USA v. France - November 11 friendly

Discussion in 'Americas' started by agoo, Nov 11, 2011.

  1. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Time to try to post throughout the match again. Hopefully someone will be watching as well. We can chat.

    Here's the US starting XI:

    USA LINEUP

    -------------------------Altidore-------------------------

    Shea----------------Dempsey-------Williams-------

    ------------------Edu------------Beckerman------------

    Chandler--Bocanegra---Goodson---Cherundolo

    ------------------------Howard------------------------------

    FRANCE LINEUP

    --------Gameiro---------Benzema--------
    Ribery-----Martin-----M'vila-----Menez
    Mathieu--Koscielny---Rami--Debuchy
    ---------------------Lloris-------------------

    I'm very interested to see Marvin Martin as I know nothing of the guy but have read a lot about him lately. I guess he's pretty good. As for the US, I'm disappointed to not see Bradley in there. I think he'd be better paired with either Edu or Beckerman. I know Beckerman hasn't been the best, but he's been steady defensively and would pair well with a freely roaming Bradley. Edu will have free reign of the midfield, but Bradley is a better player. I'm also very glad to see no Orozco. He's been awful. Goodson gets the start because Onyewu is injured. Gooch didn't even make the bench.

    US needs to score some goals today, but that will be very tough against the French. Dempsey will have to come up big, as will Shea and Altidore to make it happen.
     
  2. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Very intense prematch speech to the captains (Bocanegra and Lloris) from the Greek officials, then a minute of silence for Armistice Day.

    1 - Kick off played back to Goodson, who launches a long ball forward. Not really excited about Goodson being there, but he's much better than Orozco.

    3 - Shea is playing right in front of Chandler, which is not a good sign for the US. They will be playing to counter attack, but there needs to be more separation between the attackers and the defense.

    4 - Altidore starts dribbling along on a counter attack, but is surrounded by five French defenders. He did earn a foul, but people need to be up there with him. Chandler or Shea need to take off to join him.
     
  3. agoo

    agoo Member

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    6 - Cherundolo comfortably dispossesses Ribery. The US will need him to put in a strong performance against Ribery.

    7 - First chance for France. Benzema wins a header from Bocanegra and Menez ends up with it in the middle. Goodson recovers in a strong challenge that I'm surprised to see wasn't a foul.

    9 - Koscelny slams into Shea as they compete for a header. Shea stayed down for a bit and is now holding his head. Good work early from Shea, but I hope that he's not hurt.

    11 - Benzema going on the attack, but Bocanegra is able to cut in as Bezema's touch was just a bit heavy.
     
  4. agoo

    agoo Member

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    13 - Dempsey has been bitching a lot to the refs. Guy needs to just shut up and play.

    13 - Williams has the ball in space and Altidore cut in between the centerbacks for France. Williams' pass was way too long though, which is a shame as Williams had a chance to send Altidore directly in on Lloris.

    15 - Chandler gets the ball wide left after France turns it over in midfield. Chandler's cross is hit too far ahead of Atlidore and goes through cleanly to Lloris. Easy for the keeper to collect.

    16 - Looks like its Alou Diarra pairing Yann M'Villa in midfield, not Marvin Martin.
     
  5. agoo

    agoo Member

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    18 - Dempsey down after taking an arm to the face while going for a header against Diarra. More glares at the ref.

    20 - Dmepsey brought down by Ribery after taking the ball from him. No glares at the ref this time.

    20 - Cherundolo with a throw that goes straight to Altidore in the box. Jozy had Koscelny on his back. Tried to execute a turn, but was tripped up in the process and France cleared the ball easily. Not really sure why there wasn't a penalty after seeing the replay, or why Dempsey didn't complain.

    21 - France with more possession. Ribery sends a cross into the six where Gameiro competes with Bocanegra for it. Bocanegra wins it easily and the US goes on the counter. Starting to go end to end now.

    22 - Ribery with another cross looking for a charging Gameiro. Howard comes out to clear before Gameiro can reach it.

    24 - Williams goes on a run straight across midfield but can't find anyone to pass to. Eventually picks up a foul while trying to hit Shea.

    25 - Odd free kick from the US. Bocanegra takes it from the backline, but neither he nor Goodson went forward for it. Both are the usual targets for free kicks. Bocanegra sends it into the box with no one particular to find. Looked like three US guys going against five or six defenders.

    26 - Mathieu taking a free kick from the corner of the 18 to Howard's right. Cleared by the US, but France regain possession in the back.
     
  6. agoo

    agoo Member

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    28 - Altidore going out wide right against Mathieu. It gets played out for a throw. Cherundolo takes the throw and looks to cross it in from near the backline and wins a corner.

    29 - Corner goes through to Edu, who can't get any thing on it. Definitely a chance for the US as Edu had an open header.

    34 - Altidore is looking good and starting to play how you'd like to see him. Good ball control, but really using his size and strength to hold up the ball and also create a bit of space for himself in the box. Unfortunately, his shot went wide to the near side.

    35 - Altidore wins a corner while going towards the end line. Cherundolo to take. The ball was played out over the endline and Lloris gets a goal kick.

    37 - Not news here, but Menez is fast. Turnover in midfield by the US goes to Menez who sprints through the middle before playing to Ribery. Ribery gets into the 18 and finds Benzema who sends the shot well over the bar.

    39 - Menez wins a free kick after Beckerman pulls his shirt about 30 yards out, straight away from Howard.

