This one stings.
It stings because it was within the US' grasp. It stings because, despite the running theme in pretty much all sports media leading up to the final --- the one which assumed that, even with the Yanks' improved play over the course of the tourney, Brazil was certain to come away with a victory --- it was there for the taking even before kickoff. This American squad had taken the pitch as a contender, instead of the sparring partner most major teams had come to know them as.
The rock-solid defending and creativity up top said to the Brazilians that the Americans had come to play; the 2-0 score at the half left no doubt.
Then came the second half. Brazil knew they had a fight on their hands, and wrested control of the game from their opponent.
There's already a glut of post-match analysis all over the 'net, so I won't spend much more time on it here. Just a few notes:
- Michael Bradley's absence in the midfield wasn't as keenly felt as anticipated. Even the 2nd-half Brazil onslaught was largely engineered from wing play.
- Subbing in Kljestan and Bornstein were questionable moves, yes, but the US had already lost their rhythm and defensive fire by the time they came on.
- Jonathan Spector seemed to be the only weak point of the US' tenacious 1st-half defense. I expected Brazil to exploit it, though it would be well into the 2nd half before they did. (Give Spector credit, though, for his beautiful cross to Dempsey for the game's first goal.)
The US' success in the tournament, and the resulting media attention, brought the hardcore soccer-hating sports journalists out if force. I'll save the next entry for some thoughts on these folks.
