Remember savages “tricks are for kids,” so don’t be too fooled by the recent US u-20s (2-1) victory over Uruguay in the Round 16 at the U-20 World Cup in Canada because then you might believe that we are actually creating and developing a type of football like other soccer countries.

Of course, ultimately, you would fault the Uruguayan defense for their unfocused set piece defending in the dying minutes, and over-time period of the game; however, with a more objective look at the replay, you would recognize the American’s handball in the box that directly lead to the game tying goal.

Uruguay immediately showed their intentions in the game despite their unlucky, woeful defending (and worse a refereeing error) by constructing an immediate response quelled only by a deflection off the bar.

And as lightening always seems to strike twice in soccer, it was Uruguay’s failure to deal with the difficulties of an American corner, not the overall quality of our football, that lead to our coach’s son’s opportunistic goal.

Unfortunately while Adu and Altidore have shown promising and lethal finishing in this tournament, it is largely lost on our overall playing foundation. Both players have shown the ability to finish off once inside the box, but it is in our inconsistency and ability to get there which in the end negates a style of play.

Now we go on to play a safer Quarterfinal game on Saturday, with another vertically dominated Austrian side, that looks likely to boil down to the rudimentary physical aspects of the game.

Obviously, it is a game that favors the US, so a Semifinal showdown with Spain, who defeated Brazil 4-2 in the Round of 16 and looks certain to come through against the Czech Republic in the Quarters, looks destined in the stars.

Chile will face Nigeria and another block buster elimination game between Argentina and Mexico are the other Quarterfinal match-ups on Sunday.

 

Realize players how lucky you are to have a soccer field to play on. Real player’s take advantage of their time on the soccer field. The soccer field is there for you to enjoy, but it won’t remember the last time that you played, or what circumstances you are in on the day.
 
It doesn’t know if you are a prodigy, or a novice, and it treats both equally the same. The field is just simply there for you to fulfill your creativity and industry as a soccer player. Whether it has long grass, or short, or if it even has grass at all, you stand on a painter’s canvas, and you are the brush. 
 
Sometimes it’s bare and simple, but is still open to the limitlessness of your imagination–it remains there for you and your artistic freedom. Other times, it is crowded and controlled by your coach’s and teammates’ demands. You must recognize the difference in this situation, but know the canvas has not changed.
 
Understand this, there are certain things you will know about the field when you are a player. Certain situations are privilege to you only–plays that are just for you to create, or even destroy. Be aware though of your teammates, they have the same rights to paint as you!
 
Don’t underestimate the field. You might think that this is not a big deal, “it’s just a field,” but either in the personal or team environment, the field is there for you to learn soccer lessons that will help you to conduct yourself as a cooler, smoother, and more confident artist (player).
 
How do you treat this privilege?

Brazil needed the luck of penalties on Tuesday to defeat a head-strong Uruguay side as the Semifinal ended 2-2 with Uruguay twice coming from behind to force penalties. Tied after the first round of spot kicks, Brazil snatched the Semi victory again when Doni saved Uruguayan skipper, Diego Lugano’s weak attempt.

Argentina had an easier time defeating Mexico 3-0. Both teams looked dangerous from the beginning, and Mexico can consider themselves unlucky as they tinged the post several of times throughout the game.

It was actually the unlikely Gabriel Heinze who opened the scoring at the death of the 1st half. The Man. United defender was able to connect with a Requilme free-kick to the back post, beating Mexican keeper Oswaldo Sanchez to the ball, with a jumping redirect using the outside of his boot.

But it was the 2nd half where Argentina continued to ooze its class as Lionel Messi scored a sensational chip for the 2nd goal, and Requilme soon answered with a floating, cheeky spot kick down the middle for the 3rd one.

Still undefeated, Argentina will now be looking to reverse the trend of recent Copa Americas on Sunday when they look to avenge their last Copa America Finals defeat, losing out to Brazil on penalties in 2004.

Despite their current run of form, Argentina will know they have their hands full when they kick-off against the Samba boys, who have won 3 of the last 5 Copa America titles.

Alfio Basile will be looking to quell the mind-demons that can expose themselves at times like these so that Argentina can throw of their recent mind-shackles of losing to Brazil when it matters most.

 

All the Copa America Quarterfinal games were one-sided goal slams this past weekend (a neutral’s dream) with the victorious teams finding it far easier to rout their opposition’s defense then in the group stage games.

Uruguay, who struggled through the opening stage, defeated the host nation Venezuela 4-1 on Saturday. Diego Forlan’s much needed brace helped to set up a traditional Semi match-up Tuesday with Brazil.

It seems Dunga’s men finally found their scoring movements on Saturday in a 6-1 pegging of Chilean pins. Robinho also scored twice in this one as he inches closers to Pele’s record of 8 tournament goals.

Sunday’s games were no different as Mexico defeated Paraguay 6-0 in the first match. Of course, Paraguay helped defeat themselves as they gave away a penalty and a keeper red card in the first minutes of the game. Neri Castillo continued his run of form for the Mexicans as he forced and scored the penalty while also netting a 2nd.

Argentine, in a more true fashion, trounced Peru 4-0 to set-up a Semi with Mexico on Wednesday. Requilme continued his scoring touch as he finished 2 and orchestrated another for the champions in waiting.

