OT: World Cup

[CallMeBruce]

Xavi didn't even start!

And they finally put Alonso down, probably too late.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Xavi didn't even start!

and they started costa again...ridiculous

 

[bobbygt]

and they started costa again...ridiculous

Really bad call by Del Bosque. He hasn't been fit and didn't look so good against the Dutch.

Also, why not bring in Villa? I thought he was fit going into the tournament.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Really bad call by Del Bosque. He hasn't been fit and didn't look so good against the Dutch.

Also, why not bring in Villa? I thought he was fit going into the tournament.

no pique or xavi is really stupid, also instead of costa yeah villa or play a 4-3-3 with busquets xavi and iniesta in the middle with pedro, villa and either csec or silva playing the center fwrd...

 

[CallMeBruce]

I have to imagine they'll have almost an entirely new starting 11 in the next match.

 

[BUHusky]

I find it up that the USA plays once in the first 9 days of this tournament.

Well, that's certainly better than being eliminated on day 7. #RIPSpain

 

[intlzncster]

no pique or xavi is really stupid, also instead of costa yeah villa or play a 4-3-3 with busquets xavi and iniesta in the middle with pedro, villa and either csec or silva playing the center fwrd...

Or Cesc or Torres or anybody, but Costa clearly not himself.

No Xavi/Pique was just dumb. Villa probably should have started every game. I liked the Pedro start though.

 

[UCONNfan1]

As a fan of underdogs, or smaller countries, I'm rooting for Ghana, Croatia, Chile, and of course the USA...

 

[UConnSwag11]

As a fan of underdogs, or smaller countries, I'm rooting for Ghana, Croatia, Chile, and of course the USA...

you got two today

 

[intlzncster]

you got two today

To be fair, Cameroon is the underest of under dogs here. Croatia is a friggin goliath next to them. To add insult to injury, Eto couldn't even play because of, well, injury.

 

[HuskyHawk]

To be fair, Cameroon is the underest of under dogs here. Croatia is a friggin goliath next to them. To add insult to injury, Eto couldn't even play because of, well, injury.

Croatia is making that group very interesting. Three good teams and one terrible team. Mexico and Brazil did each other a favor with that tie. Brazil is all but through and Mexico just needs a tie to be through (which will be tough to get). That Mexico - Croatia game should be a lot of fun.

Huge game today with England - Uruguay.

 

[intlzncster]

Croatia is making that group very interesting. Three good teams and one terrible team. Mexico and Brazil did each other a favor with that tie. Brazil is all but through and Mexico just needs a tie to be through (which will be tough to get). That Mexico - Croatia game should be a lot of fun.

Huge game today with England - Uruguay.

I'm taking Uruguay. Looks like Suarez will get some run today.

Mexico Croatia will be awesome. I expect it to be very chippy from the start.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Croatia is making that group very interesting. Three good teams and one terrible team. Mexico and Brazil did each other a favor with that tie. Brazil is all but through and Mexico just needs a tie to be through (which will be tough to get). That Mexico - Croatia game should be a lot of fun.

Huge game today with England - Uruguay.

I so wish the refs in the first game called the Brazil v. Croatia game fairly, which likely would have resulted in a draw. Croatia deserved it. That would have made the final found of games in Group A really interesting. Instead of Brail with 4, Mexico with 4, and Croatia with 3 points it would be Croatia and Mexico with 4 points and Brazil with 2. Brazil would have to beat Cameroon and beat them badly in order to advance because if Croatia and Mexico tied, all 3 would be tied with 5 points. A tie would eliminate Brazil and the country would burn down. If tied, goal differential would determine who advances and I believe Brazil would come out on top while Mexico’s 1 to 0 win over Cameroon would knock them out. In turn, Mexico would have a major grievance with due to the fact that they had 2 goals in that game disallowed due to poor officiating.

 

[CallMeBruce]

As a fan of underdogs, or smaller countries, I'm rooting for Ghana, Croatia, Chile, and of course the USA...

Chile is hardly an underdog country. Have you looked at that roster?

 

[bobbygt]

I'm taking Uruguay. Looks like Suarez will get some run today.

Mexico Croatia will be awesome. I expect it to be very chippy from the start.

You think Uruguay will win or you're pulling for them, or both?

I didn't watch the Costa Rica game, but that has to have been one of the bigger upsets from the group stage.

I really like Forlan, but Suarez not so much.

 

[Waquoit]

I'm rooting for England. But I have to hand it to Suarez this year. For all his BS, he really plays hard and within the team concept.

 

[intlzncster]

You think Uruguay will win or you're pulling for them, or both?

I didn't watch the Costa Rica game, but that has to have been one of the bigger upsets from the group stage.

