by Sean Heffernan

Its certainly very exciting times in the world of soccer as qualification for World Cup 2010 concluded with high drama. David Beckham and Landon Donovan look to capture their first MLS Cup and the US Men's National Team suffered two disappointing defeats in Europe. There's certainly plenty to think about in this edition of Five Thoughts on the Beautiful Game.

1. Ireland Cheated Out of World Cup 

Ireland’s National Football team was within grasp of what would have been one of the biggest athletic victories in the country’s history until Thierry Henry’s handball in extra time gave France a much undeserved goal crushing the Irish’s dreams of South Africa.

It was a disgrace to see Ireland get their hearts ripped out by an appalling decision on the referee’s part. Ireland captain Robbie Keane and his comrades in green left every ounce of sweat in their bodies on the pitch on Wednesday night against a French team that was obviously more talented.

When FIFA announced that they would not order a replay of the Ireland-France match citing all referees decisions are final according to their rule back no one surprised as the world wide football organization rarely gets things right ever. It would be a toss up between the United Nations and FIFA for Earth’s most incompetent global organizational body.

Even Thierry Henry admitted he used his hand to knock down the ball and that the fairest thing to do in this situation is to play another game. The honorable thing for France to do is to offer to play a replay on their own accord, but the Irish shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for that to happen. Would the Irish do the same for the French if they advanced on an obvious hand ball? I seriously doubt it.

Nonetheless this will go down as one of the biggest stories of the year in world football as the controversy is even garnering attention in America. The Prime Ministers of Ireland and France have even engaged in talks over the tensions between their countries over the controversy.  

This travesty proves that something as big as a possible World Cup berth should never be decided by something as unjust as human error. FIFA needs to write new rules for the future that enforces video technology into World Cup matches to prevent anything like what took place in the Stade de France last Wednesday from ever happening again.

2.  USMNT Riddled with Question Marks

The US Men’s National Team suffered two defeats on their trip to Europe against Slovakia and Denmark. For both friendlies the squad sorely missed important starters in Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Jose Francisco Torres, and Oguchi Onyweu who could not participate for various reasons. In Bratislava the US played a sloppy game with Slovakia which was ultimately decided when left Jonathan Borenstein committed foul in the US’s penalty boxing setting a penalty kick. The Slovaks converted the penalty winning the game 1-0.

The US had very little creativity in attack and had few real chances in the loss. Against Denmark the US jumped out to 1-0 lead in the first half on an impressive left footed goal from 33 year old MLS journeyman Jeff Cunningham. In the second half however, the US did not come out of the locker room mentally prepared for the Danish attack as the Danes scored 3 goals in eight minutes embarrassing Coach Bob Bradley’s side.

The most troubling aspect of the two losses was how the real problems on team were not addressed in these games. Bradley's experiement of playing Jonathan Spector at center back went haywire as the 24 year old (who traditionally plays at right back) looked completely out of sync with Carlos Bocanegra in during the Danes' three goal scoring spree.

When Bradley put in Clarence Goodson and Jimmy Conrad the US defense steadied making me wonder why the coach put Spector in that situation instead of giving experience to two players who play that position exclusivly with their club teams.

At left back Borenstien played all of both games when that position is in desperate need of improvement as was evident by the Borenstein penalty. Left back Edgar Castillo got his first US cap against Denmark coming on as subsitute, but for some reason Bradley played the speedy Mexican American as a left sided midfielder when every US fan watching wanted to see what the kid could do at left back.

I like what Bob Bradley has done with US team creating a unified group that believes in their head coach's system, but I was truly disappointed and frustrated over the defeats in Slovakia and Denmark. The US now must answer glaring questions both up front and in the back with the World Cup only six months away.

3. The Search for a Striker Continues

 The injury of Chalrie Davies in a tragic car crash in October will likely rule out the burgeoning star leaving the USMNT without a imposing threat at forward. Prior to the accident Davies was scoring goals for both club and country and giving defenders headaches with his blistering speed and quickness. Now the US must find a replacement for Davies if they want to improve upon their 2006 World Cup appearancewhere they only scored two goals.

