Pop Quiz: 2 Goals Down After 10 Minutes, What Do You Do?

Back on topic… because the full US team CAN compete with anyone. We would have been in the round of 8 in the last WC if not for Hugh Dallas.

Down two goals in 10 minutes?

Step 1. Defense. Fix the leak. More than likely it’s a man marking issue. So match people up.

Step 2. At most points, you’ll have at least 1 back on the field that can play wing (Lewis, Cherundolo). Switch to a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2. Take one of your outside mids (Beasley, Convey, Dempsey) and either push them forward, or push them inside, and let Lewis or ‘Dolo assume a wing midfielder position. You could make the adjustment before making a sub, a do your best to pull a goal back.

I’d think a lineup that looked like this…

Cherundolo - Pope - Onweyu
Dempsey - O’Brien - Reyna - Lewis
Donovan - McBride - Beasley

…could create a little offense, no?

Posted from  United States

Being down 2 after 10 minutes is pretty serious. Of course, Bruce has got to make tactical adjustments, but I think that probably one (if not both) of those goals came from a set piece. So some better marking is certainly in order.

Offensively, Arena wouldn’t need to bring on another player. His offensive firepower will already be on the field (thanks to leaving Twellman at home).

I vote for pushing Dempsey up higher. I think that he’s got energy to burn and a determination to prove himself that will increase his workrate. Not to mention a knack for finding the back of the net.

Posted from  United States

Good point, Zero. Don’t you think history, though, has at least some relevance in predicting how a team will fare?

For example, I read all the time how, although Brazil has perhaps the most talented team at this WC, historically, they haven’t performed well in Europe. Do you think that the fact that historically Brazil hasn’t done well in Europe is completely meaningless when it comes to predicting how they will do in Germany?

Ethan, didn’t the U.S. make it to the round of 8 in the ‘02 WC? I’m pretty sure you meant that, but for Hugh Dallas, we would have made it to the semifinals.

Posted from  United States

Massimo-

how did Italy do last world cup against Mexico? Oh, that’s right, a Del Piero goal with five minutes to go salvaged a draw.

who beat Mexico 2-0 that same world cup? who just beat Mexico 2-0 in September?

the only thing that worries me about Italy is losing my bet on how many yellow cards Totti will get for diving.

right now I am betting three. By the way, I am an ignorant American soccer fan, and do not know how many yellow cards a player can get in one game. But after watching this game, Totti should have gotten at least 5 for diving, as opposed to 1.

my prediction: a 0-0 draw, with Italy getting 3 penalties and missing all 3, because, lets face it, Italians and penalties go together like Germans and fun.

xoxo

Posted from  United States

Zero, I acknowledge that Italy is a good team. I think most American fans think Italy is our toughest challenge.

I don’t really see American fans saying we will definitely beat Italy, just that we feel we can compete against them and that we HOPE we win.

My rant we simply a retaliation for Massimo’s rude and off topic remarks.

I agree that past results (especially more than one WC ago) are irrelevant, but it seems that many of the Italian fans that put us down do it based on Italian success way back in the past and the fact that it won the WC over twenty years ago.

Posted from  United States

1. Seamus, you’re on point. Instead of taking out Cherundolo, I’d rather keep him in and take Lewis out; I like Lewis, but ‘Dolo is better and has skills to play mid . . . not having ‘dolo in the back with 3 is on point though

2. Massimo is an idiot; we’re going to be fielding a very competitive team, Italy should be worried

3. However, while Italy has not won since 1982, it has played pretty well (3rd in ‘90 - granted in Italy; 2nd in PKs in ‘94; lost to France in PKs in ‘98) . . . I think Italy (over the years, on average) is the best defensive squad; I wouldn’t expect less from them this summer; their inconsistency in World Cups is on offense . . . I think we need to play Italy’s game against them, solid defense with hope for a counterattack score using our speed . . . we probably aren’t going to score against a set back Italian D

4. down 2 in 10, don’t change anything; if 2 goals in 10, not going to be Agoos-type mistakes; will be from good plays from Czechs; let our starts pull through, don’t panic

