OT: World Cup

[UConnDan97]

we need to get a win or tie and keep portugal from making up that goal differential

If we tie Portugal, we go through to the next round (IMHO). Germany will sit anyone that needs to get healthy again or needs to work off any yellow card troubles. The USA will play a more cautious game (maybe even more than today) against Germany, knowing that a tie or a 1 or 2 goal loss sends us through. Even if we lost by 2 goals, Portugal would have to win by a score of at least 3-0, and I'm not sure they're capable of doing that with Ghana...

 

[intlzncster]

Well their(Germany) second string lost to our not really first string, in a friendly, a few months back.
I am not ready to bow down to the German team just yet. They are very good, of course, but not 4 goals better than Portugal. The scoreline is deceptive IMO. The penalty to start things off was questionable and the red card was "cheap". Being very good and playing with an extra man for most of the game makes you look really, really good. Not sold on them just yet. The USA must play better going forward, however. The fact that they did not play well and still managed to beat a very good Ghana team is a good sign.

They were dominating Portugal before the red though. We don't have a single field player that would start on their team. And they play well together.

In my opinion, Germany is the best team in this tournament. They may not win, but they are tight, top to bottom.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Bedoya played a really solid game as well. Beasley was teetering there for a while but played smart and recovered when he had to.

I was worried when DaMarcus got his ankles broken Jerel-McNeal style but agreed, he battled back. Thought Jermaine Jones was excellent. Bradley has to be better and make quicker decisions... he was holding on to the ball for far too long and giving the ball away.

 

[intlzncster]

Hopefully, this quote isn't telling RE Jozy:

"My heart goes out to him because he's been working hard," said captain Clint Dempsey, the Americans' other starting forward. "He's been looking sharp. You know how much he wanted to do well. ... You could see the tears in his eyes going back to the locker room. We wish him a speedy recovery. He's a big player for us. It hurts to have him go out of the game today but other players have to step up now."

...

Altidore didn't sound convinced. "It was tough for me," he said. "I was crushed. I knew right away that I couldn't continue." Then he hobbled away, looking like the latest man to join a bittersweet club, winners who suspect their World Cup might still be over.

 

[Gurleyman]

Hopefully, this quote isn't telling RE Jozy: "My heart goes out to him because he's been working hard," said captain Clint Dempsey, the Americans' other starting forward. "He's been looking sharp. You know how much he wanted to do well. ... You could see the tears in his eyes going back to the locker room. We wish him a speedy recovery. He's a big player for us. It hurts to have him go out of the game today but other players have to step up now."

I don't think we see him again, unless maybe it's a late-game situation when we're down a goal in the knockout stage and he replaces a center back. He's not a guy who seems like he would be effective without his fastest gear. And then just the fact that even if he feels a little better and tapes it up and tries to go, if he tweaks it again and has to come out, we have to burn a sub - the re-tweak is a big risk with hammies. This is the one sport where you can't put an unhealthy guy out there to test it and then pull him, since you only have three subs to work with.

Hope I'm wrong.

 

[husky91]

I don't think we see him again, unless maybe it's a late-game situation when we're down a goal in the knockout stage and he replaces a center back. He's not a guy who seems like he would be effective without his fastest gear. And then just the fact that even if he feels a little better and tapes it up and tries to go, if he tweaks it again and has to come out, we have to burn a sub - the re-tweak is a big risk with hammies. This is the one sport where you can't put an unhealthy guy out there to test it and then pull him, since you only have three subs to work with.

Hope I'm wrong.

Aren't 99% of hammys tied to preparation? Amazing to have this now. Ghana looked like the better team for 80+ minutes, I liked the win, but this team is going nowhere, even if they somehow come out of the group

 

[intlzncster]

Aren't 99% of hammys tied to preparation? Amazing to have this now. Ghana looked like the better team for 80+ minutes, I liked the win, but this team is going nowhere, even if they somehow come out of the group

Definitely not, at least not in soccer; it's the easiest muscle to pull in soccer (most common too). Soccer puts more strain on the hammy's than anything else. You can have as much strength, mobility, speed, flexibility, whatever....but your hamstring just yank (randomly sometimes).

 

[connectikev]

I can see the following happening:
Saturday - Ghana wears down Germany in the 2nd half and gains a tie (or even a win!)
Sunday USA beats Portugal (this has a strong potential to occur)

Standings after two games :
USA - 6 with +2 (at a minimum)
Germany 4 (with a tie) and +4
Ghana 1 (with a tie) and -1
Portugal 0 with -5 (again - at a minimum)

Third round - means that Germany has everything to play for and we get their A team (which is what I want to see) We are already through at this point - so just playing to keep Ghana from advancing and a chance to top the group
Portugal is already packing for home.

