World Cup Thread.

The Ghana draw still leaves me with hope that Portugal and the U.S can still advance!!!!!!

BritPat said:

I've heard that Ian Darke is very popular your side of the pond, is that true?

Click to expand...

No idea. Never heard of him, sorry.

Missed the Germany game- really wanted to see that one.

Messi is the best soccer player from these days and this is nothing new and he's certainly a hall of famer but he needs at least 1 world cup to get into the goat conversation. Any Argentinian will keep having Maradona as their goat doesn't matter how many champions league he wins.

I missed yesterday's games, France x Switzerland one of the best games so far, but England x Uruguai Thursday was awesome, Luis Soares had knee surgery one month ago and left the hospital in a wheel chair, now that, put his team in the playoffs and kicked some english buts out of the tournament.

Today Ghana was playing really well, what a shame they gave up the tie for Klose who only scores on rebounds, penalty kicks and with his head. He's going to pass Ronaldo, what a shame.

This is golden - - Zusi's mom's reaction in the stadium to her son's corner kick resulting in the game winning goal against Ghana. Wait for it a few seconds in - - she's wearing her son's number, just can't believe it and people start congratulating her.

That's what sports is all about.

I am really trying to watch this game, but they fall down roll around like they have been shot. #7 for USA just got brought off the field in a stretcher just to go back in the game. It would so much better of a game if all the flopping was out of the game.

the smallest mistake can cost a game ...
F'n Bradley loses the ball in midfield by playing with his head down.
Cameron to late to the party and goal.
Cameron cost us 2 goals today ... sit his ass down.

Hopefully we still make the 16.

IcyPatriot said:

the smallest mistake can cost a game ...
F'n Bradley loses the ball in midfield by playing with his head down.
Cameron to late to the party and goal.
Cameron cost us 2 goals today ... sit his ass down.

Hopefully we still make the 16.

Click to expand...

A tie against Germany would do it. I'm not sure what happens with a loss to Germany.

That was a fantastic game. Congrats to the U.S. who played excellently and commiserations for missing the win at the end -- but it was a superb goal, wonderful cross, bullet header.

If the U.S. loses to Germany and the other game is a draw ("tie") they're still in.

If they lose to Germany and the other game is a win for one team or the other it will come down to goal difference, however.

Portugal are at -4 currently. Ghana are at -1. The USA are at +1. What happens if Ghana win by a goal and the U.S. lose by a goal? The second tie-breaker is number of goals scored. At present, Ghana have scored 3 and the U.S. 4. So, if the U.S. lose 2-3 and Ghana win 2-1 the U.S. goes through (I think). The third tie-breaker is head-to-head points -- so, assuming again that Ghana wins against Portugal, it would favour the U.S.

Portugal still in a world of hurt with a - 4 goals. USA isn't going to beat the Germans.....Just hope they keep the score close. A tie would be a miracle of epic proportions.....Too many mistakes by USA today cost them a win.....

USA will make the 16 with every result but for a loss

Even if it loses, it will need to lost a 4 goals difference (Not goals scored) against Portugal. So, if the USA loses 1 - nill and Portugal wins for 3 - nill, Portugal would go through (Goal Diference USA = 0, Portugal = 0, then the next tie breaker would be goals scored.)

Now that's what is really interesting. It would be better technically for both USA and Germany to stay at 2nd place. If they make it in first, they'll be on the same bracket side of teams like Brazil, France, Italy or Uruguay, Holland. If they stay in second place though, the biggest threat would be Argentina

A tie sends both Germany and US through, so I would not be surprised to see a draw in that game.

This is my scenario, basically agreeing with others :

We know a U.S. win or tie puts us in.
We know a Portugal/Ghana tie puts us in.

So assuming we lose and the other game isn't a tie the winner of Portugal/Ghana would tie us :

A Portugal win very likely puts us in as Goal Difference is the first tie breaker and we're +5 against Portugal right now.

A Ghana win is trickier, we're +2. So if they win and gain 3 in GD we're out. If they gain 2 we're in good shape as Goals Scored is the next tie break and we're +1 so Ghana would have to score 2 more than us. If both those tie breaks are equal we win as H-H is next and we beat Ghana.