Jozy Altidore has looked anything like the prodigy striker he looked like at this past summer’s Confederations Cup where he scored a crucial goal over number one ranked Spain in the US's historic upset. Altidore is a forward in desperate need of a goal as his confidence looks to be hurting.

The best thing the kid has going for him is his natural god given physical ability and it’s disheartening to see him trotting all over the field looking like he’s just out there for a jog. Until the 19 year old regains his confidence Bradley should leave Altidore out of the starting 11.

Jeff Cunningham, the lone goal scorer for the Americans on their trip to Europe, looked the only real threat up top for the US creating number of goal scoring opportunities in his 60 plus minutes against Denmark. Cunningham led MLS in goals this season including one four goal game against the Kansas City Wizards that grabbed national headlines. The 33 year old striker for FC Dallas is in form and could be the goal machine the US so desperatly need.

Outside of Connor Casey’s two huge goals against Honduras that qualified the US for the World Cup in October, the Colorado Rapids man hasn’t done much in a national team kit to ensure him a reoccurring role in the starting 11. Casey scored 16 goals this season in MLS to finish second in the race for the golden boot behind Cunningham. Like his fellow MLSer Cunningham, if Casey continues to score goals he’ll continue to be considered for the US, but he needs to do better job taking advantage of the opportunities he’s given with the national team.

Out of form Eddie Johnson looked like a man who hadn’t seen the pitch in ages which made sense as he has barely played at all for Fulham in the EPL this season. The inclusion of Johnson left many a US Soccer fan scratching their head why Bradley would bring in a player as cold as Johnson into the national team.

I’m still puzzled why Bradley didn’t call in Kenny Cooper who plays for 1860 Munich in Germany even though he has been getting more playing time than Altidore or Johnson has in Europe. Cooper’s critics have often pointed to fact that he doesn’t play as stereotypical holding forward despite being 6 ft 3. The former FC Dallas goal scorer has netted twice already in German League matches while Altidore has only scored one goal in England in a FA Cup match.

 In the Gold Cup this summer Bradley used Cooper mostly in a substitute role where he made the most of his time on the field scoring two goals in the tournament. To add further insult to injury, Cooper himself was injured a few days ago training with 1860 Munich and will be out for three weeks.

 Brian Ching and Robbie Findley also will have their chances to fight for the two starting forward spots as the position battle is far from over.

4. MLS Cup: Can David Beckham Finally Conquer America?

After two miserable seasons in Los Angeles, Becks and the LA Galaxywill be playing for the MLS Cup on Sunday (8:30 ET, ESPN) at Qwest Field in Seattle, WA. The Galaxy will face off against under dogs Real Salt Lake who upset Columbus and Chicago to make it to the Emerald City. Beckham has been a sensation for the Galaxy in the midfield since returning from his loan deal from AC Milan last summer.

In the opening round of the playoffs against Chivas USA Beckham catapulted a bending pass from the halfway line that faked out the camera man as well as a streaking Landon Donovan. Even though Donovan was unable to score on the goal, Beckham's pass was world class proving the former England captain still has some magic left.

I attended Real Salt Lake's penalty shoot out win over the Chicago Fire at Toyota Parklast Saturday night and one thing I noticed about RSL was how defenders Jamison Olave, Nat Bochers, and Robbie Russell were dominating the Chicago Fire's attack. You just got the sense that there was no way the Fire were going to score. The speed of 2009 MLS MVP Landon Donovan could open more space for the Galaxy against RSL then there was for the Fire, but expect Sunday's game to be low scoring.

5. The World Cup Finals is Set

Here is the list of the 32 countries that will compete in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Africa - Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa

Asia - Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea

Europe - Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland

North America - Honduras, Mexico, United States

Oceania - New Zealand

South America - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay

My early favorite to win the World Cup is Brazil. The Samba Kings are the most talented, deepest team in international football hands down. When you have players like Ronaldhino and Diego unable to even make the roster you really should be the best in the world.

