***Official 2014 World Cup Thread*** (2 Viewers)

[NewlyRetired]

I think it helps that weve played all three of these teams recently. Takes away some of the shock factor given how fast they play with the ball at their feet. Going up big on Germany earlier this year has to be a big motivational factor for the team.

Are you talking about the US?

We haven't played Ghana since 2010 and have not played Portugal since 2002.

 

[NewlyRetired]

In 2006, the WC thread on the FFA had 502 replies and 5,186 views

In 2010, the WC thread on the FFA had 9,544 replies and 109,367 viewsWe should pass the 2006 numbers in this thread before the turn of the year.

so much for turn of the year.

This thread is already well ahead of the entire WC thread in 2006.

A lot of post padding going on here.

There hasn't been much (or any) douchebaggery so we got that going for us.

I don't know if Christo has found the thread yet.

Don't worry, we will get the "soccer sucks" trolls at some point.

I don't think we will in this thread. The same 4 trolls don't bother the soccer thread at all.

If dingbats like Hucks start up dumb threads like he did last cycle then you just invite the ignorance.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Surprise - looks who's on the bottom of the mileage list

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2013/12/02/the-numbers-that-show-the-inequity-of-the-fifa-2014-world-cup-draw-2/

-QG

 

[NewlyRetired]

Grantland checks in with a way too cheery article on the US draw

2014 WORLD CUP

The USMNT World Cup Draw: It's Not a Group of Death, It's a Group of Great

Are you feeling down about the United States Men's National Team World Cup group draw? Do you feel like some global conspiracy plopped Jurgen Klinsmann's boys into the Group of Death? Are you already having dark, twisted fantasies about the U.S. squaring off against Klinsmann's home country of Germany, and Klinsmann deciding, right before kickoff, that Landon and Bradley are looking a little peaked and maybe it's time to see if Kyle Beckerman can handle the midfield in the 7-1-2 formation that Klinsmann invented right there on the spot? Do you feel like the Stars and Stripes will be making a sequel to Up in the Air called Up in the Air II: Holy Crap, Brazil Is Huge, traveling nearly 9,000 miles during their group campaign? Is this all making you wonder whether America is really the chosen country Bono said it was on The Joshua Tree? Here's what I say to that …

Relax! This is going to be SO MUCH FUN. Sure, it would be great if we had gotten ourselves in the easier Group E (Switzerland, Honduras, Ecuador, France). Instead we're in the group the eyes of the world will be trained on. Will it be fun if the U.S. don't win a game? No. Will it be fun if they don't go through to the knockout round? Of course not. But here's the thing: As ESPN's Soccer Power Index tells us, the USMNT have about a 39 percent chance to get out of Group G. Before the tournament, the SPI had that number at 41 percent. We're going to go through or we're not.

And I would suggest that even if the U.S. don't get to the knockouts, the group-stage games might still do an incredible amount of good for soccer in this country. Millions of people are going to watch players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Philipp Lahm, Joao Moutinho, and the Ayew brothers. They'll learn to loathe Pepe and Nani! They'll get caught up in the incredible story line of Klinsmann going up against his former assistant coach, Jogi Loew! And in the process they'll learn to love Michael Bradley, Omar Gonzalez, and Deuce Dempsey (if they don't already).

This might not be great for the USMNT, but it's great for soccer in the United States. And having the U.S. in the Group of Death, having them competing against these opponents, means it's a huge look for this team. We're going to see our guys playing at the highest possible level, and if they come through the group, or even if they put up a good fight before going out, it's only going to bring more and more people to the game.

 

[Scoresman]

Surprise - looks who's on the bottom of the mileage list

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2013/12/02/the-numbers-that-show-the-inequity-of-the-fifa-2014-world-cup-draw-2/

-QG

Viva Belgica!

 

[Slapdash]

In 2006, the WC thread on the FFA had 502 replies and 5,186 views

In 2010, the WC thread on the FFA had 9,544 replies and 109,367 viewsWe should pass the 2006 numbers in this thread before the turn of the year.

so much for turn of the year.

This thread is already well ahead of the entire WC thread in 2006.

A lot of post padding going on here.

There hasn't been much (or any) douchebaggery so we got that going for us.

I don't know if Christo has found the thread yet.

Don't worry, we will get the "soccer sucks" trolls at some point.

