USA Goal versus Algeria- Heart and Tempo

Before I go on I included the goal via animation. It illustrates the importance of goalkeepers controlling the tempo and players making runs up the side or to the opening when they are available. It literally could mean the difference between winning and a tie. In this case, a tie for the US would have been a loss because they would not have advanced.

This play starts with Algeria making a dangerous cross into the far player who heads it, luckily I might add, directly to Tim Howard. Tim Howard's positioning is great on this play. First, he in angled at the player who receives it at the top of the box. As the player crosses the ball Tim Howard slides across the goal to be in position again.

Here is where the animation picks up. I only included the players that made the difference on the long counterattack.

Here are some keys to pay attention to:

• The counterattack happened at the perfect time and place. Landon donovan was in the correct location.
• Tim Howard the goalie was aware of the situation and saw the advantage. At this point the goalkeeper executed a maginificent pass to landon Donovan.
• As Donovan dribbled the ball up the field watch how players chose running lanes. These running lanes allow for passes to get to different US players.
• After Donovan passed to altidore he continued his run into box. It was because of Alitoder's pass to dempsey that allowed Dempsey to take a close shot on goal (which resulted in a rebound). Donovan's continued run in the box scored the goal.

Key Learning Points:

• The Game is never over. If you watched that game throughout, USA had chance after chance to score a goal. What if team USA allowed themselves to get bummed out and give up. You must always mentally stay in the game. Coaches must emphasize this to players and show an example of this in their coaching.
• You must remember that your Role in a given play is never over. What would have been the result if donovan held up his run after passing to Altidore? Just like Donovan continued his run you too must keep yourself in the play because you never know when a rebound or miss hap will happen.
• Players from the goalkeeper to the field players should always have a sense of time, space and tempo. You should know when to counter, be in the right places to execute it right.
• The Team is more important than the Individual.  You've heard all the cliches.  There is "I" in "We".  There is no "Me" in "team".  Players that put personal glory, ego and pride above the team can cost wins.  Landon Donovan very well could have said to himself, "I am the star of this team",  "I want the glory."  He could have kept the ball and not made the pass to Altidore.  In the end, because of his unselfish play he ended up getting the ball back anyways and scored the game winning shot.

In the end, Team USA prevailed sending US fans into a frenvy and breaking the hearts of Algerians all over. There are good and poor examples in the professional ranks of who to watch and model your game after. This well timed play by team usa was a masterpiece that should be modeled for an example of never giving up, timing soccer correctly, and playing team ball. Created with Coachfx

Click here to view the animation