USA vs Portugal - Mon 23 June, 05:00 am, - Match Thread

[inutil]

Jones, Dempsey, Johnson and to a lesser extent, Howard, were all excellent out there. Howard to a lesser extent because he did fluff it a couple of times. The nani shot into the post was spectacularly poor and we'd still be talking about that if it wasnt for the fact he recovered brilliantly for possibly the save of the tournament thus far.

Jones has been awesome for three halves. The first half against Ghana he was pretty much out of the game and off form in his passing. Second half though where Ghana really started pressing he was formidable. The guy just has superb vision. You can see him anticipating where the runs were coming from and getting into position before the balls played. It led to some superb game saving tackles thwarting the Ghanaian's (who deserved at least a point from that game). In the portugal game he played a more attacking role (he still carried out his defensive duties superbly well), but it was his defnece splitting passes that really turned a poor attacking team into a genuine threat. Goals dont count for shit to me in judging a player. A great player reads the game, and Jones has been brilliant in both attack and defence.

Which brings me to Bradley. So many people hype this guy, but hes clearly not playing his position. Everything screams holding midfielder. He is a crab-football king. His passes lack any imagination, his runs are obvious (and hes always off the pace), the closer he gets to the goal the more likely he is to bottle it, and he destroys US counter attacks with his dithering. That being said, he has 'presence', does well in a scrap, and has all those classic old school center midfield qualities. He isnt a flair player, he isnt creative, but he does look to control the middle of the park and can work the ball diligently (as long as its sideways and backwards). I can see why theyre both in the team.

The problem appears to be that Bradley is playing in Dempseys position, jones is playing bradleys and beckerman is playing in Jones'. Is it really just that the USA dont have a single genuine front man? Are all these people playing in positions theyre just not suited to? Jones is a superb defensive midfielder. Bradley is a straight no nonsense central midfielder, and beckerman, hes just there to plug the gaps in the formation and playing where Jones SHOULD be playing. Hes consistent, but nothing special, he doesnt really read the game that well, and if your job is breaking down attacks before they pressure your back line, then you need someone with a bit of vision to shut down those lines( and with the capacity to move the ball quickly and intelligently for a counter). Jones is exactly that player. Bradleys job should be to plug the jones gap when he moves forward and give his defence and forwards someone to play through and hold that ball when necessary. Thats exactly who he is. He doesnt have the flair to consistently create opportunities, nor does he have the pace to do what Dempsey does and surge from deeper lines, but he does have the composure to get the ball moving between his team.

For me, its easy to say he sucks, but he is being played out of position. Thus hes getting far more shit than he honestly deserves.

[bonobo]

The US team is looking rather good for going on to the next level, even if it loses to Germany. Even if Ghana wins, they'll have 4 points each, US goes through, because it beat Ghana earlier.

No, that is not how it is decided. If the US loses and Ghana wins, then it comes down to goal differential. If that is a tie, then it goes down to which team scored the most points in their win. That means if Ghana wins 1-0, the US goes through. If Ghana wins 3-2, Ghana goes through. If Ghana wins 2-1, then they flip coin.

Here's hoping Portugal wins 1-0, but more importantly, the US beats Germany.

[slipperylobster]

The US team is looking rather good for going on to the next level, even if it loses to Germany. Even if Ghana wins, they'll have 4 points each, US goes through, because it beat Ghana earlier.

It was sooooo close.

Really looking forward to the next game...(Germany)

It is going to be exciting....

Just hoping USA makes it through....

[slipperylobster]

When I was 12, I went to an American school for the 1st time, as I had been schooled in Europe prior to that. During PE (physical education) class, we went to play soccer for the first and only time. As I had been in Europe, it had been 2nd nature. But all the American boys I played with - didn't have a clue (there weren't any immigrants in my school, only black or white 'home boys'). Every time a boy got the ball, he immediately kicked it as hard as he could in the direction of the goal. I pleaded with the PE instructor to teach the boys basic things like 'pass the ball' or 'dribble the ball' ...but the coach just smiled and shrugged his shoulders, like; 'I don't know squat.'

That was 1964, and the US has come a looooong way since then, thanks mightily to immigrants, but also to sons and daughters of those 'home boys' who, at the time, couldn't play soccer any better than Nepalese can surf.

Go USA!

Within the next 20 or 30 years the USA will be a major force in international football, right up there with the very best in my opinion.

