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***Official 2014 World Cup Thread*** (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter NewlyRetired
- Start date
Who says anything about Portugal. I think Ghana is the most dangerous team of the Ghana/US/Portugal.
That was because neither team ran much most of the game. Horribly played game by both teams in the middle of the field. Easily attributed to the conditions. Not sure why someone didn't catch that when site selections were being made.
Some could say he didn't botch the shot immediately prior to our second goal and that it was one of the greatest passes of all time.
Premier
Footballguy
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
at the Trolls.Takes a special kind of person. It's like ignoring the NFL all year then popping up in a *Official* team thread for the Super Bowl and pissing for 12 hours.
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Really haven't seen anyone mention how crappy of a soccer game it was in general. I personally don't think group Gs fitness level can be judged based on the US/Port game.
roadkill1292
Footballguy
I think it's pretty courageous to have such a strong opinion with little knowledge of the subject at hand. We have a lot of brave newcomers in this thread.wdcrob said:Errr... I assume it's trolling.
No one is really this stupid, right?
fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
No, I like the group play. Double elimination tournament would also require a winner in each game which means more games decided by penalty kicks.
wadegarrett
FFA Legend™
Yeah this part bugs me. The fact Ghana still has a chance to get in over the US in a h2h tiebreaker b/c of goals is stupid.
TenTimes
Backhoe Operator
I figured it was to keep the games interesting after a goal. Even if not, it accomplishrs that, so not all bad.
Besides the potential US/Germ situation, it bothers me that teams already eliminated can impact the GD that decides who advances.
avoiding injuries
Footballguy
On the bright side, Thursday's game will be causing me to adjust my schedule and should offer an entertaining afternoon. If they had already advanced, I may not have watched the game.
Premier
Footballguy
Bronx Bomber
Footballguy
I see this has been addressed already but they are discussing it on ESPN radio as if this is a common practice in Soccer or is it just one of those unwritten "understandings?" Seems like the thought is that neither team will start off planning for a draw but if its 80 minutes in or so and its tied then they will probably shut it down.
Ned
Footballguy
Sammy3469
Footballguy
Both teams will try in the first half to score. Even if Germany scores, I don't see them trying to lay multiple goals on us (though we may gift them to them). For them a 1-0 scoreline is more than adequate anyway.
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fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Premier
Footballguy
Bronx Bomber
Footballguy
Is it trolling to be interested and discussing the sport/supporting the US or are you just referring to stating strong opinions? Just wondering what I can and can't do since I haven't played since middle school and only watch during the word cup. So I'm definitely guilty of being ignorant in soccer, but I can see how general sports knowledge and strategy can be related and applied to a degree making the casual observers feel like they can take part in the discussion. The prevent defense in football vs. soccer being a good example.
Takes a special kind of person. It's like ignoring the NFL all year then popping up in a *Official* team thread for the Super Bowl and pissing for 12 hours.
So my question is that if the defenders can't "prevent" an attacker from getting to the goal, I'm assuming they can position themselves to make the attacker have to chose a more difficult lane, no? I mean if the defense is already in place they can't anticipate where the attacker will be heading when the ball is crossed and try to get in a better position? I'm just trying to understand why it seemed our entire defense was chasing the guy instead of being back already and ready to make a play.
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Just seems extremely strange to me that group play would be the ideal way to go from 32 to 16 and then all of a sudden single elimination is the ticket. If group play is the fairest way to advance the best teams, seems like you would want to keep that format as long as possible. If elimination matches are more exciting and the better way to determine a champion, they you would want to start off with that format.
General Malaise
Footballguy
I don't get it....do soccer fans in this country want Americans to embrace the sport or just leave it the hell alone? Mixed messages being sent. Complain that soccer is the red headed step child here for decades, then complain when newcomers chime in with their thoughts. There's a learning curve for new fans to any sport. Labeling observations of the new followers as 'ignorant' or calling their criticisms 'invalid' because they aren't sophisticated fans does not do the sport of soccer any favors here.I think it's pretty courageous to have such a strong opinion with little knowledge of the subject at hand. We have a lot of brave newcomers in this thread.wdcrob said:Errr... I assume it's trolling.