    40 - Mathieu takes it low and into the wall. The ball rolls easily back to Howard.
     
  7. agoo

    agoo Member

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    43 - Chandler goes down hard after a challenge by Debuchy. Stays down for a bit, but is back out there now.

    And that's the half. 0-0. France with more possession, but neither side had chances to speak of.
     
  8. agoo

    agoo Member

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    46 - Kickoff and no changes. I'd like to see Bradley come in for Edu and Williams either exit or get in at his accustomed central midfield position.

    47 - Ribery sends a cross in that gets cleared out. Williams takes the ball, but leads Edu horribly and he takes a hack at Diarra. Rami takes the free kick from way out, but it goes wide. Howard would have had time to cover it comfortably anyway.

    48 - Dempsey gets a shot on goal, but its a half volley from a great distance that Lloris handles easily. US needs to try to get some possession, but don't have the possession players for the job.

    50 - M'Vila with a nice idea to play Gameiro in over the top, but Bocanegra and Goodson both cut him off and Howard takes the pass.

    51 - Beckerman takes a bouncing shot from distance. Lloris makes the easy save. Nice to see shots, but I'd rather see the US work it forward.

    52 - Dempsey draws a foul from Benzema. France is surrounding Dempsey whenever he gets the ball and rightfully so.

    53 - M'Vila with a terrific pass from the French side of midfield to find Benzema streaking towards the 18 in space. Benzema was just a bit off side though.

    55 - France gets a corner after Shea plays it out. Benzema sends it off the crossbar. Lucky break for the US. Rami won the initial header and Williams just lost track of Benzema.

    55 - Another dangerous chance as Edu just slams into Ribery...Harkes calls it a soft foul. Benzema slams the free kick to Howard's left and forces an incredible diving save. Howard was behind the goal line, but kept the ball out.

    58 - US has not been able to keep possession in midfield. Everyone is looking to get the ball up to Altidore, when they need to work it through midfield. It doesn't help that Edu, Beckerman and Williams have been poor, but that is still how the ball needs to go.

    59 - French subs - Gameiro and M'Vila out. Giroud and Gonalons in.
     
  9. agoo

    agoo Member

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    61 - The US hasn't really offered much of any resistance to the French attack in the second half. US needs to make some subs. The midfield is begging for Bradley to enter. Jermaine Jones would be a solid sub as well. I'd like to see Jones, Bradley, and Beasley replace Beckerman, Edu, and Williams respectively.

    62 - Chandler charges down the left flank and tries to hit Dempsey with a cross. Its slightly behind him, but it was played into Altidore who had little chance at a good first touch and ended up losing the ball.

    64 - French subs - Remy and Martin on for Ribery and Benzema. Jones is up for the US, but didn't get in on this break.

    65 - US sub - Jones on for Beckerman. I'm hoping to see a good performance from Jones to calm down the midfield.
     
  10. agoo

    agoo Member

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    69 - Long ball over the top and Remy slams a half volley in on Howard. Howard can only stop it and the rebound goes out to Giroud who sends it over as Howard rushes on to him. Giroud appears to be hurt, though the collision was minimal. Possibly a strain of some kind for the landing which was ugly.

    71 - US Sub - Beasley and Johnson replace Shea and Williams. Shea wasn't much of a factor as he was tracking back to cover for Chandler often. Johnson makes his debut.

    72 - GOAL FOR FRANCE - Remy played in over the top, shoves Goodson easily off the ball and slots the ball in behind Howard. Goodson was largely irrelevant to the proceedings there. Marvin Martin with the assist.

    74 - Dangerous free kick to be taken by Cherundolo. The delivery was not the best and France clears.

    77 - USA Sub - Edu off, replaced by Buddle. Looks like US going to a 4-4-2. Altidore and Buddle up front.

    78 - Ball won in midfield by the US and played to Dempsey ahead of the defense. Tricky backheel from Altidore to spring Dempsey. Koscelny comes across and takes Dempsey down. Dempsey had Buddle if he could have played it across to him.

    78 - Free kick from about 22 is taken by Dempsey. Dempsey had plenty of power on it, but it went just a bit high and wide.

    80 - Remy gets taken out by Bocanegra for no apparent reason as the ball was already well away. Sets up a free kick, taken by Martin, but cleared by the US. Dempsey gets taken down, and Debuchy gets a yellow.
     
  11. agoo

    agoo Member

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    82 - US corner, everyone is up for it. Ball is sailed beyond everyone.

    83 - Beasley sends a cross in for Dempsey, who heads it across to Altidore, but its cleared. Dmepsey had an open header, but was never thinking shot for some odd reason. He should be burying crosses like that.

    86 - Buddle played into the 18, a cross along the ground is cleared. Rami gets a foot on it. As the ball goes down field, France wins it and sends it long, but Jones appears to take it off the face and goes down for a while, but is back up.

    90 - Four minutes of added time. Doesn't look good for the US though, even with all that extra time.
     
  12. agoo

    agoo Member

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    91 - Giroud is in and in space in the 18. His shot was wide all the way. Looks like he just got a bit too excited to score on his debut.

    95 - And this one is over. Fourth defeat in six for Klinsmann. Not much to speak of in terms of US attack. Altidore looked good, but that was pretty much it for the US. US desperately needs someone who can step up and possess the ball in midfield. Holden needs to get healthy, Kljestan and Feilhaber need to get a chance. Too bad they aren't German enough.
     

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