The structure and ideas that Klinsmann is now implementing will stand them in good stead for years to come.

Agree.

Q. What's the difference between England squad, USA squad, Klinsmann and Hodgson?

A. US have more talented players.

Yeah. Right.

I thought everyone was over England's early out.

[P45Mustang]

Unfortunately not.

Klinsmann and your boys doing well.

If anybody knows how to perform against Germany it will be Klinsmann.

[phuketsub]

I am not an aficionado, but I thought Ghana looked better against the US than Portugal did.

That said, so many of these matches fall squarely into the "coulda gone either way" category.

Anyway, I am proud to have gotten myself up at 5am to watch a soccer match!

Does anyone think the US stands a chance against Germany?

[keemapoot]

I am not an aficionado, but I thought Ghana looked better against the US than Portugal did.

That said, so many of these matches fall squarely into the "coulda gone either way" category.

Anyway, I am proud to have gotten myself up at 5am to watch a soccer match!

Does anyone think the US stands a chance against Germany?

If you're a betting man, I just checked the odds in Vegas: USA win: 21/2; Draw: 7/4; and Germany win: 11/13, so that should tell you.

Basically, for the US team, every day they remain is a pleasant unexpectedness. But, it will be fun to see if they can get through to the knockout stage, and really rattle some cages of "real teams."

[boomerangutang]

The US team is looking rather good for going on to the next level, even if it loses to Germany. Even if Ghana wins, they'll have 4 points each, US goes through, because it beat Ghana earlier.

No, that is not how it is decided. If the US loses and Ghana wins, then it comes down to goal differential. If that is a tie, then it goes down to which team scored the most points in their win. That means if Ghana wins 1-0, the US goes through. If Ghana wins 3-2, Ghana goes through. If Ghana wins 2-1, then they flip coin.

Here's hoping Portugal wins 1-0, but more importantly, the US beats Germany.

It would seem that, if two teams have same # of points, the team which beat the other - goes ahead in the standings.

[inutil]

Heres the rules on advancement from group stages:

The ranking of each team in each group shall be determined as follows:

a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
b ) goal difference in all group matches;
c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings shall be determined as follows:

d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;
g) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

Edited June 23, 2014 by inutil

[P45Mustang]

I am not an aficionado, but I thought Ghana looked better against the US than Portugal did.

That said, so many of these matches fall squarely into the "coulda gone either way" category.

Anyway, I am proud to have gotten myself up at 5am to watch a soccer match!

Does anyone think the US stands a chance against Germany?

If you're a betting man, I just checked the odds in Vegas: USA win: 21/2; Draw: 7/4; and Germany win: 11/13, so that should tell you.

Basically, for the US team, every day they remain is a pleasant unexpectedness. But, it will be fun to see if they can get through to the knockout stage, and really rattle some cages of "real teams."

Really?

Well worth a flutter, as we say in London.

[NeverSure]

I am not an aficionado, but I thought Ghana looked better against the US than Portugal did.

That said, so many of these matches fall squarely into the "coulda gone either way" category.

Anyway, I am proud to have gotten myself up at 5am to watch a soccer match!

Does anyone think the US stands a chance against Germany?

If you're a betting man, I just checked the odds in Vegas: USA win: 21/2; Draw: 7/4; and Germany win: 11/13, so that should tell you.

Basically, for the US team, every day they remain is a pleasant unexpectedness. But, it will be fun to see if they can get through to the knockout stage, and really rattle some cages of "real teams."

Really?

Well worth a flutter, as we say in London.

Really? (I just asked Google to translate "well worth a flutter" into English and it couldn't do it other than to mention a museum of some sort.)

I thought what they were saying in London was: "For Sale. Only used twice." (Prince Charles.)

[nikster]

The US team is looking rather good for going on to the next level, even if it loses to Germany. Even if Ghana wins, they'll have 4 points each, US goes through, because it beat Ghana earlier.

No, that is not how it is decided. If the US loses and Ghana wins, then it comes down to goal differential. If that is a tie, then it goes down to which team scored the most points in their win. That means if Ghana wins 1-0, the US goes through. If Ghana wins 3-2, Ghana goes through. If Ghana wins 2-1, then they flip coin.

Here's hoping Portugal wins 1-0, but more importantly, the US beats Germany.

It would seem that, if two teams have same # of points, the team which beat the other - goes ahead in the standings.

Isn't that only when the goal difference is the same?

