OT: Boneyard "Other Football" World Cup Thread

[BlueMAB]

Last time we played Portugal in the world cup we were huge underdogs and we won that one. Portugal is notorious for under-performing in the world cup, they seem to have no chemistry despite a lot of talent. But they should still be easy favorites.

Germany could beat us 5-1 and I wouldn't be surprised. It seems like they are the anti-Portugal in the World Cup, and they put it all together at the right time.

Ghana has been our nemesis, and it's a must win.

We're doomed.

 

[OkaForPrez]

For what it is worth, I talked to my former boss yesterday (also named Juergen, and a German). He just got back from Brazil, where he spends a lot of time. He says it is a disaster. The travel situation in Brazil is going to be completely inadequate.

@vtmikeb

 

[SubbaBub]

I think we nick at least a point from the big 2. Beating an already through Germany is also possible as is beating what I consider an overrated Portugal side, but neither will be easy.

Problem is in assuming 3 points from Ghana. The US is probably the biggest wild card in the entire tournament not only expectations-wise but game to game performances.

No gaffs, please no gaffs.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Last time we played Portugal in the world cup we were huge underdogs and we won that one. Portugal is notorious for under-performing in the world cup, they seem to have no chemistry despite a lot of talent. But they should still be easy favorites.

Germany could beat us 5-1 and I wouldn't be surprised. It seems like they are the anti-Portugal in the World Cup, and they put it all together at the right time.

Ghana has been our nemesis, and it's a must win.

We're doomed.

This is how I see it. Virtually no chance to beat Germany, and we are unlikely to tie. Portugal could come out and flatten us, or give up 3 goals and lose. Ghana has been a problem, and I do think the structure of this team is better equipped to deal with them. Our defense has often lacked foot speed. This team, for all its youth in back, should be much faster than teams we have fielded prior. Out ability to get back and recover after attacking is better.

I think Germany is through and the other three are in a dog fight. None of them can feel confident about moving on.

 

[SubbaBub]

Nothing wrong with playing the Liverpool way.

By diving unapolegetocally?

Yes, I follow Everton.

 

[UConnDan97]

Nothing wrong with playing the Liverpool way.

By diving unapolegetocally?

Yes, I follow Everton.

No, I think he meant by giving up a 3 goal lead to Crystal Palace in the penultimate weekend, squandering away the Premiership title.

Yes, I hate Liverpool...

 

[Carl Spackler]

For what it is worth, I talked to my former boss yesterday (also named Juergen, and a German). He just got back from Brazil, where he spends a lot of time. He says it is a disaster. The travel situation in Brazil is going to be completely inadequate.

The German national team invested, I believe 2 years ago, In building their entire own residential and sports complex in Brazil complete with their own ground and potentially air transportation - with the plan being to turn the entire facility over to the Brazilian government to be used as a tourist resort, or whatever - when the WC is over.

World Cup is no joke, and the aspects of playing and traveling in Brazil - no joke either.

 

[SAMCRO]

 

[businesslawyer]

I want Bradley, Dempsey, Donovan, and Johansson on the field at the same time. If Jozy is playing that's impossible.

No, it's not at all impossible. Jozy would be up top with Dempsey withdrawn from him, with Donoval (left) and Johansson (right) playing wing haves and Bradley in a defensive midfield role where his partner stays back at all times and he's free to jump into space.

I'm not saying that is going to happen, as that means Fabian being pushed back to wing FB and both Zusi and Bedoya sitting, but it's far from an impossible or impractical look.

 

[businesslawyer]

When it comes to international competition, the US will continue to get hosed again and again. Our GDP and military spending coupled with our foreign policy hasn't enamored us with too many around the world. Hence the drawing in the group of death. I don't think it's a stretch to say the fix was in. Another example? Cutting olympic sports that we dominate despite true worldwide popularity (baseball and softball) and keeping shuttlec0ck.

LMFAO. You really treated a vote of human beings (where politics and motivations are certainly relevant) as the equivalent of a blind draw? Someone give me a clue -- is that theory from Fox News because Obama's foreign policy isn't aggressive enough?