OR (with a USA / Portugal tie and a Germany win against Ghana)
Germany 6 with a +5 (minimum)
USA 4 with a +1
Portugal 1 and -4
Ghana 0 and -2 (minimum)

Still means we get Germany's A team and need Ghana to win or tie Portugal - Ghana would be sent packing and Portugal would need a huge win (+5 maybe) - to advance ahead of USA

Worst case (USA loses) & Ghana beats Germany (it could happen in the heat and humidity)
Germany 3 (+3 minimum)
Ghana 3 (even minimum)
USA 3 (even minimum)
Portugal 3 (-3 minimum)

This scenario makes the third round truly intense - We get Germany's A team and MUST win (no tie gets us through)

Or (with Germany winning and USA losing)
Germany 6 (plus 5 minimum)
USA 3 (even - minimum)
Portugal 3 (- 3 minimum)
Ghana 0 (-2 minimum)

Now - Germany has little to play for and we either have to beat (or possibly tie) Germany to get through Portugal still has a chance with a win against Ghana.

Ultimately USA needs a win or a tie Sunday against Portugal (who will be focused on not getting sent home) - should be a great weekend of Soccer - Then, in almost every case, we get to see Germany's A team

 

[Pudge]

Aren't 99% of hammys tied to preparation? Amazing to have this now. Ghana looked like the better team for 80+ minutes, I liked the win, but this team is going nowhere, even if they somehow come out of the group

Well ... there's your glass half-empty post.

I think we looked tough; I enjoy rooting for this team. There are lots of opportunities in the next week to see advancement in the USMNT. The young kids - Brooks plus others - gives us a different tone from the last 20 years of the US in this competition. Portugal is a game we can get a result. IF we get to the round of 16, Klinnsmann has made a big leap with a group that is clearly aiming for a higher platform at a not - too - distant moment.

 

[amory]

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa i was at the bar yesterday and i saw we won the world cup awesome :-D

 

[traitor71]

Well ... there's your glass half-empty post.

I think we looked tough; I enjoy rooting for this team. There are lots of opportunities in the next week to see advancement in the USMNT. The young kids - Brooks plus others - gives us a different tone from the last 20 years of the US in this competition. Portugal is a game we can get a result. IF we get to the round of 16, Klinnsmann has made a big leap with a group that is clearly aiming for a higher platform at a not - too - distant moment.

That's not even a glass half empty post. That's more like a no one is allowed to be happy at all post.

 

[Waquoit]

Bradley has to be better and make quicker decisions... he was holding on to the ball for far too long and giving the ball away.

Not just that, he dummied a couple of times when he would have been better served taking it himself. And what about that corner where he would have been all alone at the far post if he didn't give up on the play? That's why I feel good about him on Sunday. I've never seen him play so poorly before, I'm figuring he's pre-disastered.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Depends a bit on the other game. I'd say we'd be in great shape with a tie with Portugal sitting a game behind us at -4, but if Ghana loses to Germany and is eliminated, they could roll over for Portugal and lose 5-0. We could see a second string Germany with their top spot locked up, but their second string is probably better than our first string and would be motivated to play. No guarantee we'd get a point.

The US needs Germany to beat Ghana. Worst case is that Ghana gets a tie with Germany and the US ties Portugal. That would leave Germany and the US with 4 points, Ghana and Portugal with 1 going into the final pair of games. No one would be out, though Portugal’s Goal Differential will make it hard for them to advance (they need to beat the US to have any realistic chance). Germany would not be a lock and thus would be looking to beat the US. If the US loses to Germany and Ghana beats Portugal, both teams would have 4 points and the US could not advance due to goal differential even though the US beats Ghana head to head.

If the US beats Portugal, 6 points gets the US into the Sweet 16 regardless of what happens in the final game. So, win, baby, win.

 

[husky91]

So, if we lose in round of 16 it will be a huge building block for 2018? Just like we've supposedly had before.

I'll watch and root, but this team and program is irrelevant at this level. Not a single player ranked in world's top 50, while Germany has 3 in top 10 alone. And it's not because the best athletes play other sports. Messi is 5-7, what sport could he play?

Well ... there's your glass half-empty post.

I think we looked tough; I enjoy rooting for this team. There are lots of opportunities in the next week to see advancement in the USMNT. The young kids - Brooks plus others - gives us a different tone from the last 20 years of the US in this competition. Portugal is a game we can get a result. IF we get to the round of 16, Klinnsmann has made a big leap with a group that is clearly aiming for a higher platform at a not - too - distant moment.

 

[upstater]

Aren't 99% of hammys tied to preparation? Amazing to have this now. Ghana looked like the better team for 80+ minutes, I liked the win, but this team is going nowhere, even if they somehow come out of the group

So you're saying the USA will win the World Cup?

 

[husky91]

I'm saying the US blows

So you're saying the USA will win the World Cup?

 

[bear]

I'm saying the US blows

Well aren't you just a bundle of sunshine.

 

[husky91]

Maybe, but how many times can we hear the same excuses and future promises.

I guess we should just enjoy the experience and lower our expectations.

