Donovan Destroying the Peace in Honduras

Mech: In an important day for US Soccer the men’s team clinched their sixth straight World Cup birth. Facing a tough road game against arguably the best Honduran squad in its history the United States came out with the crucial victory. The United States fell behind 1-0 on a Julio Leon free kick. However the controversial starter Conor Casey then scored two goals to give the United States a 2-1 lead. A Donovan strike on a free kick gave the US the 3-1 lead in the 69th minute. But Honduras answered back with a Leon blast in the 78th minute. Honduras had multiple chances to draw the game late in the game most notably with Pavon skying a penalty kick caused by a Bocanegra handball. But the US escaped with the win and WC berth leaving Honduras on the brink of a playoff for a World Cup spot. Sputnik what stands out to you from such a fantastic match?

Speaking Sputnik: I see grit in this team the kind of grit that it took to beat Spain 2-0 and the kind of grit this same team apparently lost in the next match to Brazil 3-2. The two goals by Casey are a vindication of Bradley’s decision to start him over Jozy Altidore (perhaps the most iconic Spanish giant-killer) and Donovan scored a brilliantly struck free kick as he is supposed to. Mech this team found a way to win but did anything they did especially worry you?

Mech: I think the main issues for me are twofold: a beatable defense and an inability to get early leads. The defense collapsed on Leon’s second goal and was repeatedly penetrated by the Honduran attack. The US showed issues marking in the box and Bocanegra nearly cost the USA the victory with a handball in the box. I think the Bornstein–Bocanegra—-Onyewu–Spector defense is very possibly the best unit for the USA but unless Onyewu plays at Milan Bornstein and Spector grow and Bocanegra steps his game up this unit will be gashed in South Africa. And of course the USA needs to get the early offense to allow them to play from ahead rather than playing the catch-up soccer that has become a staple of this qualifying campaign.

With the USA now qualified what do you project for this team and what do you think they need to do to advance deeper into the tournament?

Speaking Sputnik: I honestly have no idea which U.S. team will show up in the tournament. We could see the team that absolutely outclassed Spain or we could see the team that gave up key leads to both Brazil and Mexico in key situations. If the U.S. receives a favorable draw for group play it’s reasonable to expect that they advance to the knockout stages but I believe it’s only a matter of time until one of the world’s truly great sides makes a mockery of the backline and the team. To go deep the backline need to step up. They played complacently after Donovan’s goal and against any other world-class side they would have been made to pay to the tune of a loss. If the backline plays with hunger and composure under an all-out attack situation I’ll give them more cra83edit. Until then I’m simply not sure what to predict for this team.

That was a good question so I’ll flip it. What do you think this team is capable of and how can they advance into the knockout stages and beyond?

Mech: At its best (which I would only say we have seen versus Spain and in the first half versus Brazil in the Confederations Cup) the United States is a top-8 squad in the world.  The key to the US playing at such a level in South Africa comes from the work its players do in the rest of its season. It is essential all its players play big minutes and excel in club play. Those stars playing in Europe stick out: It is essential that Jozy play big minutes for Hull against the elite backs of the EPL Gooch begin to play in Milan and if he doesn’t get transferred in January to somewhere he will and a guy like Spector increase his minutes with West Ham. The talent is here for this US squad: they finally have two dynamic strikers in Davies and Altidore international veterans in Donovan and Dempsey and top-level defenders. With continued play with clubs and continued emphasis on creativity offensively and soundness defensively I could see this US club making the quarterfinals again and with a good matchup even the semis. But realistically I think we agree that the team should advance out of group play and all progress from there has to do heavily with match-ups.

Speaking Sputnik: It’s good that this team was able to close it out to ensure that they would not have to play a red-hot Costa Rican side with their World Cup qualifying hopes on the line but I’m a bit apprehensive of what the future may hold. For now though I think it is appropriate to give credit where credit is due: this team made the World Cup and that is a feat worth applauding.

Mech: For me first and foremost we qualified and not even via the backdoor route. The US came into a tough environment needing a win and they succeeded. While this is not the kind of performance that makes the US look as an elite team but it was encouraging. We now know that Casey is a striker who can contribute to this team maybe pushing the eternally mediocre Brian Ching down the bench. It reminded us that Donovan is a leader playmaker and clutch performer while Howard is still an elite goaltender. The US has progressing stars in Davies Bradley and Holden. There are issues to worry about for South Africa but for now all is right for US Soccer: we’re going back to the World Cup.