The Official World Cup Thread

[USSoccer]

3. Unfortunately, Reyna gave the captain's band to Donovan. Lovely. If he couldn't handle the pressure of Europe, how will he handle captaining the squad?

 

To play devil's advocate, who else would/should take that band?

 

 

Also, for a fun exercise, how about separating who we can pretty much guarantee will not be around for South Africa.

 

Keller

Reyna

McBride

Hahnemann

Pope?

Lewis?

Berhalter?

 

Would that make Howard the only keeper with any Caps? Does Thornton(who will be 37 in 2010) have any?

 

Eddie Lewis or McBride would have made better captains.

 

I can tell you for certain that Reyna, McB, Pope, Lewis, Wolff, Berhalter, Bocanegra, and Hahnemann won't be there.

 

I'm not convinced Keller won't have an outside shot at being on the roster.

[sethuel1]

How about Advocaat (currently Korea's coach)? These Dutch guys know how to work with the kids. He used to coach the Dutch national side, and played in the US before.

 

or a Brazilian, to give us some frickin' creativity. god knows we need it.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

3. Unfortunately, Reyna gave the captain's band to Donovan. Lovely. If he couldn't handle the pressure of Europe, how will he handle captaining the squad?

 

To play devil's advocate, who else would/should take that band?

 

 

Also, for a fun exercise, how about separating who we can pretty much guarantee will not be around for South Africa.

 

Keller

Reyna

McBride

Hahnemann

Pope?

Lewis?

Berhalter?

 

Would that make Howard the only keeper with any Caps? Does Thornton(who will be 37 in 2010) have any?

 

Eddie Lewis or McBride would have made better captains.

 

I can tell you for certain that Reyna, McB, Pope, Lewis, Wolff, Berhalter, Bocanegra, and Hahnemann won't be there.

 

I'm not convinced Keller won't have an outside shot at being on the roster.

 

Why wouldn't Bocanegra be there?

[WindyCity]

Foxsports makes the following contribution to their "coverage" of the World Cup:

 

Babes of the World Cup

 

This may not cheer everyone up regarding the terrible play of the US team today, but it can't hurt...... it may also help in deciding which teams to back in round 2. :wink:

[sethuel1]

3. Unfortunately, Reyna gave the captain's band to Donovan. Lovely. If he couldn't handle the pressure of Europe, how will he handle captaining the squad?

 

To play devil's advocate, who else would/should take that band?

 

 

Also, for a fun exercise, how about separating who we can pretty much guarantee will not be around for South Africa.

 

Keller

Reyna

McBride

Hahnemann

Pope?

Lewis?

Berhalter?

 

Would that make Howard the only keeper with any Caps? Does Thornton(who will be 37 in 2010) have any?

 

Eddie Lewis or McBride would have made better captains.

 

I can tell you for certain that Reyna, McB, Pope, Lewis, Wolff, Berhalter, Bocanegra, and Hahnemann won't be there.

 

I'm not convinced Keller won't have an outside shot at being on the roster.

 

Why wouldn't Bocanegra be there?

 

Agreed. I think he, Gooch, Spector and Gibbs are pretty much the defensive core we can expect in 4 years.

 

Oh, and McBride has hinted he's retiring too.

Edited June 23, 2006 by sethuel1

[hardcorecubfan]

I was so pissed off at halftime that my buddy asked me if I was gonna be ok or if I had to leave the bar.

 

Why half-time? Janet Jackson didn't perform?

[sethuel1]

I was so pissed off at halftime that my buddy asked me if I was gonna be ok or if I had to leave the bar.

 

Why half-time? Janet Jackson didn't perform?

 

You didn't watch the game, did you?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Why wouldn't Bocanegra be there?

 

Agreed. I think he, Gooch, Spector and Gibbs are pretty much the defensive core we can expect in 4 years.

 

Oh, and McBride has hinted he's retiring too.

 

No love for Cherundolo?

[sethuel1]

Why wouldn't Bocanegra be there?

 

Agreed. I think he, Gooch, Spector and Gibbs are pretty much the defensive core we can expect in 4 years.

 

Oh, and McBride has hinted he's retiring too.

 

No love for Cherundolo?

 

sure, why not. Add him in there.

[USSoccer]

The US core should be:

 

Johnson

Donovan (but for the love of Kent, go play in Europe)

Beasley

Dempsey

Gooch

Cherundolo

Howard

 

Those 7 players should play every qualifier and friendly possible. You can mix in your Twellman's, Ralston's and whoever else, but those 7 are the core right now, and they need to assert themselves as mainstays. Using that core, they need to begin the process of mixing in players like Freddy Adu, Lee Nguyen and Jonathan Spector, and even Michael Bradley. Build up the depth in the talent pool, so you don't see the 2010 equivalents of Berhalter and Wolff on the roster.

