World Cup 2014

[magogian]

Guys, here is how this plays out:

Draw Portugal, lose to Germany. This outcome depends on the result of the Portugal-Ghana match:

◾If Portugal beats Ghana, the U.S. and Portugal tie for second. The U.S. is favored (although not guaranteed) to advance based on goal differential because Portugal’s 4-0 loss against Germany could come back to haunt it.

◾If Ghana beats Portugal, the U.S. and Ghana tie for second. This is a more dangerous case for the United States. For example, if it loses to Germany by more than one goal, or Ghana beats Portugal by more than one goal, the U.S. will lose the tiebreaker to Ghana. It also doesn’t help the U.S. that Ghana’s match against Germany was high-scoring because FIFA’s second tiebreaker is based on the number of goals scored. For example, if the U.S. draws Portugal 1-1, loses to Germany 1-0, and Ghana beats Portugal 1-0, then the U.S. and Ghana will have even goal differentials. But Ghana will have four goals scored to the Americans’ three and Ghana will advance.

◾If Portugal draws Ghana, the U.S. finishes in sole possession of second place and advances.

Germany’s Draw Didn’t Help the U.S. | FiveThirtyEight

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I tell you what, I've been I
Pressed with Zusi

 

[ACamp1900]

Looking at either the Belgians or Algerians right now.

I like our chances against either.

Let's get there.

Belgium is a really bad draw.... They are far too strong on the wing for our back line IMO.


Regardless, unfortunately due to our horrid turnover and reactive defense, we must handle business against arguably the best team in the world next.....

 

[pumpdog20]

I really don't see Ghana losing/tie-ing against this Portugal team.

 

[IrishBlood81]

I do not have any idea what game you are watching but the US's passing this half was excellent. They are playing very well.

Absolutely blown away. Both by USAs play and that last score.
USA brought it today. I'm totally behind them now, they showed up big time. I didn't think they had that kind of performance in them.
That last goal is total bs. We were so close to an amazing victory against punk face Ronaldo. Mega CRAP.

I want to kick a puppy.

You always do Cacky..you gotta work on that.

 

[ACamp1900]

I really don't see Ghana losing/tie-ing against this Portugal team.

Portugal will be the solid favorite...

 

[Sherm Sticky]

And while Bradley had two or three costly giveaways, he played 10 times better this game than he did in Ghana, hence possession being even... Still can't believe we tied. It feels like a loss but I guess things can be worse.

How about the point blank miss by Bradley? Kicking it right into the Portugual defender.

Face it Breadlet is a nice player but not a championship player.

 

[Grahambo]

Let's be honest, that was just one beautiful ball by Ronaldo. We can pick apart the mistakes all we want but that was utterly perfect and after having played 95+ mins, makes it even better.

 

[notredomer23]

Bedoya was much worse than Bradley tonight. Zusi was hot and cold.

 

[pumpdog20]

Portugal will be the solid favorite...

I thought Portugal struggled with the US' speed. That will be magnified against Ghana. Granted this coming from an expert of watching maybe 5 soccer games total in my lifetime.

 

[NDhoosier]

The US played absolutely great, much better than most gave them credit for. If not for that horrendous play at the very beginning and the lucky stop by the defender at the goalline for Bradley's shot, the US was the better of the two and should have won. We played well, past US teams would not have looked that good against Portugal.

 

[calvegas04]

cant wait for thursday! Wouldn't care if they played patty cake all game with each other. Other than that lets go USA!!

 

[Cackalacky]

Gallery: World Cup Watching - Post and Courier

My local haunts for AO. Regardless of the outcome yesterday it was a great match and we went toe-to-toe with a great team and the best player in the world and should have won it. Proud of the guys.

 

[IrishLion]

I know almost nothing about soccer, and I barely remember anything from the last World Cup aside from Donovan's goal, so I was expecting the US to lay an egg when it was all said and done just based on what I've heard and what others have said about US soccer in general.

