2010 World Cup Thread

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Anyway, we drew with England. Suck it, England! WOO!

[SpongeWorthy]

So some weird crap happened in the Confederations Cup so Kyle's point is moot? If that's the counter argument you would've made if Kyle hadn't made it for you then I would say he is basically right--there isn't much of a difference between a loss and a tie.

Kyle's point isn't necessarily moot, just misguided.

 

It's been fun arguing with people who spend much less energy following and understanding the subtleties of a sport than USSoccer and I, but since it's clear you're happy in your obstinacy, I'll leave it at this. A 65% chance is better than a 55% chance. Beyond that, more than any other sport, soccer is difficult to quantify. Unlike baseball, abstract things like confidence and momentum matter. With all the importance stressed on this game both among fans/media and the teams themselves, getting a point is very important. What's more important is the confidence and momentum it imparts to the US team. The US and England will advance. They probably would have advanced even if England won, but to say you're not sure how this helps just shows your ignorance of the sport.

 

I see what you're saying. I would question why momentum and confidence don't matter in baseball just because it's quantifiable though. I think those are the wrong adjectives. Chemistry or something like that, sure. Soccer requires far more teamwork than baseball.

[USSoccer]

Sorry guys. When Nate Silver's on my side, I feel pretty darn comfortable that I'm correct.

 

Nate Silver can't quantify the fact that England now have to try during their final two games. That matters.

 

Nate Silver is smart as hell, but quantifying soccer is a lot harder than tracking poll outliers and analyzing baseball stats.

 

Not only are you wrong, you're being stupidly stubborn by refusing to admit you're incorrect, and citing someone else's incomplete analysis of the situation as the proof of your righteousness.

[wolf stansson]

Anyway, we drew with England. Suck it, England! WOO!

Yes.

 

You gave me the red ass because I'm buzzed and excited and was surprised to see anything worth arguing over. As long as you are fighting the good fight of supporting US Soccer, I have no real problem with you.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Anyway, we drew with England. Suck it, England! WOO!

Yes.

 

You gave me the red ass because I'm buzzed and excited and was surprised to see anything worth arguing over. As long as you are fighting the good fight of supporting US Soccer, I have no real problem with you.

 

I think we have the same basic idea about how this changes our odds, we're just quibbling over what counts as "significant."

 

This is time that could be better spent trolling some Englishmen.

[brinoch]

Sorry guys. When Nate Silver's on my side, I feel pretty darn comfortable that I'm correct.

 

That's great and all, and I like Nate, but when it comes to soccer I (and a host of others) know a lot more than you think we do. Besides, even if we just stipulate his 9% number, that is still a significant increase. Moreover, you haven't rebutted the points that US, Wolf and I have made regarding England playing the rest of the matches.

[USSoccer]

Anyway, we drew with England. Suck it, England! WOO!

Yes.

 

You gave me the red ass because I'm buzzed and excited and was surprised to see anything worth arguing over. As long as you are fighting the good fight of supporting US Soccer, I have no real problem with you.

 

I think we have the same basic idea about how this changes our odds, we're just quibbling over what counts as "significant."

 

This is time that could be better spent trolling some Englishmen.

 

Now that I agree with.

 

We all need to pull for a draw tomorrow morning as well.

[SpongeWorthy]

As long as we're all admitting that these things aren't very quantifiable then couldn't I argue that England might play worse by feeling additional pressure as opposed to playing better because they have to try harder?

[brinoch]

This is time that could be better spent trolling some Englishmen.

 

Yes. Suck it, Limeys.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Sorry guys. When Nate Silver's on my side, I feel pretty darn comfortable that I'm correct.

 

That's great and all, and I like Nate, but when it comes to soccer I (and a host of others) know a lot more than you think we do. Besides, even if we just stipulate his 9% number, that is still a significant increase. Moreover, you haven't rebutted the points that US, Wolf and I have made regarding England playing the rest of the matches.

 

Because I don't think that's likely to make a difference either. England's last game is the fifth game, not the sixth, so it'd be hard for them to have already clinched the group before that match. Although at this point the permutations are making my head hurt so maybe I'm goofing that up.

[USSoccer]

Sorry guys. When Nate Silver's on my side, I feel pretty darn comfortable that I'm correct.

 

That's great and all, and I like Nate, but when it comes to soccer I (and a host of others) know a lot more than you think we do. Besides, even if we just stipulate his 9% number, that is still a significant increase. Moreover, you haven't rebutted the points that US, Wolf and I have made regarding England playing the rest of the matches.

 

Because I don't think that's likely to make a difference either. England's last game is the fifth game, not the sixth, so it'd be hard for them to have already clinched the group before that match. Although at this point the permutations are making my head hurt so maybe I'm goofing that up.

 

The 3rd group matches are played at the same time. Not sure what you're trying to say here.

 

And Sponge, I think that's a decent point, but Algeria is terrible. England is going to stomp them. The pressure will be high, but mostly on Capello and Green.

[Pushfrog98]

I'm not a big follower of soccer, but the world cup always intrigues me. Just wondering though... do you root for your home country, or do you pick another to root for? I was always under the impression that you either root for your home country or the country you were from (as in you moved from one country to another.) Is it acceptable to root for a country that you have no affiliation with?

