the Clint Mathis factor

So today is a new day, and as the adage will tell, the turning of a new leaf. However, it seems that the United States national futball team has decided to stay hidden under its perennial cellar dwelling leaf again this year. The fact that the United States has not gotten serious about soccer til recenty is indesputable. But, the display of this year's team fell way below the precedent set four years ago in the far east.

In three games the U.S. looked like three different teams. The first game against the Czech Republic the U.S. looked like children playing against their fathers. Pavel Nedved led a Czech team that looked more like a pefectly aged wine than a moldy slice of bread. The ineptness of the Americans was exposed in the ninth minute and then again routinely throughout the match. They shaped up against Italy, and should have won. Unfortunately they ended with a tie. However, somehow they came out flat once again against the Black Stars of Ghana. They were outplayed at midfield and except for one or two dazzling chances really mounted no formidable attack.

Now, it must be mentioned that there were a great deal of uncontrollable circumstances that led to the U.S.'s demise. Namely, John O'Brien who is a brilliant midfielder was out for the duration of the WC. Also, the absence of Eddie Pope and Pablo Mastroeni for the Ghana game were huge losses. However, none of these reasons suffice to explain the U.S. difficulties.

Eric Wynalda, an ESPN anchor made the acute observation that Bruce Arena's 4-5-1 deserves a great deal of blame for the anemic offense that the U.S. displayed. Now, there are all sorts of questions surrounding Arena's juggling of his lineup: perhaps, Eddie Johnson should have been in more, perhaps he should have changed up the formation to put more forwards up. All of these what if's surround the team and their disappointing meltdown in Germany.

No matter what the questions are; there are a few observations that are undeniable. In 2002, when the U.S. made their great run Landon Donovan was explosive. He had room to make runs and get in behind the defense. The reason he was able to do so was because of the Clint Mathis factor. Mathis was an instrumental player for the '02 Cup run as he was the leg. He had the cannon that kept defenses honest. Opposing defenses simply could not jam in the 18, because Clint could bury the hatchet from well beyond the goal box. This year's team had no "strikers." Our only forward was McBride who is a great player, but whose forte happens to be his aerial ability. Every successful team has a player, or players who keep defenses honest by unloading shots from outside. The United States did not have that player and this allowed defenses to scrunch in and jam up running lanes - cutting off Donovan, Convey, Beasley, Dempsey and Lewis from playing the type of games they are accustomed to playing.

This is not a hard concept. It is also not a foreign concept to Americans. Think about the effect of a three point shooter in basketball, a deep threat WR in football. All of these are vital parts to a team so that they can stretch out the defense and create room to make plays. the likelihood of a "deep threat" scoring is rather slim, but they open the field for plays to be made. That is the Clint Mathis effect, and that is one reason the United States struggled so mightily in this World Cup.

Another factor that is a little more difficult to diagnose is the service from the midfield. Many soccer fans hail Claudio Reyna as an American hero, which in many ways, he is. However this world cup, the United States struggled mightily in the midfield. They most definitely held their own against Italy in what was an inspired match. However, it is now obvious that as the midfield goes, so goes the U.S. team. Much like the Clint Mathis factor there is a midfield factor that was absent for this year's national team. Midfield is the most important position on the field because they control the ball for the majority of the game. The midfield is very much the offensive line in football. The team that wins the battle of the trenches (the battle of midfield) usually will win the game. Unfortunately for the U.S. the battle of the trenches includes sending attacking crosses from flanks, making smart challenges, and making crisp passes -- all of which the U.S. was unable to do.

This midfield issue is one that needs to be addressed. However, the players are there. The real issue is the one of who plays up front. Brazil has Kaka, who can shoot from anywhere on the field, England has Beckham. These are the players who open creases for great on-ball, or aerial players. Unfortunately Clint Mathis is gone from the U.S. team and there are no explosive shooters on the roster.