Germany 1, USA 0
Well, at least one titan of German football thinks the USA was the "better" team.

I came into this game with a very similar feeling to the '98 Rose Bowl, which pitted an upstart (and Ryan Leaf (!) lead) WSU team, which had shocked the West Coast at least, if not much of the country, to win the Pac-10 and suddenly become one of the best teams in the country, against a Michigan team in the championship run. They were a little bit fortunate to be there, and many more "seasoned" and "sophisticated" college footbal fans (aka UW Husky boosters) were quite unwilling to give them much credit for what they had done.

They suddenly found themselves facing a perenial power (it's amazing how Michigan and Germany compare to each other in this respect... two team known for size and physicality and sound tactics and fundamentals) on a very big stage, and hardly anyone -- rightfully so in most cases -- gave them much of a shot to win.

However, they had a "punchers chance," and almost more important than winning or losing was gaining respect. While the possbilty loomed they could get blown out, it was hoped that more likely they would show they were capable of being there, playing at that level, and if nothing else, putting a huge scare into the prohibitive favorites.

Both WSU and USA jumped out and had their champion opponents on the ropes early. Remember that WSU grabbed a 7-0 lead and were driving for the second score when Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson intercepted a Leaf pass in the end zone. The USA peppered Germany's defense, forcing All-Galaxy Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn (who, by the way, is not a pretty man) into a number of great stops. Landon Donovan showed tremendous touch and skill on some scintillating first-half runs, but ultimately some bad choices and finishes cost him.

But that was similar to WSU's effort. While playing tremendously, they didn't "finish" well, so to speak. There were a few dropped passes, a blocked PAT, an inability to stop a clock-munching 4th-quarter Michigan drive despite 3rd and long after 3rd and long. The USA in the second half looked a little naive and, I hate to say it, clueless inside the German Penalty area in the final 25 minutes, while they started a relentless attack and Germany seemed resigned to packing it in and trying to "sit" on a one goal lead (of course, they were forced into this posture by a relentless USA attack through the midfield).

One came away wondering if the lack of "worldly" experience, for lack of a better word, ended up costing the teams in both situations. But despite the sting of the loss, and the feeling that "but for..." there could have been a victory, there remained the tremedous pride in a job well done, and a definite "Moral Victory."

I know, "Moral Victories" are for losers, but we also need to face facts: in both cases, be it WSU or the USA on the international scene, the teams Have been "losers" throughout Most of their history. The fact that they won themselves a chance to perform on a big stage, and performed admirably, is a gigantic building block.

It is now time to look ahead. The future of USA soccer has been glimpsed, and the USA have taken great strides. They have defined a set of formations and tactics that has worked, and they have developed a playing style of their own. They play a scrappy, defensive postured-but-attack-minded approach, using speed and flank runs to their advantage. We can see that John O'Brien, Landon Donovan, and DaMarcus Beasely will form the core of a potential world-class midfield, with potent strikers like Clint Mathis and Josh Wolff up front. I worry about the defense, mainly because Stalwarts Pope and Sanneh will not exactly be young by 2006 (Sanneh 35, Pope 33) but Frankie Hedjuk, Steve Cherundolo (who did not play due to injury), and Pablo Mastreoni should still be around.

On a personal note, I am very happy, because for one glorious night, USA soccer was THE thing on the sports table. Millions around the country got up early (or stayed up all night) to watch the match, and thousands of those packed bars, stadiums, or other social venues to share the experience with other fans.

I spent the night at Arenasports, on West Marginal Way in Seattle (where I play indoor soccer) and watched both games (England vs. Brazil at 11:30) on the 15' big screen they had set up. A number of us filled the 3 hourse between games by playing pick-up soccer. It was a fun night, and I won a soccer ball in a half-time door-prize drawing.

And now, my final player ratings, not only for this game, but all five:

Three stars against Germany:
1) Tony Sanneh: was fabulous at right back, pushed forward late to use size to advantage on attack
2) Claudio Reyna: despite errant passes late (fatigue?) finally showed, against Mexico and today, his world-class skills in the World Cup
3) Landon Donovan: despite some questionable finishes, and the German defense clamping down on him the the second half (and he forced them into that posture) was brilliant on the attack.

