Alexander Callens [Defender]

Started as part of a back 5 vs Brazil. Game ongoing, still 0-0 as of the 30'

Holding that Brazil team to one goal was impressive despite the loss. I thought Callen's looked good, it was pretty wild watching an NYCFC player mark Neymar. I felt bad for Callens he stood on the field for a long time by himself after the final whistle and looked like the loss hit him a bit hard. You can tell he really cares when he plays for both NYCFC and his national team.
 
Holding that Brazil team to one goal was impressive despite the loss. I thought Callen's looked good, it was pretty wild watching an NYCFC player mark Neymar. I felt bad for Callens he stood on the field for a long time by himself after the final whistle and looked like the loss hit him a bit hard. You can tell he really cares when he plays for both NYCFC and his national team.
It's got to be tough ending a tournament. Easy to doubt if he'll ever play meaningful* minutes for Peru again.

I did notice they have a 3rd place match, but last nights match was almost certainly the closest to a once-in-a-lifetime international cup final he could have gotten.
 
I thought Callen's looked good, it was pretty wild watching an NYCFC player mark Neymar.
On the goal, he tightly and ably defended Neymar while 3 Peruvian defenders hung around loosely tracking them and defending nobody while leaving the center of the box very open, and Neymar passed it there for the assist.
I did notice they have a 3rd place match,
It's criminal to keep him and Gallese away from their club teams which are playing real games that count for a #$%* third place match. FIFA and its confederations need to start making de minimis accommodations to MLS.
 
On the goal, he tightly and ably defended Neymar while 3 Peruvian defenders hung around loosely tracking them and defending nobody while leaving the center of the box very open, and Neymar passed it there for the assist.

agreed. neymar megged him before making the pass. but that happens.. especially against one of the world's best players. his team not marking the open man in the box is much, much worse.
 
agreed. neymar megged him before making the pass. but that happens.. especially against one of the world's best players. his team not marking the open man in the box is much, much worse.
For those who did not see it, this video shows the positioning (there are other close up vids that show Callens defense up tight). There are 3 Peruvians doing nothing useful on the left side, even as they follow the movements of Neymar and Callens. Then there are 2 others marking the attacker in the middle, while leaving the goal scorer unattended. All told six defenders for three attackers and they left one unmarked.

 
I guess technically, it was a nutmeg, but if you look at the slow motion version, you can see that the ball pings off a few feet before Neymar can get it square. As much luck as skill to get it past Callens.

 
Start vs Bolivia. Currently 1-0 up, putting them two points behind qualification! He's really grown into that starting spot recently, you love to see it! He's going to be nice and prepared for that Atlanta game. Chanot as well

--edit--
Make that 3-0 up

-edit-

off at half time
 
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That goalkeeper for Australia was flat out crazy in how he set up for the penalties.

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That goalkeeper for Australia was flat out crazy in how he set up for the penalties.

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I also saw it somewhere on twitter that he tossed Gallese's water bottle away, realizing it had some penalty kick notes on the back of it. Don't know if that's true or not.