Oddly Enough, We Play Better With 11 Men on the Pitch
By USA v Brazil. 19:30 (BST), BBC 3. 14:30 (EDT), 11:30 (PDT). And other times. Google, kids, don’t miss this one.
Ignore the Italy and the Brazil match. Well, perhaps Brazil is relevant, but when you play a man down, as we seem to prefer doing, you sort of stack the deck against you. This side came into its own in the Egypt and the Spain matches. And it’s been a transition for a few years. 2002 was a long time ago, and we have been coasting since. 2006 was a disaster. Arena lost the plot. But it’s a transformed side now, and I think it’s come into its own. We still miss some cutting edge in the final third (or, as Arsenal fans might recall, the ‘fox in the box’) but I like the midfield, and really, really like the back four. DeMerit has impressed — no, that’s selling him short. He has got himself a ticket out of Watford.
We will miss Michael Bradley. While I know he has been impressing with his work rate for a year or so now, I don’t get to see the CONCACAF qualifiers out here in the UK much, but this tournament has convinced me — he is our best midfielder. (Setting Landon aside, of course, but he is a different kettle of fish, more a second striker than a midfielder). I don’t know who goes in for Bradley, but safe bet it isn’t Beasley. The best he has this summer is his SPL champion medal (Rangers had to win eventually, and hopefully this will be their one title for a decade or so), but did he even qualify for that? I think Bradley goes with Feilharber or Kljestan.
I’m going out on a limb here. I predict a USA victory. Brazil have not been all that of late, and they had as many if not more qualifiers than the US had in the run in to this tournament. And to further my exploitation of cliches, the USA seem to be gelling at the precise right time.