Tournament MVP's:
A special shout-out to Brad Freidel, who I have largely ignored in my rantings because I concentrate on field players, but he set himself as AT LEAST the second-best goalie in the tournament. And I'm Still frustrated he started over Kasey Keller.... oh well.

Top Three Stars:
Eddie Pope, Tony Sanneh, and John O'Brien: The "shakey" defense the USA showed in group play was hardly the fault of Pope and Sanneh. I honestly believe Sanneh may have been the best right-back in the tournament, and Pope has shown he can be a world-class middle-man. O'Brien was spectacular, and came up Huge as the "forgotten man" in the USA scheme (O'Brien has had a tough time freeing himself from his club, Ajax of Amsterdam, one of the top clubs in Europe, to play for the US)

Next Three:
Landon Donovan, Brian McBride, Claudio Reyna: the centerpeices of the USA attack. I still believe, despite his role as striker today, that Donovan role with the US side for most of the next decade will be that attacking center MF role, as he played against Mexico. McBride was Man of the Match against Portugal, and his abilty to win long balls was key to the US attack against Mexico and Germany (until he was subbed out). What more do you say about Reyna that hasn't been said?

The "unsung" hero 3:
Frankie Hedjuk, Pablo Mastreoni, Earnie Stewart: Stewart's role seemed oddly limited, for a man who has contributed so much to the cause for 8 years, but he was hobbled by injury. Still, the best US side usually seems to include him, and it's unfortunate he couldn't get more field time. Hedjuk was virtually "out of the loop" for the National Team most of the spring, seemingly hurt by his utter lack of playing time for Bundesliga titan Bayer Leverkusen. He is tremendously quick and scrappy and (despite his excessive fouling at times) is the kind of "hustle player" most great teams need. Mastreoni, despite coming from out of nowhere (didn't play in a single qualifier) was on the field for the three best US performaces, the 3-2 win over Portugal, 2-0 over Mexico, and today's game.

The "forgotten," the subs, the bit players: How strange that Clint Mathis played such a small role for this World Cup effort, but that goes to the strength of the US side more than anything, as I can't fault Arena for his decisions. He had that delicious goal against Korea, but was strangely quiet against Germany after coming on in the 58th minute. Josh Wolff had a solid effort against Mexico, a start he more than deserved. DaMarcus Beasley was brilliant when he played, for the most part (and was clearly kept out against Germany because of size concerns), and like Mathis it is strange he didn't play more, but like Mathis it is justifiable. His future is incredibly bright, and he will probably anchor that left side for years to come. Cobi Jones was the usual sparkplug off the bench, Greg Berhalter stepped in admirably in the left defense slot for two games (and boy, do you Come closer to scoring than that handball-on-the-line 4 minutes into the second half?). Eddie Lewis was a solid left-side presence, and had a good game against Mexico. Jeff Agoos.... I'll just leave that alone.

Have I forgotten anyone...?

Well, We are mere hours away from the biggest, most interesting football doubleheader I can ever remember. Tonight and tomorrow morning, to be exact, Brazil vs. England (11:25pm local time) and USA vs. Germany (4:25am local time) in one half of the quarterfinal matchups. It should be a night of soccer like no other.

I have a Very strong feeling that the England-Brazil winner will take the whole thing. The winner of that game takes on the Senegal-Turkey winner in the semi's, and I just Don't see a Senegal or Turkey in the final (although the way this tournament has gone...).

England has played great defense, but at times it seems like their attack isn't quite working right. Of course, they went out and smacked around a very good Denmark side, 3-0... but two of those goals were VERY stoppable by the Danish keeper. Whatever the case, they did largely dominate that game.

Brazil, it seems, could score 4 goals on Anyone... and they could also give up 2 to Anyone. Because of their wide-open play, they leave themselves vulnerable to a disciplined team like England that can play strong defense without sacrificing too much of their attack. But I still think Brazil prevails, 2-1.

