Today is the big day. First game of the World Cup 2010 in South Africa for the Red, White & Blue.
Here’s the important stuff.
Time: 2:30pm EST (ABC pregame starts at 1:30pm)
Where: Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa
Where to Watch:
- English: ABC
- Spanish: Univision
- Portuguese: ESPN Deportes
- Online: Univisionfutbol.com (look for “En Vivo” to the upper right)
- Delay: ESPN Classic, 10 p.m.
Where to Watch Locally:
What Others Are Saying:
- Studio90, Gameday Edition – USSoccer.com
- U.S. MNT Set to Kick Off 2010 FIFA World Cup Against England – USSoccer.com (game preview, lots of misc stats and notes)
- June 10, 2010: World Cup 2010: Into Africa – Two Teams, One Cup – John Oliver, The Daily Show
- United States has historic opportunity vs. England – Steven Goff, WashingonPost.com
- USA vs. England: A Look Ahead (and who should start for the USA?) – Ives Galarcep, SoccerByIves.net
- Relying on Heart, U.S. Takes Aim at England – Jeffrey Marcus, NYTimes.com
My Thoughts:
The match should be a good one. Both teams are very athletic and play with speed. Obviously England has a better pedigree, but it’s not like they don’t have their share of troubles in big competitions. An frankly, we have a couple players they don’t have an answer for in Donovan (played in England) and Dempsey (currently plays in England), and to a lesser extent guys like Altidore and Buddle (speed, size, strenth). If Donovan gets a little room to run at the British defense, it will mean success for the USA as none of their defenders can keep up and frankly British keepers are not very good.
On the flip side, the USA is going to have REAL problems containing England’s wingers. Likely to start is Lennon and Cole on the flanks. The only outside defender I have confidence in is Cherundolo, but that leaves the other side wiiiiiiidde open. If that flank keeps getting beat it means help has to come from the middle of the field which leaves more room for Rooney, Gerard, Lampard & co. Not good. The only way I see us getting out of that is by putting Beasley back in that position, and I’m not sure when’s the last time he played there.
This match is also very important for the whole group. Solvenia and Algeria, while maybe not powerhouses, can definitely wreak havoc by getting an ill-timed draw or win against either the USA or England. If this game ends in a draw, it’s probably “OK” for both teams. A win, is fantastic, but the loser will be hurting and then desparate for points against the other two teams in the group.