And yet, they get a huge win against Ghana and then play to a (gut-wrenching) draw against Portugal, even after a disaster to start....

I did not expect the US to come through with huge goals like they have to this point, and as much as Portugal's equalizer sucked, it has still been shocking to me to see the US have answer-after-answer (so far) after how much my friends and others have downplayed the squad.

Can any of you actually put this performance into perspective for me lol?

 

[notredomer23]

Can any of you actually put this performance into perspective for me lol?

We should have won. Everyone is disappointed at drawing Portugal. I think that says A LOT about how far soccer has come in the United States. Also--in the past 2 World Cups the United States is unbeaten in the group stage...not a feat many teams can say. In fact, the only other teams not to lose in the group stage that have participated in both world cups are Argentina, the Netherlands, and Brazil.

 

[Cackalacky]

We should have won. Everyone is disappointed at drawing Portugal. I think that says A LOT about how far soccer has come in the United States. Also--in the past 2 World Cups the United States is unbeaten in the group stage...not a feat many teams can say. In fact, the only other teams not to lose in the group stage that have participated in both world cups are Argentina, the Netherlands, and Brazil.

From a team standpoint, we are young and I think this is one of our strongest teams I can recall technically and tactically. The fact that we were underdogs to Portugal and we thoroughly outplayed them for 90 minutes is a huge testament.

We shut down the best player in the world but gave him one chance and that is what great players do, make you pay. However, I will consider this a failure if we do not make it out of the group stages in light of how we played so far. I think a successful tournament for us right ow is making it out of THIS group and a win in the quarters. I would be ecstatic with that.

 

[notredomer23]

I get that the USA controls their own destiny, but I will be watching closely the Portugal-Ghana game. Portugal gets back Pepe and I'm pretty sure Hugo Almeida is back. Ghana is without arguably their best player, Sulley Muntari. If they don't draw, we want a Portugal 1 goal victory.

 

[Emcee77]

From a team standpoint, we are young and I think this is one of our strongest teams I can recall technically and tactically. The fact that we were underdogs to Portugal and we thoroughly outplayed them for 90 minutes is a huge testament.

We shut down the best player in the world but gave him one chance and that is what great players do, make you pay. However, I will consider this a failure if we do not make it out of the group stages in light of how we played so far. I think a successful tournament for us right ow is making it out of THIS group and a win in the quarters. I would be ecstatic with that.

Agreed on that analysis. I have never seen a U.S. team this good at passing and creating through the middle of the field. We really look like we belong on the world stage. Even in 2002, when we made that quarterfinal run ... well, it was kind of like ND's BCS runs under Weis. I knew we weren't really that strong of a team. Watching this U.S. team is more like watching ND under Kelly, as compared with Weis. We may not have gotten the result that we wanted in the biggest game in this tournament, but I can tell that we are fundamentally a good football team and on the way to being a better team.

As for what makes this a successful tourney, I agree that a goal with the right balance of ambition and realism has to be a semifinal appearance. We haven't done that since 1930.

But if we lose to Germany 1-0 or 2-1, and end up not going through because Ghana beats Portugal by 2 goals or more, I won't be too mad. 4 points, with a convincing draw with FIFA's #4 team and a close loss to arguably the best team in the world is not a bad tournament. We'll have showed that U.S. soccer is making progress by leaps and bounds.

 

[Emcee77]

I get that the USA controls their own destiny, but I will be watching closely the Portugal-Ghana game. Portugal gets back Pepe and I'm pretty sure Hugo Almeida is back. Ghana is without arguably their best player, Sulley Muntari. If they don't draw, we want a Portugal 1 goal victory.

Oh you are right. I was feeling not great about Portugal's chances, but it helps a lot that Muntari is out.

