World Cup 2014 Thread

[Spooky]

[pk500]

So to all of you who are avid footie fans, I can only imagine how much you have enjoyed this World Cup considering what it has done for a low level fan like me. Awesome stuff.

Another convert to the beautiful game. Mega!

[pk500]

A thriller, oh if Bradley didn't lose that ball in the middle...

Bradley was much better against Portugal than against Ghana. But absolving him of blame by citing his passing success is like saying, "You know, Scott Norwood had a damn good Super Bowl against the Giants except for that one missed kick."

If the U.S. doesn't go through, that mistake better haunt Bradley for the rest of his life.

I'm not putting Bradley in the pillory like Inuyasha. But I'm also not blessing him with Bruce Arena holy water like Zeppo and Rob, either. He has been a disappointment so far through two matches for the U.S. Not terrible, but a disappointment.

Bradley is supposed to be one of probably only three elite, top-flight players on the U.S. side, along with Dempsey and Howard. No, I don't count Jozy even though he plays in the EPL. But Bradley has not looked in the same class as Howard or Deuce through two games of this tournament.

[pk500]

Against Ghana they played well enough to lose and they won. Against Portugal they played well enough to win and they tied. Hopefully against Germany they don't play well enough to tie and lose.

Bingo!

[Jimmydeicide]

Bradley was really good for the first half or so, i think he may have over extended himself a little with the conditions as he looked real tired most of the 2nd half hence the error .

I've never been a Bradley Fan at all hes the best U.S. Midfielder but any where else in the world hes just a run of the mill midfielder sorry.
Jones is impressing me more and more each game .

I dont see how nothing but positives can be drawn from both games. Its been awesome to watch and has given me new life since the England disaster.

I have one foot on the other hoping along frantically , slow the wagon down you bastards im trying to get on.

[fsquid]

Bradley has had one good half, period. Problem is, we have no one who can take that spot. There is no depth there.

[Naples39]

I think I am finally ready to talk about the game. My thoughts:

-Bradley was much improved than against Ghana, which I called the worst game I've ever seen from him. It was a solid effort, no more, no less. People are going to make him the goat because of his visible missed chance, and late turnover. Part of that is that social media is amok with idiots (ie);

The other thing in his defense is, it's not like he was dicking around with the ball deep in his own half. This was the field at the time of the turnover. 5 defenders should be able to diffuse 2 attackers. Get a body on the ONLY attacker in the box before the cross that is obviously coming in.


-Dempsey was better than expected in the first half as lone attacker, but disappeared in the second half. Then BAM, goal. I actually didn't celebrate his goal at first because I thought he was offsides and I kept looking for the flag.

-Before the tournament started I was giving my scouting report on the US squad to a friend, and I said expect one or two "OMG what are you doing!?" moments from Cameron in center defense. And there it was.

I will be a wreck for the last game. The US is in a good spot, with both teams perfectly happy to take a 0-0 draw, but having watched these games, Ghana is capable of sticking it to an ailing Portugal team, and Germany could erupt for a few goals at any time.

[Jimmydeicide]

Solid points Naples and i agree about the defending, from that far out its only a brilliant cross because neither defender was close enough to the attacker to do anything. Should have and had time i thought to be tighter or at least get close enough to put him off.

I was actually shouting too "is it off is it off", no flag? GET INNN!!!!!"

[JackB1]

Anyone who shits on Bradley for this game is an idiot. Period. Just like all those idiots who used to complain that he was only on the team because his dad was coach. Granted, in the Ghana game he played the worst I have ever seen him play. And just so you know I was watching him at giants stadium when he was 17 playing for Metro. So I've see a lot of not-very-good Bradley. But tonight, he was very, very good.

The only player who played even close to poorly tonight was Cameron, and even he was full of excellent plays with a few numbskull moments that stood out because of how they were punished.

The team went behind and then took control of the game. It was very refreshing to see after how poorly they had played for long stretches vs Ghana. Portugal went into the same shell we had after the early goal in the Ghana game. And despite coming close but not breaking through for so long, this US team kept on fighting. Jones's goal came out of nowhere - it was not nearly the best chance we had created up to that time, but it was an amazing shot, one no one could ever have expected form him, not even Jones himself. And the Dempsey goal coming from Yedlin down the line, all a mess in the box, a pass, a deflection, a shot, a rebound - what a moment!

For ten minutes the dream was real.

Where did 5' of stoppage come from? How did he come up with that amount? And it took all of that for Portugal to get the goal that may save their WC.

But it probably won't.

All we have to do in the next game is kick the ball around for 90' with neither team trying to scor, and we both go through. I hate to say it, but that's what should happen. One of those awful, cynical WC games where neither team tries to score, because if we draw, we both go through. As deflating as that goal was, as much as it made the draw feel like a loss, the reality is that if both the USA and Germany keep their heads together, we will see one awful game of football in Recife and both teams will advance.

