At World Cup, US midfielder Michael Bradley finds unwanted spotlight
SAO PAULO - Michael Bradley is a workhorse, the last one on the practice field almost every session, a cerebral midfielder who reads the game on the run better than any other player on the American roster, except maybe Tim Howard. When he might have mutinied against Jurgen Klinsmann after his own father was fired three years ago as national coach, Bradley instead became the new coach's biggest supporter.
Because of all that, and because he was remarkably solid these past two World Cup cycles, Bradley has been all but immune from criticism - until now. But then even as the U.S. team collected a solid four points in its first two matches here, Bradley has proved almost shockingly, uncharacteristically ineffective. He appeared lost at times against Ghana, missing badly on passes and failing to link the back line with forwards. He was more in sync against Portugal in Manaus, yet committed two bungles in the jungle that arguably cost the U.S. a victory and advancement.
In the 55th minute, Bradley blew a dead-on shot with the goalkeeper way out of position, knocking it directly into defender Ricardo Costa, who cleared the ball off the line. His reaction was caught on camera, visibly upset at his own failure to convert the cutback cross.
Then in the final minute of added time, Bradley lost control of the ball on a turnover that eventually led to the tying goal. Because of his long-time, gritty contributions, teammates understandably have rallied behind this mainstay core player.
'He does so many things for the team,' defender Matt Besler said. 'Whoever's saying that he's not playing that well, it certainly isn't that way from us. He is one of the most important players on our team, one of the best players on our team. There is so much that goes through him and he has a lot on his shoulders, but I know that he wouldn't have it any other way. He loves that responsibility and he's doing just fine for us.'
Good players make bad mistakes. It happens. Roberto Baggio sailed a penalty kick over the bar that cost Italy a World Cup title in 1994. Goals are blown and goals are given.
'When you see goals, it's always a sequence of mistakes that happen and that's unfortunate,' Klinsmann said. 'Also when the other team is making mistakes, you're going to get to score. In that moment, I think Michael Bradley got caught in the middle of three or four guys and lost the ball unfortunately. Then the counter break comes.'
Cristiano Ronaldo countered, the tying goal was scored and the U.S. would wait at least another few days to advance out of Group G. Bradley is not often thrust in this position and he is not the sort to get too high or too low. He views the match as a network of links and connections, not as a series of individual efforts.
In that way, he sounds much like his father, Bob.
'Every guy left everything on the field,' Bradley said. 'We put so much into it. That's who we are, what we're like on the hardest day and when the spotlight come on brightest. Certainly disappointed we don't finish off the job, but that's soccer. Very cruel game sometimes.'
Bradley, 26, has scored 12 goals - many of them important ones - and earned 88 caps with the national team. He played 41 matches over two seasons with Roma, a top side in the Italian league, though his international career stalled recently and he signed on with Toronto of MLS.
His father has charged that Michael was ignored by Arsenal and other European clubs because of his American pedigree.
There is likely a good deal of truth to that, but the World Cup is a showcase for players and Bradley has yet to take full advantage of that.
Klinsmann expects that to change shortly. 'He has an engine that is unbelievable,' the coach said. 'He's covering up for other players all over the place. His vision and his passing is just outstanding. Here and there it's not going to be a perfect game all the time.'
Here in Brazil, where it's still early, Bradley has been noticeably, unexpectedly flawed. Not nearly good enough, for such a perfectionist.
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