U.S. needs to be at its best to stay with top-rated Spain
Jay DeMerit tells us a lot about the U.S. soccer team's place in the world today.
DeMerit's story is one of overcoming the odds. The Green Bay native rose from soccer oblivion - college ball at UIC, then, when MLS didn't want him, he headed to England and started at the lowest levels before climbing rung by rung into the English Premier League with Watford.
Last week DeMerit started at center back for the U.S. men in the Confederations Cup and likely will again Wednesday in the Cup semifinals against Spain if Carlos Bocanegra isn't healthy.
Egypt has nobody like him, and that's why the Americans won 3-0 Sunday to - sorry, it has to be said - overcome the odds and reach the semifinals.
But it has to be said Italy and Brazil have nobody like him either, and that's why the Americans lost to both and have yet to crash the world's elite. That's not a slam at DeMerit, just recognition that the Italy and Brazil First XIs are chock full with brand names, guys who were somebodies even when they were teens, and now they play for the best clubs in the world.
Look at the U.S. lineup. Jozy Altidore can't get playing time with second-division Xerez. Charlie Davies labors in Sweden. Landon Donovan's trial with Bayern Munich didn't work out. Freddy Adu, the next great hope of American soccer, hasn't found a home yet in Europe and can't work his way into the U.S. lineup.
It will take more time and more patience before the U.S. can consistently play on even terms with teams like Spain, Brazil and Italy.
Calls to replace coach Bob Bradley are misguided. He should be allowed to take this team back to South Africa next year. Replacing him now would only put the United States on even terms with Mexico, a step backward.
Bradley made a few mistakes last week, but the bottom line is this group of players can only hang tough with Spain if it plays its best.
Please set Clint Dempsey's alarm clock now. With the exception of his goal against Egypt, Dempsey failed to create much.
He wasn't alone. DaMarcus Beasley showed injury has robbed him of a step, and he will need time, hopefully, to regain it. He didn't belong on this roster.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard looked timid and uncertain against Italy and Brazil. Replacing him with Brad Guzan on Sunday was a smart move by Bradley.
Sacha Kljestan and Ricardo Clark have a propensity to pick up dumb cards, and they did nothing to change that reputation by earning reds and leaving their teammates short-handed. They have to be smarter.
There were bright spots. Jonathon Spector and Jonathon Bornstein look like the outside backs of the future, just lacking a little consistency. Oguchi Onyewu was a force in the middle of the back line, and DeMerit played well too. Landon Donovan showed leadership with a work rate that kept things from getting worse against Brazil and Italy.
To reach the Cup finals, all of these players will need to be at their best against No. 1-ranked Spain on Wednesday. They will need to play smart, stay on their feet and get a little bit of luck.
As DeMerit's story reminds us, you should never count them out.
oschwarz@dailyherald.com