What are your thoughts on the beautiful game? Leave comments below.

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by Sean Heffernan

A large percentage of US soccer fans have heralded 23 year old Edgar Castillo as the next left back for the national team without the Mexican-American ever making a appearance for the Stars & Stripes. FIFA recently approved Castillo's request to play for the United States instead of Mexico (for who he appeared four times in international friendlies) making him available to play in next summer's World Cup for the USA.
 
The left footed speedster plays for Mexican club Tigres alternating between fullback and midfielder. Currently, the left back job for the USMNT is in the hands of Chivas USA's Jonathan Borenstein who scored the game tying header in the Americans' final World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica last month. However,  a month prior to being the hero Borenstein had played the goat making a embarrassing mistake against El Salvador that resulted in a goal and put the US in a tough spot 1-0 before their came back to win 2-1. To say the least if the US invite Castillo into the team the fight for the left back spot is far from over.
 
Castillo was unable to be called for the US's Saturday friendly against Slovakia (10 ET, FSC) because of club commitments, but it is suspected that he may receive a call up for the US's match against Denmark the following Wednesday. I had watched Castillo play on Telemundo with Tigres on a number occasions, but I decided to check out last weekend's match against Atlante to gauge his current form and analyze what the New Mexico born footballer could bring to the US National Team.
 
I was disappointed in the first half as Castillo played mostly in a left midfield position, but it was apparent right from the first whistle that one thing this kid has is speed. Early on you could tell Castillo had an itch to get involved in the attack floating forward to the left of Tigres' Brazilian striker Itamar almost playing as attacking winger. Time and time again in the first half the 23 year old would explode down the left with the ball and go fearlessly at the Atlante defenders.

On a number of occasions  Castillo got the ball taken from him or took a wild shot when he should have laid off a pass to a teammate, but as a US fan you have to love his confidence. There wasn't another player on the field with his pace. Eventually in the first half the USMNT hopeful calmed down and began making more intelligent passes. In the 36th minute his cross was batted down by the hand of an Atlante defender in the box setting up a penalty kick that put Tigres ahead 2-0.
 
In the second half with a two goal lead, Castillo played more in a left back role. I was pleased to see on a number of plays when Atlante attackers challenged Castillo down the left, he used his pure speed to run them down and clear the ball out of danger. As the game progressed Atlante went down two men from red cards and the game shifted heavily in Tigres favor. In the 71st minute Castillo hoped on a loose ball and dribbled through three layers of Atlante defenders before kicking the ball past the helpless keeper. The Atlante defenders just ran out of gas after being attacked all night by Castillo and playing down two men. Tigres finished the game 4-0 large in part to the young American's unbridled attack.

I can't think of anyone in the US's player pool that goes at defenders like Castillo. In both good and bad ways he attacks like a Brazilian. One of his biggest attributes and biggest flaws is that he's unafraid to be greedy with the ball. There were four or five plays where Castillo should have made a more unselfish play, but he never would have scored a goal like the one he scored if he didn't have that aggressive mentality.

 I'd like to see a game where he plays the full 90 at left back and see how he does. Bradley also could use him on the left as a midfielder if he wanted some speed out wide, but the US have had success starting Landon Donovan in that position and don't see his role changing any time soon.

For Castillo to thrive in a left back role he would have to learn more restraint of bombing forward all the time, but it's hard deny the kind of potential the kid has. This Saturday Castillo's Tigres face off against fellow American Jose Francisco Torres's Pachuva at 6 PM ET on Telefutura.

 Hopefully, Bradley will call in Castillo in for the Denmark friendly as time is precious before next summer's World Cup and if in fact Castillo is good enough to compete for a spot on the national team then he needs to incorporated into the team as quickly as possible. Only time will tell if Edgar Castillo can become a pivotal figure for US Soccer, but from what I saw last Saturday fans have good reason to be excited.

Do you think Edgar Castillo can win the left back job? Leave your comments below.

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