YA Videos' US-Canada Preview

By Jared Launius

The final tally was 3-2, and the United States, as we all know, was on the losing end. After stealing two first half goals against world soccer terror Brazil, the red, white and blue-clad side conceded three second-half tallies to an in-form Kaka and company, bringing a dissatisfying end to what had been the side's most monumental month since the 2002 World Cup.

On the pitch, on that day, right after the end of the Confederations Cup final, it was a disappointment to be sure. 45 minutes from winning their first-ever FIFA tournament, the Yanks defense broke down three times (well, really four, as replays showed a Thiago Silva header appeared to go all the way across the line) and an historic opportunity was lost.

Well, maybe only partially.

Because while, yes, a win against Brazil would have been a tangible marker of the US's standing in world soccer and a gargantuan step toward legitimacy stateside, merely being so close brought many of the same effects.

For a few days, US soccer was the story nationally. It dominated the 24-hour sports news cycle. It was a chief topic on talk radio. National columnists picked it up and ran with it. Here, our national team, the one that was on life support 20 years ago, had just beaten the world's number one team in Spain and stood toe-to-toe with Brazil – all in meaningful cup competition. The US rode that positive momentum into the following summer's World Cup, which drew record numbers of American viewers.

The United States' near miss at Confederation's Cup gold in 2009 – and the subsequent fanfare – didn't start, though, when a perfectly executed two-man counter attack by Charlie Davies and Landon Donovan produced the US's second first-half goal against Brazil. Nor did it start when Clint Dempsey thighed a deep Jonathan Spector cross into goal during the 10th minute to open up scoring in the final.

It didn't start when Dempsey sealed victory over Spain with an alert slide at the feet of Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos, ramming the ball into Iker Cassillas' net and giving the Yanks a 2-0 lead late in the second half, and it didn't start when a shocking 3-0 win over Egypt gave the Yanks second life in the tournament, advancing them out of group play.

It didn't start that month. It didn't start that year, even.



It started in 2007, down on the makeshift soccer pitch in Chicago's Soldier field, and it started squarely on the laces of Benny Feilhaber's right boot. It was from that boot that one of the most celestial volleys in US soccer history dipped off Feilhaber's boot from the top of the 18-yard box over the tips of Mexican keeper Oswaldo Sanchez's gloves and into the far left corner, putting the Americans up 2-1 and clinching Gold Cup gold.

Were it not for Benny's strike, the US would have never gotten its shot to demolish Egypt to sneak out of group play, Clint Dempsey would have never beaten Ramos and Landon Donovan would have never deked Ramires and tucked that left-footed shot into goal to give his nation momentary hope. The Yanks would have never qualified at all.

Now, there is no guarantee that a trip to the 2013 Confederations Cup would bring the immense haul of experience and exposure the 2009 version did for the US. Maybe they would drop out of group play as they probably should have in 2009. Maybe they would get out of group play and fall quietly to a world power in the semifinals. There is no telling, really.

But the fact remains a victory in this month's Gold Cup is requisite to even get there and find out. That road starts tonight as the US opens Gold Cup 2011 group play against Canada.

There's no grand analysis, I don't think, required for the Canada match. I don't say that out of arrogance – the United States has far more assets than the Canadian national team, and they have the advantage of playing at home. Canada is on the up-and-up and, yes, Canada is probably out for revenge after a questionable offside call in the 2007 semifinal against the United States kept them from advancing. But the Yanks are on a level now that nothing but domination of CONCACAF Teams Not Called Mexico ought be predicted. A win is expected, a draw would be a letdown and a loss would be considered a disappointment. That's not to say it couldn't happen – given the US's recent form, I actually wouldn't be surprised if Canada nabbed a point – but it shouldn't.

That said, here's the no-nonsense lineup I expect Bradley to trot out tonight:

Howard

Cherundolo – Goodson – Onyewu – Bocanegra

Dempsey – Jones – Bradley – Donovan

Wondolowski – Altidore

The only surprise most of you will find here, I think, is Wondolowski's inclusion in the XI. This is very much just a stab in the dark, but Wondo's work off the ball against Spain was solid and Agudelo's best work with the national team – and with New York, for that matter – has been off the bench. I could see Bradley starting Wondolowski and bringing Agudelo (who reaaaaaally needs a nickname, by the way) on in the second half to run at tired Canadian defenders.

This game will also be a nice opportunity for Jermaine Jones, who has struggled in most of his appearances with the Yanks, to build some chemistry with Michael Bradley while not having to chase the likes of Messi or David Silva around the pitch. Dwayne DeRosario is a handful to be sure, but the Bundesliga and EPL veteran should be up to the task. If Jones can man the holding role, Bradley can play a more advanced, linking role – one I think he's best suited for.

This isn't a backline – beside Cherundolo – that offers much going forward, but it's a battle-tested one – and we know that's what Bradley favors. I'd be surprised if this isn't the back four we see.

In the end, this is a game the United States should win. Canada will surely be up for the match, and don't be surprised if there are some very tense moments. My guess is, the US will nab the first goal, Canada will keep it interesting, and the Yanks will grab another one late while Canada is committing more forward. I've got the United States winning 2-0.

What's your take?