World Cup 2014

[Cackalacky]

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.

Great comments. The bolded is the most salient point. 6 points was no way guaranteed in this group. 5 is what we needed. 4 is what was hoped for. We are where we thought we would be, and we have more work to do, which is what we knew since the draw.

 

[Cackalacky]

<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>
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Dammit Jurgen... We want Collusion!

This is awesome. Its the American way and also a big dig at our rivals. LOL

 

[gkIrish]

I started a movement this morning to get my company-wide conference call this Thursday pushed up to 11am from 11:30 so that we don't miss the game. Risking my job for America.....

 

[notredomer23]

I started a movement this morning to get my company-wide conference call this Thursday pushed up to 11am from 11:30 so that we don't miss the game. Risking my job for America.....

I already took off Thursday. While I could easily watch it here, I don't think my co-workers would appreciate my pacing around the office and screaming at my laptop.

 

[Cackalacky]

Squawka | Comparison matrix

So I made this on Sqwaka. The US has done VERY VERY well. Sucks to only have 4 points really. Kind of general but telling to me anyway. Our defense has been incredible. Offense... really good.

 

[ACamp1900]

So unless I’m way off there are nine different scenarios that can play out on Thursday. Seven of them have us advancing. Of the two remaining (Loss and a Portugal win or Loss and a Ghana win) Ghana winning and us losing would be to most dangerous going in. Sucky part is us losing and Ghana winning is a pretty likely scenario. After all this could you imagine Ghana knocking us out for a third straight World Cup??

 

[ACamp1900]

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.

I think a Portugal and Ghana draw is realistic also.

 

[gkIrish]

I think a Portugal and Ghana draw is realistic also.

I don't think a draw is realistic because both teams need to win. If they are tied with 10 minutes to go there are going to be huge breakaways for both teams.

 

[ACamp1900]

I hear that totally, but they are two talented teams... I can see them playing to a draw.

 

[Emcee77]

I don't think a draw is realistic because both teams need to win. If they are tied with 10 minutes to go there are going to be huge breakaways for both teams.

Right. If it's tied late in the game, we'll still have goalkeepers up on their own teams' corner kicks, etc. Crazy.

But I guess there's no guarantee either team will score, no matter how frantically they try. To the extent that all ACamp meant is that the teams are evenly matched, I suppose I agree that a draw is realistic.

 

[notredomer23]

A draw or a Portugal win. There is no chance Portugal blasts Ghana for more than a 2 goal victory. I also don't think it is realistic Germany beats us by more than 2. That would have us advancing.

 

[ACamp1900]

I don’t know the first thing about Croatia but they qualified in UEFA so I assume they have the quality to hang with, and maybe beat Mexico…

How yummy would that be??

 

[ACamp1900]

What happens when we get on top 3-0 in the first half...

 

[notredomer23]

 

[Cackalacky]

A draw or a Portugal win. There is no chance Portugal blasts Ghana for more than a 2 goal victory. I also don't think it is realistic Germany beats us by more than 2. That would have us advancing.

This is where I am at.

 

[ACamp1900]

The Google Doodle today is above and beyond... funny cause it's true.

 

[notredomer23]

Idk what I would rather. See Brazil lose to Cameroon and get eliminated today or see Mexico lose and have Croatia and Brazil advance.

 

[ACamp1900]

Idk what I would rather. See Brazil lose to Cameroon and get eliminated today or see Mexico lose and have Croatia and Brazil advance.

U Serious Clark???

 

[notredomer23]

U Serious Clark???

I hate Mexico more than I hate Brazil, but it would be a helluva story if the Brazilians were eliminated. It would be interesting/scary to see the unrest that would ensue over a game. Plus, Mexico isn't beating Chile or the Netherlands in the Round of 16.

I think most likely result today is that the Croatians and Brazilians advance(I think Croatia will beat the Mexicans)

 

[ACamp1900]

I will forget all about yesterday's cluster fuck ending if Croatia wins...

so want to see that happen.

