3 things learned from U.S. vs. Mexico
Let’s get this out of the way first: Who’s house?!? Our house!!!
For me, there were three big takeaways from the United States’ 2-0 win over Mexico in Arizona:
1) Class
The word “class” has a couple connotations in the world of soccer. The first refers to the level of play. In that sense, Mexico showed a good bit of class last night. They played a high-pressure game and were close to burying the U.S. many times. In this sense, the U.S. also displayed class by withstanding the Mexican onslaught and converting the two of maybe four or five real chances.
The second definition of the word “class” refers to the the amount of dignity with which one carries oneself. This game provided us with good indicators of Mexico’s class. A few Mexico fans showed their class by trying to hit Bobby Convey with what the English would identify as “missiles” while he took a corner kick. We saw the class of the Mexican side when Bocanegra looked to be injured after sliding into a row of media and they took a quick throw-in. We saw their class throughout the game when, at the slightest bit of incidental contact, the Mexican players flopped in ways that would make the Portuguese blush. Oswaldo Sanchez showed his class after Landon Donovan scored the insurance goal by lunging at Eddie Johnson. Hugo Sanchez showed his class by leading his humiliated team off the pitch without so much as acknowledging the U.S. side.
There are two definitions of the word class. In the latter sense, Mexico are, always have been, and always will be completely without class.
2) Landon Donovan
I’m hard on Landon Donovan—and not just because we haven’t received a thank-you card for the wedding gift we sent but Landon showed us a couple things last night.
First, he can be very effective when he’s facing the goal and using his speed. If Bobby Convey displayed the composure that Landon showed, the final score would have been 3-0. Landon’s touch around the Mexican keeper was that of a cold-blooded clinician and was reminiscent of a fuller-haired Donovan.
The second thing about Donovan is actually something we’ve known for awhile. He simply is not good on set pieces. The prototypical example occurred in the 61st minute when the U.S. had a free kick from a dangerous spot just outside the Mexican box. Instead of trying to bend the ball to the far post or chipping the ball into the mix, Landon kind of passed/squirted/shanked a worm-burner to absolutely no one. His fans will say that his assist from the corner kick was brilliant but he played a high-arcing hospital ball that Conrad did very well to finish.
Landon cannot play with his back to goal and looked awful until he was moved into the midfield where he was in a position to exploit his strengths and make the Mexicans pay. I’m not quite ready to welcome him back into the fold but he was very good last night.
3) ESPN
Despite producing—count ‘em!—64 samples of the world’s game last summer, ESPN still doesn’t have it figured out. Amazingly, the bothersome thing about last night’s telecast wasn’t Dave O’Brien. In fact, until he made the chicken piccata joke in the post-game comments, I thought he was tolerable.
What really bothered me was the ridiculous angles and tight shots on which the director insisted. These shots are great in other sports but ESPN clearly does not understand soccer stylistically. The sport is one of team movement and flow that cannot be captured with tight pushes and taking two similar angles (one tight and one wide) back-to-back, resulting in an amateur jump-cut effect.
As Soccer Dad alluded to in the comments last night, I began to wonder who handed out the Bob Bradley pom-poms to the ESPN staff before the game. The way Rob Stone and Bruce Arena drooled over him was silly. Yes, Bob’s team has won two games but two games does not a brilliant coach make.
And Bruce. My God, Bruce. The night started out poorly for Arena when he pretended to answer a question from Dave O’Brien but was unable to hide the fact that he had practiced and memorized his response only minutes earlier. One could almost sense a semicolon or two as he spoke. Later in the game, while prattling on about something, he mentioned DaMarcus Beasley and his club, Manchester United. Of course, Beasley doesn’t play for Manchester United but for their bitter rivals, Manchester City. This from a guy who claimed to have coaching offers in Europe?
I thought Wynalda was great but I always think that.
Also—and this is a small thing—do they really need five commentators? The only thing missing last night was a drunk Joe Namath asking Allen Hopkins for a kiss.
26 comments
Agree 100% about the class. I thought Mexico played VERY well and but for a few feet or half a step – that was a 2-2 draw or worse. How many shots hit Howard right in the chest and he looked surprised the ball was there? Not taking anything away from his performance, but man it seemed like he got ‘hit’ by the ball unexpectedly more than once. The missed header – no way he stopped it if it was anywhere near the left post.
