US at Azteca Today

[pillardean]

Starts at 3:00 CST.

I am pissed, I got to head to work now and won't be able to see it.

Prediction: either 1-1 or 1-0 with US winning first in Mexico.

[IAmMarquette]

For those of you who don't get mun2:

http://atdhe.net/8417/watch-mexico-vs-usa

[muwarrior87]

Final 2-1 to Mexico. Not surprising. Winning in Azteca is just about impossible. There's a stat that there have been 15 or so times that Mexico has gone down by one goal there and they have never ended up losing any of those games.  It is just plain hard to win there. there's a reason the US is 0-23-1 when playing there.

[reinko]

Not blaming the refs, but that offsides call was horrendous.  And seemed every 50/50 call went Mexicos' way.

But on a positive note, that Panamanian refs family was released by those Mexican drug lords

[muwarrior87]

Not blaming the refs, but that offsides call was horrendous.  And seemed every 50/50 call went Mexicos' way.

But on a positive note, that Panamanian refs family was released by those Mexican drug lords

with a crowd like that it's though to be entirely unbiased.  There's a reason they have police in riot gear surrounding the pitch.

[GGGG]

I thought the refs were fine considering the circumstances.  I actually thought the offsides call was accurate.

Mexico simply had too much possession.

[IAmMarquette]

I thought the refs were fine considering the circumstances.  I actually thought the offsides call was accurate.

Mexico simply had too much possession.

Too much possession, indeed. I think the altitude/smog got to the Americans. They looked tired early in the 2nd half.

[MUfan12]

It took me 9 holes of golf and some strong beer to calm down.

The ref was a freaking disgrace. Let's just get that out there. Had no control of the match and might as well have worn a green shirt.

But that's far from the reason the US lost. Tactically, they suck. Big time. This bunker down and longball mentality was good for one night against Spain, but they can't get results consistently against technically skilled sides. They simply give up too much possession, and can't get the ball off the opposition.

The midfield was invisible. And when they did try to build possession, someone would take a heavy touch and lose the ball. Incredibly frustrating.

Then Bob uses two subs on 55 minutes, none helping at the back. They were being run ragged, which partially led to the winning goal. Mexico had acres of space out wide, much like Brazil did.

The mentality of the American game has to change. There's an emphasis on speed rather than skill. Look at the touches the Mexicans took, look at the short, quick passing. Things the Yanks are incapable of doing. I really think it'd going to take an international manager to do this.

[ATWizJr]

Tough loss at a tough venue but shouldn't we be able to protect a 1-0 lead?  Where was Dempsey?

[muwarrior87]

The mentality of the American game has to change. There's an emphasis on speed rather than skill. Look at the touches the Mexicans took, look at the short, quick passing. Things the Yanks are incapable of doing. I really think it'd going to take an international manager to do this.

+1. This is the thing that makes it so hard for me to watch the national team. They have next to no possession in almost every game they play and this doesn't make much sense because they have players that can play with skill.  It's this mentality that will cause the US to never rise above the occasional upset that causes them to make it past the group stages in any major world tournament.   

As far as Dempsey goes, he has so much skill but just focuses on himself too much instead of trying to get into a position to help the team win.

[wyoMUfan]

The mentality of the American game has to change. There's an emphasis on speed rather than skill. Look at the touches the Mexicans took, look at the short, quick passing. Things the Yanks are incapable of doing. I really think it'd going to take an international manager to do this.

great point, its frustrating how we lose possession because our only passing options are long balls into space. I wish Klensman would have come last summer to coach, however bradley does have his bright moments

[ATWizJr]

not buying this.  US is ranked 12th in the world.  Mexico is struggliing to qualify for WC.  Wouldn't want to trade teams.  Azteca is a very tough place to play.  Our poor midfield play doomed us, leading to no possession yesterday.  Not always the case.

[muwarrior87]

not buying this.  US is ranked 12th in the world.  Mexico is struggliing to qualify for WC.  Wouldn't want to trade teams.  Azteca is a very tough place to play.  Our poor midfield play doomed us, leading to no possession yesterday.  Not always the case.

do you honestly think we are the 12th best team in the world?  I think that as far as skill goes, the claim can be made but when it comes to the performances put out on the field, the US national team is overrated. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

do you honestly think we are the 12th best team in the world?  I think that as far as skill goes, the claim can be made but when it comes to the performances put out on the field, the US national team is overrated. 

Here are the rankings

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html


We had some good results against teams in the top 10, so USA is definitely capable of the 12 ranking.  Of course they have also lost to teams well below them.

[ATWizJr]

not sure if we are.  fifa thinks we are.

sometimes (confed cup) we play like we are 30th and top 5 both in the same week.  I don't think we ahve the sophistication of the euro's or the skills of the brazilians, but we have a nice combo of athleticism and skills.  consistency would be nice.