Oh and I forgot to mention

That last minute goal... totally legal. What a terrible call from the linesman. Canada had every right to feel gutted.

USA-Canada

Pretend, for a moment, that the USA is located on the continent of Europe, and that we get to play in the European Championships. If we had just won 2-1 in the semi final of Euro 2008, no matter how fortunately, then I'd be over the moon. How we got there wouldn't have mattered much to me.

So why does our 2-1 victory over Canada in the semifinals of our own continental championship feel so dispiriting? I guess it's ultimately because the Gold Cup really means nothing to us; it's just a series of glorified friendlies. I'm not even sure you can blame CONCACAF or Jack Warner or anyone else for it; it's just a logical consequence of dominating the region along with Mexico. Maybe my free shirt has been chemically treated to make me care more the next time the tournament rolls around.

Anyway the game itself was fairly poorly played by the US. Frankie Hejduk, god bless him, scored a terrific goal but it seemed like an aberration in a game where the US just plan didn't generate very much. They spent a lot of time in the Canadian half, but couldn't generate a lot of chances, and didn't do well finishing the ones they had. Part of the problem is the poor service from the wings--Hejduk's crossing was particularly bad in this regard--but also another weirdly passive performance from Eddie Johnson.

One thing I would try if I were Bob Bradley is switch Dempsey and Donovan's positions. I think Donovan works better as a second striker than in the right of that box midfield, where he has to make a choice between isolating himself from the game or sacrficing natural width. Striker is not Dempsey's best position, although that being said, it says a lot about our performance that he's been the best of our strikers this tournament.

Comic highlight: Donovan falling over after beating the keeper... simply magic. A not distant second: Bradley fils' red card tackle. Darkest moment: Bocanegra's tackle on De Guzman.

We'll see if the US can lift their game against brave minnows Mexico, who valiantly slew mighty football power Guadeloupe 1-0 in the other semi, and who in general have had a similarly anemic tournament to that of the US. But in a way, I'm more looking forward to Copa America, where the US will have an experimental squad, against more dangerous opponents. In that difficult crucible, we might find some importnat ingredients for the start of qualifying next year: especially at striker and attacking midfield.

Gold Cup semis

In about three hours, the first of the Gold Cup semifinals kicks off as USA plays Canada. I'll be pulling for the country of birth of course, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if Canada wins this tonight. I think that if the US has the same lackadaisical finishing and general languidness they've had throughout the tournament, Canada will go through, maybe on penalties. Having an evening kickoff might help, as will having Feilhaber back. However Ives Galarcep says that Feilhaber won't be there, and that Bradley will prefer the more defensive Bradley-fils. Maybe. But Bradley also said that the US was more comfortable in 4-4-2, and if you have Mastroeni, do you really need another holding midfielder? I suspect Mastroeni and Feilhaber are central, with Dempsey and Twellman up top.

As for the other game, surely Guadeloupe can't beat Mexico as well? God, that would be awesome. I assume that 4-0 Mexico would be a more realistic prediction

Vive les Guadeloupiens!

Bonsoir from Montreal! It's Real Madrid who have captured the world's headlines of course, but while you're out at your local tapas restaurant in your number 23 shirt, raise a glass of sangria for Guadeloupe, who improbably swatted down Honduras, guaranteeing a semi-final date against Mexico. The article raises the too funny possibility that if Guadeloupe win the Gold Cup, they won't actually be able to play in the Confederations Cup, since they aren't actually FIFA members. Apparently, this will cause the FIFA-9000 super computer to suffer a critical systems error, which will precipitate a massive implosion that will level Paris and render the Earth uninhabitable. Either that or they'll just award the Confed Cup spot to the runners up.

US-Panama

My full match report will be posted on the mothership later this weekend, but a few isolated thoughts.

I'd like Panama a lot more if they didn't combine some pretty intense physical play with whining incessantly every time they are called on it. Throw in the rolling around on the ground after every contact, and you have an unpalatable brew. In trying to throw the US off their rhythm, I think they managed to psyche themselves out instead. Hilariously, the Panamanian coach was still at it after the game, claiming that the referee was thirty yards away and the penalty was unfair. Son, I was a hundred fifty yards away and it looked pretty obvious to me.

That said, they're a dangerous team, and maybe deserved better in this game. They got their best results when they picked up on Bornstein, who looked shaky when put under direct pressure. Not the best outing for him. If Panama stop the ref-gaming, they'll be a fun team to watch when qualifers begin. Perez in particular was always a threat.

It was another kind of drowsy performance for the US. Donovan and Twellman seemed to be competing for who could waste the most chances. Most of the team seemed to be at 80% speed. Even Mastroeni's shin-crunching tackles were doled out with langor. I'd kind of like to see the US fall behind against Canada just to see how they would respond. Has the US even been behind in the Bradley era yet? I forget.

When it comes to swag, CONCACAF beat MLS hands down. After supplying my 2007 stationary needs earlier this week, there were free t-shirts for the quarterfinals. I even stole an extra one, since they were littering the press box. My wife said they look hideous, but I think this electric blue works for me.

Oh! Canada.

So yesterday I made a lot of Gold Cup predictions, but the one I was most confident of was that the Canada-Guatemala game would like watching an expanded version of Heaven's Gate: violent and more or less unwatchable. Therefore, I dallied before coming to Gillette. I mowed the lawn. I did some dishes. I walked out to get a zeppole. So when I arrived I was rather shocked to find that Canada dominated this game, winning 3-0, and outshooting Guatemala 8-1 in what was essentially a home game for the Chapines. Go Canada! I just heard the press conference, and the Guatemalan coach sounded utterly stunned.

I think Canada has a decent shot in 08 qualifying. They have a good young squad. Toronto FC is going to give some squad players some decent match experience. They'll probably have Radzinzki back for qualifying--he's past his best but still can do damage in this region. What they'll need to do is demonstrate they can get results in Central America.

Your goal hero today was Ali Gerba, whom I had never heard of, but who apparently once played for the late Miami Fusion.