I don't think we will in this thread. The same 4 trolls don't bother the soccer thread at all.

If dingbats like Hucks start up dumb threads like he did last cycle then you just invite the ignorance.

Watch out for fantasycurse then.

 

[AAABatteries]

Kind of confident they will advance:

France

I don't get this one. France is not a very good team. They've got a good draw, but Ecuador and Switzerland can both beat them.

Tons of talent and a weak group. I did say kind of confident. Look, swap France's group with Italy, Netherlands, Spain and maybe even Portugal and I would put that team in the confident they advance list. Putting them there has more to do with Ecuador, Switzerland and Honduras than it does with being high on France. They just got a lucky draw IMO. Same with Russia really.

 

[Scoresman]

In 2006, the WC thread on the FFA had 502 replies and 5,186 views

In 2010, the WC thread on the FFA had 9,544 replies and 109,367 viewsWe should pass the 2006 numbers in this thread before the turn of the year.

so much for turn of the year.

This thread is already well ahead of the entire WC thread in 2006.

A lot of post padding going on here.

There hasn't been much (or any) douchebaggery so we got that going for us.

I don't know if Christo has found the thread yet.

Don't worry, we will get the "soccer sucks" trolls at some point.

I don't think we will in this thread. The same 4 trolls don't bother the soccer thread at all.

If dingbats like Hucks start up dumb threads like he did last cycle then you just invite the ignorance.

has this been posted in this year's thread yet?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/chiefmartinez/Random/yAIxI.jpg

 

[The Gator]

In 2006, the WC thread on the FFA had 502 replies and 5,186 views

In 2010, the WC thread on the FFA had 9,544 replies and 109,367 viewsWe should pass the 2006 numbers in this thread before the turn of the year.

so much for turn of the year.

This thread is already well ahead of the entire WC thread in 2006.

A lot of post padding going on here.

There hasn't been much (or any) douchebaggery so we got that going for us.

I don't know if Christo has found the thread yet.

Don't worry, we will get the "soccer sucks" trolls at some point.

I don't think we will in this thread. The same 4 trolls don't bother the soccer thread at all.

If dingbats like Hucks start up dumb threads like he did last cycle then you just invite the ignorance.

has this been posted in this year's thread yet?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/chiefmartinez/Random/yAIxI.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwW7yDyT69A

carry on

 

[QuizGuy66]

All the Belgium had me looking up their history. Not exactly a heavily weighed down trophy case

And a record in the World Cup that's roughly the same as...the United States

Not to mention this : http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1/results/matches/match=1090/report.html

-QG

 

[AAABatteries]

Surprise - looks who's on the bottom of the mileage list

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2013/12/02/the-numbers-that-show-the-inequity-of-the-fifa-2014-world-cup-draw-2/

-QG

I can't get too worked up over this. I think this is going to be overplayed - that's like 2-3 hours, right? With 4 days off between matches that seems to be more an inconvience than it will be a factor in anything.

ETA - sorry, 2-3 hours should be 2-3 hours more than average

 

[QuizGuy66]

Surprise - looks who's on the bottom of the mileage list

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2013/12/02/the-numbers-that-show-the-inequity-of-the-fifa-2014-world-cup-draw-2/

-QG

I can't get too worked up over this. I think this is going to be overplayed - that's like 2-3 hours, right? With 4 days off between matches that seems to be more an inconvience than it will be a factor in anything.

isn't really the best emoticon I know. I need like an irked one

-QG

 

[Scoresman]

All the Belgium had me looking up their history. Not exactly a heavily weighed down trophy case

And a record in the World Cup that's roughly the same as...the United States

Not to mention this : http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1/results/matches/match=1090/report.html

-QG

that's why they're a dark horse. keep overlooking them though!

buncha drunk Belgian soccer players gonna be drinking Chimay and Westleveteren out of that world cup come July!

 

[AAABatteries]

Surprise - looks who's on the bottom of the mileage list

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2013/12/02/the-numbers-that-show-the-inequity-of-the-fifa-2014-world-cup-draw-2/

-QG

I can't get too worked up over this. I think this is going to be overplayed - that's like 2-3 hours, right? With 4 days off between matches that seems to be more an inconvience than it will be a factor in anything.

isn't really the best emoticon I know. I need like an irked one

-QG

It'll just make it all the sweeter when we advance!

