For the Soccer Hooligins of College Park.

One of our AA alums from 2004-2006 is part of the US National Team Yesterday the US beat Italy for the first time...also was in Italy. The US was 0-7-3 against the Azzurri (Italian Team).

From SI:

• Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu did stellar work. There might have been groans from some U.S. fans when they saw the Americans were coming out in an alignment featuring two holding midfielders, Bradley and Edu, and a lone forward in Altidore. But Bradley and Edu had a game Italian soccer-lovers could appreciate, breaking up Azzurri attacks, making smart decisions and essentially winning the midfield battle for much of the game. This was Italy in Italy, so perhaps we shouldn't have been surprised with Klinsmann's formation choice. In the end it worked. The U.S. spine was rock hard in this game, and much of the credit for that should go to the Bradley-Edu tandem.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20120229/usa-italy/#ixzz1nsWBwCtM M, Maurice Edu, 6 -- The Rangers man was not always as "clean" as he needed to be coming out of the back, but his tackling was rock-solid and the positioning was usually accurate. Playing alongside Michael Bradley in a 4-4-1-1 (it may have been listed as a 4-2-3-1, but the U.S. clearly defended in two organized blocks of four) Edu looked far more comfortable than in some previous matches under Klinsmann when he was tasked with playing a little further up the field.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20120229/usa-italy-ratings/#ixzz1nsWS7WlI