USA Vs. Spain: A Game To Be Played At A Competitive Pace?

The United States national team brings their best effort in every single game. Bob Bradley’s team has their shortcomings for sure, but one of them is never a lack of effort or desire to win. A lot of people take great pride in the fact that their national team plays in this way, but opponents might not appreciate it. It is called a ‘Friendly’ after all. ESPN’s Janusz Michallik points this out.

As an unabashed fan of the United States, I’m actually a bit concerned by this. Sure, it’s great to see my team give 100 percent effort every time they put on that national team shirt, but they have a competitive match in three days against a seriously underrated Canada team. I kind of want the United States to conserve energy, and I think that Mexico is at an advantage going into the competition after playing two mediocre friendlies, with their stars only playing 45 minutes in the latter one.

It will be a very fun game to watch tonight between the United States and Spain, but as a fan who wants them to win trophies, I kind of wish we would have scheduled a cupcake friendly and played a second team. Instead, the likes of Landon Donovan and Jermaine Jones are going to be at their sprinting, hard-tackling best. David Villa and many others played the United States in the Confederations Cup two years ago, and they probably know what they’re in for.