World Cup - Spoilers (Page 33)

Argh!!!!  So flipping close.  Bradley again did not have a good game and gave up the pass that lead to the final goal.  I can't believe we gave it away.

While Bradley did lose the ball on that final possession - there was a series of poor choices that led to the goal. Overall I think a draw was a fair result. Given that Howard had to make some remarkable saves, Ronaldo had 3 good chances and missed them all (NOT the best player in the world) , and a couple of other near misses...only conceding one goal (albeit to a bizarre error) was a minor miracle. On the flip side, the US has some long range chances and the Bradley shot off the line...so the balance at 2-2 was about right.

This is not to say that I wasn't pissed off at the end to concede! If that was Italy there would be no doubt they would have seen it through. After scoring I thought Beckerman and Jones lost their shape and focus, and they played way too high. It allowed Portugal to play in behind the midfield and time for the wide players to serve in dangerous crosses. I am not a fan of the diamond unless you press the wide players - the US backed off too far and gave uncontested crosses into the box.  They did the same in the first half and Nani nearly burned them twice. They need to press the ball at around 30 yds out and force the play backwards. Maybe conditions and fatigue was a factor but I thought they were tactically naive at 2-1

Dempsey did well as a lone striker and Johnson was brilliant out wide

If after 2 games someone would have offered 4 pts i bet we all would have taken it...

Onto Germany

I thought the US were superb.  That game summed up the difference between talented individuals (Portugal) and a cohesive team (USA).  Ronaldo has delivered on the biggest stages in Europe consistently for several years and scored more than Messi despite being in a worse team - I think he is the best in the world.  To keep him relatively quiet until his world class cross in injury is no mean feat.

The US were a hundred times better than they were in the last game.  I really enjoyed their approach and apart from when that guy elbowed Morales in the chops they play the game in the right spirit too.  Great stuff.  Really hope they get through to the next round.

Should Germany and US make a deal to draw?

Both move forward if they do..... right?

The US did very well to put some big time pressure down both sides of the pitch and we really tested their back line.  That being said, I completely agree we lost shape after the second goal and basically gave it to them.  Bradley again not having a good game and I don't know why.  He is used to pressure and I have a hard time thinking that is the reason.  While he did help marshal some of the attacks, he still gave away the ball way too many times.  He became a liability that came back to bit us in the backside.

Germany will be interesting.  Both of us need a draw to advance at the minimum.  If we draw it will be Germany 1 and us 2.  That being said, I don't know if they want to settle for a draw.  On the other side of it, though, they may want to keep their best players fresh for the next round and might not put out the best team.  Really had to say what will happen.  All I know is I'm going to be a basket case again on Thursday.

If they get caught doing so they would get in some trouble, but yes, a draw for both would be best for both.  It would put us 1 & 2 in the bracket.

As you know, the group winners play another group runners up in the next round.  There was a farcical situation once when, because of a freak result (caused by a double sending off), the tournament favorites finished as runner up in the group.  Therefore the two teams in the next group really wanted to avoid winning their group to face this team so they were both trying to lose the game.  As the match went on this became more and more evident with each team defending the 'wrong' goal.

As it stands, the winner of the USA group is likely to play Algeria and the runner up Belgium.  So yes, probably a draw would suit...

They don't want to make it as obvious as the Chinese/So. Korean  Badminton Teams at the 2012 Olympics.

Overnight ratings were a 9.1 with something like 18.2 million viewers.  Very impressive.  And of course, those ratings don't count the thousands at bars and other large group settings.  

This Thursday's match is disappointing it is in the middle of the day.  I'm guessing not a lot of work will get done.  I know I'll be taking a longer than normal lunch break.  

Hummel said the same thing yesterday with a little bit of a cheeky knock on Bradley.  Saying he wouldn't try to dribble around 4 players.  2 maybe, and then grinned.  

While still VERY young in the final group stages there is a 3 way tie for first in the brackets.  

Myself, zed and ajus.  

I love this friggen tournament.

I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN.

Interesting article.  England side has 9 new players for Costa Rica match.  Roy looking to 2016 Euro and 2018 WC?

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/23/roy-hodgson-england-costa-rica 

He may not be there for either so probably just giving everyone a chance to say they played in a WC

Agreed.

Yes, that story really got more attention after Brooks scored the winner against Ghana. And we're all hoping that having Klinsmann at the helm might give us an edge Thursday. I agree that there will be no collusion, but do feel that the strategy will be changed. I don't know anything about coaching football, but could see how things could change if you didn't absolutely have to win and knew the other team was in the same situation.

Why kill yourself when you want to stay fresh for the next round.  At the same time, having momentum going into the next round has its merits too.

A lot of folks think that it's best for a draw - why not win and win the group and get a potentially easier second round opponent?

On USA - They should, IMO, push hard to win the group and face Algeria or Russia rather than place second and face Belgium.  Play for anything less and Germany could and will punish it.  then depending on the other results US are in trouble.

On England - They are currently playing about level with Costa Rica, a team from a country with a population half the size of London's population, that are resting players!. that about says it all.  Premier league players that just have not got the job done.  Poor, poor show.

Apparently, as I type, Uruguay have scored, Italy are down to 10, and could be out, and Suarez has bitten someone else!!!

Italy out.........

For Germany, even a Draw gets them top.  For us second.  So for us, I agree, a win would be better.  For Germany, it doesn't matter.

UEFA has had a poor showing.

Italy - Gone

Spain - Gone

England - Gone

Portugal - Essentially gone.

Only Germany and Netherlands stand out.  

Suarez should be gone - lifetime ban - 3 biting incidents.....shame because he is a great player but no way to condone that short of action