 

[CletiusMaximus]

All the Belgium had me looking up their history. Not exactly a heavily weighed down trophy case

And a record in the World Cup that's roughly the same as...the United States

Not to mention this : http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1/results/matches/match=1090/report.html

-QG

They made the final 4 in '86, the first world cup I followed and the source of some of my fondest memories. Jean Marie Pfaff in goal - Bayern's #1 at the time. They were eliminated in the semis by two Maradona goals, a few days after he scored the two famous goals to beat England.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

All the Belgium had me looking up their history. Not exactly a heavily weighed down trophy case

And a record in the World Cup that's roughly the same as...the United States

Not to mention this : http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1/results/matches/match=1090/report.html

-QG

They made the final 4 in '86, the first world cup I followed and the source of some of my fondest memories. Jean Marie Pfaff in goal - Bayern's #1 at the time. They were eliminated in the semis by two Maradona goals, a few days after he scored the two famous goals to beat England.

Also a memorable clash with Maradona in 82 if only for this picture.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1281615/WORLD-CUP-2010-England-captain-Rio-Ferdinand-leads-kit-campaign-help-battle-homelessness.html

 

[Scoresman]

http://i.imgur.com/nb91Reu.gif

 

[QuizGuy66]

http://i.imgur.com/nb91Reu.gif

That is awesome

-QG

 

[dparker713]

I think the ESPN odds are about right for the group. Probably more like 80/40/40/40 instead of 90/40/40/30, but I think each of the teams has a legitimate shot of advancing.

The true wildcard in the group for me is Portugal. Since they're so reliant on one player I think they're the highest variance team in the tournament game to game. Also, I think the depth the US has developed over qualifying will be highly important due to the venues.

Plus, I think the group will produce more entertaining soccer than the group in 2010. Each team will need to go for maximum point in atleast 2 of 3 games. Should be a nice change from the bunkers Algeria and Slovenia.

 

[Slapdash]

Kind of confident they will advance:

France

I don't get this one. France is not a very good team. They've got a good draw, but Ecuador and Switzerland can both beat them.

Totally disagreeFrance went through a bumpy stretch a year or so back, but France may have one of the deepest and most talented teams in the tournament. Would not surprise me at all to see them make the final 8. Call them my dark horse team if you will.

Don't agree at all with the remark that they are one of the most talented teams. We' ll see though.

 

[AAABatteries]

ESPN Soccernet Power Index Pct to Advance. Let me start by saying a couple of these seem crazy; no clue how they calculate them. I'll add my commentary on the ones I think are off.

Group A - Seems about right to me
Brazil - 99
Mexico - 45
Croatia - 33
Cameroon - 22

Group B - Spain and Chile too high; Netherlands too low
Spain - 83
Chile - 74
Netherlands - 41
Australia - 2

Group C - Japan too low IMO, wouldn't surprise me if they finish 2nd
Columbia - 87
Ivory Coast - 49
Greece - 40
Japan - 24

Group D - Uruguay too high and Italy too low
Uruguay - 70
England - 50
Italy - 44
Costa Rica - 29

Group E - Surprised that Ecuador is that high
France - 78
Ecuador - 65
Switzerland - 36
Honduras - 20

Group F - About right; Iran could be even lower
Argentina - 97
Bosnia - 52
Nigeria - 31
Iran - 18

Group G - Germany a tad high; I would put US and Ghana at about 35 each
Germany - 91
Portugal - 40
United States - 39
Ghana - 29

Group H - Seems about right to me
Belgium - 79
Russia - 72
South Korea - 36
Algeria - 11

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

ESPN Soccernet Power Index Pct to Advance. Let me start by saying a couple of these seem crazy; no clue how they calculate them. I'll add my commentary on the ones I think are off.

Group A - Seems about right to me

Brazil - 99

Mexico - 45

Croatia - 33

Cameroon - 22

Group B - Spain and Chile too high; Netherlands too low

Spain - 83

Chile - 74

Netherlands - 41

Australia - 2

Group C - Japan too low IMO, wouldn't surprise me if they finish 2nd

Columbia - 87

Ivory Coast - 49

Greece - 40

Japan - 24

Group D - Uruguay too high and Italy too low

Uruguay - 70

England - 50

Italy - 44

Costa Rica - 29

Group E - Surprised that Ecuador is that high

France - 78

Ecuador - 65

Switzerland - 36

Honduras - 20

Group F - About right; Iran could be even lower

Argentina - 97

Bosnia - 52

Nigeria - 31

Iran - 18

Group G - Germany a tad high; I would put US and Ghana at about 35 each

Germany - 91

Portugal - 40

United States - 39

Ghana - 29

Group H - Seems about right to me

Belgium - 79

Russia - 72

South Korea - 36

Algeria - 11

Using Silver's SPI score you can run simulations of each game. So these likelihood of advancing %s would represent the outcome of (presumably) many thousands of simulations. If you dig around online you could find what goes into SPI. It's a pretty serious effort.

