We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
On paper, this looks like another Confederation's Cup mis-match, but as Lexi Lalas was at pains to point out yesterday, the U.S. record against the Azurri isn't actually that bad, including a narrow defeat in Italia 90 and a very serviceable draw at Deutschland 06. Can Sam's Army get a result against the current World Champions? Join me from 2:25 EST on ESPN to find out.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 2:06 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
99 Comments:
The teams:
Italy: Buffon, Grosso, Chiellini, Legrott, Gattuso, De Rossi, Pirlo, Camoranesi, Iaquinto, Gillardino.
USA: Howard, Spector, Gooch, Demerit, Bornstein, Feilhaber, Bradley, Clark, Donovan, Altidore, Dempsey.
With Bocanegra out for injury, it gives Jay Demerit a chance to shine. He should be plenty busy today.
Altidore of course up front alone. Already Dempsey is dropping back to cover.
Italy have shown plenty of intention right out of the gate and the U.S. will do well to weather the early going.
I won't mention the result of the earlier match with Brazil against Egypt, although the ESPN hosers already have, just in case you lot have taped it.
Pirlo and Cameranesi are already starting to thread some really dangerous balls straight down the middle. U.S. just about hanging on.
Really good battle going on between Demerit and Camoranesi.
Free kick to the U.S. here. We can't afford to waste these opportunities.
Decent idea - tipped by Donovan to Dempsey who shot high over the bar.
Nice flick on by Landycakes to Jozy there. We're not doing that badly.
Oh dear, Bornstein missed the header at the back post but Camoranesi blasted over at the back stick. Whew.
Nice knock down by Iaquinta and Gillardino hits it straight at Timmy Howard.
Bradley and Clark are doing a fabulous job breaking up a lot of Italian play in midfield. We've weathered the first quarter of an hour. That's key.
Great ball in from Camoranesi but Demerit was a giant heading out. Wow!
The Italians are more and more going to Grosso down the left as the middle of the park has been tied up. So far Spector's done well against him.
Bornstein picks up the first yellow of the night for hauling down Camoranesi.
Oooh, the resulting free kick presents Lagrottaglie with an open header which he sticks well wide.
Donovan seems to be hiding, somewhat. He was clattered by Chiellini a couple of times early on and I think it's rattled him.
Dempsey turned awkwardly and was flattened by Gattuso. He's gone down in a heap. Up again now but it doesn't look like he's enjoying himself.
Gooch with a great rescuing header there. He's been good so far.
Why can't we play with this kind of grit when we go away to Costa Rica?
Great ball through to Bradley but there wasn't enough mustard on the shot to beat Buffon. Shame.
Corner to Italy now...taken short and well defended by Clark. Well done, lad!
Oh, a brilliant move started by a monster challenge by Bradley leads to Donovan streaking through. He laid it off well to Jozy who should have shot but wasn't greedy enough. He was one on one with Buffon and chose to hit it back across the box. Chance snuffed out.
Half an hour in and it's been a terrific performance from the U.S. boys.
Great free kick from Pirlo bounces awkwardly in front of Howard, who bobbled it. Whew.
Corner in and punched out.
Ricardo Clark picks up a yellow for a rash challenge on Gattuso. Gattuso went down like a lump.
Is it a red! I can't believe it. It was a dive in for sure. But it was really his first foul. It is red! What a load of bollocks. That will completely change the match.
There have been some heavy challenges out there but the referee completely overeacted to the situation.
Now Donovan is claiming an elbow. It's getting really heated. Grosso did indeed elbow him and he's picked up a yellow.
Great free kick chance here. We could really use a goal here to get our rhythm back. Come on!
Landy hits it well over. That was nowhere near. Shame.
That Clark sending off will have to necessitate a change. Donovan and Dempsey may be surplus, especially in the second half as the legs grow tired.
Oh, that's a let off. A great through ball is inadvertently tipped past Howard by Bornstein into his own net but it had already been called back for offside. Whew!
Yes!!!!!! Penalty to the U.S.
Jozy really sold that as he was going past the defender.
And Donovan nets it easily.
1-0 U.S.!!!!!!
Spector with a really brave header there. He's only just come back from a concussion. Amazing effort.
Great spanking shot from Bradley beaten out by Buffon. Great effort!
Free kick now in a dangerous position out wide right for Italy. Mark up, lads!
Great shot by Zambrotta after the cut back. Just over the bar.
We just need to get through to half time and then regroup. Hang in there!
Two minutes of added time to come.
Last chance for Italy from a corner. Great header out from Gooch. Those two - Gooch and Demerit - have been monsters today.
