2010 World Cup Thread

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If Slovenia can 0-0 England, then the U.S. can move on with a draw too. Looking good. Amazing after they looked dead at 0-2.

[CubsBears29]

Ha. Wow.

 

So England has 2 points, but arguably they should easily have 6 points after 2 matches.

 

If I were an England fan that made the trip, I'd be booing my azz off too.

 

 

I find that I have to totally agree with what Alexei Lalas just said; "How about this? They [referring to England] just aren't that good (together)."

[USSoccer]

Did Joe Cole defect to North Korea or something? I think Capello is afraid of using good players off his bench

[jersey cubs fan]

The bottom of the list (most unfavorable) is Muslim countries+Argentina

 

All those runaway nazis still holding a grudge?

[wvcbxl]

Looking good.

 

Dunno.

I'd say you need a win against Algeria to go through.

Having seen Algeria today, the US has it's work cut out.

[Guest]

Looking good.

 

Dunno.

I'd say you need a win against Algeria to go through.

Having seen Algeria today, the US has it's work cut out.

 

I agree that we'll likely need to win but with the way England is playing, they're far from a lock to get a win also.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://deadspin.com/5567304/what-needs-to-happen-for-the-us-team-to-advance

[Jon]

Algeria's passing was pretty crisp today, but they still were only able to get one shot on goal. It seems to be more important to get back and close of the shooting lanes than prevent them from getting close to the 18 yard box.

[chuckywang]

http://deadspin.com/5567304/what-needs-to-happen-for-the-us-team-to-advance

 

LOL it is a very possible reality that a coin flip could decide who moves on between USA and England.

 

WOW.

[wvcbxl]

FWIW Belgian TV has no clue why the third US goal was disallowed either.

Looks like you guys got screwed.

[CubsBears29]

http://cdn.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/the-sun-world-cup-2010.jpg

 

:lol: :-$ #-o

[wvcbxl]

It is the best group, but not in the way the Sun had in mind. 8-)

[CubsBears29]

FWIW Belgian TV has no clue why the third US goal was disallowed either.

Looks like you guys got screwed.

 

Other than the most hardcore anti-US people, nobody on this Earth will find a reason that goal should have been disallowed.

 

Utterly atrocious call, that neither the ref or FIFA has to own up to. Must be pretty damn sweet to be able to screw any soccer nation you want and not have to own up to it in the least little bit.

[Exile on Waveland]

God I hope Algeria knick a goal here.

 

If they do, we advance outright with a win Wednesday.

 

Even with the tie, the US advances outright with a win Wednesday. They completely control their own destiny. They also can advance with a tie depending, and can even win the group depending. But a win and they advance -- Algeria scoring or not didn't change that paradigm.

[USSoccer]

God I hope Algeria knick a goal here.

 

If they do, we advance outright with a win Wednesday.

 

Even with the tie, the US advances outright with a win Wednesday. They completely control their own destiny. They also can advance with a tie depending, and can even win the group depending. But a win and they advance -- Algeria scoring or not didn't change that paradigm.

 

D'oh. Good point.

[bukie]

US Scenarios:

 

- Eliminated with a loss to Algeria

- Through with a win v. Algeria

- Through with a draw v. Algeria coupled with a Slovenia win or draw fewer than 3g greater than the US-Algeria score.

- Can win the group with a win v. Algeria coupled with a Slovenia-England draw and better GD or GS than Slovenia, or an England win and a greater GD or GS than England.

[shnsajax]

Ya know its pretty bad when two English announcers are going off on the ref and FIFA about them screwing the US vs Slovenia.

 

He should be in a plane on his way out of South Africa by now. Of course I don't expect Blatter to a single thing.

[TruffleShuffle]

the only thing i can think of on edu's "goal" is that the referee regretted calling the foul that set up donovan's kick (jozy was fouled), and because of time and situation, decided to nullify it by calling a foul on the free kick. there literally was nothing to call on that play.

[shnsajax]

If I had 1 complaint about Bob Bradley its that his teams continue to give up a goal in the 1st 15 minutes. Its a focus over every team from the HS level on up.

 

On the positive the US had a ton of chances today against a team that usually clamps down very well in the back. Howard looks to be 100%. Today was maybe the worst officiated game since the Holland/Portugal game in '06. Even that didn't have the missed calls this one had. It was Jim Joyce all over again except it cost a team a win.

 

Jozy has played ok, but not up to the level that he expects. He does continue to draw fouls at a very productive rate, and creates a lot of matchup problems though. Onyewu looks to be a step slow at times.

 

Bradley's celebration was one of the greatest I can remember for the US in sometime. Wednesday should be fun, both teams have to win which I think plays into the US hands, but again the 1st 15 minutes. England has to find a way to score and Slovenia will be playing with 10 to 11 men behind the ball.

[Exile on Waveland]

I still can't believe that call. Game of the tournament so far, but not the correct result.

 

Howard--Looked healthy as shnsajax and was solid in the air. Got caught in no man's land on the first goal -- though the fault resided with the defense.

 

Gooch--I was optimistic about his play/health the past couple of games, but thought he was pretty poor today (especially the first half). He was, at minimum, indirectly responsible for both goals.

 

Torres--I've been calling for him to play more but he was poor. As US said, Clark would've closed the space on Slovenia's first goal. Edu earned this spot for next game, in my opinion.

 

Donovan--great job on the goal, was calm and looking to pass but when he had nothing looked to score. Shooting upwards was the correct shot too. Also should have had an assist.

 

Bradley--great run, huge goal.

 

Dempsey--not entirely his fault, but wasn't involved much. Probably should have had an assist though.

 

Altidore--I feel disappointed by his play overall -- maybe I expect too much too soon -- but excellent target play to knock the ball down for Bradley.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I didn't have a problem with Altidore's play. He made two nice plays to draw the yellow card, and the header to set up the tying goal was a wonderful combination of size, vision, creativity and touch.

 

He's a guy whose match will be decided each day by whether or not he has 15 seconds of brilliance.

[Banedon]

Rooney was critical of the supporters' reaction as he walked off the pitch in Cape Town, saying into a television camera: "Nice to see your own fans booing you, you football 'supporters'."

[shnsajax]

I didn't have a problem with Altidore's play. He made two nice plays to draw the yellow card, and the header to set up the tying goal was a wonderful combination of size, vision, creativity and touch.

 

He's a guy whose match will be decided each day by whether or not he has 15 seconds of brilliance.

 

He draws so many fouls and I think that gets overlooked at times. What I remember is the chance on the break he had vs. England and the turn around shot today. Both great chances that he could have done just a little bit more with. Like mentioned he is 21 and we are expecting a lot from him.

[Guest]

Slovenia should be happy that they didn't have the ref from the Serbia-Germany game (just flipping through it now). They would have had at least one red and maybe two with the way that guy was handing out bookings.

 

Also, what is up with Serbia and intentional hand balls in the box? One last week cost them a point and they had another in this game, though it didn't come back to bite them.

[Mark Priors Calves]

England sucks.

 

Rooney sucks.

 

I'm already nervous as hell for Wednesday. For getting two draws and only playing so-so in those draws, I'm glad we control our own destiny. Algeria is going to be tough but it falls onto the US to play well if they want to advance.