TEAM AMERICA: World Cup

[MLD Woody]

That was nerve racking and I didn't even care about the two teams lol

[hoorta]

@mld-woody said:

That was nerve racking and I didn't even care about the two teams lol

My uneducated thinking on the Brazil- Chile match. If you're going to play all that time, and go down to penalty kicks- at least make it like tennis- you gotta win by 2.

[Taco918]

Wow. That was a heart breaker for Mexico.

[VaporTrail]

I'm glad that Mexico and Greece got sent home.

[MLD Woody]

I was at the Belgium friendly in Cleveland... hopefully this rematch goes better

[gftChris]

@vaportrail said:

I'm glad that Mexico and Greece got sent home.

Mexico don't care about so much, but Greece just play such anti-football, it's horrific. I was gutted when they beat Ivory Coast.

[VaporTrail]

US coming out in a 4-3-3, love it.

Some explanation -

4 defenders, 3 midfielders, 3 attackers

With Altidore in the lineup we started in a 4-4-2. As he was injured for the next two games, we played in a 4-5-1, which is a much more defensive-minded formation.

Today, we're putting 3 guys up top, and hopefully it translates to more scoring chances.

[gftChris]

4-5-1 transitions to 4-3-3 very easily, and usually teams will play a combination of the two formations.

Wow, what a free-kick routine!

[Taco918]

So damn close.

[miktoxic]

now we'll get back to reality where the american people really think soccer sucks.

we'll cheer for anything as long as we're in it. start losing and you can't find the exits fast enough.

[MLD Woody]

I still like soccer. Always have, always will.

The sport will keep growing though. The next 2 years or so will be huge for soccer in the US

[gftChris]

Tim Howard doesn't care how many saves he made - "I signed up to do that, to put my face in front of balls"

...nope, nothing remotely funny about that at all...

[VaporTrail]

I'm proud of this team. We made it out of the group of death, which is more than just about everyone expected.

As for the game, Belgium just dominated us for the first 90 minutes, and if it wasn't for Howard, it'd have been a blowout. I think Belgium's strategy was brilliant, they correctly bet that they would be able to hold off the US without Altidore attacking. Their best player, Lukaku, sat on the bench until extra time. When he came in, he immediately created two scoring opportunities that sealed the game. Now he's well rested for their matchup with Argentina.

In extra time, the team finally woke up, and Bradley, who is supposed to be the best player on our team, finally made a hell of a pass that found 19 year old, Julian Green in the box. The goal was beautiful, and that kid is the future of this team. Klinsmann deserves some flak for leaving Donovan off the roster - his replacement, Wondolowski, missed a wide open net in extra time of the second half that would have won the game. I think if Donovan's taking that shot, it's a goal. Dempsey had a shit game, and blew two chances, toeing the ball at the keeper in a one-on-one, and not striking the ball as it hit his right foot at the top of the box.

[MLD Woody]

That last attempt by Dempsey right into the keeper, there wasn't too much more he could have done. Especially considering they'd been playing fit so long. He also played out of position every game.

The young guys Klinsman picked played well. The next 4 years of US soccer should be very interesting

[MLD Woody]

@gftchris said:

Tim Howard doesn't care how many saves he made - "I signed up to do that, to put my face in front of balls"

...nope, nothing remotely funny about that at all...

I essentially saved a shot with my Adam's Apple a few times. I'd take a ball to the face over a ball to the throat any day lol. That shit hurt

[gftChris]

@mld-woody said:

I essentially saved a shot with my Adam's Apple a few times. I'd take a ball to the face over a ball to the throat any day lol. That shit hurt

I'd take a shot to the face to stop a goal, regardless. Have done many times, although my goalkeeping days are well behind me (about 10 years behind me!)

[Kosar_For_President]

Good game USA. For all the people calling soccer "gay", (obviously brainwashed from the executives of the big 3 other sports in the US), more people watched the game then the last game of the nba finals and world series combined.

[Kosar_For_President]

@mld-woody said:

I essentially saved a shot with my Adam's Apple a few times. I'd take a ball to the face over a ball to the throat any day lol. That shit hurt

And when you say "ball" you mean penis.

[miktoxic]

@kosar_for_president said:

Good game USA. For all the people calling soccer "gay", (obviously brainwashed from the executives of the big 3 other sports in the US), more people watched the game then the last game of the nba finals and world series combined.

nothing else to watch. also it's a national team, not just one team from tx and one from fla who people outside those states could give less than a fugg.

gave people a reason to take off work and start drinking at noon.

[Zombo]

@kosar_for_president said:

Good game USA. For all the people calling soccer "gay", (obviously brainwashed from the executives of the big 3 other sports in the US), more people watched the game then the last game of the nba finals and world series combined.

It's always fun to root for the USA, like Mik says, especially when we are an underdog.

The gay part is flopping and writhing in pain anytime someone touches your shoulder. C'mon Man.

I didnt sit through any games but I caught bits and pieces and rooted for the USA.

In the end, they lost two, tied one and beat a small Third World country by one goal.

Still a ways to go.

1980 Hockey Team is still The Great American Sports Story.

Soccer will continue on in the suburbs and the hispanic neighborhoods ... but it wont see my TV for another 4 years.

Z