Taliwakker
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don't get too carried away.....top 20 maybe.Great game..the final....can be pretty cruel.
I also watched the play off for 3rd.....really crap game until SA scored....and the last few minutes of normal time were amazing.
SOCCER NATION!
- Thread starter 7thSaviour
- Start date
don't get too carried away.....top 20 maybe.Great game..the final....can be pretty cruel.
I also watched the play off for 3rd.....really crap game until SA scored....and the last few minutes of normal time were amazing.
GoRillaBoy76
you can call me RRrrr!!
- Aug 22, 2008
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Taliwakker
.....
14 is a bit higher than i'd thought.
They are gonna have to do pretty well in the WC to crack the top 10.
Other than Spain recently....the US haven't beaten any teams ranked higher than them in the past few years (6 games against current top 10 teams for 1 win/5 losses)....the other wins have come against teams in the high 30-low 40 rankings and teams outside the top 50.
The rest of the years fixtures are against lowly teams and Mexico.
Hopefully they are still playing well next year and they can draw Australia in the group stages.
They are gonna have to do pretty well in the WC to crack the top 10.
Other than Spain recently....the US haven't beaten any teams ranked higher than them in the past few years (6 games against current top 10 teams for 1 win/5 losses)....the other wins have come against teams in the high 30-low 40 rankings and teams outside the top 50.
The rest of the years fixtures are against lowly teams and Mexico.
Hopefully they are still playing well next year and they can draw Australia in the group stages.
US ranked 8 or 9 in the time before the last World Cup.
US lost because of bad coaching in the second half. The US went on the defensive, which is a typical football strategy. But lets face it. The US cannot defend 30% of the field and hope to win against Brazil. The US won the first half in goals, but not possession, but their attacks were strong. Their attacks kept Brazil from attacking as strong. Of course the early second half goal really hurt, but after that the US just sat back. A few good attacks, but they needed to be pressing harder and farther up. Brazil just had too many corner kicks and cross passes into the box in the second half. You can't give them that many, because their skill level is too high.
US lost because of bad coaching in the second half. The US went on the defensive, which is a typical football strategy. But lets face it. The US cannot defend 30% of the field and hope to win against Brazil. The US won the first half in goals, but not possession, but their attacks were strong. Their attacks kept Brazil from attacking as strong. Of course the early second half goal really hurt, but after that the US just sat back. A few good attacks, but they needed to be pressing harder and farther up. Brazil just had too many corner kicks and cross passes into the box in the second half. You can't give them that many, because their skill level is too high.
AngraRULES
Member
What a game...
I have to say the USA played a great first half, defending as if their lives depended on it. The two goals scored in the first half got Brazil a bit nervous and made them lose focus.
Second half was nearly perfect. The early goal really changed the game. After that goal, the USA definitely felt the pressure of playing against one of the best teams in the world. And in the end, they couldn't stand it. They crumbled. I thought Brazil's second half was excellent. The USA, however, seemed like dear in headlights. They literally froze.
Great step for the USA, though. They're playing better than ever, I dare say. However, Donovan really dropped the ball in the end, making the typical comment you could expect from a USA soccer player. "We don't want respect, we want results." Fuck you, the only reason why you get NO results is because you are not respected by other teams, which just makes them trample you. First you learn how to play, then you earn respect, and the results will appear.
As far as Brazil, I think they are one of the clear favorites to win next year's world cup.
Best players on the field yesterday were Luis Fabiano and Tim Howard. What a goalie.
I have to say the USA played a great first half, defending as if their lives depended on it. The two goals scored in the first half got Brazil a bit nervous and made them lose focus.
Second half was nearly perfect. The early goal really changed the game. After that goal, the USA definitely felt the pressure of playing against one of the best teams in the world. And in the end, they couldn't stand it. They crumbled. I thought Brazil's second half was excellent. The USA, however, seemed like dear in headlights. They literally froze.
