World Cup

[CrazyCajun]

No, I get it. I played quite a bit of soccer myself before I got to the point of concentrating on my sport of choice in HS. And I'm making those analogies because I do believe that the better team did not get it done. Ghana has beaten the US repeatedly in World Cup soccer (I may be mistaken, but I think I'm correct), so they would be the veteran in the boxing analogy. And the story would be written differently.

All of you who think the American team is in the class of the other 3 in our group need to look up our own coach's comments prior to the start of the tourney. He knows we don't have the talent/ability to beat these teams. And he said so. Our guys fought their butts off and won yesterday in a game they probably had no business winning. But they did, so kudos. I loved it!! The better team missed its opportunities, and our team did not. So we won. That's the bottom line.

My point is the US played the only way they had a shot to win, swing early then sit back and try not to get knocked out, let the younger athletic team tire themselves, don't try to keep pace with them because you can't. Because of that strategy we were able to land the late winning punch. If we would have tried to play their game...we would have got destroyed. That's the reason the majority of the game was played on our side of the field. It was the plan.

[CajunRebel]

World class? He shuffled the ball to the left for an open shot.

lol, just stop.

[Frenchie35]

Isn't wild that soccer is a HUGE youth sport in America but dies out in high school. IMHO these are the reasons the sport isn't big in America. No particular order.

1. Dramatic fake injuries to draw fouls
2. Stoppage time (I can't tell when the game is going to end)
3. Tied games
4. Not enough scoring
5. Too many other sports to follow in the U.S.

I don't know much about Soccer.....but take away the offside crap and this game would open up to many goals. Just like throwing the hail Mary pass in the NFL......If I can beat your _____ deep I will score......You better cover me.

[JamesTheJeweler]

My point is the US played the only way they had a shot to win, swing early then sit back and try not to get knocked out, let the younger athletic team tire themselves, don't try to keep pace with them because you can't. Because of that strategy we were able to land the late winning punch. If we would have tried to play their game...we would have got destroyed. That's the reason the majority of the game was played on our side of the field. It was the plan.

i may be talking out my ___ here, because im not a soccer guy. But it seems most teams wouldve used a similar strategy against Ghana because of their style of play...because they are the fastest team in the Cup. Just saying that they played that way more out of strategy rather than because they were "outclassed". Maybe....i dont know.

[CrazyCajun]

i may be talking out my ___ here, because im not a soccer guy. But it seems most teams wouldve used a similar strategy against Ghana because of their style of play...because they are the fastest team in the Cup. Just saying that they played that way more out of strategy rather than because they were "outclassed". Maybe....i dont know.

Exactly what I'm saying, if you attack them and leave your back line vulnerable, you better win because if not they will. Similar to basketball a half court team not trying to run with a run and gun.

[jllanclos]

For us, a victory over Germany means not losing by more than 3 goals.

The last time we played Germany we won, chief. It's just that real American soccer fans think the game is only played 3 weeks out of every 4 years.

[cajunhawk]

lol, just stop.

I gave an example of World Class...it was a good move...but world class...that's homer talk.

[cajunhawk]

The last time we played Germany we won, chief. It's just that real American soccer fans think the game is only played 3 weeks out of every 4 years.

This isn't the same Germany.

[jllanclos]

Germany will go through us like a hot knife through butter. They have one of the better rosters filled to the brim with International experience at the highest level. Let's be honest...the US team has one of the weakest skill sets in the tournament. It's painfully obvious to anyone who has been watching soccer for an extended period of time. We don't have the caliber of athlete that Germany and Portugal possess...and the athletes we do have do not possess adequate International experience or even Club level experience.

The US defense was getting spread out and exposed last night...if it wasn't for Tim Howard and Jon Brooks head...we would be at 1 point and staring at a daunting task...or worse. Also...we will need a better game from Michael Bradley. He routinely missed pass after pass. Losing Jozy Altidore hurts badly...especially without Landon Donovan.

Thankfully...we lucked out against Ghana...Portugal seems to be in France 2010 mode...and Germany might play their 8th string against us when they have the group locked up.

"If it wasn't for the parts that were good, we'd really suck."

Uhhhhhh....

If it wasn't for Ronaldo, Portugal would really suck, too. Hell, they suck with him. Let's rehash this conversation on Sunday evening, m'kay? When "one of the worst skill sets in the tournament" has already advanced. Iran? Cameroon?

You're right, though. We have one of the worst 32 skill sets in the whole tournament.

[cajunhawk]

"If it wasn't for the parts that were good, we'd really suck."

Uhhhhhh....

If it wasn't for Ronaldo, Portugal would really suck, too. Hell, they suck with him. Let's rehash this conversation on Sunday evening, m'kay? When "one of the worst skill sets in the tournament" has already advanced. Iran? Cameroon?

You're right, though. We have one of the worst 32 skill sets in the whole tournament.

Playing blind man is fun...apparently.

[sportsfanatic21]

Exactly what I'm saying, if you attack them and leave your back line vulnerable, you better win because if not they will. Similar to basketball a half court team not trying to run with a run and gun.

The strategy was sound. My issue was that we continually lost control of the ball when we did have possession. I don't think we should have sent everyone on an offensive blitzkrieg, but when we did have control of the ball, we were sloppy with it. And because of that, we were in a vulnerable defensive position for way too much of the game.

It's ok though. It worked. We won. But we will have to be much better to not get blown out the rest of the way. IMO.

[CrazyCajun]

The strategy was sound. My issue was that we continually lost control of the ball when we did have possession. I don't think we should have sent everyone on an offensive blitzkrieg, but when we did have control of the ball, we were sloppy with it. And because of that, we were in a vulnerable defensive position for way too much of the game.

It's ok though. It worked. We won. But we will have to be much better to not get blown out the rest of the way. IMO.

I agree with that