World Cup 2014

[jterrell]

I loved the game tho that last goal hurt.
The US flat outplayed Portugal for 80 of the 95 minutes.

The U.S. odds to advance according to statitician David Silver is 76%....

The result is a good one. It stings they let a great result go with lack of composure in the final 30 seconds but it is what it is and that's not bad at all.

I think a Germany draw is very likely. It will allow Germany and the US to advance and Germany gets the top seed.
I had the US beating Ghana then drawing with both Portugal and Germany BEFORE the Cup began and I still believe that happens.

Of course if they draw they play my pet team, the Belgians, with my fave player, Hazard, that I have been touting for over a year... oy vey.

 

[jterrell]

various:
The US is a 76% chance to advance according to statistician David Silver, who produces the soccer power index.

The US flat outplayed Portugal for 80 of the 95 minutes.
Crying about a missed foul is LOL. The US had the better run of play the majority of the day and only a lucky knee saved a 3rd US goal from dead blank range with the keeper drawn out of the box. The game wasn't really close.

The cross by Ronaldo was great but it was mostly shocking because it was his first unselfish play the entire friggin game.

Ghana isn't routing Portugal.

The US and Germany will be a fun game where both teams know a draw is enough to advance. Whichever team gets ahead will play defense realizing they have 2 goals to plays with really since a draw is through.

Anyone thinking the US isn't good based on these games is either lying to themselves or should stop talking about the sport altogether.
The US EASILY won CONCACAF and that region has provided a marvelous showing thus far, certainly better than UEFA and at least as good as CONMEBOL the traditional powers.

Donovan would have been a poor fit for this team. Klinnsman's strategy has been spot on with deadly attacks up both flanks from speedy cornerbacks.
Fabian Johnson has been superb. Donovan no longer has a two way gas tank. The choice was basically Donovan or Dempsey. After that it was down to which guy you sit on t he bench, Aron or Landon; and you let the kid sit and learn for the future.

Tim Howard has been quite good... and always is. The US back line could be called shaky and allowing 3 goals total to Ghana and Portugal is fairly outstanding in this tourney considering that back line.

The US is a minor soccer power now and for the foreseeable future. The goal keeping in the US system is as good as any country in the world. while the US is unlikely to be a thread for Cups in Europe or Africa they will be a threat on anything held in the Americas for a long time.

 

[jterrell]

Most of it has to do with adding time because of substitutions during the second half. As a rule of thumb add ~30 seconds per substitution.

It is injury time by and large. The substitutions are only added if the guy takes excessive time jogging off.

In this Cup it has been a given that you see only 1 or 2 minutes in the first half but 4-5 in the second.
It makes the games tense moments linger and is great for scoring/ratings.

 

[erickb]

That was a great game for the USA! Yea the ending sucked but for the US to have the game they had that is a win! Now my two teams only need to tie each other to send both to the next round, I hope it's a boring game that has a lot of passing and little shooting! Or Portugal beats Ghana 2-1 and leaves us not worrying about it, glad both games are on same-day and time that takes all my mind games out of it, now My son and I have to get up at 05:30 to catch the game since we are leaving for Maui today!!!

 

[erickb]

Oh and just because I am a SoundersFc fan and I love this kid been watching him since he was with the Academy Team
http://www.soundersfc.com/post/2014...lin-plays-vital-role-bench-usas-draw-portugal

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Well, that sucks.

I bet we wish we had Landon Donovan there now instead of Bradley.

You've got to be kidding me . The way this team is playing we are far better without Donovan . Just move on this team has 4 points in the group of death . Most were saying we wouldn't even score a single goal . Still in an excellent position . I'm so proud of this team .

 

[casmith07]

You've got to be kidding me . The way this team is playing we are far better without Donovan . Just move on this team has 4 points in the group of death . Most were saying we wouldn't even score a single goal . Still in an excellent position . I'm so proud of this team .

Late game gaffes have to stop.

But, you are right. Donovan would be good for full-game gaffes.

 

[LatinMind]

Was that ref for the holland chile game the same as the mexico cameroon game? looked like it. He missed another obvious call today. after holland scored holland player with a hand ball in the box. need to get him out of the worldcup

 

[JBS]

Was that ref for the holland chile game the same as the mexico cameroon game? looked like it. He missed another obvious call today. after holland scored holland player with a hand ball in the box. need to get him out of the worldcup

Hand ball? Lololol

No

 

[JBS]

You want a pk for everything... My goodness

 

[Future]

Late game gaffes have to stop.

