Father and Son
The USA will face Jamaica tomorrow at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. and to say that we’re now at the stage where every match is a referendum on Bob Bradley’s future as manager of this outfit is not an understatement.
In the last FIFA rankings, Jamaica was 55th overall, the USA 22nd. It should be clear that the USA is the favorite tomorrow, and yet I am quite sure that if it were polled among the populace, they would be worried about the outcome.
Jamaica tore through Group B with three wins, scoring seven times and not conceding once. Honduras would have been the class of that group at first blush, but they finished second and will now face a grim task in dealing with a much-improved Costa Rica side today. Jamaica definitely earned their spot in this match. They are organized and quick, and play an attractive brand. The USA will have their hands full again in transition defense. Jamaica’s attack is a bit schizophrenic at times, which will keep the defenders and defensively-oriented midfielders on their toes.
The USA has not looked very good in this tournament, truth be told. I have given up on calling for Bob’s head, although I can share that there were some emails passed around ATD HQ after the debacle against Panama that leaned in that direction. The USA is content to go along to get along when it comes to this program. Now, it’s clear why Bob and Sunil Gulati were keen on this tournament, because winning it means entry into the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil. That tournament was the scene of arguably the biggest modern moment in US Soccer’s history, the victory over Spain. It is a good tournament to get the players prepared for a number of things they will face along the way to the World Cup in 2014.
The flaws in the USA’s current set up are evident once again. The players receive widely varying coaching across their various clubs. The players show up in much different playing shape due to the various seasons they deal with. Bob’s “system” is never really evident as he tends to tinker with formations and tactics quite a bit. The players play at a methodical and almost negative pace at times. There were many comments as to a player of Sasha Kleijstan’s ability being able to make a difference for the listless starters against Panama. This is a vicious cycle of poor match starts, indifferent and unorganized defending, and mystifying tactics. When was the last time you can remember not being on the edge of your seat for a USA match? I would assume you might say Canada in the first match of the Cup this year, but before then? It’s been quite some time. The USA should be better than this with the type of athletes that are raised in this country.
Is tomorrow a referendum on Bob’s continued employment? If he was to be sacked, would anything really change? I would assume the answers to those questions are more than likely both “no” from USA Soccer’s perspective (although yes, they should be). It’s hard to see how USA Soccer could find someone who could be getting more out of these players than Bob is currently, quite frankly. You would like to think if that person were out there, he or she would be in charge. That’s probably wishful thinking on my part, but nevertheless, he is what we have at the moment. Sunil Gulati seems to be more worried about branding and imaging and the fooferall with FIFA than his own actual charge to make the USA a power in the World’s Game. I would love to see a bottom-to-top change within USA Soccer but it’s unlikely.
Could the players be doing more? Yes. It’s clear the Euro-based players are at the end of a very long and arduous campaign. The MLS-based players should be in match form and doing better than they have been, but for some, it’s getting used to playing in Bob’s “system” that seems to be the undoing. Some players should have been left out of this squad, clearly. If the USA beats Jamaica and eventually runs into a rampaging Mexico, they will be decided underdogs and probably lose. It’s a sad state of affairs that I can say that now and not expect anyone to disagree with me in comments.
Here is today’s television and internet schedule:
Euro U-21s, Iceland-Denmark 2:30 p.m. ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com
Euro U-21s, Switzerland-Belarus 2:35 p.m. ESPN3.com
U-17 World Cup, Mexico-North Korea 4 p.m. ESPNU, ESPN3.com
U-17 World Cup, France-Argentina 4 p.m. Galavision, ESPN3.com
Gold Cup quarterfinal, Honduras-Costa Rica 5 p.m. Telefutura, univisionfutbol.com
Brazil, Fluminense-Bahia 5:30 p.m. GolTV
MLS, Toronto-Seattle 7 p.m. Direct Kick
U-17 World Cup, Congo-Netherlands 7 p.m. ESPNU, ESPN3.com
U-17 World Cup, Japan-Jamaica 7 p.m. ESPN3.com
MLS, New England-Chicago 7:30 p.m. Direct Kick
USL, Orlando-Wilmington 7:30 p.m. FSC
Colombia, Nacional-Equidad 7:30 p.m. GolTV
Gold Cup quarterfinal, Mexico-Guatemala 8 p.m. Univision, univisionfutbol.com
MLS, Houston-Columbus 8:30 p.m. Direct Kick
MLS, Real Salt Lake-D.C. United 9 p.m, Direct Kick
MLS, Colorado-Los Angeles 9 p.m. Direct Kick
MLS, Vancouver-Philadelphia 10 p.m. Direct Kick
MLS, Chivas USA-Dallas 10:30 p.m. Direct Kick
Enjoy the matches and enjoy your Saturday.
