***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (4 Viewers)

[The Z Machine]

Is a change in coaching only what's needed? Is a drastic change in the starting lineup also needed?

 

[El Floppo]

Exactly.

This team plays so introverted it's disgusting.

My brother raised an interesting point in regards to the 2 red cards in this tournament. He said that the reason the refs rae giving those straight reds so quickly is that they have little reason to think that the US isn't really out there trying to hurt people on these late tackles. The refs see the poor play by the USMNT and the really bad errors and conclude that the US players simply don't have control over their bodies, and therefore are a danger to the opposition in tackles.

There's no way that those 2 cards are straight reds if Ballack or Lampard makes them instead of Clark and Sacha. This is not anti-US bias, nor is it pro-star athlete (a la Michael Jordan) but rather a reflection on the poor play by the US that leads up to those tackles. Both were dumb tackles the went in late. This one today was simply not a straight red IMO. It wasn't high, it wasn't flagrant, and there was no intent to injure. But those are the breaks that happens when you prove you're a bad team that can't control a short corner, leading to a 80+ yard breakaway goal.

I'm giving Bradley 1 more game before I'm calling for his head.

I'm going to kinda disagree.IMO, both of those calls came on similar plays- Clarke and Sascha lose the ball foolishly in teh center of the pitch, turn around and chase down and clobber the guy with the ball.

Clarke's red was a little harsh (high boot to the knee is never going to look good, however) and Sascha's deserved, IMO. But the point is- this is the kind of thing you see 12 year olds do (even Rooney has learned to stop doing it) and it's the kind of thing as ref that is SO easy to see developing... so that makes it that easy to read as an intentional, dangerous play rather than just a hard tackle- those are always going to be easier to pull the red on when you can clearly see the intent.

 

[Moe.]

Is Bradley's job in doubt in any serious way? I was under hte impression that the higher ups were satisfied enough. Have we ever had a non-American coach the national team?

 

[Sebowski]

I've never done this before, but here is a typical heartfelt angry fan post:

What a joke of a performance. Bradley has to go. He is picking the wrong players, the wrong formations, and the players are not stepping up for him. I am as close as I ever have been to rooting against my team just to get him fired. Connor Casey? Seriously? Where is Torres? Where is Adu? We need to play the guys with UPSIDE. Let them get better.

 

[Desert_Power]

Pretty sure other countries have ridiculous expectations for their teams too...like 100x what we chirp about in here. In Europe, soccer is life.Also, maybe Spain and France as WC contenders? Spain has already been annointed in this thread as the best team in the World, hands down. France still has a few good players around last I checked.No mention of Portugal?

But France is really not so good these days and Portugal is currently looking on the outside of their qualifying group (Denmark, Sweden and Romania?Bulgaria? all in front of them.

France still has a ton of talent, a wealth of options in the attack. Particularly if Gourcuff continues his rise. I wouldn't bet against them making it to the knockout round next year.England is getting good results but I still wouldn't slot them among the favorites.Argentina should make a strong run if Maradona doesn't weigh them down too much.

 

[Sebowski]

In all of this Rossi arguing has anyone pointed out the fact that Bradley would never even call him up anyway?

How good would Adu be playing for Ghana right now? I bet better than he is on the bench for us.

 

[Moe.]

is first-touch considered a skill you either are born with or without, or is it something you can learn/develop?

both

So is there hope that Jozy's will improve? He's obviously very physical and can get himself in some dangerous spots but it seems like he can never put it on a tee for himself with that settling touch.

 

[Sebowski]

Is a change in coaching only what's needed? Is a drastic change in the starting lineup also needed?

Yes and Yes.

 

[Desert_Power]

is first-touch considered a skill you either are born with or without, or is it something you can learn/develop?

both

So is their hope that Jozy's will improve? He's obviously very physical and can get himself in some dangerous spots but it seems like he can never put it on a tee for himself with that settling touch.

I think that only time will tell on this. Keep in mind, Jozy had been injured and out of action for a few months. Trying to get back into your game and get your touch back can't be easy with the situations he has been in the last few weeks.