Half-time: 1-0 U.S.
Outstanding! The kind of performance that makes you proud of the lads. I hope we can keep it up.
Excellent commentary, Bob. I feel like I was there in front of the TV with you!
Welcome, Johnno! Glad you've enjoyed it so far.
Teams back out on the pitch and the infernal horns continue to plague this tournament.
Come on, the lads!
I'll be counting down every second of this second half. This could be our first win against the Azurri. What a feather in the U.S. cap that would be.
Early corner for the Italians...
Oh, the short one caught us offguard but it's deflected out for another corner.
Great tackle Demerit as Iaquinta was trying to weave his way into the area.
Sounds like an intense match. Thanks for the updates.
Jozy is already running the ball toward the corner flag.
Cheers, Someone. Glad you're enjoying it. It is a real nailbiter. Are you watching? Feel free to comment.
Oh, the pass through to Dempsey was just cut out. Feilhaber did an excellent job there.
The U.S. has chipped five minutes off the clock. It's going to be a long, long second half though with only ten men.
Someone looks alot like Joel Hunter. Whatever became of him?
Jozy does another acrobat flip to pick up a foul out left. Zambrotta with an extraordinary foul there. This could set up a crack from Landy.
Ball drilled into the box but cleared out.
Apparently Joel leaves Dave a message on his machine every July 7 for his birthday. I haven't seen him since Dave's wedding in 1990 unfortunately.
Oh, Iaquinta's header from the corner was headed down and just wide. Demerit just about put him off.
Here comes the Yank Guiseppe Rossi on for the Italians to replace Gattuso.
Who is Someone?
They've chipped another five minutes off the clock. 35 minutes left. Hang in there!
Honestly, I don't know. He signed on as a "follower" of the blog. I don't believe he's connected to Lakenheath at all but just someone interested in the topics we talk about. As I always say, everyone's welcome.
Bugger! Rossi has stuck the knife into the country of his birth. A great run and a rocket of a shot into the left corner.
1-1 Rossi showing us what we missed out on.
Free kick to the U.S. here.
Gooch floats one up to Jozy who nods down to no one.
That Rossi goal was all about the space that was left in the U.S. midfield when Clark was sent off in the first half. What now? Bradley surely will be looking at his bench.
We're really getting opened up now. This looks increasingly ominous, kind of like the Copa America match against Argentina in 2007 when we also scored a shock opener before succumbing to the superior side.
I want Zambrotta's orange boots. Those are super cool!
First change for the U.S. Altidore is coming off for Charlie Davies. Makes sense. Jozy was knackered and Charlie will run forever.
Twenty five minutes left in this one. A point would be a very good result for us, especially under these circumstances.
Two rocket shots in quick succession, the first saved and parried by Howard and the second blazed over by Iaquinta.
Foul called on Feilhaber in a dangerous area. I thought he might pick up a yellow but apparently not.
Here comes Luca Toni. It doesn't get any easier for the U.S. center backs, does it?
Oh, now this change I don't like. DaMarcus Beasley is readying himself to come on. If he goes to left back, I'm not going to be happy.
Bugger! Another long distance effort, this time from De Rossi, has broken U.S. hearts.
2-1 Italia.
Again not nearly enough pressure on De Rossi as he took his shot.
Gooch didn't look great on that one, as Harkesy is pointing out. He blocked Howard's view and didn't get a block on it. Very awkward.
Beasley on for Benni Feilhaber now.
That looks like it, really. I can't really see us rousing ourselves with ten men to attack the Italian goal. If anything there could be more goals for the Azurri to come. We're really under the cosh now.
I don't think Davies has had a touch yet.
Fifteen minutes left to dig something out of this match now.
A collision in the box and that probably could have been another penalty for the U.S. Donovan did well to accentuate the foul, but Lagrottaglie definitely bowled him over. As we like to say, "I've seen them given," the ref probably didn't want to give a second one to us.
Into the last ten minutes now...
A corner over finds Chiellini nodding over. They really are a threat from set pieces.
Sasha Klejstan is stripping off. Probably Dempsey to come off.
No, it's Bornstein coming off. Pretty attacking move from Bradley. He's giving it a go. Impressive.
More great tackling from Jay Demerit.
Cross over to Luca Toni who nodded down to Howard. Not enough power in the header.
Nice first effort from Sasha. A curler from the top of the box, just over.
Only a few minutes left on the clock here. Desperate efforts to get back into the match.
Beasley with a nice run up the left and picks up the U.S.'s first corner of the match.
Big chance. Oh, free header for Charlie Davies but he couldn't direct it on goal. Shame.
