Happy Day: Valencia Midfielder Yunus Musah Chooses The USMNT Over England, Italy & Ghana

 

    You might not have been aware of it but this morning the USMNT scored one of their most important victories in a long time. No it didn't come on a field, in true 2021 form the message that 18-year-old midfielder Yunus Musah had picked them over the likes of England, Italy and Ghana was relayed over social media. Think about that, a prodigious talent that currently starts regularly in La Liga (Spain) for Valenica on his own free will picked the U.S. men's soccer team over two European powerhouses and the African country where his parents are originally from. 

    I liken this whole process to big-time recruits in high school basketball or football in America picking which juggernaut college program they'll presumably play for during the next few years before hopefully making millions of dollars as a pro. The key difference in Musah's case is that while his future is still unwritten, he has already proven at a young age that he can play in one of the top leagues in the world for a middle table club as a teenager. With all due respect to USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter, I'm pretty sure this decision had very little to do with him since who the hell is he in Musah's mind?

    Nope, while it's great that Berhalter gave Musah his first two USMNT caps in November vs. Wales and Panama, the player is betting on the future of the U.S. being brighter than those three other aforementioned countries. The chance to play with great young American players like midfielders Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund) and Tyler Adams (Red Bull Leipzig) was too much for Yunus to pass up and that's something which should give U.S. fans plenty of confidence moving forward. 

    It's one thing for sportswriters and media members to project what countries are going to be on top in the near future but who knows better than the guys who are actually on the field, you know playing in the games themselves? Musah has gotten a taste of U.S. training camps and a few friendlies and he obviously liked what he saw. Keep in mind, he went to Arsenal's academy and he captained England at various levels including the Under-18s in 2019 and he played on the Under-19s team in October of 2020. Musah is following in the footsteps of Barcelona defender Sergino Dest who wisely picked the USMNT over the Netherlands in 2019. 

    A very busy year is about to commence for the USMNT as Olympic qualifying starts later this week, they have a pair of friendlies next week against Jamaica and Northern Ireland then this summer they have the Nations League, the Gold Cup and the Olympics (assuming that they make it there this time). World Cup 2022 qualifying begins in September and that doomed tournament takes place in November and December of next year in Qatar. If it feels like you understandably need a refresher course on who plays for the USMNT these days, don't worry since you'll get plenty of chances to see them (obviously with different rosters depending on the time of the year and the various club schedules) in the coming months.

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USMNT Gets The Job Done: Advances To the Knockout Round for the 2nd World Cup in a Row

It was not a memorable match by any means since the U.S. men's national team basically held on for dear life the entire time, but when the final whistle blew at Arena Pernambuco in Recife this afternoon that hardly mattered. The Americans had booked a spot in the knockout round of the 2014 World Cup via a 1-0 loss to Germany coupled with a 2-1 Portugal win over Ghana.

The Americans finished in second place in Group G (behind Germany) with four points and a goal-differential of zero. Portugal and Ghana both go home while the U.S. meets Group H winner Belgium on Tuesday (4, ESPN) in the round of 16. Germany plays Algeria on Monday with the elimination games beginning on Saturday while we all get a welcome day off tomorrow following two straight weeks of incredible soccer.

This is the first time ever that the U.S. has made the knockout round in back-to-back World Cups so there is plenty to celebrate, especially when you consider the supposedly great teams that are already gone: Spain, Italy and England to name a few.

Germany controlled the ball the entire way but at least had nothing to show for it in a scoreless first half. The one real good chance for the U.S. came on a curling shot from the top of the box by Graham Zusi that just went over the crossbar. Unlike fraudulent Portugal which was ranked No. 4 for no good reason, Germany is legitimately recognized as the No. 2 team in the world.

At some point, the talent of a team like that will eventually take over. Tim Howard had just made a diving stop when the rebound went out to Thomas Mueller. His one-timed rocket from distance went into the corner of the net. It was a breathtaking strike, his fourth of the tournament which ties him for the lead with Brazil's Neymar and Argentina's Lionel Messi.

From there, it didn't matter that much if Germany scored again. It was more about what happened in the other match (going on at the same time) which makes it even tougher to take. Ghana was the bigger threat to the U.S. since Portugal buried themselves with the opening 4-0 loss to Germany. Cristiano Ronaldo's late goal for Portugal basically sealed the U.S.' fate so I guess we have to take all the nasty stuff we said about him.