Hey Zeppo! Great post and you basically said everything I was feeling about that game. It WAS refreshing the way the US reposnded to that first cheap goal and it also showed that we DON"T NEED to play defensively and only try and counter attack all the time. And about Bradley, I agree he played a solid game. He made several brilliant lead passes that lead to good chances. It's just the nature of soccer where you make one or two "not so great" plays that really bite you in the @ss, but that's what makes this sport so great. One little slip up can lead to disaster or elation. It comes with the territory.

[fsquid]

If I'm Beasley, I just take Ronaldo out and take my red for a game that doesn't matter.

[JackB1]

BTW, it's great to see this forum come alive with World Cup talk! Breathes new life into this place

I am more upset at Bradley not scoring that goal than I am at the last play. He miscued that ball past midfield!
How about putting some blame on the defenders that let Portugal in behind them and not marking their man
on the cross? It was an incredible pass by Ronaldo and you really just have to tip your hat and say brilliant play.

BTW, did you guys see how close Howard was to getting a hand on that header? When you watch that goal in
slowmo, he actually was close to making a save on that.

Anyway, I like our chances for moving on. Is it Thursday yet???

[JackB1]

If I'm Beasley, I just take Ronaldo out and take my red for a game that doesn't matter.

good idea!

too bad it too late now

[XXXIV]

I am!

but that ending still sux...

They are still in a good spot.

If I'm Beasley, I just take Ronaldo out and take my red for a game that doesn't matter.

Now that would be negative football.

[JackB1]

Here are the different possibilities for Thurs:

The United States advances with a win or draw vs. Germany

If the United States tops Germany, it will advance as the winners of Group G and play the second-place team from Group H (which includes Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea)

If the United States and Germany draw, Germany wins the group and the United States finishes second. The result of the other game is meaningless.

If Ghana and Portugal draw, the United States and Germany advance.

If Germany wins, Germany wins the group. The United States would finish second unless Ghana or Portugal won and passed the United States on goal differential. Team USA is plus 1, Ghana is minus 1 and Portugal is minus 4. So if the United States loses, it will be rooting for Portugal, because it’s less likely that Portugal could pass the United States on goal differential.

If the United States loses and Ghana wins, Ghana would qualify if either game is decided by a margin of two goals or more. If the United States loses by one goal, Ghana would need to win by two goals or be involved in a higher-scoring one-goal win. For instance, a 1-0 score in both games would send the United States through. But if Team USA loses 1-0, then Ghana would need to win at least 2-1 to qualify on goals scored.
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The US cannot play for a tie, because we may need the goal differential tiebreaker. If Ghana wins, we have to keeo the goal differential in our favor. So either way, I will be rooting for Portugal since they are minus 4. If Portugal beats Ghana, we are almost guaranteed to advance. BTW.......both the US/Germany and Ghana/Portugal game are at 12 ET on Thursday . Good day to call in sick

[Naples39]

Here are the different possibilities for Thurs:

The United States advances with a win or draw vs. Germany

If the United States tops Germany, it will advance as the winners of Group G and play the second-place team from Group H (which includes Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea)

If the United States and Germany draw, Germany wins the group and the United States finishes second. The result of the other game is meaningless.

If Ghana and Portugal draw, the United States and Germany advance.

If Germany wins, Germany wins the group. The United States would finish second unless Ghana or Portugal won and passed the United States on goal differential. Team USA is plus 1, Ghana is minus 1 and Portugal is minus 4. So if the United States loses, it will be rooting for Portugal, because it’s less likely that Portugal could pass the United States on goal differential.

If the United States loses and Ghana wins, Ghana would qualify if either game is decided by a margin of two goals or more. If the United States loses by one goal, Ghana would need to win by two goals or be involved in a higher-scoring one-goal win. For instance, a 1-0 score in both games would send the United States through. But if Team USA loses 1-0, then Ghana would need to win at least 2-1 to qualify on goals scored.
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The US cannot play for a tie, because we may need the goal differential tiebreaker. If Ghana wins, we have to keeo the goal differential in our favor. So either way, I will be rooting for Portugal since they are minus 4. If Portugal beats Ghana, we are almost guaranteed to advance. BTW.......both the US/Germany and Ghana/Portugal game are at 12 ET on Thursday . Good day to call in sick

If the USA tie Germany, they will have 5 points and are guaranteed to advance. A 0-0 tie vs Germany is ideal for both countries, as the USA advances and Germany takes the #1 seed.

[wco81]

Unlikely the US holds Germany scoreless.

[JackB1]

If the USA tie Germany, they will have 5 points and are guaranteed to advance. A 0-0 tie vs Germany is ideal for both countries, as the USA advances and Germany takes the #1 seed.

I agree, but they can't "play for 0-0 tie" because if they lose 0-1 and Ghana wins by 2 goals or more, we're out and they are in.

I think the US has to go out there Thurs and keep things close, but try and win and score goals.

[fsquid]

Now that would be negative football.

Not really, its Ronaldo. There are certain places that would knight DeMarcus.

[RobVarak]

Bradley was much better against Portugal than against Ghana. But absolving him of blame by citing his passing success is like saying, "You know, Scott Norwood had a damn good Super Bowl against the Giants except for that one missed kick."

