How bad were we defensively in the World Cup?

[rugbdawg]

Of our 4 opponents, all had their highest scoring output in the World Cup against the USA.

Ghana-2 goals, terrible considering they hadn't scored a non-penalty goal in the entire World Cup.
Algeria-0 goals, missed their best chance to score their only goal in the World Cup early.
Slovenia-2 goals, pitiful.
England-1 goal, they should have had 3 in the first half thanks to Ricardo Clark.

Digging deeper, out of 400 minutes plus in the World Cup, we only led for a minute and a half. It really was a bad performance all around. Damn.

 

[fishwater99]

We had to rely on our midfielders to score, what did we get out of our forwards? The USA has a LONG way to go to catch up with the ELITE teams of the world.
I just hope we can get there in my lifetime.

 

[Sutterkane]

It doesn't help when you're trying to come back from being down all the time. Our strikers are very young. Jozy was the youngest starting striker in the whole tournament. Not to mention we were without Davies. 2 of our midfielders are scorers anyway.

 

[af102]

Atltidore is a much better player when he pairs with Charlie. Findley just didn't have the quality to help Jozy out. You could see some flashes of brillance from Jozy, but you have to remember, he is still 20 years old. We still haven't found a replacement for Brian McBride. He just had it when he played for the USMNT.

Also, defensively, part of our problem was our best central defender was not game fit. A healthy Gooch does wonders for this team.

You have to remember we lost 2 WC starters within 2 days in september. When your talent pool isn't very deep, that makes a huge difference

 

[rugbdawg]

should learn not to play them. That's my opinion anyway. I know if Gomez had the shot that Findley did against Ghana he would have scored.

 

[jcdawgman18]

I know if Gomez had the shot that Findley did against Ghana he would have scored.

Even when Gomez subbed in against Ghana late, when he was fresh and they weren't, he couldn't separate at all.

 

[patdog]

Would have definitely been better if we'd had Charlie Davies. Or even if Bradley hadn't put Robbie Findley's sorry *** out there for so long. I don't think we scored but 1 goal while he was on the field, and he was on the field for close to 1/2 the time we played in this World Cup.

Defense would have been better too if Gooch had been healthy. He was our best central defender by far, and that also forced Bocanegra to move from outside (his best position) to the middle, so that injury hurt us at 2 positions back there.

 

[rugbdawg]

If I remember correctly, Findley wasn't running full speed before or after he received the pass. He had time and control...he should have finished.

 

[jcdawgman18]

But I think it's hard to just say "switch these two and the result changes" because it's hard to predict if the scenario plays out exactly the same.

 

[JohnDawg]

he touched it waaaay too far outside and had to swing his leg all the way around and the keeper knew he was going far post then and made a good save. Like you said, he should have made a good 1st touch and should have finished.

 

[Sutterkane]

we're like the best team in the WAC(CONCACAF or whatever), but that's not saying **** and nobody cares about our region.

Brazil is like Texas and South America is the Big 12, as they still have some damn good teams.

Europe is the SEC with loads of powerhouses.

 

[af102]

CONCACAF is more like the Mnt West- Top heavy with a couple of decent teams (USA/Mexico) that can beat a good team every once in a while, but can't consistently be up there. There are some mediocre teams (Costa Rica/Honduras/El Salvador) that may qualify every once in a while, and the rest are bad

Africa = Big 10
Pretty good teams, but choke on the big stage

Oceania=WAC
No good teams after their Australia left to go to Asia. WAC is bad now that Boise is gone

South America = Big 12/Pac 10
Consistently put out great teams and usually oppose the SEC champion. Occasionally a smaller team will have a really good year and shock the big boys, but Brazil and Argentina are consistently the best

Europe=SEC
Full of good teams with the occasional Vandy thrown in there. Best European team almost always in the WC final

Asia=ACC
Has some quality teams that show well, but in the end, they just don't have what it takes to run with the SEC and Big 12

 

[JCinGeorgia]

South America and Europe. Europe is overated and South America dominates. Only 1 South American team has been knocked out so far and that was by another South American team. South America is much deeper than Europe as well. Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay are all multiple cup winners. Any time Brazil doesn't win the World Cup it is an upset. South America = SEC</p>