So the ONLY way we don't advance is if Ghana wins and either gains 3 in GD or (gains 2 in GD and scores 2 more than us in the last game). Or if Portugal and Germany both win by an average of 3 goals.

Bad for us is both U.S. and Portugal are playing on one day's less rest.
Good for us is Germany only needs a tie so they'll likely be playing fairly conservatively.

JayNM said:

Even if it loses, it will need to lost a 4 goals difference (Not goals scored) against Portugal.

Click to expand...

We're +5 against Portugal right now.

I am not a soccer fan, so perhaps there is an obvious answer to this...

You're up by 1. The clock is almost out. So why does virtually the entire team look at the guy with the ball, and no one pays any attention at all to the attacker coming straight up the middle of the offensive zone??

rlcarr said:

I am not a soccer fan, so perhaps there is an obvious answer to this...

You're up by 1. The clock is almost out. So why does virtually the entire team look at the guy with the ball, and no one pays any attention at all to the attacker coming straight up the middle of the offensive zone??

Click to expand...

Because nobody expected Bradley to be playing with his head down ... that's young kid soccer.
In any case flat footedness is the cause for most soccer goals ... Cameron was flat footed for part of a second and he lost a 1/2 step defending as a result. Hard to keep the feet moving for 90+ minutes but it cost us a win today.

PATS68 said:

I am really trying to watch this game, but they fall down roll around like they have been shot. #7 for USA just got brought off the field in a stretcher just to go back in the game. It would so much better of a game if all the flopping was out of the game.

Click to expand...

That's not flopping. He had a cramp.

Much of the time, what looks like nothing is painful. These guys are now running full speed and whacking legs. And I didn't see Besler get brought off the field in a stretcher either. Is there flopping? Of course, just like there's claims of holding in the NFL. Or getting fouled in basketball. In soccer there's more, but don't underestimate the pain of real collisions.

rlcarr said:

I am not a soccer fan, so perhaps there is an obvious answer to this...

You're up by 1. The clock is almost out. So why does virtually the entire team look at the guy with the ball, and no one pays any attention at all to the attacker coming straight up the middle of the offensive zone??

Click to expand...

They knew he was there. You have to get to the ball and clear it. It was a great cross and a lot of times, there's nothing you can do. But Cameron clearly had an angle to the ball if he ran harder--but he didn't. Regardless, in soccer, you maintain your position and look for the ball. It's your area, you're responsible. It's the equivalent of a safety playing zone. The safety is looking at the QB and the ball while feeling out the WR routes.

IcyPatriot said:

the smallest mistake can cost a game ...
F'n Bradley loses the ball in midfield by playing with his head down.
Cameron to late to the party and goal.
Cameron cost us 2 goals today ... sit his ass down.

Hopefully we still make the 16.

Click to expand...

Bradley has had a miserable first two games. The mistake at the end was unthinkable. BLAST the ball into the corner for heaven's sake.

JayNM said:

USA will make the 16 with every result but for a loss

Even if it loses, it will need to lost a 4 goals difference (Not goals scored) against Portugal. So, if the USA loses 1 - nill and Portugal wins for 3 - nill, Portugal would go through (Goal Diference USA = 0, Portugal = 0, then the next tie breaker would be goals scored.)

Now that's what is really interesting. It would be better technically for both USA and Germany to stay at 2nd place. If they make it in first, they'll be on the same bracket side of teams like Brazil, France, Italy or Uruguay, Holland. If they stay in second place though, the biggest threat would be Argentina

Click to expand...

I think you left out the likeliest scenario here. A USA loss and a Ghana win.

Ghana is a much better team than Portugal. They could easily win 2-0 against them. And a USA loss would then send Ghana through.

The only good thing is that Ghana's best player Muntari is not playing the next game because of 2 yellow cards.

upstater1 said:

Bradley has had a miserable first two games. The mistake at the end was unthinkable. BLAST the ball into the corner for heaven's sake.

Click to expand...

The sad thing is the media makes him out to be a stud. So incredibly over hyped.