The SA countries are benefitting from a continental advantage. It's apparently quite large -- roughly 1/2 of Brazil's home field advantage IIRC.

 

[AAABatteries]

Using Silver's SPI score you can run simulations of each game. So these likelihood of advancing %s would represent the outcome of (presumably) many thousands of simulations. If you dig around online you could find what goes into SPI. It's a pretty serious effort.The SA countries are benefitting from a continental advantage. It's apparently quite large -- roughly 1/2 of Brazil's home field advantage IIRC.

http://espn.go.com/soccer/worldcup/news/_/id/4447078/GuideToSPI

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Just watched Donovan's World Cup goals vs Mexico, Slovenia and Algeria. Hard to imagine anyone will have more impact than he has for the US on the biggest stage. Dude is a gamer.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

man

i really enjoy world cup soccer

i just wish we were good at it

gonna have to adopt a team

If world soccer was like college football this year, we'd be UCF. We're doing very well in our "conference", although we're not exactly in the SEC. And we're good, but there's a pretty big gulf between us and the top-top teams.

If there was a 32-team CFB playoff, you'd expect UCF to maybe do some damage and they'd have a puncher's chance against some top teams, but yeah, it just seems unlikely that we're ever going to be a legit. threat to win it all. But who knows.

 

[T Bell]

Just watched Donovan's World Cup goals vs Mexico, Slovenia and Algeria. Hard to imagine anyone will have more impact than he has for the US on the biggest stage. Dude is a gamer.

That Slovenian goalkeeper is still reeling from that shot.

 

[guru_007]

Kind of confident they will advance:

France

I don't get this one. France is not a very good team. They've got a good draw, but Ecuador and Switzerland can both beat them.

Totally disagreeFrance went through a bumpy stretch a year or so back, but France may have one of the deepest and most talented teams in the tournament. Would not surprise me at all to see them make the final 8. Call them my dark horse team if you will.

Don't agree at all with the remark that they are one of the most talented teams. We' ll see though.

Really?They have world class at every position. Their only possible weakness is lack of depth as an injury to Ribery would be crushing, but their starting 11 is to me top 4-5 in the world.

 

[Christo]

 

[charvik]

I think this might have been true 20 or 30 years ago, but right now soccer is pretty much the most popular organized youth sport in the U.S. Most kids aren't playing at a high level or anything, but lots of kids are playing.

Soccer players tend to drop the sport at alarmingly high numbers when they hit their teens, too. It's still often viewed as a kids' sport.

I think that might be more about the demographics of who is playing different sports, not whether it's considered a "kids' sport."

This happens in every country as kids grow up and isn't good enough or doesn't have enough interest in soccer.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I think this might have been true 20 or 30 years ago, but right now soccer is pretty much the most popular organized youth sport in the U.S. Most kids aren't playing at a high level or anything, but lots of kids are playing.

Soccer players tend to drop the sport at alarmingly high numbers when they hit their teens, too. It's still often viewed as a kids' sport.

I think that might be more about the demographics of who is playing different sports, not whether it's considered a "kids' sport."

This happens in every country as kids grow up and isn't good enough or doesn't have enough interest in soccer.

It also happens in every sport except american football.

The drop out rate for baseball is just as high as soccer. I never understand why soccer is always picked out for this common issue.

As you get older there are simply less teams to play for. There might be 5 town teams when you are young but there is only one high school team. Kids who are not good enough have to drop the sport by definition.

The only reason american football does not experience this is that so few kids play football at a young age. The sport allows for a teenager to pick it up and be good at it quickly. That does not really happen for soccer, hockey, and baseball and only happens in the rare case in basketball where the ultra tall uncoordinated kid finally figures out how to move his limbs.

