Filed under Soccer …

Feb 11 2013
By Will Edman Preview, Professional Sports, Soccer

Preview: UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the biggest sports stars in the world will take the field to play the world’s most popular sport in the world’s biggest and most ambitious sports competition, and most of America won’t bat an eyelash. But for those who do care, it is time to rejoice as the first leg knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League soccer tournament are upon us. Over the next two weeks, the field of sixteen of the best club soccer teams in Europe will be whittled down to eight after eight home-and-home matchups. Here is a look at the first leg of each of the matchups, in order from least to most intriguing:

8. Malaga at Porto
Overview: Porto, the former stomping ground of Jose Mourinho, Andre Villas-Boas, Falcao and Hulk, is a remarkably consistent team despite a high rate of changeover. The Portuguese are currently sitting in a tie at the top of Portugal’s Liga, and Vítor Pereira’s men comfortably qualified for the Champions’ League knockout rounds. Porto is led by Joao Moutinho, a creative midfielder who was nearly transferred to Tottenham in January. To contrast Porto’s consistency, Malaga is perhaps the most unstable team in Europe. Only two seasons after being bought by a Qatari sheikh, the Spanish club is banned from European competitions for at least next season after failing to pay all of its players. Despite off-field issues, Malaga has ridden brilliant playmaker Isco through the most successful on-field stretch in the club’s history.
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Feb 06 2013
By Ryan Bacic Analysis, Commentary, Soccer

Three Thoughts on Honduras 2-1 USMNT

Stars and Stripes Let Focus, Road Tie Slip Away Late

Jozy Altidore regained his starting spot after a torrid run of form in the Netherlands. (SI.com)

Jozy Altidore regained his starting spot after a torrid run of form in the Netherlands. (SI.com)

The final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying kicked off today for the United States men’s national soccer team, which had never lost its Hex opener entering its contest today against Honduras in San Pedro Sula.

So much for that.

After Tottenham forward Clint Dempsey got the U.S. on the board in the 36th minute, the hosts tied things up again before the stroke of halftime, and a defensive lapse in the 79th minute handed New England Revolution striker Jerry Bengtson the game-winner on a platter to solidify the disappointing defeat. The Americans looked as if they might be trying to conserving energy in the first half under the hot Honduran sun, but the intensity levels mysteriously didn’t pick up after the break, en route to a deserved 2-1 loss.

It wasn’t an easy match to watch for stylistic as well as practical reasons, then — being carried by obscure provider beIN Sport — but here’s what I saw:

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Oct 12 2012
1 Comment
By Ryan Bacic Commentary, Soccer, USMNT

Three Thoughts: U.S. Squeaks Past Antigua & Barbuda in WCQ

Coming into its last two matches of the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, the U.S. men’s national team needed a total of four points out of fixtures at Antigua & Barbuda and home against Guatemala to advance.

It cleared three-fourths of that hurdle on Saturday night, as Seattle Sounders striker Eddie Johnson completed his international soccer resurrection with two goals to lead the U.S. past Antigua by the skin of its teeth, 2-1. What, did you think the Stars and Stripes should’ve won by more? I’m a step ahead of you:

1. It Shouldn’t Be This Difficult

Once thought to be the ‘Next Big Thing’ while at Fulham, Eddie Johnson came out of nowhere to save the U.S. in Antigua.

When you’re a squad led by the likes of Clint Dempsey of Tottenham up top, Michael Bradley of Roma in the middle of the park and Everton’s Tim Howard in goal, you shouldn’t have any problems with a country that fields most of its players from the worst team in the third tier of American soccer. But that’s exactly what happened on Saturday. The pitch was horrendous, mind you—typically used for cricket, it was incredibly beaten up and probably smaller than your average youth soccer field—but when you have the relative quality that the U.S. has at its disposal, that simply shouldn’t matter.

Quite frankly, Johnson and Bradley seemed to be the only ones that showed up, with Howard uncharacteristically shaky, the backline looking highly vulnerable and Dempsey virtually invisible. How that happens in this kind of a matchup is beyond me, but this has never been a team that’s inspired a whole lot of confidence in games when it’s playing the role of favorite.

Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Italy? No problem. But when it matters against the region’s minnows, it pains me to say that I’ve never had a lot of faith.

2. Klinsmann’s Puzzling Personnel Decisions Mount

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Aug 15 2012
By Ryan Bacic Analysis, Soccer

U.S. Men’s National Team Wins Its First-Ever Game on Mexican Soil

80th-Minute Goal Gives Americans Historic Victory

Entering Wednesday night, the United States men’s national soccer team was 0-23-1 all-time in Mexico, with the cavernous—and often downright dangerous—Estadio Azteca proving to be the Americans’ kryptonite time and again. With Jurgen Klinnsman calling in what was generally deemed a “B” team for this one, most people had already mentally chalked up that record to 0-24-1 before the opening kick.