 

 

2007 needs to see the USMNT schedule every possible game with European clubs in Europe. Qualifying for Euro2008 starts in 2007, and the US needs to be willing to play friendlies with any team that wants one. They need to consistently play against the powerhouses to take the next step. Playing against CONCACAF is just not going to do it.

[soccer10k]

2007 needs to see the USMNT schedule every possible game with European clubs in Europe. Qualifying for Euro2008 starts in 2007, and the US needs to be willing to play friendlies with any team that wants one. They need to consistently play against the powerhouses to take the next step. Playing against CONCACAF is just not going to do it.

 

I thought I said something like this earlier in this thread but couldn't find it. But that's beside the point. I couldn't agree with you more on this point. The US team obviously has a problem playing in Europe. So what do you do when you have a problem getting better at something? You practice more. The US can't win in Europe so play more games in Europe. It's a simple solution. I don't care about all that travel from the US and all of that BS. You just tell the players that if they don't agree to show up for a certain number of matches, that they won't be eligible for the next World Cup.

 

I'm sure there will be teams looking to have friendlies right before Euro 2008 so the US should schedule those. Play the role of Morocco to Italy and Germany. The only good team in CONCACAF is Mexico, but playing them all the time isn't going to help because they don't play the same style as the European teams and, since we see them all the time, there are no surprises.

 

Something has to change and it has to change now. I would much rather go 2-8 in friendlies in 2007 with every game played in Europe than go 8-2 and not play any European teams in Europe. It's called gaining experience.

[Marco4]

That's exactly the right approach to take, and I would be delighted to see it happen.

[brinoch]

I agree 100%. Playing friendlies before Euro 2008 is exactly what needs to be done. Play England, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Holland, Spain and as many other teams over in Europe as you can. Additionally, I'd try and seed as many of the core team into European clubs as I can -- that way it's not too far to travel.

 

I'd schedule some friendlies down the road with South American teams, too.

[hardcorecubfan]

I was so pissed off at halftime that my buddy asked me if I was gonna be ok or if I had to leave the bar.

 

Why half-time? Janet Jackson didn't perform?

 

You didn't watch the game, did you?

 

Missed the half because i actually had to teach something that day to the kids. What happened?

[soccer10k]

Final Group H Standings

Team           W    D    L    P   GS   GA   GD
Spain          3    0    0    9    8    1    7
Ukraine        2    0    1    6    5    4    1
Tunisia        0    1    2    1    3    6   -3
Saudi Arabia   0    1    2    1    2    7   -5

 

Spain and Ukraine advance.

 

It turns out the Ukraine isn't that weak after all.

[Marco4]

It turns out the Ukraine isn't that weak after all.

 

They got through with only one good performance. As France will be trying to do tonight.

[soccer10k]

Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi was suspended for four matches and U.S. defender Pablo Mastroeni received a three-match ban after FIFA's disciplinary committee reviewed their red cards at the World Cup.

 

The Italian Soccer Federation said FIFA would have given De Rossi a five-match ban, but reconsidered because of his written apology.

 

Link

 

So they're trying to tell us that a blatent elbow to the face is only worth one more game than a hard slide tackle? Please. FIFA needs to pull their heads out of their rears and learn how to call a game and hand out suspensions. De Rossi shouldn't be available for the rest of the tournament. Written apology or not, he shouldn't be available to play in a World Cup until 2010.

 

As for Mastroeni, that shouldn't have even been a red card let alone a three game suspension. This is such a joke. If the US-Italy match would have been refereed by the same guy that did the Brazil-Japan match, I guarantee the USA would have played the whole second half up a man. Pope wouldn't have received his first yellow and Mastroeni would have only received a yellow. FIFA is full of so much crap it's not even funny.

 

And I am now furious.

[Balsa]

WTF? A written apology?! Is this grammar school?!?! Ridiculous.

[brinoch]

WTF? A written apology?! Is this grammar school?!?! Ridiculous.

 

Dear sir or ma'am,

 

I am very, very, very sorry that I accidentally hit Brian McBride in the face. I didn't mean to do it, and his titanium cheek plate hurt my elbow and it hurt me too. No one told me that he had metal plates in his head! I have a large bruise now on my elbow. I am very sorry that this incident occurred.

 

de Rossi.

[shnsajax]

2007 needs to see the USMNT schedule every possible game with European clubs in Europe. Qualifying for Euro2008 starts in 2007, and the US needs to be willing to play friendlies with any team that wants one. They need to consistently play against the powerhouses to take the next step. Playing against CONCACAF is just not going to do it.