The word is that this is Germany's worst World Cup team Ever... although I would insist that is a fantastic over-statement. I think one thing the overly-negative European football press isn't understanding is that while Germany's side may lack the experience and seasoning of many World Cup and Euro successes, they are still talented, and well, German. The level of individual flair and creativity may be a bit lower, but they are still as good a Team as anyone out there.

I expect Bruce Arena to line up team USA much the same as the Mexico game, with the 3-4-1-2. A back line of (L to R) Frankie Hedjuk or Greg Berhalter, Eddie Pope, and Tony Sanneh. Four "Defensive" midfielders with DaMarcus Beasely (but perhaps Eddie Lewis again) on the left, Pablo Mastreoni (I would be Shocked if he isn't in the lineup) and John O'Brien in the middle, and Claudio Reyna out right. Up front should be Landon Donovan in the supporting, playmaking, attacking central midfielder role (how many times do I need to say this is his spot on the U.S. team for most of the next decade) behind a striker duo of Brian McBride and Josh Wolff or Clint Mathis. That is our best side, right there, and even though it looks defensive on paper, having O'Brien, Beasely, and Reyna making forward runs is a potent attack. The first man off the bench, in any situattion, should be Earnie Stewart, who has comtributed more to the USA effort than any other man since '94. Expect to see him in the 55-60th minute for any of the midfielders or forwards (as well as Donovan to be pushed into a stiker role).

I'm excited. I don't really know If I expect U.S. to win, but I will say I don't expect U.S. to get run off the field by Germany. I think if the the U.S. plays disiplined and counter-attack minded, and doesn't concede the middle third like they did a bit too much against Mexico, we Can win. The question is, Will we.

here, then, is a letter I have emailed to a couple British web sites:

I am someone who considers myself a proud member of the �Soccer Culture� that, at least as bitter European journalists would see it, doesn�t exist in this country. I would agree whole-heartedly with the greater European feeling that we are generally arrogant and ignorant when it comes to geo-political affairs as a whole, and we have a backwards red-neck (Bush) running the country right now.

But that is not my point. My point is that, as an American �soccer� (I honestly don�t know whether to us �soccer� or football in this diatribe!) fan and player � supposedly lacking in sophistication and seasoning of the World�s game�how is it that even I know of a fundamental rule of football tactics: You do not sit on a one-goal lead! And the Italians don�t????

I have played most of my years on this planet, starting at eight, at various levels of seriousness and recreation. I feel like I have become learned enough about a game which is deceptively simple, despite nearly everyone�s involved efforts to complicate things as much as possible. I can think of few strategies more fraught with risk that �sitting� on a one-goal lead wherein, despite the staunchest defense, one only stand one unlucky bounce or missed call from blowing it.

Perhaps I could volunteer to coach the Italians? I�m sure I could make more use of their formidable skill, and perhaps introduce an attacking scheme to better make use of it, and perhaps score some goals to ensure victory in the late stages of games.

When you live by the sword, you die by the sword, and few teams in recent International history have made more use of histrionic embellishments, shirt pulling, referee abuse, and the like than the Azzurri. Totti�s fall in the penalty area was not nearly the worst penalty-box flop I have seen in this tournament so far, and while I will admit to feeling outraged at the time of the call, since then I have come to see it as a quaint form of justice. Beyond that, what is so horrible about seeing the scrappy, passionate Koreans through to the quarterfinals. In this bizarre hierarchy of teams that �deserve� to win (an odd notion usually only applying to pre-tournament favorites) surely a host nation which has shown such a fervor for their team is acceptable.

But, then again, what would an American know about the Beautiful game, especially in light of the vast success we are seeing from the top sides across the Pond (like France and Portugal). To hear from the overly-negative football journalists something other than knee-jerk anti-American sentiment would absolutely warm my heart. You all should know by now that it is folly to underestimate Americans, and if you will excuse me a brief show of patriotism/jingoism, our Heroes have helped saved freedom�s ass more than a few times.

Oh, and by the way, in my pre-tournament predictions bracket, I had England beating Brazil in the quarters� I have since changed that. Respect is a two way street, gentlemen.

What the hell is the deal with Italians? I swear, you can not make stuff like this up.

Good riddance, Italy!