Good save Howard from Rossi.
Four minutes of stoppage time to come...
Here comes a long throw from Gooch...
Bounces a couple of times in the area and then cleared out.
Another great save from Timmy, this time with his feet from Luca Toni. Again it was Pirlo who laid on the chance. He's been brilliant.
Time to just pump it up and pray.
Oh, that was sheer class from the Italians. Pirlo dazzled down the left and then chipped a lovely ball into Rossi who half-volleyed a lovely shot past Howard.
3-1. You just have to admire that move.
Full-time. 3-1
In the end, the Italians had far too much power and panache for the ten men. But it was a gutsy performance from the lads that you have to admire.
Enjoyed it. Over and out from me.
I'm going to ruin it now . . .but the commentary in the US v. Italy match and the Spain v. New Zealand match each ran a full 90 -- the length of a full game.
You are amazing!
Cheers, WHR. I guess we're just providing extra time here with a couple of extra comments.
Found you as a SUNY Fredonia person, my alma mater. I'm slowly beginning to follow football. Like what you post about here. Supporter of my local Columbus Crew, Everton, Celtic.
Left work before today's match ended, glad I did not follow it.
That's fascinating, Someone. What a small world. I just moved up here to Fredonia last August and have been loving it. When did you graduate?
If you're interested in regularly contributing to the blog, drop me a line with your email address to:
Robert.Dahlgren@fredonia.edu
I'll send you out an invitation to join the crew. Cheers!
I graduated in '87 and left in late 1989. Most of the profs I had are retired. Glad you like it there as I really did. Used to D.J. at BJ's back in the day and worked at the liquor store on East Main. Was also on the air on WCVF quite a bit.
I'm having enough trouble keeping my own blog up to date but really enjoy reading here and posting.
Ed
SS,
Glad to have you aboard in any fashion you're happy with. If you're a Crew fan, and ever follow them on the Road to DC United and RFK, stop in Section 310, row 5. I'll stand you a pint!
I sometimes follow DC to Columbus. I'm a big fan of the Elevator Bar, Barleys, and Schmidt's German Family Restaurant. I'll have to pass this year because I think we either play midweek or on a weekend that I'm committed to some other event. Steve.
Lads, I thought that was a pretty decent US performance against a vastly better team. We lost a man to a very harsh red, then didn't get a reciprocal red when Grosso, who really is a detestable cheat, elbowed
Donovan. We don't have one striker of the class of Rossi, and you could see what a difference someone who is willing and capable of taking that kind of shot of quality once possession is taken.
If we play Onyewu, then we have to live with his slow-witted decisions like he made whiffing a clearance because he was trying to put it on the foot he doesn't use for standing. Feilhaber is very naive to be caught in the middle like he was for possession, but overall, I thought we did pretty well.
Agree with all of your comments, Gooner. I also thought that it was an excellent, gutsy performance from the U.S. However, that said, it does say something when we continuing put in decent performances against the top teams and get turned over by three or four goals. Pele once said that the U.S. would win the World Cup by 2010. In reality, we'll do well to get out of our group.
I don't know what the King was thinking when he said that. Was he just validating his own participation in the US league? He had to be imagining that the US would take to soccer and with our money and population base, be a juggernaut. It sounds naive now of course, because the set up is just not there to produce the kind of players that can beat the world's best to win a World Cup.
That said, Rossi's second was a cheap 93rd minute effort against 10 men in a Micky Mouse competition. I'm more fussed that Onyewu keeps getting picked despite all the evidence that he's not capable of playing at this level. Hell, he'd be making these mistakes if he was playing for the Wiz or the Burn or countless defensively awkward teams.
And it's worth commenting that Jozy should have a healthier killer instinct. In the first half, with only Buffon to beat at an angle, he decided on completing a one-two with Donovan in traffic. Inexcusable decision-making at this level or any where you get a paycheck for playing a bloody game for a living.
But overall, I'm cool with being beaten by Italy. They were better even without the obvious incompetence of that ref. I hope his assessor was withering in his report. I'd have been.
btw, did you see any of the Brazil-Egypt game? Egypt impressed me. They were good for a draw and then Brazil squeaked it by drawing a penalty for an obvious, but at first undetected handball on the line from the Egyptian.
Their FA is up in arms contending that it was like the Zidane headbutt, also undetected until they played endless replays on the big-screen. Pfffft! The Egyptian bloke clearly handled it, and they can't complain when justice was done.
But Egypt? They could really take us apart with their quickness. I hate to think that we'll go home win-less but I wouldn't bet against it.
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