2014 World Cup

I've advocated for years for line changes or unlimited substitutions to open things up. Can't fathom why there is a limit of 3 subs, but I guess it's to make the coaches use them wisely.

 

Unlimited subs would be awful.

 

Well, they'd have to control it somehow, but I guess fitness is such a big part of the game that it would change things drastically. I wasn't really serious or thinking that might happen. Just think some fresh legs available would open thing up a bit more.

 

American television has dumb-downed the broadcasts for 20 years. No need to continue to cater to the people meeting the sport halfway.

 

I'm worried Portugal is going to crush the USMNT's dreams on Sunday. I'm feeling a 3-0 loss. But that might be the beers.

 

I'm very familiar with MLS -- Timber Joey and all.



And watching Dempsey dominate for Seattle has been impressive.

 

I ask this as someone who doesn't follow soccer seriously… Does anyone who actually follows soccer seriously think that man-for-man the US is better than Portugal, even with Portugal's top defender out and their top player at less than 100 percent?

Seems to me Portugal is probably good enough to win even at less than full strength. But, again, I don't know shit about soccer.

 

Because I can get my nerd on at times ...

There are 3 games left in Group G, which means 27 different possible outcomes (W-L-T for each, so 3 cubed). If the U.S. gets to 5 points, they're through to the knockout stage no matter what. That means either a win or two draws would do the trick. If they only get one draw and a loss, it likely would come down to goal differential and we'll have to see how that shakes out.

Despite the draw with Ghana, Germany is in excellent shape on 4 points and with a +4 GD. One more point secures advancement and they may not even need that as long as the U.S. beats Portugal. Remember, however, Portugal has 2 games in hand, so Portugal could heat up and steal a knockout spot with wins in both.

Ghana is in a bad spot. They're not totally screwed, but the best they can do is root for Portugal today, beat Portugal by a huge margin, and root for Germany on Thursday.

The picture at the end of the U.S.-Portugal game will be much clearer, but it's complicated now.

 

I wouldn't say that Ghana's in *that* bad a shape.

They also advance if the US draws Portugal and loses to Germany, and they beat Portugal and the GD tiebreakers work out in their favor, which they should unless some weird scorelines come up.

 

All things being equal, no. But European teams typically underperform at World Cups outside of Europe and this year is no different. A point from this is doable. Three is a bit of a leap.
Honestly things would be looking far better if Germany had won. Had that happened, the US could 'park the bus' against Portugal and play for one point, then go into Thursday looking to get what they can from the German JV squad. Germany's tie means the big guns will be on the field Thursday.

 

And Portugal tends to underachieve at World Cups, period.

 

Portugal is definitely looking vulnerable. They aren't at their high point. It's just neither is the US. I'm really not sure what to expect from this game.