World Cup 2014 Thread

[XXXIV]

Just saw the goal. Sweet!

USA!!!

Two teams? Ha! I have like eight teams.

[XXXIV]

Awesome!

[RobVarak]

[XXXIV]

Great finish.

[JackB1]

Big win for the USA today, but we were very fortunate to come away with a win. The 2nd half seemed like an onslaught from Ghana and we couldn't get any sustained possession. It seemed inevitable that they were going to score. They were gaining our zone easily and we let them get many quality chances before they finally put one in. We did play a bit better D after they scored and tightened things up a bit,
but we still were unable to keep possession for any length of time.

Lets take the win and hopefully get better next time out. Hopefully Altidore isn't done.

[Naples39]

USA gets the crucial 3 points, but there are almost no positives to point to.

Possession play was atrocious, and the two goals largely came out of nowhere to bookend 85 minutes of poor play.

MOTM to Jermaine Jones. No Altidore and another performance like that from Bradley and the USA is going nowhere.

At this point I'll take the 3 points and trust Bradley is better next game.

[10spro]

Big win for the USA today, but we were very fortunate to come away with a win. The 2nd half seemed like an onslaught from Ghana and we couldn't get any sustained possession. It seemed inevitable that they were going to score. They were gaining our zone easily and we let them get many quality chances before they finally put one in. We did play a bit better D after they scored and tightened things up a bit, but we still were unable to keep possession for any length of time.

Lets take the win and hopefully get better next time out. Hopefully Altidore isn't done.

Well said. A tie would have been a more proper result for both nations but credit to Brooks for his timely header as it came at the time where they looked the most vulnerable. The way he limped out of the pitch, you can tell Altidore won't be back any time soon barring a miracle. Tough loss there but they get their revenge finally vs Ghana.

Now all the pressure is on the Portuguese team after their disaster today.

[Jimmydeicide]

Dempseys nose looked broken to me and he was pretty much ineffective after that but fair play to him for playing on. courageous. Tough game on the U.S. tho some casualties will be interesting to see whos ready for the next game.

I agree Naples they where not good for the most part and Bradley was poor but i thought he and the rest finished pretty strong Ghana never really had another good chance near the end.

Great result.

[pk500]

Our midfield looked like the carpool lane on the freeway. Ghana motored through there at will, with little defensive resistance from any midfielder than the Outlaw Rasta, Beckerman. Our possession in midfield was poor, too.

Bradley MUST play better against Portugal. He was pretty invisible. I thought the maligned back four wasn't that bad.

Klinsmann should start Wondo at striker if Altidore can't play Sunday against Portugal. Johannsson looked ill-equipped to handle that offensive burden. Sloppy, gave away the ball far too easily.

Still, three points. And I'm feeling much better tonight about the the U.S. chances of going through from this group, especially considering Portugal's weak performance and ill-tempered discipline today against Germany.

[Jimmydeicide]

Now would be the time to beat Portugal for sure. Germany result may not even come into play.

[Inuyasha]

just saw the replay, damn exciting. Loved that cities around the country were packed for this game like Chicago. People really are caring about soccer here! That's awesome!

[RobVarak]

A couple of nice nightcaps later and I've almost calmed myself down.

Our midfield looked like the carpool lane on the freeway. Ghana motored through there at will, with little defensive resistance from any midfielder than the Outlaw Rasta, Beckerman. Our possession in midfield was poor, too.

We were terrible on the ball, but Beckerman was solid and Jones was MOTM. There aren't a handful of teams in the world with a better midfield than that Ghana side. Bringing Michael Essien on as a sub, even at this late stage of his career, is testament to their quality and depth.

I think counterattacking was the right strategy, but losing Altidore was fatal. Without him to hold up play and allow Dempsey and Bradley to make runs, the US had no clue how to set up a consistent pattern of play. Johannsson was looking for balls over the top that the aforementioned excellent Ghanian midfield was never going to allow the US to get off. Dempsey lacks the size and strength to do Jozy's job and he was laboring with the heat and atmosphere before the injury. Afterward he was an empty suit.

Lots of questions to be answered by Klinsmann now. Do we try to play more of a possession game? Does he give Johannsson another shot or go with Wondo (like PK, I'm leaning toward "yes" on Wondo)? Maybe one of those trendy "false 9" set ups with Zusi slotting into the midfield to replace a striker?