Not so fast. In what can be described as nothing less than an absolute stunner, the Stars and Stripes pulled out an improbable 1-0 win on the back of a goal in the 80th minute from substitute right back Michael Orozco Fiscal; in the process, the U.S. claimed its first match in Mexico in 25 tries over a span of 75 long years. My take on their groundbreaking win below:

Don’t let the “friendly” tag deceive you: the Americans’ win in Azteca means A LOT. Regardless of the outcome, the game was always going to be some heady scheduling by Klinnsman, as he chose to thrust his team into what is historically the toughest place in the world for the U.S. to play, providing them with some vital experience in a harsh road environment. The only way that the plan could’ve backfired was with an embarrassingly lopsided victory for El Tri, which would’ve only further fed the perception of a growing “gap” between the two countries.

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Jul 01 2012
By Ryan Bacic Pregame, Professional Sports, Soccer

Three Thoughts Ahead of the Euro 2012 Final

The final of Euro 2012 will be held at 2:45 ET on Sunday (coverage by ESPN), as #1-ranked Spain will take on a suddenly-rejuvenated Italy. Below is a quick-hit preview of the matchup, as I look at the three storylines to watch for going into this all-important contest:

1. Well, this is half what we’d expected. Spain, reigning European and World Cup champions, were basically a foregone conclusion in the minds of many to at least make it this far. The challenger to their throne, however, was ‘supposed’ to be the Germans, currently ranked 2nd behind Spain in the World Football Elo Ratings (and 3rd in the FIFA rankings behind Uruguay). Die Mannschaft took the full 9 points out of the tournament’s Group of Death, and a 4-2 victory over Greece was enough to assure many of Germany’s quality. So much for that. After beating England in PKs, Italy got two goals out of the volatile Mario Balotelli to top the Germans and surprisingly advance to the final. The Azzurri have clearly come a long way since World Cup 2010, when they failed to win a game and crashed out disappointingly in the group stages after finishing bottom of the table.

Will it be Fabregas, Fernando Torres, or someone else up top for Spain? (Getty Images)

2. What formation will each team use? Today’s final will be the second meeting of the tournament between these two sides, as they drew 1-1 in Group C’s opening match. That game was noteworthy not so much for the result as it was for the tactics employed by Vicente del Bosque and Cesare Prandelli. Spain—as it has continued to do at times—started in a 4-3-3 with no true striker up top, instead using a ‘false nine’ in Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas; Italy, meanwhile, came out in a highly unusual 3-5-2, hoping to counter the Spanish dominance of the midfield by throwing an extra man into the center of the field. Will we see more of the same tactically from both countries in the final, or will they decide to switch things up? The answer to that question will play a big role in determining the ultimate outcome of this one.

3. Shootout Secret Considering the fact that Spain has recently struggled to score (scoring only twice in the last three games), while Italy’s been its trademark stingy self defensively, a draw in this one is very much on the table. And if it comes down to penalties in the end, it’d seem as if both the Spanish and the Italians have figured out the key to coming out on top in that decisive test of nerves. Down one in PKs against England in the quarters, Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo converted the cheekiest of chips right down the middle. Ashley Young and Ashley Cole would miss the next two for England, and Italy came back to win. Virtually the same exact scenario unfolded for Spain in the semis against Portugal, with Sergio Ramos playing the role of Pirlo this time to give his team an apparent psychological edge. So if PKs is how this one ends, don’t worry: they certainly won’t fail to provide some theatrics.

Jun 21 2012
By Dillon Mullan Analysis, Professional Sports, Soccer

Euro 2012 Knockout Stages Preview

The hosts disappointed, major upsets were avoided, and we are on our way to the knockout phase of Euro 2012.Czech Republic v Portugal Thursday June 21st, 2:45 pm

The Czech Republic suffered the second-worst loss of any team in the group stage when Russia thrashed them 4-1 in their opener. Peter Cech and the Czechs have managed to bounce back nicely, however, as they beat Greece 2-1 some before defeating co-hosts Poland to top the group. Recent Wolfsburg acquisition Vaclav Pilar has been instrumental for the Czechs–scoring two goals in the tournament–and, along with right back Gabre Selassie, might well be able to cash in on his performance following the tourney’s conclusion. Selassie will be up against Cristiano Ronaldo early and often in this quarterfinal, so his contribution is going to be absolutely vital. There is a chance that Rosicky will return to the squad after missing the final group game, which would be a huge boost to an offense that won their group despite failing to produce a goal from a striker.

Portugal escaped the group of death with impressive victories of Denmark and Holland after a disappointing but fair 1-0 loss to the Germans in their opener. Cristiano Ronaldo was brilliant against the Dutch in the final group game, as his brace saw the Oranje go crashing out. If Ronaldo’s goals against the Dutch are a sign of things to come, then there may well be a party in Lisbon when it is all said and done. Iberian neighbors Spain most likely will be waiting in the quarterfinals, and have not looked as invincible this tournaments as they have in years past. The Portuguese just might fancy themselves a spot in the final if they can ride their current momentum. Continue reading →
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