Hand Jobbed

I don't care who you are, that's pretty friggin' cool!

(click the picture for a bigger version)

So, yeah, we didn’t get anything done yesterday because of our respective real jobs. But seeing as how neither of us has won the lottery that takes a wee bit of a priority. Of course there was plenty to talk about from Wednesday and bucking tradition I’m not going to the U.S. game first.

- If I’m not going to the Yanks, of course I’m talking about the Irish not qualifying thanks to Thierry Henry’s “Hand of the Devil.” Nope, I’m not calling it the “Hand of God Pt. 2.” And, well he’s French, so Devil seems more appropriate. The quote that best sums up how I felt Wednesday afternoon comes from Eddie Izzard in Circle: “You Frenchy, froggy, froggy, Frenchy.”

By now you’ve heard that Henry knocked a ball down with his hand, passed it to former Arsenal teammate William Gallas, and poof, the Irish were gone. Yes, like Roy Keane said, it was the defenders’ fault for not clearing the ball, but a French player was also offsides on the play, so really the vitriol that’s been directed towards Henry should be towards the referee and his AR. And Keane comes off as even more of a dick, if that’s possible. However, Ireland also had plenty of other chances and that goal didn’t end the game. They controlled much of the 90-minute game and there was also a sitter in the first leg that was missed which also would have changed the complexion of the tie. But by extra time, they were spent.

So where does that leave us? Even Ireland’s head coach Giovanni Trapattoni has come out against a replay and I can’t see how that would happen even though Henry says it would be fair (I’m not sure he’d agree should he be sent off for the hand ball, though I’d guess it would just be a yellow). I’d say this is going to bring to a head the idea that the three refs on the field and sidelines just aren’t enough, as our buddy Craig Stouffer agrees. Replay is out because this is a fluid sport and there’s no room for that. The best plan in my view is the goal judges currently being tested in the Europa league. Much like the NHL, they sit behind the goal, but in this case also give them power to see plays like this one, or the one a couple of minutes before the handball when Nicolas Anelka clearly dove in an attempt to earn a penalty. (For conspiracy people who think FIFA wanted France in, well that was a much easier way for the referee to “hand” the game to Les Blues.)

Of course I’m still pissed. My Irish-American heritage wanted a pair of teams to root for, which hasn’t happened since ’02. Plus, if you think about it, the Americans have had their best showings when the Irish have been involved as well. Well, Italia ’90 wasn’t the best, but the 1-0 loss to the hosts was one of the most memorable games of the tournament. Then in ’94 -- where are ya Ray Houghton? -- we surprisingly got out of the group and gave eventual winners Brazil a run for their money. Ireland didn’t make it in ’98 and Steve Sampson shit the bed. The Boys In Green were back in ’02 for the memorable quarterfinal run, but again missed out during the disappointing Germany ’06 debacle. So all you non-Irish should’ve been rooting for them.

- As for the United States, it was another mediocre performance in Europe. It was good to see Jeff Cunningham get his first international goal, but I thought he deserved more than the hour he got. Jozy, who again was nearly invisible and showing that he hasn’t played much in the past few months, was dead tired and seemed to be the one that should have come off. The midfield was again devoid of any creative flair and was hamstrung when Edgar Castillo made his debut, but was put in at left midfield instead of his regular spot on defense. I mean, you’re down two goals, why not bring on a defensive sub? Michael Bradley wasn’t good again, though Benny and Rico were solid in the first half.

But the real problem was the defense. Jonathan Spector, again playing centrally, was at fault on all three goals and received the first ever 1 on a rating I’ve seen from Jack Bell. Frankie Hejduk was bad as well and Jonny Bornstein stepped up his game from the weekend, but it still wasn’t enough. It makes me wonder why Carlos Bocanegra is the captain if he can’t rally three solid defenders into a better backline considering it all fell apart in just ten minutes of coming out of the locker room. Brad Guzan did himself no favors either after a very good game against Slovakia; again, I’m not sold on him being the backup should Timmy Howard go down.

Some of that goes back on Bob Bradley and some odd substitutions. Of the strikers, only Cunningham has seen regular time recently and he scored. Imagine that. Holden and Clark, though possibly being showcased to try and sign a contract in Europe, had just played 120 minutes in Los Angeles just 4 ½ days earlier and had to fly halfway around the world in that time. Any wonder why neither were effective in the second half? Again it comes back to the second half problems -- which I’ve written about before -- that leads you to think Bradley is consistently out coached. On the other side, all three of Denmark’s goal scorers were substitutes. Enough said.

Oh, and Guus Hiddink is currently without a team to coach now that Russia has been eliminated. I know it won’t happen, but wouldn’t you much rather see the big Dutchman guiding us to South Africa than Bob?

- Elsewhere around the globe, it’s sad, but not surprising to see Costa Rica eliminated. It was all but over when they lost the first leg. Good to see New Zealand qualify with a couple of guys who have played in MLS, most notably former D.C. United captain Ryan Nelsen. It’s probably best that Portugal are there, but not so much that Greece and their defensive brand are in as well.

- Quickly on MLS Cup, I like Los Angeles to be Don Garber’s wet dream in Seattle as Landon lifts the trophy that’s named for his club’s owner. That will be the Galaxy’s third Cup, all of which have come this decade, but we’ll have to hope it won’t be a 1-0 OT win like their last two which weren’t fun to watch. I’m calling a 3-1 Galaxy win.

Enjoy the weekend. Maybe Mark will be back on Monday if he’s done being Scout Master.

- Pat Walsh