 

[ACamp1900]

Sidenote that has sat with me for a few months now... I can't seem to grasp it...

Explain to me why AFC (Asia) has more spots in the World Cup than CONCACAF... wtf??

My mind melts every time I try to process that.

 

[Emcee77]

Sidenote that has sat with me for a few months now... I can't seem to grasp it...

Explain to me why AFC (Asia) has more spots in the World Cup than CONCACAF... wtf??

My mind melts every time I try to process that.

I've been wondering the same thing.

If only Honduras had showed a little better in this tournament. 3 CONCACAF teams have played great, but the 4th has looked utterly terrible. Hard to argue for more spots that way ... it just makes us look top-heavy.

On the other hand, Honduras qualified ahead of Mexico, which has looked pretty good, so maybe that says something.

 

[IrishLion]

So unless I’m way off there are nine different scenarios that can play out on Thursday. Seven of them have us advancing. Of the two remaining (Loss and a Portugal win or Loss and a Ghana win) Ghana winning and us losing would be to most dangerous going in. Sucky part is us losing and Ghana winning is a pretty likely scenario. After all this could you imagine Ghana knocking us out for a third straight World Cup??

I didn't see it posted anywhere, and I'm too lazy to analyze/compare your post and the following, but a graphic I saw on the Twitter machine about how the US advances:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Staring at this until I go blind RT <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBunn247">@ChrisBunn247</a>: This is where we’re at. Green advances us, Red doesn’t. <a href="http://t.co/2rCyQfSJCX">pic.twitter.com/2rCyQfSJCX</a></p>— Luke Zimmermann (@lukezim) <a href="https://twitter.com/lukezim/statuses/480875775336660992">June 23, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[ACamp1900]

I've been wondering the same thing.

If only Honduras had showed a little better in this tournament. 3 CONCACAF teams have played great, but the 4th has looked utterly terrible. Hard to argue for more spots that way ... it just makes us look top-heavy.

On the other hand, Honduras qualified ahead of Mexico, which has looked pretty good, so maybe that says something.

Thing is, I don't believe AFC has a single team ranked in the top 40 in the world currently... whereas CONCACAF has what, four or five?? and there is the very real chance of not one AFC team moving past the group stages... CONCACAF will have at least one, most likely two or three... I think it’s clear which region has better soccer, maybe I’m being a homer???

I just don't see why they would get more teams... not really saying CONCACAF should get more teams in necessarily, but that AFC having more than CONCACAF strikes me ...

 

[ACamp1900]

Hang with Germany (not get killed) and get points against Port and Ghana... that's very doable... it could have been easier but it's not impossible.

Honduras may go 3-0 group stage

Funny looking back... who was on and who was bat shit carzy... and Omar is still our best defensemen.........

 

[notredomer23]

To be fair to the AFC, Japan and South Korea are usually at least a formidable side. This cycle they have been terrible, however.

They really only do deserve three spots though, maybe 3.5.

 

[notredomer23]

Funny looking back... who was on and who was bat shit carzy... and Omar is still our best defensemen.........

What was I smoking on that day? I didn't even think that before the World Cup started.

 

[Cackalacky]

Funny looking back... who was on and who was bat shit carzy... and Omar is still our best defensemen.........

Sorry guy. Its Besler, centrally, and its not even close.

I don't like disagreeing with you but Gonzales has seen no significant minutes since qualifying.

 

[notredomer23]

Sorry guy. Its Besler, centrally, and its not even close.

I don't like disagreeing with you but Gonzales has seen no significant minutes since qualifying.

and I know they played different positions, but Fabian is the best defender on the team, regardless of back line position.

 

[ACamp1900]

I like Omar's two way ability... love him on the box on corners... and I really don't think, over the course of the past year or so, anyone has been much better on defense... just my two cents.