defining quality is his stoic determination and emotional consistency. I don't imagine him as a great motivator, but I imagine that he exudes the the same resolute reliability in the dressing room as he displays in his conservative squad selection. A man's man, his faith is hard to win and hard to lose. This cuts both ways: his continued faith in Beasley has been an unqualified failure, while his trust in Dempsey seems a masterstroke. However, really there is little difference between the situtions.

Admittedly, Dempsey is the better player, and the stronger one mentially. Furthermore, Demspey had been showing signs of life that Beasley had not: I enjoyed Dempsey's ill advised by endearingly feisty showmanship towards the end of the Brazil game. Really, what is the beautiful game about without its beautiful moments? I know I certainly don't watch soccer for the "spirit" shown in gritty nill-nill draws, and Dempsey's audacity and cheeky defiance brightened an otherwise dismal game.

Bob Bradley was almost equally defiant in deciding who to field versus Egypt, resisting calls to start anything other than what he believed was his strongest line-up (with the possible exception of Brad Guzan). No one should have expected anything less from a coach with faith in his team. Thankfully, Bradley got it all right this third time around. Hopefully this victory will steel the USMNT's resolve and stoke their faith in the face of future obstacles-- particularly that of players without the same natural determination as team leaders like young Bradley and Landon Donovan. It is yet one more useful learning experience for coach and team.

Preview: US vs Brazil

I think that the U.S. is likely to line-up with the 4-4-2, as Ives outlines well. This is probably smart. Why? One of the main reasons is because it makes it easier to man-mark Brazil’s runners from deep.

Driving fullbacks
Brazil’s attacking fullbacks are the key to the this game. Because of the aerial strength at the center of the U.S.’s defense, and the inconsistent quality of Alves’s crosses, crosses from deep are less of a concern than quick passing interchanges when Alves cuts inside and makes plays happen on the edges of the 18. However, when Brazil’s fullbacks get forward expect the U.S. to exploit the wide space in behind. Most likely, this will involve Donovan, Altidore, Davies, or Casey opportunistically drifting into that space, even if it means they have to leave someone alone up front.

Plugging the holes: shutting down long-range blasts
Something the U.S. will have to watch out for are shots from distance, which has been a problem in the past couple games and will continue to be a problem against opposition with the technique to serve up these Xabi Alonso-esque blasts. Monday’s game against Italy is a poor benchmark because of the man disadvantage, but dissecting the first goal is nonetheless a useful exercise:

• Bradley reads the game well and intercepts the pass
• Dempsey controls the ball with his chest and pings it towards Feilhaber/ Donovan
• Bradley first shields to ensure that the ball reaches its destination, but then takes a step forward. Had Feilhaber turned and gotten the ball to Donovan, he could have one touched it into Bradley’s path in order to launch an extremely dangerous counter (2-2, becoming a 4-4 if the play was slowed up). However, Feilhaber instead loses out to an enterprising Rossi, and Italy has a 4-4 break with catastrophic results.

Rossi’s long range blast, combined with that of De Rossi and some of the goals from distance scored against the U.S. in the past two World Cup Qualifiers, demand some sort of response. There seem to be two possibilities:

The first is to add in an additional holding defensive midfielder who sits back and either man-marks the dangerman in the hole (Kaka), or serves as a zonal marker who steps up quickly in situations like the Rossi goal. This has the benefit pushing up the central midfield pairing, whose counterattacking instincts are blunted by being tethered back anyhow. However, it also leaves Altidore isolated up front. Right now, Altidore is better at drawing fouls than serving as a dynamic target man. Brazil are no slouches on set pieces, so this may not be the best option.

The second option is to ensure that midfielders track back and harry so the opposing team doesn’t have the luxury of lining up shots. I think this is the more attractive option, but also the more difficult one, because it requires Premiere League-style fitness and tenaciousness, rather than merely a change in tactics. Obviously, it also requires the U.S. to be more careful with the ball around the center circle. One overlooked drawback to this strategy: lining up Altidore and Davies together up top robs the U.S. of the option to sub in a forward with pace, at least with the present squad.

Look for the U.S. to be attempting the second option, not only in tomorrow’s game but also moving forward over the next year.

Other things to expect or look for

• I have a hunch that if the U.S. is failing to generate attacking opportunities, Adu may come in as a sub. He performed well against Spain in the friendly last year, and he has the qualities to open up the Brazilian defense from a position in the hole.
• Expect Brazil to target the left side of the U.S. defense, with Kaka drifting over there. Having watched Monday’s game, Dunga will see Bornstein as more vulnerable than Spector. And if Beasley gets the nod at left back, I’m afraid he might have a difficult game.
  
