Ghana-USA: Tips for the Black Stars I

Here's my scouting report, based on years of watching the uS play:

DaMarcus Beasley

Left-footed player who plays on the wing. Likes to run at defense BUT, cuts into center because he's left-footed. If he's on the left wing, defenders should play him against touchline forcing him to pass back or lose posession. DO NOT LET HIM CUT INTO MIDDLE.

Landon Donovan

Pacy but [...]he doesn't like contact and can be frustrated when he has to either a) work hard for the ball, or b) drop deep to receive and can't find an outlet pass. DO NOT LET HIM GET INTO SPACE BETWEEN MIDFIELD AND DEFENCE. ALSO DO NOT LET HIM GET INTO 18 UNCONTESTED

[from PatrickKluivert@SoccerForum] The people who have to watch him weekly complain he's physically very very weak (falls with everything); he never runs into the space (so yes; he always tries to cut inside) and he is unable to pass some defenders.

Claudio Reyna

Smart but aging. He is a VERY GOOD passer, very smart, and plays impeccable one-two football. DO NOT GIVE HIM TIME TO THINK OR TIME ON THE BALL. CUT of HIS PASSING LANES AND HE WILL PASS BACKWARDS.

[KwabenaDankwa@SoccerForum]: Make sure Reyna does not have the chance to pass or shoot; remember his shot that hit the post against the Czechs.

John O'Brien

ONE OF TWO GUYS WE SHOULD BE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT! Has a VERY cultured left foot and LOVES to chip, dink spray balls to the forwards. He is always looking to release forwards and spring attack.
CUT DOWN HIS PASSING OPTIONS AND MAKE SURE DEFENSE IS AWARE OF FORWARDS' POSITIONS WHEN HE HAS THE BALL.

Eddie Lewis and Bobby Convey:

Small, quick and GREAT CROSSERS of the ball. Like to push to 18 edge and send in dangerous balls. Conveys typically are high, Lewis likes to mix it up. Both like to put their balls at the top of the 6, not further forward or farther back.
Convey gets frustrated quicker! Lewis will re-adjust his game but will become less effective.

Brian McBride

Tall, strong, quick, eye for goal, and has better touch than people give him credit for. If he turns on defenders, he's a handfull. He likes to hold with back to goal, lay it back to his teammate with the best passing options, and then break off to receive the pass.
DO NOT LET HIM TURN ON THE BALL. MAKE HIM PHYSICALLY UNCOMFORTABLE, AND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS FOR 110 MINUTES!!! WITH HIS BACK TO GOAL, HAVE A MIDFIELDER TRACK BACK QUICKLY TO CUT OFF OR DIOSRUPT HIS LAY-BACK PASSES.

Bocanegra

Strong, rugged, good tackler, very combative. But can be beaten off the dribble. Is somewhat hot-headed and brash.

Oguchi Onyewu

Physically strong, good in the air, composed, simple player. Very solid complement to Eddie Pope. Come at him often to shake him, and dribble at him. He's susceptible to committing pushing fouls. Switch balls often, he gets confused.

[Cyrus@SoccerForum]: Onyewu lacks pace

Eddie Johnson

Young, fast, skillfull dribbler and goal-hungry. Also can find the open man very well.
CUT OFF SUPPLY AND WHEN HE'S ON THE BALL, FORCE HIM TO GO TO HIS LEFT!! DOESN'T PLAY IT WELL. LIKES TO PRETEND HE'S GOING ONE WAY THEN QUICKLY SWITCH DO NOT FALL FOR HIS FIRST FEINT OR MOVE, HE ALMOST ALWAYS GOES WITH THE SECOND ONE!

Josh Wolff

Blazing speed...and has become a very good ball handler.
MAKE HIM GO TO SUPPORT PLAYER, AND FORCE HIM TO PASS BACK. MAKE SURE SOMEONE IS READING HIS DROP-OFF PASSES!!!!

Steve Cherundolo

Lovely wingback, small but very neat and crosses very well. High work rate, personal favourite of arena's. He plays to instructions to A TEE! Annoying but effective man-marker.
WHEN HE CHARGES FORWARD, FORCE HIM TO GIVE BALL UP QUICKLY OR HE WILL FIND SOMEONE!!! CAN BE BEATEN OFF THE DRIBBLE, AND BE OUTMUSCLED.

Kasey Keller:

In all honesty makes an argument to be the best keeper on the planet...BAR NONE!! Yes I'm including Buffon, Cech, Cannivares, van Der Saar...and Kingston
Impeccable on high balls, so please play them smart. Covers ground shots BETTER than anyone, has GREAT reflexes, imposing in the 18.
HOWEVER, HE HAS A PROBLEM WITH STRONG HIGH SHOTS, AND WHEN HE COMES OUT, ALWAYS COMMITS ONE WAY SO HE CAN BE BEATEN. DOESN'T MAKE HIMSELF AS "BIG" AS HE CAN WHEN HE COMES OUT. CAN ALSO BE BEATEN TO THE NEAR SIDE IN TIGHT ANGLE SHOTS.

[from kalabuleman@SoccerForum]: Take long distance shots(good ones). Keller strugles with those. long rang shots get most keepers offguard. (look at Rosicky's goal, Keller didnt see it coming)

The US Team

[Umassfun]I have watched the US play in the world cup and before the world cup and their strongest point is when they are overlapping and it is their weakest point as well. They love to overlap from the flanks and at the same time setup four(4) players arranged in a square in the box so that their wingers can float the ball among the four squared players in the box. At the same time anytime they try such a move their defenders tries to join the midfield which make them very suspect in case their attack is cut off. In the game they played against Mor. they tried a similar attack which was cut off and it resulted in the only goal of the game that Mor won.