 

[DiStefano]

Brazil is a pretty big country. And soccer is absurdly popular there. But tall rangy guys who can jump out of the gym play basketball or volleyball in Brazil. Because those are sports that fit their skill set. The Brazilian team has a lot of very athletic players, but their best player is a guy who looks like he should be on the Bad News Bears, not the Chicago Bears.

I don't want to hijack the thread on WC draw day too much but to me it would come down to how much of what Neymar does was learned versus how much was he born with? I could very well be wrong and it's mostly the latter but with all the great athletes we produce it seems unlikely to me that we couldn't find at least a few world class players somewhere in there. And it would only take a few for us to move from a good team to a very good team.

It's both. He won the genetic soccer lottery, but he also benefits from thousands of hours of practicing in a soccer crazy country, and from better and better instruction as he progressed.

That's exactly right. If you haven't been to Brazil then you don't know that at every moment of the day, on hundreds of thousands of streets, kids are playing soccer from the time they're two, playing one on one, two on two, three on three, four on four, for hours and hours and hours--week in week out. They play with a soccer ball, they play with a tennis ball, they play with a sponge ball, they play with newspaper stuffed inside a plastic bag, but they play and play. Forget the athleticism as the prime mover; it is skills they have developed through 10,000 hours of practice, pace Malcolm Gladwell. On that basis, we can't compete.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

That's exactly right. If you haven't been to Brazil then you don't know that at every moment of the day, on hundreds of thousands of streets, kids are playing soccer from the time they're two, playing one on one, two on two, three on three, four on four, for hours and hours and hours--week in week out. They play with a soccer ball, they play with a tennis ball, they play with a sponge ball, they play with newspaper stuffed inside a plastic bag, but they play and play. Forget the athleticism as the prime mover; it is skills they have developed through 10,000 hours of practice, pace Malcolm Gladwell. On that basis, we can't compete.

I think this could still happen here to some extent, but I think middle class parents either a) get in the way and/or b) have too much sense to let their kids play that much.

When I was a kid I had a baseball in my hand all day. And from 6-12 or I pitched thousands of simulated games either against a brick wall on the side of our house (I knocked the mortar out), our concrete front steps (had to keep it down in the strike zone or I'd hit our front door) or with a neighbor kid up the street. I played whiffle ball, pickup baseball, little league -- 24/7 I was playing.

Bryce Harper's parents used to send him on planes by himself to be a ringer in youth baseball tournaments around the country, but most middle-class parents just won't let their kids play that much today. I don't even know if I would. That's a long way to go to get to the point, but I think soccer being primarily a middle-class sport is what may end up holding it back in the US. And that doesn't even get to the idea of our best prospects going to into a relatively mediocre development environment for four years (college) before turning pro.

 

[Mjolnirs]

World Cup Qualification was completed last night.

Mjolnirs posted the following info:

Qualification began June 15, 2011 with Belize defeating Montserrat 5-2 in a match played in Trinidad & Tobago.

889 days, 816 matches and 2,333 goals later, the field is narrowed from 204 to 32.

I get home and start FFing through the draw coverage and right off the bat they throw up some numbers. 816 matches, check.

203 nations, ok, 1 federation withdrew. Still ok.

2286 goals. What? I modified my number to 2343 in the other thread, but I'm still 59 short. Back to the spreadsheet.

 

[NewlyRetired]

[That's a long way to go to get to the point, but I think soccer being primarily a middle-class sport is what may end up holding it back in the US. And that doesn't even get to the idea of our best prospects going to into a relatively mediocre development environment for four years (college) before turning pro.

Don't take this an insult but reading this made me feel like I just got in a time machine and went back to the year 2000

None of this is true any more. 99.5% or more of the best young prospects are now either in the ever expanding MLS academies or Liga MX youth setups. Philly just opened an entire high school for soccer players only.

Also the days middle class kids dominating youth soccer as the best players are slowly evaporating as this generation of lower class hispanic kids start to grab hold. Look at our youth national teams, they are over flowing in hispanic kids. 13 years ago you would not see anywhere near as much.

 

[The Gator]

World Cup Qualification was completed last night.

Mjolnirs posted the following info:

Qualification began June 15, 2011 with Belize defeating Montserrat 5-2 in a match played in Trinidad & Tobago.

889 days, 816 matches and 2,333 goals later, the field is narrowed from 204 to 32.