After defending the whole game against a superior opponent, in the pouring rain, credit to the U.S. for conjuring up a couple near goals in the dying minutes. Their best passing sequence of the group stage almost resulted in a beautiful goal by Alejandro Bedoya but it was stopped by the sliding German defense. Clint Dempsey had a header from feet away that somehow went over the net. Oh well, bring on Belgium.

I don't fear Belgium nearly as much as I did Germany. They are one of the top teams in the world these days but they are new to these lofty heights so as far as the national team goes, they really don't have much big game experience. We'll see if that plays a role on Tuesday but I feel like if the United States plays up to their capabilities, they could surprise Belgium since make no mistake, the U.S. will be the underdog.

The winner of U.S.-Belgium meets the winner of Argentina-Switzerland (12, ESPN) which precedes it on Tuesday. That quarterfinal match is on July 5. The U.S. lost in the round of 16 to Ghana in 2010 and they've only reached the quarterfinals once in the modern era (2002). Therefore the next few days' worth of hype is well deserved and it would really be something for the sport in this country if they can get past the Belgians to possibly have a shot at Messi (the best player in the world) and Argentina-another top team.

UPDATE 6/27: Jermaine Jones broke his nose yesterday in a collision with teammate Alejandro Bedoya but the good news is that it sounds like he'll still be able to play vs. Belgium. He is carrying a yellow card along with Kyle Beckerman and Omar Gonzalez into the Belgium match. Those only clear when you reach the semifinals.

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U.S. Finally Solves Its Ghana Issue at the World Cup

It only took three tries but the U.S. men's national team found a way to beat Ghana at a World Cup. What better way to open up their 2014 experience in Brazil than with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Ghana at Estadio Das Dunas in Natal? Ever since the fateful draw in December, we knew that if the U.S. was going to have any chance to advance from Group G, they had to beat Ghana (the same team that had eliminated them in the past 2 World Cups with 2-1 defeats). 21-year-old German-born defender John Brooks was the unlikeliest of heroes for Jurgen Klinsmann as he scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute-a header from Graham Zusi's on-the-money corner kick. It was the first goal scored by an American substitute in World Cup history, how's that possible?

The fact is that 85% of teams who win their opening match advance to the knockout stage while ESPN's trusted Soccer Power Index gives them a 63% chance after the huge three points. There are many aspects that made this such a sweet victory: Ghana's Andre Ayew had tied it at one in the 82nd minute so this looked like a draw or maybe even loss for the U.S. since they had basically defended the entire match after Clint Dempsey scored the fastest goal in U.S. history (32 seconds in!) and became the first American to score at three World Cups. There were an absurd amount of injuries for the Americans: Jozy Altidore went down with what looked like a serious hamstring injury in the 23rd minute, Dempsey's nose was broken with a high kick to the face and Besler was switched at halftime before he got seriously hurt.

Ghana owned a 59%-41% advantage in possession although truthfully it felt way higher. That's not normally a sound strategy to win at major tournaments but the U.S. made it work since Ghana didn't put together too many great chances, usually bungling passes or losing it in the attacking third. They took 21 shots but only eight landed on goal and Tim Howard was under considerable pressure but he didn't have to be Superman. Ghana got increasingly frustrated as midfielder Mohammed Rabiu picked up a yellow card in the 30th minute and midfielder Sulley Muntari was booked in the 92nd minute. An added bonus is that the U.S. didn't receive any cards, congrats Jermaine Jones!

Altidore will be evaluated more tomorrow and we have to hope that it wasn't as serious as it looked. Aron Johannsson came on for Altidore and despite playing 72 minutes, I can't remember him making a single positive play for the U.S. That's not to say he was terrible, he just didn't do anything to stand out in his first career World Cup appearance. Keep in mind that the striker from Iceland is only 23.

The U.S. is off until Sunday (6, ESPN) when they meet Portugal who got crushed 4-0 vs. Germany earlier this afternoon. That will certainly be a tough match but it doesn't look quite as imposing as we probably expected for a couple reasons: 1) Portuguese defender Pepe received a red card so he's out; 2) forward Hugo Almeida and defender Fabio Coentrao were both subbed out with injuries. Their status is something to monitor in the coming days. Portugal will be desperate and seeking to score many goals (to dig out of their brutal -4 goal differential) while the U.S. would be happy with a tie but a win would essentially put them through. Ghana plays Germany on Saturday (3, ESPN), good luck with that!

Who else already has a case of World Cup fever?