 

i don't know. good question. i'm an every 4 year soccer fan and i always root for the USA, but i have a buddy from albania who actually DOES like soccer and he roots for italy because albania sucks at everything.

I ask because a former co-worker (who is an all-around douche) likes to pretend that he's from England. He had the Union Jack hanging in his office, a big ben mini-statue, etc... and he puts the unnecessary "u" in words like color and favorite. He also calls potato chips "crisps" even though they were invented and named in the US.

 

He was born and raised in california and his heritage is actually german...

 

Your co worker sounds like a total clown

I finally asked him what he has against America and he said he doesn't like our "imperialistic attitude." Oh the irony.

 

He also said that soccer is the only "real" sport (yet he never played it.)

[Exile on Waveland]

Funny, I'm about to give three of four starting defenders (three out of five if you count Clark as defensive as a holding midfielder) solid marks, but I thought the defense was pretty lousy overall. Too many open passing lanes and unmarked players.

 

Howard was excellent. Cherundolo was impressive. Demerit effectively neutralized Rooney though I though he was a little slow/soft letting Heskey post him up on their goal. Gooch wasn't perfect -- maybe a step slower and couple misplays -- but I thought he was very good and didn't let much past him. I was pretty disappointed in Boca, believe his positioning was subpar and Cole schooled him once that easily could have been a goal.

 

Clark is worthless, no idea why he's first choice. I hope surely he won't be moving forward. Donovan and Dempsey were solid (running/defending as US put it best). Bradley was strong, maybe moreso in the first half

 

I don't watch tons of MLS, but outside of perhaps some shoddy finishing, Findley has impressed the last three games. Altidore looked great in nearly scoring and was inches from getting a head on the ball for a possible goal as well. Other than that? Not much. Then again, strikers only need one moment and he was thisclose to his. Promising at times.

 

Still don't understand the timing of the substitutions, or the actual substitutions themselves (having Buddle as the lone forward as a target/holder was fine, but wasn't the initial move).

[SpongeWorthy]

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3x1hpbWR31qz82gvo1_500.jpg

[Guest]

Quick thoughts after catching the first half live and the last 20 mins on DVR:

 

- A tie was a fair result, we played level with England.

 

- Clark is a dope

 

- Howard is awesome

 

- Heskey's cleat to Howard's chest was bush league, and it was delicious karma that he got an incidental knee to the nose shortly thereafter.

 

- Carragher's arm bar takedown of Findley on that breakaway is pretty staggering it wasn't at least a foul

 

- Capello bringing in Phillips-Wright for Milner was pretty brilliant

 

- We've had problems playing to the level of the competition in the past. Hopefully starting with the group's strongest opponent gives us a baseline of effort that we maintain through Slovenia and Algeria

[USSoccer]

 

- Carragher's arm bar takedown of Findley on that breakaway is pretty staggering it wasn't at least a foul

 

Carra was incredibly lucky not to be sent off. He committed three cardable offenses in 45 minutes.

[shnsajax]

All and all it was a good result. We were lucky to tie the game and unlucky not to take the lead. Jozy showed the flashes that he did against Holland when he destroyed King only to be denied by the post. Not sure why he went low on the shot going near post. Anything waist high and that goes in.

 

Howard looked like he was auditioning for one of the major clubs in Europe. He was superb. The US needed more in the 1st half having almost 60% of the possession. Bradley missed an opportunity around the 70th minute to bring in Torres. They needed possession and the backline was tiring for England. He was more concerned about the point which I understand also.

 

All in all it was a good day.

 

edit: The US should have started Buddle and broguht in Findley late instead of the other way around. I think Buddle start on Friday.

Edited June 12, 2010 by shnsajax

[shnsajax]

 

- Carragher's arm bar takedown of Findley on that breakaway is pretty staggering it wasn't at least a foul

 

Carra was incredibly lucky not to be sent off. He committed three cardable offenses in 45 minutes.

 

He was lucky not to break someones leg today. Not sure why he is even starting for England. Shows how much they lack at the back right now.

[CubInOK]

 

- Carragher's arm bar takedown of Findley on that breakaway is pretty staggering it wasn't at least a foul

 

Carra was incredibly lucky not to be sent off. He committed three cardable offenses in 45 minutes.

 

He was lucky not to break someones leg today. Not sure why he is even starting for England. Shows how much they lack at the back right now.

Carragher was a halftime sub.

[Guest]

http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/jun2010/9/5/hand-of-clod-560873761.jpg

[erik316wttn]

http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/jun2010/9/5/hand-of-clod-560873761.jpg

 

That's pretty harsh.

[CubInOK]

Is Luongo England's goalie?

 

Worse soft goal on the biggest stage of their lives:

 

Michael Leighton or Robert Green?

I had to go back in the thread because I wanted to see quotes like these.

[shnsajax]

http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/jun2010/9/5/hand-of-clod-560873761.jpg

 

That's pretty harsh.

 

Its only going to get worse. Not sure if he will get the chance to redeem himself.

[Magnetic Curses]

http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/jun2010/9/5/hand-of-clod-560873761.jpg

 

that makes me laugh, a lot

[Banedon]

For some reason, for about 5 min during the game, my dish lost the locals. All my other channels were fine.

 

What occurred during those 5 min? USA's goal.