 

[Sebowski]

is first-touch considered a skill you either are born with or without, or is it something you can learn/develop?

both

So is there hope that Jozy's will improve? He's obviously very physical and can get himself in some dangerous spots but it seems like he can never put it on a tee for himself with that settling touch.

I think so. Jozy doesn't always let it bounce off of him like a brick wall. I think he can learn a softer touch and a better turn with experience and practice. He has no where to go but up.

 

[Sammy3469]

Side note- I've seen two kids in the last couple of weeks with a soccer ball at the playground I take my kid to (one here in NYC, one near Ocean City MD). Each one was around 7 or 8 and each one was probably the best 7 or 8 year old US kid I've ever seen with a ball. Granted, it's been a long, long time since I've been around kids' soccer (I played through college, semi-pro after... no MLS at that point... and used to ref and coach soccer camps) but it got me thinking- was it a fluke that I was 2-2 in runing across two astonishing talents? Or has the level of play at the youth level risen that far. I fully believe it's the latter- and again, for their whole lives, these kids can go and watch MLS games- or watch European leagues on TV... neither of which were available to me (although I caught the tail end of NASL and Soccer made in German on PBS). Couple that with the fact that these kids' dads are essentially me and my peers- the first generation of US citizens to grow up en masse playing the game- so they can learn the sport at home.

While that's all true we still do a horrible job at the 9-14 year age groups of developing tactic and technical skill...just horrible. A lot of it goes back to the perverse incentive structure of the travelling teams (nevermind the cost involved which also self-selects) where the coach is baiscally paid to win which means going with the most physically advanced kids as opposed to the kids with the best skills.

 

[Christo]

And what part of born and raised are you having a problem with? So he only spent his first 13 years in the US... that makes him Italian somehow? He hadn't learned the foreign US culture or American English language yet in his brief 13 years?

The fact that he wasn't born & raised here. He was born and raised here until he was 13. Then he was raised in Italy, his parents' birthplace. He left here in 7th grade. To me, that makes him as much or more Italian as American. I just don't see how being born here trumps the fact that his parents are Italian.I grew up overseas and had many friends who were born to American parents in foreign countries. Some of them had never even lived in the US. But every single one of them saw themselves as Americans because of who their parents were and how they were raised as opposed to where they were raised.Plus, think back to your early life and compare how much you learned from 13-18 as from 0-13. As far as your individual identity goes, I bet you were influenced much more by your years in junior high and high school than those in grade school.

 

[Christo]

Is a change in coaching only what's needed? Is a drastic change in the starting lineup also needed?

IMO, whoever the coach is should run a camp, decide on his best XI and stick with them unless someone makes it impossible to keep him out of the line-up (allowing for substitutions, of course). This mass-tinkering with the line-up does not help. If you can't decide who the best XI are, then you have no business being the coach.

 

[Sammy3469]

Is a change in coaching only what's needed? Is a drastic change in the starting lineup also needed?

IMO, whoever the coach is should run a camp, decide on his best XI and stick with them unless someone makes it impossible to keep him out of the line-up (allowing for substitutions, of course). This mass-tinkering with the line-up does not help. If you can't decide who the best XI are, then you have no business being the coach.

The sad thing is that's basically what Bradley did. He had to sub for Clark and Beasley was in for Feilhaber.

 

[El Floppo]

re US v Brasil.

UGH.

Red card aside, this game reminded me of the US's loss to Brasil in the 94' WC, which I consider the worst performance by a US team in a real game.

They looked like they were going for a result against Italy- as if they deserved to be on the same field and get points, and I was proud of their effort in that (even though they were clearly the lesser team). Today- not so much. Every player looked shaky and scared for most of the first half- for NO ####### GOOD REASON. Yeah, you're playing v Brasil- but a lot of the US players are playing against those guys on their club teams anyways.

Spacing in the MF and between the MF and Jozy was horrible. BUt worse, nobody had a first touch! And again- worse still, the all looked like they had no business being on the same field as Brasil in terms of the team/player attitudes on the field.

Here's what's come clear for me in the last round of games (qualifying and Confed Cup): this group of players is incapable of playing in at 4-5-1. They might play some decent defense, but just can't get going forward. Again- this is where Ching's injury really hurts, as he and McBride have been the guys who have been able to get the MFs working in that formation. Jozy just hasn't figured it out yet.