But, you are right. Donovan would be good for full-game gaffes.

The gaffe in the first 5 minutes was just as harmful...

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Those were two brutal goals for the USA to give up, that is for sure.

Now while they control their own destiny, they could end up out if scores go a certain way. If Ghana wins by 2 and the US loses, Ghana advances. If Portugal wins by two and the US loses by three, it goes to a lottery.

I am sure you can fight for a tie against Germany and that is all you need but weird things have happened at World Cups to say the leaset.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

various:
The US is a 76% chance to advance according to statistician David Silver, who produces the soccer power index.

The US flat outplayed Portugal for 80 of the 95 minutes.
Crying about a missed foul is LOL. The US had the better run of play the majority of the day and only a lucky knee saved a 3rd US goal from dead blank range with the keeper drawn out of the box. The game wasn't really close.

The cross by Ronaldo was great but it was mostly shocking because it was his first unselfish play the entire friggin game.

Ghana isn't routing Portugal.

The US and Germany will be a fun game where both teams know a draw is enough to advance. Whichever team gets ahead will play defense realizing they have 2 goals to plays with really since a draw is through.

Anyone thinking the US isn't good based on these games is either lying to themselves or should stop talking about the sport altogether.
The US EASILY won CONCACAF and that region has provided a marvelous showing thus far, certainly better than UEFA and at least as good as CONMEBOL the traditional powers.

Donovan would have been a poor fit for this team. Klinnsman's strategy has been spot on with deadly attacks up both flanks from speedy cornerbacks.
Fabian Johnson has been superb. Donovan no longer has a two way gas tank. The choice was basically Donovan or Dempsey. After that it was down to which guy you sit on t he bench, Aron or Landon; and you let the kid sit and learn for the future.

Tim Howard has been quite good... and always is. The US back line could be called shaky and allowing 3 goals total to Ghana and Portugal is fairly outstanding in this tourney considering that back line.

The US is a minor soccer power now and for the foreseeable future. The goal keeping in the US system is as good as any country in the world. while the US is unlikely to be a thread for Cups in Europe or Africa they will be a threat on anything held in the Americas for a long time.

I do hope you beat Germany as that would mean my French team would likely play you in the QF. I would much rather play the US than Germany in an elimination game.

 

[jterrell]

I do hope you beat Germany as that would mean my French team would likely play you in the QF. I would much rather play the US than Germany in an elimination game.

If the US get to a quarterfinals game I don't care who they play!

And I'd love to say something snarky about the French but this isn't 2010; they look downright scary good.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

They have played well to date but things tend to unravel for them quickly. Not sure the US could handle Benzema, Valbuena and Giroud. I suspect the French back end could control your strikers.

 

[joseephuss]

Ghana isn't routing Portugal.
.

Ghana doesn't have to rout Portugal. They need a 2-0 or 2-1 win and hope the U.S. loses 1-0 to Germany. Those aren't out of the realm possibilities. Portgual is going to be playing on a days less rest. Portugal are in the worse spot of any teams in the group due to their poor goal differential. They will have to push hard to try and score as many goals as they can, which can leave them a bit stretched and susceptible to counter attacks. I think the U.S. is still in good position.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Good news for USA is portugal is expected to have PEPE back vs Ghana. When the guy controls his rage he is one of the best defensive players in the world . Lets hope Portugal has some pride left in case we lose. I think we can exploit Germanys slow back line though.

 

[JBS]

Benzema valbuena and giroud isnt exactly a deadly trio.

Although, you still may be right, it might be too much for the usa to handle.

The French have played well, but i dont see them as legitimate contenders

 

[joseephuss]

Good news for USA is portugal is expected to have PEPE back vs Ghana. When the guy controls his rage he is one of the best defensive players in the world . Lets hope Portugal has some pride left in case we lose. I think we can exploit Germanys slow back line though.

When has Pepe ever really controlled his rage? He is one of the dumbest players I've ever seen. Would it surprise anyone if he got an early red card and left Portugal with 10 men again? Talented guy, but selfish and dumb.

 

[JBS]

When has Pepe ever really controlled his rage? He is one of the dumbest players I've ever seen. Would it surprise anyone if he got an early red card and left Portugal with 10 men again? Talented guy, but selfish and dumb.

Pepe was pretty disciplined in la liga this season..

Dont quote me on this, but i dont think he got one red all season.

Pepe was real madrids best defender this season. .. He was fantastic