2014 FIFA World Cup Thread

[RJH999]

Yes. That's how I see it. http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2061793-brazil-world-cup-2014-clarifying-group-tie-break-scenarios-and-rules But if us loses 1-0 and Ghana wins 3-2 or 2-0, we are toast I think. Double check my math tho!! But geez.....What a f$&@-ing World Cup. ABSOLUTELY incredible so far. Drama building and there's hopefully more good stuff like we've seen so far.

I think we should be fine. BUT, If Ghana wins I will personally give each and ever one of the Ghana players a broken leg.

[RandallT]

I think we should be fine.

Yep... Plus, if we have same record as Ghana, same differential, same goals for... Then we go to head to head matchup. We beat Ghana head to head so we'd win that tie breaker then too. Like u said let's just play like we can against Germany. Like klinsmann says, we just do it the hard way.

[nevets88]

I'm still a newbie-ish soccer fan but will the inside info Klinsmann have on the German squad be some kind of intangible asset to us? His right hand man is German and some of our players were courted by the Bundesliga. It's kind of like a mini revolutionary war with a spotted ball.

[RJH999]

Yep... Plus, if we have same record as Ghana, same differential, same goals for... Then we go to head to head matchup. We beat Ghana head to head so we'd win that tie breaker then too. Like u said let's just play like we can against Germany. Like klinsmann says, we just do it the hard way.

I think the Germany game will be a big test to see exactly how good they are. They played great, but can they compete against a team like Germany? Also, looking ahead I think we can definitely beat Belgium, they have been thoroughly uninspiring. I am still hoping we get to play Algeria lol. Looking even further ahead to the quarterfinals, we would play Argentina, Ecuador, or Switzerland if we advance(This assuming we finish second and beat Belgium) I think we can beat all three of those teams. Obviously this is looking Wayyyyyy to far ahead lol, but it's fun finding a way to put the USA in the semis lol.

[RandallT]

I love how game 3 of group play is simultaneous to prevent teams from doing this same analysis to pre- determine their outcomes. 12pm Thursday will be exciting for all 4 teams in our group. Germany has edge, and Portugal is least likely to move on, but we definitely have edge on Ghana. Man you're bold looking at bracket already, @RJH999 :)

[Golfingdad]

Bradley should not be on the field the next game.  He has played poorly. He kicked a ball directly into a fullback missing a sure goal. He was jogging on the last play.  As a former coach for 12 years, I would bench him.  He gives away the ball. He makes too many mistakes.  This last one, jogging, would be the final straw.

I think that would be a bit over-reactionary.  (Recognize, however, that I am not a soccer expert, so take this with a grain of salt)

A bit unfair to give a guy crap for getting one on net from a cross and have it deflect off the defender who was lucky to be there.  If he knocks it wide or over the net or something, by all means, criticize, but this was just an unlucky bounce, IMO.

Regarding the giveaway at the end, it only stands out over several other giveaways by a lot of players on both teams because it happened to lead to a goal.

I missed the Ghana game, but the announcers did say he played poorly throughout that one, but in this one, overall, I thought he was pretty good.

[RJH999]

I think that would be a bit over-reactionary.  (Recognize, however, that I am not a soccer expert, so take this with a grain of salt) A bit unfair to give a guy crap for getting one on net from a cross and have it deflect off the defender who was lucky to be there.  If he knocks it wide or over the net or something, by all means, criticize, but this was just an unlucky bounce, IMO. Regarding the giveaway at the end, it only stands out over several other giveaways by a lot of players on both teams because it happened to lead to a goal. I missed the Ghana game, but the announcers did say he played poorly throughout that one, but in this one, overall, I thought he was pretty good.

Agreed. Michael Bradley is one of the best players on the team, if not THE best. This is not baseball, you can just bench Bryce Harper or whoever for a game because there are 162 games in baseball. There are 3 in this WC group stage, he makes too much a difference [quote name="RandallT" url="/t/73308/2014-fifa-world-cup-thread/450#post_1009459"]I love how game 3 of group play is simultaneous to prevent teams from doing this same analysis to pre- determine their outcomes. 12pm Thursday will be exciting for all 4 teams in our group. Germany has edge, and Portugal is least likely to move on, but we definitely have edge on Ghana. Man you're bold looking at bracket already, @RJH999 :)[/quote] Anything I can do to put the US in the semis in my fantasy land ;)

[jamo]

I think that would be a bit over-reactionary.  (Recognize, however, that I am not a soccer expert, so take this with a grain of salt) A bit unfair to give a guy crap for getting one on net from a cross and have it deflect off the defender who was lucky to be there.  If he knocks it wide or over the net or something, by all means, criticize, but this was just an unlucky bounce, IMO. Regarding the giveaway at the end, it only stands out over several other giveaways by a lot of players on both teams because it happened to lead to a goal. I missed the Ghana game, but the announcers did say he played poorly throughout that one, but in this one, overall, I thought he was pretty good.

