shnsajax

I still struggle to get into MLS. It was exciting the first year, but now with digital cable I rarely watch it. Over the past 3-4 years I have watched more US youth matches than MLS games.

Thats what I am thinking, but I can not put the French away. There is just something about that team right now. Italy has relied on getting that late goal too much the last couple of rounds. I am hoping Zidane can go out on top.

As a life long Cowboy fan I would put Smith probably as the 4th or 5th best RB of all-time. The offensive line excuse is also probably used a little too much, especially considered how much he was used. He was one of the most productive and durable backs of all-time. The reason you could argue he is the greatest is that I don't think there was ever a more clutch RB in history. I haven't seen another RB carry his entire team as many times as Smith did. Earl Campbell is without question my favorite to have ever seen tape of. The man was a flat out beast, and they still talk about the size of his legs here in Texas to this day.

I don't think it will happen, but does Germany have enough police for a potential England-Germany final.

Yes, he did. And now Portugal go on to face England without Deco and Costinha and, more likely than not, Figo. =D> Well said :D

I hope he was hurt otherwise he has to explain something. Ruud equals at least a tie if not the win. Very depressed now. I didn't get the sense that he was hurt. He was warming up, and looked like he was coming in. I got the sense that van Basten tried to prove some stupid point by not putting Ruud in, and then when the avalanche of cards came out, he wet the bed and put the guy with 33 letters in his name in. Certainly Ruud finishes the clear chances Kuyt had. I don't even know how you don't put him in, even if he is nursing something. You were up a man most of the half, and you controlled posession, so it's not as if he's going to be making 40 yard runs. You put him in to finish in the 18. Thats exactly what I don't understand. If van Bommel got a little desperate when up a man with his selections. Why van Persie struck his shot with the outside of his left instead of the inside I don't get either unless he thought he didn't have time. Also, just to get this off my chest. Figo is a little #$&@!. I hope the hooligans show up on Saturday. I thought that at first, too, but after seeing the replay from the other angle, he got absolutely hammered by that elbow. I still didn't think so. He was playing positioning, and his arm did get up after he cut him off on route to the ball. Lots of refs won't even call that, Figo knew if he went down and milked it he would draw another card. I can't blame Figo especially being a man down, I just have never liked him.

I hope he was hurt otherwise he has to explain something. Ruud equals at least a tie if not the win. Very depressed now. I didn't get the sense that he was hurt. He was warming up, and looked like he was coming in. I got the sense that van Basten tried to prove some stupid point by not putting Ruud in, and then when the avalanche of cards came out, he wet the bed and put the guy with 33 letters in his name in. Certainly Ruud finishes the clear chances Kuyt had. I don't even know how you don't put him in, even if he is nursing something. You were up a man most of the half, and you controlled posession, so it's not as if he's going to be making 40 yard runs. You put him in to finish in the 18. Thats exactly what I don't understand. If van Bommel got a little desperate when up a man with his selections. Why van Persie struck his shot with the outside of his left instead of the inside I don't get either unless he thought he didn't have time. Also, just to get this off my chest. Figo is a little #$&@!. I hope the hooligans show up on Saturday.

That looked more like a Mexican league game with all the pushing and such. BTW, shnsajax, I'm sorry about the Oranje. I like Van Basten a lot, just really clueless as to what is going on. They are going to be very good in Euro's and in South Africa come '08 and '10. They help to ease the US pain.

I hope he was hurt otherwise he has to explain something. Ruud equals at least a tie if not the win. Very depressed now.

US-Italy had nothing on that game. The two countries hate each other to begin with, and the ref had no clue from the begining.

