***Official 2014 World Cup Thread*** (3 Viewers)

[FreeBaGeL]

Ball didn't get through to Jones anyway, so it wouldn't have mattered.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I swore I wasn't going to get sucked into this.

 

[AAABatteries]

Germany looks more aggressive, always seemingly looking to play the ball forward, whereas the US always seems to be looking for a pass back. Is that philosophical, a product of their playing more to win and our playing more to not lose, or is it simply because they're better-able to do so with more skilled players? Or something else?

There's no denying Germany is better than us - they just are. And yes, we are playing a defensive game knowing we are the underdog. Looking to play on the counter. We have looked dangerous though. Zusi could have scored with a perfect strike and Johnson was almost in. What you may see is Germany go for it for 60-70 minutes and then play for a draw and rest a couple players. The game is open enough for a goal before that time though. What we need is Portugal to score and then we can play this way the rest of the match.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Portugal goal!!!

 

[FreeBaGeL]

PORTUGAL!!!

 

[HellToupee]

When is Germany's power play over?

 

[AAABatteries]

YES!!!!

 

[gianmarco]

PORTUGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mr roboto]

I thought we were around 15 or so in the world based on a link back in this thread.

ETA: 13 http://m.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/

FIFA has the US ranked 13th currently. FIFA also had the US in the top 10 going into 2006, when the US crashed out with 1 pt in the group stage.I think a lot of people don't put much stock in FIFA rankings. Switzerland is ranked #6. Are they really the 6th best team in the world? #### no.

FWIW, Germany is ranked #2 in the FIFA rankings, behind Spain.

OK, please tell me the best ranking then. I'm a noob but FIFA seems to be kind of important.

 

[B-Deep]

portuGOAL!!!!!

 

[B Maverick]

To those of you commenting on how bad it looks right now....what exactly were you expecting? Germany is a top 5 team in the world. They're going to dominate possession and create a lot of chances.

Aren't we around top 10 now? Is this the expected dropoff from top 5 to 10-ish?

no, we are probably around 20ish, give or take...

The FIFA rankings? USA was 13 going in, thought someone in here mentioned before that it was more 10 after the Ghana and Portugal results

Yeah I know. But I dont put much stock in FIFA's "rankings". There is a lot of debate a few pages back on this.

 

[rockaction]

Portugal scores. Great news.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

US feed announced the Portugal goal before it happened on my univision internet feed.

:(

but

 

[17seconds]

Yay portugal. They really should be killing Ghana with the mentality of that team right now

 

[QuizGuy66]

Goal by GHANA - INTO THEIR OWN NET!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe that's why they waited on the bonus.

This will help. Now Portugal should park the bus
-QG

 

[AAABatteries]

That's great news for the U.S. unless Ghana decides to quit playing.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

own goal on Ghana

 

[gump]

Almost no added time at this point...

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Man that Portugal goal is huge for us.

 

[Sinn Fein]

And there goes Chet's bet

 

[B Maverick]

I thought we were around 15 or so in the world based on a link back in this thread.

ETA: 13 http://m.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/

FIFA has the US ranked 13th currently. FIFA also had the US in the top 10 going into 2006, when the US crashed out with 1 pt in the group stage.I think a lot of people don't put much stock in FIFA rankings. Switzerland is ranked #6. Are they really the 6th best team in the world? #### no.

FWIW, Germany is ranked #2 in the FIFA rankings, behind Spain.

OK, please tell me the best ranking then. I'm a noob but FIFA seems to be kind of important.

There isnt really one. Its like the BCS, a guideline.

 

[Steve Tasker]

I thought we were around 15 or so in the world based on a link back in this thread.

ETA: 13 http://m.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/

FIFA has the US ranked 13th currently. FIFA also had the US in the top 10 going into 2006, when the US crashed out with 1 pt in the group stage.

I think a lot of people don't put much stock in FIFA rankings. Switzerland is ranked #6. Are they really the 6th best team in the world? #### no.

FWIW, Germany is ranked #2 in the FIFA rankings, behind Spain.

