OFFICIAL WORLD CUP 2006

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't know about safety, but soccer is a much better sport for kids in many ways. Better conditioning. Everybody touches the ball.

[No Mo Moss]

Ching, Dempsey help U.S. shut down Venezuela
May 26, 2006

CLEVELAND -- Bobby Convey and Clint Dempsey improved their chances of starting for the United States at the World Cup with sharp performances in a 2-0 win over Venezuela on Friday night.


Brian Ching scored in the 36th minute and Dempsey added a goal in the 69th as the Americans rebounded from Tuesday's dismal 1-0 loss to Morocco in Nashville, Tenn. Convey made the cross that created the first goal, and he was praised for his energy and defense by U.S. coach Bruce Arena.


"I think I'm making Bruce sweat a little bit," Convey said. "I'm happy about that."


The fifth-ranked Americans, who were given plenty of space as No. 71 Venezuela attacked, changed nine of 11 starters, keeping only defender Oguchi Onyewu and attacker Josh Wolff. They have just one game remaining before the World Cup: On Sunday night against Latvia in East Hartford, Conn.


Convey and Dempsey are competing for a starting midfield spot, likely on the right side, when the United States opens the World Cup against the Czech Republic on June 12.


"What we want to see out of Bobby is that kind of play for 90 minutes. He lost his concentration a little bit in the second half," Arena said. "I'm hopeful we can continue to move him forward because there's no reason to believe that Bobby can't challenge to get into our first 11."


Ching, who beat out Taylor Twellman for the World Cup roster, put the United States ahead with his fourth goal in 19 international appearances. Convey took the ball down the left side and crossed around Hector Gonzalez. Ching, at the top of the six-yard box, got a toe on it and beat goalkeeper Javier Toyo.


"Bobby crosses a great ball," Ching said. "When he gets the ball wide, I just look to make good runs in the box."


Ching nearly got another in the 54th, off a sharp cross from Chris Albright, but Toyo dove left to punch the ball away. U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard then made a leaping save in the 64th to push Juan Arrango's shot over the crossbar.


Landon Donovan, who entered with DaMarcus Beasley midway through the second half, started the play that led to the second goal, pushing a through ball ahead to Eddie Johnson.


Johnson ran the ball down just before it reached the goal line and bent it back to the onrushing Dempsey, who sent the ball in with a diving header from the top of the six-yard box for his fifth international goal.


"I don't think anything is guaranteed at this point, so you've got to do whatever you can to hopefully try to see minutes over in Europe," said Dempsey, who has been slowed by a sore back.


Although Arena said Dempsey needs to improve his defense, the coach sounded impressed.


"He's a guy that is, in his own way, creative, and he takes chances," he said. "He's got to be a little bit more experienced and understand when to pick his spots on the field in terms of going after people in one v. one situations. But he's a confident player on the ball. He has had a habit of scoring goals, which is a real positive out of the midfield."


Dempsey followed his goal with an extended dance, waving his arms in a hula motion.


"It's just a dance we saw on video and me just messing around," he said.


Arena's choices this week were cramped by the schedule of three games in six days.


"I'm not sure there are any benefits for the players. I think for marketing purposes there are benefits because you're playing weekend games," he said. "The games are more attractive for television on Friday and Sunday, and for marketplaces. Obviously, if we could avoid doing this, we would do that.'


With 2½ weeks left before the opener, he's still unsure about his starting lineup against the Czechs.


"It's still going to be based on players being in the right form," he said. "I think there's a chance that we'll make a few decisions for our first 11 in the first game that will probably surprise some people."

Notes
Oft-injured midfielder John O'Brien, who played the first half against Morocco, had an MRI on his right Achilles' tendon that was negative and is day-to-day. ... Earlier in the day, the U.S. team watched a telecast of the Czech Republic's 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia. ... A crowd of 29,745 came to Cleveland Browns Stadium for the national team's first game in Cleveland since a 1994 World Cup warmup. ... Michael Bradley, the son of Chivas USA coach Bob Bradley, made his national team debut in the 89th minute. ... The Americans finished a man short after Carlos Bocanegra was ejected in the 82nd for getting his second yellow card.

[Tarlam!]

The USA needs a win and two draws to go through. Ghana is your wild card. Traditionally, at least one African country plays its lights out, you just should hope it's not Ghana!

Italy played against Germany in a frindly 3-4 months ago, and I was overwhelmed at their game. These guys are so good. Scary good. It's a shame you don't play them last, because if they had two wins going into your matchup, they would rest their stars.

They will be looking to win two, the draw their last game.

I think you guys are good for at least a draw against the Czeks. They are a great team, but they struggle against non-Europeans. Key to this team is their blonde Midfielder, Nedved. You need to double team him the whole game.

If you lock up the middle of the field, don't allow your backs to drop back too far, you can beat Nedved. Rosicky, plays slightl behind the front 2 is a dangerous little guy, and Koller, big forward, is also great in the air. Don't allow him to dominate the penalty area by keeping the flanks covered.

[MJZiggy]

Could someone please explain offsides rules in international soccer? I only watch the major matches, but don't understand how one can be offsides. Also, more pictures, please. Soccer players have the best physiques of any sport I've seen.

[Tarlam!]

Could someone please explain offsides rules in international soccer?

No. It is impossible for women the world over to get this, because men the world over cannot explain it.

But, I am a glutton, so I'll try.