But the small things like handshakes, the quick throw in, etc. Pure lack of class. I can’t fault the team or the majority of the fans for a few idiots throwing water cups and overall I really enjoyed watching the match because of the crowd even if it was overwhelmingly pulling for Mexico. They were loud, chanting, and having a great time. That’s how crowds in America should be no matter what their heritage. 63,000 in the USA watching a friendly is great to see regardless of why they were there.
I hope the USA/Mexico rivalry continues to build, but Mexico needs to learn to act like a true national team.
Ya, I thought Donovan was brilliant last night. He should leadership, poise, toughness, speed and a finishing touch when he needed it. I was impressed with how in the waning moments of the game he was found all the way in the defending third doing what he should be doing, defending and holding the lead. But then he was sprinting up field to maintain possession or try to get something going up top. The man was a maniac last night. I say that in a good way. I don’t think many of us question that mans talents. I don’t think most of us ever have. The real question is why can’t he play like that more consistently. The next time you seem him play I am guessing he will disappear again. I just don’t get how he can be so inconsistent when he has all that talent.
By the way, I was also impressed with 22 year old Jonathan Bornstein. Two games now starting at left back for the Nats and he has looked very impressive. I think we have found our left back for now and the future. I lke this kid a lot.
By the way, I was also impressed with 22 year old Jonathan Bornstein.
Spot on. I actually had a fourth item in my list that I cut at the last second that praised Bornstein and Clark. I’m really impressed so far by their toughness and calm under pressure.
Bornstein by far was the most impressive both last night and against Denmark. He’s very lightfooted on defense and MAN can he rocket up the sideline if he needs to.
I didn’t get the same arm fuzzy about Donovan last night. Yes, he scored on a breakaway (thanks ref!), but for much of the game he seemed to not really pressuring the Mexico backfield. Maybe I was tired, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say this was any type of stand out match. Just a few flashes of the brilliance we know he has.
Hell even US cheerleader #1 Bruce Arena was commenting about it and trying to use some mind meld jiu-jitsu to try and get Bradley to move him.
The Americans are funny! The one thing Americans are not known for around the world is class. It’s like when they get all bent out of shape about sex and sexual issues…since when has the U.S.A. been so puritanical? A country that has $12 billion dlls. plus revenues from sales of pornography each year.
speaking of class…Is there a Landon Donovan playing for your team? Because for the past 8 years of something he has said things about Mexico that not even the Nazis would dare say about the Jews.
But anyway back to SOCCER.
It is possible that the U.S. will keep beating Mexico from now on, maybe forever!
That’s you getting even for 50 odd years where you could not win a single game against your neighbouring country. Fifty four years or something!!! You live to beat Mexico, so good for you. That does not mean the U.S. is better than Mexico. Incredibly I never hear this mentioned…the U.S. can beat Mexico, but can the U.S. beat the teams Mexico can beat? Not until last I checked. When was the last time you beat Brazil or Argentina, Uruguay or Chile??? When the U.S. is able to achieve that, then you can start talking all this crap about being better than Mexico. Also are you the current champions of the world in any category in soccer, cause Mexico is. Look it up! In the meanwhile sabor the moment…nothing lasts forever!!!
Oh and on behalf of mexicans everywhere…congratulations on doing the one and only thing Mexico could not do last night…SCORE!
J.M. –
You’re an idiot, and your first point has nothing to do with soccer.
I’d appreciate a link to the “quotes” Donovan has been making/has made. You know, something concrete to back up your incoherent rant.
No one cares we couldn’t win for the last 50 years, the point is we are mopping the floor with you now.
So thanks for your totally unintelligent, unimportant, and un-supported comments.
Very classy.
J.M.:
Thanks for the comment. I’ll respond in detail when I have more time but I want to address a couple things you said.
When was the last time you beat Brazil or Argentina, Uruguay or Chile???
I suppose it’s a fair question and it has a fair answer:
Brazil: We’ve played Brazil three times since 1998; we’ve lost two and won one. For what it’s worth, I did find that, all time, Mexico has a -34 goal differential with Brazil.
