[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by !@#$%!

well they both speak the same language so i do have a real hope for a highly illegal but reasonable agreement from both *cough* parties *cough*.

that was my expectation from day 1, remember? ha ha ha ha.

You did say that, yes, lets ALL hope it comes true..

let's see what cheeto sez about the USA passes now.

FUCKING EXACTLY! I think Portugal also just showed how great Ghana's defensive pressure is.. we played much more fluid, even with typical USA mistakes.. its almost like they fucking DARED us.

[demonrail666]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

FUCKING EXACTLY! I think Portugal also just showed how great Ghana's defensive pressure is.. we played much more fluid, even with typical USA mistakes.. its almost like they fucking DARED us.

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Portugal is Portugal for a reason, USA can be very fucking pleased with our play, we held up for a loooooooooong time in this match, and drawing was as good as winning considering we knew Portugal would play for it all since they were facing elimination.

It was a great game to watch but very messy. Lots of mistakes from both teams. When Portugal went behind it was inevitable they'd start to pile the pressure on but they were relatively sedate until then. That's why it was frustrating to see how cautious Klinsmann was in the first half.

Whatever happens to the US after this, Dempsey's had a fantastic world cup so far. Definitely one of the stand out players of the group stages.

[!@#$%!]

now with a cooler head i will take a moment to protest the horrid american habit of raffling the ball from the goal kick.

most civilized teams have learned to come out playing-- it's what portugal did, probably because they treasured the chance of having the ball.

if we were ahead-- why didn't we protect possession instead of throwing the ball to whoever might catch it? that was terrible i thought. we need to learn to come out playing. it was done early in the game but by the end there was i guess the blind superstition that just because you throw the ball away 50 meters you are safe from danger.

that, not bradley losing the ball or cameron failing to defend, was our big problem near the end.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

You're both right, but actually I'm impressed how how much less to USA use that "CONCACAF lob" and I was also very surprised to see it tonight towards the end, I agree with was reckless.

 

However, the mistakes were typical USA mistakes, and we more or less overcame them. Could we have played better? I think Portugal could have played better, but USA played about as great as you're going to see. Lets be honest, Portugal got very lucky there in injury time, had US pulled off a 2-1 upset we'd be the heroes of this Cup. The ball bounces that way sometimes..

[demonrail666]

Originally Posted by !@#$%!

most civilized teams have learned to come out playing-- it's what portugal did, probably because they treasured the chance of having the ball.

if we were ahead-- why didn't we protect possession instead of throwing the ball to whoever might catch it?

They don't protect it because they know in their own half they're more vulnerable with the ball than without it. That's not to knock the likes of Cameron but if USA started to play like that I'd be worried about the chances of him losing it in dangerous areas. Your strength is your fitness and organisation which I think Klinsmann was right to emphasise over more creative areas which are probably your weakness.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by demonrail666

They don't protect it because they know in their own half they're more vulnerable with the ball than without it. That's not to knock the likes of Cameron but if USA started to play like that I'd be worried about the chances of him losing it in dangerous areas. Your strength is your fitness and organisation which I think Klinsmann was right to emphasise over more creative areas which are probably your weakness.

Agreed, its why I think Klinsmann as been careful to add some new things but also keep a few things exactly the same. This team needs to play to its strengths and do its best to hide its weaknesses..

If folks told me a month ago USA would have 4 points against Ghana and Portugal while possessing the differential lead I would have been ecstatic. This draw only stings because we were up so long and had a win in our pockets. But if there is one thing USA futbol has demonstrated, its that it isn't over until its over, win OR lose..

I was nervous about Ghana and concerned about Portugal and afraid of Germany. However, looking at how we performed against what was clearly a good Ghanian team and how Germany clearly benefited from a slighter weaker than expected Portugal and then faltered a bit against Ghana I'd say I'm no longer even afraid of Germany, just concerned again as I was going into Portugal tonight.

