USA vs. Morocco [R] 5/23/06

Aero · 05-23-2006, 11:36 AM

I don't think that RSL would release Mehdi even if he was called up to play.

Aerick · 05-23-2006, 06:14 PM

Anybody watching this?

Either the US didn't look too hot, or Morocco was really taking it to them. Score 0-0 at the half with only a very few shots, and none on frame for either team.

Deuce · 05-23-2006, 06:27 PM

Reyna is injured again... I know... big surprise.... 🙄

BetterThanChivas · 05-23-2006, 07:06 PM

Final Result: Morocco 1-0 USA

Steve Cherundolo gives up the ball just outside the box in the 90th minute for an easy Morocco goal.

Dang you Steve Cherundolo!!

Aerick · 05-23-2006, 07:07 PM

Well... that sucked.

I guess if you needed a reason to be depressed about the US team just before the Cup, this would do it.

Final result 1-0 for Morocco.

Goal scored by Morocco in the 90th minute. We didn't really look good in the offensive third, that or Morocco's defense was really stifling. We had a really difficult time connecting passes there, and more often than not, Morocco deflected any through balls we tried to play.

By the end the ESPN2 announcers were discussing our fitness (or lack thereof). Morocco seemed to be able to press the full 90 minutes, and their defense held up despite fresh offensive subs (Johnson, Ching) by Arena.

Anybody have any other takes on this game? Hopefully the Venezuala game will be better on Sunday.

Aerick · 05-23-2006, 07:10 PM

Let's hope they dominate the other 2 games as ESPN indicates:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ESPN

The run of three games in six days should allow all 23 players on the U.S. World Cup roster to state their case for either a place in the starting lineup or in the substitutes' rotation and the relative weakness of the competition means there won't be any excuses for not dominating. Let's face it: If the U.S. team can't plow through the likes of Latvia and Venezuela, it could be in for a France '98-like performance this June in Germany.

Czar Jake · 05-23-2006, 07:41 PM

umm.. did you see that?! It looks like all the players started believing all the exposure they are getting, the high rankings, etc.. and were waiting around for the win.

It really looked like early this year RSL tactics: watch whoever has the ball and don't move unless you have it.

They looked sooo sluggish. There was no spark, passion.. do these guys even care?! I understand it was just a run-up friendly, but if they can't take care of Morocco at home, they are going to get absolutely slaughtered by Group E, especially Italy in my opinion, in Germany.

Slaughtered, I tell ye! The guys that beat USA into submission today are fuzzy little kittens compared with Toni, Totti, Gilardino, et al.

One upside, we'll have Pope back soon.

soccerman · 05-23-2006, 08:32 PM

Holy Heffalump
That was gosh awful.
I am more firmly convinced than ever that we're 3 and done next month.
Where the hell was LD tonight? Homesick maybe?

dysko · 05-23-2006, 08:35 PM

The good thing about this is it teaching them now that they are not Brazil... so, that should translate into humility and effort when WC actually starts.

I would rather them be reminded they can lose in the lead up, rather than the WC its self.

Scholesy · 05-23-2006, 09:52 PM

I wouldn't hold much stock in a game like this, I don't think it was much more than a runabout for them, not sure that's the best attitude to play with but a lot of teams treat this games as fitness and conditioning games more than anything else.