Actually, given how well he played, I think it would be more like if Norwood had kicked 3 FG's during the game but missed the last. And FWIW I think scapegoating Norwood is and always has been unconscionably stupid, so I guess maybe it's not that different.

In any event, I'm not absolving him of blame. Just trying to put his mistake into the context of his overall play, which I think was strong.

I loathe the overly simple narrative in sports, which is the realm of the columnist and the ignorant fan. Buckner, Bartman, Norwood, these events are all worthy of some attention, but reducing team sports to a single event is almost always more useful as a storytelling tool than as a real means of insight into the game.

[Naples39]

If the USA tie Germany, they will have 5 points and are guaranteed to advance. A 0-0 tie vs Germany is ideal for both countries, as the USA advances and Germany takes the #1 seed.

I agree, but they can't "play for 0-0 tie" because if they lose 0-1 and Ghana wins by 2 goals or more, we're out and they are in.

I think the US has to go out there Thurs and keep things close, but try and win and score goals.

For me, Germany is one of the most offensively dynamic teams in the tournament. Even if a tie didn't guarantee the USA making the second round, a very defensive posture would be the correct strategy for the matchup, in my opinion.

Now given the circumstances that a tie is all each team needs, I bunker. If the USA falls behind, use your subs to change your strategy mid-game.

[JackB1]

For me, Germany is one of the most offensively dynamic teams in the tournament. Even if a tie didn't guarantee the USA making the second round, a very defensive posture would be the correct strategy for the matchup, in my opinion.

Now given the circumstances that a tie is all each team needs, I bunker. If the USA falls behind, use your subs to change your strategy mid-game.

On paper that makes sense. But the USA team (so far) has played MUCH BETTER when they are behind and not playing defensive. We saw how that didn't work so well against Ghana.
They were coming in waves at our goal when we went into the defensive posture. Should be interesting though to see how we play it.

[wco81]

It's not about strategy. US simply doesn't have as many great individual players. That is why they couldn't link passes together against Ghana because most of the time, they lost the individual contests for the ball.

They were talking on the broadcast about how Beasley is playing his 4th WC. That's not a testament to his talent so much as the inability of the US team to produce better younger players.

There was one play in the second half where a US player was taking the ball down the right side, with no defender near him and he kicks the cross way above and beyond the goal -- about as bad as some of the kicks the England players were making against Italy towards the end of the game. Kind of showed the skills gap between our players and most players on European teams.


Of course, the best athletes go to other sports which are more lucrative in the US. Supposedly US Soccer now has some resources (assuming Blazer doesn't skim too much off the top) we'll see if that changes.

[dbdynsty25]

I haven't watched a ton of soccer in my day...but I played the hell out of it all through high school. The US is painful to watch in the midfield compared to nearly every other country.

Zero creativity for the most part and it's just not beautiful to watch. The US out-hustled and out-muscled Portugal for most of the match and that's why they should have won. A complete fluke in the first five and a ridiculous breakdown to end it bookended what was a pretty fun match to watch, even though it's not pretty.

Bradley looked fantastic for most of that match, but I did notice him just jogging around, even on defense, when the ball was being played close to him. At least cut off some angles and pretend your trying. He looked wiped from about the 75th min. on. Given that the US was winning, he should have been subbed as they didn't need his creativity at that point. Klinsmann should have noticed that. But clearly he's not the best tactical coach.

My hope is that if the NFL starts losing out on elite athletes in the next few years (to decades) that some start gravitating towards soccer. Bigger, stronger, faster doesn't win on the pitch obviously, but as the US proved in the Portugal match...you can push a team around and have your way with them and get in their heads. That would probably be the only avenue the US can take to become elite as they just don't seem to produce the creativity other countries do.

[/amateur analysis]

[pk500]

I loathe the overly simple narrative in sports, which is the realm of the columnist and the ignorant fan. Buckner, Bartman, Norwood, these events are all worthy of some attention, but reducing team sports to a single event is almost always more useful as a storytelling tool than as a real means of insight into the game.

That's true. But when a single event was this dramatic, decisive and potentially tournament-altering, it should take center stage in the overall contextual narrative.

[rhymes450]

Bradley was a bit unlucky in that Portugal were so clinical in punishing the mistake. It's at least the third time in this WC that a midfield error has led to the opposition launching sublime attacks that have led to pretty good goals (Chile v Spain and Urugauy V England). You'd expect goalkeeping mistake to be more severely punished and ironically the US keeper fumbled an easy shot that came back off a post and a second shot on goal gave him the opportunity to make a great one-handed save...from villain to hero thanks to a coat of paint. Such is sport. I've hardly ever seen Bradley play but he looked pretty good to me, as did Jones and Beasley. I thought it was a pretty gutsy performance from the USA side and plenty of good skill and running off the ball to boot.

On the question of qualification from the group, doesn't the result of the match played between Ghana and the USA take priority over goal difference in the event of the two countries tying for second place in the group? I thought that was the criteria.