Thoughts on USA’s 1-0 victory against Italy – 29 February 2012
The USA defeated Italy 1-0 in an international friendly on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. It’s an impressive victory but what does it mean? Below are my thoughts on the win and what it means going forward.
- Clint Dempsey Is The Focal Point - While other players like Landon Donovan and Tim Howard will remain important, it’s becoming more clear that Dempsey is crucial to the USA’s success. He’s shown in the last year that he can be effective as a striker or on Wednesday when he was an advance midfielder providing support to Jozy Altidore. The forward position will likely remain a question mark for the Americans but Dempsey’s ability to score from the midfield is key.
- Altidore Is Improved But Still Lacking - The striker has improved his ability to play alone up top and had a great assist on Dempsey’s goal. It seems he may never reach the heights that some had thought was possible but he still could end up being a very good international player. If he continues to have performances like Wednesday then the future is looking bright for Altidore.
- Michael Bradley Is The Best Defense/Holding Midfielder - There should be little doubt that Bradley is currently the best central/defensive/holding midfielder for the USA. Bradley put in another solid performance against Italy and clearly is going to be apart of this team for many years. He sometimes can be overlooked but he’s shown the ability to provide consistent performances at the club and international level. The only question mark about Bradley is who he will be partnered with in midfield whether it Maurice Edu or Jermaine Jones.
- It’s Only A Friendly Match - Yes, it’s a great result for the USA but don’t get carried away. It’s only one match and both teams were without a few key players (Italy were far from full strength). USA supporters should feel confident but this victory won’t mean much if the team struggles in World Cup Qualifying or in a Gold Cup. The result is just one small step. It’s ok to appreciate the victory but don’t get too negative if the USA struggle against Brazil in May (another friendly).