I have to side with @Golfingdad . He wasn't great in this game, but he was fine. His mistakes weren't huge, they just amplified by the situation.

[late347]

Well, at the end of the day it was also bad luck that bradley didn't score in that situation.

Bradley looked really aimless throughout the whole game, I think there should have been better plays being built up by the US team, throughout the whole game.

If bradley is the best player in US team, good luck guys... Because bradley was a non-entity throughout the game (except his one scoring opportunity close to the goal)

US goalie played a good game though... He save US team's butt in the one-handed save earlier in the game. Obviously the final goal of Portugal was basically chanceless for goalie to save.

Nani's early goal, US goalie made questionable decision to predict the low shoot ball, even when Nana still had the ball and was waiting for goalie's reaction essentially.

It is still debateble whether goalie could have succeeded in that situation, but he should not have fallen on his backside trying to do that save.

If you do things properly, with class, at least you know you have given it your all...

About the ending situation. I still don't like the way that bradley lost the ball in the final minutes

and he was JOGGING not RUNNING. He didn't give 100% effort, it was more like 95% effort.

and that 5% chance just happened in the last minute equalizer goal.

[Golfingdad]

About the ending situation. I still don't like the way that bradley lost the ball in the final minutes

and he was JOGGING not RUNNING. He didn't give 100% effort, it was more like 95% effort.

and that 5% chance just happened in the last minute equalizer goal.

Again, I disagree, and think this is just a reaction to the result.  And, regarding the jogging thing .. meh, whatever.  Once he lost it, there was nothing he could do anyway.

It was a sloppy giveaway, sure, but nothing more.

And (again, as a soccer non-expert) I thought he played a lot better than "complete non-entity" for most of the game.

[Chilli Dipper]

The USA got a point, and they kept their advantage against Ghana on goals scored. Disregarding the circumstances of the final goal, this is a result most American fans would have taken if you told them before the match. We have a lot of outs now, and I like our chances. The best-case scenario is for the USA to get the first goal as they did against Ghana. Even though Germany would finish first in the group with a draw, they'd probably prefer to win on points than on goal difference; if faced with an early deficit, I think their mindset would change to "equalize and go back to base camp." Even if Germany pulls ahead, a 2-1 defeat would essentially force Ghana to score three goals in their match.

[late347]

Again, I disagree, and think this is just a reaction to the result.  And, regarding the jogging thing .. meh, whatever.  Once he lost it, there was nothing he could do anyway.

It was a sloppy giveaway, sure, but nothing more.

And (again, as a soccer non-expert) I thought he played a lot better than "complete non-entity" for most of the game.

Well...

The good thing about the game...

- USA makes two elite class goals (Jermaine with powerful curvekick and Dempsey with his abs!)

elite class goal = something that Messi or some other good player would make, and we would all think it to be masterpiece of skill.

On the bad side though...

- Bradley could clearly not rise to THIS level of excellence in his own position in midfield, this much is clear. Clearly Bradley was not the USA MvP of the game.

- USA looked leaderless and lacking focus about what to do in the second period, especially the latter parts.

- It's like, you gotta play for the time guys ... We saw Klinsmann gesturing to defend properly. It was only 5 minutes away, the win...

- playing for time, is kind of a bitch- move. But you gotta ask yourself, do you want to secure the win, or do you just want to entertain the crowd or whatever?

- then US is going for some kind of counterattack in Portugal's end, it just feels too risky of a move... (especially given the weather conditions and team USA leg fitness levels at the end)

[Golfingdad]

Well...

The good thing about the game...

- USA makes two elite class goals (Jermaine with powerful curvekick and Dempsey with his abs!)

elite class goal = something that Messi or some other good player would make, and we would all think it to be masterpiece of skill.

On the bad side though...

- Bradley could clearly not rise to THIS level of excellence in his own position in midfield, this much is clear. Clearly Bradley was not the USA MvP of the game.

Don't disagree with any of that. Although, I'd like to still pretend that Dempsey scored that goal with his ***k.  My son is 5 and obsessed with potty words, nudity, and the like, so I was very excited to tell him right afterward ... "He scored it with his wiener!!!"

