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AMERICAN DREAM TURNS TO NIGHTMARE

US SOCCER BLOW 2-0 LEAD TO BRAZIL IN CONFEDERATIONS CUP FINAL

Losing to Brazil is nothing to be ashamed of at all. Finishing second in a FIFA international competition is the highest honor the USA has ever achieved. Doing so by blowing a two-goal halftime lead is plain embarrassing. Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan put the US up 2-0 before a half hour had passed making the thought of an American soccer championship come closer to a reality than ever before. Unfortunately, the clock struck midnight during halftime, and the Brazilians netted a goal just 45 seconds into the 2nd half. Mind you, the US started with the ball. Kickoff possession usually doesn't mean much, but you would think a team up by 2 goals could waste the first 60 seconds of the half. In any sport, a score right at the beginning or end of a period, quarter, or half, is a big no-no. Every minute Brazil was still needing 2 goals to have a chance to win this game was a psychological victory for the Red, White, and Blue. They couldn't even make it to that minute mark. In the end, the US wound up being lucky to only lose 3-2 as Brazil put a ball across the American goal line, but none of the officials ruled it a goal but replays showed it was obviously in the net. American soccer is filled with heart, speed, hard work, and relentless intensity. Those are all wonderful things and made the 2-0 win over Spain and the 2-0 lead over Brazil possible. Unfortunately those same things work against them when they have a lead. Leads in soccer haven't been as safe as they once were with some tweaking to the rules over the past 20 years that have favored more scoring, but teams hoping to win a championship need to be able to hold 2-goal leads against anybody. The American style is almost always to force the issue. They have the people to do that, but a 2-goal lead doesn't require that type of action. Not that the team should just sit back and absorb pressure, but a lead requires calm and control. Unfortunately the psyche with which American players are ingrained doesn't foster that type of play. The emphasis on speed, strength and athleticism doesn't help. Those things are all important, but if you don't know how to control the ball, you can't win on a consistent basis, especially against these bigger teams. First touch is key to anything. It's all about fundamentals. If you can't do the small things on a consistent basis, the larger goals can never be met. Until we put an emphasis on controlling the ball, the American soccer program will not be able to capture any prestigious international trophies. Walk before you run. The U.S.A. is at about a jog right now.

SOCCER SHOCKER

USA DEFEATS SPAIN 2-0

Americans shock World No. 1 in South Africa to reach Confederations Cup Final on Sunday.

Jozy Altidore & Clint Dempsey score the historic goals as Spain return to their gagging ways after last year's Euro 2008 title. The U.S. weren't better than Spain, but they were more inspired and more determined for sure. Almost every time the Spaniards had a chance there was an American to block the shot. When there wasn't, goalkeeper Tim Howard pushed it aside. Despite having a miniscule part of the posession, the Americans made the most of it. Two shots, two goals. They found space in the Spanish penalty area when the Spaniards couldn't do the same in front of Howard's goal. The Americans stayed compact and limited mistakes on defense while the Spaniards made mistakes on both scores allowing the "Stars and Stripes" free shots at goal. The Americans really have no business being in the final, but that makes their appearance on Sunday that much sweeter. Character and determination can take a team a long way. It helps when you score first, too. Had Spain scored first, they may have run away with it. American confidence built while Spanish frustration overflowed the stadium as every minute passed. If the U.S. team just had a better first touch and played a bit calmer when they have the ball, these results will become commonplace in short order. For now, let's hope for another inspirational performance on Sunday and the first American soccer championship in a world-wide competition