Garrick
Awesome, lid.
USA, USA, USA!!!
Roughly two months after the protests in Kiev started, the United States Soccer Federation a particularly daring move. Both high risk, and high reward. A pre-World Cup tune-up against, arguably, the best national team to not make it to Brazil: The Yellow-Blues of Ukraine. Booking a friendly against a nation enveloped in political turmoil is no doubt a risky move, but somehow, some way, through deposed presidents, pending war with one of the world’s most powerful militaries, a change of venue, an attempted car bombing on referees at that new change of venue, and finally erroneous reports yesterday that the match was called off, we’re on ladies and gentlemen. Ukraine vs United States international friendly, live from Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca, Cyprus.
In much the same way that the South Korean victory was a final audition for North American-based USMNT’ers, this match is one final chance for European-based Yanks to make their case for a plane ticket to Brazil. It’s been a shrinking contingent of expats on the continent in recent history, but outside of Dempsey who has just finished up his mostly-fruitless spell with Fulham, Edgar Castillo of Club Tijuana is the only CONCACAF-based player brought in to fill out the squad that’s filled with a good mix of longtime USMNT staples and new Klinsmann recruits that are destined to make an impact on the national team going forward.
For the Ukrainians, this is the first international friendly since that heartbreaking November day in Paris where their World Cup dreams were denied. In addition being the 18th ranked team in the world by FIFA, the formidable Yellow-Blue also play a very similar style of football to Group G’s Portugal. That is to say, quick and ruthless attack from the flanks. Twenty four year old Yevhen Konoplyanka, who some may remember as a January transfer target of the RS, has been labeled as the “Ukrainian Messi” will attack from one side, and Dynamo Kiev’s Andriy Yarmolenko will assault from the other. There’s plenty of talent on this roster composed completely of players from some of the top clubs in Eastern Europe (minus one Andriy Pylyasvskyi, who plys his trade in Israel). We can make all of the Chernobyl and Russia-lite jokes we want. The truth is that this is a squad that could easily wipe the floor with our European contingent, and after suffering crushing defeats at the Euro 2012 they hosted and to get denied a World Cup spot in the fashion they did, you can bet this squad will be motivated to give their fellow countrymen something to cheer about. A romping of the capitalist pigs just might do it.
It’ll be a big test for the Yanks, playing a top-quality side with one arm tied behind our back over in North America and Michael Bradley, Tim Ream, and Mix Diskerud all out of the match. Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore will have to rediscover their scoring ways. Our very own Tim Howard and Stoke’s Geoff Cameron (who has recently worked his way into a regular starting role, well in) will have to carry over their good club form over to country. Bedoya, Jermaine Jones, Fabian Johnson, and Kljestan will have a big hole to fill in midfield with the absences of Mix and Bradley. With the absence of The General, we’re more likely to see a 4-4-2 instead of a 4-2-3-1, but this is a team that is increasingly flexible in formation during the Klinsmann-era.
One popular point of view is that this World Cup is going to be full of off-the-field, logistical challenges that will test the mental strength of the athletes. That Brazil will test squads in ways they were not prepared to be tested. Luckily for us, there’s our recent history of dispatching the Reggae Boyz at The Office, grinding down Costa Rica on a snow-covered Denver pitch, and stopping Mexico dead in their tracks at Azteca, only to give them a second chance at life on two stoppage time goals in Panama. A tumultuous, in-flux matchup against one of the best national teams out there? Must be a day ending in Y.
Adversity? We know of it. We’re the kings of CONCACAF, FFS.
Ante up, America. Less than 100 days until we take the Group of Death by the throat.
Roughly two months after the protests in Kiev started, the United States Soccer Federation a particularly daring move. Both high risk, and high reward. A pre-World Cup tune-up against, arguably, the best national team to not make it to Brazil: The Yellow-Blues of Ukraine. Booking a friendly against a nation enveloped in political turmoil is no doubt a risky move, but somehow, some way, through deposed presidents, pending war with one of the world’s most powerful militaries, a change of venue, an attempted car bombing on referees at that new change of venue, and finally erroneous reports yesterday that the match was called off, we’re on ladies and gentlemen. Ukraine vs United States international friendly, live from Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca, Cyprus.
In much the same way that the South Korean victory was a final audition for North American-based USMNT’ers, this match is one final chance for European-based Yanks to make their case for a plane ticket to Brazil. It’s been a shrinking contingent of expats on the continent in recent history, but outside of Dempsey who has just finished up his mostly-fruitless spell with Fulham, Edgar Castillo of Club Tijuana is the only CONCACAF-based player brought in to fill out the squad that’s filled with a good mix of longtime USMNT staples and new Klinsmann recruits that are destined to make an impact on the national team going forward.
For the Ukrainians, this is the first international friendly since that heartbreaking November day in Paris where their World Cup dreams were denied. In addition being the 18th ranked team in the world by FIFA, the formidable Yellow-Blue also play a very similar style of football to Group G’s Portugal. That is to say, quick and ruthless attack from the flanks. Twenty four year old Yevhen Konoplyanka, who some may remember as a January transfer target of the RS, has been labeled as the “Ukrainian Messi” will attack from one side, and Dynamo Kiev’s Andriy Yarmolenko will assault from the other. There’s plenty of talent on this roster composed completely of players from some of the top clubs in Eastern Europe (minus one Andriy Pylyasvskyi, who plys his trade in Israel). We can make all of the Chernobyl and Russia-lite jokes we want. The truth is that this is a squad that could easily wipe the floor with our European contingent, and after suffering crushing defeats at the Euro 2012 they hosted and to get denied a World Cup spot in the fashion they did, you can bet this squad will be motivated to give their fellow countrymen something to cheer about. A romping of the capitalist pigs just might do it.
It’ll be a big test for the Yanks, playing a top-quality side with one arm tied behind our back over in North America and Michael Bradley, Tim Ream, and Mix Diskerud all out of the match. Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore will have to rediscover their scoring ways. Our very own Tim Howard and Stoke’s Geoff Cameron (who has recently worked his way into a regular starting role, well in) will have to carry over their good club form over to country. Bedoya, Jermaine Jones, Fabian Johnson, and Kljestan will have a big hole to fill in midfield with the absences of Mix and Bradley. With the absence of The General, we’re more likely to see a 4-4-2 instead of a 4-2-3-1, but this is a team that is increasingly flexible in formation during the Klinsmann-era.
One popular point of view is that this World Cup is going to be full of off-the-field, logistical challenges that will test the mental strength of the athletes. That Brazil will test squads in ways they were not prepared to be tested. Luckily for us, there’s our recent history of dispatching the Reggae Boyz at The Office, grinding down Costa Rica on a snow-covered Denver pitch, and stopping Mexico dead in their tracks at Azteca, only to give them a second chance at life on two stoppage time goals in Panama. A tumultuous, in-flux matchup against one of the best national teams out there? Must be a day ending in Y.
Adversity? We know of it. We’re the kings of CONCACAF, FFS.
Ante up, America. Less than 100 days until we take the Group of Death by the throat.
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