Spain 0 USA 2
Fulham’s Clint Dempsey made the first goal for Jozy Altidore in 27 and scored the second in 74 to end Spain’s remarkable 35-game unbeaten run.
We all like a shock result now and again, don’t we?
The champions of Euro 2008 have won their last 15 games but were muscled out of a place in Sunday’s Confederatioins Cup final.
The USA were well-organised and played with huge determination to defend their 1-0 lead till half time, restricting Torres and Villa to a few scraps, a few glimpses of goal. It was one-way traffic after half-time as well.
Then the erratic Sergio Ramos took a sloppy touch to stop a Landon Donovan cross, hand Dempsey a gift goal at the far post. Ramos is a cavalier player and a powerful athlete but he lacks the good habits needed to be a top right back. If anything, his defending on the second goal was even more inept than that of Capdevila on the first .
In the 25+ minutes that followed, Everton’s Tim Howard punched away a thunderous shot by Xabi Alonso. He made several good saves.
Midfielder Michael Bradley, the manager’s son, was unlucky to be sent off after a 50-50 with Xavi where he showed too many studs to the referee. We would not want to see a player sent off for that challenge in the World Cup Finals.
Overall, the USA played forcefully and intelligently and made the most of what they had. Centrebacks Jay DeMerit (Watford) and Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege) were outstanding. It’s a team game and the American teamwork was superb.
Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque always looks mournful anyway and he will reflect on those two moments of dopey defending by Capdevila and Ramos.
On the first goal, Capdevila tried to pinch the ball in front for the hulking Altidore, who then spun and buried a decent shot.
Playing at their best, Spain should still have been able to win the game from there. But without the sparkle of Iniesta, and the strategic solidity of Senna, they lacked balance and could not quite find the pass or cross that was needed.
They looked jaded, apart from Xabi Alonso, who was magnificent, although he did have a lot of space to play in.
This semi-final was 28 days on from Barcelona’s peak in Rome, when they thrashed Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League Final, but here was Xavi, still slaving to get Spain back into the game. Fabregas also worked his socks off throughout, left winger Mata looked tasty when he came on for Riera, but the Americans defended like tigers and won 2-0.
The other semi-final is Brazil v South Africa at 7.30pm on BBC3 on tonight.
Six foot four stopper Juan is injured and out of the tournament.
It’s been said that Melo will sign for Arsenal after Sunday’s final. But it’s also said that, like Benzema, he doesn’t want to move in a World Cup season in case he loses his place in the national team
The manner of Italy’s 3-0 defeat by Brazil suggested it’s time Lippi broke up his elderly team of World Cup winners.
Skipper Fabio Cannavaro, once a master of the interception and the well-timed tackle, played his best football when he was at Parma between 1995 and 2002. At Inter and Juventus, he wasn’t so good, and he was well past his best when he captained Italy to victory in 2006. Released by Real Madrid, he’s now almost 36 and has returned to Juve, after jumping ship when they were relegated following match-fixing by the crooked Luciano Moggi.
Having won his 126th cap against Brazil, equalling Paulo Maldini’s record, Cannavaro should retire with dignity, at least from the national team. He is deluding himself.
Striker Luca Toni is average, always has been. They lack a Del Piero, a Baggio, a Totti, even a good poacher like Inzaghi. They really need some new blood to reinvigorate their team. Relying on thirtysomethings has become ridiculous. Pirlo just can’t run any more. Simple as that. Standing still, he’s the best player in Serie A but that won’t do in the World Cup.
It’s a strange country, Italy. Very inward -looking and backward-looking, and their football reflects that. I thought French people were the world champions of denial, but Italy shade France at that right now. If they’re not bold enough to recover some dynamism, Italy will embarrass themselves in South Africa next summer.
On past form, they will bring Del Piero back. He is 34.