No one is really this stupid, right?
fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
I would say it's largely about the offsides rule. If the defenders just sat back in the penalty box, then offensive players could just hang out in there too. And that would open up even more space for the guys bringing it up the field. The way to combat that is to have your defenders push up away from the keeper.Is it trolling to be interested and discussing the sport/supporting the US or are you just referring to stating strong opinions? Just wondering what I can and can't do since I haven't played since middle school and only watch during the word cup. So I'm definitely guilty of being ignorant in soccer, but I can see how general sports knowledge and strategy can be related and applied to a degree making the casual observers feel like they can take part in the discussion. The prevent defense in football vs. soccer being a good example.
Takes a special kind of person. It's like ignoring the NFL all year then popping up in a *Official* team thread for the Super Bowl and pissing for 12 hours.
So my question is that if the defenders can't "prevent" an attacker from getting to the goal, I'm assuming they can position themselves to make the attacker have to chose a more difficult lane, no? I mean if the defense is already in place they can't anticipate where the attacker will be heading when the ball is crossed and try to get in a better position? I'm just trying to understand why it seemed our entire defense was chasing the guy instead of being back already and ready to make a play.
Ned
Footballguy
Funny, I was just about to respond with the same thing. Noobs posting noob comments? ZOMG THE HORRORI don't get it....do soccer fans in this country want Americans to embrace the sport or just leave it the hell alone? Mixed messages being sent. Complain that soccer is the red headed step child here for decades, then complain when newcomers chime in with their thoughts. There's a learning curve for new fans to any sport. Labeling observations of the new followers as 'ignorant' or calling their criticisms 'invalid' because they aren't sophisticated fans does not do the sport of soccer any favors here.I think it's pretty courageous to have such a strong opinion with little knowledge of the subject at hand. We have a lot of brave newcomers in this thread.wdcrob said:Errr... I assume it's trolling.
No one is really this stupid, right?
It's a little annoying that before the WC started, there was this huge argument/push to show that soccer is growing. We've got newcomers flowing into this thread now, myself included, and suddenly most of us are trolls.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
538's updated power rankings including both group games:
Brazil 91.1
Argentina 89.7
Germany 88.7
Netherlands 88.2
Chile 87.8
France 87.8
Colombia 87.5
Spain 85.7
Belgim 81.8
Uruguay 81.5
England 81.4
Ecuador 80.0
Croatia 79.5
Ivory Coast 79.5
Bosnia 79.4
Italy 79.2
Portugal 79.0
USA 78.7
Costa Rica 78.5
Mexico 78.4
Russia 78.3
Switzerland 78.3
Ghana 77.5
Nigeria 76.0
Greece 74.1
Japan 73.4
South Korea 72.6
Iran 71.1
Austrailia 70.3
Cameroon 69.3
Honduras 68.3
Algeria 64.2
Group A was the real group of death... three of the top eight teams (Netherlands, Chile, Spain) is brutal.
No surprise that the US, Portugal and Ghana are fighting tooth and nail for the last spot -- there's almost nothing between them.
Brazil 91.1
Argentina 89.7
Germany 88.7
Netherlands 88.2
Chile 87.8
France 87.8
Colombia 87.5
Spain 85.7
Belgim 81.8
Uruguay 81.5
England 81.4
Ecuador 80.0
Croatia 79.5
Ivory Coast 79.5
Bosnia 79.4
Italy 79.2
Portugal 79.0
USA 78.7
Costa Rica 78.5
Mexico 78.4
Russia 78.3
Switzerland 78.3
Ghana 77.5
Nigeria 76.0
Greece 74.1
Japan 73.4
South Korea 72.6
Iran 71.1
Austrailia 70.3
Cameroon 69.3
Honduras 68.3
Algeria 64.2
Group A was the real group of death... three of the top eight teams (Netherlands, Chile, Spain) is brutal.
No surprise that the US, Portugal and Ghana are fighting tooth and nail for the last spot -- there's almost nothing between them.