1. You can never be offside in your own half of the playing field.

2. When in the opponents half of the playing field, there must always be an opponent's field player between you and the opponents goal line. If not, you are in an off-side position, although unless you receive the ball, you are considered to be in passive off-side (no penalty).

3. If you receive the ball in an off-side position, you will be called off-side. You just became active. That's a foul.

4. The key is, where you were positioned at the time the pass was actually made. You might have been on-side when the ball was played and ran into an otherwise off-side position. In this case, you are not off-side.

[MJZiggy]

So if you have the ball you cannot be offsides?

[Tarlam!]

Also, more pictures, please. Soccer players have the best physiques of any sport I've seen.

Glad to oblige...

[MJZiggy]

Mama always told me to be careful what I wish for...

[Badgepack]

Could someone please explain offsides rules in international soccer?

No. It is impossible for women the world over to get this, because men the world over cannot explain it.

But, I am a glutton, so I'll try.

1. You can never be offside in your own half of the playing field.

2. When in the opponents half of the playing field, there must always be an opponent's field player between you and the opponents goal line. If not, you are in an off-side position, although unless you receive the ball, you are considered to be in passive off-side (no penalty).

3. If you receive the ball in an off-side position, you will be called off-side. You just became active. That's a foul.

4. The key is, where you were positioned at the time the pass was actually made. You might have been on-side when the ball was played and ran into an otherwise off-side position. In this case, you are not off-side.

I assume it is like being off-sides in ice hockety, correct?

[No Mo Moss]

Yes it's like Hockey except the blue line would be represented by the last defender between the goal.


That imaginary line moves with that last defender as he does. The the instant the ball leaves the foot of the passer, the recipient must be even or behind that last defender. In the case of a longer aerial pass that same instant the offensive player passes the ball, his team mate may sprint out beyond the last defender.

The common defensive tactic is to push up at the very last moment causing the oposition to be off sides. The defense must all do it at the exact same time or a player will find himself onside running free. The technique is used at the very last moment, the entire defense will spint towards the midline of the field.

There is one ref who runs the field and calls most of the fouls and issues cards. Then there is a linesman on each side of the field who's job is to primarily call offsides and throw-ins.
The officials make mistakes sometimes, but its really quite remarkable how accurate they can be.

Here's an example of a play that is not offsides:


Here is a clear example of an offsides player (white on offense)


Zigs, are you getting it?

[No Mo Moss]

The USA needs a win and two draws to go through. Ghana is your wild card. Traditionally, at least one African country plays its lights out, you just should hope it's not Ghana!

Italy played against Germany in a frindly 3-4 months ago, and I was overwhelmed at their game. These guys are so good. Scary good. It's a shame you don't play them last, because if they had two wins going into your matchup, they would rest their stars.

They will be looking to win two, the draw their last game.

I think you guys are good for at least a draw against the Czeks. They are a great team, but they struggle against non-Europeans. Key to this team is their blonde Midfielder, Nedved. You need to double team him the whole game.

If you lock up the middle of the field, don't allow your backs to drop back too far, you can beat Nedved. Rosicky, plays slightl behind the front 2 is a dangerous little guy, and Koller, big forward, is also great in the air. Don't allow him to dominate the penalty area by keeping the flanks covered.

No doubt italy is very good, but historically they get out of the gate rather slow, Isaid this before, but I can see ghana stealing one from the Italians in the first game.

Baros is the one that has me worried. He's in form right now. The US finally has to huge defenders in the middle, perhaps one of the biggest in the world at 6'4" 220. But Baros might be that third weapon taht is very hard to cover. That said I think the US has as good a chance as any in that group.

[Tarlam!]

No Mo, I would ordinarily agree with that assessment of Italy 100%. This team is different. I watched them attack the Germans in a friendly game. They were unbelievable.

Usually, Italy plays very lazy, defensive Soccer. Not this squad. They attack for 90 minutes. In the past, they might have been happy to sit on a 1-0 lead for 80 minutes. This squad ripped the Germans 5-1. It was scary.

[MJZiggy]

Got it!!! Thanks for the explanations guys it will make watching the World Cup that much easier. Last time I watched it was at a family event and I will really miss the whole function coming to a stop every time something interesting happened in the match.

[No Mo Moss]

No Mo, I would ordinarily agree with that assessment of Italy 100%. This team is different. I watched them attack the Germans in a friendly game. They were unbelievable.

Usually, Italy plays very lazy, defensive Soccer. Not this squad. They attack for 90 minutes. In the past, they might have been happy to sit on a 1-0 lead for 80 minutes. This squad ripped the Germans 5-1. It was scary.

I agree to an extent that they appear to be a different team as in the past, but I can't put too much stock into friendly matches. That same German team, at full strength, struggled mightily against the USA back-ups at home in GErmany 2 weeks later. It wasn't until the US subbed out many of their back-up D lines for younger players in the second half that Germany was able to really break through. They weren't playing very good soccer yet. Its all about who gels when. Thats why I like the USA. They don't have any superstars and must rely on teamwork to get it done.

[Tarlam!]

I see your logic. I know tournaments are won and lost by timing. I know the USA vs Germany game said a lot about how poorly the Germans are. I agree.

That does not take away the change in stratgy that Italy has undergone; far more concerning is that Italy now have a squad that can execute attacking Soccer. It's one thing to draw the battle plans (like Kilinnsman), but it's another thing to get it done on the field.

I think the USA can take Ghana and Czek, but, I think you will need incredibley disciplined play, really clog up the mid-field to rest a point from Italy. Their indiviual skill levels is the best I've seen in 3 decades of watching this game.