Uruguay seems the weakest link of the 4 remaining teams, but should be able to keep it tighter against Brazil then the Chileans. On the other side, Argentine will have a tougher time against Mexico, but still look to remain undefeated.

So, another Argentina, Brazil final on the cards!

With the group stage ending on Thursday, the Copa America quarterfinal stage gets underway on Saturday with a couple of rematches as the home nation Venezuela confronts the old guard Uruguay while a Dunga-burdened Brazil look to defeat Chile again.

The final two matches on Sunday look much more appetizing as the in-form teams, Mexico and Paraguay, look to lock horns in the harshest of the matches, and undefeated Argentina looks to continue its winning streak against modest Peru.

At the moment, Argentina looks classes above and is on an obvious mission to reclaim a much needed trophy. Basile has used all his guile, doing what others have said could never be done–winning with Veron and Requilme in the same midfield.

Don’t look for Brazil to start clicking any time soon—so far Robinho is the only one on cue—as it seems their Coach and defensive maestro miss-tuned his berimbau before the tournament, which has put Brazil off their cup winning rhythm.

It’s nice to be back, after a long hiatus. The mongoose is back to watching ball. Yes, it can’t be about soccer all the time, some of us have to fight against the conflict diamond trade in Africa also. So I’ve put in my two months as a Captain in the People’s Resistance Army and now I’m picking up the soccer pen again.

And no sooner have I picked up my pen, do I see that the United States under-20 National Team is in the middle of the most important tournament of their lives. Travel can’t be easier–a hop skip and a jump to the Canadian territories could angle second or third in our favor.

I am not so brash to say that the U.S. can place first, but the odds are stacked with us when it comes to taking away some of the spoils.

What is stacked against us then? In our group, the play of South Korea looked magnificent as a team, as compared to the individualism of the US players, who showed they can play individually at the top level, but still lack the team cohesion that was displayed by the South Koreans.

Poland was another story, and the explosion of individualism, channeled through Freddie Adu, has all but clinched at least a third place group spot, and a next round birth.

Regardless of the outcome of tonight versus Brazil, which, on a given day, could fall in the American’s favor, we are mathematically looking good for the next round. The problem lies in the elimination rounds, where one slip up, and the US will duplicate what happened in 2005.

Freddy Adu knows the situation well; despite a shock win against Argentina in the first game, the US still had to go home early thanks to Ziggy Schmidt and his water-cooler coaching. Will Thomas Rogden be booking his plane ticket home from his patented bleacher seat? The Americans have lived this long under individualism that they practice day in and day out, in college, and the M.L.S.

If this is our game plan then luck can see us to bronze. We are playing the same cards that we played in 2005. Hopefully our upcoming opponents aren’t holding three of a kind.

Nice to be back savages. Please display your comments. We want to hear from every soccer addict out there.

 

Anybody who followed the US through the Copa America will finally realize the numskull decision-making of the USSF.

Satisfied with an inferior cup win (thanks to highly biased refereeing) a few weeks ago, USSF returned the majority of their regulars back to their MLS squads, foregoing a trip to Venezuela and a real test of International quality.

I guess that Bob Bradley, the USSF, and red journalists like ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, can offload the blame for the poor showing to letting the Greater Chicago U19s get a run in on the International stage, but for true soccer savages, it must go down as the biggest farce thus far in American Soccer.

Of course you can’t really blame the players, Beckermen, Gaven and Co. were basically thrown to the wolves by the time the final match with Columbia was concerned, battling it out for last place horrors–Ecuador in Group B was also in a no-win situation, but at least they were in all their games; in the end, edging out US for 2nd to last place on goal difference–the Americans with -6 and Ecuador -3.

Over the span of these most recent tournaments the only player to give some glimpse of hope in the years to come would be Ricardo Clark, who we hope will continue developing despite the trappings of MLS Soccer. The rest had no business being out there. From coach’s son to former Chivas USA players, it seems Bradley will blanket his selections to “a number of factors” before ever giving the actual answer.

I just hope that youth is not the reason given for our Copa America debacle, especially with the U20s currently being played in Canada. Surely, American fans can no longer be glossed over by commentary of our “outplaying” opponents at certain times in the game—I guess two touches for a central midfielder in 45 min. constitutes astonishing possession for somebody.

Well, I would say it’s back to the old drawing board, but in American Soccer it’s really back to the player/parent auction.

…hmmm, so tasty. Wouldn’t you like to try this tasty move?

First, you will need to position the ball on the outside of either foot. Then you’ll need to reach behind your body and around to grab the ball with your other foot.

Once you have the ball locked in, proceed to roll the ball up your leg–your stationary leg should remain in place as the ball is rolling up it.

It is your opposite leg that both throws the ball up in the air and then receives it. This is the tricky part!

Remember, you need to reach back around your body with the same foot, that you used to throw the ball up with, to receive and begin juggling.

If you’re having trouble getting that leg back around fast enough, then you can juggle with the leg that was stationary–just as long as you keep the ball up in the air!

Wow, now didn’t that taste good.

Good luck and be on the lookout for the next Move of the Moment!