Great step for the USA, though. They're playing better than ever, I dare say. However, Donovan really dropped the ball in the end, making the typical comment you could expect from a USA soccer player. "We don't want respect, we want results." Fuck you, the only reason why you get NO results is because you are not respected by other teams, which just makes them trample you. First you learn how to play, then you earn respect, and the results will appear.
As far as Brazil, I think they are one of the clear favorites to win next year's world cup.
Best players on the field yesterday were Luis Fabiano and Tim Howard. What a goalie.
Spector dominated on defense though. I'm glad he got time starting at the end of West Ham's season (after his concussion recovery), because he really came up huge. He consistently stopped Kaka 1v1, and Fabiano (Fabiano's goal was partly due to Dempsey not putting his body on Fabiano's).
One fault of the US's offense, was they had no guys on the wing pushing up. I saw all too often when whoever had the ball would pass it to the wing and nobody was there. Altidore usually pushed up center or left wing, but nobody on the right wing. I don't know why. Spector did it I think against Egypt. But maybe he was being held back? They probably wanted Spector to hang back, but Spector is really talented in pushing the wings, and crossing the ball.
One fault of the US's offense, was they had no guys on the wing pushing up. I saw all too often when whoever had the ball would pass it to the wing and nobody was there. Altidore usually pushed up center or left wing, but nobody on the right wing. I don't know why. Spector did it I think against Egypt. But maybe he was being held back? They probably wanted Spector to hang back, but Spector is really talented in pushing the wings, and crossing the ball.
AngraRULES
Member
Agreed. He really stopped Kaka, who only played well halfway through the second half. If it wasn't for him marking Kaka and Fabiano so well, the story would probably have been much different.
Force10
Member
Give Lando a break here. Our players have been getting the "does this match give the USA respect" question ever since we beat Columbia in the '94 World Cup. I've been watching US soccer for 20 years, and I'm personally sick of it too. Every past result (YES we've had results) seems to get forgotten. Some quick examples:
- Making the Copa America semi finals in '95
- Beating Portugal in '02 WC and going to the quarters and losing a close game to the eventual champs
- Heck, I'll even mention that we were the only team that got a result in the WC against the '06 champs
I'm glad Lando responded the way he did - it shows me that they were there to try to win. Yes, the USA has lots of room for improvement, but give us a break with this respect bullshit. Anyway, I would hope the former #1 team Spain respects us now, or else we may have to trample them again
Force10
Member
I wouldn't call Costa Rica lowly.
And I'd just love to see how a top 10 European team would do in a meaningful game in, say, Honduras, just for comparison's sake.
No-Mercy
Feanor
damn that was a great game (us/brazil). i wish the us had pulled it out, but it still is very promising...with the win against spain and that type of performance against brazil. im happy overall...but a win wouldve been nice.
Taliwakker
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ranked 41 in the world...not exactly a football superpower
me too...but its not likely to happen unless they share a WC with El Salvador and Guatamala in 2022.
I'm sure you could count the times they've played Euro teams on both hands.
Same here!
I am feeling much better about the USA's chances of WC qualifying now, as well as a possible Elite 8 berth in the WC Finals!I'll go way out on a limb and predict a 2-1 USA victory over Mexico in their upcoming game at Azteca Stadium.
AngraRULES
Member
You wouldn't call Costa Rica lowly? Wow, that's gotta be one of the most ludicrous soccer statements I've ever read.
Here's what you're missing... A top 10 European (or South American, afterall there's Brazil and Argentina in the top, and by the way, Brazil might be climbing back to #1 spot this month) would never play a real MEANINGFUL game against Honduras, unless a miracle happened and put them on the World Cup. Of course, you're used to the USA national team, then maybe Costa Rica may not be that lowly. If that's the case, the USA doesn't deserve to be ranked #14. I am curious as to what your rationale is, cause it isn't making much sense (especially the first part).
AngraRULES
Member
Ehhh...the champions of 2002 were Brazil, and I don't remember our team playing against the USA. We played Turkey, China, Costa Rica, Belgium, England, Turkey again and Germany, and won all of them. No USA there.
