World Cup Thread

[Safetydan]

THAT IS EXACTLY what I was thinking. EXACTLY!

Whenever we had the ball, it looked like a slow mess of players all in the same place. Even when we tried to run something, it looked like our players didn't know what play to run, players were in the same spot and not evenly spaced, and were far slower than those on the other side.

Meanwhile, England looked far more skilled, athletic, and when they ran plays, it looked like they knew what the hell they were doing.

I, like Honz, kept thinking to myself, "we is the other team constantly on our side of the field? Why is our goalie doing most of the playing while their goalie could be asleep and no one would know the difference? How are we supposed to win if we're constantly on defense?"

Anyone with more knowledge and experience with this sport explain this to me. Are our coaches really that inept? Do they not understand that having a lot more shots taken on your goalie a bad thing?

Are we really just that unskilled?

Or are we just not very athletic?

Is this how Canada or some of those Olympics teams feel like in Basketball?

However, the skill gap between us and most olympic teams isn't that big. In fact, many foreign teams have far better skilled players than we do. Yet, we have the better athletes (Wade, Melo, Kobe, Lebron, Dwight, etc)... But today, it looked like we were much slower, less skilled, and horribly (conservative) coached. Seriously, like every time we tried to run a play our spacing was bad, and this coming from someone who never watches this sport.

I for one am mad that I wasted over an hour of my life watching something worthless. I know a tie is better than a loss in the standings, but I personally can't stand games where there aren't any winners.

Sorry for the rant... But seriously, why can't we compete and win? I understand that soccer isn't our #1 sport, but still. One muffed goalie block and we would have been blanked today. Without really any good shots at the goal. Not nearly as many as England got. It seemed like every 2 mins they were on the run getting good shots.

Anyway, I'm out and done for a while. I let those of you who know more about this subject to educate me. Please do, because I'm clearly frustrated at our seemingly pathetic excuse of an offense. Much like watching the Browns or Ravens play. *barf* Or Jamarcus Russel play QB....

I don't know what bob bradley's tactics have been in the past, but I can tell that a defend and counter strategy is what the US was employing, and it does occasionally create good chances. but it's not pretty, that's for sure.

as far as the spacing was concerned, I have no idea what was up with that... it seemed like michael bradley was always like standing next to somebody, he wouldn't give anybody any room, he made some good forward balls though.

 

[Bronco70]

As we are still a second tier team in the international field, it seems that we definitely take a heavily defensive posture against top-flight squads like England. They are confident enough to push offensively, and rely on their back line to quell any counters that may occur because of it. We want to try to prevent quick counters, so we don't push as much of the team up. Conceding an early goal made us even more cautious.

I would bet it looks quite different for the Slovenia and Algeria games.

 

[Former Member]

Well I am pretty satisfied with the way that Germany played against Australia. We did miss too many chances and I DO NOT like how Germany is playing a zone of off corner kicks though. And I feel bad for that Australian... I don't think that tackle was worth a red card.

 

[honz]

As a nation that generally doesn't care about soccer, why are we so exicted about the World Cup? I'm baffled.

Why do we get so excited about the Olympics? It's not for the intense Curling action, that's for sure. It's called national pride, bro. What are you anti-American?

 

[calijazz]

As we are still a second tier team in the international field, it seems that we definitely take a heavily defensive posture against top-flight squads like England. They are confident enough to push offensively, and rely on their back line to quell any counters that may occur because of it. We want to try to prevent quick counters, so we don't push as much of the team up. Conceding an early goal made us even more cautious.

I would bet it looks quite different for the Slovenia and Algeria games.

Agree with this 100%. They played a similar style that upset Spain last year. The U.S. doesn't have the weapons to go toe-to-toe offensively with a skilled team like England, so they have to be more conservative and try to take advantage on counter attacks. But just look at the friendlies leading up to the WC and they played much differently. They definitely opened it up more. In fact, their defense looked more vulnerable because of it. Offensively they looked quite good against the Turks, Czechs, and Aussies to my recollection. I would expect to see more open play in these next two games for sure.

 

[gregbroncs]

THAT IS EXACTLY what I was thinking. EXACTLY!

Whenever we had the ball, it looked like a slow mess of players all in the same place. Even when we tried to run something, it looked like our players didn't know what play to run, players were in the same spot and not evenly spaced, and were far slower than those on the other side.

Meanwhile, England looked far more skilled, athletic, and when they ran plays, it looked like they knew what the hell they were doing.

I, like Honz, kept thinking to myself, "we is the other team constantly on our side of the field? Why is our goalie doing most of the playing while their goalie could be asleep and no one would know the difference? How are we supposed to win if we're constantly on defense?"

Anyone with more knowledge and experience with this sport explain this to me. Are our coaches really that inept? Do they not understand that having a lot more shots taken on your goalie a bad thing?

Are we really just that unskilled?

Or are we just not very athletic?

Is this how Canada or some of those Olympics teams feel like in Basketball?

However, the skill gap between us and most olympic teams isn't that big. In fact, many foreign teams have far better skilled players than we do. Yet, we have the better athletes (Wade, Melo, Kobe, Lebron, Dwight, etc)... But today, it looked like we were much slower, less skilled, and horribly (conservative) coached. Seriously, like every time we tried to run a play our spacing was bad, and this coming from someone who never watches this sport.

I for one am mad that I wasted over an hour of my life watching something worthless. I know a tie is better than a loss in the standings, but I personally can't stand games where there aren't any winners.

