Now for something besides politics.
Last night I watched the US national team play against Japan in a game they won 3-2. The score flattered Japan, however, with their two goals coming late in the game after the U.S. had already begun to sub out some of their starters. For those of you keeping score at home, the U.S. has beaten its last two opponents, Norway and Japan (both respectable teams) by a combined score of 8-2.
Most impressive is that the U.S. team won decisively without most of their projected World Cup starters. Out of those who started last night I would say that only one, Landon Donovan, is guaranteed to be on the field barring injury when the U.S. opens up against the Czechs in June.
Without too much fanfare, the U.S. is putting together a damn good team that I think is definitely going to turn some heads in Germany. There is serious competition for almost every position on that 23 man roster and for perhaps the first time ever there are going to be at least several good players left behind.
Perhaps most exciting is the competition at forward, a long-time weakness. Brian McBride now has double digits in goals for his club team, Fulham, this season and has scored against both Manchester United and Chelsea. Eddie Johnson, meanwhile, scored a hat-trick in his very first game for the U.S. against Panama in late 2004 and had 7 goals in his first 7 games before getting injured. Although he didn't score last night he had some sick stepover moves and it looks just to be a matter of time before he starts tearing it up.
Besides those two, Taylor Twellman is now making a serious case for himself, scoring 4 goals in his last two games along with two assists. The guy has done it at every level -- high school, college, youth national teams, MLS -- and I am convinced he will do it at the World Cup.
Lastly, think about this. Today a kid by the name of Lee Nguyen came on a sub in the 61st minute for PSV Eindhoven (subbing for PSV's other American DaMarcus Beasley), currently the first place team in the Netherlands. Nguyen left Indiana University after his freshman year, signed with PSV only a couple of weeks ago, and was so impressive playing for their youth team that he was promoted to the senior team. And he has never played for the senior U.S. national team!
All that talk about the U.S. becoming a rising soccer power is actually coming true. It boggles my mind to think where they could be in another 4-8 years.
Last night I watched the US national team play against Japan in a game they won 3-2. The score flattered Japan, however, with their two goals coming late in the game after the U.S. had already begun to sub out some of their starters. For those of you keeping score at home, the U.S. has beaten its last two opponents, Norway and Japan (both respectable teams) by a combined score of 8-2.
Most impressive is that the U.S. team won decisively without most of their projected World Cup starters. Out of those who started last night I would say that only one, Landon Donovan, is guaranteed to be on the field barring injury when the U.S. opens up against the Czechs in June.
Without too much fanfare, the U.S. is putting together a damn good team that I think is definitely going to turn some heads in Germany. There is serious competition for almost every position on that 23 man roster and for perhaps the first time ever there are going to be at least several good players left behind.
Perhaps most exciting is the competition at forward, a long-time weakness. Brian McBride now has double digits in goals for his club team, Fulham, this season and has scored against both Manchester United and Chelsea. Eddie Johnson, meanwhile, scored a hat-trick in his very first game for the U.S. against Panama in late 2004 and had 7 goals in his first 7 games before getting injured. Although he didn't score last night he had some sick stepover moves and it looks just to be a matter of time before he starts tearing it up.
Besides those two, Taylor Twellman is now making a serious case for himself, scoring 4 goals in his last two games along with two assists. The guy has done it at every level -- high school, college, youth national teams, MLS -- and I am convinced he will do it at the World Cup.
Lastly, think about this. Today a kid by the name of Lee Nguyen came on a sub in the 61st minute for PSV Eindhoven (subbing for PSV's other American DaMarcus Beasley), currently the first place team in the Netherlands. Nguyen left Indiana University after his freshman year, signed with PSV only a couple of weeks ago, and was so impressive playing for their youth team that he was promoted to the senior team. And he has never played for the senior U.S. national team!
All that talk about the U.S. becoming a rising soccer power is actually coming true. It boggles my mind to think where they could be in another 4-8 years.
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