I get home and start FFing through the draw coverage and right off the bat they throw up some numbers.816 matches, check.

203 nations, ok, 1 federation withdrew. Still ok.

2286 goals. What? I modified my number to 2343 in the other thread, but I'm still 59 short. Back to the spreadsheet.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

[That's a long way to go to get to the point, but I think soccer being primarily a middle-class sport is what may end up holding it back in the US. And that doesn't even get to the idea of our best prospects going to into a relatively mediocre development environment for four years (college) before turning pro.

Don't take this an insult but reading this made me feel like I just got in a time machine and went back to the year 2000

None of this is true any more. 99.5% or more of the best young prospects are now either in the ever expanding MLS academies or Liga MX youth setups. Philly just opened an entire high school for soccer players only.

Also the days middle class kids dominating youth soccer as the best players are slowly evaporating as this generation of lower class hispanic kids start to grab hold. Look at our youth national teams, they are over flowing in hispanic kids. 13 years ago you would not see anywhere near as much.

I had a feeling what I was writing might be dated, so I'm not surprised to hear you say it. I should have framed it as "as long as our prospects are primarily middle-class/collegiate" etc etc.

I'll dig into the MLS academy setup to get back into the current century. Until then get off my lawn.

 

[NewlyRetired]

[That's a long way to go to get to the point, but I think soccer being primarily a middle-class sport is what may end up holding it back in the US. And that doesn't even get to the idea of our best prospects going to into a relatively mediocre development environment for four years (college) before turning pro.

Don't take this an insult but reading this made me feel like I just got in a time machine and went back to the year 2000 None of this is true any more. 99.5% or more of the best young prospects are now either in the ever expanding MLS academies or Liga MX youth setups. Philly just opened an entire high school for soccer players only.Also the days middle class kids dominating youth soccer as the best players are slowly evaporating as this generation of lower class hispanic kids start to grab hold. Look at our youth national teams, they are over flowing in hispanic kids. 13 years ago you would not see anywhere near as much.

I had a feeling what I was writing might be dated, so I'm not surprised to hear you say it. I should have framed it as "as long as our prospects are primarily middle-class/collegiate" etc etc.I'll dig into the MLS academy setup to get back into the current century. Until then get off my lawn.

The Philly high school is fabulous! Take a read here to see what the cutting edge is in the country

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/08/21/philadelphia-union-youth-academy-enters-brave-new-world-club-opens-its-own-h

 

[NewlyRetired]

This would be cool if they could pull it off. They are more likely to get the Ghana game changed than the Germany game since the Germany game affects 4 countries who have to play simultaneously.

The United States game against Portugal on Sunday, June 22 will be televised LIVE on ABC, according to ESPN Senior Vice President and Executive Producer Jed Drake. The ESPN executive was speaking via phone from Brazil to the United States soccer media in Bristol, CT.

Drake also revealed that its not out of the realm of possibility that the TV times could change for the United States vs Ghana and United States vs Germany games. ESPN is planning on having preliminary talks with FIFA to try to see if the kick-off times can be changed. United States vs Ghana is scheduled for 6:00 pm ET while United States vs Germany is 12:00 pm ET.

United States vs Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal is perfectly timed for a 2:30 pm ET broadcast with a 3:00 pm ET kickoff on Sunday, June 22. The hopes will be that the United States can smash the record viewing figure of 14.9 million who watched United States vs Ghana on ABC during World Cup 2010.

 

[dparker713]

Brazil is a pretty big country. And soccer is absurdly popular there. But tall rangy guys who can jump out of the gym play basketball or volleyball in Brazil. Because those are sports that fit their skill set. The Brazilian team has a lot of very athletic players, but their best player is a guy who looks like he should be on the Bad News Bears, not the Chicago Bears.

I don't want to hijack the thread on WC draw day too much but to me it would come down to how much of what Neymar does was learned versus how much was he born with? I could very well be wrong and it's mostly the latter but with all the great athletes we produce it seems unlikely to me that we couldn't find at least a few world class players somewhere in there. And it would only take a few for us to move from a good team to a very good team.

It's both. He won the genetic soccer lottery, but he also benefits from thousands of hours of practicing in a soccer crazy country, and from better and better instruction as he progressed.

