USSoccer

There's also an article up about Arena not buying all the Czech injury news. Also, I can't figure out how to insert a picture in my sig. It's driving me nuts.

It is bird flu season... Although new cars can have issues. Maybe the battery goes flat and won't take a jump, for example. Maybe it got towed because I don't have my new LTS sticker yet. That's a distinct possibility.

It is bird flu season... Although new cars can have issues. Maybe the battery goes flat and won't take a jump, for example.

I''m thinking just US spoilers. And considering that I'm goign to come up with reasons to leave work (doctor's appointment lined up for Monday) and then go to Chili's to watch the games anyway, I'm probably not actually going to avoid results too much. I really wish I had a legit reason to be watching live at home Monday. Schedule a "doctor's appointment". I'm thinking the game against Ghana may coincide with car trouble. Nothing like scheduled car trouble.

I''m thinking just US spoilers. And considering that I'm goign to come up with reasons to leave work (doctor's appointment lined up for Monday) and then go to Chili's to watch the games anyway, I'm probably not actually going to avoid results too much. I really wish I had a legit reason to be watching live at home Monday.

I think just US spoilers, although it will depend on the matchup. So you'll be TIVOing US games and any extra "good" matchups? Pretty much. Everything else I'll follow on matchtracker if I'm at work.

I think just US spoilers, although it will depend on the matchup.

Just slightly under the amount of Wayne Rooney headlines on ESPN's World Cup page, huh?

-Italy isn't going to win the World Cup. -Brazil is the favorite, but I agree, they won't win the Cup. -If the US doesn't advance it will be very dissapointing. -Group E is tough. The sky is also blue. -Ghana is good. They're just not great. I agree. I don't know where he came up with that one. I think by the Ghana comment Smyth meant that a lot of people are writing them off as easily the worst team in the group and one that has no chance of advancing. Just curious, who are you picking to win the Cup? I have a funny feeling England wins.

-Italy isn't going to win the World Cup. -Brazil is the favorite, but I agree, they won't win the Cup. -If the US doesn't advance it will be very dissapointing. -Group E is tough. The sky is also blue. -Ghana is good. They're just not great.

While I agree that the first match is important, the way that Group E breaks schedule wise favors the US. Ghana should be worn down physically and may lose players to cards by the time that 3rd game comes up. History indicates that drawing Ghana 3rd is a big advantage. The Italians have injury concerns as well, and since they play Ghana 1st-and since Ghana typically are at their strongest during the opening game of tournaments-they could catch an already beat up team a little thin. While a loss to the Czechs would hurt, it by no means sinks the US chances. And while the US traditionally has struggled in European World Cups, bear in mind that the 1990 team was a glorified college roster, and the 1998 team sucked. This group is far more talented that any team that has come before it.

Hater. I picked your country...

Group A: Germany Costa Rica If Germany weren't the hosts, I would have doubts about their ability to get through the group stage. They are not a good team, and if Ballack isn't 100%, they may be in big trouble. Costa Rica can score goals, and this group sucks, so they're my pick to get through with 4 points. Group B: England Paraguay England might get 7 points out of this group, and I think that Paraguay is every bit as good as Sweden. T & T will be lucky to score a goal. Group C: Ivory Coast Netherlands The Oranje are too good to lose in group play, and the Cour d' Ivore is going to be the suprise team of the finals. Group D: Iran Portugal I think Mexico chokes their way out of this. The whole Confederations Cup performance a couple summers ago is giving a lot of people warped expectations of the Tricoloes. I don't think they are any good outside of the Azteca. Portugal will beat them, and I think Iran has a ton to play for. Group E: United States Italy Catenaccio gets Italy through despite the injuries, and the US gets a couple wins and goes through as well. The Czechs are old and banged up, and Ghana got a disadvantageous order of play. Group F: Brazil Croatia Not much in this group. Group G: France Switzerland The French got a cupcake draw. Group H: Spain Ukraine Again, best 2 teams.

I think it would be fun to predict the teams that advance from each group.

Gee, too bad. :D All the off field stuff is certainly breaking the US's way thus far. The Czechs and Italians are missing some key players. Yeah. I'm very happy with it. The Czechs aren't playing in their preferred formation, probably, with Smicer out (they were leaning toward 5 midfielders). Also, Koller and baros aren't fully fit. This is especially good in terms of Baros, who has an ankle injury and won't be nearly as quick. Meanwhile, the Italians wil be missing Zambrotta, and thus won't have nearly as much of a push on the left side. Nesta, probably a top 3 defender in the world, won't be fully fit. Totti may not start because Lippi is an idiot, and probably won't be fully fit if he is. And now gattuso, the hard man and enforcer in the Italian midfield, a guy who was certain to try to maul Reyna and O'Brien, considering their injury concerns, and Donovan, considering his shakiness in holding the ball in the midfield, probably won't be playing either. Very good. And that's not even factoring in the mental distraction of the fixing scandal in Italy. That team certainly has it's share of adversity at the moment.

Gee, too bad. :D All the off field stuff is certainly breaking the US's way thus far. The Czechs and Italians are missing some key players.

Wow, USSoccer is finally converted to office policy. 8) Just for a fortnight.. :D :shock: So you expect your guys to be eliminated in the second round? :wink: :lol: :lol: Yeah, it might be a bit longer than that (I hope!)

Looks sensationalized, IMO. Beasley didn't come off real peeved to me. I don't see why ESPN would run an article like that, then. It's in their best interest to present the US team as favorably as possible.

According to ESPN.com, the US beat Angola 1-0 in a non sanctioned, closed door game with Brian McBride scoring the goal for the US. According to Angola, Reyna played and looked good.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=370104&cc=5901 Nothing like an unhappy US player to get the week started. I'd like to point out that if Beasley hadn't played like utter crap over the last year, there wouldn't be anything to be "irritated" about, since he'd be a lock for the first 11.

That might be too big for a shirt, but will look nice taped on my cubicle window.

I can give you his email. As long as it's not my work email, I'm good there. :P I record afternoon Cubs games on my DVR all the time, and I have no trouble avoiding spoilers on ESPN, NSBB, etc. With a little planning, you should be fine. I do the same thing, and you're right, it's not usually a problem. It's just with the infrequency of World Cup games, it's something I'm really excited about seeing pseudo-live.

Buy the giant earmuff headphones. people will get the message. And if they don't, you probably won't hear them anyway. I wish I could get away with it. Unfortunatly, I have to deal with people all day long, so I can't pull off the earmuff thing. Best I can do is have an earbud in one ear.

I'd rather not trade Aramis and make an already bad offense even worse. Also, rebuilding is something that I don't trust Hendry and Co. to do properly. We don't exactly have much luck at properly developing position players. I have no problem trading off the peripheral/role players we have. Walker, Williamson, Pierre should all be moved if we're not in a race by July 1st.

I can give you his email. As long as it's not my work email, I'm good there. :P