The Official World Cup Thread

[Jon]

Wow.

 

Perfectly timed, though.

 

Are you referring to the Swiss set piece where the deflection went off the post? That was so close. Should've had a goal there though.

Yeah. Really had a good second chance, too, but made pretty bad contact with the defender bearing down on him.

[lowest]

Certainly, though, as Seth mentioned Arena can't have Lewis and Convey on the same side. Defensively they were atrocious, which is hilarious since the only possible explanation behind Convey over Dempsey is defense.

 

but defensively, dempsey is superior to convey, so that doesnt make sense. it wasnt ever really convey vs dempsey, but dmb vs dempsey. and bruce's stubborn insistance on dmb, added to his seeming lack of faith in dempsey means he lost out. putting your best 11 on the field isnt going to do a darn thing if you play them out of position.

 

I'd play a 3-5-2 with Reyna, Mastro, Donovan, Dempsey & O'Brien in the middle and EJ and McBride up front.

 

i think that could work, but it depends on the roles reyna/mastro will play. they were playing almost the same role vs the czechs (reyna a little more forward), and it didnt help one bit. im not positive bruce will sit convey, and im not convinced he should. id be fine with JOB though. as for the convey/lewis problem, i think the answer is bocanegra in for lewis.

 

i'd go with a 4-4-2, roughly:

 

---------------------keller-----------------

---------dolo - pope - gooch - boca------

dempsey - reyna/mastro - donovan - convey/JOB

-----------mcbride---------EJ---------------

[soccer10k]

It's amazing how much better both France and Switzerland look than the US did yesterday. It's nice to see teams actually be able to put together a competant attack.

[USSoccer]

Certainly, though, as Seth mentioned Arena can't have Lewis and Convey on the same side. Defensively they were atrocious, which is hilarious since the only possible explanation behind Convey over Dempsey is defense.

 

but defensively, dempsey is superior to convey, so that doesnt make sense. it wasnt ever really convey vs dempsey, but dmb vs dempsey. and bruce's stubborn insistance on dmb, added to his seeming lack of faith in dempsey means he lost out. putting your best 11 on the field isnt going to do a darn thing if you play them out of position.

 

Prior to the Cup starting Arena was quoted as questioning Dempsey's defensive work rate. I agree with you that Dempsey is the superior player, both offensively and defensively, over Convey, who should have been used as a late game sub to put pressure on tired defenders. Arena, obviously, didn't see it that way.

 

Given DMB's quotes after the game, and Arena's responses, DMB might not see the field again, which wouldn't be a terrible thing given his current form.

 

Boca for Lewis makes a ton of sense, but I don't know if Arena will sit Lewis. He really likes Eddie on the wing. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked to see Eddie and Dempsey play the wing mid positions, with Boca at left back and O'Brien in the middle and Mastro on the bench.

 

Your last statement there I do disagree with to a point. You should always put your best 11 on the field, and worry about positioning later if you can get away with it. I think Dempsey can play anywhere in the middle and be fine.

[Jon]

Too bad I don't have an HDTV box because that slow motion replay of the headbutt really captured a nice loogie flying out.

 

What a great chance that was. Not a solid header, but the pass was placed perfectly.

[soccer10k]

I'm so angry I waited however many hours to watch that joke.

 

My dad did the same thing. I wanted to call him at work and tell him to not get excited but I couldn't because I knew he would be ticked if I did. I haven't talked to him yet but I'm sure he's not pleased that he went with media blackout all day and had to watch that atrocity of a match.

[USSoccer]

I'm so angry I waited however many hours to watch that joke.

 

My dad did the same thing. I wanted to call him at work and tell him to not get excited but I couldn't because I knew he would be ticked if I did. I haven't talked to him yet but I'm sure he's not pleased that he went with media blackout all day and had to watch that atrocity of a match.

 

It was a horrid thing. Such a letdown. Like getting kicked in the gut. From the start of the game you could tell that baaad things were happening. I feel for your dad, since he and I probably went thru the same range of emotion on it.

 

I woke up this morning, though, feeling a bit better knowing that there was still at least 1 more meaningful game, and knowing that there's nowhere to go but up, since I think that's the worst they could have possibly played.

[Banedon]

I'm so angry I waited however many hours to watch that joke.

 

My dad did the same thing. I wanted to call him at work and tell him to not get excited but I couldn't because I knew he would be ticked if I did. I haven't talked to him yet but I'm sure he's not pleased that he went with media blackout all day and had to watch that atrocity of a match.

 

It was a horrid thing. Such a letdown. Like getting kicked in the gut. From the start of the game you could tell that baaad things were happening. I feel for your dad, since he and I probably went thru the same range of emotion on it.

 

I woke up this morning, though, feeling a bit better knowing that there was still at least 1 more meaningful game, and knowing that there's nowhere to go but up, since I think that's the worst they could have possibly played.

 

Should we give you a heads up somehow if the next one is horrible too?

[USSoccer]

I'm so angry I waited however many hours to watch that joke.

 

My dad did the same thing. I wanted to call him at work and tell him to not get excited but I couldn't because I knew he would be ticked if I did. I haven't talked to him yet but I'm sure he's not pleased that he went with media blackout all day and had to watch that atrocity of a match.

