Close but no cigar.
The US gave it everything against a talented Brazil side and almost walked away with the glory, but a devastating second half saw Brazil to a 3-2 win. Our boy Clint had a decent game, scoring again to make it three for the tournament and securing him third place in the individual player awards. He was in tears as he picked up his bronze ball. Still, he can be proud of his and his teammates’ performances. Just shows what an amazing, unpredictable game football is, eh?
Here’s friend of CCN Bruce DuNord and the crew watching the game.
U.S. midfielder and Golden Ball Winner Clint Dempsey
On the match:
“Everything doesn’t always work out how you want it to, but no matter what I’m proud of what these guys accomplished and it was great to be a part of it.”On how they shut down Brazil in the first half:
“We picked our moments of when to get forward, did a good job of hitting them on the counter with Landon’s goal. Second half we still had some good chances, but they were the better team.”On the goal he scored in the tenth minute:
“Spector hit a good ball in, I just wanted to get it towards goal and try to hit it to the far post, and lucky enough it trickled in.”On the performance of the team:
“I’m proud of this team, proud of the effort everyone put in. Nobody can take away what we accomplished. I thought we played well today and gave them a tough fight, would have been nice if we could have kept the lead but they were the better team and had more chances, and eventually you knew a goal would come.”
and:
“You know we were out of it in the Egypt game and showed a lot of character to come back.
“We got a result against them and a result against Spain and in the first half here we thought we’d get a result in the final.
“But that’s what people come to see and watch, it was exciting.”
Too right.
That a SILVER medal. Go yanks!
Comment by dude — June 29, 2009 @ 10:01 pm |
Well done Deuce, be proud.
Comment by Beardyoldgit — June 29, 2009 @ 11:22 pm |
most crushed i’ve ever been watching a usa match… just, honestly, ahead of germany in ‘02 and ghana in ‘06… just because it was a game i didn’t expect us to win and then, getting up 2-0… you start to get that belief against the odds
and… boom. devastating. totally demoralizing.
Comment by El Steve — June 30, 2009 @ 1:16 am |
That goal reminded me of the goal he scored to open his account for the season at Portsmouth. Found space in the box, and then placed a deceptively difficult shot exactly where the keeper had no chance to reach it. Had to reach back with his right leg on both occasions.
Deuce will be even better for Fulham next season. Get him some competition at the left wing spot, and watch him raise his game to unfathomable heights.
Comment by Ilya — June 30, 2009 @ 3:40 am |
Snap, I thought the same! Exactly the same body shape.
Comment by JamieR — June 30, 2009 @ 7:43 am |
It was not only the timing of Brazil’s first that hammered us so, but also the way it was taken. Our back four must have blocked a half-dozen shots right off the toes of Brazilian forwards in the first half. DeMerit and Onyewu just closed them down within seconds. So when Luis Fabiano pivoted and shot IMMEDIATELY after receiving the ball, he was finally able to shoot without putting on his American overcoat.
To have positioned themselves so well and still not to have been able to do anything about the shot was devastating to the US defenders. Both Donovan and Dempsey forced good saves out of Cesar shortly thereafter, but everyone now knew that Brazil was, once again, Brazil.
You have to admit that in the 2nd half of that game Brazil played breathtaking football. Dunga has put steel in their backbones and aggression in their hearts while not giving up any of their flair. I can’t see how they can be considered any less than the best in the world.
Comment by HatterDon — June 30, 2009 @ 2:23 pm |
Yeah. I thought Brazil had looked depressingly pedestrian up until that 2nd half performance but they suddenly pulled it ought of the bag when they really had to.
Had Fabiano’s effort not gone in I reckon the US really could have taken it further, they certainly had a bloody good go. You American fans have every right to be very proud of what they achieved.
Comment by Chopper — June 30, 2009 @ 4:20 pm |
It was a great game, with plenty to cheer about!
I almost lost my mind when we scored both goals.
We suffered from a lack of quality subs.
But, WHAT A BOOST TO US SOCCER!
We had a decent contingent of Brits cheering for the USA!
Comment by Derek — June 30, 2009 @ 7:58 pm |