June 13th - Day 7

DEFENDING 101

Trinidad & Tobago know how to do it. So do the Swiss. The Croatians did it against the Kings and were in the game until the final whistle. So why can’t the U.S. do it? Because Bruce Arena doesn’t know what he’s doing, that’s why! All that matters in the World Cup, especially in the first game is that you play defense first and worry about everything else later.

When Bruce Arena started Eddie Lewis at left back and another little guy in front of him in Bobby Convey at left midfield, did it look like the U.S. was ready to bunker down and grind out a result? No. Bruce just had our guys go out and play. Forget arguing that it might have been a 4-5-1 formation; it’s the philosophy behind the approach that I am picking apart. Why haven’t the U.S. ever played a game at low pressure focusing on the counter attack during all those months of preparation. Because, again, Bruce Arena doesn’t know what he’s doing.

Once the U.S. knew their opponents in group play the goal should have been to put together a lineup that can defend with their lives and counter attack when the opportunity presents itself. Does having five little guys (Cherundolo, Lewis, Beasley, Convey and Landon) in their lineup look like the U.S. was ready to grind it out against the Czech Republic? No! Again, you need a coach who knows what he’s doing to approach a game that way.

Bruce Arena has taken his position to new lows by assessing blame to his players and placing none on himself. He screwed around for four years KNOWING that we don’t have the talent to go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the world. Not many teams do, and that is why they play a foul-riddled, low-pressure defense that focuses on keeping the opposition in front of you no matter how painful it is and how much patience it requires. The Czechs got behind the U.S. on two of their three goals and ran at and through us at will. It wasn’t that Bruce had a bad game plan, he had NO game plan!

Going into Saturday’s game against Italy Bruce should be working with these eleven guys at training just focusing on keeping their shape and trying to close things down before the Italians get too up close and personal with Kasey Keller. That won’t happen, because it takes coaching. In an ideal world where everybody at the top knew what they were doing, this is who the U.S. will start Saturday against a very good-looking Italian Squad:

Keller in goal…Pope at right back…Gooch and Mastroeni in the middle…Bocanegra at left back…Clint Dempsey at right midfielder…John O’Brien and Claudio in the middle with Claudio holding…Lewis at left midfield and McBride and Eddie Johnson up front.

What?! Where’s Landon? He’s on the bench where he belongs. Sorry kid, this isn’t the Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake at the Home Depot Center. If he wants to be the big fish in the little pond, that’s fine. But the World Cup isn’t that kind of stage, so he can enjoy a front row seat to all the action until he gets home in a couple of weeks.

Tomorrow: The 24-hour trip to soccer paradise.