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fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
I think the soccer nerds have been very accommodating to folks asking genuine questions.Funny, I was just about to respond with the same thing. Noobs posting noob comments? ZOMG THE HORRORIt's a little annoying that before the WC started, there was this huge argument/push to show that soccer is growing. We've got newcomers flowing into this thread now, myself included, and suddenly most of us are trolls.I don't get it....do soccer fans in this country want Americans to embrace the sport or just leave it the hell alone? Mixed messages being sent. Complain that soccer is the red headed step child here for decades, then complain when newcomers chime in with their thoughts. There's a learning curve for new fans to any sport. Labeling observations of the new followers as 'ignorant' or calling their criticisms 'invalid' because they aren't sophisticated fans does not do the sport of soccer any favors here.I think it's pretty courageous to have such a strong opinion with little knowledge of the subject at hand. We have a lot of brave newcomers in this thread.wdcrob said:Errr... I assume it's trolling.
No one is really this stupid, right?
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
You probably already know this but the WC used to have multiple group stages.
For example, in 1982, there were 24 teams who qualified for the WC.
They were broken up into 6 groups of 4 where top 2 teams advanced to next round.
The second round was 4 groups of 3 where the top team then advanced to the semi finals.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Yeah, I was wrong to say what I did. Sorry all. I let the true trolls get the better of me there.
Trolls aside... it's very frustrating to see the US freakin' outplay Portugal in a game that couldn't matter more and all the newbies are doing is #####ing about minor stuff. We went down 1-0 to a pretty good team and roared back to take control of the game. After the first ten minutes, we were the better team. That's amazing.
#### like the last minute goal happens -- especially when every one of the guys who's gone 90 minutes can barely run. Our last goal was down to the Portuguese defender who fell being slow to get up and set the offside line higher. But it's hard to do when you're exhausted. If Bradley was fresh maybe he holds onto the ball.
Trolls aside... it's very frustrating to see the US freakin' outplay Portugal in a game that couldn't matter more and all the newbies are doing is #####ing about minor stuff. We went down 1-0 to a pretty good team and roared back to take control of the game. After the first ten minutes, we were the better team. That's amazing.
#### like the last minute goal happens -- especially when every one of the guys who's gone 90 minutes can barely run. Our last goal was down to the Portuguese defender who fell being slow to get up and set the offside line higher. But it's hard to do when you're exhausted. If Bradley was fresh maybe he holds onto the ball.
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El Floppo
Footballguy
they wouldn't press regardless of the weather. It's like saying, "why don't England play tiki taka"? They just don't do itI wouldn't think they would, especially considering the weather.They pressed a lot more agaisnt Germany before the red than they did against the USIt would be pretty hard to keep up a strong press in that weather.Love the quantity and diversity of banter in here, even if theres a whole lot of crazy.
What an incredble match. Really proud of our guys. Special shout out to Demarcus Beasely who looked like he was 18 again running down the flanks. Loved how Klinsmann let his fullbacks attack the wings and break down the Portugal Defense. Fab was again terriffic. For the life of me I dont know why Portugal didnt press us, as it played to our strengths.
I hope Klinsmann and Low go out for dinner on Wednesday and settle this off the field In true FIFA fashion.
They aren't a pressing team.
Why add that into the fold of a team that you only have for a few weeks leading up to the WC? They're a counter attacking team and are happy to let other teams have the ball.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
We didn't freakin' outplay Portugal. Portugal got a lucky goal and then tried to sit on the lead for the most part. If Portugal doesn't get that earlier break the game plays out entirely different (except for the weather). Portugal let us outplay them. Really not that much different than us conveniently taking it to Ghana anytime the score was level.Yeah, I was wrong to say what I did. Sorry all. I let the true trolls get the better of me there.
Trolls aside... it's very frustrating to see the US freakin' outplay Portugal in a game that couldn't matter more and all the newbies are doing is #####ing about minor stuff. We went down 1-0 to a pretty good team and roared back to take control of the game. After the first ten minutes, we were the better team. That's amazing.
#### like the last minute goal happens -- especially when every one of the guys who's gone 90 minutes can barely run. Our last goal was down to the Portuguese defender who fell being slow to get up and set the offside line higher. But it's hard to do. If Bradley was fresh maybe he holds onto the ball.
