Shep Messing, who was a teammate of Pele on the New York Cosmos and goalkeeper on the 1972 Olympic squad, will give Post readers his insights and opinions periodically during the World Cup. Messing also serves as MSG Network’s New York Red Bulls analyst and is calling World Cup games for ESPN Radio. As told to Brian Lewis.
Forget a tie.
Jurgen Klinsmann would love nothing more than to beat the hell out of Germany.
We’ve all heard about whether Klinsmann and Germany coach Joachim Loew will arrange a draw.
I don’t think there’s any chance of that.
Believe me, this is not a new subject. I just think there’s nothing in the world Klinsmann would rather do than beat Germany this week. And I don’t think Loew is going to do the U.S. any favors. This is not 1982 West Germany and Austria.
These guys are so bonded together I don’t think they would ever contemplate it. On the contrary, I think Jurgen Klinsmann would love nothing more than to beat the hell out of Germany. I don’t think there’s any way. Jurgen may go overboard.
They’re in great shape to go through as it is. But he’s so nuts, this game I can see him going the other way, starting Chris Wondolwski and Aron Johannsson in the lineup. I don’t think he’s going to be cautious at all going into this game.
What’s Germany’s strength? Their strength is in the attacking third. If they have a weakness, it’s in the defensive part of the midfield and in the back. Who knows tactically what Klinsmann will do, but I think he’ll go out and attack.
If they sit back and try to defend all game, let Germany have the ball and put crosses in, they’re going to score. So they have to take it to Germany.
I was horrified by how badly the U.S. blew it defensively against Portugal. I hosted a viewing party at Walt Frazier’s restaurant – they have a deal with the Cosmos to do parties for every World Cup game – and it was packed. And I was just horrified by how badly they blew it.
You can always say four points should get the U.S. out of the group. And Klinsmann did everything right, but some of his players failed him. Now they have to go out and get it done on Thursday.
They could’ve killed off the Portugal game easily. DeAndre Yedlin in the corner, Michael Bradley — he had a much better game than he did against Ghana – but that’s a bonehead play by him. I don’t care if he loses the ball; tackle the guy and get a red card, miss the next game if you have to. That’s a mental mistake.
We all make mistakes. But Bradley had a terrible first touch; when he lost the ball he should’ve literally reached out with both arms and tackled him. They really played a great game. But, to me, you’ve got to win that game.
Bradley, I don’t know what to do with him.
The problem is, Kyle Beckerman has played well, Jermaine Jones had been fantastic. Bradley needs something; I’d contemplate giving him a rest. I’d sit him.
The odds are we’re going to get through. Ghana has got to win by a couple of goals, or Portugal has got to get five. I’d sit him and bring him on in the second half.
I’d do it to motivate him, get him out of his funk, let him know, “Michael, you’re not the man, it’s not all on your shoulders.” He’s got to get this burden off his shoulders, this feeling that as he goes the team goes.
I’d do that, leave Kyle and Jermaine where they are, throw in Mix Diskerud and let Michael know the weight of the world isn’t riding on his shoulders. Tell him: “We’re going to get out of the group. We need you back for good when we do.”