By Ridge Mahoney in Hamburg Having failed miserably to test a team that fielded three Italian Serie A players, the USA sets out Saturday to face at least 11 of them in a must-win match.
Arguments regarding which domestic league is best normally revolve around Serie A, the English Premier League, and Spanish La Liga, with the German Bundesliga and a few others rated a notch below. The games in Serie A may be too tactical and stilted for some, but the Italian national teamÆs blend of classical elegance and rugged pragmatism usually bodes well for the major tournaments.
And bodes badly for foes, especially the USA, which went down cowering to the Czech Republic, 3-0. The Italian soccer federation and several of Serie AÆs most powerful clubs may be ensnarled in a corruption scandal, but the players ignored it rather well while beating Ghana, 2-0, on Monday. Coach Bruce Arena suggested jokingly, ôMaybe we need a scandal.ö
For the first time in decades, Italy has more goalscorers than it knows what to do with. ThatÆs a bit of a problem for Coach Marcello Lippi and a hideous nightmare for Arena as he tries to strike sparks to an attack that listlessly succumbed to the Czechs.
To beat Ghana, the Italians didnÆt even field stalwarts such as attacking midfielder Alessandro Del Piero, versatile defender Gianluca Zambrotta and linchpin Gennaro Gattuso. Arena points out that the Italians donÆt interchange positions and shift formations as do the Czechs — they prefer to dominate the one-v-one duels and exploit those situations.
There may be pockets of opportunity for the Americans to utilize their quickness, assuming the players summon up their courage and confidence. The Czechs, especially Pavel Nedved, showed how effective speed melded with touch and creative spark can be; Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Josh Wolff and Eddie Johnson have pace; will they display precision?
ôI don't have any excuses,ö said Donovan after the Italy game. ôI am on the field and I play. Whether I'm a midfielder or forward, I've got to play better.ö Critics of ArenaÆs decision to put Donovan up front have forgotten Donovan sliced up a few teams playing up front in 2002.
ArenaÆs options include moving Donovan to midfield, either in the middle or on the right as a replacement for Beasley. The more static Italian system would be an easier task for Clint Dempsey, whoÆd likely have been utterly overwhelmed by the Czech whirlwind attacks and collective defensive pressure. Still, tackling Italy in a World Cup is a lot to ask of Dempsey as a starter. Arena could also give Wolff a run in the right midfield spot.
The most likely addition is Eddie Johnson up front, although he could play as a right wing with Bobby Convey on the left and Brian McBride in the middle and Beasley on the bench. Donovan could then play as an attacking mid backed by central midfielders Claudio Reyna and Pablo Mastroeni or John OÆBrien.
ArenaÆs stinging criticisms of his players for their Czech performance were sprinkled with admissions of blame. One aspect of the performance left undiscussed is several players, buffeted by relatively intense media scrutiny and significant expectations, and encountering a fierce, talented opponent, simply froze, not for the entire 90 minutes, but at critical moments. And against a ruthlessly opportunistic foe, defeat is borne of such failures.
What the Americans need against Italy, as much as they need at least a point, is restoration of pride, spirit and braggadocio, individually and collectively. Otherwise, vastly more has been lost at this World Cup than two matches.