by Jeff Dieffenbach

Right back Tony Sanneh registered the best showing in the U.S. Men’s National Team loss to Netherlands on Sunday, shutting down left winger Boudewijn Zenden on numerous occasions. Fellow right back and expected World Cup substitute Frankie Hejduk experienced arguably the worst day, and he didn’t even leave the bench.

CLICK HERE for Jeff's look into why so many of the Euro based national teamers play out on the wings while the MLS'ers tend to be in the center of the park.

Said head coach Bruce Arena about Sanneh after the game, “Defensively, against a very good player, I thought that he did extremely well in one-on-one confrontations. I thought that his passing out of the back was pretty solid. He got forward and was dangerous at times.” Sanneh is the odds-on favorite to start at right back in South Korea.

If strong defense made Chevrolet Man of the Match Sanneh’s day, what ruined Hejduk’s? Answer: not playing, coupled with Arena’s announcement Sunday that right back Steve Cherundolo would take the roster spot vacated by the right ACL injury to defensive midfielder Chris Armas last Saturday against Uruguay. Two right backs are company, three’s a crowd.

Arena did offer something to Hejduk, “Hejduk’s play’s been good. We need to consider getting Hejduk on the field.”

In other strong showings, goalkeepers Brad Friedel (first half) and Kasey Keller (second half) turned in generally solid efforts, each allowing a goal after being left helpless by unlucky (see: Eddie Pope) or unwise (see: David Regis) defensive efforts. After the knock that Keller took against Jamaica, Arena had temporary cause for concern when Friedel suffered a 3rd minute collision. Asked about his goalkeeper controversy, Arena averred, “I’m not going to make the decision now, it’s not going to be easy when I have to make it.”

In the 45th minute, Pope and Dutch forward Roy Makaay tangled inside the six yard box. Makaay recovered his footing first and slipped a shot under Friedel and into the side netting. Pope, a likely World Cup starter in central defense (Arena: “Pope had a pretty solid game”), had tracked back nicely to contain Makaay, but to no avail.

Regis’s 76th minute play, on the other hand, was pure blunder. In his trademark one-cute-play-too many style, he soft-touched a ball that he should have sent into the CMGI Field crowd of 36,778. An onrushing Keller could only look on as Andy van der Meyde collected the errant ball and tucked it into the empty net. Regis departed five minutes later for striker and probable World Cup substitute Joe-Max Moore, as Arena opted for offense to try to make up the two goal deficit. Lesson learned, it could be hoped, for projected World Cup left back starter Regis.

Jeff Agoos (strained calf) and 41st minute substitute Gregg Berhalter rounded out the play in the back. Both played their expected solid games (Arena: “Berhalter did a good job coming in”) and should carry their starting and reserve roles, respectively, into the World Cup.

On attack, the motto of the day was great shots, better goalkeeping. Netherlands netminder Ronald Waterreus made save after save to deny the U.S. after it had created a number of fine scoring opportunities.

In fact, the U.S. outshot the Dutch 18-14, also besting them on shots on goal, 11-10. Brian McBride led the effort with 5 total, 4 on goal, and also worked to create chances for his teammates, most notably on an early cross to John O’Brien. O’Brien turned his marker, Edgar Davids, inside-out with a clever move, only to let Waterreus off the hook with a blast over the bar.

O’Brien and Claudio Reyna paired nicely in central midfield, offering Arena one of several alternatives to the long anticipated Reyna-Armas duet. Reyna’s 4 shots, 2 on goal, was second only to McBride. Cobi Jones, on in the 73rd minute for the again invisible Earnie Stewart, added 3 shots, 2 on goal in a span of seconds as Waterreus stuffed him twice from a sharp angle in the 75th minute.

Clint Mathis gave a worthy effort on his sore toe for 56 minutes before giving way to a dynamic Landon Donovan, whose 58th minute blast was touched away by the Dutch netminder (Arena: “Donovan did a super job coming in in the second half”). Josh Wolff was relatively quiet as a 65th minute replacement for McBride. DaMarcus Beasley (Arena: “Beasley was outstanding”) ended a long week 3 minutes shy of a full game, relieved at the end by Eddie Lewis after sustaining a hard tackle. Asked if Beasley’s play surprised him, Arena countered, “I’m not sure that I’m surprised, ‘impressed’ may be a better word.”

Projected Starting Line-up Against Portugal

Goalkeeper: Kasey Keller

Defenders: Agoos, Pope, Sanneh, Regis

Midfielders: O’Brien, Reyna, Stewart, Jones

Forwards: Mathis, McBride

Keller over Friedel still too close to call—it’s a gut pick. The defense is almost certainly set, with Regis the only possible question mark. Were Greg Vanney (strained MCL against Jamaica) in camp, Regis would probably not be sleeping so soundly. Mathis and McBride at forward is also a lock.

The midfield without Armas is still somewhat unsettled, but Reyna and O’Brien will certainly start. The other two starters will most likely come from the quartet of Stewart, Jones, Beasley, and Donovan. Stewart and Jones provide experience—valuable against a top team like Portugal—but have not produced of late. If Beasley and/or Donovan don’t start (and this observer would give them—and perhaps Wolff for McBride—the nod over the old-timers, particularly against the “lesser” sides of South Korea and Poland), their speed and disruptiveness make them effective substitutes such that they should see some significant minutes.