Uh—Familiarity with the pitch will NOT help U.S. beat England. A surprise attack will.
In previewing group C of next summer’s World Cup—the group our beloved Yanks are playing in—Noah Davis from Goal.com predicts a hard fought tie in the opening game against England. This would be viewed as a win for the U.S., who have lost seven out of eight previous matches to the Brits since upsetting them in 1950.
Davis’ no. 1 reason for the victory? “The U.S. is familiar with [South Africa] and, more specifically, the pitch from their Confederations Cup trip this past June.” This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this uninspired logic—several ESPN commentators said the same on lottery day. But it doesn’t make it any less ridiculous.
In fact, pitch will not play a factor at all. Why? The field will be 120 x 100 yards. It will be flat, well groomed, and have the same lines England uses at Wembley Stadium. The only way the U.S. will win is with a surprise attack, because we all know England will be playing conservative like they have for the past 150 years.
December 28, 20094 comments
Of course it’s rubbish but I guarantee you Bradley mentions it more than once in his pre-match talks with the team.
The USA will win if England are over-complacent, buoyed by the over-the-top hype the British press will inevitably float their team over with. The best thing that can happen you guys is Donovan has a stinker of a time during his short time with Everton lowering expectations in England.
Good point, Ultan.
I’m not so sure about the British press…weren’t they already calling the game a tie the moment US players started doing well earlier this season in the EPL? I can only imagine what the headlines were in the wake of Dononvan’s thrilling start at Everton…anyone happen to see any?
As far as I could see nothing screaming our outstanding, he did receive praise and a few positive column inches – though there was only two games that Saturday so the fourth estate had nothing else to write about. Let’s watch this space.
One thing I have to call out is they most certainly are not calling this one a tie. Eng-ger-land expects to top the group without dropping a point, I was in London over Christmas and fuelled on a diet of Rule Britannia and the Empire they’re hyping winning the thing for Queen & Country. Come closer to June the press will be as ravenous as revenge for 1776, Friendly Fire and Mark David Chapman will bloat them to expecting annihilations.