Disappointing yes, but proud of the US national team nonetheless. (Getty Images)

No one ever said this game was easy. The highs and lows of soccer have never been more noticeable until today.

It is always amazing how a game can be so different from one half to the next. The first half in the FIFA Confederation’s Cup final against Brazil showed the world that the US is here to stay and could be a power on the biggest stages of them all. But the second half showed that the US is just not all the way there quite yet.

Yeah, it was an emotional game to say the least and I wonder at times if the guys just ran out of steam emotionally late in the second half along with running out of steam physically and mentally. We knew Brazil would make their run in the second half and that they would more than likely score. Its never easy to go into the half with a 2-0 lead. Never easy.

But looking back the first half was more than a dream. For 45 minutes the US pressed hard and got their chances early and often. Clint Dempsey’s first goal was a bit of class between him and Jonathan Spector. The second half on the counter-attack with Charlie Davies and Landon Donovan was something else entirely. Usually the US is on the end of those kind of crazy counters, but this time it was our guys sticking it to one of the world’s best.

Let’s face it though, we should be able to say that we are emerging as a soccer power in some degree. Getting big time results across the pond, even if it is in Africa is still a big deal. Scoring two quality goals on a country like Brazil is something to be happy about. I’m not usually one for moral victories but in a way the US can hang their hats on a few quality things. I don’t believe going into the negatives in this one because I really felt a lot of the same passion and energy from the Spain game was carried over to this one.

I do believe we are getting very close to what a lot of people expect out of this group now. If anything this last week was a total confidence boost to the US national team program as a whole and going forward into next year. I know there is still some qualifying left on the menu for the year but I fully believe the US will now show less fear against those that they have struggled with before. Biggest step for this bunch will obviously be the Mexcio game in a couple months down in Mexico City. If the boys play anywhere near the level that they did against Spain and the first 45 against Brazil then we should expect our first win in Mexcio.

The US has announced to the world that they are for real here and that we aren’t just a fluke. Before this week I don’t believe we could have said that. I can say too that I have never been more proud of this bunch until now. We know where we need to get next and that is a huge step going forward.

Just as I mentioned yesterday, I am on the road to Silverton, CO for the next week. I decided to put up a post for you all to make your own comments about this weekend’s action. Believe me there is plenty of soccer to go around for all to discuss. You can talk about your club’s game, a game your just watching online or on the telly, or you can talk about the big clash over in Europe between Spain and Germany.

Here’s what’s on tap for the weekend:
Saturday:
Colorado at Columbus (FSC)
Toronto at New England (DK, MLSnet.tv)
Real Salt Lake at Kansas City Wizards (DK, MLSnet.tv)
San Jose Earthquakes at Chicago Fire (DK, MLSnet.tv)
New York Red Bulls at Chivas USA (HDnet)
Sunday:
LA Galaxy at DC United (ABC)
EURO 2008 FINAL: Germany v. Spain (ABC)

Discuss, be merry and I will see you folks on Monday!

Yeah, I’m not gonna pretend to know everything there is about international football/soccer/futbol. But with the Euro 2008 tournament kicking off tomorrow, I thought I would post a video or two to hype everyone else up. Consider this my preview of the tournament if you will.

Its not that I’m not jazzed up for it (because I totally am), its I don’t have enough time or energy right now to preview it like Ives or someone else out there.

As for who I’m rooting for…well seeing how I am a Swede, the boys in yellow will be the ones I will follow closely but once they exit the tournament (which they will probably after group play) I will probably lean towards Portugal or Italy winning it all. Everyone is high on someone like Croatia or Spain, but I’m still hoping Sweden can be that dark horse if their defense holds up.

Who are you all rooting for? Let’s hear it.

Yup, Bob Bradley cut his 24-man roster down to 20 today. Honestly I feel this friendly on Wednesday against Spain will be just like the one last week against England. Not good. But sometimes low expectations yield good results. We will see.

Goalkeepers: Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton).

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (out of contract), Dan Califf (Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock).

Midfielders: Freddy Adu (Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado).

Forwards: Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Nate Jaqua (out of contract), Eddie Johnson (Fulham), Josh Wolff (out of contract).

One thought on the roster. Do we really need to have three keepers on the roster for this game? Seriously, I always find that a waste, even in a friendly because you know one will just ride the bench while the other two play.

This roster still seems a bit weak to me, without Landon Donovan this team will struggle to score again. For me, I wish we could have seem some fresh talent from MLS in this one like Robbie Rogers or Kenny Cooper. Look I know we aren’t going to win this one but at least give some guys a chance.

Who do you want to start out of this group?

After the “slap in the face” by England this past week, the US men’s national team must shift focus now to another world-class friendly across the pond. This time they travel down to Spain.

Head coach Bob Bradley has named his roster for the friendly with a couple surprises:

GOALKEEPERS- Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC) ]

DEFENDERS- Carlos Bocanegra (out of contract), Dan Califf (FC Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MIDFIELDERS- Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)

FORWARDS- Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Nate Jaqua (out of contract), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC), Josh Wolff (out of contract)

The big thing will be if Landon Donovan can go this time around. He wasn’t able to make it in for the England friendly and his play was surely missed in the midfield and in the attack. If he is able to go he will not only get his 100th career cap but should also help out a US attack that looked lost against England.

Pablo Mastroeni and Danny Califf were the new names on the Spain roster, with all 17 European-based players who played against England also being recalled.

I am sort of hoping to not see some of the same starts in this game. Defensively I thought the US were alright against England, it was the midfield that had little shape and more importantly little possession. I think we shouldn’t see Ricardo Clark start this time around, the same goes for Josh Wolff. Neither really impressed me against England. I would throw Eddie Johnson’s name in there but you know he will still start no matter what, even if his last performance was good considering his expectations are so low these days. Most people like myself are just waiting for him to meet those expectations.

What do you make of this roster? Would you have liked to see some more MLS players or can you hold out until the Argentina game for that?