That's exactly right. If you haven't been to Brazil then you don't know that at every moment of the day, on hundreds of thousands of streets, kids are playing soccer from the time they're two, playing one on one, two on two, three on three, four on four, for hours and hours and hours--week in week out. They play with a soccer ball, they play with a tennis ball, they play with a sponge ball, they play with newspaper stuffed inside a plastic bag, but they play and play. Forget the athleticism as the prime mover; it is skills they have developed through 10,000 hours of practice, pace Malcolm Gladwell. On that basis, we can't compete.

Just so you know, you basically just described how Dempsey grew up.

 

[QuizGuy66]

I'd be really surprised if they even moved the Ghana game - that kickoff is scheduled for 11 pm Accra time.

-QG

 

[Sammy3469]

I'd be really surprised if they even moved the Ghana game - that kickoff is scheduled for 11 pm Accra time.

-QG

I'm guessing they are more interested in moving the Germany to a more West Coast friendly time. Having said that I'm also of the mind, that playing in mid-day tropical heat wouldn't be a bad thing against Northern Europeans.

 

[DiStefano]

Brazil is a pretty big country. And soccer is absurdly popular there. But tall rangy guys who can jump out of the gym play basketball or volleyball in Brazil. Because those are sports that fit their skill set. The Brazilian team has a lot of very athletic players, but their best player is a guy who looks like he should be on the Bad News Bears, not the Chicago Bears.

I don't want to hijack the thread on WC draw day too much but to me it would come down to how much of what Neymar does was learned versus how much was he born with? I could very well be wrong and it's mostly the latter but with all the great athletes we produce it seems unlikely to me that we couldn't find at least a few world class players somewhere in there. And it would only take a few for us to move from a good team to a very good team.

It's both. He won the genetic soccer lottery, but he also benefits from thousands of hours of practicing in a soccer crazy country, and from better and better instruction as he progressed.

That's exactly right. If you haven't been to Brazil then you don't know that at every moment of the day, on hundreds of thousands of streets, kids are playing soccer from the time they're two, playing one on one, two on two, three on three, four on four, for hours and hours and hours--week in week out. They play with a soccer ball, they play with a tennis ball, they play with a sponge ball, they play with newspaper stuffed inside a plastic bag, but they play and play. Forget the athleticism as the prime mover; it is skills they have developed through 10,000 hours of practice, pace Malcolm Gladwell. On that basis, we can't compete.

Just so you know, you basically just described how Dempsey grew up.

Indeed. The problem is, that for every one we have doing that in the USA, Brazil has one hundred. Brazil has more kids than the USA does, and they virtually all play soccer.

 

[dal_boys_phan]

 

[Steve Tasker]

[That's a long way to go to get to the point, but I think soccer being primarily a middle-class sport is what may end up holding it back in the US. And that doesn't even get to the idea of our best prospects going to into a relatively mediocre development environment for four years (college) before turning pro.

Don't take this an insult but reading this made me feel like I just got in a time machine and went back to the year 2000 None of this is true any more. 99.5% or more of the best young prospects are now either in the ever expanding MLS academies or Liga MX youth setups. Philly just opened an entire high school for soccer players only.Also the days middle class kids dominating youth soccer as the best players are slowly evaporating as this generation of lower class hispanic kids start to grab hold. Look at our youth national teams, they are over flowing in hispanic kids. 13 years ago you would not see anywhere near as much.

I had a feeling what I was writing might be dated, so I'm not surprised to hear you say it. I should have framed it as "as long as our prospects are primarily middle-class/collegiate" etc etc.I'll dig into the MLS academy setup to get back into the current century. Until then get off my lawn.

The Philly high school is fabulous! Take a read here to see what the cutting edge is in the country

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/08/21/philadelphia-union-youth-academy-enters-brave-new-world-club-opens-its-own-h

When I was a kid, we had 1 premier-level option in my geographic area. Now kids have 4 premier options - the one long-standing club plus 3 new ones. Coaching and youth development have gotten infinitely better from my younger days, which really weren't that long ago. ld:

 

[T Bell]

[That's a long way to go to get to the point, but I think soccer being primarily a middle-class sport is what may end up holding it back in the US. And that doesn't even get to the idea of our best prospects going to into a relatively mediocre development environment for four years (college) before turning pro.

