US SOCCER

[89Hen]

You really think the amount of flopping in one NFL game is equal to or greater than one soccer game?

No, they think it's worse in the NFL.

[89Hen]

Shall I keep going?

You guys crack me up. Seems like I've seen that same Eagles video posted 6-7 times on this thread. Just admit there is more flopping in soccer than any other sport and we can be done with this. I've admitted there is flopping in every other sport where they call penalties.

[bandl]

Shall I keep going?

You guys crack me up. Seems like I've seen that same Eagles video posted 6-7 times on this thread. Just admit there is more flopping in soccer than any other sport and we can be done with this. I've admitted there is flopping in every other sport where they call penalties.

Of course there is more flopping in soccer.

[89Hen]

I will never understand why Michael Bradley is on the team. How many turnovers did he have? How many tackles against? He is the anti-Pirlo.

The whole game was basically him losing possession the moment he got it. He couldn't have had a worse game. I thought our forwards looked good once they got the ball, and the defense stymied Ghana all night, but we couldn't string together a single pass at times through the midfield and Bradley was at the center of it over and over. If we're going to beat Portugal (which is quite possible, Portugal has to be least mentally strong team on the planet, they just collapse) and not get blown out by Germany we need some semblance of a midfield. Bradley has to step it up.

Worst on the field for the US had to be Demarcus Beasley. Did you see him literally trip over himself when he got his jock twisted around his ankles? Shanked 2-3 clears. Saw two really poor throw ins... he needed to be taken out.

[tribe_pride]

The whole game was basically him losing possession the moment he got it. He couldn't have had a worse game. I thought our forwards looked good once they got the ball, and the defense stymied Ghana all night, but we couldn't string together a single pass at times through the midfield and Bradley was at the center of it over and over. If we're going to beat Portugal (which is quite possible, Portugal has to be least mentally strong team on the planet, they just collapse) and not get blown out by Germany we need some semblance of a midfield. Bradley has to step it up.

Worst on the field for the US had to be Demarcus Beasley. Did you see him literally trip over himself when he got his jock twisted around his ankles? Shanked 2-3 clears. Saw two really poor throw ins... he needed to be taken out.

Yeah but problem was we used all 3 of our substitutions for injuries - Altidore and Besler by half and then had to hold on to the last one for Bedoya who was hurting as well. Hopefully those 2 are ok. Luckily, Portugal suffered 2 injuries themselves and got a red card so they will be down some people too.

I'll give Bradley a pass because I have seen him much better than yesterday. Hopefully it was first game jitters but he will need to step it up on Sunday big time because we need someone to control the ball in the midfield and he needs to be that guy.

[clenz]

Besler sounds like it was more precautionary

[tribe_pride]

By the way, CONCACAF is 3-1 through the first set of games with 2 wins over Africa and 1 over South American team. Loss was to Europe.

Africa is 1 win 2 losses and 1 tie with win over Asia and tie to Asia and 2 losses to CONCACAF and 1 to go against Europe

Asia is 0 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie with tie to Africa and losses to Africa, South America and 1 to go to Europe.

Europe is 5-6 (2-3 against non-Europe) with 3 wins against Europe and against South America and CONCACAF and 3 losses against South America and 3 against Europe

South America is 4-2 with wins against 3 Europe and Asia and losses against CONCACAF and Europe

2 games left in 1 set of Europe vs Africa and Europe vs. Asia

[89Hen]

By the way, CONCACAF is 3-1 through the first set of games with 2 wins over Africa and 1 over South American team. Loss was to Europe.

Costa Rica > Uruguay was quite a surprise, no?

[tribe_pride]

By the way, CONCACAF is 3-1 through the first set of games with 2 wins over Africa and 1 over South American team. Loss was to Europe.

Costa Rica > Uruguay was quite a surprise, no?

The biggest one of the tournament so far but the win was no fluke. Costa Rica dominated the game especially the 2nd half. Uruguay may have had more possession by percentage but it was not really attacking possession.

[SDHornet]

So will we be able to hang with Portugal? Will the injured folks be back in action?

[EPJr]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS172L6Cmv8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tribe_pride]

So will we be able to hang with Portugal? Will the injured folks be back in action?

Sure have a chance. They may be without 2 of their starting defenders and starting forward. Definitely without 1 of their starting defenders as he got a red card versus Germany - the others due to injuries. Even taking that out, Portugal looked horrible against Germany and it wasn't all Germany's doing. Ronaldo was crap outside of his free kick with a few minutes to go which was nicely saved. We need to contain him. If we can do that, their defense seems very weak. Hopefully we can get some good chances there. Howard looked strong yesterday in the few chances against him and will need to be just as good against the others.

I see no way that Altidore is back. Besler I am not sure about being back but outside of his first few touches, Brooks did fine (even if you don't count his goal). Bedoya I haven't heard anything about so assume he is coming back.

[JMU DJ]

Costa Rica > Uruguay was quite a surprise, no?