Wow, when was the last time I posted a non-World Cup blog?

I decided to take my massive stockpile of pennies up to the Coinstar machine at QFC today. You see, I save my nickels, dimes, and quarters into my "change bin," mainly saving them for cheapskate poker I play with friends. I separate out the pennies into a separate container, since they have no use in poker.

I had no less than 763 pennies, which, after Coinstars 8.9 cent/$ deduction, gave me enough to buy some groceries.

It's amazing how they build up, but I guess it helps I can't remember the last time I turned in pennies. It must have been years ago... I think I remember doing something like that in college, but maybe I'm making that up.

So, I gave myself an off day today after 6-mile runs both Sundy and Monday. My aerobic fitness is near or at an all-time low, and I don't think I've done more than maybe 5 runs of over 3-3.5 miles in the last year. As a result, my pace is aomewhat pathetic, by my standards, but I'm trying to not let it bother me.

Sunday, I did an "out and back" where I run out for a certain period of time at an "easy" (relative to length of run and how I feel) pace, then turn around after a certain period of time and beat that time back. I headed down to the Interurban Trail and went "out" for 30 minutes, then came back in 27. I'm not sure on mileage, because I didn't start or end at a specific mile marker, or turn around at one, I'm don't know the exact mileage, but using mile markers on the trail, and timing intervals between them, I figure I went about 6, or slightly more, miles. Taht was somewhat depressing to realize, as a 9+ minute pace is SLOW!

Yesterday I decided to take two laps around Green Lake, and to cut the monotony I did the outer path, then the inner path. The inner path is posted as being 2.8 miles long, and I figure the outer path is at least 3, and probably more like 3.2, miles, so I figure the total length was about 6 miles. Even though I felt like crap most of the first loop, I managed to find a somewhat decent pace on the second lap, and did it in about 53 minutes. Not fast, but at least I was at, or slightly under, 9 minute pace!

So I decided not to run today so I would have fresh legs for my indoor soccer game tomorrow. Last week I did a couple of runs at Discovery Park, that were probably 4-4.5 miles each, but had some good hill work. Hopefully, I'll stick to this latest regimen and get myself back to the point where I could do a 5 mile run like it was nothing.

This is a great piece written on the USA victory over Mexico, and the state of football (the real football) in America.

USA 2 Mexico 0

I don't know if this is the biggest win in US "soccer" history, but only because we knew Mexico was very beatable. The situation certainly calls for it, as our lads have now confidently scooted themselves into the World's Elite Eight, preparing a matchup against Germany Friday morning (4:30 local time). I also realize I had stated earlier I expected the US to get "run" by Mexico -- unless we could turn things around. Guess what...

The margin for victory in the World Cup is so often excruciatingly razor thin. Seeing the second game of the evening, as Brazil beat Belgium 2-0, helps reinforce that. Belgium played a superb game in the midfield and defense -- but repeatedly made a mess of finishing thier chances up front. Brazil, meanwhile, scored first off a deflection from a Belgian defender -- even though one Mst give due credit to Rivaldo for his delicious chest trap, turn, and shot from the top of the penalty area -- and scored late when Belgium's goalie made a mess of a Ronaldo shot -- although one must give credit for the explosive Brazillian counterattack and cross to set it up. The point being, of course, that this was a 2-0 game, one that looks on the board as decisive, but to the knowledgable observer was anything but.

So you can say the USA "backed in" to the Sweet 16 (and I have) but you can also say the following: we defeated World #5 Portugal, managed a point from host Korea (which Poland and Portugal failed to do) and have now defeated a side which won their group -- a group which included Italy -- and were looking as strong and confident as anyone else in the tournament. Sure, one can say we "backed in" to the 16, but we have earned our place in the Elite 8.