Don't take this an insult but reading this made me feel like I just got in a time machine and went back to the year 2000 None of this is true any more. 99.5% or more of the best young prospects are now either in the ever expanding MLS academies or Liga MX youth setups. Philly just opened an entire high school for soccer players only.Also the days middle class kids dominating youth soccer as the best players are slowly evaporating as this generation of lower class hispanic kids start to grab hold. Look at our youth national teams, they are over flowing in hispanic kids. 13 years ago you would not see anywhere near as much.

I had a feeling what I was writing might be dated, so I'm not surprised to hear you say it. I should have framed it as "as long as our prospects are primarily middle-class/collegiate" etc etc.I'll dig into the MLS academy setup to get back into the current century. Until then get off my lawn.

The Philly high school is fabulous! Take a read here to see what the cutting edge is in the country

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/08/21/philadelphia-union-youth-academy-enters-brave-new-world-club-opens-its-own-h

When I was a kid, we had 1 premier-level option in my geographic area. Now kids have 4 premier options - the one long-standing club plus 3 new ones. Coaching and youth development have gotten infinitely better from my younger days, which really weren't that long ago. ld:

There's a soccer culture overseas, particularly in Europe and S. America, which fully expects that top young players will leave home and go to academies. That's historically pretty unusual for American sports outside of some select ones like gymnastics. That now appears to be changing.

 

[NewlyRetired]

[That's a long way to go to get to the point, but I think soccer being primarily a middle-class sport is what may end up holding it back in the US. And that doesn't even get to the idea of our best prospects going to into a relatively mediocre development environment for four years (college) before turning pro.

Don't take this an insult but reading this made me feel like I just got in a time machine and went back to the year 2000 None of this is true any more. 99.5% or more of the best young prospects are now either in the ever expanding MLS academies or Liga MX youth setups. Philly just opened an entire high school for soccer players only.Also the days middle class kids dominating youth soccer as the best players are slowly evaporating as this generation of lower class hispanic kids start to grab hold. Look at our youth national teams, they are over flowing in hispanic kids. 13 years ago you would not see anywhere near as much.

I had a feeling what I was writing might be dated, so I'm not surprised to hear you say it. I should have framed it as "as long as our prospects are primarily middle-class/collegiate" etc etc.I'll dig into the MLS academy setup to get back into the current century. Until then get off my lawn.

The Philly high school is fabulous! Take a read here to see what the cutting edge is in the countryhttp://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/08/21/philadelphia-union-youth-academy-enters-brave-new-world-club-opens-its-own-h

When I was a kid, we had 1 premier-level option in my geographic area. Now kids have 4 premier options - the one long-standing club plus 3 new ones. Coaching and youth development have gotten infinitely better from my younger days, which really weren't that long ago. ld:

There's a soccer culture overseas, particularly in Europe and S. America, which fully expects that top young players will leave home and go to academies. That's historically pretty unusual for American sports outside of some select ones like gymnastics. That now appears to be changing.

Obviously MLS plays a huge role in driving the top tier academies but Liga MX also will have an affect as they scour Texas and California for talent.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I'd be really surprised if they even moved the Ghana game - that kickoff is scheduled for 11 pm Accra time.

-QG

I'm guessing they are more interested in moving the Germany to a more West Coast friendly time. Having said that I'm also of the mind, that playing in mid-day tropical heat wouldn't be a bad thing against Northern Europeans.

It is going to be hard to move either game. The Germany game affects 4 countries, and that would likely be hard to get everyone to agree.

The Ghana game will also be tough to move with out some money exchanging hands as Ghana has an already shortened rest period between games 1 and 2. Moving the game later in the day reduces that rest even more.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Are the Liga MX youth efforts (academies?) aimed only at kids with Mexican heritage living in the US? Or are they looking for any talent they can find? Would be awesome if it were the latter -- competition like that seems like it would help motivate everyone.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Are the Liga MX youth efforts (academies?) aimed only at kids with Mexican heritage living in the US? Or are they looking for any talent they can find? Would be awesome if it were the latter -- competition like that seems like it would help motivate everyone.

I certainly don't know all of the US players they have in their system but the ones I do know are mostly (all?) Mexican Americans.

Paul Arriola is the first of this generation of players to make the step up to the big Liga MX club from the youth teams. At 18 he has already appeared for Tijuana 13 times.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Since Germany reunited by the 1994 WC their record in the firs round is 11 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss.

Their record in the 3rd game of each tournament is a perfect 5-0-0.