That said- the overall shape of the team, especially on the offensive side of things, looks a lot better in a 4-4-2, with somebody helping Jozy out up front. But I do not get Connor Casey as that guy. Other than a nice one-two with Jozy in the 2nd half, I've seen nothing from him.

Some positives:

- LD has been playing his ### off the last few games :standingovation:

- Spector might be giving Cherundulo a run at the RB spot- he looks calm and collected back there marking up and does a decent job (not as good as Cher) getting forward

- I'm sold on Bradley finally- he's the only guy who understands the pace fo the game at the international level. Every touch, every turn, every run, every pass every tackle- all quick and with purpose, even if some go astray.

- Gooch has done a great job without Boca. He needs work on his distribution (something he lets Boca do), but he's kept the central Defense in good shape.

Some middlings:

- Jozy has shown flashes- and we all know he'll bring more to the table than Ching. But he's still not match-fit (I think it's great Bradley's making him run for as long as he's been doing) and still isn't quite sure how to best connect with his MF or paired forward (he and Casey have shown next to zero chemistry).

- Dempsey... I'm as flummoxed as the rest of you. Great talent- but IMO really needs to see a lot of the ball to get himself involved and potent. Every game he starts seeing more of the ball, you'll see him start to do more and more tricks- both good and bad- but when he's not doing these, it means he's out of the game completely (worse). I don't know how the US can afford to feed him that much of the ball to really get him going- he's been a hair too slow seeing things around him.

- Demerit... Looked decent.

Some ofs:

- DMB is just playing horribly. No touch, poor decision making, and getting beaten regularly defensively (either on or off the ball). I think that's it for him, unless he can find a team where he can play 90 minutes every week and shine.

- Bornstein has just looked lost and repeatedly outclassed to me out there. He doesn't know how to hold up his man without diving in... and this constantly gets him beat or giving up fouls in dangerous areas (Johnathan- please look across the field at Spector's play to see how it's done)

- Sascha.... at least today, looked really really scared on and off the ball. I'm actually a fan of his upside, but he's been too inconsistent for the USMNT.

Bradley?... I played against Bradley's Princeton team- and he had them playing fantastic stuff... way above their abilities due to their organisation (which I've always felt was to his credit). I don't think we can blame him for the US giving up a series of really dumb early goals- we've seen individuals for the US make some real clunker plays early on that have cost them. That said, I am not liking how the team is attacking with Jozy up front... this feels like an organisational issue more than players not doing what they're supposed to be doing... but it's hard to tell without seeing what guys are doing off the ball.

Oh... and re: Egypt. I'm suprised you guys are discounting them so much... they won the Africa Nations Cup topping lots of teams that would have little problem beating the US. I'm forgetting a couple of MFs of quality, but Mido up front is better than anybody the US has or has ever had.

I watched New Zealand play last night... wow. Had thought that they were WAY below the quality of play of the other teams in the Confed Cup. Until this morning.

 

[whoknew]

Is Bradley's job in doubt in any serious way? I was under hte impression that the higher ups were satisfied enough. Have we ever had a non-American coach the national team?

I'm pretty sure Bradley's job is not in any jeopardy. Sunil Galata (head of US soccer) has said or hinted or whatever that he won't fire a coach in the middle of a cup cycle. And yes - the US has had a lot of foreign coaches.

 

[JaxBill]

Some, um, interesting post-match comments from Tim Howard

"It hasn't been great, these two games for us," Howard said. "One of the things I always say is that if we can take this into the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying and learn from some of the lessons and not be so naive in certain instances, it could be a success. But that's only if you apply it, not just if we talk about it."

 

[CletiusMaximus]

In all of this Rossi arguing has anyone pointed out the fact that Bradley would never even call him up anyway? How good would Adu be playing for Ghana right now? I bet better than he is on the bench for us.

I think the main fact that no one is recongnizing is the far superior Azzuri wives and girlfriends. Guys like Buffon or Totti have supermodels following them around like housepets. Even the ugly guys like Cannavaro, Inzaghi and Gattuso have incredible, stunning women surrounding them at all times.

