Everything from the drive, to the expensive as hell gas, to the weird Canadian weather was ok'ed when that first goal was scored by Altidore. Unable to put it all into one piece, here is a list of views/opinions of the USA/Brazil match.
- Freddy Adu has proven many doubters wrong while also putting us in our place of thinking a teenager was ready to bear the burden of an MLS team, let alone a country. His confidence, poise, and ability to make something out of nothing was beyond unbelievable.
- Sal Zizzo, rather quiet in the first half, showed us a lot again and for all those thinking that without Johann Smith on that wing we would lose significant speed, you were wrong. Clearly Smith is faster, but Zizzo had a knack for pushing the ball behind the Brazilian defenders and using his acceleration and pace to get around them. Fantastic showing from the UCLA midfielder.
- Jozy Altidore fought with some pretty physical defenders but, all in all, it was like watch Dikembe Mutombo (in his prime) post-up. Chris Seitz would get the ball and fire a long dropkick down field where Altidore would trap, hold the ball up, and shift outside to Zizzo, Adu, or Rogers. At times, this failed but when it worked it was extremely productive.
- Walking to the game reminded me of a European game, everyone walking down the same street, fans screaming, chiding, chanting. Our group got to enjoy this peoplewatching because we decided to camp out (like good alcoholics should) in the parking lot of "the Beer Store" next to some Trinidadians who proceeded to try and persuade me that the US had paid officials off in the game against them that put the United States into the 1990 World Cup in Italy (ie "shot heard 'round the world", Paul Caligiuri's nasty 30 yard drive). I laughed, told them I liked Kenwyne Jones and Densill Theobald - they were happy I knew someone on the team, clinked my glass, and muttered a "go U-S-A".
- Chris Seitz was phenomenal. Several saves on Jo, Alexandre Pato, Leandro Lima, and Renato Augusto were athletic and worthy of European attention or at least a starting job at RSL. And yes, unlike the aging Mr. Keller, Seitz had NO problem coming off his line. Maryland and UCLA were easily the MVP universities of this first round.
- Jo was Brazil's Jozy Altidore. The CSKA Moscow striker was taller and a bit lankier but his power on the ball and technical skill was beyond scary, especially when he would camp out right outside the penalty box. Alexandre Pato, however, was kept silent and that was pretty exciting to see. His first and seemingly only chance came early in the first half. After that, the Chelsea target was outplayed by his American counterpart Freddy Adu.
- The undersized Tony Beltran scared me for about the first 10 minutes. He scared me a bit in the Chile friendly as well, but after those 10 minutes - I realized this kid has the speed to get back, positioning to not get beat often, and real nice support from the centrebacks. His attacking presence was pissing the Brazilians off as, taking a page out of the South American book, Beltran attacked early on the wing and often.
- Sarkodie was great, except for some positioning issues the Indiana product was sharp and tough on the ball breaking up several dangerous chances and starting counter attacks to boot. His presence on the field was due to a Valentine injury and his name in the starting line-up interested me but from the get-go, he did what he was supposed to do.
- Despite Michael Bradley's errant header that led to an eventual Brazilian goal, his play was senior-level. He defended extremely well, but his best asset was the way he organized the counter attacks. Although we didn't see any Rico Clark shots or Benny Feilhaber creativity, Bradley was all-in-all the pulse of the team.
I will have more views and opinions as they come along and at some point I will get to the other games/preview of the knockout round. If I can get online, I will also try and preview some of the MLS weekend but I can't promise that as it IS supposed to be vacation.
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I'd have to disagree on Seitz. He did make some great plays, but it was obvious he was nervous, his hands were stiff, and he should have held onto the ball or punched it wide on the eventual brasil goal. He did play well but he needs experience and softer hands....
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