When the USMNT failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Michael Bradley became a major target of vitriol from U.S. fans. The son of a former coach, Bradley has been booed across the country since that fateful night in Trinidad and Tobago in October of 2017.
Bradley is too slow, too dumb, too useless, the critics say.
But the career Michael Bradley USMNT stats suggest he deserves more respect than he gets.
Just like the USWNT in the Women’s World Cup, the USMNT had to wait a long time to kick off the Gold Cup as the final team to kick off its campaign.
Christian Pulisic was ready.
Pulisic pulled off a filthy elastico to set up an early chance for the U.S. in its Group D opener against Guyana on Tuesday night at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Australia is through to the Round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup as runner-up in Group C after dispatching a spirited Jamaica side 4-1 in Grenoble. All four goals were scored by Sam Kerr, who pulled level with the USWNT’s Alex Morgan in the race for the Golden Boot on five goals. The message to the critics rings louder than ever.
The Copa América has some unconventional participants this year. Due to the small size of the CONMEBOL (10 teams), additional invitees are required in order to create the tournament's typical 12-team structure.
Normally, these spaces would be filled by teams from CONCACAF, but because the Gold Cup is also this summer, CONMEBOL offered the spots to Japan and Qatar of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). So, while certainly unlikely, there is a possibility that Japan or Qatar will be crowned Copa America champion this summer.
Last night, a meeting between Uruguay — eighth-ranked in the world and perhaps the biggest threat to Brazil’s Copa América quest on home soil — and Ecuador was dominated by La Celeste. First half goals from Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani and Nicolás Lodeiro effectively decided the match, especially so since Ecuador was reduced to 10-men in the 24th minute following a José Quinteros red card.
The opening goal from Lodeiro in the sixth minute was excellent, featuring a pinpoint cross from Suárez and a three-touch masterpiece from the Seattle Sounders attacker.
When Lionel Messi declared that Argentina “are not candidates like other times” and that this is a side “going through a process of change,” he wasn’t messing around. The only surprising thing about Argentina’s opening Copa América defeated to Colombia on Saturday night is that Messi himself spurned a glorious opportunity to put La Albiceleste ahead in the 66th minute.
Colombia took full advantage of that miss with Roger Martinez hitting a stunning game-winner in the 71st before Duvan Zapata added the insurance goal in the 86th.
Legendary El Tri star Rafael Marquez recently called into question the importance of the national team to the current crop of players. His remarks are a direct references to players like Chicharito and Hector Herrera choosing not to play for El Tri, along with Carlos Vela, who has a history of rejecting call-ups to the national team.
The U.S. men’s national team’s world standing is plummeting at the same time the women’s national team is soaring. The June FIFA rankings released on Friday saw the USMNT fall six places to 30th in the world, its worst ranking since 2017.