With J Hutcherson -- By way of a preview for this afternoon's Under-20 World Cup game, the United States can't be expected to turn into the kind of team that will put on a display of free-flowing soccer. Though there are perfectly good players in the US squad, it's simply not the group that's going to play better than the individual positions.
Fortunately, they're solid in goal. Brian Perk did his job against Germany on Saturday, plain and simple. Though he tried to marshal his defenders, the gaps and miscommunication in front of his line weren't on him. His game stood up, and his decision-making was solid.
Germany did a very god job of pushing the US defense into position to make bad choices. They also created opportunities where few defenses in this tournament will be able to adjust quickly.
Beaten by a very good team, the US needs to play the next opponent rather than trying to make up for Saturday. Cameroon should be an opportunity to see what the US attack can do with more than six shots, two on frame. The shots total needs to hit double digits and they need to take a page from Korea and force Cameroon into using the back line as an extra defender.
Korea had the advantage on corners seven to two against Cameroon, putting five of 14 shots on frame. Cameroon went six from 19. Cameroon's 2-0 win was a combination of a goalkeeping lapse on the opening goal and Korea's insistence that all shots be right at the keeper.
The statistics flatter Korea's game, no doubt, but they got substantial production against Cameroon's defense. Play that open against the US, and we at least get a better idea of what this squad can do.
Again, I'm not under the impression we end the afternoon talking about how good the US was in flow or on the counter. Instead, the best result will use phrases like 'work rate' and 'taking advantage of their opportunities.' That's more than enough.
On TV
Under-20 World Cup on ESPN2: USA - Cameroon at 12:30pm. UEFA Champions League on Fox Soccer Channel: Rangers - Sevilla at 2:30pm (Setanta at 6:30pm), Fiorentina - Liverpool at 5pm (Setanta at 2:40pm), and Arsenal - Olympiacos at 10pm. Setanta also has Barcelona - Dinamo Kiev at 4:45pm. CONCACAF Champions League on Fox Soccer: Columbus - Saprissa at 8pm. All Times Eastern
Europe
Walter Smith will seek assurances over Rangers’ financial future before committing to a new deal -- from The Herald's Darryl Broadfoot: “There’s a lot happening at the club at the moment."
Can Johnston turn around a financially-stricken Rangers? -- from The Times' Grahame Spiers: Yet the new Rangers chairman has set himself quite a task.
Fiorentina v Liverpool: Adrian Mutu says beating Liverpool is no longer a big deal -- from The Telegraph's Emily Benammar: "Once upon a time, beating Liverpool would be a famous win and you could make a fuss, but no more."
Testing times for Van Gaal at Bayern -- from BBC Sport's Phil Minshull: The problems just seem to be piling up for Van Gaal.
A lesson for Keane from Ancelotti... never let a crisis turn into a drama -- from The Independent's James Lawton: Yesterday Keane seemed almost resigned to his fate.
Micky Adams is playing a dangerous game at Port Vale -- from The Guardian's Louise Taylor: Accordingly, modern managers need to be able to "do subtle."
Americas
Don't pin too much on US U-20s -- from SI.com's Greg Lalas: The reaction was swift and brutal.
A Silver Lining -- from Yanks-Abroad.com's Andrew Vorce: "The positive about an eye injury is that I can still do fitness."
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.