I can't help but point out the following: with Pablo Mastreoni IN and Clint Mathis OUT of the lineup, the US is 2-0. I'm not sure what to make of it -- but I DO know I can say that the USA posses enough depth to give Bruce Arena plenty of choice in formations and lineups, and one could hardly doubt the decisions he made today. What we saw amounted to a 3-4-1-2, with Tony Sanneh, Eddie Pope, and Greg Berhalter (L to R) accross the back; then 4 defensive midfielders: Claudio Reyna out right (and out of his usual central midfield role) Mastreoni and John O'brien manning the middle, and Eddie Lewis left. The attack had Landon Donovan in an attacking center mid role, with Brian McBride and Josh Wolff up front. A solid lineup, to say the least. Lewis has spent plenty of time at left midflield for the US (and lost the spot to upstart DaMarcus Beasely), Berhalter is a solid defender, and Wolff was SO strong for the USA last spring in CONCACAF qualifying before succumbing to injury and seemingly losing his way.

The formation looks and seems defensive, and that's the way the US played, deciding on a counterattacking philosophy that worked to perfection. Despite the clear Mexican advantage in possesion, the USA generated as many, if not more, chances than Mexico -- and of course in the Ultimate tally finished two of them to Mexico's zero. Most of Mexico's possesion, primarily in the first half, was spent knocking the ball around the middle third of the field, seraching for the largely non-existent gaps in the US defense. When they did force a ball in, they seemed to rely on wild deflections to generate their chances. In the second half, the Mexican attack started to put very real pressure on, but then it was time for Brad Friedel to make his mark on the match.

The US, for it's part, displayed a flat back 6 when Mexico attacked. Fortifying the back three were Reyna on the right, O'Brien or Mastreoni in the middle, and Lewis on the left. Lost in the negativity surrounding the form of the US defense has been the fact that Tony Sanneh and Eddie Pope have been model defenders this World Cup. Under the withering Mexican attack during the first 20 minutes of the second half, if it wasn't Friedel making a save, it was Pope or Sanneh with a clutch header or tackle.

Of course, the US found the back of the net for the second time in the 64th, and after another brief spurt, the Mexicans appeared spent. The play began to resort to dives and overly physical challenges, and Mastreoni had clearly gotten in the head of striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco -- who had began to range back into the midfield to try to force the attack. The spottiness and thuggery of the play in the final minutes was a bit of a sour note, culminating in captain Rafeal Marquez getting red carded for a viciously ramming sunstitute Cobi Jones.

The 3-5-2 formation, which is essentially what the US ran today, can be extremely effective if executed properly. We certainly saw that today, with what amounted to a 6-2-2 when Mexico attacked, then a 3-4-3 when the US counterattacked. Here are some various comments on some of the players involved:

1) Landon Donovan: His future is probrably an attacking midfield role, like he played today, with Wolff and Mathis up front -- of course, I'm jumping ahead four years. When Earnie Stewart came in for Wolff in the 59th minute, Donovan pushed up and Stewart took that role. Of course, Donovan promptly scored, on Eddie Lewis's great play up the flank. Simply put, Donovan has been AWESOME for the US in the tournament, and was again today. the future is now.

2) Claudio Reyna: Co-man-of-the-match, with Donovan. Placed in a unaccustomed right defensive midfielder role, he finally played like we've need him to. Was largely responsible for the first goal with a brilliant dribble to the end line.

3) Pablo Mastreoni: maybe like a Nate McMillan was for the Sonics, but the team is just better with him on the field. He sort of came from out of nowhere, not playing a minute in any qualifying match (where has this guy BEEN?) we can certainly understand why Arena went to him against Portugal, can't we!

4) The back line: I've given my props to Sanneh and Pope, and add Berhalter to this. Solid game for a man off the bench.

5) Eddie Lewis: when you figure he was in for DaMarcus Beasely, it makes you realize how this could've been a disaster for Arena. Of course, I suspect Beasely is run out, and Lewis remindded us of why he's played that left MF position so much for our side.

6) John O'brien: this man is plain and simple the unsung hero of the US effort so far. He has played every minute, and played well.

7) McBride and Wolff: McBride continued to win headers all day... although I wondered who he was trying to win them TO, and Wolff was an inspired choice for Arena.

8) the Subs: Cobi Jones knew what he was there for: provide energy to help kill the clock, but he also served as a lightning rod for Mexican cards -- great job! Stewart has got the skills, and I've wondered sometimes if he isn't the USA's most solid player.