---

So, if my math is correct, here's what I see:

• The only guarantee in our group is that both Ghana and Portugal cannot advance together .  Otherwise, everybody is alive.
• Really crazy shit would have to happen for Germany to be knocked out.  US and Ghana would have to win by a combined 5 goals.  Or US and Portugal would have to win by a combined 9 (!!!!!) goals.
• For US to be knocked out by Portugal, then they'd have to lose while Portugal beats Ghana by a combined 5 goals.

So, basically, we take care of business and win or draw and we're in.  We lose, then we hope that Portugal and Ghana draw, or that Portugal wins a close one.  And barring a victory over Germany, we will likely be getting Belgium in the round of 16.

[JetFan1983]

I'm still a newbie-ish soccer fan but will the inside info Klinsmann have on the German squad be some kind of intangible asset to us? His right hand man is German and some of our players were courted by the Bundesliga. It's kind of like a mini revolutionary war with a spotted ball.

Debatable for sure, but I think so. Klinsmann in general I think is an advantage. The world knows they have to take us seriously at this point.

---

Re: the Bradley blunder at the end, I just rewatched it on my DVR, and in retrospect it didn't look as bad as a lot of us are making it out to be, or how I first remember it when it happened. I get the frustration, no question, but 19 times out of 20 that doesn't lead to a goal. It wasn't like the Steven Gerrard slip or anything.

If anyone deserves to be chewed out right now it's Geoff Cameron for that horrendous clearance in the fifth minute.

Bradley did have a bad game, I will say that. Overall his play was pretty pedestrian. It's too bad we don't have a world class talent to play his role, but oh well. I trust Klinsmann to put in the right personnel, so it'll be interesting to see what kinds of changes he makes for the Germany fixture.

Right now though, I'm over it (finally). Four points, possible goal difference edge if needed, fate's in our hands. Just gotta take care of business.

PS- And to put a really positive spin on this whole thing, maybe it's better we didn't qualify after two games because now we're forced to play for all three... sort of like how a bye week in football can often screw up team chemistry or something. I realize we'd still be playing Germany in game 3 for top of the group, but still. Just trying to be positive here.

[late347]

well ya...

nobody said it was gonna be easy playing at Fifa world cup...

at some point or later, the tough matches will come in front of you...

[late347]

Debatable for sure, but I think so. Klinsmann in general I think is an advantage. The world knows they have to take us seriously at this point.

Re: the Bradley blunder at the end, I just rewatched it on my DVR, and in retrospect it didn't look as bad as a lot of us are making it out to be, or how I first remember it when it happened. I get the frustration, no question, but 19 times out of 20 that doesn't lead to a goal. It wasn't like the Steven Gerrard slip or anything.

If anyone deserves to be chewed out right now it's Geoff Cameron for that horrendous clearance in the fifth minute.

Bradley did have a bad game, I will say that. Overall his play was pretty pedestrian. It's too bad we don't have a world class talent to play his role, but oh well. I trust Klinsmann to put in the right personnel, so it'll be interesting to see what kinds of changes he makes for the Germany fixture.

Right now though, I'm over it (finally). Four points, possible goal difference edge if needed, fate's in our hands. Just gotta take care of business.

PS- And to put a really positive spin on this whole thing, maybe it's better we didn't qualify after two games because now we're forced to play for all three... sort of like how a bye week in football can often screw up team chemistry or something. I realize we'd still be playing Germany in game 3 for top of the group, but still. Just trying to be positive here.

I think he was doing it wrong also.

I mean he could have slidetackled the ball away from the goal zone?

he tried to reach for it with his foot and leg extended when standing... it  just didn't work. It lead directly to the goal which was bad, but do you guys have any suggestions what he should have done instead correctly?

[boogielicious]

Agreed. Michael Bradley is one of the best players on the team, if not THE best. This is not baseball, you can just bench Bryce Harper or whoever for a game because there are 162 games in baseball. There are 3 in this WC group stage, he makes too much a difference

Anything I can do to put the US in the semis in my fantasy land ;)

Disagree.  His play in the first game was similar.  Lots of running around, but many unforced errors.  He is overplaying his position.  I have had players like this, very fast and talented but trying to do too much and costing the team.  Sometimes it is better to sit them then sub them in the second half.  I saw him pass into a Portugal player at least 5 times in the second half.  That is the sign to me that he is not mentally prepared.  The jogging on the last play was inexcusable.  If he pursued the ball, he could have disrupted the flow of the scoring play.

[nevets88]

So Ger-US, Por-Gha are being played at the same time I think. How do you watch both at the same time? I guess the US game will be on ABC and the Por-Gha game will be streaming on WatchESPN?

Seeing lots of little winks at a US-Ger "deal" to tie on the interwebs.