Just watched the highlights (lowlights) again, and it was certainly Neal not Ooijer (that hurts to type) with what should have been a penalty against. Of course, Brad probably would have saved it, so play on.... On the goal, either Savage or Gray (some muppet with long blond hair) was standing on the keepers left side of the wall, and just before the kick, ran across, vacating the left flank. Neill seemed to come across with force of a pre-schooler and watched the ball hand the Addicts 3 points. It's almost comical trying to think of an explanation....

Hard to fault him too much, although he is responsible for setting the wall. Left too much room to his left. Then a pretty fair kick around the wall, at which point a Rover skips in front of Brad to block whatever small chance he had of seeing it. And said defender made no play. Almost looked like the defenders were conspiring to cause Brad headaches the whole last 10 minutes.

Buffon an excellent choice. However, the standard for midfield play in this tournament, and for the last 12 years, is being set by Zinedine Zidane.

Wow, do I agree with this. What's the logic of the ranking system if you are not going to use it to seed your tournament? How is it remotely possible for a Mexico team that the US beat time and again to get a seed? As I recall we dismissed them categorically from the the last go round. That said...if you're going to make any noise in this tournament, you have to beat good teams. Might as well get on with it... :ph34r:

Hard to imagine the US getting a result after the showing the other day. They have to have a complete attitude change to grab a point. Knocking it about and waiting for an opening in the Italian defense is probably not going to do it... This tournament goes to show the importance of the draw. There is no way to play yourself into form by opening with the Czechs and Italians. Who's had a rougher draw? Perhaps T&T opening Sweden, then England. Maybe Ghana doing it the other way, Italy, then Czech.

With the service Becks has been providing, look for the Crouching Robot...

Agreed with that. My local paper is the Washington Post and their coverage has been thorough and knowledgeable. However, none of their big name columnists have weighed in yet, as they are occupied with the NBA and baseball.

Some of these moron sports columnists are so entrenched in the current sports media cabal (that promotes footy bashing, and worships at the altar of the US revenue generating sports that keep them employed) that they run the same column every 4 years to remind the knuckle draggers that read them of their footy hating bona fides. Why their editors allow this moronic practice to continue is a testament to the intellectual laziness of the US sports press. You'll see a bunch of this over the next month....

Oops, correction on my part. Freddy turns 17 today, June 2.

About the size of Messi of Barca, or perhaps Walcott, but not yet as muscular as either. I'm not sure when most fans of CL level teams see him that they will be as impressed, but remember, it's the vision and trickery which we just don't see over here. (But will soon. I am becoming more impressed with the level of skill we're now seeing in the 15-17 year old high schoolers who have been playing for years.)

If I may jump in, I'm a DC United Supporter and have seen almost every minute of his play this young season. Freddy has started all but one game this year and has been impressive. He's tracking back well defensively, setting up a number of goals, and breaking ankles when marked one v one. His free kicks have been generally dangerous, and he's getting more of them. He hasn't scored, but it seems to me when he gets the cover off the goal, he will fill it. HOWEVER Freddy just turned 17 (Like, last week). While he appears bigger and stronger than last year, he's still too physically immature, particularly in a rough league like MLS. He also needs to improve his work rate, and his right foot. He does NOT have the blazing foot speed some thought he had. He can burst, but not sprint. He's been used on both wings this season, and spent a game in the center, holding his own. Freddy has unique vision and touch for an American teenager but is not yet useful to an International team. He would also struggle with any level of British teams, because of the phsicality. On the other hand, he could contribute in Spain or Holland, where they seem to give you a bit more room. After his 18th birthday.

Maybe start against certain teams? Otherwise no. Good super sub. Plays lots of positions and puts himself about. Prem? Give it a bit more time. Needs some seasoning. He does have a knack: the ball seems to find him...

The entire ESPN production was awful, despite the nice HD picture. Derek Rae is OK, but just. Tommy Smythe is wrong so often it's laughable. Balboa adds nothing. And yet, this was the GOOD TEAM of announcers....

We had the same type of biased call here in the US on ESPN as well. I was stunned to hear Tommy Smythe screaming how it can't be a red after watch Del Horno run by the ball to have a go at him for the third time in twenty minutes. Messi was phenomenal in the u-17's a few years ago, but his progress has been stunning. Grabbing a starting slot on that side is a serious accomplishment at any age.

Just a reminder that Adu will likely be on the 2010 USA squad in South Africa, assuming he progresses at a normal rate. And he still might be the youngest member of the squad....