 

I thought I said something like this earlier in this thread but couldn't find it. But that's beside the point. I couldn't agree with you more on this point. The US team obviously has a problem playing in Europe. So what do you do when you have a problem getting better at something? You practice more. The US can't win in Europe so play more games in Europe. It's a simple solution. I don't care about all that travel from the US and all of that BS. You just tell the players that if they don't agree to show up for a certain number of matches, that they won't be eligible for the next World Cup.

 

I'm sure there will be teams looking to have friendlies right before Euro 2008 so the US should schedule those. Play the role of Morocco to Italy and Germany. The only good team in CONCACAF is Mexico, but playing them all the time isn't going to help because they don't play the same style as the European teams and, since we see them all the time, there are no surprises.

 

Something has to change and it has to change now. I would much rather go 2-8 in friendlies in 2007 with every game played in Europe than go 8-2 and not play any European teams in Europe. It's called gaining experience.

 

Considering our next world cup experience in europe is not for another 20 years we have a little bit of time :) . I would settle for +80% of the national team playing in Europe with 25% of the youth program players playing in Holland. If I had it my way Dempsey might as well start shopping for an apartment somewhere nearby rather than coming back to the US.

 

Bruce Arena IMO might be the most important person in US soccer history. From the early 90's creating the powerhouse he had at Virgina to DC United he has been their every step of the way throughout the growth of American soccer. I really don't know if he has anything left to contribute, and that he might have finally peaked. Right now the US needs to really focus on player development. Coming up with what will be a much younger team in 2010, it is probably time to go in a different direction.

 

Still even with that, the biggest problem with the US this world cup was the draw. They did have a lot of bad luck getting in this group, then with thier 1st two matches. Don't underestimate the US record in 2008 and 2009. We don't need a 2-8 record just to gain experience. This past World Cup the US was 1 slot away from getting a #1 seed, and probably a much more favorable group. That is something that is always very big and important.

[E.J.]

It's amazing how bad the officiating has been. The Swiss were just given a goal on an obvious offsides. The referee's assistant called the offsides, but for some reason the main referee overruled the offsides. Just a terrible call. The announcers are just besides themselves on how bad the officials have been.

[Marco4]

I'm really behind the Swiss, but that was an appalling decision - the South Koreans have been robbed.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

They suspended Mastroeni for three more games? In what universe is that justified?

[soccer10k]

They suspended Mastroeni for three more games? In what universe is that justified?

 

It's just FIFA attempting to stick up for it's referees. Just like FIFA saying that the referees have been right in handing out all the yellow cards. It's ridiculous and everybody knows it but FIFA.

[soccer10k]

Considering our next world cup experience in europe is not for another 20 years we have a little bit of time :) . I would settle for +80% of the national team playing in Europe with 25% of the youth program players playing in Holland. If I had it my way Dempsey might as well start shopping for an apartment somewhere nearby rather than coming back to the US.

 

Bruce Arena IMO might be the most important person in US soccer history. From the early 90's creating the powerhouse he had at Virgina to DC United he has been their every step of the way throughout the growth of American soccer. I really don't know if he has anything left to contribute, and that he might have finally peaked. Right now the US needs to really focus on player development. Coming up with what will be a much younger team in 2010, it is probably time to go in a different direction.

 

Still even with that, the biggest problem with the US this world cup was the draw. They did have a lot of bad luck getting in this group, then with thier 1st two matches. Don't underestimate the US record in 2008 and 2009. We don't need a 2-8 record just to gain experience. This past World Cup the US was 1 slot away from getting a #1 seed, and probably a much more favorable group. That is something that is always very big and important.

 

10 of the 18 World Cups have been played on European soil so it's likely that the US will (assuming they qualify) play 2 World Cups in Europe by 2026.

 

I agree that Bruce Arena has been extremely important to US soccer in the past but I believe that the phrase is "what have you done for me lately?" Bruce Arena was perfect for the team in the past but I don't think he is right now.

 

While I agree the draw was very tough, I think the main problem was the US's #5 (and #4 at one point) FIFA world ranking. I know it's not their fault that they were ranked higher than they were. But it's the media's fault for misinterpreting this. The media saw the high ranking and assumed that the US was good enough to make it out of this group and made it seem like a foregone conclusion. The media ignored the fact that the FIFA rankings take into account a countries previous 8 years of internation competition. This will be dropped to the previous 4 years in July 2006 though. Had the US been accurately ranked, likely somewhere in the teens and therefore behind Italy, there wouldn't have been nearly as much hype surrounding the team.

 

EDIT: I agree that a 2-8 record wouldn't help a ton, it would be much better than beating up on CONCACAF teams all the time. That doesn't help us either.