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U.S. fans should be disgusted after Brazil debacle
FIFA Confederations Cup
The USA limply conceded to Brazil in a game that was over just six minutes after kickoff. With the 3-0 loss, the USA's stay in South Africa is all but over.
Fans should be disgusted.
Think about these numbers — the USA conceded three goals, two on bad mistakes. For the fourth time in six games, the Americans conceded an early goal. For the third game in four outings, the USA lost. For the second game in a row, a player made a reckless challenge and got sent off.
Of course, there will be the usual apologists for this sorry bunch, but they will sound increasingly beleaguered and shrill. Yeah, Brazil is a great team — this iteration can win the World Cup next year.
But truth is, the Americans are no further along than they were twenty years ago when it comes to playing world-class teams. The USA cannot win big games away from the comforts of home. They pretend that they can "step up to the next level." That's magical thinking at its most delusional.
All fans ask is that they give an honest effort. Today, it's hard to say they did, at least until the game was effectively over.
Why is the American team in such lousy shape? The buck has to stop with the head coach. It is the coaching staff's job to get his players ready for a big game. They didn't. Bob Bradley's inexplicable selections today certainly amplified the problems. It has been clear for well over a year that DaMarcus Beasley can no longer play at this level.
Yet there he was, helpfully coughing the ball up on a U.S. corner kick to allow Robinho to score the second goal after a Brazilian breakaway.
It's clear that the American offense lacks any creativity. And yet, Freddy Adu remains on the bench. Some smart play in the back wouldn't hurt, but Jose Francisco Torres was benched in favor of Sacha Kljestan, a man who gives the ball away more often than he completes passes. Kljestan, of course, followed up his feckless performance in the first half by getting sent off for a stupid challenge on Ramires.
Would it be churlish to suggest that replacing one guy who got red-carded with another who got sent off is just plain ridiculous?
And what type of game were the Americans trying to play? I honestly don't know, and I doubt anyone else does either. The Americans were a formless, shapeless mess, an amoeba of men on the field, getting prodded apart by a cool Brazil team playing maybe at 2/3rds speed.
The looks on the players' faces told you all you needed to know. Clint Dempsey looked disgusted. Landon Donovan, angry. Beasley — well, it was unclear if he cared.
Mercifully, he was yanked at the half. Jay DeMerit and Jonathan Spector looked as if they were already waiting to be blamed post-game for imagined faults. Jozy Altiore looked lost.
And Tim Howard? He looked sick, a man asked to play Horatius at the bridge — which he did for much of the second half. Blameless on the goals, Tim can be credited for stopping at least three more certain tallies to make the final scoreline look better than deserved.
That discord permeates the team.
Dempsey started jawing at the left back, Jonathan Bornstein, after only ten minutes. On set pieces, guys left men unmarked, seemingly unaware of exactly what they were supposed to be doing. Dempsey, of course, was the only guy running hard after the ball. Donovan? He's not good enough to get it without support, but at least he plays hard every game.
And then there's the foolish play. For some reason, American players seem incapable of learning that reckless fouls in FIFA tournaments mean you're going to get sent off. They've had plenty of chances to study, mind you, yet it keeps happening. What gives?
Here's the painful truth. Like South Africa and New Zealand, for all the hot air, the Americans don't belong here. They have more talent, but they have no idea how to harness it. They can crow about being the kings of CONCACAF all they wish, but they are monarchs without clothes.
FIFA Confederations Cup
This afternoon at Loftus Field, there were no redeeming performances and there should be no excuses. It was a shambolic, embarrassing performance.
It should put coach Bob Bradley's job in jeopardy.
If it doesn't, something is seriously wrong in Chicago.
Jamie Trecker's newest book, "Love and Blood: At the World Cup with the Footballers, Fans and Freaks" is out now from Harcourt. Jamie is assisted by Jerry and Janice Trecker. Contact Jamie at jamie.trecker@gmail.com and visit his blog and website at www.jamietrecker.com.
The views and opinions expressed by Jamie Trecker do not necessarily reflect those of the Fox Soccer Channel or FoxSoccer.com.
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