Running, all-purpose World Cup thread

It's FIFA.

They're like the NCAA, but on a worldwide scale.

 

Pope: First yellow was nonsense

Mastro: I've seen those tackles given reds and yellows. He did go in studs up, but it was a slide tackle and a genuine attempt to play the ball, not going over the ball and straight for the shins. Harsh, considering the way the Cup has been officiated so far.

De Rossi: Cheap shot on a guy with a history of head injuries.

As bad as the center was, though, the linesmen were equally horrific. I'm sure some Italian fans felt like they were getting South Korea'd all over again.

 

McHead was in there to win defensive headers and hold up the ball -- two things center forwards should be good at, and both areas where EJ needs improvement.

I'm not about to fault Bruce for taking a point playing 9 v 10. It would've been great to see someone pop a run behind the Italy defense and convert a one-on-one, but let's not forget how close the US came to not getting any points at all.

Take the result, regroup, finish the job against Ghana.

 

What's not to like? The US showed heart, guts and a fighting spirit against one of the top teams in the world and a potential World Cup winner ... a complete 180 from the Czech czollapse.

Anything to keep the footie illuminati from reminding us that, "It's football, not sawker!!!loolooloolool." :

 

If there's one good thing about that, it means that the Zico Japan era has just one match left.

Good fucking riddance, you putz.

 

The diesel engine is still warming up, I think. Brazil looked a far sight better than they did against Croatia. Once knockout play starts, they should be in more of a groove.

2mcm -- Japan did play Brazil to a draw in the Confederations Cup with many of the same players, and they have a habit of getting up for matches such as these (see: wins over Czechs, Greece; draws at Germany, England, Brazil, etc.). It's unlikely, but it could happen.

 

Thierry Henry : international soccer :: Alex Rodriguez : postseason baseball?

 

Great quote from McBride:

"I'm fortunate in the fact that I don't have a lot of feeling in my face. My nerves are all dead from the surgeries. You get hit, and you get back up."

;D

 

Giorgio Chinaglia is an embarassment by himself. This is the same guy who took every opportunity to bash MLS while he was part of the now-defunct ChampionsWorld Tour, which conned American soccer fans to pay $50 per person to watch Euroscrubs.

I hope he was just brought on to be the token Italian voice. Let him go back to pining for the bad old days of the NASL.

 

US-Ghana will be a test of depth. Boca/Conrad/Beerholder and Olsen/JOhmyhamstring! vs. Ghana's back-up attackers. First goal wins the game -- I'm calling it now.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Italy come out guns blazing, if only to get the press off their (apparently easily bruised) asses for a while. My biggest fear is if Italy lets the Czechs play like we did, instead of putting pressure on them like Ghana.

 

You cannot deny that Onyewu was posterized on two of the three Czech goals. After that game, he was indeed having a horrible tournament, as it took him most of the first half to get settled. His early fouls set the tone for the US being back on its heels.

He was excellent against Italy, without a doubt. Doesn't make anyone a "donkey," it merely means that he acclimated better by the second game. Just took time. I certainly think the US can do well wuith a pairing of he and Jimmy Conrad in the back.

But the biggest thing I take from the Italy game is keller. he had never really stepped up in the World Cup, never gotten a positive result in the World Cup. And during the national anthem before Italy, he looked like he was just hoping to not have a chance to screw up. But after he made that great save on Del piero's point-blank shot, he totally changed.

A minute later, he picked up a cross and there was a closeup of him. Finally, he had that look, that "Okay, here I am, I kick ass, no problem" attitude that he has everywhere except the world cup. That arrogance, that "who in the hell do you think you are, shooting on me?" thing.

I had no doubt he would fly in to save del Piero's rocket shot later, and I have no doubt he will shut out Ghana. With a performance similar to the Angolan guy against Mexico, if need be.

The US will beat Ghana. They managed to pick themselves up off the mat, and will not blow it. If the tiebreakers don't fall their way, then oh well. And dammit if McBride had only had the presence of mind to clear out when he saw beasley making that run that led to the disallowed goal  .. .  ..  . . . .

 

Does anyone else remember the legends from 2002 that said the Portuguese players were asking the South Koreans for a tie game in the final group stage game? A tie would have eliminated us on goal differential, you see (so no, head-to-head is never a factor).

Giod bless south korea for winning that game.