5. BA made a good call with Ching; Twellman against Poland was not ready for the WC level - obvious, lucky head deflection for the goal; probably has the ability, but needs to get used to better D, no time before cup, needs outside of MLS

Posted from  United States

GUYS! TELL THE PILOT OF THE USA AIRPLANE NOT TO TURN OFF THE ENGINES, ITS GONNA BE A SHORT TRIP! US MIGHT FINNALLY BE IMPROVING, BUT THEY ARE NO WHERE NEAR THE TOP 25 IN THE WORLD, FIFA RANKINGS SUCK! LET ME SAY THIS TO ALL OF U AMERICAN FANS: IF YOU ARE QUALIFYING OUT OF CONCACAF, U BETTER MAKE THE CUP EVERYTIME. ITS UNFAIR HOW US QUALIFIES AGAINST TEAMS LIKE PANAM, WHILE CZECH OR ITALY HAVE TO PLAY ” REAL” FOOTBALL NATIONS. PUT AWAY THE DRAWING BOARDS, AND PACK UP THE USA HALFTIME ORANGES. USA WILL BE LUCKY TO DRAW AGAINST GHANA, AND THATS MY WORD. PEACE.— “THE TRUTH ALWAYS HURTS”

Posted from  United States

AND BY THE WAY MASSIMO IS RIGHT, USA WILL NEVER BE IN THIS SAME CATEGORY AS ITALY. ITALY HAS CLASS STYLE, AND ART IN THEYRE PLAY. STOP DREAMING, THIS ISNT A BASEBALL TOURNAMENT. AND IF U CONTEST THIS BLOG, THAN NAME ONE PLAYER IN US THAT CAN START FOR ITALY OR CZECH………HMMMMMMMM…..SORRY GUYS, MAYBE IN THE YEAR 3000, USA SHOULD HAVE OCCUPIED MOST OF THE WORLD BY THAN, AND THAN U CAN HAVE SOME SKILL ON YOUR TEAM MAYBE. LOL—–DONT CRY.

Posted from  United States

Malik,

Are you a fool or just real stupid?

Italy qualify against “real” football nations? The other teams in Italy’s qualifying group were Norway, Scotland, Slovenia, Belarus, and Moldova, hardly soccer powers. My grandmother’s club team could qualify out of that group.

The US had to qualify against Mexico, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala, and Panama. Am I missing something? Mexico and Costa Rica alone are better than any of those five teams that Italy faced and Trinidad and Guatemala are arguably better than most of them.

I’ll bet you didn’t even know who Italy qualified against. Just another crap spewing fool who assumes that all of the top European teams play against each other in Euro qualifying. Well, they don’t dummy. The USA qualifying group was much more difficult than Italy’s this time around.

As to naming any one USA player, you miss the entire point. The USA does not win with individual talent. We win because we play better as a team than most national sides out there.

One more thing. You rant about our team. You rant about our politics, yet you post from the United States. Can you explain this? If we’re so bad, what are you doing here?

Posted from  United States

Malik is doing what we call practicing freedom of speech.

Malik you obviously dont know much about football except that you dont like the American team.

America has played in a relatively easy group but there are teams in the world cup coming through easier qualifying runs than ours.

The reason USA is fourth in the list is because we play a lot of friendlies. Everyone, including Bruce Arena, realizes that the rankings are not realistic. Once we make it out of group E maybe you’ll reconsider our footballing pedigree? In the meanwhile, for godssake turn your Caps lock off.

Posted from  United States

Malik-

I agree the Italian team plays with a lot of artistry: watching Totti dive and get yellow cards for it reminds me a lot of the ballet.

Watching Maldini and Nesta desperately tackle Blanco and Fonseca from behing on several occassions at the last world cup reminded me of tap dancing.

And watching Italians take penalties reminds of a lot of one act, one actor plays, where the emotions are so transparent and contrived that you know from the get go that its going to be a disaster.

my prediction for this group: the USA ties either the Czech Republic or Italy, beats Ghana, and advances.

I understand you are just frustrated that unlike Juventus in Serie A, you cannot buy refs at the World Cup. I also understand that, for once in your life, at 2002 refs made poor decisions that went against you.

