USA v Czech

So we lost 4-2, which means we aren't gonna do well in the WC. Except that the score mattered this game as much as Drew Carey says it does on Who's Line is it Anyway?. Many players made a good case for themselves, while others may need to start making summer vacation plans. And with only some players only getting one half of playing time, there was not a lot of time to do it:

FIRST HALF

Getting on that plane:

Maurice Edu: Scored a goal thanks to Petr Cech's African goalie impression that left no question as to why over half the goals Chelsea conceded this season were off of set pieces. But Edu was also industrial on defense and did a good job on offense of not being too cautious but still being enterprising.

Stuart Holden: Often Cherundolo would dribble into him, bringing with him three defenders before playing a 6 yard pass to an already marked Holden. Stu did a good job getting out of those situations, and made some runs during the game that weren't just straight down the wing. Good to see him back after the broken fibula.

Brad Guzan: Good to know your back up keeper is ready to step up and play well, even with such a porous defense. Must be taking notes at Aston Villa from one of the best.

Clarence Goodson: Goodson's atheleticism and good anticipation were evident, and he looked more comfortable on his feet than Gooch did. A solid performance from the IK Start halfback.

Needs a second look:

Oguchi Onyewu: Hard to make a verdict on a guy making his first appearance in 7 months, but he definitely looked a step behind and we knew he wouldn't finish the full 90. On the first Czech goal, Gooch jumped as high as Vlade Divac on the attempted header.

Jose Francisco Torres: Didn't see much of the ball, but has shown past spurts of offensive creativity and might not be a bad sub to sit behind the strikers. Needs to work on making a bigger impact on games.

Edson Buddle: Well at least he did better than Eddie Johnson. And didn't scuff any chances.

Probably on a different plane:

Eddie Johnson: Yeah Bob Bradley will probably take Eddie, but he was nearly nonexistent in the game. Torres has some cool magic tricks but Eddie can put on a USA jersey and disappear. A few times we would win possession in an advanced position and instead of trying to use his speed and get behind the defense, Johnson slowed up and dropped behind whichever midfielder had gotten the ball. I mean, come on!

Jonathan Bornstein: He really likes to get forward, just like England's Glen Johnson. The only other thing they have in common is an inability to defend, because Johnson also boasts skills, speed, touch, creativity, and doesn't give the ball away, unlike Johnny B. But at least the Hondurans love Bornstein.

Meanwhile, Deuce, Timmy, Landy D, Bradley Jr and Carlos Blackmouth looked good in the press box in their Nike track suits, with Donovan trying to barter with Bocanegra for his burger.

SECOND HALF:

I heard Hercules Gomez scored or something. Thats a good way to punch your ticket. I say "I heard" because my intended halftime nap lasted till the 87th minute.

All in all, this leaves me looking forward to Turkey and seeing who Bradley puts out there. Today the squad gets cut down to 23 men, and its hard no know whats going on behind those icy blue eyes of his. Just, please, please don't let Connor Casey make the squad.