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The best versus the best.
As fans, we relish these occasions because they don’t happen very often. This is one of those games you circle on the calendar.
A Michael Bradley versus Kyle Beckerman matchup is the perfect advert for a league still building its brand in North America and abroad. Get your popcorn ready.
Saturday’s night clash at Rio Tinto Stadium is drawing hype around the world. It will be available for viewing in 47 million households in Asia, 11 million in the Middle East and North Africa, 10 million Europe and almost seven million in Latin America.
While we wait for kick-off, the trash talking is already starting.
Bradley and Beckerman were named to Jurgen Klinsmann's squad for an early April friendly versus Mexico, and Real Salt Lake defender Nat Borchers was frank in his judgement in an interview earlier this week.
"I think Bradley is a very similar player to Kyle Beckerman, except I think Kyle is a better player,” said Borches.
But you can put the pitchforks away; Borchers went on to praise Bradley’s game.
"To quantify what [Bradley] does on the pitch is more about the wins or losses than the goal scored or assists,” he said. “He does so much for that team, just like Kyle Beckerman does for us."
Beckerman’s resume is impressive. He was an MLS All-Star five times and helped RSL capture the MLS Cup in 2009. He’s the type of player every team in the league wants, and through two games, Bradley is quickly becoming the exact same thing.
But they take different approaches on the pitch. Bradley’s ability to create coupled with his defensive awareness makes him a jack of all trades. He’s already created six chances from open play to go along with 10 tackles, according to MLSSoccer.com’s Benjamin Baer.
Possession is the key to Real Salt Lake’s attack, and Beckerman is the engine that makes it work. Last season, he attempted 69.7 passes per game and completed 82 percent of them, according to Baer. That’s pretty, pretty good.
We know what to expect from Bradley and Beckerman. Here’s what else to look out for this weekend:
A midfield marquee
Luis Gil will join Bradley and Beckerman in Phoenix when the U.S Men’s National Team takes on Mexico.
The 20-year-old enters the 2014 campaign on the cusp of stardom, and is primed to become a regular for Klinsmann’s squad.
ESPN analyst Alexi Lalas describes him as a young player with a high soccer IQ that shows the ‘rhythm and mathematics’ involved in the game. Gil’s teammates credit the youngster with remaining grounded.
"He knows what he’s good at, he knows his strengths and he not getting ahead of himself," said Borchers, in an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune before the start of the season. "He’s not looking at that million-dollar contract down the road, which he may get one day.”
Gil will likely line up on the right side of Jeff Cassar’s diamond formation. Last week Bradley and Jonathan Osorio were excellent against DC United’s Davy Arnaud and Nick DeLeon, who also played in a diamond.
Osorio’s building on a steady rookie season that was waged under trying circumstances. His cohesion with Bradley is progressing, as evidenced by their frequent chats on the field. In Bradley, the 21-year-old Canadian acquired the perfect mentor, something Gil already had from the get-go with Beckerman in Salt Lake.
Their matchup, along with the Bradley v. Beckerman heavyweight main event, sets up for a tantalizing fixture under the lights at The RioT.
Real talk
Toronto FC will be without Jackson after the winger was suspended one game for “aggressive inflammatory behaviour” during the 1-0 win over D.C United.
Ryan Nelsen predicted Jackson’s punishment on Tuesday, but he also believes RSL’s Alvaro Saborio should be disciplined for his dangerous tackle on the LA Galaxy’s A.J. DeLaGarza.
“That could have broken his leg. If Jackson gets suspended, you’d like to hope that a (player) who has nearly broken a guy’s leg is going to get suspended as well. You never know, though. I don’t make up the rules,” Nelsen said.
Nelsen’s comments sent Real Salt Lake fans into a frenzy. Why is he commenting on a game that didn’t involve his team?
Is this mind games, gamesmanship, or an honest opinion? Like Borchers, Nelsen said what was on his mind. It’s a welcome change from the canned responses we hear far too often. More, please.
