Fern Mc Costigan: March 2016

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

In Columbus its the Stars and Stripes Rule

They’re’ back with an absolute authority and as always unbeatable on their sacred turf called Mapfre Stadium, so far here, the Boys of the USMNT has become a force not to be reckon with.

It happened in Columbus, Ohio where our Boys from the Stars and Stripes showed off their mettle and awakened once again a dormant giant.

I mean a raucous and convincing win over the Chapines of Guatemala, where the Yanks got even and sent a very clear message that this squad is for real and for Manager Jurgen Klinsmann that his work is far from over.

With a new lineup and a 4-3-3 formation, that sent three attacking strikers in Clint Dempsey, Bobby Wood and Gyasi Zardes, that at the end this formula became the right one.

Very well, in the defensive back, with substantial moves that proved valuable with Geoff Cameron, Deandre Yedlin and Edgar Castillo repeating in the lineup and with new starter in Steve Birnbaum.

These moves prove fruitful and accurate for the German Boss, who handed the responsibilities to Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzan who had a field day under his posts, thanks to his defensive foursome.

This time Galaxy defender Omar González and Xolos Michael Orozco did not get the call as well, Manager Klinsmann decided to start De Andre Yedlin in his backfield versus last week as a winger.

In addition, a great set of moves that really paid off for the Team USA, with Ethan Finlay, Jozi Altidore and Christian Pulisic, that these changes became fruitful.

Inspired, hungry was the American attack with Clint Dempsey opening the scores, followed by Geoff Cameron, Graham Zusi and Jozi Altidore that contribute for the all-American rout.

The midfield had its changes with Michael Bradley as the starter again with Kyle Beckerman and Graham Zusi getting the call and seeing an improvement in this area of the field.

Not only in the midfield but every corner of the field the Yanks played like there was no tomorrow and in every play lost they recovered with style and offensively their aggressiveness and character showed off their winning attitude.

Very well seeing once again how things are done and with an all-around winning mentality as they did the whole ninety minutes of this match and putting on a show as well teaching their Guatemalan counterparts a lesson in pure Red, White and Blue football.

The next compromises for Team USA are until September with matches pending with Trinidad and Tobago leading the group and against modest St. Vincent and Grenadines; the USMNT has all the elements to net its pass.

Seeing itself netting its pass without any complications into the next competition of the Hexagonal, where the top three squads’ of CONCACAF qualify for the upcoming World Cup and the fourth place plays a sort of playoff with a representative of Oceania.

For now Manger Klinsmann did the ultimate to net a very valuable win with his Boys and now focus in their September compromises as well be forming the squad that will compete in the always-contested Hexagonal.

Something that the Stars and Stripes squad can easily net its pass into the next world cup as well, although the competition in its Confederation of play seems every time more disputed point per point, this squad can and will net its pass.

Crest Credit and Property of US Soccer Federation 2016

Photos Credit and Property of © USA TODAY, Associated Press, ESPN and Major League Soccer 2016

Monday, March 28, 2016

A mighty Norn Iron showing off its mettle

Feisty and ambitious is what Manager Michael O’Neill has created in the North Ireland national squad that after a win this afternoon at Windsor Park, extend its unbeaten streak to 10.

Playing a friendly in front of their faithful and showing off a nice game and winning by the minimum difference, was enough to convince anyone that the Green and White Army is for real and ready for business.

Yes, that Euro 2016 business, after all both of the Emerald Isle squads made into this prestigious and one of a kind tourney, where the best of Europe and finest in football play this event to net the maximum of this continent ultimate of glories.

Playing a not so easy Slovakian national squad, this already qualified of the grand fete, the Norn Iron really had its hands full and a Manager in Michel O’ Neill already having his strategies and set initial eleven, he decided to test his luck.

The surprise he got when the hero of the game became a lad by the name of Conor Washington, the Queens Park Ranger striker who took the challenge and responded to his Boss call and scoring the lone goal for a raucous win.

After his score and getting the whole nation and especially the whole of Belfast in a brilliant and festive mood, thanks to alone score and making the Norn Iron as an all-around favorite to be in this event next stages.

A very disputed game and filled with heroics, after all another hero surged with the Irish goalie stopping cold in its tracks a penal shoot by Slovakia’s Milivoje Novakovic in the 63^rd, lifting Roy Carroll to the occasion.

Still the afternoon despite being for Conor, for the Tuaisceart Éireann keeper Carroll was an easy afternoon under his posts and denying all sorts of attacks sent by the Slovakian manager to try to even the score.

Something that the Green and White Army prevailed with a backfield and a inspired initial eleven looking forward to continue the streak alive as well the momentum going into one of their toughest challenges as a national squad.

Slovakia was not to the hype or the level that the Norn Iron will come across in the upcoming Euro championships, when they face a toughened Poland, Ukraine and Germany.

Indeed, if you said it don’t come easy, you are right but at the end there is no such thing than and easy foe and the Boys from Northern Eire will prevail if they continue exhibiting this type of football played from the heart.

Those hardened chaps are showing a one of a kind mettle and fighting spirit to make a possible historic and much remembered presentation in the upcoming edition of Euro 2016, imagine an all-Irish final, it can happen!

For now, the Norn Iron is one amazing squad that since the early knock out rounds showed off its determination and ambition to shine under the direction of Boss O’ Neill, this squad is for real.

Crest Credit and Property of Telegraph Media Group 2016

Photos Credit and Property of © Rex Features, Getty Images and Reuters 2016

Are the winds of change coming to the US Men’s National Team?

Maybe, after dropping a heartbreaker and stunned in Guatemala City by its National squad, this match put in evidence many much needed changes for the Stars and Stripes Boys.

