In these posts I'll share lessons I've learned while watching recent live or televised soccer games. I'll also give a "Game Ball" award to the players and/or coaches that made the greatest impact on the game.
Game #1
On Tuesday (9/6) the USMNT (United States Men's National Team) lost 1-0 to Belgium on a soggy field in Brussels (ESPN2). This was the same USMNT, with several young and inexperienced players, that lost to Costa Rica 0-1, four days earlier at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. Many US fans and media members claim that these games were failures for the Americans and their new coach. But MNT Coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, when interviewed, seemed quite pleased with what his squad has achieved in these games. How can any coach be pleased after losing two games? Maybe it's Coach Klinsmann's German soccer background that allows him to believe that there is more to games than winning or losing. Could Klinsmann see games (even international games) as opportunities for testing and experimenting with players and tactics? I'm sure the focus of the MNT will be on winning games when they begin World Cup Qualifying next summer. But I believe that Coach Klinsmann sees these last few "friendlies" as a chance for growth within the MNT and its player pool. This is exactly the approach needed to bring along young, and potentially great, American soccer players such as Brek Shea, Jose Torres and Juan Agudelo. This is exactly the approach needed when asking a squad of professionals to learn how to play a more modern, sophisticated and attractive style of soccer. I'm starting to understand why this is the type of coach that the MNT has needed for a long time. Klinsmann is setting an example for youth soccer coaches by focusing on the development of his players. If Klinsmann, under a great deal of international media scrutiny, can sacrifice results in the name of development. Then there is no excuse for the youth coach that is teaching his players how to win rather than how to play the game. My "Game Ball" award goes to Coach Klinsmann.
Game #2
On Wednesday (9/7) the BHS Boys Varsity Soccer Team defeated Milton 4-0 on a cold and rainy Skyline Field. The game was closer that the score suggests, as Brookline scored their final 3 goals in the last 10 minutes of the game. For the better part of first half, it was Milton, and not Brookline, that looked like the perennial playoff team. The Brookline players seemed disconnected. They could not possess the ball for any length of time or find any way to sustain pressure on the inexperienced Milton defense. And to make matters worse, they were also having difficulties sorting out their own defensive assignments. If it were not for a pair of sensational saves from senior goalkeeper, Miles Rubin, the Warriors could have easily been down 2-0 by the midpoint of the first half. Warriors Coach Jeff Katz instructed his players to play longer, more aggressive passes to teammates making runs behind the Milton defense. This tactic payed off when senior midfielder, Eric Buck, blasted the ball between the Milton keeper and the near post with only 2 minutes left in the first half. The Warriors continued to find themselves in better form as the the second half progressed. Seniors, Eric Buck and Tomas Curran, took control of the midfield and led their team to a dominating second half performance that included 3 late goals. Curran ended up with a goal and an assist while Buck had 2 goals and an assist.
This was a classic example of a game where the better team gets off to a slow start due to a lack of passing rhythm and mobility off of the ball. Then Coach Katz changed his team's tactics from shorter passes within the midfield, to longer forward passes. This shifted the pressure off of his midfielders and onto the Milton defenders. With the Milton defenders backpedaling, Brookline got the breathing room it needed to find it's rhythm and began building successful attacks. My "Game ball" awards go to: Coach Katz, Miles Rubin, Tomas Curran and Eric Buck.
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