The biggest one of the tournament so far but the win was no fluke. Costa Rica dominated the game especially the 2nd half. Uruguay may have had more possession by percentage but it was not really attacking possession.

Now if this Algeria advantage holds up, this will be the biggest upset of the tourney. I can't see that happening with Belgium's depth/quality, but Algeria's up nonetheless and their defense is looking pretty solid.

[∞∞∞]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS172L6Cmv8

Cool video. Reminds me of the reactions to Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria.

[clenz]

So will we be able to hang with Portugal? Will the injured folks be back in action?

Sure have a chance. They may be without 2 of their starting defenders and starting forward. Definitely without 1 of their starting defenders as he got a red card versus Germany - the others due to injuries. Even taking that out, Portugal looked horrible against Germany and it wasn't all Germany's doing. Ronaldo was crap outside of his free kick with a few minutes to go which was nicely saved. We need to contain him. If we can do that, their defense seems very weak. Hopefully we can get some good chances there. Howard looked strong yesterday in the few chances against him and will need to be just as good against the others.

I see no way that Altidore is back. Besler I am not sure about being back but outside of his first few touches, Brooks did fine (even if you don't count his goal). Bedoya I haven't heard anything about so assume he is coming back.

Ronaldo is apparently in a decent amount of pain from what I've been reading. Still hasn't recovered from the injury that about took him out of the CL final

[Grizalltheway]

Yeah, you can pretty much write off Altidore for the Portugal game, at least. It'll be interesting to see how Johansson does; hopefully our midfield can get some decent balls up to him and Dempsey, instead of just giving it away.

[dbackjon]

The biggest one of the tournament so far but the win was no fluke. Costa Rica dominated the game especially the 2nd half. Uruguay may have had more possession by percentage but it was not really attacking possession.

Now if this Algeria advantage holds up, this will be the biggest upset of the tourney. I can't see that happening with Belgium's depth/quality, but Algeria's up nonetheless and their defense is looking pretty solid.

And Belgium scores two late goals, up 2-1

[89Hen]

You guys crack me up. Seems like I've seen that same Eagles video posted 6-7 times on this thread. Just admit there is more flopping in soccer than any other sport and we can be done with this. I've admitted there is flopping in every other sport where they call penalties.

Of course there is more flopping in soccer.

For the record, I haven't seen anyone else comment.

/discussion on diving.

[dbackjon]

Of course there is more flopping in soccer.

For the record, I haven't seen anyone else comment.

/discussion on diving.

did some one say diving?

[andy7171]

JFC! Clenzy! Come back to the light! All are welcome! ALL ARE WELCOME!!!!

[JMU DJ]

Now if this Algeria advantage holds up, this will be the biggest upset of the tourney. I can't see that happening with Belgium's depth/quality, but Algeria's up nonetheless and their defense is looking pretty solid.

And Belgium scores two late goals, up 2-1

That's how i saw this wrapping up, though I didn't think Belgium would have to come from behind. I know Fellaini had an off year at ManU, but he shouldn't be coming off the bench IMO. Scored and had a few other solid chances. Belgium is just loaded, so I can understand why.

[JMU DJ]

Of course there is more flopping in soccer.

For the record, I haven't seen anyone else comment.

/discussion on diving.

There's more diving in football

[GannonFan]

The whole game was basically him losing possession the moment he got it. He couldn't have had a worse game. I thought our forwards looked good once they got the ball, and the defense stymied Ghana all night, but we couldn't string together a single pass at times through the midfield and Bradley was at the center of it over and over. If we're going to beat Portugal (which is quite possible, Portugal has to be least mentally strong team on the planet, they just collapse) and not get blown out by Germany we need some semblance of a midfield. Bradley has to step it up.

Worst on the field for the US had to be Demarcus Beasley. Did you see him literally trip over himself when he got his jock twisted around his ankles? Shanked 2-3 clears. Saw two really poor throw ins... he needed to be taken out.

I didn't really think Beasley played poorly, in fact, I thought he was one of the better players in terms of maintaining possession and getting it out of our end. He had a few gaffers here and there but on the whole he was fine. I don't recall a real dangerous threat coming from the side he was defending for most of the night.

I put almost all the blame on not maintaining the ball on Bradley - he was just invivsible except for when he was turning it over. We can't be that dominated in the middle and win many more games. I thought, on the whole, our forwards played very well and the defense played very well. Where Ghana dominated was in the middle and that's why most of their chances were swings into the box or hits from far off.

[Skjellyfetti]

Of course there is more diving in soccer.

The point is - if you don't like soccer, don't watch it and fuck off out of the thread.

[Skjellyfetti]

I didn't really think Beasley played poorly, in fact, I thought he was one of the better players in terms of maintaining possession and getting it out of our end. He had a few gaffers here and there but on the whole he was fine. I don't recall a real dangerous threat coming from the side he was defending for most of the night.

I agree. Thought Beasley was good. They were relentlessly attacking his side of the field all night and didn't have a ton of success (and didn't score) until they went the other way.