Argentina: We’ve played Argentina twice since 1999. We beat them once, 1-0 and lost once, 1-0.
Uruguay: The last time we played Uruguay, on May 12, 2002, we beat them 2-1.
Chile: The last time we played Chile, on January 29, 2000, we beat them 2-1
Also are you the current champions of the world in any category in soccer?
Well, we won the 2005 Gold Cup, does that count? Mexico was bounced out of the Copa Oro by Colombia, who was throttled 3-0 by the USA the last time we played them, in 2005.
Hope that helps to clear things up.
I think that is what we net heads call being PWN3D
Hit submit too quick! Josh – that was absolutely outstanding. If that was a quick reply with more detail to come later… Ouch
hey j.m.
yes sir
we loves us some porno
bring it on and pile it high
i got the lube
as for landon donovan quotes
please quote us one
even one where he slags mexicans worse than nazi slag jews
do you even know what the nazi’s did to jews
yer insane
and how about that clown oswaldo trying to take out eddie johnson after donovans goal
hahahahahaha
he couldnt even do that right
and j.m., if you want to discuss this more i have left my email address here so feel free to drop me a line
i am sorry you hurt so much today
bruce
Josh,
Excellent match analysis — thank you.
You dealt with the eejit quite well, too. It would be interesting to see if he (?) has posted on other blogs.
JMR
Josh,
Very classy match analysis and especially classy rebuttal to JM. Well done!
JM:
Americans are not funny. Canadians – they’re the funny ones. EG: Mike Meyers, Martin Short, Dan Akroyd, Jim Carrey, etc.
Just thought I would clear that one up for you. Adios…
Ken – you must be Canadian then
/me rolls
Ken,
You forgot The Kids in the Hall.
Jim Carrey is not funny, but thank you for John Candy. Things that aren’t funny but definitely welcome are Pamela Anderson, Labatt’s Blue and Tim Hortons; send more please!
You forgot The Kids in the Hall.
On behalf of my betrothed… Hear, hear!
On behalf of myself… You also forgot Phil Hartman.
PS: Great writing on today’s piece, Josh, as always. Sorry I can’t pay the same compliment to J.M. Why are the jerks always so unskilled with the English language?
Thought J.M. was clearly talking out his *** when it came to soccer…
Kinda hard to argue that point
And his $12 billion dollar stat isn’t too far off the mark.
$12 Billion a year – that’s a WHOLE lot of Tim Horton’s dougnuts (drool)
And Les Stroud (Survivorman – love that show). He’s Canadian.
Soccer Dad: I was born in America, but have French Canadian roots. I’m Cajun, which is kinda like being Canadian but via Louisiana. My great, great, great, great, great Grandfather was kicked out of Nova Scotia in the 1770′s by the British. If it wasn’t for those damn Brits I’d be going to hockey games and drinking Labatts. Or maybe I would be Bruce Cockburns agent. Yea, that’s it…
Soccer Dad,
Regardles of the accuracy of the statistics, there is no logical connection to be made comparing a lack of class in not shaking someone’s hand after a tough loss and selling pornography.
J.M. was defintely talking out his ***.
Mark – oh agree totally. Except for the Latin American model soccer match video thing (which I’ve just HEARD about) porn and soccer don’t mix
I was just stunned at the number.
Ken – heh same here. Family on my mother’s side, WAY back, migrated from Canada where they lived in a community called ‘Bois des Fillion’ (Woods of the Fillions (I knwo that spelling is wrong), the Fillions migrated to Michigan and stayed there until my mother decided to take off and live in NYC. My grandmother researched the heck out of our family tree. Turns out the last male in teh direct family named Michael was the father who moved his family from France to Canada back in like the 1500s. Go figure.
How I ended up in North Carolina is anyones guess!
Wow, it’s like a family reunion in here…
Nice work Josh! All of the other discussion…… Well I suppose you could take it or leave it. All in all, a very well written piece which has obviously got people talking.
We’ll expect you to keep it up. By the way, Eric Wynalda (the westlake wonder) did a fine job. Arena’s not cut out for anything that requires him to speak.
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