 

[El Floppo]

is first-touch considered a skill you either are born with or without, or is it something you can learn/develop?

both

So is their hope that Jozy's will improve? He's obviously very physical and can get himself in some dangerous spots but it seems like he can never put it on a tee for himself with that settling touch.

I think that only time will tell on this. Keep in mind, Jozy had been injured and out of action for a few months. Trying to get back into your game and get your touch back can't be easy with the situations he has been in the last few weeks.

Jozy looked gassed today. But I mentioned this earlier- I'm glad Bradley's keeping him in games to so that he can get the minutes.

 

[Desert_Power]

Some, um, interesting post-match comments from Tim Howard

"It hasn't been great, these two games for us," Howard said. "One of the things I always say is that if we can take this into the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying and learn from some of the lessons and not be so naive in certain instances, it could be a success. But that's only if you apply it, not just if we talk about it."

Tim Howard had some great passes to Cesar today.

 

[El Floppo]

In all of this Rossi arguing has anyone pointed out the fact that Bradley would never even call him up anyway?

How good would Adu be playing for Ghana right now? I bet better than he is on the bench for us.

This isn't such a good posting. National team play isn't about developing players- that's up to the club they play for.Adu is sitting on the bench for Benefica Monaco. If he were good enough to be starting for either of those teams, he'd be out there for the US right now.

 

[El Floppo]

Side note- I've seen two kids in the last couple of weeks with a soccer ball at the playground I take my kid to (one here in NYC, one near Ocean City MD). Each one was around 7 or 8 and each one was probably the best 7 or 8 year old US kid I've ever seen with a ball. Granted, it's been a long, long time since I've been around kids' soccer (I played through college, semi-pro after... no MLS at that point... and used to ref and coach soccer camps) but it got me thinking- was it a fluke that I was 2-2 in runing across two astonishing talents? Or has the level of play at the youth level risen that far. I fully believe it's the latter- and again, for their whole lives, these kids can go and watch MLS games- or watch European leagues on TV... neither of which were available to me (although I caught the tail end of NASL and Soccer made in German on PBS). Couple that with the fact that these kids' dads are essentially me and my peers- the first generation of US citizens to grow up en masse playing the game- so they can learn the sport at home.

While that's all true we still do a horrible job at the 9-14 year age groups of developing tactic and technical skill...just horrible. A lot of it goes back to the perverse incentive structure of the travelling teams (nevermind the cost involved which also self-selects) where the coach is baiscally paid to win which means going with the most physically advanced kids as opposed to the kids with the best skills.

Interesting... and I'd like to hear more about this.So maybe the advanced ball-skills I saw from these two 7-8 year olds was an anomoly? These were just kids kicking a ball around by themselves in a playground.

 

[El Floppo]

And what part of born and raised are you having a problem with? So he only spent his first 13 years in the US... that makes him Italian somehow? He hadn't learned the foreign US culture or American English language yet in his brief 13 years?

The fact that he wasn't born & raised here. He was born and raised here until he was 13. Then he was raised in Italy, his parents' birthplace. He left here in 7th grade. To me, that makes him as much or more Italian as American. I just don't see how being born here trumps the fact that his parents are Italian.I grew up overseas and had many friends who were born to American parents in foreign countries. Some of them had never even lived in the US. But every single one of them saw themselves as Americans because of who their parents were and how they were raised as opposed to where they were raised.Plus, think back to your early life and compare how much you learned from 13-18 as from 0-13. As far as your individual identity goes, I bet you were influenced much more by your years in junior high and high school than those in grade school.

I was influenced by all of it. You want to argue the semantics of "raised" some more?

 

[The Z Machine]

Some, um, interesting post-match comments from Tim Howard

"It hasn't been great, these two games for us," Howard said. "One of the things I always say is that if we can take this into the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying and learn from some of the lessons and not be so naive in certain instances, it could be a success. But that's only if you apply it, not just if we talk about it."

Tim Howard had some great passes to Cesar today.

I'll admit it. I laughed.I want to see LD call his teammates out after this one.