10 of the 18 World Cups have been played on European soil so it's likely that the US will (assuming they qualify) play 2 World Cups in Europe by 2026. I agree that Bruce Arena has been extremely important to US soccer in the past but I believe that the phrase is "what have you done for me lately?" Bruce Arena was perfect for the team in the past but I don't think he is right now. While I agree the draw was very tough, I think the main problem was the US's #5 (and #4 at one point) FIFA world ranking. I know it's not their fault that they were ranked higher than they were. But it's the media's fault for misinterpreting this. The media saw the high ranking and assumed that the US was good enough to make it out of this group and made it seem like a foregone conclusion. The media ignored the fact that the FIFA rankings take into account a countries previous 8 years of internation competition. This will be dropped to the previous 4 years in July 2006 though. Had the US been accurately ranked, likely somewhere in the teens and therefore behind Italy, there wouldn't have been nearly as much hype surrounding the team. EDIT: I agree that a 2-8 record wouldn't help a ton, it would be much better than beating up on CONCACAF teams all the time. That doesn't help us either. I thought they agreed to the rotation system in selecting the world cup. Starting with Africa in 2010, South America 2014, Central/North America 2018, Asia/Oceana 2022, Europe 2026. I could be wrong on this. They do need better diversity in friendlies by far, I agree with that completly. I agree with that on Arena, and I think they will give him the time to decide he wants to leave rather than let him go just out of respect. I would love to see the federation go out and buy Guus Hiddink, once Austraila are out. It doesn't help that the US media is very clueless when it comes to soccer.

I thought I said something like this earlier in this thread but couldn't find it. But that's beside the point. I couldn't agree with you more on this point. The US team obviously has a problem playing in Europe. So what do you do when you have a problem getting better at something? You practice more. The US can't win in Europe so play more games in Europe. It's a simple solution. I don't care about all that travel from the US and all of that BS. You just tell the players that if they don't agree to show up for a certain number of matches, that they won't be eligible for the next World Cup. I'm sure there will be teams looking to have friendlies right before Euro 2008 so the US should schedule those. Play the role of Morocco to Italy and Germany. The only good team in CONCACAF is Mexico, but playing them all the time isn't going to help because they don't play the same style as the European teams and, since we see them all the time, there are no surprises. Something has to change and it has to change now. I would much rather go 2-8 in friendlies in 2007 with every game played in Europe than go 8-2 and not play any European teams in Europe. It's called gaining experience. Considering our next world cup experience in europe is not for another 20 years we have a little bit of time :) . I would settle for +80% of the national team playing in Europe with 25% of the youth program players playing in Holland. If I had it my way Dempsey might as well start shopping for an apartment somewhere nearby rather than coming back to the US. Bruce Arena IMO might be the most important person in US soccer history. From the early 90's creating the powerhouse he had at Virgina to DC United he has been their every step of the way throughout the growth of American soccer. I really don't know if he has anything left to contribute, and that he might have finally peaked. Right now the US needs to really focus on player development. Coming up with what will be a much younger team in 2010, it is probably time to go in a different direction. Still even with that, the biggest problem with the US this world cup was the draw. They did have a lot of bad luck getting in this group, then with thier 1st two matches. Don't underestimate the US record in 2008 and 2009. We don't need a 2-8 record just to gain experience. This past World Cup the US was 1 slot away from getting a #1 seed, and probably a much more favorable group. That is something that is always very big and important.

Its going to be interesting to see how much one player can change this English team, and England wants to beat Sweden almost as much as they enjoy beating Argentina. I expect Lampard to finally breakthrough with a goal today. England wins 3-1

I want to go to the World Cup and be completely insane. Hopefully in 4 years I get my chance They should have held this one in September. Could have just caught the last two weeks of the WC, and the first two weeks of Octoberfest. :D

Thank you. tired of hearing the whole sellers thing.

how the hell he made it past security is beyond me, and very impressive.

Croatia have played well enough to earn a draw, a better finishing team could have put 3 against Brazil right now. Brazil could have easily score 2 or 3 as well, but for the most part Croatia has done a good job limiting Brazil to very difficult scoring chances. The Kaka goal was brilliant. I think the Chechs will matchup very well against this Brazil team, whenever they should meet.

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.

Beasley has 45 minutes to get it going before Dempsey begins to get loose. Hope he breaks out like he is more than capable of.