Well aren't you just a bundle of sunshine.

 

[upstater]

Well aren't you just a bundle of sunshine.

91 is notorious. In February, he made a couple great posts about UConn basketball. How'd that turn out?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Not just that, he dummied a couple of times when he would have been better served taking it himself. And what about that corner where he would have been all alone at the far post if he didn't give up on the play? That's why I feel good about him on Sunday. I've never seen him play so poorly before, I'm figuring he's pre-disastered.

Agreed. He was probably (maybe Beasley early on) the worst player on the pitch for the U.S. What was with all the tap backs? I didn't think he held the ball too long, he was afraid to even touch it. Ghana was marking him close, often with two people, and so he made no attempt to do anything with the ball. Just awful. I agree, I don't see that happening again.

Portugal as a side has no mental fortitude at all. I wouldn't be surprised if the U.S. wins outright and a tie is certainly possible. I don't think Ghana has any chance to get a point against Germany, they are done.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Definitely not, at least not in soccer; it's the easiest muscle to pull in soccer (most common too). Soccer puts more strain on the hammy's than anything else. You can have as much strength, mobility, speed, flexibility, whatever....but your hamstring just yank (randomly sometimes).

Very true, though, I have been lucky so far playing soccer and have pulled/torn everything else, last was my left calf muscle. Damn thing just popped, literally. Of course, now that I said that, it’s going to be 90 F tonight and I have my first game of the season. I’m DOOMED. Stretch, baby, stretch.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Agreed. He was probably (maybe Beasley early on) the worst player on the pitch for the U.S. What was with all the tap backs? I didn't think he held the ball too long, he was afraid to even touch it. Ghana was marking him close, often with two people, and so he made no attempt to do anything with the ball. Just awful. I agree, I don't see that happening again.

Portugal as a side has no mental fortitude at all. I wouldn't be surprised if the U.S. wins outright and a tie is certainly possible. I don't think Ghana has any chance to get a point against Germany, they are done.

Ghana is a bad match-up for the US as they are one of the few teams that maybe faster and more physical than the US. Even before their own rash of injuries and foolish Red Cards, I liked the US’s chances against Portugal even though Portugal has more skill (except keeper). The US’s speed and physical, on-the-ball defense has given them problems before both physically and mentally, remember the 2002 Cup? BTW, FireThirtyEight’s upped the US chances to advance from 33% to 66% after the win over Ghana.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Maybe, but how many times can we hear the same excuses and future promises.

I guess we should just enjoy the experience and lower our expectations.

What expectations did you have? The U.S. has been an active soccer playing nation at the youth level, since perhaps the 1980's at best. The coaches at those levels were a bunch of fathers who had no idea what they were doing, because most of them never played.

I think the effects of coaching are underrated. In another decade, more of the kids in youth soccer will get decent coaching. And our players will get better and better. Look at the young guys coming up (Diego Fagundez for example, even though he isn't a citizen). It's encouraging. MLS is doing well.

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

I'm saying the US blows

I think there's a reason you have just about the worst post to like ratio on this board.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Maybe, but how many times can we hear the same excuses and future promises.

I guess we should just enjoy the experience and lower our expectations.

I rather go out like the US is, fighting and on its feet instead of sitting on its arse whining, and acting like a spoiled brat like Portugal. Remember, the US is one of the 32 (realistically top 20) best national soccer teams in the world out of 190 or so. To win the Cup at this stage takes both talent and a bit of luck (pool selection, referee selection, weather, injuries, etc.).

 

[progrocks]

Thank you for your interest in US Soccer.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Well their(Germany) second string lost to our not really first string, in a friendly, a few months back.
I am not ready to bow down to the German team just yet. They are very good, of course, but not 4 goals better than Portugal. The scoreline is deceptive IMO. The penalty to start things off was questionable and the red card was "cheap". Being very good and playing with an extra man for most of the game makes you look really, really good. Not sold on them just yet. The USA must play better going forward, however. The fact that they did not play well and still managed to beat a very good Ghana team is a good sign.

The red card wasn't cheap. Pepe headbutted a player deliberately. That's violent conduct, and an automatic red. He's probably suspended for the Ghana game, as well.

 

[UConnSwag11]

The us tried to counter every chance they got and bradley play a lot of sloppy passed. All Ghana did was win the ball and cross it in.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The red card wasn't cheap. Pepe headbutted a player deliberately. That's violent conduct, and an automatic red. He's probably suspended for the Ghana game, as well.

Hell, even the start of that play involved him intentionally reaching back to Mueller, who was well behind him and grabbing his nose (or similar). The headbutt was mild, but considering it was to the same guy he just fouled for no reason even related to the play, the ref had no choice. I would have yellow carded him just for the nose tweak. What an .

 

[Leebo]

And it's not because the best athletes play other sports. Messi is 5-7, what sport could he play?

2nd base for the Red Sox