Dead Again
Take a good look at the men at the left and right in this photo. These are the two guys who were supposed to save US soccer and advance the USA national team into the Round of 16. Instead, after today's demoralizing result against Ghana--Ghana!--the USA is, once again, heading home without a single victory in World Cup competition.
It's clear from today's result that a lot has to change in the structure of US Soccer. For one thing, it's time for Bruce Arena to find a new line of work. His reliance on tired formations and fond memories of former star players against world-class heavyweights like Italy (not to mention berating his players by name at post-game press conferences) is an indication that this man is out of ideas. He should be fired.
Anyone remember Landon Donovan? The Great White Hope of US Soccer and Golden Boy of MLS? If anyone is still willing to speak the name of this overhyped starter after today's game, it will have to be accompanied by a sad head shake or (my choice) a well-placed gob spat in contempt. It's clear that Donovan is not, and perhaps never will be, prepared for international competition. He's clearly a fish out of water at the World Cup level, having never scored a goal. Send him back to L.A. where he can enjoy the fruits of being a big, smelly fish in a small, fetid pond.
It was a good day for Australia, however, and an even better one for Ronaldo, who is now tied for the World Cup scoring record. There are a lot of great games ahead; the next one I'm looking forward to is Ghana's match-up with what seems like an unbeatable Brazilian team. No one expected Ghana to make it this far, but they've been playing some very stylish futbol. They will go out with dignity and true national glory, unlike our boys.
Anyway, please do me a favor and never speak the names Bruce Arena or Landon Donovan in my presence until the Cup is decided. And maybe not even after that. Those goats are dead to me now.
Labels: GOOOOOAL
posted by Chazzbot at 2:37 PM
3 Comments:
I've been cheering for Ghana...and every single underdog in the Cup. We have to watch WC on Univision (no cable, sigh) and I'm remembering why I needed to sign up for Spanish classes.
Even if you don't understand Spanish, you're probably getting a clearer understanding of the play-by-play on Univision than you would by listening to some of the clueless mopes calling the game on ESPN. If I hear one more comparison of international soccer with the NBA or the NFL, I'm going to explode.
Good point. And how fantastic are the commercials when one doesn't quite grasp the Spanish part? I love listening to them and discovering that the product itself is mentioned in English, but everything else is not. "Spanish, Spanish, Spanish, Verizon Wireless, Spanish." It makes me smile to see that corporate America has no language barriers.
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