USA-Venezuela

Last night I watched an interesting and rather entertaining friendly match between the USA and Venezuela. As this is not season for FIFA encounters, both teams largely played with their reserve side, but it was interesting nevertheless, as both nations are in a very good process of preparing for their World Cup qualifiers under two very good coaches, Cesar Farias from Venezuela and (the German) Jurgen Klinsmann from the USA.

Venezuela played rather more defensively, basing their match on occassional counterattacks. But Venezuela did nevertheless seem shaky in defense, and in particular the air game was giving them problems; Venezuela's defense is very vulnerable without Vizcarrondo and Amorebieta.

On the other hand, the USA was more interesting. Klinsmann wants to attack, as well as try new young players, and they tried this in the match, with mixed results: they missed many chances, but in the end, in the very last seconds of the match, pulled home a 1-0 victory on a goal by Ricardo Clark, the Eintracht Frankfurt defender.

It was a good match, with a bit too much drama for the lack of importance of the match, but I think it was more useful for Klinsmann than for Farias.

Finally, I had thought that no commentators in the world were as bad as the Danish ones, but I must say that the Venezuelan commentators are...