The Soccer Thread

[brinoch]

An underrated benefit of Mycroft being so stingy with cards, none for the US means it'll be a lot tougher for yellows to come back to bite anybody in later games.

 

True enough. There really wasn't too much by the US that deserved a card. I thought Beckerman deserved one, and maybe Bedoya for ankle biting. John Boye should have been carded for the dangerous play when he kicked Dempsey in the face. Hell, I've seen reds for less. Otherwise, not much else by Ghana, either.

 

I thought the AR on the US right for the second half was underwhelming -- that foul call on Johnson against Menseh was terrible. They also gave way too much stoppage time. 5 mins for the second half was WAY too long. 3 mins would have been about right -- there were 4 substitutions and 2 goals, along with some small knocks on challenges. Nothing major.

[Guest]

 

I know it's going to get largely overlooked because of the late heroics, but Clint's goal was a great individual effort. He couldn't have done anything better on that play.

[Guest]

Alright, so you're world football's most naturally gifted berk. You're blessed with the natural talent to irritate anybody, at any time, whether by means of saucy simulation, an inappropriate jabbing finger, or a touch of the old ultraviolence. But talent will only get you to the top; it takes hard work to stay there.

 

So what do you do when, out of nowhere, some young puckish upstart like Thomas Müller is threatening to out-arse you in front of the watching world? You've wafted a hand vaguely near his chin and he's gone down like he's been poked firmly in both eyes. That's your game! He's stealing your moves! You ... you're on the moral high ground! And you don't like it up there. The view is dizzying. The air is thin. It's not where you belong.

 

Something special is required. And this is where you come into your own. World Cup headbutts are rare things: Zinedine Zidane on Marco Materazzi the most notable; five-foot-nothing Ariel Ortega on six-foot-plus Edwin van der Sar perhaps the most amusing. At least until now. For this is the moment you unveil the bending-from-the-waist forehead nuzzle, and gently-yet-insistently put the head on a man who is already sat on the ground. This is the kind of improvisational genius that can't be taught. This is how the king stays the king. Truly, Pepe, you are the Garrincha of being a total dick.

 

http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/6/17/5816196/world-cup-day-5-scores-reaction-analysis

[USSoccer]

Alright, so you're world football's most naturally gifted berk. You're blessed with the natural talent to irritate anybody, at any time, whether by means of saucy simulation, an inappropriate jabbing finger, or a touch of the old ultraviolence. But talent will only get you to the top; it takes hard work to stay there.

 

So what do you do when, out of nowhere, some young puckish upstart like Thomas Müller is threatening to out-arse you in front of the watching world? You've wafted a hand vaguely near his chin and he's gone down like he's been poked firmly in both eyes. That's your game! He's stealing your moves! You ... you're on the moral high ground! And you don't like it up there. The view is dizzying. The air is thin. It's not where you belong.

 

Something special is required. And this is where you come into your own. World Cup headbutts are rare things: Zinedine Zidane on Marco Materazzi the most notable; five-foot-nothing Ariel Ortega on six-foot-plus Edwin van der Sar perhaps the most amusing. At least until now. For this is the moment you unveil the bending-from-the-waist forehead nuzzle, and gently-yet-insistently put the head on a man who is already sat on the ground. This is the kind of improvisational genius that can't be taught. This is how the king stays the king. Truly, Pepe, you are the Garrincha of being a total dick.

 

 

 

 

http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/6/17/5816196/world-cup-day-5-scores-reaction-analysis

 

That's about perfect right there.

 

I'm been trying to figure out the changes for Sunday's game, but beyond replacing AJ with Wondo, I don't see how you can change anyone in the defense or midfield unless they're hurt. Besler was playing very, very well, and Bedoya's just better than Zusi is.

[Guest]

I'd definitely start Zusi, he's much more capable of actually getting involved in possession instead of running onto the ball.

[wolf stansson]

Been thinking a lot about the game (obviously). I think you have to start Zusi over Bedoya. He brings almost as much defensively and his set piece delivery is so much better. Without Jozy, we need to convert unrealistically high percentages of our set pieces and Zusi is the only guy who can deliver strikes consistently.

 

John Brooks, man. That dude. We've all (US fans everywhere) been excited about the Germans since they started committing, but for totally legit reasons, they've taken a while to really entrench themselves in the American fan consciousness. Jones has by being a warrior who goes all out every time he wears the jersey. Johnson has by being the best player in the pool at whichever position he happens to be playing.

 

John Brooks is a guy who, if he stays healthy and works hard, will probably be a 100 cap/3-4 World Cup cycles player for the US. That puts him in the group with our legends. That's Lalas/Bocanegra/Balboa territory. He's quiet and laid back off the field, but for him to really introduce himself to the US like this, when everyone doubted his inclusion...just a really special way to start your career internationally. He was officially cap-tied in his first world cup game where he scored a game-winning goal against the team that haunts our collective nightmares. Beyond the goal, he was a monster cleaning up crosses and cutting out passes at the top of the 18.