 

[SubbaBub]

No, it's not at all impossible. Jozy would be up top with Dempsey withdrawn from him, with Donoval (left) and Johansson (right) playing wing haves and Bradley in a defensive midfield role where his partner stays back at all times and he's free to jump into space.

I'm not saying that is going to happen, as that means Fabian being pushed back to wing FB and both Zusi and Bedoya sitting, but it's far from an impossible or impractical look.

Honestly hadn't thought of AJ on the right. So it's possible. I'd think if he has to play out of position on the wing it'd be on the left where he can cut inside and shoot.

If the option is AJ vs. Zusi crossing the ball in from the right, I think I pick Zusi, who I think is close to locked in at that spot or Donovan on the right.

 

[UConnDan97]

If the option is AJ vs. Zusi crossing the ball in from the right, I think I pick Zusi, who I think is close to locked in at that spot or Donovan on the right.

I agree 100% with that statement, and I'm guessing that Zusi is the winger of choice as well...

 

[rich1122]

Klinsman is about possession and that won't change. It can't at this point in time. He knows that that is what he has to do to win - vs play not to lose. I just hate to keep saying that we played well , but did not advance too far. I would rather lay it all out to win and go home early if it does not work out. We either play the big boy game and advance or go home early.

Two weeks ago Sunderland beat Chelsea. Bot really needed the game So when the chips are down we can find out who really wants it.

I am am encouraged by how we played in our region. Not the greatest, but we showed, at least, that we have arrived.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The German national team invested, I believe 2 years ago, In building their entire own residential and sports complex in Brazil complete with their own ground and potentially air transportation - with the plan being to turn the entire facility over to the Brazilian government to be used as a tourist resort, or whatever - when the WC is over.

World Cup is no joke, and the aspects of playing and traveling in Brazil - no joke either.

He opened his comment to me this way. "Steve, I have bad news for you, I don't think there is going to be a World Cup". He was exaggerating a bit for effect. But he goes to Brazil 7-8 times a year and his son works in Sao Paulo and he had just come from visiting Rio and Sao Paulo. He said the reality on the ground is worse than the news reports we all see. They are cancelling normal civilian flights on the airlines and banning people from travel to free up capacity. The same will happen on the roads.

My only hope for the USA as a minor advantage is greater experience (for MLS based players at least) in playing in the heat/humidity than most Europeans. But not every venue will be that warm, as it is winter.

 

[SubbaBub]

Anyone think a 3-1-4-1-1 would work for us. It would assume playing man against two strikers with a roaming sweeper and that the outside wings can go full field, but it gets most of our attackers on the field.

Howard
Goodson Gonzales Besler
Cameron
Zusi Jones Bradley F.Johnson
Dempsey
Altidore

You could sub LD or AJ for Jozy and move Dempsey forward or sub Donovan for Johnson or Zusi.

 

[Carl Spackler]

He opened his comment to me this way. "Steve, I have bad news for you, I don't think there is going to be a World Cup". He was exaggerating a bit for effect. But he goes to Brazil 7-8 times a year and his son works in Sao Paulo and he had just come from visiting Rio and Sao Paulo. He said the reality on the ground is worse than the news reports we all see. They are cancelling normal civilian flights on the airlines and banning people from travel to free up capacity. The same will happen on the roads.

My only hope for the USA as a minor advantage is greater experience (for MLS based players at least) in playing in the heat/humidity than most Europeans. But not every venue will be that warm, as it is winter.

Oh, there will be a World Cup - I disagree there, but it will be absolutely insane.

Germans have built their own secured compound, beachside resort with soccer fields, pools, indoor athletic facilities, everything. There is airfield to transport them in their own charter by air about 10 miles away and they will be flying to each venue, to minimize road travel mess. They are giving it to the Brazilians when the cup is over.

First time ever a national team has ever done something like that, and if there was a time, Brazil in 2014 makes sense.

U.S.A. squad will be traveling with tight security of the special forces genre.

http://www.spiegel.de/international...-team-builds-camp-for-world-cup-a-938942.html

 

[ZooCougar]

Oh, there will be a World Cup - I disagree there, but it will be absolutely insane.