USA can actually win this, surprisingly, though not likely, but in the World Cup to even have the chance is pretty good.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by demonrail666

They don't protect it because they know in their own half they're more vulnerable with the ball than without it. That's not to knock the likes of Cameron but if USA started to play like that I'd be worried about the chances of him losing it in dangerous areas. Your strength is your fitness and organisation which I think Klinsmann was right to emphasise over more creative areas which are probably your weakness.

maybe, but i thought usa passed very well today. cameron's fuckup was a bad clearance mid-air, not passing with ball stopped. at least move a bit up the midfield and raffle in the last third.

i thought the u.s. came out great through the flanks today--johnson and zusi were fantastic, as were damarcus and clint. if anything, the middle with bradley in it was the weak point, and raffling it in the middle is exactly how the last goal happened. tuff titty.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Beasley and Zusi's Pat Riley looking a$$ were lights out. In fact, that entire game changed when Zusi went out towards the end, and Beasely's attack was as fast as its ever been catching Portugal off guard..

[demonrail666]

Just remind everyone in the FF that you can choose your next starting XI for round 3.

Frustrating that we can't see each other's squads:

Here's my final xi for the last round

GK Valladares 4
DF Rojo 13
DF Blind 5
DF Alderweirel 10
DF Evra 5
DF Medjani 5
MF Valbuena 11
MF Di Maria 8
MF De Bruyne 5
FW Neymar 7
FW (C) Benzemar 32

[_slavo_]

Well played USA!

[Cindy'sBigScore]

Originally Posted by _slavo_

Well played USA!

I agree, they did well to end that game in a draw. looks like portugal are in trouble too.

also, i'm betting on belgium winning it. you guys?
~
also, i'm new. hi.

[!@#$%!]

i know we still look good on points, but here it felt like a defeat. "portugal beats usa 2-2".

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my team last round

gk / buffon 7
df / abate 4 chiellini 10 ramos 8
mf / hazard© 16(8), oscar 5, di maria 8, de bruyne 5
fw / fred, higuain, aguero, 4 each

big misses: i meant to put in halliche for abate before the algeria game. halliche scored 11! my top scorer sat on the bench.

[Rob Instigator]

Night and Day from Ghana match. USA played exciting attacking football, controlling the ball well except for the death at the end there, but we owe a TON of this tie to our Keeper. Without Howard the USA would have been beat by two goals.

Let us hope this style of play continues against the mighty Germany.

[demonrail666]

Originally Posted by Cindy'sBigScore

I i'm betting on belgium winning it. you guys?
.

I only saw the first Belgium game but they seem to have the same problem as Argentina. Top class individuals but not really gelling yet as a team. Brazil seem too reliant on Neymar who I just don't think is a good enough player yet to take them all the way. Messi, even at 80%, and with a team that isn't quite clicking, is good enough to do that. But that's maybe my heart talking. My head says it'll probably be Germany.

[!@#$%!]

going bananas trying to watch 2 games at the same time

chile netherlands is definitely the fun one, but i'm curious about spain's changes and what this may bode for their future.

[!@#$%!]

alexis today ON FIRE!!!

--

damn. good goal from netherlands. it was coming. but i'm enjoying watching chile more.

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god damn chicken man! he's so good...

[Cunt]

de vergüenza lo del marqués. una más...

[demonrail666]

Chile Holland was a great game. The score flattered Holland a bit but they probably deserved the win. Robben's on fire right now.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by Cunt

de vergüenza lo del marqués. una más...

¿qué hizo ahora?

Originally Posted by demonrail666

Chile Holland was a great game. The score flattered Holland a bit but they probably deserved the win. Robben's on fire right now.

espn has ruud van nilsterooy on the commentators and he's been spot-on with his observations since i've heard them. few words but good ones. a real pleasure.

to him chile lost by taking a midfielder to put in an attacker. they lost the midfield and enabled netherlands to regroup. he's absolutely right. sampaoli rushed it.

however-- netherlands was ahead on goal difference so maybe he thought it was worth the gamble.

[demonrail666]

He may well be right. It was a fascinating match up. I loved watching Chile in the first half then, in the 2nd half seeing Robben grow into the game and ultimately, I think, being the deciding factor between them.

I didn't see the Spain game at all. It must've felt like a wake.