I really like Forlan, but Suarez not so much.

I think they'll win; Suarez is not likable, but he is damn good. I expect them to rise off their collective asses and take it to the English. I'll never bet the English again, until they get rid of this current (older) generation. It's the wrong mix, and everyone can see it. They do have some interesting young guys though.

The Costa game was quite enjoyable. CR has a couple of nice players.

 

[intlzncster]

Whelp, Jozy ruled out for Portugal. Not unexpected, but still a punch in the nuts nonetheless.

I am surprise it was announced this early though.

 

[intlzncster]

Chile is hardly an underdog country. Have you looked at that roster?

Vidal is a certified stud. And Sanchez literally ran all over Spain yesterday.

 

[intlzncster]

I so wish the refs in the first game called the Brazil v. Croatia game fairly, which likely would have resulted in a draw. Croatia deserved it. That would have made the final found of games in Group A really interesting. ...........beat them badly in order to advance because if Croatia and Mexico tied, all 3 would be tied with 5 points. A tie would eliminate Brazil and the country would burn down.

You must really love Brazilians.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think they'll win; Suarez is not likable, but he is damn good. I expect them to rise off their collective asses and take it to the English. I'll never bet the English again, until they get rid of this current (older) generation. It's the wrong mix, and everyone can see it. They do have some interesting young guys though.

The Costa game was quite enjoyable. CR has a couple of nice players.

I originally picked Uruguay to go through, wasn't sure whether it would be with England or Italy. After that opener with CR, I think England will knock them out. They have a habit of winning these games in the group stage after disappointing starts. It's not the best group in the tournament, but it is the most balanced. Any of them could beat the other at any time. Italy may well struggle with CR.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Whelp, Jozy ruled out for Portugal. Not unexpected, but still a punch in the nuts nonetheless.

I am surprise it was announced this early though.

I don't think he is irreplaceable. He was in poor form for the U.S. until Nigeria, and for Sunderland as well. I certainly hoped he'd give us some of his old scoring touch, but I wasn't counting on it.

Klinsman will adjust. Does anyone think he'll consider going with just Dempsey up front, and insert Zusi with Bradley in forward midfield? Jermaine Jones was superb against Ghana, both pushing back and covering for Beasley on wing defense. It seems to me that Zusi is the best offensive player on the bench and would greatly help our struggling possession game. Might see Julian Green as well.

 

[BUHusky]

The 2nd half of Colombia v. Ivory Coast has been really fun to watch. I really like both teams, so hopefully both advance.

 

[intlzncster]

I don't think he is irreplaceable. He was in poor form for the U.S. until Nigeria, and for Sunderland as well. I certainly hoped he'd give us some of his old scoring touch, but I wasn't counting on it.

Klinsman will adjust. Does anyone think he'll consider going with just Dempsey up front, and insert Zusi with Bradley in forward midfield? Jermaine Jones was superb against Ghana, both pushing back and covering for Beasley on wing defense. It seems to me that Zusi is the best offensive player on the bench and would greatly help our struggling possession game. Might see Julian Green as well.

Well, he's irreplaceable in the sense that we don't have anyone else like him. He may not have been scoring goals at his hoped for clip, but he wasn't playing terribly for the USMNT. He was very valuable in that holding forward role with his back to the goal. That helped Bradley work through him. So in replacing him, we have to change tactics from a forward perspective.

I think Dempsey has to play up front, as we don't really have any other viable scorers (at least dynamic ones). In Dempsey's place, I'd def put Zusi. He showed in that first game, and he had some nice performances in the run up. He gives us that service from the wing that we really need. I really want Dempsey up front, due to scoring punch, but that's just my opinion. He also seems to thrive in that attacking role.

Absolutely loved Jermaine Jones in the first match. For my money, the man of the match for the US, leaving aside scoring. Just a great work rate.

We ultimately have to hope that the last match was an abberration for Michael Bradley and he returns to form against Portugal. We can't hang with against a very good side without him. The US has to have possession against Portugal, as they must limit Ronaldo's touches. Our back line seems to struggle with super dynamic guys like him. To do this, we need Bradley controlling the play from the midfield.

 

[intlzncster]

I originally picked Uruguay to go through, wasn't sure whether it would be with England or Italy. After that opener with CR, I think England will knock them out. They have a habit of winning these games in the group stage after disappointing starts. It's not the best group in the tournament, but it is the most balanced. Any of them could beat the other at any time. Italy may well struggle with CR.

I know CR is not rated well, but they definitely looked better than I expected. As I said previously they have a few nice players, and seemed to play well together. I enjoyed watching them.

Again, England has to prove it to me at this stage (not that they owe me anything).