On the other hand, does that mean they start Essien? Eff. Pick your poison.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

https://twitter.com/rjinvegas/status/481080262835855360


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[notredomer23]

Oh you are right. I was feeling not great about Portugal's chances, but it helps a lot that Muntari is out.

On the other hand, does that mean they start Essien? Eff. Pick your poison.

I'm not sure because for whatever reason, their coach doesn't seem to like Essien. He didn't even make an appearance against Germany. Maybe he isn't fit enough for 90?

Not in reference to this, I would put Deandre Yedlin in a race against anyone in the world. I will be shocked if he doesn't join an elite European club in the next two years. Portuguese players had about a 10 yard head start on him and he would catch up to them in an instant. It was really incredible. He was absolutely blowing by people.

 

[gkIrish]

I'm not sure because for whatever reason, their coach doesn't seem to like Essien. He didn't even make an appearance against Germany. Maybe he isn't fit enough for 90?

Not in reference to this, I would put Deandre Yedlin in a race against anyone in the world. I will be shocked if he doesn't join an elite European club in the next two years. Portuguese players had about a 10 yard head start on him and he would catch up to them in an instant. It was really incredible. He was absolutely blowing by people.

I think if we end up playing Belgium he needs to start so we can keep up with their wingers.

 

[Emcee77]

I think if we end up playing Belgium he needs to start so we can keep up with their wingers.

This reminds me, what was you guys' read on who was at fault for Portugal's second goal, in terms of marking Varela? Should Fabien Johnson have kept running with him? Or was Cameron supposed to pick him up in the box?

If the latter, Cameron must have had trouble sleeping last night.

On the other hand, someone should have told him that Varela was barreling through. He didn't see him and tried to clear the Ronaldo cross with his foot. Had he known there was a player making a run behind him, no doubt he would have stepped up to head the cross out of danger, rather than let Varela blow by him.

 

[notredomer23]

While it wasn't his fault, I knew the second Juergen subbed in Omar Gonzalez that we were going to lose. The dude is just bad luck written all around him. Keep him on the bench. Well we didn't lose, but you get my point

Fabian Johnson definitely should not have been as far up as he was in that situation. I place the blame on Bradley simply for not booting it. Geoff Cameron played solid yesterday besides the mishit. To answer your question, I am not sure if it was Cameron's man, but the casual observer will probably think it is his fault regardless. The mishit in the first few minutes definitely clouded what overall was a very stellar performance. Him, and especially Besler have been nothing short of spectacular.

 

[notredomer23]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Jurgen Klinsmann on possible collusion with <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Ger&src=hash">#Ger</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WorldCup&src=hash">#WorldCup</a> <a href="http://t.co/ywoMGfLMxn">pic.twitter.com/ywoMGfLMxn</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/statuses/481082948834562048">June 23, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Dammit Jurgen... We want Collusion!

 

[Cackalacky]

The Ghana -Portugal game has me all kinds of messed up. It needs to be 1-0 or 2-0 win for Portugal and we need to not lose by at least at lot to Germany. I feel like we can score against Germany because they have shown they can be exposed in their back line play which benefits the US.

I also think Germany can pull our back line apart and they can adn will score more than us.

All in all I hope we draw which is realistic but unlikely and Portugal wins. We will have to play our best game against Germany but I think Klinnsman is our ACE. He know Jogi and he knows Germany. Tactically we should be great. Just have to execute which I have doubts.

 

[notredomer23]

The Ghana -Portugal game has me all kinds of messed up. It needs to be 1-0 or 2-0 win for Portugal and we need to not lose by at least at lot to Germany. I feel like we can score against Germany because they have shown they can be exposed in their back line play which benefits the US.

I also think Germany can pull our back line apart and they can adn will score more than us.

All in all I hope we draw which is realistic but unlikely and Portugal wins. We will have to play our best game against Germany but I think Klinnsman is our ACE. He know Jogi and he knows Germany. Tactically we should be great. Just have to execute which I have doubts.