Here’s a suggestion: stop playing a boring brand of football that relies on free kicks and beating the off-sides trap….and do not write messages in all caps/spend more than three hours a day on your hair.

Posted from  United States

Coming back to the topic -

If we’re 3-0 down in the first 10 minutes … I’d first fix the leak in the defense. Put the forwards upfield and start playing long balls. So yes, I’d totaly abandon the mid-field, throw the forwards up and pack the defense as much as possible.

The formation be 4-1-5.

What do you guys think?

Posted from  United States

[...] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Comments  |  Add yourcomment [...]

Posted from  United States

Malik –

You really make me laugh.

Why you gotta be a half-time orange hater?

Posted from  United States

if the u.s. is down by 2 in under 5 minutes the u.s. is going to lose that game no matter what changes it makes. the u.s. has never come back from that far behind in any world cup match or qualifying match.

Posted from  United States

If we’re down 2-0 to Italy, I’d say we have a slim to nonexistant chance to come back. When they pack it in on defense it’s almost impossible to score. The Czechs on the other hand, play a much more open game and will continue to attack even when leading so I think we’ll have opportunities to score throughout the match. Same with Ghana.

I would also argue that our Group E is the second most difficult after Group C (Argentina, Holland, Serbia & Montenegro, and Ivory Coast) in this World Cup. So the US getting to the second round will be a major accomplishment and will shut the idiots (like Malik and Massimo) up for good.

Posted from  United States

A few things while trying to stay ON TOPIC!

1) Malik is more foolish than the Mexican team in 2002 that got demolished. While its fair to be skeptical of the likes of Donovan starting on Italy- the Italians, besides team-work, are missing one thing the US has— potentially the most intelligent manager in the world in terms of personnel and schemes. I actually am hard-pressed to believe that the US will advance for sure but I also know that games will be made in all 3 matches and Italy and Czechs would be wise to feel the same way I do, esp the Italians with their HORRIBLE attack…

2) part of my admiration for BA is that we WILL NOT fall down 2-0 in the first 10 mins of the WC… the 4-5-1 (or any defensive formation) will prove tough to crack in the first 10 mins I dont care what forward is on the field… one thing i appreciate from the announcers on ESPN during the German game and Poland game were the comments about how the WC games will be slow and resemble those games very much in terms of the 2 teams “feeling one another out” and not taking risks (esp unncessarily)…

3) if they would fall behind 2-0, anyone who has played at any important level knows a few things… dont panic and change little. also it is WIDELY known that 2-0 is the MOST dangerous score in soccer esp before half… the US was and is VERY good (perhaps the best in the world) at one IMPORTANT thing and that is, the ability to attack at AMAZING speed… watch the Mexico game and see how quickly the US turns a turnover on our defensive 30 yard-line into a goal… we are very fit and move as a unit VERY quickly- esp from defense to offense… the Czechs, while HIGHLY doubted by me, may score 2 quick… but, with the speed of the US and “false” confidence that the 2 goals gives, US should get one and the Czechs would be back on their heels… would they get another, well maybe not but, it would be a game worth watching for sure!

haters of the US- please, hate the US… and know that if we dont advance, you arent “right”… soccer is made beautiful not by boring Italians but rather the notion that Ghana VERY WELL COULD advance out of this group of death… but please, when we do advance (and i am skeptically-confident we will)- SHUT UP IMMEDIATELY! going down 2-0 would test our team better than ever and IF we won that game, i’d venture to say that Italy and all others- PAY ATTENTION CLOSELY! THE US HAS ARRIVED

Posted from  United States

Razzle,

Great comments, but I have one question. Are you suggesting that, if attacked with deadly force, the US should seek a “W-MD” formation that has up until now been non-existant?

Assuming that Arena doesn’t sub someone out in the 10th minute and given the most likely starting team, the 4-1-5 would - if traced - look like a “W” upfront and an “M” on Defense.

——-Oneywu——Gibbs——–
-Dolo———————Lewis-
————-Mastro————-

Dempsey——-Reyna——Beasley
——-Donovan—–McBride——

If this is your plan, I also wonder how this might play out in the European press? Will they criticize our attacking style, perhaps labeling it an “ugly american” formation?