 

It was a horrid thing. Such a letdown. Like getting kicked in the gut. From the start of the game you could tell that baaad things were happening. I feel for your dad, since he and I probably went thru the same range of emotion on it.

 

I woke up this morning, though, feeling a bit better knowing that there was still at least 1 more meaningful game, and knowing that there's nowhere to go but up, since I think that's the worst they could have possibly played.

 

Should we give you a heads up somehow if the next one is horrible too?

 

I'll be in a birthing class with my wife until 5 on Saturday(5 weeks to go!). I think I'll be safe, unless you're able to skywrite the score as I walk to the car... :D

[lowest]

Your last statement there I do disagree with to a point. You should always put your best 11 on the field, and worry about positioning later if you can get away with it. I think Dempsey can play anywhere in the middle and be fine.

 

i understand, and agree that it will work with some players, and the key phrase that you mentioned is "if you can get away with it." but previous games have shown that it doesnt work with dmb on the right and, to a lesser extent, donovan up top. if you are going to play your strongest 11, and convey is stronger than beasley, then i feel bruce shouldve asked himself whether dmb is stronger than dempsey/anyone else on the right, etc.

 

agreed on dempsey and lewis as our wingers.

[Jon]

Dhorasoo missed by about a foot and a half. And the yellow cards continue to fly.

 

Good game by the Swiss defenders so far.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Oof, that was close. Game ends in a scoreless tie.

[Marco4]

That was a disappointing game all round, really. Maybe, just maybe, the Brazilians will play with a bit more flair later today.

[soccer10k]

That was a disappointing game all round, really. Maybe, just maybe, the Brazilians will play with a bit more flair later today.

 

I wouldn't call it disappointing. Both teams had numerous opportunities to score but neither team converted. It was an entertaining game though.

[USSoccer]

Your last statement there I do disagree with to a point. You should always put your best 11 on the field, and worry about positioning later if you can get away with it. I think Dempsey can play anywhere in the middle and be fine.

 

i understand, and agree that it will work with some players, and the key phrase that you mentioned is "if you can get away with it." but previous games have shown that it doesnt work with dmb on the right and, to a lesser extent, donovan up top. if you are going to play your strongest 11, and convey is stronger than beasley, then i feel bruce shouldve asked himself whether dmb is stronger than dempsey/anyone else on the right, etc.

 

agreed on dempsey and lewis as our wingers.

 

One problem with Arena's pregame thinking seemed to be that he put waaaay too much stock in Convey's form in the send-off games. Yes, he looked very good, but look who he looked good against! Not exactly top teams, which should have led him to think that maybe he wasn't the best option to start in our most important game. That decision-to start Convey-directly contributed to the 1st goal which deflated us like a balloon.

 

Bruce definetly was off for that game. He's going to have to raise his tactical and strategic thinking to beat Italy.

[Marco4]

That was a disappointing game all round, really. Maybe, just maybe, the Brazilians will play with a bit more flair later today.

 

I wouldn't call it disappointing. Both teams had numerous opportunities to score but neither team converted. It was an entertaining game though.

 

I just didn't feel it flickering into life at any point - given the players France have, and the way Switzerland have been playing of late, I was disappointed.

 

As the old cliché goes; it needed a goal.

[UMFan83]

Time for some Brazilian butt-whipping! I swear the more I get into soccer the more I realize how much of an All Star team Brazil is. If anyone beats them it will be an upset of historic proportions.

[BigSlick]

Time for some Brazilian butt-whipping! I swear the more I get into soccer the more I realize how much of an All Star team Brazil is. If anyone beats them it will be an upset of historic proportions.

 

I bought myself a nifty Brazil soccer shirt, too bad I don't fit into it anymore.

 

 

BRAAAAAAAAAAAZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL!

[B]

Time for some Brazilian butt-whipping! I swear the more I get into soccer the more I realize how much of an All Star team Brazil is. If anyone beats them it will be an upset of historic proportions.

 

I bought myself a nifty Brazil soccer shirt, too bad I don't fit into it anymore.

 

 

BRAAAAAAAAAAAZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL!

 

I thought it was BRASIL

[Marco4]

I believe Brasil is the native way of writing it, and Brazil the anglicised way. You can take your pick.

 

I always try to use native writing for names (although Italian cities are well known as Milan rather than Milano, and Turin rather than Torino)

[shnsajax]

Time for some Brazilian butt-whipping! I swear the more I get into soccer the more I realize how much of an All Star team Brazil is. If anyone beats them it will be an upset of historic proportions.

 

I would not go that far at all. I think its more than possible they lose in the quarters, hell Italy could beat them in the round 16. I think at least 5 countries have very legit shots of beating them.

[soccer10k]

Time for some Brazilian butt-whipping! I swear the more I get into soccer the more I realize how much of an All Star team Brazil is. If anyone beats them it will be an upset of historic proportions.

 

I would not go that far at all. I think its more than possible they lose in the quarters, hell Italy could beat them in the round 16. I think at least 5 countries have very legit shots of beating them.

 

If they lose in the group stage then it would be a huge upset. If they lose in the knockout stage it would still be an upset but not a huge upset. Brazil will be favored in each of their matches though. A team would have to play an almost perfect match to beat Brazil though.

[Marco4]

Croatia are giving a decent account of themselves so far.

[lowest]

brazil up 1-0 on a great strike by kaka

[Jon]

Beautiful shot from Kaka.