The question is, do you think Germany will go all out? Klinsmann is a German legend. He won a World Cup and a Euro Championship with them as a player, as well as leading them to third place in the WC a couple cycles back. I could easily see them getting up 1-0 and then just packing it in big time. Hell, I could see 0-0 just packing it. They win the group with a tie.

 

[Grahambo]

This reminds me, what was you guys' read on who was at fault for Portugal's second goal, in terms of marking Varela? Should Fabien Johnson have kept running with him? Or was Cameron supposed to pick him up in the box?



If the latter, Cameron must have had trouble sleeping last night.



On the other hand, someone should have told him that Varela was barreling through. He didn't see him and tried to clear the Ronaldo cross with his foot. Had he known there was a player making a run behind him, no doubt he would have stepped up to head the cross out of danger, rather than let Varela blow by him.

I believe it was Cameron's man. He should've better tracked him HOWEVER I think it was a better ball by Ronaldo then it was a defensive lapse. It was absolutely brilliant.

As for the US and what it means, it means they just made it more difficult on themselves. They stole the game but gave it right back. They still got a point and still control their own destiny. While there will be no collusion, Germany might just play a tight defensive game which in turn helps the US.

A lot has to go wrong for us to not advance. In terms of the overall picture, US soccer is slowly continuing to rise. We are ranked 13th and listening to Klinnsman, sounds like you want to be Top 8.

Before the tournament, we would've have taken this scenario so we are looking good.


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[Cackalacky]

While it wasn't his fault, I knew the second Juergen subbed in Omar Gonzalez that we were going to lose. The dude is just bad luck written all around him. Keep him on the bench. Well we didn't lose, but you get my point

Fabian Johnson definitely should not have been as far up as he was in that situation. I place the blame on Bradley simply for not booting it. Geoff Cameron played solid yesterday besides the mishit. To answer your question, I am not sure if it was Cameron's man, but the casual observer will probably think it is his fault regardless. The mishit in the first few minutes definitely clouded what overall was a very stellar performance. Him, and especially Besler have been nothing short of spectacular.

I put the blame squarely on us not having the mentality to close the game out. Its the little things.

1. Park the bus and boot the ball down field (Bruce Arena tactic 101). The ball should have been in Portugal's corner for the last 5 minutes.
2. The entire backline was out of position with 3 center backs and 2 wing backs on the field. Ronaldo was behind Beasley and the RB was too far up as well
3. Tim Howard was basically on the touch line in the center of the goal. He got caught flat footed as did the rest of the team.
4. I am not high on Gonzales but Cameron let the striker in behind him unchallenged. Again we had 3 CBs on the field and allowed that to happen. Unacceptable.
5. No one picked up Ronaldo. He had not been on the right side all game and wow..all of a sudden shows up behind Beasley unchallenged. Great tactical decision on his part. Money ball. Perfection.
6. We got to stoppage time with the lead and stopped thinking. Thats all it really is. And we got punished for it. I have no doubts they were mentally and physically exhausted but great teams finish in any sport.

 

[Cackalacky]

The question is, do you think Germany will go all out? Klinsmann is a German legend. He won a World Cup and a Euro Championship with them as a player, as well as leading them to third place in the WC a couple cycles back. I could easily see them getting up 1-0 and then just packing it in big time. Hell, I could see 0-0 just packing it. They win the group with a tie.

I think both teams play for a win at first. The winner still wants that preferential opponent from Group H. Plus Germany is not entirely safe either and with both games being played at the same time anything can happen.

We cannot rely on Portugal to beat Ghana. The absolute worst thing that can happen to US is Ghana wins 3-0 and we lose 1-0. We are out.

I honestly can't see anything but 100% being given by all 4 teams. The current situation still favors US and Germany but it should honestly be settled by now. The US should have closed it out last night. 5 points will see us through and it is likely that is a favorable result 4 points makes it a nightmare for us.