Confederations Cup: U.S. Starters Against Italy
Chivas USA defender Jonny Bornstein retains his place in the U.S. defense against Egypt on ESPN2.
I'll be paying more attention to Italy-Brazil over on ESPN.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
Hmm. Are you sure you made the right decision here?
Nick, I hope you recorded it. It was fun to watch -- the USA controlled the midfield for the first time in many games.
They showed some of what you Brits call "bottle" the likes of which we haven't seen since 2002. A sharp contrast to the frantic stuff we occasionally saw against Italy and Brazil.
Should have been 4-0 or 5-0. Altidore got robbed by a handball, and Donovan had uncharacteristic problems finishing, tho he more than compensated with terrific commitment for the full 90. Demerit and Onyewu were strong in the back as well, and Guzan had a chance to work out some kinks.
Of course the US has no chance against Spain Wednesday, but they had no chance in the opening round against Portugal in 2002, or against Germany in the quarters the same year. But for a handball and a missed call, they might have been thru to the semis . . .
I'm looking forward to watching Wednesday, but have no expectations at all. I'm just happy they get another crack at world-class competition before 2010.
Nick replies: I actually started watching after Brazil went 3-0 up against Italy; it mean the U.S. had a chance, however improbable. Bob Bradley's WTF look at the game's end summed it up, I think. I, too, look forward to the Spain game. Oh, and the U.S. should have had a PK on that handball, but at least the ref admitted he just didn't see it.