Seeded in-group stage with Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and Grenadines, the USMNT could not ask for such an easy group and cruise in this stage of CONCACAF’s first phase of elimination play.

For the USMNT the prospects of elimination can be disastrous in many ways, as eyes prey on the Stars and Stripes Boys currently playing for their advancement into the next rounds.

As this group so far has the Trinitarians in first place with seven points, Guatemala after the win over the Yanks puts them at six, USMNT with four and St Vincent in last place with zero points.

The unfortunate side of the coin is when you underestimate your competition and hence the frustrating results, something Team USA did recently with an inspired Guatemalan squad.

Now the Americans after a long 30 years of being the governing squad over the Chapines, suddenly these turned the tables and gave the Americans an awful and humiliating lesson.

Still this result shows off how a confused Team USA playing a not so amazing football that once put this squad in the top of their confederation of play as well labeled as the new giant.

Now is struggling to perform a decent game in the field as well show off the doctrine and style implemented by their Boss Jurgen Klinsmann since his arrival at the helm of the US squad.

For this match Manager Klinsmann had a squad composed of seven players playing in Europe, 5 from the Mexican League and 10 from Major League Soccer.

In his initial eleven the Boss implemented a 4-4-2 and with Everton’s man defending the goal posts in Tim Howard, his four backfield men were Geoff Cameron from Stoke City, Xolos Michael Orozco, Galaxy Omar Gonzalez and Monterrey Edgar Castillo.

His midfield with two European players in Sunderland’s De Andre Yedlin and Nantes Alejandro Bedoya accompanied by Toronto Michael Bradley and NYCFC Mix Diskerud and in the front with Union Berlin’s Bobby Wood and Seattle Clint Dempsey.

A perfect lineup and a competitive one, mixing players from European leagues along with the Mexican and American league, three different styles of game, at the end the Americans little they could do to generate something spectacular.

Despite the moves done at the end by Manager Klinsmann who brought in Jozi Altidore, Darlington Nagbe and Gyazi Zardes, their efforts just went in vain.

Still with a game scheduled on 3/29 at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio and a chance for the Stars and Stripes to gain some ground on first place, the Trinitarians have a match pending against the US at home.

In the upcoming matches for Team USA, it is very important to start accumulating important wins and add points to their favor in order to advance to the knockout round of six that nets three spots for the CONCACAF squads.

For now, the future of the USMNT is pending with the result at Columbus; here the US Federation will have to make the necessary changes if Stars and Stripes do not deliver a positive result.

Will the US Federation make the moves before it is too late, this question to be asked after the Columbus match.

Crest Credit and Property of US SOCCER FEDERATION 2016

Sunday, March 27, 2016

England looking sharp and the likely prospects of dominance at Euro 2016

Roy Hodgson’s squad is showing a top class game and personality as a squad that will become hard to beat in this upcoming Euro 2016.

Once again, it happened in Berlin Olympiastadion where the Three Lions squad’s has found a place to perform one excellent football and putting once again an awesome spectacle.

Yes, it happened in Berlin, were one of the most shocking of wins in the core of Germany’s utmost and most respected national squad in the world of soccer, very well the reigning champions in the last edition of the world cup.

Once again, the English Lions came and defeated a squad that at times look a bit disorganized and never showed its patience that has net those important achievements in the world stages.

Still Germany opened up the hostilities in the end of the first half and in the 43^rd minute with a shoot outside the area by Tony Kross defeating England’s goalie Jack Butland in the 43 minute.

Breaking the ice and a score at zero goals, as in the second half came once again the wisdom of Mario Gomez header giving the German squad an absolute lead that was going to be the final score of this match.

Wrong they were at the end, because no one foresaw how the new wave of English players are becoming a bit overzealous and not giving up so easily, ask that to a Spurs trio making all-around headlines.

Still this squad managed by a genius of the game in Joachim Loew and already qualified for Euro 2016 in this match considered as a simple tune up and a friendly too, measuring both squad’s strengths and weaknesses.

A match for the ages and simply an exhibition, but what a display of the game many of us call beautiful because both squads really showed up a precious one minute by minute along with their might and as they state, the best one won!

Especially a very inspired Roy Hodgson’s squad looking a bit like old times and for England return of its might once lost and new generation of footballers playing with such hunger that the old guard is looking a bit worried of losing their jobs.

Absolutely England is looking very determined to make all sorts of headlines in the upcoming Euro 2016 with this football exhibited without a rout but with a fighting resilience that many of its rivals in this tourney would not like to encounter.

If the English Federation wants to let Manager Hodgson’s leave, they will be a bunch of fools, because this man has given an identity to this club and thanks to the new generation of bosses in Premiership.

The new wave of talent seen clearly, ask that to Delle Alli making awesome plays in the midfield, seeing a determined Harry Kane net the first goal and along with future Leicester City champion Jamie Vardy netting the second and Eric Dier who netted the winner!

Being the Three Lions squad is playing a defiant and never giving up in its desire to excel despite the final score of 3-2 and thanks to 3 Spurs who with their play style really overcome the odds and won it dramatically.

A very raucous win whenever these two play as a sort of European Derby and lifts the nerves of any soccer aficionado when they see a match of this caliber between these two titans.

At the end, these titans showed off many flaws in one of the most vulnerable and important areas of any initial eleven, its defensive backfield that in the Germans side really saw the effects of father time and the English its rookie type of play.

Credit Roy Hodgson’s honesty since day one after taking over the Three Lions squad after admitting that in the World Cup his squad not shine, but with time we have seen a certain growth and a new personality in the English player like no other.

If England continues with this hardened and fighting stance, the prospects and outlook as a National team look very favorable in years to come, for now their next step is Euro 2016.

Crest Credit and Property of Getty Images and BBC Sports 2016