USA-ITALY ANALYSIS

By Ridge Mahoney in Kaiserslautern

Tactical and personnel adjustments were made by the USA before and after kickoff of the Group E match against Italy played Saturday that ended 1-1, yet the primary changes were emotional, spiritual and psychological.

An American team that had been overwhelmed by the Czech Republic, 3-0, this time took the initiative. Midfield pressure and a coordinated back line trapped the Italians offside on numerous occasions, balls pried free by American tackles were retained, and several aggressive dribbles created chances or forced Italy to foul. Captain Claudio Reyna covered vast areas of the field to anchor the middle and had to alter his role several times in a fascinating match of fluctuating fortunes. Landon Donovan slashed through tackles, Clint Dempsey bewildered the Italians with his stopovers and shimmies, and Brian McBride courageously withstood yet another facial gash to knock balls into good spots and keep possession.

So dominant was Oguchi Onyewu on many occasions that his crunching tackles and soaring headers prompted calls of ôGoooch!ö from the thousands of Americans in the crowd. He did commit numerous minor fouls but escaped a caution; otherwise, heÆd be suspended for the Ghana game. Carlos Bocanegra replaced Eddie Lewis at left back and after a few early giveaways, including one that Italy turned into the counterattack that won the free kick from which it scored, he added some bite to the left flank.

Red cards to midfielder Pablo Mastroeni and defender Eddie Pope, both justified, prompted Coach Bruce Arena into drastic changes during the match. He brought in Jimmy Conrad for Bobby Convey as Pope's replacement; the removal of Mastroeni spurred Arena to move Donovan into midfield and pull off Dempsey for DaMarcus Beasley, whose dismal performance against the Czechs often braked the U.S. attack.

Beasley rekindled memories of better days by knifing past tacklers, and he unluckily lost a goal when his shot skipped right past an offside McBride. McBride actually moved his foot out of the way as the low shot sped past him and then beat Gianluigi Buffon, but despite not touching the ball his presence clearly distracted Buffon and thus influenced play. Correct call.

At times, Dempsey would float to the touchline upon receiving the ball and run at the nearest challenger, who often was left back Gianluca Zambrotta. On other occasions heÆd tuck inside, opening space for Steve Cherundolo to overlap and serve crosses.

This scheme of attacking aggressively on both flanks carved open space in the middle and produced sustained periods of exciting, open play. Italy breached the U.S back line several times but instead of punching through the middle, took shots from wide positions that either missed the frame or from distances that didnÆt trouble Kasey Keller.

KellerÆs saves were mostly routine, but he brilliantly pushed away a close-range flick from Alessandro Del Piero by contorting his body and flashing out his right arm at full stretch. The fingertip or two he got to the ball etched this acrobatic moment into the memory for decades to come.

There were numerous hotly contested refereeing decisions but objective analysis usually supported the officials.

MastroeniÆs flying, two-footed raking of Andrea Pirlo was also stupid, as Pirlo was well in his own half of the field and the Americans were playing 11 against 10 very late in the first half. Pope received a yellow card in the first half for pulling a jersey in midfield and the second came after a clumsy late tackle on Alberto Gilardino that was definitely a foul if a borderline caution. American players thought Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda didn't realize Pope had already been cautioned until he had already pulled out the yellow card yet the decision stood. Daniele De Rossi had started the Red March by slamming his right elbow into McBride just below the left eye.

American fans howled for a penalty when OnyewuÆs left-wing cross caromed off the underside of Alessandro NestaÆs right leg, bounced off the turf and then struck his arm. Though Nesta moved his arm as the ball struck it, he was twisting with his arm extended behind him and couldnÆt see either.

The Italians were denied an opportunity on a bogus offside call, but the players had relaxed seconds before Gennaro GattusoÆs deflected shot looped past Keller into the net. The offside trap usually worked perfectly and not only deprived the Italians of chances but also momentum.

Kaiserslautern, a city of approximately 107,000, is heavily populated by Americans. Servicemen and support personnel comprise nearly half of the local population and are stationed at several locations including Ramstein Air Force Base, where the players were lodged prior to the game. The stands were swathed with American fans, both local and long-range, and flags fluttered as they cheered and roared the nine men battling against 10. Their raucous support of a courageous performance received a deserved reward.