2010 FIFA World Cup Discussion Thread

We're the best team in our quarter, but getting past the Ghana-reeans is going to be tough because:
A) they're good
B) they match up well against us (beat us 4 years ago)
C) they have the homefield advantage with the Africans all rooting for them as the last of the great black hopes.

And we've already had the damn refs against us denying us 2 HUGE legit goals. Now having it be a road game will be tough.
We need a strong defense and Howard to be sharp. I'm sure we'll get our chances, and need to bury them.
Altidore is due to hit the net and cash in.

Don't count Uruguay out.
They're a damn hard squad to beat. So good defensively, and they have 2 great players upfront in Suarez and Forlán.

I think both will advance, and it'll be a really good match between the 2 in the quarterfinals.

Of course, probabilities are that whoever wins that match will have to face us (Brasil) in the semi, so...

Watch out for MARTA !!!!!

You joke, but Marta would start in a lot of men teams out there.

Hey I love Marta!
Even the the USA women own soccer and beat Brazil, Marta is the best woman on the planet!
That's why I mentioned her, and I bet nobody else here knew who I was referring to.

But she'd not start on any men's team in the World Cup, nor would she even make the team of any World Cup team!
Not a chance.

I've coached women at the high school level, and the athletic & strength & size difference between men & women is astronomical.

Even in tennis, with manly Serena Williams, and the past with Martina (Martin) Navratilova, they'd get creamed by the 500th ranked man.

If the USA advances past Ghana, this should be IN THE PACKER forum stickied.
There are a lot of Packer fans there, I think, that are getting into this, who haven't found this atrium section way down here. JMO.

But the refs will probably bang us and make sure the black lightning Ghana advance so that one African nation is still alive.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbn3rOPmR9w&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - The World's Reaction to Landon Donovan's Game Winning Goal[/ame]

I really think we could use a section called "Other Sports" that would be up near the Packer section on the main page. Sticking World Cup and baseball threads in the Atrium doesn't feel right.

Great idea. I'll pass it on.

And it may be too soon to say, but damn, Altidore is terrible. He's killing your squad. Why isn't Beasley playing? I know he's not the same type of player, but still...

Altidore was so good in qualifying that I think Bradley was hesitant to take him out. He didn't do much this whole cup but we don't have much we could stick up there instead of him. I guess Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle up top might've worked, but they seem to play better in sub roles.

The bigger question is why was Ricardo Clark anywhere near that field? I thought Edu played well last match, but for some reason he didn't get to start. And then Clark proceeded to have the worst 30 minutes I've seen in awhile. And having to burn a sub that early turned out to be huge.

The last 15 or so minutes of that match is why soccer will never catch fire in America. The acting from Ghana wasn't even that good, hell that one guy wasn't even touched when he laid down on the ground in "agony". That's frustrating to watch for soccer fans, but the World Cup fan was probably yelling obscenities at his TV because he has no knowledge of how common that crap is. Something needs to be done about the flopping, because it's gotten ridiculous.

Either way, we let in an early goal. And then a lucky hop on a clearance gives them the winner. I'd like to blame the flopping, I'd like to blame something else, but WE lost. It hurts, but at the same time this little run we went on was an absolute blast. And I don't think I'll ever forget Landon's goal against Algeria. Fun stuff, sad to see us go, but still proud as hell of this team.

DOUBLE BINGO.
The rules of FIFA are pathetic. Flopping and stretchers on plays where a guy just fell down? That's NORMAL in this arcade show.
Ricardo Clark sucks, and wouldn't make any other team roster, and Bradley starts him in this game? Really?
Also, Findley has no clue on how to score. Why would one expect him to learn how in this stage?

Here are the player grades from Carlyle at ESPN:

Player ratings:
(1-10; 10 = best)



United States




Tim Howard, goalkeeper, 5 -- Gave up too much of his near post on Boateng's goal. He was otherwise solid in his handling, parrying away a free-kick from Gyan in the first half. Could do nothing about Gyan's strike in extra time.


Jonathan Bornstein, defense, 6.5 -- Another strong performance. Conceded a bit too much space out wide in the opening minutes, but was solid with his one-on-one defending throughout the match.


Carlos Bocanegra, defense, 6 -- Was the Americans' most consistent defender for much of the night, yet he was victimized by his club teammate Gyan on the game-winner.