• Earlier substitutions. Bob Bradley will realize that he probably waited a little too long on Monday, and legs are already tired from that game, so I expect Kljestan to get plenty of time to show he deserves another chance in the starting eleven. Likewise Beasley.
• Pato wrecking havoc, whether as a sub or starter.
  

Soccer absurdity: running link list

A running list of good videos. I'll put up about a bunch of links when I'm finally able to access the bookmarks on my desktop.

Flash
Freestyle battle 2008. 4 Stars. $131 million-man C. Ronaldo, et al.
Best goals. 4 Stars. Almost too much of a good thing.
Ibrahimovic up to 2006. 4 Stars. 6'4" Serbian-Swedish ballerina.
Ronaldo up to 2006. 4 Stars.

Moments of brilliance
Ibrahimovic backheel goal. 4 Stars. Watch exceedingly carefully.
Gourcuff wonder goal. 4 Stars.
Eduardo left heel goal. 4 Stars.
Ribery tricks. 3 Stars. German newspaper Bild apparently calls Franck Ribery 'an anarchist on the football pitch,' which I've always thought was a beautifully evocative epithet for a soccer player.

Violent
Compilation. 5 Stars for satists, 2 Stars for others. Limp Bizkit brings back memories.

Fun
Best Goal Celebrations. 5 Stars



I still don't know the story behind a few of the celebrations, though here is a guide to some of the more-difficult-to-understand ones:

• At 1:08: This is a move from Street Fighter, the video game. Or maybe Dragon Ball Z.
  
• At 1:13: Apparently he loves his club. A lot. He's also a communist. I don't know, maybe alienation has something to do with it.
  
• At 1:37: "In 1999, [Robbie] Fowler was fined £60,000 by his club for bringing the game into disrepute. Whilst celebrating his goal against Liverpool's Merseyside rivals, Everton, Fowler used the white line of the penalty area to simulate cocaine use. Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier stated that this was a Cameroonian grass eating celebration, learnt from teammate Rigobert Song."
  
• At 1:40: truly, truly hilarious.
  

Best Goal Celebrations 2. 4 Stars

• 0:39: two West Ham players reinact this little kerfuffle
• 0:47: Craig Bellamy responds to accusations that he assaulted a team mate with a golf club. His nickname: "The Nutter with the Putter."

Miscellanea

• Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Maniche, Antonio Lopez, and other all have Elvish tattooed on their arms. Honest-to-God Lord of the Ring Elvish.
  

  

Not only does Sergio "Kun" Aguero have an Elvish tatto, he also happens to be nicknamed after Japanese anime character Kum Kum. And he's the son-in-law of Maradona, aka God in Argentina. Aguero, a global superstar at only 21, recently became a father; the infant, Benjamin, shoulders such crushing expectation of soccer greatness that he might as well be named Jesus. I feel truly sorry for the little guy.

Any suggestions for additional videos? Disagree with the ratings? Share your thoughts.

Match Report: US vs Italy

Here are the highlights from the game. Fan discretion is advised:


Additional information: Soccernet

A reluctant ode to guiseppe Rossi
He has it-- hustle, skill, two-footed lightning bolts like those hurled by Zeus himself. Really, you can't fault Rossi for much. He's always represented Italy, and he's been unwavering in his commitment to them. Yes, he celebrated his goals, but so would I, with those sorts of strikes, especially if I was trying to establish myself as a starter for the World Champions. Yes, he grew up in New Jersey, but that wasn't his choice. It just hurts so bad because he's so good.

***

An eager ode to michael Bradley
At least we have homegrown, All-American beast Michael Bradley The first time I watched Bradley, two summers ago, I was reminded of Michael Ballack-- who, for some reason, I've always imagined riding at the head of invading Hun armies. But back to soccer.

Hard man Michael Bradley: the American Roy Keane?

Bradley has it. He may not be the most skilled player, but he has a certain elegance and enough technique to get the job done. Most importantly, though, he has the drive and determination written all over everything he does. If there is one thing that sticks out in my mind about Bradley, it is how a a commentator once mentioned that Bradley assiduously studies tapes of all the best midfielders in the game. He has that drive to improve, which he has done in leaps and bounds over the past year. I fully expect him to be playing in the Champions League in two years time. If you don't believe me, just rewatch the tape of this last game.

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The Match
As far as the game goes: I think that the US put in a good performance. Our fullbacks were solid, Donovan looked menacing, and I though Bob Bradley made some good coaching decisions (in particular, I liked the Davies for Altidore substitution, even if it didn't yield many dividends). I also think the center of our defense is much better than most fans think it is. In short, it was a heartening showing-- and it needed to be, given that Egypt look quite good.