 

[El Floppo]

Some, um, interesting post-match comments from Tim Howard

"It hasn't been great, these two games for us," Howard said. "One of the things I always say is that if we can take this into the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying and learn from some of the lessons and not be so naive in certain instances, it could be a success. But that's only if you apply it, not just if we talk about it."

Tim Howard had some great passes to Cesar today.

 

[Christo]

And what part of born and raised are you having a problem with? So he only spent his first 13 years in the US... that makes him Italian somehow? He hadn't learned the foreign US culture or American English language yet in his brief 13 years?

The fact that he wasn't born & raised here. He was born and raised here until he was 13. Then he was raised in Italy, his parents' birthplace. He left here in 7th grade. To me, that makes him as much or more Italian as American. I just don't see how being born here trumps the fact that his parents are Italian.I grew up overseas and had many friends who were born to American parents in foreign countries. Some of them had never even lived in the US. But every single one of them saw themselves as Americans because of who their parents were and how they were raised as opposed to where they were raised.

Plus, think back to your early life and compare how much you learned from 13-18 as from 0-13. As far as your individual identity goes, I bet you were influenced much more by your years in junior high and high school than those in grade school.

I was influenced by all of it. You want to argue the semantics of "raised" some more?

The fact that you don't want to admit he was raised in the US and Italy has nothing to do with semantics.

 

[El Floppo]

And what part of born and raised are you having a problem with? So he only spent his first 13 years in the US... that makes him Italian somehow? He hadn't learned the foreign US culture or American English language yet in his brief 13 years?

The fact that he wasn't born & raised here. He was born and raised here until he was 13. Then he was raised in Italy, his parents' birthplace. He left here in 7th grade. To me, that makes him as much or more Italian as American. I just don't see how being born here trumps the fact that his parents are Italian.I grew up overseas and had many friends who were born to American parents in foreign countries. Some of them had never even lived in the US. But every single one of them saw themselves as Americans because of who their parents were and how they were raised as opposed to where they were raised.

Plus, think back to your early life and compare how much you learned from 13-18 as from 0-13. As far as your individual identity goes, I bet you were influenced much more by your years in junior high and high school than those in grade school.

I was influenced by all of it. You want to argue the semantics of "raised" some more?

The fact that you don't want to admit he was raised in the US and Italy has nothing to do with semantics.

You are an obstinant oaf. And I mean that in a bad way.

 

[The Z Machine]

LD and Bradley and Howard have been the only players that have played above decent in these games. Spector has played decently, which is good because he's young and doesn't have many caps. That bodes well.

Everyone else has sucked or looked very poor IMO.

I kinda hope that the US gets dominated by Egypt (who's up 1-0 on Italy) as it may mean that Bradley gets canned.

Final remark before i try and cool down. The US Soccer Federation needs to get its head out of its ### and become more flexible about everything, including firing their coach before he takes the team to a WC. if it's clear it's not working, get someone in who will shake things up. Look at what Capello has done for England.

 

[Christo]

And what part of born and raised are you having a problem with? So he only spent his first 13 years in the US... that makes him Italian somehow? He hadn't learned the foreign US culture or American English language yet in his brief 13 years?

The fact that he wasn't born & raised here. He was born and raised here until he was 13. Then he was raised in Italy, his parents' birthplace. He left here in 7th grade. To me, that makes him as much or more Italian as American. I just don't see how being born here trumps the fact that his parents are Italian.I grew up overseas and had many friends who were born to American parents in foreign countries. Some of them had never even lived in the US. But every single one of them saw themselves as Americans because of who their parents were and how they were raised as opposed to where they were raised.

Plus, think back to your early life and compare how much you learned from 13-18 as from 0-13. As far as your individual identity goes, I bet you were influenced much more by your years in junior high and high school than those in grade school.

I was influenced by all of it. You want to argue the semantics of "raised" some more?

The fact that you don't want to admit he was raised in the US and Italy has nothing to do with semantics.

You are an obstinant oaf. And I mean that in a bad way.

I believe the word is "obstinate." And that would make you the oaf.

 

[The Z Machine]

OK girls, break it up, break it up.

Can't we go back to discussing Crouchy?

 

[Desert_Power]

Arguing with Christo always works out well.

