04/19/24
June 10, 2015
U.S. Men Beat Germany After Beating The Netherlands: The United States came back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat world champs Germany in a friendly in the latter country Wednesday. Mix Diskerud scored after a terrific setup from Michael Bradley ending a 30-pass sequence by the Americans and Bobby Wood scored the winner late on a curving scorcher from just outside the penalty arc. Last Friday the U.S. achieved another surprising comeback victory, 4-3, on the road over The Netherlands.
Personally, I think it is the rest of the football world allowing us a victory tour for taking a fire hose to FIFA on its behalf, and (presumptively) purging the polyp on the colon of football that is Sepp Blatter.
Or maybe not. Like you said, holden, the opposition may not be fielding its full top tier, but the Germans and the Dutch are proud football nations, and are as deep and talented as any on the planet. Any victory over those national teams by the USMNT is remarkable, in my humble opinion.
posted by tahoemoj at 11:03 AM on June 11, 2015
I like the idea that Klinsmann has the Americans playing without excessive fear of top sides like Germany. Winning a friendly there is one rung up the very tall ladder towards World Cup greatness.
posted by rcade at 11:31 AM on June 11, 2015
Klinsmann said after the World Cup that he thought the U.S. showed too much respect to Germany and Belgium and were tentative and reactive as a result. Still do not love giving each of Holland and Germany basically 2/3 of the possession, but the U.S. obviously did more when it had the ball than in those two World Cup games and seemed less cowed by the opposition.
posted by holden at 11:44 AM on June 11, 2015
Say what you will about less-than-full-strength opposition (although the U.S. did not field its first-choice squad either), but I think these games and outcomes are very valuable for the USMNT in terms of gaining experience and reflecting positives to build on. Good way to try out some fringe players as well and see what they have.