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Lesson time
U.S. gets taken to school by Germany
Posted: Monday June 15, 1998 10:45 PM
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Claudio Reyna was given little room to maneuver as the Germans outclassed the U.S. (AP) |
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Hopefully we've heard the last of the word "respect" at this World Cup.
The U.S. team wanted to get some from Germany, but the Americans dismal showing in the first half sent that thought right out the window. The way it fumbled around with the ball for the first 45 minutes, the U.S. was lucky it only ended up losing 2-0.
Playing hard and controlling possession for good portions of the second half is the only thing that kept the Germans from laughing at the Americans' desire for respect. But the bottom line is the U.S. has a long way to go before it can effectively comp
ete with the No. 2 team in the world.
So, what did we learn from the match?
The first thing we learned is that the Germans are every bit as strong as they said they were. They were impressive for only one half of the game, but it was enough to tantalize German fans. If the team improves as it always seems to do throughout the
course of the tournament, chances are the Germans will take the field on July 12 for the final.
We also learned just how lethal the Germans can be on balls played in the air. Germany should dominate teams who try to play long ball against it, and on the other end of the field there may be no stronger team on set plays with the likes of Juergen Kl
insmann, Oliver Bierhoff and Andy Moeller all extremely capable of converting around the net.
The U.S. learned just how far it has to go to reach the status of the elites. More players who play strong with the ball are needed, and the Americans have to find more people who can put the ball in the back of the net.
Eric Wynalda is the only threat right now, and he never seems to get any support from his midfielders, which brings us to the final point.
The vaunted 3-6-1 has got to go. The only good chances it is generating are off of crosses. There is absolutely no buildup through the midfield that does not get channeled down the wings.
What's the point of having a striker if the only way he touches the ball is on the long ball or occasional cross?
The U.S. is in the position now where it must score goals and win games. Coach Steve Sampson says he is going to get offensive-minded people on the field. Here's hoping he does so with a new formation that has two strikers.
America needs to beat Iran by more than one goal to make up for the goal differential it now trails Yugoslavia by. If the U.S. only wins by one and Yugoslavia loses by just one to Germany, then both teams will have three points going into the match bet
ween the two on June 25. Only the U.S. will have to win to advance, while Yugoslavia will be able to advance with a draw.
Of course, if the U.S. should loss to Iran or Yugoslavia should beat Germany, it would be extremely difficult for the Americans to get into the second round.
The other two games played out as expected Wednesday with England easily beating Tunisia 2-0, and the Romanians withstanding a second-half barrage from Colombia to earn three points.
Player of the Day: Juergen Klinsmann. A year ago people were saying he would not make the German team, a month ago people were saying he would be on the team just for leadership and a week ago there were doubts about whether or not he would star
t. Well, when Germany took the field Monday, Klinsmann was in the lineup.
Playing in his final World Cup with Germany, he got things started on the right foot, assisting on Germany's first goal and scoring the second with an impressive trap and half-volley inside the penalty area.
Say what you will about Klinsmann in club competition, when it comes to
playing for one's country there may be no one better right now than the blond-haired German wearing No. 18.
Goal of the Day: Andy Moeller. Today's goal of the day is a simple soccer lesson for all the youngsters out there. When you are playing defense on a corner kick and you are assigned to one of the posts, you stay there no matter what happens.
U.S. midfielder Mike Burns came just one step off the post in the ninth minute against Germany, and Moeller took advantage of it, heading home Germany's first goal in the space between Burns and the left post.
The goal took the wind out of the sails of the Americans, and energized the Germans who did pretty much whatever they wanted to against the U.S. the rest of the half. Who knows how the contest might have played out if Burns had stayed home and knocked
Moeller's header away.
Quote of the Day: "'We just did not show up for too much of the game. We knew it would be
physical and wanted to play that way, but we only did it in the second half -- maybe we
showed them too much respect." -- U.S. captain Thomas Dooley talking about his team's play
Outlook for Tuesday: We venture back into Group A where Morocco takes on Brazil and Scotland faces Norway.
No one expects the Brazilians to stumble against Morocco, which does not have nearly as good a defense as Scotland does. The key game is the early contest between the Scots and Norway.
This is truly Norway's last chance to get a win, as it will face Brazil next. The Norwegians were everyone's chic pick to make some noise in France, but should they lose or draw with Scotland they likely will be sitting at home when the second round st
arts.
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