 

[El Floppo]

I believe the word is "obstinate." And that would make you the oaf.

toushay #######. although it just makes me a poor spell checker- which is easier fixed than whatever you've got going on.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Fire Bob Bradley group on Facebook

 

[Sammy3469]

Some, um, interesting post-match comments from Tim Howard

"It hasn't been great, these two games for us," Howard said. "One of the things I always say is that if we can take this into the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying and learn from some of the lessons and not be so naive in certain instances, it could be a success. But that's only if you apply it, not just if we talk about it."

I think that about sums it up...we're still a very, very naive team...if you ever get to read the European press when they talk to their coaches about our team, that's the one thing they look to exploit with aplomb. We just don't have a good grasp of tactics. A ceratin part of that is our soccer culture, but some of that also falls on the coach for implimenting naive tactics. It's just one of the reasons (besides making an honest assessment of hte player in the pool) that we need a foreign coach.

 

[Desert_Power]

Fire Bob Bradley group on Facebook

I joined.

 

[Sammy3469]

Side note- I've seen two kids in the last couple of weeks with a soccer ball at the playground I take my kid to (one here in NYC, one near Ocean City MD). Each one was around 7 or 8 and each one was probably the best 7 or 8 year old US kid I've ever seen with a ball. Granted, it's been a long, long time since I've been around kids' soccer (I played through college, semi-pro after... no MLS at that point... and used to ref and coach soccer camps) but it got me thinking- was it a fluke that I was 2-2 in runing across two astonishing talents? Or has the level of play at the youth level risen that far. I fully believe it's the latter- and again, for their whole lives, these kids can go and watch MLS games- or watch European leagues on TV... neither of which were available to me (although I caught the tail end of NASL and Soccer made in German on PBS). Couple that with the fact that these kids' dads are essentially me and my peers- the first generation of US citizens to grow up en masse playing the game- so they can learn the sport at home.

While that's all true we still do a horrible job at the 9-14 year age groups of developing tactic and technical skill...just horrible. A lot of it goes back to the perverse incentive structure of the travelling teams (nevermind the cost involved which also self-selects) where the coach is baiscally paid to win which means going with the most physically advanced kids as opposed to the kids with the best skills.

Interesting... and I'd like to hear more about this.So maybe the advanced ball-skills I saw from these two 7-8 year olds was an anomoly? These were just kids kicking a ball around by themselves in a playground.

Basically the kids get funnelled to travelling teams (which require $$ to fund) so if your a poor kid you get passed over here. It also requires travelling which again limits the participation of poorer kids. Finally these teas pay coaches, coaches that want to progress up coaching ladder. The only way to really do that is win. At this level, 10-14 year olds, winning basically means playing the most physically advanced kids, kids with skills that may not be best, but their size/speed allows them to outperform physically inferior kids with more technical skill. It also means coaches tend to play less tactical games (since the kids are a little less skilled) in the hopes of phyiscally overwelming the opposition. So basically you're left with a whole bunch of physically advanced upper middle class kids who's parents want them to get soccer scholarships (that may be a gross generalization, but its a fairly accurate picture of the process). The whole incentive structure at these ages is skewed and it continues to hinder our soccer development.

 

[MarshallPlan]

Sammy said it best. We do a terrible job of training the technical aspect of the game to the 9-14 year olds in our country. When they get to be in HS they suck because the big, fast athlete just ran by everyone and toed the ball in the ext for the last 5 years and was successful. But, when he plays against players who are just as athletic he struggles. And it would help if as a society we didn't have other sports or other things to do (computer, TV, etc). I don't know if we'll ever be o par with Brazil/Argentina because as a culture we will probably always be "well off."

 

[El Floppo]

Interesting points.

Seems like things have changed in regards to the coaching side of things from when I was in the youth programs. It was always tactics over wins on my teams.

And I hear you about the more athletic youngsters having a leg up, but I wonder too- with Basketball, Football and Baseball really draining away the best athletes, will those same athletes ever start playing soccer instead?

