Some insight on writing the U.S.-Spain preview for SI.com
by Steve Davis on Jun 2, 2011 1:30 PM EDT
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When you train for an event or for a full season or whatever, you’d like the curve to look something like this: Start slowly with a lightweight foe, graduated to mid-level competition and then ramp up to the high-quality stuff.
Well, the U.S. national team’s big summer looks like an inverted curve.
Saturday’s clash against peerless Spain is an extremely fast start to a fascinating month. In this inverted arc of competitive quality, the United States starts against the world’s best, ramps down a little against a decent middleweight (Canada to open the Gold Cup on Tuesday) and then meets two manageable sides in Panama and Guadeloupe. Yes, I understand that Guadeloupe was a decent team at the last Gold Cup, but it’s still one the U.S. should handle.
From there, unless things have gone terribly wrong, the level of competition trends back up with Gold Cup quarterfinals and semifinals before a possible final against Mexico on June 25 inside the Rose Bowl.
What it all means in the short term: Picking Saturday’s lineup against Spain is quite tricky. I write more about it all here at SI.com’s U.S.-Spain preview.
Keep reading for a little more on this …
I’ll let you read the preview for yourself. I didn’t exactly get to the bottom of what kind of lineup Bradley might use, but did pick up enough hints.
Why am I scrapping for hints? Because I’m doing all this over the phone, rather than on-site in Cary, N.C., which means somewhat limited access. Meanwhile, some reporters on site need to get after it! C’mon, guys! Nobody is asking Bradley about this?
There he is, fellows, over there! He’s he older dude, bald on top, close cropped on the sides, probably wearing cleats and ankle socks and observing with a pensive stare.
Seriously, this is why journalists sometimes have to ask rather obvious questions. The journos on site fall into one of two categories: local reporters who wouldn't know Maurice Edu from the Famous Maurice Flea Circus, and more experienced soccer scribes who are assuming that Bradley will roll out his best against Spain.
My best guess is that Bradley will prioritize the Gold Cup opener. Yes, it’s a bold play considering Spain’s incomparable quality. And, yes, he’ll face withering criticism if events at Gillette Stadium turn into a Saturday night massacre. But how much more criticism will he face if the starters are worn and then lose to Canada on Tuesday?
Like I said, it’s a tough call.
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It would be a disgrace to field a "B" team against Spain.
Why even schedule a match against a team like Spain if you’re not going to play your best players? (Well, ok, I guess the answer is “money,” but short-selling the fans on a USA-Spain rematch is not the best way to ensure that they’ll tune in for the rest of the month… or the next time there’s an exhibition match against a marquee team.)
And not to threadjack, but I wish CONCACAF and CONMEBOL could find a way to fold the Gold Cup into an expanded Copa America. The gulf in quality of competition in CONCACAF is so embarrassingly large currently that it would be a massive upset for anyone other than the USA and Mexico to be contesting the final. The USA and Mexico could get automatic spots to the Copa America, followed by the current Gold Cup Central American and Caribbean qualifying rounds being held to determine the remaining participants.
Competing in Copa America every 2 years instead of a weak Gold Cup would be better both from a ratings standpoint and a competitiveness standpoint for the USMNT and CONCACAF as a whole.
Gotta Disagree
First, I don’t think it’s about fielding an “A” or “B” team. For instance, if Ream starts one game and Gooch another, it’s anyone’s guess as to who the “A” and “B” is. Additionally, tactically you play Spain differently than you do Canada. So the personnel (and maybe even the formation) aren’t the same.
Second, a “disgrace” and “short selling”? I think not. First, I doubt there are any American fans who are going to go “well, he didn’t start Bradley against Spain so I’m never buying a ticket to the USNT again!” These tickets are selling b/c it’s SPAIN. Additionally, Spain left some of their people home (like Xavi and of course Puyol is going in for surgery).
As for the Gold Cup and Copa, I’m glad they aren’t folded into one. First, that would mean the Confederations were combined. Our chances of qualifying for the WC would probably drop by 80%—how would that help viewing? Second, USSF benefits from having money and the GC in the USA is a big money-maker. I know, you can say that maybe the Copa would be held in the USA—probably in about 2090. No way nations like Argentina and Brasil are going to let an interloper be host. Additionally, if people think that CONCACAF is corrupt than the need to do some research about South American…the Brasilian Top Hats or the Conmebol head who wanted to be knighted in order to vote for England’s WC bit or that the FA Cup should be named after him. We’re dealing with enough corruption here in CONCACAF….let’s don’t combine it with CONMEBOL.
