World Cup Thread.

[AzorianPats]

2012. And before that, 2008. I remember people, including me, going absolutely crazy for that Michael Phelps photo finish in 2008, but it certainly didn't ignite a nation's passion for speed swimming.

Phelps records was a huge achievement. But I know for a fact people weren't crowding up bars, and watching the swim meet across parks all over the country.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

So you're a soccer fan and you get annoyed when people who generally don't follow soccer are now, for the first time in their lives, getting into the sport.

That's a very curious attitude considering most American soccer fans want to grow the sport in this country.

Not a soccer fan.Too slow for me and FIFA is a cesspool of corruption. But FIFA on PS4? That i can do.

 

[BlueThunder]

Only soccer I watched prior was the women's Olympic matches. They didn't fall down alot and they had some really good matches. Mia Hamm was one of the best, and she married Nomar.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Which is a big deal, obviously they won't agree to play to a tie but Germany won't be going all out for a goal knowing that could open them up to allowing one.

The teams should both tank and play to a 0-0 tie. Both teams advance.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

How do you say nudge-nudge-wink-wink in German? I expect 90 minutes of both teams playing 9 men on defense, 1 man on attack.

That's what I'm saying. Fortunately klinsmann knows German lol

 

[AzorianPats]

Here's a nice little article on the Day of Portugal parade that happened yesterday right before the game. Shows how conflicted most of us Portuguese/Americans were yesterday. ..

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...ugal-parade/zAgzlWTawJxO8pDgrMhULP/story.html

The parade actually starts in the neighborhood I grew up in Somerville.

 

[BelichickFan]

 

[BelichickFan]

The chart above is a little nicer than the one from last night. Hard to believe there's 4 scenarios where a coin flip (Draw Lots) decides it.

 

[JackBauer]

Bradley was God awful against Ghana and he followed up today with another horrific performance. Yes he linked up with Dempsey in the first half a few times, but he was worthless most of the time. He doesn't play defense, his effort is the worse in the whole team lollygagging out there, he missed an open net, he passed to Portugal more than he did his teammates, and had numerous turnovers that led to scoring chances for Portugal.

If Klinsman has any balls like when he kept Donovan off the team, he'd sit Bradley against Germany.

I don't know if you can sit him, but I agree with you that Bradley has been the biggest disappointment on team USA thus far, by far.

 

[Ivan]

I agree, I really like Bradley as a player but he has played poorly in this tournament. Dempsey, however, has now taken over the mantle of the greatest player in American history IMO. People can point to Donovan's goals all they want but when it comes to big goals in big games there is no better player.

 

[JackBauer]

I agree, I really like Bradley as a player but he has played poorly in this tournament. Dempsey, however, has now taken over the mantle of the greatest player in American history IMO. People can point to Donovan's goals all they want but when it comes to big goals in big games there is no better player.

Speaking of goals, Jermaine Jones' goal yesterday was a beaut. He's been one of USA's better players in the tournament so far.

 

[BritPat]

Nice to see a lot of interest in the beautiful game from your shores.

I somehow nodded off during the Algeria v SK beat-down (certainly not because the game was boring!) and missed the US game. A friend tells me though that the US was on top for most of it and deserved to win - it's a shame you didn't.

I'll be wishing you luck against the Germans, but if they play to anywhere near their full potential, you might end up on the wrong side of a pasting. You've got to hope that Portugal actually turn up for the first time this tournament. They've been awful so far. Ronaldo especially.

 

[Ivan]

Speaking of goals, Jermaine Jones' goal yesterday was a beaut. He's been one of USA's better players in the tournament so far.

I agree, Jones has had an excellent tournament and that was a beautiful goal. It is a shame Altidore went down because this really looks like the best US side I have seen. They did a great job of maintaining possession against Portugal yesterday and they have always struggled in that aspect against the good European teams, even when they have pulled off wins. They are also tougher mentally and physically and if they keep Klinsmann I think they could actually turn into a world class team over the next decade.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Here's a nice little article on the Day of Portugal parade that happened yesterday right before the game. Shows how conflicted most of us Portuguese/Americans were yesterday. ..

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...ugal-parade/zAgzlWTawJxO8pDgrMhULP/story.html

The parade actually starts in the neighborhood I grew up in Somerville.

I don't understand how an american citizen would root for Portugal over the US.

The chart above is a little nicer than the one from last night. Hard to believe there's 4 scenarios where a coin flip (Draw Lots) decides it.

I don't know if people realize the very good odds that the US advances to the next round...

 

[Ivan]

Not a soccer fan.Too slow for me and FIFA is a cesspool of corruption. But FIFA on PS4? That i can do.

I agree on FIFA, they should be disbanded and replaced,however football is a much much slower game than soccer. Soccer is a flow sport with continuous action whereas football is four seconds of action followed by a minute or so of stoppage before the next four to six seconds if play. If you condensed football to pure action a 3 1/2 hour game would last 45 minuteg

 

[Ivan]

I don't understand how an american citizen would root for Portugal over the US.


I don't know if people realize the very good odds that the US advances to the next round...

My concern is Ghana pasting Portugal while the US loses to Germany. It should be a situation where the US moves on because of the head to head win over Ghana, but I am pretty sure it is pure goal differential, and that could kill the US IN THE END.

 

[BelichickFan]

My concern is Ghana pasting Portugal while the US loses to Germany. It should be a situation where the US moves on because of the head to head win over Ghana, but I am pretty sure it is pure goal differential, and that could kill the US IN THE END.

Yeah, Goal Difference is the first tie breaker, Goals Scored is the second and H-H is the third.

Sucks that Portugal and U.S. coming off a day's less rest than opponents - although Ghana's best player is out (2 yellow cards).

 

[AzorianPats]

I don't understand how an american citizen would root for Portugal over the US.


I don't know if people realize the very good odds that the US advances to the next round...

Majority of us grew up watching Portuguese soccer. Soccer runs deep in Portuguese culture and is passed down generations. Not that hard to understand.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Majority of us grew up watching Portuguese soccer. Soccer runs deep in Portuguese culture and is passed down generations. Not that hard to understand.

I'm understand why you like Portugal, but Portugal over your home country?

 

[AzorianPats]

I'm understand why you like Portugal, but Portugal over your home country? That is something I don't get. My parents don't come from the US either, but I would never cheer for my parents' home nation over the US in any competition.

Trust me. If Portugal beat Germany in the first match, I would have been ecstatic about last night's result. Even today I'm still torn about it. On one side, Portugal pretty much guaranteed to be knocked out, which sucks, on the other hand if the US advances, it's a huge deal and the game grows more here. Which is awesome. Soccer a beautiful game (besides the diving) and it's about time we embrace it.

For me, theirs only 2 things I get up for (sports wise) Patriots football and Portuguese soccer. Always has always will. I've been following Portuguese soccer since I was 7. Years before MLS existed. It's in the blood.