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What a Nightmare: U.S. Men will face Germany, Portugal & Ghana in Group G

So who's looking forward to the 2018 World Cup in Russia? I can't remember being more depressed about a sporting event that is still seven months away than this afternoon when the 2014 World Cup draw was unveiled in Brazil. The three teams in your group are absolutely vital to the non-superpower teams so that's why the fact that the U.S. men drew Germany, Portugal and Ghana was a stroke of unbelievably bad luck.

I could care less about the method that shady FIFA came to this conclusion, I feel bad for U.S. fans that have already dropped thousands of dollars to book their trips to crime-infested Brazil. Haha stay safe guys! The U.S. meets Ghana (a team that in the 2006 group stage eliminated them and knocked them out in the 2010 round of 16) in a must-win to open play on June 16 in Natal.

There is no mystery to how the Americans will advance. They have to beat Ghana which has clearly proven to be a tough task then they somehow need to draw with either Portugal on June 22 in Manaus (a rain-forest city) or June 26 vs. Germany in Recife. Seeing Cristiano Ronaldo face the U.S.' clownshow backline should be good for some laughs. I won't say that Portugal is a tournament-favorite because as someone with Portuguese heritage, I can tell you that they always choke. For that reason, the U.S has a better chance to tie them. Germany is always a heavyweight so in this setting, I give Jurgen Klinsmann's team zero chance to do anything positive against his countrymen.

And this has been your 2014 World Cup update. I will still watch every game that I can since I maintain this is the best sporting event in the world and it only comes once every four summers. However, I have already come to the conclusion that it'll be a short stay for the U.S. Nevermind if they will get any points in Brazil, will they score any goals is a more relevant but super negative thought stuck in my mind.

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You won't see a more brutal loss than that

After watching Ghana lose 4-2 this afternoon in penalty kicks to Uruguay, you have to admit that even the most jingoistic American fan has to feel at least a little bit sorry for Ghana.

Not only do the Black Stars fall just short of being the first African nation ever to make the World Cup semifinals but they did it in such a fashion that I'm confident you'll never see again: they missed a penalty kick in the last minute of extra time then lost in PKs. If you love sports (let alone soccer), you had to be glued to the TV this afternoon.

Asamoah Gyan certainly deserved a better fate; he scored the game-winner against the U.S. last Saturday in the round of 16 and he'd made two penalty kicks earlier in the tournament and he also made one in the PK round but nobody will remember any of those. It's all about the one that he shanked off the crossbar. Is that fair? Nope but that's how the history will be written.

Ghana

Best moment: Gyan's extra time blast that sent the Americans home. It was a terrible defensive breakdown by Bob Bradley's boys but also an outstanding individual effort by Ghana's best player.

Worst moment: Gyan had all of Africa on his side as he tried to send Ghana to the 2010 World Cup semifinals with the PK in the 120+ minute but he choked in the big spot.

Best result: Beating the U.S. 2-1 in extra time. I think most U.S. fans (myself included) overlooked Ghana and thought that without Michael Essien we could find a way to beat them. Not so much.

Worst result: Uruguay is a solid team and they're on a great run so there's no shame in losing to them but the way it went down is something that will stick with the Black Stars for life.

Final tally: 2 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw. 5 goals scored, 4 goals conceded.

Best player: Gyan had a hell of a tournament and I won't let this one unfortunate mistake overshadow his fine play throughout group play and vs. the U.S. Remember, Ghana wouldn't have been in the Uruguay match without him.

Worst player: This is a cop out but I'm not going to give out this distinction since Ghana overachieved and there's nobody from the goalkeeper Richard Kingson, the defense, midfielders (Muntari, Prince-Boateng) and strikers (Gyan) that deserve this. Nobody expected them to get this far, especially after Essien was ruled out of the tournament.

Loco clinches PK win for Uruguay

Penalty kicks:

Uruguay
1) Forlan- lower right (1-0 Uruguay)
2) Victorino- upper left (2-1 Uruguay)
3) Scotti- down middle (3-2 Uruguay)
4) Pereira- upper left, miss (3-2 Uruguay)
5) Abreu- chip left, clinches it (4-2 Uruguay)


Ghana
1) Gyan- upper right (1-1)
2) Appiah- side left (2-2)
3) Mensah- down middle, saved (3-2 Uruguay)
4) Adiyiah- lower right, saved (3-2 Uruguay)

Uruguay is in the semifinals for the first time since 1970. Absolutely heartbreaking result for Ghana and clutch victory for Uruguay.

Final stats:

Uruguay Ghana
15(7) Shots (on Goal) 26(4)
23 Fouls 23
12 Corner Kicks 8
6 Offsides 1
43% Time of Possession 57%
3 Yellow Cards 3
1 Red Cards 0
3 Saves 6

Misses are twice in common in extra time vs. regular time in the last two World Cups. Ghana is the youngest team in the 2010 World Cup and that immaturity reared its head at the worst possible time as they couldn't get over Gyan's miss.