 

[guru_007]

France still has a ton of talent, a wealth of options in the attack. Particularly if Gourcuff continues his rise. I wouldn't bet against them making it to the knockout round next year.England is getting good results but I still wouldn't slot them among the favorites.Argentina should make a strong run if Maradona doesn't weigh them down too much.

agreeagreedisagreeNational teams I root for are Germany, USA and England. England's national team has by and large been one of the biggest disappointments in the world. Perhaps Capello has something brewing over there this time around. I wouldn't bet on it though.France is very underrated as a top tier team (and I'm very guilty of this too, mainly because I dislike France). But, they have tons of talent and could very well make a deep run in WC2010. They do tend to overlook lesser teams which may be their achiles heal. last go around draws to Switzlerand and Korea nearly did them in, they were fortunate to be in a weak group and advance, but made it to the finals. I don't buy that they need Zidane, as they still have plenty of top talent.Argentina, in my mind, is prime to disappoint. I guess as the tournament draws nearer, I'll expound more on that team.

 

[The Z Machine]

Argentina is prime to disappoint because some people have some lofty sights set for them (like being in the Finals or winning it all). I think they are as good a bet as any to make it out of Group.

 

[The Z Machine]

Will Egypt pull this one out?

 

[Desert_Power]

We aren't going to get a point.

 

[Mjolnirs]

We aren't going to get a point.

Maybe FIFA will award us a courtesy point if we can finish the match with 11 players on the pitch.

 

[Desert_Power]

France still has a ton of talent, a wealth of options in the attack. Particularly if Gourcuff continues his rise. I wouldn't bet against them making it to the knockout round next year.England is getting good results but I still wouldn't slot them among the favorites.Argentina should make a strong run if Maradona doesn't weigh them down too much.

agreeagreedisagreeNational teams I root for are Germany, USA and England. England's national team has by and large been one of the biggest disappointments in the world. Perhaps Capello has something brewing over there this time around. I wouldn't bet on it though.France is very underrated as a top tier team (and I'm very guilty of this too, mainly because I dislike France). But, they have tons of talent and could very well make a deep run in WC2010. They do tend to overlook lesser teams which may be their achiles heal. last go around draws to Switzlerand and Korea nearly did them in, they were fortunate to be in a weak group and advance, but made it to the finals. I don't buy that they need Zidane, as they still have plenty of top talent.Argentina, in my mind, is prime to disappoint. I guess as the tournament draws nearer, I'll expound more on that team.

Capello is a great coach. The squad needs to get some play against top sides to see how they stack up.Argentina is almost certain to disappoint as, talent wise, they should at least make the semis.

 

[The Z Machine]

Like I said before, Bradley should be fired if the team can't score a goal in the run of play. So he's got 90+ minutes to hope that the US can put a team on the field that isn't shameful. Not having DMB there is a start.

 

[Desert_Power]

Like I said before, Bradley should be fired if the team can't score a goal in the run of play. So he's got 90+ minutes to hope that the US can put a team on the field that isn't shameful. Not having DMB there is a start.

Two out of Feilhaber, Torres, and Adu have to be in.We need to be able to score goals that don't come from PKs.

 

[Rev. Jim]

I didn't watch either game, but for Egypt to play Brazil to a last minute PK loss and beat the Italians 1-0... I don't know that you can count Egypt out of this tourney at all. They're basically playing to get to the semis against the US on Sunday - that's scary for the US.

 

[prefontaine]

LD and Bradley and Howard have been the only players that have played above decent in these games.

The only 3 players in my mind that should be considered locks for the WC squad. Everyone else ought to be looking over their shoulders. One thing not mentioned in the discussion about that 2002 team is that some of the players who started were inserted literally out of the blue. I remember being a little surprised to see Keller on the bench for instance. Hopefully we find some players suddenly in form next summer. It is a year away and a year ago this thread was all about Michael Bradley only playing due to nepotism.....

 

[The Z Machine]

Oh I think that the US (and Bradley) know the stakes here. Egypt is no pushover and amazingly appears to have the talent to run with the best of the group.

The thing is that Egypt or Italy (or maybe even the US) has to face Spain in the semis. That's not a fun draw.

 

[Christo]

I believe the word is "obstinate." And that would make you the oaf.

toushay #######. although it just makes me a poor spell checker- which is easier fixed than whatever you've got going on.

Says the guy who made it personal.