Jay DeMerit, defense, 5 -- Miserable first half, much better second. DeMerit failed to close down Boateng on the goal. He also misplayed a ball late in the first half that gave Kwadwo Asamoah a great chance. Was much more composed in the second half.


Steve Cherundolo, defense, 5.5 -- Was given a torrid time by Andre Ayew early but got forward more as the game went on. Overall, Cherundolo had an outstanding tournament.


Clint Dempsey, midfield, 7 -- Worked his socks off to spark the U.S. attack, setting up Findley with a clear chance in the first half. Was a handful when moved up top and won the Americans' penalty.


Ricardo Clark, midfield, 3 -- Started the same as against England, with a terrible early error that led to a goal. In this case he was stripped by Asamoah, which launched Boateng's run on goal. Being substituted after a mere 31 minutes summed up his night.


Michael Bradley, midfield, 6 -- Struggled initially against Boateng, but gradually came back into the game. The best U.S. chances often started with his tackles.


Landon Donovan, midfield, 6 -- Was forced to help defend often in a bid to limit Ayew's influence. Wasn't that effective going forward in the first half, but grew in influence in the second, especially on set pieces. Tucked away a pressure-packed penalty by kissing it off the post.


Jozy Altidore, forward, 5.5 -- His good moments were undone by poor touches and decisions. He was more of a physical presence in the second half, and nearly scored while on his back in the 80th minute.


Robbie Findley, forward, 4 -- Failed to convert on a glorious first-half chance after being set up by Dempsey, and never really tested Ghana with his speed. Subbed at half-time.


Subs:

Maurice Edu, midfield, 6 -- Solidified the midfield defensively, although his distribution was lacking at times. Still, he had more plusses than minuses.


Benny Feilhaber, forward, 6.5 -- Provided instant offense and was denied by a superb save from goalie Richard Kingson early in the second half. He was sharp with his touches as well and set up Dempsey for the penalty kick.


Herculez Gomez, 5 -- Tracked back impressively, but offered only flashes offensively in extra time.

This drew a yellow card:

England are ******* woeful. End of.

Who knows what would have happened at 2-2, if the ******* blind FIFA refs had noticed that England scored.

Anyone else catch this yesterday in the Argentina game?
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0R11D54BMo&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Heinze gets bonked by cameraman[/ame]

Or this:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA803thhgA0]YouTube - Joachim Löw nojento![/ame]

This time the World Cup will go to Brazil.
But, there is Argentina which is also strong team nowadays.
What about others??????

^^^
Did that result in a card? I remember seeing it when I watched that match and thinking how ridiculous it was, but I don't remember if it resulted in a card.

I don't even understand how stuff like that goes unnoticed. That's not even good acting. Things like that, and the guy during the US/Ghana match that literally looked like he just decided to take a nap because nobody was around him when he fell down piss me off. I love watching soccer, I really do, but I think they have to get a bit more serious about doling out cards for faking.

TOTALLY AGREE!
What they need to do is A) utilize film for reviews, as many other sports do post-game, and when they catch a blatant BULLSHIT flop like this, the player gets suspended for the next TWO matches.

I don't expect the one ref to always catch it as it's hard to see everything live with just one set of eyes and 22 players out there. But take advantage of technology and catch these pathetic floppers.

That will stop it.

Also, FIFA should allow retaliation for blatant flops. In the case above, the guy knows he didn't nail the guy who flopped like he was stung by a stingray. So he should be allowed a free punch in the nose, or knee to the testies, no questions asked and no card. Again, that will stop it.

Where's the honor among these men?
Golfers are so much more honest, manly. That's sad.

Well, that stung. Freaking Felipe Melo. Brasil's version of Jarrett Bush.

What an idiot. Cannot believe he did that

Netherlands were my pre-tourney pick to win the Cup.
I look pretty smart now.

But NONE of my other Final 4 Picks are right unless Germany KO's Argentina.

What a KILLER LOSS for the Ghanarians! Ouch.
Last second PK, hit the crossbar?
He should be glad he doesn't live in Colombia in 1994.

RIP Andre Escobar

Yep. First Holland goal he got in the way of the keeper. Second he was the one marking Sjneider. And got kicked out of the game.

He pretty much single-handedly killed us in the game...

Gyan was Ghana's best player throughout the tournament. But what a finish!!!! That was epic.

Now I'm Uruguay all the way! Vamo Cele!!!

what a great win for Germany

Cross Brazil off.
Cross Argentina off.

Germany is the best this year. But will the Dutch shut them down? Spain?