Our View From the Sidelines
Our relationship with most buyers goes far beyond product. People pick our brains about coaching soccer, team management, soccer products we don't sell and everything in-between. This is the view from the sidelines after standing and watching for oh, so long. |
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| Mixed Emotions for US Soccer at the Olympic Games |
| World Soccer |
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| 10th August 2008 03:29:48 PM |
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What was supposed to be 3 wins in the US Women’s soccer group and an extremely tough battle in the US men’s soccer group has really had us thinking, “Yes, anything can happen at the Olympic Games.â€
Women’s SoccerThe US Women’s soccer team was shocked in their first game against Norway where we saw just how far the rest of the world has come. The gap has closed on our past dominance in International play. Granted, the US team was without goal scoring machine Abby Wambach, but when you are the current #1 team in the world, you have to find ways to adjust. Finding ways to pull out tough wins when the games truly do matter is a great test of a team. If things shape up accordingly, the US Women’s team should win their next game and finish second in their group. This would have them face a team they are all too familiar with in the up and coming Brazil team. Brazil walked all over them in the last Women’s World Cup and won 4-0. Hopefully, without a goalie controversy, the US team can focus on the game at hand to earn a berth in the Semi-Finals.
Men’s SoccerAccording to all press leading up to the Olympics, the US Men’s soccer team would be hopeful in winning one game and tying Nigeria to possibly earn second place in their group. Well, if it weren’t for a foul called in extra time with less than thirty seconds remaining, the team was looking at winning their group with a 2 to 1 win the Netherlands. Having won the last two U-21 World Cups, this would have been an impressive win.
The Men’s team has been average in the first half of both matches. Suddenly, in the second half, Jozy Alitidore enters the game and they transform into a giant killer capable of beating any team in the tournament. With Freddy Adu and Michael Bradley out for the Nigeria game, Jozy is almost guaranteed a starting position. This will be a welcomed addition to the starting 11 that will surely be missing the creativity of Adu.
The match against Nigeria is an all important game and should be a fun one to watch. With Altidore playing more in this game, the offense should be able to create chances to give the US a win or at worst a tie. No one really expected to see the Men’s team in position to possibly win the group. But, if the 1980 Men’s hockey team showed us anything, it is that we can all believe in miracles.
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