ESPN Gamecast: Shows just how little Italy managed to muster until the 56th minute, when Rossi's introduction sparked Italy into life against an increasingly tired American team, who were a man down after Ricardo Clark received a soft red card in the 32nd minute. US subs came in minutes 66, 72, 85; perhaps earlier subs would have given the US the energy to keep defensive pressure on the Italians?

Still, while Egypt did look far better than their FIFA ranking would suggest, they did manage to concede three set piece goals, and set pieces are the bread and butter of the USMNT...

-Alex D

Live Match Report: DC United vs Chicago Fire

I'm a fan of DC United, and I was excited to watch them play on Saturday night at RFK Stadium. Unfortunately, we arrived so late that we only got to see the second half, which yielded only a penalty save and a couple close shaves but no goals. The match ended 2-1 to DC. That said, it was fantastic to see live-- it renewed my appreciation for the incredible athleticism of the game. What on TV looks casual often seems lightning fast in 3D, and what looks a bad play becomes understandable when you don't have the benefit of a tidy overhead viewing angle.

We were sitting on the end that United were attacking, so we were able to fully appreciate the beauty and menace of their counterattack. It could be difficult to distinguish between people, but I liked what I saw from the entire attacking unit, and in particular Khumalo, who always looked menacing as both a hold-up forward and on the fast counter. (I wonder whether he might even have an outside chance of making South Africa's World Cup 2010 squad)
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Thabiso Khumalo: plays as if he is taller than 5'10". Also cool.

Factor in that Josh Wicks is looking a solid goalkeeper, and I think DC could make it deep into the post-season this year so long as they are in form. They have bags of technical ability, especially compared to most MLS teams, and a good blend of youth and experience.

On the other hand, experience doesn't count for much if they are throwing temper tantrums in and, more tellingly, out of the dressing room, as with Luciano Emilio's red card strop on national TV last week, when he threw water bottles onto the field after being subbed. Other players are also making discontented mews about lack of playing time, and you wonder whether storm clouds are gathering over the DC dressing room.

-Alex D

Transfers: Top Summer Transfers

Two of the biggest transfers have already happened (NYTimes article):

Kaka ($92 million) and Cristiano Ronaldo ($131 million) to Real Madrid from Milan and Manchester United, respectively. Real Madrid also seem destined to land Spain star David Villa, amongst others. However, while there will be plenty of attention devoted to the semi-predictable moves Ribery, Valencia, Benzema, Ibrahimovic, Eto'o, et al, here are three more unlikely moves that I would like to see:

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edin DZEKO: probably going to AC Milan, but would bring some youthful excitement to Chelsea, or could prove a useful replacement to Adebayor at Arsenal. This 6'3" Serbian is really something of an unknown quantity for non-Germans, but isn't that half the fun of the transfer window?

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guiseppe ROSSI: the Italian powerhouses are probably salivating to get their hands on Italy's up-and-coming starlet, currently at Villareal. With Pellegrini's departure, he may be unsettled. Really, though, I would like to see Manchester United exercise their buy-back clause and get him to replace Tevez (if-- and this is a big if-- he is interested). An even more delicious prospect: Barcelona. It happened in my FM2009 game, albeit after a stint where he failed to displace Pato at Milan.

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landon DONOVAN: any team from La Liga or the EPL that is not doomed to relegation. Is this going to happen? I haven't read anything to make me think it will. I doubt that a team from the top half of the EPL (i.e. Everton) would make a move for an aging American-- but maybe Steve Bruce can spot a bargain and bring Donovan to play off of Kenwyne Jones at Sunderland. Really, if he laid down one good season at any EPL team (6 goals, 8 assists), he might be competing in the Europa League in two years time. On the other hand, his biological clock is ticking like a time bomb. Tick. Tick.

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Other notes: would Atletico really sell both Aguero and Forlan when they are set for Champions League football next year? I doubt it. I see them cashing in on the aging Forlan, but keeping Aguero, whose stock could rise even higher if he shines in the Champions League next year. We'll see.

Altidore and Adu: I like Villarreal, and would ideally like to see Altidore stay there and eventually establish himself in the first team if/ when Rossi leaves. Adu's situation is more complicated, and has me more nervous, but in an ideal world perhaps he'll get and seize chances at Benfica.

Speaking of Benfica: I really, really liked what I saw from young Portuguese winger Fabio Coentrao at the U-20 World Cup two years ago and I'll be eager watching to see if he gets chance at Benfica next year. In fact, Benfica is loaded with young talent: keep your eyes out for Argentine left winger Angel Di Maria, who is rumored to a transfer target for some big teams.

-Alex D

Atletico - Forlan & Aguero - Villarreal - Altidore (c) & Adu (r) - Benfica