Readers of How To Soccer have heard of Steve. He loaned me the car for my US Game Assignment I wrote about last month. Now he has a new addition to the world How To Soccer inhabits, I call it the machine:
Here is the list of score predictions the machine generated. On the right is Steve's machine. On the left you see the product. The formula is explained in the video at the bottom of this post.
Steve's Score Predictions with Actual Result
France 2 Nigeria 0 France 2 Nigeria 0
Germany 2 Algeria 0 Germany 2 Algeria 1
Netherlands 2 Mexico 1 Netherlands 2 Mexico 1
Columbia 2 Uruguay 1 Columbia 2 Uruguay 1
The Road to the Cup: Notice Brazil falling in the next round--
When the United States National Team takes the field on June 16 to play the Ghanian team in the 2014 World Cup, they will try to overcome a worthy opponent who has knocked the US from the past two consecutive Cup Tournaments.
In order for the US to have success, How To Soccer Blog has looked at what is working for the US (and what is not) and the first opponent, Ghana, in order to decipher the keys to victory for the US Team.*
Let's look at some key moments for both teams and analyze what these could mean for the match on
The US Team uses three components in this first goal--
1--change of tempo in the attacking third
2--splitting passes
3--leaving defenders
Altidore First 30:58
When Team Ghana looks at this clip--to prepare for their match against the US-- they will see at moment 30:56 that the US team 1--plays the ball into space, and 2--takes only one touch on the ball. Both of these are used to increase the tempo at the moment of attack. Also, the two target players in front of goal 3--make runs which leave their defenders. These US players are left unmarked in front of goal. Nigeria's defense is effectively broken down in minute 30:56, and the goal results a brief two seconds later.
That is how quickly the game can transition from in front of the defense, to behind them and into the goal they were trying to defend. If Team Ghana is susceptible to these devices, this could offer the US a window into the back of their net.
The second goal for the US team presents two new factors which will prove key for the US attack.
1-Michael Bradley getting forward with time to distribute. Michael Bradley is key to this team's success. Watch his work rate for four minutes and you will see how a player at this level is expected to perform. His match fitness, his vision with the ball, his discipline and work rate to track back and defend will all be needed if the US wants to display the best side of their game.
In this clip, Michael Bradley getting forward and Jozi Altidore taking on defenders 1V1, are keys to a great goal. We also see the US on counterattack, and seeing that Ghana, Portugal, and Germany are expected to possess the ball for the better parts of the games against the US, the counter-attack needs to function effectively.
Altidore Goal again 67:56
The role of Tim Howard and the US defense may be on display for the better part of the minutes the US are on the fields in Brazil. This is the reality, and something Klinnsman must recognize and the team must overcome to advance.
Luckily, we have Tim Howard, a true World Class, goalkeeper, and as backups, Brad Guzan, and Nick Rimando. It will be interesting to note from what range Howard has to make saves. The nearer to goal the shooter is allowed and the more defenders he has gotten through, the more Team US needs a World Class goalkeeper. If the shots are from a greater distance and there are defenders behind the ball, then the back-line is doing the job.
Tim Howard (Nigeria 43:12 and 84:42)
Congratulations Tim Howard 100 Caps
Both the 1st goal--4:48 and the chance by Robben six minutes later--11:28, show the Ghanian defense undone by:
1--change of tempo in the attacking third
2--splitting passes
3--leaving defenders
The US Team attack must function as they did against Nigeria, if they want to have chances like these.
Ghana Holland Friendly Highlights--
Ghana can play a physical game; moment 15:28 in their match against Holland illustrates this. The US must be prepared for physical play, as they were against Nigeria. Watch the US defenders accept the challenges from the oncoming attacker before addressing the ball. That is how the game is played on the world stage, and Klinsmann has proven himself here if the back four prove as solid as they were against Nigeria.
Ghana also loses track of the key attackers when put under pressure--minutes 23:13, 45:45, 75:20, and --against the Netherlands (Holland) illustrate this.
However, for the US Against Turkey Minutes 7:24, 19:11, 20:06, 50:36, and 59:51, and 88:13
all illustrate breakdowns in the US defense, breakdowns which Portugal and Germany likely won't leave unpunished. When the defense forfeits too much width and the opponent sends an unmarked overlapping runner forward, Tim Howard is left exposed. The Team needs to do better and keep their marks attended for the full 90 minutes.
Keys for the US involve playing as they did against Nigeria on June 7th. It is the only warm-up game in which their defensive integrity has been maintained. Provided the US defense stays compact and the attack is able to counter with speed, Ghana and Portugal could fall to the bottom of Group G.
Keys for the United States in Brazil
Attack
1--Bradley getting space and finding Altidore, Dempsey, Diskerud
* ASA and How to Soccer supports good fubotl whoever happens to play it,
but in this event, HTS stands behind the US National Team first and
foremost. HTS will blog from the perspective of a fan of the game who
is partial to the US.