And seriously, a tie with Italy in the group stages is considered an expressive result? Come on now dude, seriously...
Force10
Member
Okay, since you guys have torn me to shreds, I'll try to clarify some things.
I didn't say they were a superpower! But they don't suck. For what's it's worth, they just moved up to #30.
My bad - I should have said runner's up - Germany.
Okay, maybe not an "expressive result". Yes, the USA did not play well, obivously, and did not make it past the group stage. It was a difficult group, but no excuse. But I can at least say we were the only team that got a win or a tie vs Italy (as small a statement as that is). That was all I was try to say to backup my "respect" point.
You've got to be at least halfway decent to be at the top of the CONCACAF hex standings. You'll probably reply that everyone in CONCACAF, is lowly - and I'm good with that. Their #30 ranking is actually higher than Mexico at #33.
Yes, Brazil is now #1.
Like I said earlier, I was just making the point that Costa Rica is not a bad team (to me lowly=bad).
Yes, of course I know that a Euro team won't play a meaningful game in Honduras, I was just wondering how it would play out. It would be interesting to see, say England, playing in heat and humidity on a poor surface after locals kept you awake half the night. But, correct, it won't happen.
Honduras has a chance to make the WC. They should at least get 4th in the CONCACAF hex which gets them a home and home against CONMEBOL #5 (currently Ecuador).
I didn't say they were a superpower! But they don't suck. For what's it's worth, they just moved up to #30.
My bad - I should have said runner's up - Germany.
Okay, maybe not an "expressive result". Yes, the USA did not play well, obivously, and did not make it past the group stage. It was a difficult group, but no excuse. But I can at least say we were the only team that got a win or a tie vs Italy (as small a statement as that is). That was all I was try to say to backup my "respect" point.
You've got to be at least halfway decent to be at the top of the CONCACAF hex standings. You'll probably reply that everyone in CONCACAF, is lowly - and I'm good with that. Their #30 ranking is actually higher than Mexico at #33.
Yes, Brazil is now #1.
Like I said earlier, I was just making the point that Costa Rica is not a bad team (to me lowly=bad).
Yes, of course I know that a Euro team won't play a meaningful game in Honduras, I was just wondering how it would play out. It would be interesting to see, say England, playing in heat and humidity on a poor surface after locals kept you awake half the night. But, correct, it won't happen.
Honduras has a chance to make the WC. They should at least get 4th in the CONCACAF hex which gets them a home and home against CONMEBOL #5 (currently Ecuador).
Taliwakker
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Those new rankings are interesting...Australia just shot to #16
....ahead of the likes of Portugal.England drop a spot....despite winning all of their WC qualifiers in their group so far.
Taliwakker
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GoRillaBoy76
you can call me RRrrr!!
- Aug 22, 2008
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#11!!!!!!!!!! Go US
if the Confederations Cup did anything for the US, I think it brought some new fans on board for the team, showed the American people that this is a sport we can compete in.
I also have SO MUCH respect for Tim Howard now (even though he kept ManU out of the FACup final). Spector did a great job marking Kaka and taking one of their best players out of the game (at least for most of it), but if Howard had not been on his game it every well could have been 4-2/3-2 at halftime.
So lets keep going team USA, I am looking foward to a win in Mexico City.
if the Confederations Cup did anything for the US, I think it brought some new fans on board for the team, showed the American people that this is a sport we can compete in.
I also have SO MUCH respect for Tim Howard now (even though he kept ManU out of the FACup final). Spector did a great job marking Kaka and taking one of their best players out of the game (at least for most of it), but if Howard had not been on his game it every well could have been 4-2/3-2 at halftime.
So lets keep going team USA, I am looking foward to a win in Mexico City.
GoRillaBoy76
you can call me RRrrr!!
- Aug 22, 2008
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well in epl news it looks like Tevez will be signing with Man City. Which really sucks for me cause you want your favorite player to be on favorite team not playing for their cross town rivals, but now i have a reason to watch all the ManCity matches as well as the ManU ones, the more the better.
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