Indeed, and the more World Cup positions when it (inevitably) expands again. Australia will be making a similar push, in their perfect group. Getting 4 in this year, and already drawing a tie and scoring twice on Germany CONCACAF has already had a very respectable start with their bottom two. I despise the mexico-iran game today. I'll watch it but won't cheer for either team. Expect several players from both teams to recieve their SAG cards after the match. Robben is a stud, and Holland looked very good despite the concerns about their youth. They will be an increadible team in South Africa.

Just slightly under the amount of Wayne Rooney headlines on ESPN's World Cup page, huh? Want to try living in England? We can't move for metatarsals. So what is the latest word. 12 different tabloids are talking about his smile today :)

I have said before that Pope is going to be like Agoos in 2002. Overmatched and outplayed. It's imperative that Mastro and Gooch are able to help him out, or else we're toast. The only possible justification for not starting Rappin' Clint is his defense, and even that's a bit thin, since O'Brien's value is in the attacking third of the field. I can see Arena starting O'Brien and putting Dempsey in after half time. Johnson coming off the bench is about the only sub I trust. Beasley's been so poor, you are almost stuck. If you bench him, he'll sulk (I see a bit of petulance in him at times). If you start him, I think you're not putting your most effective player out there. I don't like Wolff; he hasn't done anything meaningful in 5 years. I'm terrified of Berhalter and Conrad, and Ching is a waste of a spot. I guess the key is finishing. If we can get a lead, Mastro can sinkback and can help the backline, and that will open up our conterattack. If we fall behind, well, we saw how much we struggle against mediocre teams that pack the defensive third. Imagine trying to come back against Italy. Luckily momentum carries more wieght in this tournament than almost any other event in the world, and the phrase speed kills actual means something unlike this freakin baseball team. Beasley is one run away from breaking out of his slump, of course that is a lot easier said than done :) I don't know what is going to happen, and this Cup looks like it could be more unpredictable than '02. As crazy as it sounds I think Brazil could struggle getting out of their group as well. I think this years winner comes from Europe (not really going out on a limb there) and I think its between Holland and England.

My opinion is that I'm amazed and concerned that we didn't beat their brains in. Any other European team would have tied that game late. The Latvians had a couple of really good chances that they blew, and again, the US was content to knock it around the 18. Eddie Johnson can't finish, and gets caught offsides like a high school sophomore. Beasley looks like he's playing tentatively all the time, and probably shouldn't be in the first 11. He just looks like a shell of his former self. Maybe 4 years of getting crushed on the wing made him let up or lose something, but it's really concerning, because he's our best outside mid if he's on. Donovan desperatly needs to have Reyna in the lineup. He sent a few nice balls through, but made some mistakes and looked indecisive at times. Bad of restarts and set pieces. Our defense is suspect, still. If Latvia had any decent attacking players they'd have won the game. Conrad sucks, Cherundolo played decently but still had lapses of judgement, Mastroeni shouldn't have played if he had the flu, Convey should have scored when he found himself wide open at the penalty spot, but didn't, and McBride is good. Brian Ching continues to suck. If we play in Germany like we played in these 3 games we're going home early. FWIW, my starting 11 is Cherundolo, Gooch, Pope and Lewis in the back 4, Mastro, Reyna, Dempsey and Convey, Donovan withdrawn, and McBride up front. Beasley, Johnson and O'Brien and the primary subs. How he is ahead of Twellman is beyond me. I am really not that high on Twellman to begin with, but just never cared for Ching. Dempsey might be the most underrated American in some time. I think Beasley will get the start. Beasley's defense I think is ahead of Convey and getting at least a point in the 1st match is huge.

Your also talking about replacing Victor Zambrano. This is not exactly a tall order for a team with lot of money to spend. Hell Rusch is a pretty close replacement for him. They survived with him, why give up maybe the best young player in the game to replace him? I guess its nice to dream.

I keep thinking that myself. Problem is that there is no reason to believe that our lineup will ever get better. Lee won't be back until the Break (no pun intended) and who is out there that we can trade for to spark this team? And where will he play? Thats what I was thinking to, unless you want to trade for Soriano now. Pretty much have to look for an internal spark, and only Pie really fills that at this moment.