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USA beat Italy for the 1st time ever!

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    USA beat Italy for the 1st time ever!

    I'm sure most of you caught the game, but those who missed it here is the link to the highlight. Very impressive, especially since the game was in Italy and Donovan wasn't playing.

    USA beats Italy

    USA!

    #2
    I'll save "very impressive" for when the USA does likewise in meaningful matches, not a friendly.

    Comment


      #3
      Football: Klinsmann's USA shock Italy
      Posted: 01 March 2012 0619 hrs

      GENOA, Italy: Jurgen Klinsmann celebrated his first ever win over Italy as the German's United States team inflicted a well deserved and memorable 1-0 defeat of the 2006 World Cup winners in an international friendly here on Wednesday.

      Fulham striker Clint Dempsey's second half goal gave the United States their fourth successive victory while Italy suffered a second straight loss at home.

      For Klinsmann this was a sweet result after his Germany side had come off second best to Italy in the 2006 World Cup semi-finals.

      Italy's Sebastian Giovinco produced the hosts' first real chance when his effort forced US keeper Tim Howard into action.

      Then the Italians had the ball in the back of the net on 25 minutes only for Alessandro Matri's shot to be ruled offside by Turkish referee Firat Aydinus.

      On 37 minutes Italy captain and keeper Gianluigi Buffon - one of the few survivors of the 2006 semi-final win - could only palm away United States veteran Dempsey's stinging shot.

      Thiago Motta saw his threatening half volley gratefully scooped up by Howard two minutes from the interval.

      The sides went into the break after a first period in which the Italians were unable to capitalise on their superior possession against a committed US side.

      On 55 minutes the deadlock was broken when against the run of play Jozy Altidore did well to set up Dempsey whose left-footed drive left Buffon with no chance at all.

      Michael Bradley, son of Klinsmann's predecessor in the US hotseat, Bob Bradley, and the only Italy-based player in the visitors side was one of the stars for the United States and only his timely tackle stopped the lively Giovinco in his tracks.

      The Italians were having difficulty breaking through the stout US defence led by skipper Carlos Bocanegra and Bundesliga-based Steve Cherundolo, and despite late pressure the US held on for a memorable win.

      The loss will have given Italy coach Cesare Prandelli plenty of food for thought as he desperately searches for a strikeforce he can deploy ahead of the Euro 2012 finals in June.

      Having successfully got them to the finals and rebuilt some of the damage done to their image after they became the first defending champions to exit at the first hurdle in the 2010 World Cup Prandelli has lost his three leading strikers.

      Antonio Cassano is out because of a heart problem, while Giuseppe Rossi too is recovering after suffering a serious injury at the end of October and Cassano's replacement, Manchester City badboy Mario Balotelli, was dropped for his on the field behaviour.

      Comment


        #4
        Friendly or not, it is still a big win for them. Game was at Italy who is consistently a top 3-5 country. Dempsey's goal is just another to add to his collection.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
          Friendly or not, it is still a big win for them. Game was at Italy who is consistently a top 3-5 country. Dempsey's goal is just another to add to his collection.
          12th try over 82 years - odds were the USA would eventually win one.

          Comment


            #6
            Grant Wahl>PLANET FUTBOL
            More ColumnsEmail Grant Wahl
            Dempsey gives U.S. a historic win
            Story Highlights
            The U.S. had never previously beaten Italy in 11 previous games all-time
            Hoffenheim's Fabian Johnson impressed at left back for the U.S. team
            The U.S.' pair of holding midfielders helped shore up its defensive holes

            Clint Dempsey's fine second-half strike for the U.S. stunned the Italians.
            Claudio Villa/Getty Images
            GENOA, Italy -- Three thoughts after the U.S.' 1-0 victory against Italy on Wednesday:
            • This was a big win. Yes, it was only a friendly, but coach Jurgen Klinsmann's outfit got a historic victory, beating Italy for the first time in 11 games all-time after seven losses and three ties going back to 1934. Beating the four-time World Cup champions on Italian soil, thanks to Clint Dempsey's 55th-minute goal, is even more impressive. Yes, this wasn't Italy's full first-choice lineup, but it was still a team that featured Andrea Pirlo, Gigi Buffon, Thiago Motta and Alessandro Matri -- top-level players who play (or have played) in Serie A. The U.S. had some good buildups in the first half despite more chances created by Italy, and Tim Howard made a huge save early on Motta. The Americans continued showing confidence moving forward in the second half, and Dempsey's deft finish -- off a smart layoff by Jozy Altidore -- was a bit of class in the box that Italy just couldn't match.
            • Fabian Johnson is a real find. The 24-year-old German-American was one of the best players on the field again for the U.S. in just his second cap with the national team. Johnson was dangerous against Slovenia as a left midfielder in November, and on Wednesday he was effective as a left back, both defensively and moving forward down the left flank. Johnson has an attacker's mentality, and it was his thrust forward and pass that set up Dempsey's goal. Johnson also had some good moments of understanding with left midfielder Brek Shea, and suddenly the questions about the left-back spot that have plagued the U.S. for years are looking much more answerable.
            • Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu did stellar work. There might have been groans from some U.S. fans when they saw the Americans were coming out in an alignment featuring two holding midfielders, Bradley and Edu, and a lone forward in Altidore. But Bradley and Edu had a game Italian soccer-lovers could appreciate, breaking up Azzurri attacks, making smart decisions and essentially winning the midfield battle for much of the game. This was Italy in Italy, so perhaps we shouldn't have been surprised with Klinsmann's formation choice. In the end it worked. The U.S. spine was rock hard in this game, and much of the credit for that should go to the Bradley-Edu tandem.

            Comment


              #7
              This was the first game, (I have not watched all under JK), that the US showed skill in connecting short passes in tight quarters. They played a good game. Yes the Italians have more talent, but the US team looked much better technically today than I have seen them in the past.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                ...but the US team looked much better technically today than I have seen them in the past.
                Agree.

                Now, just get rid of that timid ,sloth, Altidore and replace him with a striker that has a true work ethic and the USA will make REAL progress!

                Altidore CAN'T be the USA's best striker. If he is, the USA still has a LONG way to go.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                  I'll save "very impressive" for when the USA does likewise in meaningful matches, not a friendly.
                  Allow yourself to enjoy the moment. Italy doesn't lose in Italy. This encouraging no matter how you slice it. Would be able to do it again on Friday? Probably not...but we won in italy today.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                    I'm sure most of you caught the game, but those who missed it here is the link to the highlight. Very impressive, especially since the game was in Italy and Donovan wasn't playing.

                    USA beats Italy

                    USA!
                    This highlight was the only Altidore sighting throughout the majority of the game.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                      Allow yourself to enjoy the moment. Italy doesn't lose in Italy. This encouraging no matter how you slice it. Would be able to do it again on Friday? Probably not...but we won in italy today.
                      Actually Italy lost in Italy a couple of months ago to Uruguay.

                      This Italy is not the same team as 10 years ago but it is still very good.

                      I agree in enjoying the moment. Remember Landon Donovan was not there. The thing I liked best was Michael Bradley. He set up the goal with a good ball from midfield to an overlapping teammate, who then crossed it into the middle for Altidore to lay it off to Dempsey. Bradley had excellent distribution in midfield and was excellent in collecting from the back 4. He was very smooth with a good first touch, constantly evaded the first defender with his first or second touch, and overall helped the boys keep precious possession in a game where Italy had the vast majority of it. This is the type of player that is vital to the U.S. success. It all started to go downhill when Claudio Reyna retired. A holding mid who can also create is key.

                      Comment

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