 

I'm not saying he's a starter going forward. I'm just saying that I'm glad he chose to represent his American side. One of the most talented CB prospects in the world not only committed to the US, but he's bounced back from a bad debut and lived up to the hype.

[USSoccer]

I'd definitely start Zusi, he's much more capable of actually getting involved in possession instead of running onto the ball.

 

I think Zusi gives that back, though, on the defensive end. All of Portugal's attack is going to be on either wing; I don't think you can afford to not have Bedoya's work rate in there.

[dcvalpo]

How big is the loss of Pepe?

[mul21]

 

 

I'm been trying to figure out the changes for Sunday's game, but beyond replacing AJ with Wondo, I don't see how you can change anyone in the defense or midfield unless they're hurt. Besler was playing very, very well, and Bedoya's just better than Zusi is.

 

Any word on Besler's injury status? It definitely looked like a precautionary move to keep him from hurting it any worse, but you can't really plan on using him as a sub because if he comes up lame again, you're burning 2 subs on 1 spot.

[wolf stansson]

Any word on Besler's injury status?

 

http://www.americansoccernow.com/articles/asn-morning-read-usa-ghana-john-brooks

Jurgen: “With Matt, it’s no problem. We made the right decision. And he didn’t get any injuries, so he’s all fine.”

[Guest]

Ooh, Algeria with an early lead. The more points they can steal(and the greater chaos in that group), the better.

[USSoccer]

Not at all surprised to see Algeria leading Holland Jr. today. Algeria are better than people think.

[wolf stansson]

Anybody else getting tired of being the office "soccer guy" at their place of work now that people are interested?

 

I had to explain goal differential, what Jozy's injury means and why our coach doesn't think we can win while I was filling up my water bottle in the break room.

[mul21]

Not at all surprised to see Algeria leading Holland Jr. today. Algeria are better than people think.

 

Why do soccer folk insist on referring to singular countries in the plural? It kind of bugs the crap out of me.

[USSoccer]

Anybody else getting tired of being the office "soccer guy" at their place of work now that people are interested?

 

I had to explain goal differential, what Jozy's injury means and why our coach doesn't think we can win while I was filling up my water bottle in the break room.

 

I'm used to it. It doesn't bother me as much as it used to, really, so long as the other person actually listens and processes what I say. It also seems that the more casual fans are catching on faster. I was explaining what "keeping the shape" meant to someone the other day, and he understood what I meant pretty quickly.

[jersey cubs fan]

Not at all surprised to see Algeria leading Holland Jr. today. Algeria are better than people think.

 

Why do soccer folk insist on referring to singular countries in the plural? It kind of bugs the crap out of me.

 

It is the britishized affectation of talking futbol.

[USSoccer]

Not at all surprised to see Algeria leading Holland Jr. today. Algeria are better than people think.

 

Why do soccer folk insist on referring to singular countries in the plural? It kind of bugs the crap out of me.

 

It's grammatically correct to do so.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Not at all surprised to see Algeria leading Holland Jr. today. Algeria are better than people think.

 

Why do soccer folk insist on referring to singular countries in the plural? It kind of bugs the crap out of me.

 

It's grammatically correct to do so.

 

Only if you are currently posting from the United Kingdom.

[Guest]

Hoping for Brazil to do to Mexico what Germany did to Portugal.

[Exile on Waveland]

Anybody else getting tired of being the office "soccer guy" at their place of work now that people are interested?

 

I had to explain goal differential, what Jozy's injury means and why our coach doesn't think we can win while I was filling up my water bottle in the break room.

 

Nah, it doesn't bother me. It's fun if they actually listen and try to understand. I just hate when they come and complain about soccer and then tell me what they think soccer/FIFA should change to make the sport better (which they determined from watching like thirty minutes of one game).

[Guest]

[expletive], too many Mexican supporters at my office.

[shnsajax]

Hoping for Brazil to do to Mexico what Germany did to Portugal.

 

Yeah I'm not really feeling the need to cheer for Concacaf in this match. Feel like 1 goal could break this open quickly, but Mexico doing well in not breaking and countering some.

[mul21]

Not at all surprised to see Algeria leading Holland Jr. today. Algeria are better than people think.

 

Why do soccer folk insist on referring to singular countries in the plural? It kind of bugs the crap out of me.

 

It's grammatically correct to do so.

 

Only if you are currently posting from the United Kingdom.

 

I hate agreeing with Kyle more than any of you can imagine.

[shnsajax]

Would also be funny to see Brazil brought back down to earth, though I don't want a Holland-Brazil round of 16 match.

[jersey cubs fan]

Will Carroll ‏@injuryexpert 1h

Won't have an update on Altidore until this evening, I am told. Team had to travel, then get Altidore into the med center for imaging.

 

UMFan deleted his post but my twitter says there is no news on Altidore yet.