U.S. Men’s National Team v. Italy in Genoa, 2.29.12

The U.S. national team’s victory over Italy is the shining exception that proves the rule that results in friendlies don’t matter. Any time the U.S. beats a four-time World Cup champion on their own turf—even in a friendly—it matters to U.S. soccer fans, and it should. I became acutely aware of this during the final fifteen minutes of the game, during which Italy tried unsuccessfully to break down the U.S.’s suddenly Italy-like defense, and I became increasingly nervous about the possibility of a squandered victory. The U.S. back line got more organized as the game wore on, and down the stretch defenders threw themselves at flying shots like NHL players in a game 7. Really, it was an exciting second half and a delight to see our guys win. It was the U.S.’s first win against Italy in eleven tries over the course of more than eight decades.

Italy was technically superior, in particular Andrea Pirlo, whose long passes were exceptionally accurate and had great touch. Time and again, though, when his forwards got behind the U.S. defense they were a shade offsides. The flag went up nine times in favor of the U.S., and Italy had one goal disallowed as a result. The diminutive Italian forward Sebastian Giovinco also distinguished himself. He’s remarkably quick and dangerous with the ball at his feet, though of course he couldn’t find the net in this 1-0 loss to the Yanks.

And what of the U.S.? I should begin with the U.S.’s most distinguished field player, Clint Dempsey. He was number 10 in your programs and a number 10 on the field, playing behind the rock-like number-9 striker Jozy Altidore, who shook off a mostly forgettable first half and hand injury to provide a good assist on Dempsey’s goal. Altidore received a pass from Fabian Johnson, who’d streaked up the left wing. Altidore, his back to the goal and shielding off defenders, had vision and skill enough to lay a perfectly weighted pass back to Dempsey, who ran onto it and scored with a low shot between the diving keeper and the near post.

The goal captured the essence of Dempsey. The shot wasn't spectacular, it wasn't moving fast, it didn't come at the end of a scintillating run with the ball at his feet, but it found the back of the net at a crucial moment and it won the game. Dempsey’s skill on the ball has improved immensely since his time at New England, and if he’d grown up in Holland or France instead of Texas he’d probably be starting for Arsenal, but he still has something about him—something captured for me in that game-winning shot against Italy that was both prosaic and killing—that puts me in mind of the old comment, “All he does is beat you.”

Johnson, who played so well against Slovenia (in fact reminded me strongly of Dempsey in that game), played well again tonight, this time at left back instead of midfield. He was relieved in the 77^th minute by Jonathan Spector, who managed to block three dangerous-looking shots during his brief but hectic time on the field. Carlos Bocanegra also looked strong back there, but perhaps the best defender on the field for the U.S. was holding midfielder Michael Bradley, who of course now plays his club soccer in Serie A. Bradley certainly looks comfortable in an Italian setting. After a particularly bad free kick in the 67^th minute, for example, he immediately redeemed himself by winning the ball back in the U.S. half. Three minutes later, with the U.S. up 1-0, he made a great defensive play in the box, muscling the ball away from Giovinco after the latter had skinned two US defenders. It was an inspired performance.

More praise deserves to be heaped on the U.S. players, including especially Maurice Edu, who like Bradley played well as a holding midfielder (and they were on the field at the same time), and Tim Howard, who turned in the kind of stellar performance we all expect from him by now. If there was a downside, Brek Shea looked a little uneasy on the ball, giving it away in the 2^nd minute and making a strange pass directly to the Italy defense in the 21^st. Still, it was by no means an egregious performance, and to Shea’s credit he logged 73 minutes in a victory over Italy. There are, after all, only fifteen American soccer players in history that can claim they played in a victory over Italy.

One final thought, this time on the ESPN commentators for the Italy game, Ian Darke and Taylor Twellman. I struggle to think of a better pair of announcers to call a soccer game involving Americans. It is true that they’re both knowledgable about the game, but that can be said of many announcers. What can’t be said of many Brits is that they actually respect and like both MLS and the U.S. Men’s National Team. How many fans of the English Premier League—American or otherwise—don’t look down their noses at MLS? Very few, and Darke is one of them, God bless him. He’s also one of those announcers like John Madden who functions as a litmus test for me. If you don’t like him, I don’t trust you.

As for Twellman, he is—how shall I put this?—so refreshingly normal for an American ex-soccer player. He is not a humorless automaton nor a longhaired “free spirit,” and for whatever reason the American soccer population—players and fans and coaches—is filled with those guys. If I had to guess why there are so many U.S. soccer lovers that inspire unease, I’d say it was due to the fact that soccer is still something of a cult sport in America, or something for connoisseurs rather than people who unselfconsciously get together to watch or play a game. Twellman’s a soccer guy that actually does remind you of one of the guys, talking (as he did during the Italy/U.S. match) about how one of Pirlo’s crosses was “just ridiculous” (not “a teasing ball” or whatever) and about how ex-Met Mike Piazza, in the stands, was an “amazing” player, and noting that he had the most home runs by any catcher ever. American soccer needs more regular-guy types at the microphone like Twellman, guys with a sense of humor that know their soccer, and their baseball and football too.