Germans have built their own secured compound, beachside resort with soccer fields, pools, indoor athletic facilities, everything. There is airfield to transport them in their own charter by air about 10 miles away and they will be flying to each venue, to minimize road travel mess. They are giving it to the Brazilians when the cup is over.

First time ever a national team has ever done something like that, and if there was a time, Brazil in 2014 makes sense.

U.S.A. squad will be traveling with tight security of the special forces genre.

http://www.spiegel.de/international...-team-builds-camp-for-world-cup-a-938942.html

Carl,

Are you part of the USMNT security detail?

 

[Carl Spackler]

Carl,

Are you part of the USMNT security detail?

I'm just an analyst.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

U.S.A. squad will be traveling with tight security of the special forces genre.

Not new; same same since 9/11.

 

[ZooCougar]

Not new; same same since 9/11.

Yup. I was living in Korea for Korea/Japan 2002 and I went to every game the US played in. Saw them get either on or off the the bus at every venue, and the Koreans had some pretty serious dudes protecting them.

 

[ZooCougar]

He opened his comment to me this way. "Steve, I have bad news for you, I don't think there is going to be a World Cup". He was exaggerating a bit for effect. But he goes to Brazil 7-8 times a year and his son works in Sao Paulo and he had just come from visiting Rio and Sao Paulo. He said the reality on the ground is worse than the news reports we all see. They are cancelling normal civilian flights on the airlines and banning people from travel to free up capacity. The same will happen on the roads.

My only hope for the USA as a minor advantage is greater experience (for MLS based players at least) in playing in the heat/humidity than most Europeans. But not every venue will be that warm, as it is winter.

I am optimistic because we have such a large group of experienced players to draw from, we have a similar mix of youth and experience that we had in 2002. We also have JK who knows what he is doing.

If not, people just need to accept that this is the toughest tournament on the planet for any sport.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Yup. I was living in Korea for Korea/Japan 2002 and I went to every game the US played in. Saw them get either on or off the the bus at every venue, and the Koreans had some pretty serious dudes protecting them.

It's been common practice for U.S. military specialists to train security details for outfits like the U.S.A. national sports teams, the Olympics, etc. for a long, long time. It didn't start with 9/11. It's not that common that they are actually part of the teams. If not for the training that the security detail got in Atlanta for the Olympics in 1996, the U.S. Army that was detonating bombs and killing people at abortion clinics in the south at the time, would have killed a lot more people than 1 with that bag full of pipe bombs.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Oh, there will be a World Cup - I disagree there, but it will be absolutely insane.

Germans have built their own secured compound, beachside resort with soccer fields, pools, indoor athletic facilities, everything. There is airfield to transport them in their own charter by air about 10 miles away and they will be flying to each venue, to minimize road travel mess. They are giving it to the Brazilians when the cup is over.

First time ever a national team has ever done something like that, and if there was a time, Brazil in 2014 makes sense.

U.S.A. squad will be traveling with tight security of the special forces genre.

http://www.spiegel.de/international...-team-builds-camp-for-world-cup-a-938942.html

He was kidding about it not happening. Essentially saying it will go ahead, but they won't be ready when it does.

 

[OkaForPrez]

 

[RioDog]

http://worldcuptheguide.wordpress.c...brazilian-airline-capacity-for-the-world-cup/
Here's and interesting read from OAG, which tracks all countries domestic airline capacity, and their projections for 2014 World Cup travel. Sounds like there will be plenty of seats for the larger cites, i.e., Rio, Sao Paulo and Brasilia, but that more remote cities like Manaus will have much fewer airline seats available. So if you're going to games in Rio or Sao Paulo then you're probably ok with domestic air travel. Local ground travel is another story. Moving around Rio and Sao Paulo is complicated on a good day. For any 'Yarders traveling to Rio please be careful and know what you're doing. Read up on the public transit system, LOOK AT GOOGLE EARTH, it will help you ALOT. If you're in Rio and you're stuck or unsure about something please PM here at the BY. I'll be happy to help you.