I guess one thing is for certain: if the W-MD tactic backfires, our leader will surely be labeled an idiot and made the laughing stock of the international footballing community.

Posted from  United States

““W-MD” formation that has up until now been non-existant?” (for the US)

The WM.
it was flavor of the decade in the 50’s and “invented” by a Hungararian coach. A variation was used and called “total football” by the Dutch in the eighties.

England bastardized it and Roy Keane criticized its use when he played for Ireland which led to his leaving the team’s practice in Saipan.

it actually works if:
-you have really good long ball passing fullbacks
-you have really good wings
-your opponent has a poor counterattack and sits on defense
-your opponent has no midfield
-you can keep the ball up on attack
-you’re really desperate.

so yes if you are down 2-nil with 80 minutes to go, and have nothing to lose then its an option. But against Czechs with a strong midfield, or Italy with a strong counterattack I’d be real hesitiant to end up looking like Boro in the UEFA final.

Posted from  United States

Down 2-0 and we need goals: Why not bring on EJ? His goals to game ratio (13 caps, 9 goals) has got to be the best ever. I’d put him in every chance I got.

Posted from  United States

Bossimo -

I hear you. If a formation like 4-1-5 flops, the flop will be spectacular. With 2 goals down in under 10 minutes, the WMD formation (lol) is a drastic shift. But nothing short of a shift like that is going to haul our asses back into the game!

The mid-field is the lauching pad for forays and goals, but if we are effectively being put out of the game, I’d forego it and put more effort up front using the long ball (yeah its ugly). The lack of a certain Jan Koller in our forward line is not going to make it any easier for us since our forward line is more used to playing flowing football. If we can’t flow we might as well pour down like rain.

Hey Bruce - you listening??

Posted from  United States

A couple of things:

* 4-5-1 is an attacking formation. As someone else mentioned before, it’s just a different way of calling 4-3-3.

* Down 2-0 10 minutes in? It’s a group stage match. Not only that, it’s the first group match. The stupidest thing you can do is get desperate and concede more goals.

Take it one goal at a time. 2-2 would be almost as good as a win and a 2-1 loss is far from the end of the world - that just means Italy and Ghana are must-win matches. So what do you change when you’re down 2-0 after 10 mins? Nothing. Stay with the game plan.

Posted from  United States

Paul,

I think it says a lot about the confidence in our non-McBride strikers that it took 30+ comments before either EJ, Wolff or Ching got a positive mention.

I’d agree though, that if we were to bring a striker on then EJ is the guy I’d most like to see.

Posted from  United States

Well, we were down 2-0 against Poland in 2002 and couldn’t recover so I think it would be pointless to discuss tactics against CR since there’s not a prayer we could do much about it-CR would drop back their players, and go total hard tackle defense for the rest of the match (wouldn’t you?). I don’t think we’ll get down like that with Czechs but the Italians concern me. Assuming we can beat or draw CR, we’ll have to at least draw Italy (a very tall order) and then beat Ghana to advance. That’s probably the only doable scenario for us and only if we play assume football. But with Italy, their style is and always has been “hold and mold”. Get up 1-0 on a team, then pull the players way back and sit on the ball whenever possible (it’s why I don’t like watch the Italians play soccer, too predictable and boring but again, they usually have the players to pull it off). So regardless of the CR game, we cannot get behind Italy or it’s just plain over.

Posted from  United States

Well, first you’d have to fix the leak - whether it be in the midfield or the defence.

Second, I think link play will be the most important factor for us in the World Cup. Personally, I think Landon Donovan is a better midfielder and withdrawn forward than a goal scoring forward.

So, to accomodate that, I’d have a 3-5-2 formation. Cherundolo, Pope, and Bocanegra in the back. Have Beasley and Convey swapping left and right position on the wings on the wings, and have Reyna and Mastroeni/O’Brien in the middle. Then put Lando as an attacking mid. Up top, we have Brian McBride and Josh Wolff.

Has anyone thought of playing Clint Dempsey up top as a forward? The friendlies for the US would be a good time to experiment with this idea.

Posted from  United States