Suarez doesn't have to kill himself quite yet

That was the craziest sequence of the 2010 World Cup.

With the red card, Suarez was walking down the tunnel crying but Gyan stepped up to the line and smashed the PK off the crossbar. Uruguay survived and now we're headed to penalty kicks. Unreal swing of emotions there.

Suarez would miss the next match but he'd take that right now vs. what looked about to happen a few minutes ago.

Holy shit, Suarez red carded for handball on line

Off the Ghana free kick, they had two shots cleared off line but the second was with a clear handball by Suarez. He hit it out with his hands like he was playing volleyball.

Ghana free kick in the last seconds

1-1 in the 121st minute.

Ghana is running the show now

Ghana is getting a bunch of chances: Kevin Prince-Boateng headed it wide (somehow) from a few feet away.

Uruguay is the ones just trying to survive and get to PKs.

1-1 in the 119th minute.

15 minutes from PKs

It's 1-1 heading into the last 15 minutes. I'd like to see both teams go for goals, since PKs are more of a crapshoot but realistically they'll probably sit back and waste the remaining time.

1 minute of added time in the first extra session

Still 1-1, I want a goal not PKs.

Get up Ghana

Sarpei just limped off with an injury too but he was to wait to come back on. What a joke, they pulled the same tactics (which every team does) against the U.S.

1-1 in the 103rd minute.

Gyan shaken up

Gyan left the field with an apparent ankle injury but you have to believe he'll get back in there since he's scored both of Ghana's PK goals in the 2010 World Cup.

1-1 in the 101st minute. This one has slowed down to a crawl.

Three minutes of added time

The three minutes of added time passed and it's official: we're going to extra time to determine who will get a trip to the semifinals and a match vs. Netherlands next Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.

Final stats in regulation:

Uruguay Ghana
14(7) Shots (on Goal) 19(3)
13 Fouls 21
10 Corner Kicks 4
6 Offsides 1
46% Time of Possession 54%
3 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
2 Saves 6

Second Ghana sub

Muntari is out and Dominic Adiyiah.

1-1 in the 89th minute so it looks like Ghana is going to extra time for the second match in a row.

Last Uruguayan sub

Forward Sebastian Abreu is in for midfielder Edinson Cavani.

Ghana defender Hans Sarpei just picked up a yellow card for taking down Forlan after he turned the corner on him.

1-1 in the 78th minute. Suarez's header off the free kick was saved by Kingson with a diving attempt.

Kingson saves day vs. Suarez

Kingson made a nice save on Suarez's right-footed shot from a tight angle. How great have Suarez and Forlan been in the 2010 World Cup?

It's 1-1 in the 73rd minute but Uruguay has taken the momentum of the game since the Forlan strike.

Ghana subbed out midfielder Samuel Inkoom for Stephen Appiah.

It's been a big day for Shimer's top 11

Not to toot our own horn but after Shimer's boy Wesley Sneijder's tour de force over Brazil earlier today, his best 11 choices were further validated as Uruguay's Diego Forlan tied it up in the 55th minute with a goal off a direct free kick.

It was lined up to the left side of the Ghana box and Forlan hit a wicked shot that took a crazy spin, leaving Kingson with no chance to stop it.

Forlan almost made it 2-1 a few minutes ago as his ball to Luis Suarez was hammered wide.

1-1 in the 65th minute.

Uruguay midfielders Egidio Arevalo and Diego Perez have both picked up yellow cards in the second half and Ghana defender John Pantsil was also booked with a yellow.

Uruguay used its second substitution to take midfielder Alvaro Fernandez out for Nicolas Lodeiro.

Ghana up 1-0 at halftime

Ghana was up 1-0 at halftime after midfielder Sulley Muntari scored in the second minute of stoppage time.

He took a long-range shot which swerved over a Uruguay defender and into the net. No African team has ever made it to the semifinals which is what Ghana is trying to do. The winner of this match will get Netherlands on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.

Uruguay had some nice chances, including a blast by Luis Suarez that was deflected over by Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

In the latter part of the first half, the Black Stars began to take over and they had multiple shots just missed wide by defender Isaac Vorsah (header) and star forward Asamoah Gyan (shot).

Uruguay defender Jorge Fucile picked up a yellow card in the 20th minute and captain Diego Lugano limped off in the 30th minute for Andres Scotti.