* Was lucky enough to go to the USA - Argentina game on Sunday. What a great experience. Although the Argentina fans outnumbered the US fans, I still thought the US played well and I think the home supporters were happy with the draw.

* From a tactical perspective though, I was disappointed with the US. Argentina’s attack is so fluid and incisive it’s incredible. I don’t think any other team in the world looks that good when attacking (although the Dutch counter attack looked unreal against Italy the other day). But Johnson and Donovan. Their off the ball movement is pretty weak (Donovan’s is better, but not by a whole lot) and what’s worse is that there’s very little help from the midfielders. It’s clear that the outside midfielders (Dempsey and Beasley) basically hug the touchline all game long. How many times do you watch the top teams and see that happen? Wingers cut inside on the dribble and to support all the time. If anything, modern soccer formations are typically more narrow than in the past, yet the US tries to spread things out as far as possible. Then we’re all at impossible angles to support when a ball reaches the strikers or is played into space for them to run on. Too much of the movement was reactionary, and consisted of one or two players, as opposed to most of the team. I think Bradley was probably trying to keep things tight, figuring it was a bad idea to attack too much and expose too much of the field for a swift Argentine counter. Makes sense, but I haven’t seen much better stuff during most of the games during Bradley’s tenure. At least let your own son (who scored something like 19 goals in the Eredivisie this year from the same position) get up and make late runs into the box or to support the attack. That drives me crazy almost more than anything. We still have a long way to go tactically folks.

* I have to admit I’m disappointed by the fact that the US appears to struggle to have any homefield advantage throughout the nation. I understand that soccer plays a greater part in immigrant and 1st-2nd generation families and thus those fans are more likely to travel greater distances to support their team (one of my friends who I attended the game with noted license plates from Maryland, Virginia, etc.). But what really irritates me are the Americans rooting against the USA. I had the displeasure of sitting one row in front of such a person, who continually complained when Argentina didn’t draw fouls and actually yelled “sucks” when pockets of American fans started chanting “USA.” I don’t have a problem with fans cheering for the team they support. I don’t have a problem when my Mexican-American friends, who were born in the United States, cheer for Mexico as it’s part of their heritage and their families support Mexico. The thing is, if the United States plays any other nation, they root for the United States because they also identify as Americans. Same for others I know who are Italian-Americans. But what I struggle to accept is fans who are either American born or are permanent residents of the United States, who openly cheer against the United States at any opportunity. Maybe it’s some of that damned Eurosnobbery, but it’s something I can’t accept. If you live in the United States, at least cheer for them if they’re playing against someone other than who you more closely identify with. Otherwise just move to another country please.

* Luciano Emilio, clearly in response to my article about his struggles, creates one goal and scores another as DC wins in Chicago 2-1 after having two men sent off and going down a goal in the first half. Incredible performance from the team and especially Emilio, who was dangerous all night and looked much sharper than he has in the previous month. Check out his gamewinner (in the 93rd minute no less) right here.

* I’m excited to start working with my two youth teams (U13 F at one club, U10 B at another), which should start in the first week of July, at least for the girls. I’m the trainer for the girls team, so I’ll just run their practices and kind of provide general counsel to the head coach in terms of what I think they should be focusing on during games, what the best course of action is for their year long development plan, etc. The girls apparently need a lot of work all around, so I’m eager to see how much can realistically be accomplished during a season. The plan is to start working hard on technique during the summer months when attendance isn’t at 100% and start including more tactical work once we have the whole team together. As for the U10 boys, I’m supposed to meet with my two assistants tomorrow to iron out details for the season. I hear they finished middle of the pack in a pretty strong league (top division) but weren’t that competitive with the top teams. I’m eager to here the reason as this club typically produces pretty good players (they feed into a top high school program). I haven’t worked much with young boys, so it will be a new challenge, but I think we can have success.

* Euro 2008, with nearly all games carried on ESPN 2 so far. MLS games carried on ESPN 2 on Thursday night. Soccer routinely making it into the Top 10 plays on ESPN every day (even from games I wasn’t really aware about, which is highly unusual). A Saturday MLS game on Fox Soccer Channel. I have to say that soccer coverage is the highest it’s ever been since I really started watching games in 1996. The ‘96-’97 Champions League final between Juventus and Real Madrid is the first game I really remember watching, taping, and watching again (Madrid won 1-0 from a Predrag Mijatovic goal). After that I’d go in my backyard and practice stuff I saw on the game. But back then there was one Champions League game on during the week. So things are moving in the right direction in this country. More and more I run into average sports fans who have a pretty good knowledge of soccer. I’m impressed when I meet friends of friends who are really into the game, own soccer jerseys, and can talk about the top teams, games, and transfer rumors with me (who few would argue is pretty obsessed with soccer). All great strides.

* Along the lines of great strides, what about Jozy’s transfer to Villarreal? Finished second in the very strong La Liga last year. If Jozy can become a big time player for them, he’ll be one hell of a national team player. We just need Freddy to start getting consistent time at Benfica and we’ll be on our way. And just think if Zizzo or Szetela pan out, or Bradley gets better and his dad realizes how to use him, or if any of those Bradenton kids (who beat a full strength U17 Brazil at the Nike Friendlies) continue to improve. We might have a decent team in 2010. The only question then would be whether we have a capable coach who can take advantage of our good (but not great) talent.