2014 World Cup

That is very true.

 

In the first match, his first touches and passes were horrible. I mean 12U level.

Tonight, he was better. But with 94:21 on the clock, he had the ball at his feet and nobody within 20 yards of him. He lost possession smack in the middle of the field, rather than just booting it as far as he could. Sixteen seconds or so later, the ball was zipping past Howard.

Edit: Looked at the replay, the cross was taken eight seconds after Bradley had the ball in all that space. Eight.

 

On the scale of what I expect from Michael Bradley, he's not delivered. His distribution both today and against Ghana was not good (it's a big part of the reason the U.S. spent so much time in their own end), and he had the ball stripped way too many times in bad spots. He was better today than against Ghana, but not by that much.

The U.S. is fine - they're in as good a position as they probably could have dreamed at this point. But Bradley, imo of course, has not played well as an individual at all. They just don't really have a better option to replace him.

 

Gut punch of a game. Damn.

Bradley was not good. Cameron was off-the-scale bad.

On the positive side, Jones' goal was a thing of beauty.

 

That giveaway from Michael Bradley was unacceptable from a player of his experience and stature.

On the other hand ... remember when a few people thought the hiring of Jurgen Klinsmann was a mistake? Or that that USA would go goalless and pointless in this group?

I normally don't buy into the "gentlemen's agreement" but with Klinsmann's status as a German legend, I wouldn't be surprised to see a tie between the USA and Germany. Because I think Ghana bitch-slaps Portugal.

 

I wouldn't bet on Germany letting up for any reason.

 

So if Ghana and Germany both win 1-0, USA's win over Ghana finally comes into play, correct?

 

Portugal needing to make up all those goals makes me think they'll lay down for Ghana.

 

Ghana needs to make up three goals. If they make up two goals, U.S. advances.

 

Don't lose badly. Park the bus.