US vs Costa Rica
Many schools around the country are currently, or were recently on their Spring Break. Spring Breakers, especially those from Northern states usually flock to warmer temperatures and beaches along the Gulf. By this time in the year people are ready for warmer weather, and most of us are lucky to see it. This was not the case for the US Men's national team heading into Denver for their match up with Costa Rica, on Friday March 22nd.
Blizzard-like conditions were expected to hit Denver a few hours before game time, and the weathermen couldn't have been more dead on with their forecast. Tuning into the pre-game coverage, as well as viewing pictures posted to Twitter of snow removal crews frantically blowing snow off of the white lines of the field, I could tell this game was going to be interesting, to say the least.
Both teams struggled a bit playing in the snow. After all, it's not every day you play a game during a blizzard. I remember playing one game in the snow and one during icy conditions. Both games were ugly and difficult to get anything going, but they are memories I will never forget. I'm sure the USMNT players feel the same. In the end, the US won the match 1-0 off of a pretty cheap goal from the trusty Texan Clint Dempsey.
The highlight of the game for me was when play stopped to consider calling the game, as well as remove snow from the lines once again. Players from both teams urged the referees to continue play after the snow was removed. The ref reluctantly gave the players what they desired. Scenes like that are a pretty cool reminder that these professional athletes love what they do, and want to have fun doing it.
I expected to hear some fallout from the game being played, especially since it ended in a loss for Costa Rica. I won't lie, I don't think the game should have been played because of the importance of these World Cup qualifying matches in the CONCACAF Hexagonal. But at the same time, the good guys won in the end. Costa Rica looked like sore losers after their attempted protest. FIFA got it right (for once) by rejecting the formal protest.
US @ Mexico
The hype surrounding this game for the US was a little more than usual, especially because the last trip to Azteca in Mexico City resulted in a win for us. Wins, even ties are very difficult to come by in that stadium. Mexico has made it a near impenetrable fortress, no matter the quality of the opposition.
For such a big game, I thought it was appropriate to watch with a few friends at a local bar/popular pizza joint in Columbia. It was refreshing to walk in and see the bar section with a small crowd of US supporters, even for it being 9:30 on a Tuesday night. All of us were secretly hoping we wouldn't be seeing a typical match in Mexico. Maybe that's why bars are great places to watch sporting events??
As far as the game goes, I was pretty pleased that we came away with the draw. I'm sure other US soccer fans would completely agree with that also. I feel like Jurgen Klinsmann has done a fantastic job (for the most part) of preparing the US for games against quality opponents and tough environments. Let's not kid ourselves, the US isn't anywhere near being able to consistently beat top teams. But the tactics/methods Klinsmann is trying to implement seem to be paying off. It will take time to get to "winning ways" but Jurgen is showing us how to get results in important games. Getting our first point ever in a World Cup qualifier in Mexico is a baby step, but it's a big baby step.
Klinsmann went with a more defensive strategy for this game, and rightfully so considering Mexico's record in Azteca. Five midfielders and four in the back congested America's side of the field against the talented strikers of Mexico. Brad Guzan came up big with some pretty solid saves, and looked good replacing the injured Tim Howard. I personally feel the combination of Besler and Gonzalez in the middle of our defense immensely helped in preserving the tie. Those are two guys that have the potential to be a mainstay on the back line.
Like I said before, I think we did what was necessary to get that result in Mexico City. As much as I hate ties, I can't help but feel it's a small victory in such a historically hostile environment. Well done Yanks, not a bad week at all! Congratulations on turning 100, and here's to many more successful years! 'Merica!
Next WCQ: @ Jamaica, June 7
Both teams struggled a bit playing in the snow. After all, it's not every day you play a game during a blizzard. I remember playing one game in the snow and one during icy conditions. Both games were ugly and difficult to get anything going, but they are memories I will never forget. I'm sure the USMNT players feel the same. In the end, the US won the match 1-0 off of a pretty cheap goal from the trusty Texan Clint Dempsey.
The highlight of the game for me was when play stopped to consider calling the game, as well as remove snow from the lines once again. Players from both teams urged the referees to continue play after the snow was removed. The ref reluctantly gave the players what they desired. Scenes like that are a pretty cool reminder that these professional athletes love what they do, and want to have fun doing it.
I expected to hear some fallout from the game being played, especially since it ended in a loss for Costa Rica. I won't lie, I don't think the game should have been played because of the importance of these World Cup qualifying matches in the CONCACAF Hexagonal. But at the same time, the good guys won in the end. Costa Rica looked like sore losers after their attempted protest. FIFA got it right (for once) by rejecting the formal protest.
US @ Mexico
The hype surrounding this game for the US was a little more than usual, especially because the last trip to Azteca in Mexico City resulted in a win for us. Wins, even ties are very difficult to come by in that stadium. Mexico has made it a near impenetrable fortress, no matter the quality of the opposition.
For such a big game, I thought it was appropriate to watch with a few friends at a local bar/popular pizza joint in Columbia. It was refreshing to walk in and see the bar section with a small crowd of US supporters, even for it being 9:30 on a Tuesday night. All of us were secretly hoping we wouldn't be seeing a typical match in Mexico. Maybe that's why bars are great places to watch sporting events??
As far as the game goes, I was pretty pleased that we came away with the draw. I'm sure other US soccer fans would completely agree with that also. I feel like Jurgen Klinsmann has done a fantastic job (for the most part) of preparing the US for games against quality opponents and tough environments. Let's not kid ourselves, the US isn't anywhere near being able to consistently beat top teams. But the tactics/methods Klinsmann is trying to implement seem to be paying off. It will take time to get to "winning ways" but Jurgen is showing us how to get results in important games. Getting our first point ever in a World Cup qualifier in Mexico is a baby step, but it's a big baby step.
Klinsmann went with a more defensive strategy for this game, and rightfully so considering Mexico's record in Azteca. Five midfielders and four in the back congested America's side of the field against the talented strikers of Mexico. Brad Guzan came up big with some pretty solid saves, and looked good replacing the injured Tim Howard. I personally feel the combination of Besler and Gonzalez in the middle of our defense immensely helped in preserving the tie. Those are two guys that have the potential to be a mainstay on the back line.
Like I said before, I think we did what was necessary to get that result in Mexico City. As much as I hate ties, I can't help but feel it's a small victory in such a historically hostile environment. Well done Yanks, not a bad week at all! Congratulations on turning 100, and here's to many more successful years! 'Merica!
Next WCQ: @ Jamaica, June 7
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