USA! USA! USA!

Title says it all really...
Sailorman
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Re: USA! USA! USA!

Post by Sailorman »

"Its not if you win or lose, only if you win." (no matter how ugly and that you beat some little third world country.)
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Re: USA! USA! USA!

Post by Soi Dog »

Sailorman wrote:"Its not if you win or lose, only if you win." (no matter how ugly and that you beat some little third world country.)
Nonsense. That's the great thing about soccer, in particular. Being "some little third world country" does not preclude you from winning the World Cup. In fact, humble beginnings can be an advantage, as athletes from poor places have fewer other sports options to lift themselves out of poverty. The premium athletes in the US are not thinking "I am going straight to professional soccer to earn the big money". The best athletes in Ghana and Nigeria and Ecuador do think that.
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StroppyChops
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Re: USA! USA! USA!

Post by StroppyChops »

We have already forgotten the Jamaican bobsled team?
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Re: USA! USA! USA!

Post by OrangeDragon »

Soi Dog wrote:The two goals were great. World class. But it's the other 89 minutes I'm worried about. They looked like defeated team even while they were winning. Hardly any shots on goal in the second half. Doesn't bode well. If they can put in a good, solid showing against powerhouse Germany, they will have earned my respect, regardless of the final score.
Considering Germany wasn't able to beat Ghana (2-2 draw for those who missed it) I'm optimistic. If we can make a good show against Portugal tomorrow with a win we'll be setting pretty to only need a draw with Germany.

With 2 injured in the 1st half (that face kick was brutal) and a secured lead I think it made sense for them to play a bit reserved for the rest of that game. Ghana's shots on the goal were all from damn near mid field, with the US playing defensive pretty well and not letting them get much closer. While Ghana was working their ass off just to tie it up, all the US had to do was keep them back and let Howard block the long wild shots that came in... and it worked.
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Re: USA! USA! USA!

Post by OrangeDragon »

Ok.. that game was fucking garbage. What ever possessed them to get greedy and send the whole fucking team downfield with 1 minute left on the clock (and counting down) I'll never know. The last goal, well played by Portugal. As were both of ours, that first goal was just executed amazingly and a fucking beautiful kick by Jones.

Now praying for a draw (or better) with Germany, or a Portugal win... either means we head on to the 16. Hell, even a Ghana win by only a point means we move on... so a draw wasn't bad... but a win would have taken a lot of pressure off and given some breathing room.

Big thanks to Charlie Harper's bar for opening up early and making me breakfast while I went on my emotional rollercoaster...
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Re: USA! USA! USA!

Post by Soi Dog »

Thank goodness Team USA have a world class goal keeper. Shame they let that one slip away with on 20 seconds left in stoppage time. :(
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Re: USA! USA! USA!

Post by OrangeDragon »

Soi Dog wrote:Thank goodness Team USA have a world class goal keeper. Shame they let that one slip away with on 20 seconds left in stoppage time. :(
Seriously it was a really good play by Portugal... we should have just never let them have that chance in the first place by playing more conservative in the last minute.
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Re: USA! USA! USA!

Post by Soi Dog »

The World Cup has been a massive media event in the US this year. Ten times more interest this year than when we hosted the event in 1994. It bodes well for the future of US soccer. We may not be in the top tier, but we can play at the international level...and success often breeds success. If only more people would go see live pro soccer games, the sport might start stealing premier athletes away from the other high profile sports. Millions of American kids now play the sport, but they don't follow it at the pro level yet. And college level soccer is not of interest to anyone at this point. A good showing in the World Cup might slowly improve the US fan base.
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Re: USA! USA! USA!

Post by OrangeDragon »

Soi Dog wrote:The World Cup has been a massive media event in the US this year. Ten times more interest this year than when we hosted the event in 1994. It bodes well for the future of US soccer. We may not be in the top tier, but we can play at the international level...and success often breeds success. If only more people would go see live pro soccer games, the sport might start stealing premier athletes away from the other high profile sports. Millions of American kids now play the sport, but they don't follow it at the pro level yet. And college level soccer is not of interest to anyone at this point. A good showing in the World Cup might slowly improve the US fan base.
I think it will, have you noticed how many US fans are in the audience there? Pretty good crowd.
I suspect we'll start seeing more people with their eyes on the sport in the next 4 years, and by the end of it have a pretty solid national team. The big season it competes with is hockey though, and that's a hard one to compete with in North America.
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vladimir
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Re: USA! USA! USA!

Post by vladimir »

America played bloody well, all credit to them!

Love it when the underdog messes up the bookies'day!
Jesus loves you...Mexico is great, right? ;)
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