Furthermore, based on what we saw, neither team was a good team. What we saw yesterday on 2/3s of the field didn't resemble much in the way of good soccer.
More defensive than a Jose Mourinho side too.This thread is full outthe last 12 hours.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I really like the current format. Platini's suggestion to expand to 40 teams is a huge mistake. The balance is delicate enough as it is but expanding to 40 could put some teams that simply do not belong into a position of being crushed.
The basic reason is you have teams playing for a more than a year to qualify for the WC, and they don't want to be one and done after all that preparation. You keep world wide interest as teams go through a couple of weeks of group play, and then the audience is secured for the showdown matches. Leave it as it is.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
I also don't see any trolling here. I didn't read the during-the-game commentary though, only the postgame.
roadkill1292
Footballguy
My jab at the trolls stands, no apology.Yeah, I was wrong to say what I did. Sorry all. I let the true trolls get the better of me there.
Trolls aside... it's very frustrating to see the US freakin' outplay Portugal in a game that couldn't matter more and all the newbies are doing is #####ing about minor stuff. We went down 1-0 to a pretty good team and roared back to take control of the game. After the first ten minutes, we were the better team. That's amazing.
#### like the last minute goal happens -- especially when every one of the guys who's gone 90 minutes can barely run. Our last goal was down to the Portuguese defender who fell being slow to get up and set the offside line higher. But it's hard to do when you're exhausted. If Bradley was fresh maybe he holds onto the ball.
We probably should let up on the gas a little about the sport's growth, though. We really shouldn't have to mention it anymore as some kind of justification. Reality speaks for itself.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Yeah... no.I would say it's largely about the offsides rule. If the defenders just sat back in the penalty box, then offensive players could just hang out in there too. And that would open up even more space for the guys bringing it up the field. The way to combat that is to have your defenders push up away from the keeper.Is it trolling to be interested and discussing the sport/supporting the US or are you just referring to stating strong opinions? Just wondering what I can and can't do since I haven't played since middle school and only watch during the word cup. So I'm definitely guilty of being ignorant in soccer, but I can see how general sports knowledge and strategy can be related and applied to a degree making the casual observers feel like they can take part in the discussion. The prevent defense in football vs. soccer being a good example.
Takes a special kind of person. It's like ignoring the NFL all year then popping up in a *Official* team thread for the Super Bowl and pissing for 12 hours.
So my question is that if the defenders can't "prevent" an attacker from getting to the goal, I'm assuming they can position themselves to make the attacker have to chose a more difficult lane, no? I mean if the defense is already in place they can't anticipate where the attacker will be heading when the ball is crossed and try to get in a better position? I'm just trying to understand why it seemed our entire defense was chasing the guy instead of being back already and ready to make a play.
I said it last night too... 94th minute with the lead... put numbers deep behind the ball. Make Portugal beat you with an amazing shot from distance rather than on the break. The prevent d is a pretty apt comparison.
Of all the little errors last night, that was the most important, IMO.
jonessed
Footballguy
Going into the box Cameron was in front of the runner, playing him onside. The problem wasn't that Cameron wasn't deeper, it's that Cameron wasn't tracking the run. Cameron should have picked up the run and stayed between him and the goal. He didn't. He allowed the runner to get a step in behind him and get a free header.Is it trolling to be interested and discussing the sport/supporting the US or are you just referring to stating strong opinions? Just wondering what I can and can't do since I haven't played since middle school and only watch during the word cup. So I'm definitely guilty of being ignorant in soccer, but I can see how general sports knowledge and strategy can be related and applied to a degree making the casual observers feel like they can take part in the discussion. The prevent defense in football vs. soccer being a good example.
Takes a special kind of person. It's like ignoring the NFL all year then popping up in a *Official* team thread for the Super Bowl and pissing for 12 hours.
So my question is that if the defenders can't "prevent" an attacker from getting to the goal, I'm assuming they can position themselves to make the attacker have to chose a more difficult lane, no? I mean if the defense is already in place they can't anticipate where the attacker will be heading when the ball is crossed and try to get in a better position? I'm just trying to understand why it seemed our entire defense was chasing the guy instead of being back already and ready to make a play.
