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Throw-Ins U.S. men look to break first-round jinx at Olympics
So many questions, so little time to answer them. The U.S. men enter the Olympic Games with just as many question marks as their female counterparts. Among the more pressing ones:
In 10 previous appearances at the summer Games, the U.S. has never advanced out of the first round, according to U.S. Soccer reports and information (but if you want to get technical, the U.S. did move on -- in 1924). In fact, in the past four Olympics, the U.S. has just missed getting out of the first round.
This time, the U.S. has as good a chance as ever. The Czech Republic should be its most difficult match. Cameroon, which did well at the Under-20 World Cup last year, lost six players this week, including team captain Rigobert Song, either to their clubs' refusal to release them, the players unwillingness to participate, or to injuries. Kuwait should be beatable.
Since the CONCACAF qualifying tournament in April, the team has played together only twice -- against the Bolton Wanderers in July and against the San Diego Flash earlier this week en route to a 2-0 victory. With all due respect to the A-League, the Flash ain't the Czech Republic, Cameroon or Kuwait. I realize this team has been together a long time and coach Clive Charles has stressed chemistry. But you have to wonder if the U.S. will be out of sync early on. A number of U-23 teams have played against other national sides in warmups before the Games. This certainly can't help the U.S.
Voted the best player at the Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand last November, Donovan returns to that part of the world less than a year later to perform some more heroics. It depends on how much time Charles will give the mature, 18-year-old midfielder-forward. He didn't start Donovan until the semifinals at the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament back in April -- Donovan had the final two goals in a 4-0 romp over Guatemala. When will Charles release the reins this time?
Brad Friedel, who performed at the 1992 Olympics, was called on after Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Adin Brown hadn't recuperated in time from his knee injury. Friedel joined the team in San Diego after the U.S. qualifier vs. Guatemala last Sunday. While Friedel is a top-flight keeper, he doesn't know the backline's tendencies, and vice versa. Then there's the communication factor. In a short season such as the Olympics, one mistake can make all the difference in the world.
Dunseth, the team captain, has fallen out of favor with New England Revolution coach Fernando Clavijo and hadn't played in his last four matches. Dunseth's last game was in a 2-1 loss to the MetroStars on Aug. 12, when he looked rather tentative -- and that's being diplomatic -- defending Adolfo Valencia, who connected for the game-winner. Dunseth is supposed to be the team leader and kingpin of the defense. But without getting an opportunity to hone his skills, mentally and physically, in league matches before the summer Games, you have to wonder how effective he will be.
Bruce Stadium, the site for the United States' first two opening-round matches, has been mired in controversy after the grass that was laid there died in the colder climates. On Monday, Olympic officials said they expected the field to be playable. If it isn't, any team -- one that qualifies or one that is eliminated -- can use that as an easy excuse. Hey, this is the Olympics. Outside of an act of God, such as weather, playing conditions must be at their optimum. We'll find out soon enough about the field on Wednesday, Sept. 13, when the U.S. takes on the Czechs.
Despite it's horrendous Olympic history, don't laugh, the U.S. would be in position to do so if it gets out of the opening round. Boy, that is turning into a mantra: Get out of the opening round. Get out of the opening round. Just reaching the quarterfinals would have to considered a major accomplishment. The semifinals and chance for a medal? Now, that would be a feat of Olympian proportions. Opening-round bluesOne goal, one precious goal. That's all it would have taken for the U.S. to reach the quarterfinals of the past four Olympics. That's how close it is between being a medal contender and taking a flight back home. You can look it up:
Looking back. Way, way backOK, it has been well documented how the American men haven't been able to advance out of the opening round of the Olympics. But they did -- way back in their very first appearance in 1924. The U.S. won its first Olympic match ever -- a 1-0 triumph over Estonia in what was called the preliminary round on May 25 (it would be an amazing 60-year drought of failure before it would win another, but that's another story). One newspaper headline read:
Americans Lucky Yes, that's right -- Esthonia. That's what Estonia was called in those days. It wasn't much of a game at Perishing Stadium in Paris, where the estimated crowd of 10,000 reportedly was somewhat hostile to the Americans. The lone goal of the match was scored by Andy Straden in the 10th minute (the name of Straden, who collected three goals in four international appearances, was spelled as Stradan in the newspaper and wire service accounts). According to newspaper accounts, Estonia dominated the second half, threatening the U.S. on numerous occasions. But the Eastern Europeans were offside, shot poorly and just couldn't solve goalkeeper James Douglas, who played a superb game. The U.S. did not appear to be in the best of physical condition. "It's a fallacy to say that a winning match is always a well-played match," U.S. manager George Collins said. "I am not quite satisfied with the showing of our boys, but we will put in some hard work between now and the second round." The U.S. advanced to the second round, which was called the eighth finals. The Americans met their match against eventual gold medalists Uruguay, losing 3-0 as Pedro Petrone hit for the hat trick on May 29. Douglas was brilliant in defeat. "We were defeated by a team which today was superior to ours," Collins said. "I say today, not because we are seeking any excuses, but because I am sure there have been days when our team could have won." I'm sorry, but I have to take exception with Collins' comments some 76 years later. Uruguay was an unbeatable juggernaut at the time, considered the first great national team. The South Americans went on to capture the gold at the 1928 Games and the very first World Cup championship, which they hosted two years later. By the way, that quarterfinal match was played in days before high-tech and the Internet. So, fans and interested observers of the Uruguayan team would gather in front of newspaper offices in Montevideo awaiting the latest bulletins. "The final result was greeted with an uproar of cheers, rockets, foghorns and whistles," according to one wire service. According to the story, "Uruguayans are so fond of football that visitors here say there are only two classes of people in the country -- those who play it and those who watch it." Lothar's cornerLothar Matthäus returned to action after missing two games (yellow-card suspension and strained right hamstring) and played a solid match for the MetroStars in their 2-1 victory over the Miami Fusion on Tuesday. After allowing 11 goals in four previous matches, the MetroStars needed all the help they could find in the back. Some Kremlin watching: Interesting situation during a special pre-game ceremony by MLS commissioner Don Garber, who presented the MetroStars with the Eastern Division championship trophy in the locker room before they took on the Miami Fusion on Tuesday night. During the ceremony, Lothar stood on the side closer to reporters than his teammates. I don't know. I can't begin to interpret what that meant. Perhaps he wanted to get to know the media better. When it came time for a team photo with the trophy, Matthäus did join his mates. Sacks of the weekMy, was it a busy week in the soccer world with pink slips and resignations all over the place. Where do we start? How about with Peruvian national coach Francisco Maturana, who got the axe on Tuesday after his team dropped a 2-1 decision to Argentina in a World Cup qualifier last weekend. The loss all but ended the South American's sides chances of reaching the 2002 competition. He was replaced by national youth coach and former international Julio Cesar Uribe. Let's continue with Andreas Zachhuber, who was given the boot by Hansa Rostock in Germany just this Friday after his team failed to record a point or a goal in its first three matches of the Bundesliga season. Zachhuber, who was the first firing of the season, could be replaced by former MSV Duisburg coach Friedhelm Funkel. Let's move to the resignation department, as Mexican coach Manuel Lapuente stepped down four days after his team earned a berth in next year's CONCACAF final round of World Cup qualifying. And let's finish with Kawasaki Frontale coach Toshiaki Imai, who announced his resignation only minutes after guiding his team to a 2-0 victory over Verdy in the Japanese League Cup quarterfinals. Imai said that he had made up his mind to leave after Frontale dropped an important relegation match 1-0 to JEF United Ichichara on Aug. 19. Chip shotsIt seems that I touched a nerve or two during Major League Soccer's weekly conference call on Tuesday when I asked Tampa Bay Mutiny striker Mamadou Diallo if he had changed his physical playing style since his collision with MetroStars goalkeeper Mike Ammann. The keeper was sidelined for the season, suffered three broken ribs and a punctured lung. "I don't want to talk about this thing," he said. "It was something that happened. It hasn't changed the way I play. I am here to play soccer. I am here not to kick anyone." Hmmm. Wonder if Diallo is getting a complex about New York/New Jersey area soccer people named Mike or Michael. MetroStars defender Mike Petke blanked him in three matches; Ammann you already know, and then there's yours truly, with a recent opinion piece and this question.
If he plays every game for both sides between now and including Sept. 15 (the MetroStars' first playoff game), Grafer will have played in eight games midway through this month. That includes a possible double-dip, playing for the Riders in a potential A-League playoff game and then immediately for the MetroStars in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal against the Miami Fusion on Tuesday. "That would be a first in the annals of soccer if that happens," MetroStars coach Octavio Zambrano said. "In what [league] in the world does a goalkeeper play ... for two teams in three competitions at the same time?"
The Brazilians? They claim this is the last time they will compete for the long-elusive gold medal. Which is why I like Italy vs. Brazil battling for the gold come Sept. 30.
And yes, I'll be down under to watch both American teams and chronicle the latest news and features on the U.S. men's and women's sides for CNNSI.com. Michael Lewis covers soccer for the New York Daily News. His third book, Soccer For Dummies, was published this spring.
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