Neither of the participants would ever admit that, and wouldn't even want to be caught secretly thinking it, but - the fact is that when both teams need a draw to advance then a draw is the by far most likely result of the match. The closer the match is to the final whistle, the more defensive both teams will play. Germany / USA is most likely going to be a draw...

If those Vegas quotes are right I should start betting....

Edited June 23, 2014 by nikster

[P45Mustang]

I am not an aficionado, but I thought Ghana looked better against the US than Portugal did.

That said, so many of these matches fall squarely into the "coulda gone either way" category.

Anyway, I am proud to have gotten myself up at 5am to watch a soccer match!

Does anyone think the US stands a chance against Germany?

If you're a betting man, I just checked the odds in Vegas: USA win: 21/2; Draw: 7/4; and Germany win: 11/13, so that should tell you.

Basically, for the US team, every day they remain is a pleasant unexpectedness. But, it will be fun to see if they can get through to the knockout stage, and really rattle some cages of "real teams."

Really?

Well worth a flutter, as we say in London.

Really? (I just asked Google to translate "well worth a flutter" into English and it couldn't do it other than to mention a museum of some sort.)

I thought what they were saying in London was: "For Sale. Only used twice." (Prince Charles.)

What Google translate may also struggle with is the well worn English football phrase " Parking the Bus".

Your boy Hemingway was good though. " For sale: baby shoes, never worn "

Must have been Nike.

( Good luck against the Germans. I need Brazil to win this thing. )

[Chonburiram]

The US team is looking rather good for going on to the next level, even if it loses to Germany. Even if Ghana wins, they'll have 4 points each, US goes through, because it beat Ghana earlier.

No, that is not how it is decided. If the US loses and Ghana wins, then it comes down to goal differential. If that is a tie, then it goes down to which team scored the most points in their win. That means if Ghana wins 1-0, the US goes through. If Ghana wins 3-2, Ghana goes through. If Ghana wins 2-1, then they flip coin.

Here's hoping Portugal wins 1-0, but more importantly, the US beats Germany.

It would seem that, if two teams have same # of points, the team which beat the other - goes ahead in the standings.

Isn't that only when the goal difference is the same?

Neither of the participants would ever admit that, and wouldn't even want to be caught secretly thinking it, but - the fact is that when both teams need a draw to advance then a draw is the by far most likely result of the match. The closer the match is to the final whistle, the more defensive both teams will play. Germany / USA is most likely going to be a draw...

If those Vegas quotes are right I should start betting....

Both teams will be playing to win; German attitude - you know...

[nikster]

Isn't that only when the goal difference is the same?

Neither of the participants would ever admit that, and wouldn't even want to be caught secretly thinking it, but - the fact is that when both teams need a draw to advance then a draw is the by far most likely result of the match. The closer the match is to the final whistle, the more defensive both teams will play. Germany / USA is most likely going to be a draw...

If those Vegas quotes are right I should start betting....

Both teams will be playing to win; German attitude - you know...

Of course they will. When the game starts, both will be trying to get a goal - better to have one then not!

But consider this, it's the 60ieth minute and it's 1:1. Is either of those teams going to throw everything forward to get the winner? No, they are not. They are both going to play defensively. The main concern on both sides will be not to f*** this up. The facts of group qualifying attract a draw like a black hole... of course it's football and everything is possible. One defensive mistake, one lucky shot can send everyone scrambling.

Edited June 24, 2014 by nikster

[P45Mustang]

Isn't that only when the goal difference is the same?

Neither of the participants would ever admit that, and wouldn't even want to be caught secretly thinking it, but - the fact is that when both teams need a draw to advance then a draw is the by far most likely result of the match. The closer the match is to the final whistle, the more defensive both teams will play. Germany / USA is most likely going to be a draw...

If those Vegas quotes are right I should start betting....

Both teams will be playing to win; German attitude - you know...

Of course they will. When the game starts, both will be trying to get a goal - better to have one then not!

But consider this, it's the 60ieth minute and it's 1:1. Is either of those teams going to throw everything forward to get the winner? No, they are not. They are both going to play defensively. The main concern on both sides will be not to f*** this up. The facts of group qualifying attract a draw like a black hole... of course it's football and everything is possible. One defensive mistake, one lucky shot can send everyone scrambling.

Klinsmann will know exactly what to do whatever transpires through the game.

It's called skilled professional management.