Just for kicks, I looked this up. The US was ranked #4 in the world (!) in April 2006, just two months ahead of the World Cup. They proceeded to get embarrassed badly by the Czechs (Jan Koller in the 5th minute, anyone?), played eventual champions Italy tough for a draw (the game ended 10-on-9 after red cards), and were beaten pretty well by Ghana. They should not have been a top 10 team in the world at the time.

 

[gump]

Germans are suddenly off.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

that was an awesome pass from Bradley to spring Jones. just missed.

 

[17seconds]

Jones just missed the touch

 

[gump]

Wow

 

[Ignoramus]

BIG save.

 

[Sinn Fein]

US getting a bit full of themselves imo

 

[Steve Tasker]

I thought we were around 15 or so in the world based on a link back in this thread.

ETA: 13 http://m.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/

FIFA has the US ranked 13th currently. FIFA also had the US in the top 10 going into 2006, when the US crashed out with 1 pt in the group stage.I think a lot of people don't put much stock in FIFA rankings. Switzerland is ranked #6. Are they really the 6th best team in the world? #### no.

FWIW, Germany is ranked #2 in the FIFA rankings, behind Spain.

OK, please tell me the best ranking then. I'm a noob but FIFA seems to be kind of important.

There are no real rankings, so to speak. FIFA's ranking isn't on form but on recent results. And the results that factor in actually go back a few years, I think. That's probably part of the reason the US was ranked #4 in 2006 (not sure on that)....because the US made it to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002.

It's not like the coaches poll or AP poll where someone is presumably watching the games and grading the teams.

I don't mind the noob questions, keep em coming.

 

[gianmarco]

Nice dive, Swcheinschit.

 

[B-Deep]

lol at him opening one eye to see what the ref is doing

 

[fred_1_15301]

I'll take a 1-0 Portugal win please.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

US odds up from 1/4 to 2/9 currently. So roughly 81% chance of advancing at the moment. Up from 78%. Portugal goal not as telling as I expected.

Howard looks pretty sharp so far.

 

[Christo]

Zusi was surprised by the call.

 

[gump]

Zusi

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Jermaine Jones seems really gassed already.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Zusi was surprised by the call.

You could tell by that grin.

 

[17seconds]

Jermaine Jones seems really gassed already.

He's all over the place and it's a wet pitch

 

[Rove!]

US odds up from 4/5 to 2/9 currently. So roughly 81% chance of advancing at the moment. Up from 78%. Portugal goal not as telling as I expected.

Howard looks pretty sharp so far.

as more game time passes, i assume that goal will loom larger...

 

[AAABatteries]

Jermaine Jones seems really gassed already.

Don't worry - he's like Wolverine, he'll regenerate here in a minute.

 

[jon_mx]

Man that Portugal goal is huge for us.

One goal is great. Two is OK. Three would make it a bit tense.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Jermaine Jones seems really gassed already.

He's all over the place and it's a wet pitch

time for a water break imo

 

[The Hardline]

Need to start passing to space rather than trying to dribble or touch pass out of our own end. Germans are marking too closely for tight play like that.

 

[17seconds]

If this half finishes 0-0 we're basically through unless both Germany and Ghana go goal crazy in the 2nd half, correct?

 

[jon_mx]

US odds up from 1/4 to 2/9 currently. So roughly 81% chance of advancing at the moment. Up from 78%. Portugal goal not as telling as I expected.

Howard looks pretty sharp so far.

I would take the US with those odds all day. It would take a disaster at this point.

 

[TLEF316]

Ugh. Bradley can't get out of his own way right now. Just painful

 

[FreeBaGeL]

2nd time already Bradley has misplayed a pass in the middle.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

US odds up from 1/4 to 2/9 currently. So roughly 81% chance of advancing at the moment. Up from 78%. Portugal goal not as telling as I expected.

Howard looks pretty sharp so far.

I would take the US with those odds all day. It would take a disaster at this point.

As a Bills fan, I wince whenever people say things like this.

 

[gump]

Jones and Dempsey need some energy at the half...not sure how else we score.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Bradley is killing me. Don't remember the last time I've yelled at a player as much.