Whatever he chooses, inculcating an understanding of the new tactics and pattern of play will be as important as personnel or formation.

One other note, Fabian Johnson was excellent today as well. He was solid enough in defense (much better than dear old DMB, but that was expected) and considering how little we had the ball was exceptionally good attacking as well.

[pk500]

Father Time has caught up with dear old DMB. I recall the days when speed was his greatest asset. I also had a full head of hair at that time.

[JackB1]

Our midfield looked like the carpool lane on the freeway. Ghana motored through there at will, with little defensive resistance from any midfielder than the Outlaw Rasta, Beckerman. Our possession in midfield was poor, too.

Exactly. It was ridulously easy for Ghana to gain the zone and almost immediately get close enough for a good scoring chance.
We absolutely have to tighten up the middle of the field to have a chance against the better teams. It's a good thing we won
this game regardless, but hopefully they will watch the video and realize how porrous our middle was.

[Naples39]

The problem wasn't defended per se in my opinion for the USA midfield, as clearly the plan was to cede possession and fall back, especially with the early lead. The problem was after absorbing an attack they gave the ball back in <10 seconds.

It was a possession problem, not a defending problem.

[JackB1]

The problem wasn't defended per se in my opinion for the USA midfield, as clearly the plan was to cede possession and fall back, especially with the early lead. The problem was after absorbing an attack they gave the ball back in <10 seconds.

It was a possession problem, not a defending problem.

Probably a combination of both?

If that was the plan as u say, then it wasn't a very good one. Ghana was getting close in chances too easily and like you said, we weren't keeping the ball long enough before giving it away.
I though we played better when we started attacking more after it was tied 1-1. This falling back and defending doesn't seem to play into our strengths.

[RobVarak]

It was a possession problem, not a defending problem.

Absolutely. This was where Bradley's very, very bad day was a significant problem. I really think some of this was the loss of the security blanket of Altidore as the primary target in transition. Someone needs to do that job or they need to figure out another way to attack, as I said above.

[wco81]

They couldn't string passes and they tried some long passes, like the one where Beasley got hurt.

They don't have the midfielders who can evade the press and pass when they want to rather than passing under pressure.

[10spro]

Don't let the score fool you. This was a thriller and a fantastic performance by Oh Choa! An absolute wall stoning the Brazillians.

[rhymes450]

Don't let the score fool you. This was a thriller and a fantastic performance by Oh Choa! An absolute wall stoning the Brazillians.

Only caught the last 20 mins or so but Ochoa saved a certain goal from Thiago Silva and judging from the highlights, he made a habit of being in the right place at the right time. The result makes things more difficult for Croatia and leaves the Cameroon in a deep hole.

Big day tomorrow for Spain. Could mark the end of an era unless they get their act together.

[10spro]

Don't let the score fool you. This was a thriller and a fantastic performance by Oh Choa! An absolute wall stoning the Brazillians.

Only caught the last 20 mins or so but Ochoa saved a certain goal from Thiago Silva and judging from the highlights, he made a habit of being in the right place at the right time. The result makes things more difficult for Croatia and leaves the Cameroon in a deep hole.

Big day tomorrow for Spain. Could mark the end of an era unless they get their act together.

That save was big but the one that really stood out for me was when he robbed the header from Neymar where his arm practically makes contact with the post to make that save.

Saw some highlights of the AS newspaper with Xavi on the cover. They still believe in themselves and think that can go far. We'll find out how far tomorrow.

[pk500]

Brazil-Mexico was one of the most entertaining, taut 0-0 matches I've seen in some time. Fabulous entertainment.

[Jimmydeicide]

Mexico Goalie was outstanding. At least 4 top saves stopping sure goals.

[JackB1]

Brazil-Mexico was one of the most entertaining, taut 0-0 matches I've seen in some time. Fabulous entertainment.

certainly was. It was so tense because you just knew one goal would be enough to win it.
That save off the header was pretty incredible. To Mexico, that game was like a win.

[RobVarak]

Thanks to Ochoa and that Japanese ref, my Croats now face consecutive must-win games agains Cameroon and Mexico. Going to be a hard road.