Sorry for the rant... But seriously, why can't we compete and win? I understand that soccer isn't our #1 sport, but still. One muffed goalie block and we would have been blanked today. Without really any good shots at the goal. Not nearly as many as England got. It seemed like every 2 mins they were on the run getting good shots.

Anyway, I'm out and done for a while. I let those of you who know more about this subject to educate me. Please do, because I'm clearly frustrated at our seemingly pathetic excuse of an offense. Much like watching the Browns or Ravens play. *barf* Or Jamarcus Russel play QB....

It's easy really. The best athletes in the US play Football or basketball. The best athletes in the rest of the world grow up playing soccer. So the Us is less talented and less athletic than most of the world in soccer because our most talented athletes play a different sport. kids from different areas flock to the sport that their countries care about more and frankly soccer is very low on the US's list of preferred sports.

 

[Safetydan]

It's easy really. The best athletes in the US play Football or basketball. The best athletes in the rest of the world grow up playing soccer. So the Us is less talented and less athletic than most of the world in soccer because our most talented athletes play a different sport. kids from different areas flock to the sport that their countries care about more and frankly soccer is very low on the US's list of preferred sports.

This!

Just imagine if some (not all) of our top athletes had decided to play soccer at a young age rather than football basketball or baseball. I'm not sure just how good we would be, but it would be interesting for sure

 

[Mambo]

Pulling for Germany, USA,

 

[Loki]

This!

Just imagine if some (not all) of our top athletes had decided to play soccer at a young age rather than football basketball or baseball. I'm not sure just how good we would be, but it would be interesting for sure

In 20 years the US is going to be a massive soccer powerhouse because MLS is big and getting bigger and not going away. Kids are going to grow up going to soccer games just like they go to baseball and football games and some of those top young athletes are going to start taking soccer seriously and look out!

About the vuvuzelas that is a South Africa thing or more correctly an Africa thing and it doesn't happen a lot in other countries.

I am so stoked about the US draw that is huge huge huge and we actually stand a chance to win the bracket which could be massive given how the groups are paired up for the round of 16. We would stand a much better chance of making it to the 8 or even the semis if we won the bracket. If we take 2nd in the bracket we're on the same side as Germany and in fact would play Germany in our round of 16 match and that would be the end of the US run in World Cup 2010.

 

[Stifle Tower]

What's the World Cup?

Loki, you could have said the same thing 30 years ago when Pele came over to the U.S. and played in the NASL for the New York Cosmos. Wow! Soccer really took off in the U.S. after that. Ummm...

The ONLY thing that will make soccer HUGE in the United States is if Obama and the U.S. government (just like Bush before him) continue with the border "non-enforcement" policy. More illegals? More soccer fans. Here in LA, the stands for Galaxy matches are filled with predominantly Mexican nationals. And when they had a US-Mexico game? You didn't dare go and cheer for the U.S. team. I dare say there are more fans with Chivas' banners & flags in CA than there are with Galaxy merchandise.

The World Cup will provide a temporary boost to soccer popularity, just as it did when the U.S. hosted the tournament in 1994. Then it will go back to being a sport primarily played by children. Not that there's anything wrong with that...my daughter played soccer last Fall and I hope she does so again this year. It's great exercise (but boring as he##).

 

[Bronco70]

The World Cup will provide a temporary boost to soccer popularity, just as it did when the U.S. hosted the tournament in 1994. Then it will go back to being a sport primarily played by children. Not that there's anything wrong with that...my daughter played soccer last Fall and I hope she does so again this year. It's great exercise (but boring as he##).

It's quite alright that you don't fancy soccer. But your perception of soccer's popularity is skewed. While most soccer players in the US are in fact children, the same could actually be said of baseball, basketball, and football. There is an expansive adult recreational soccer system across the country, overseen by the US Soccer Association. In fact, I would be willing to bet that organized, non-professional soccer has more adult participants than organized, non-professional basketball, baseball, or football (possibly all combined.) Soccer's popularity continues to grow. I hasn't exploded, for sure. It is a gradual process. But comparing MLS to the old NASL doesn't do much to bolster your point. NASL was never a viable league. MLS is. Soccer fans realize that it is nowhere near the level of the NFL, NBA, MBL, or even NHL. As far as fan support and marketing are concerned, these leagues are miles ahead of MLS.

It's interesting to me that to many, it is not enough to merely dislike soccer. They need to hate it and wish it dead. Hmm.

 

[Stifle Tower]

It's interesting to me that to many, it is not enough to merely dislike soccer. They need to hate it and wish it dead. Hmm.

Never said I wished it dead. I just don't see it ever gaining much traction. Certainly there are some soccer aficionados who have been in the US for several generations. But by and large, soccer fans in the US are people who have immigrated from Mexico or Latin America, or from Europe.

The low-scoring is what turns many people off. Most have no interest in watching 90 minutes of play end in a 0-0 tie, 1-0, etc. I don't disagree that it takes a lot of skill to play at the highest level. To each his own, because you could make the same kind of argument (and many do) about baseball.

 

[UB]

What's the World Cup?

Loki, you could have said the same thing 30 years ago when Pele came over to the U.S. and played in the NASL for the New York Cosmos. Wow! Soccer really took off in the U.S. after that. Ummm...

The ONLY thing that will make soccer HUGE in the United States is if Obama and the U.S. government (just like Bush before him) continue with the border "non-enforcement" policy. More illegals? More soccer fans. Here in LA, the stands for Galaxy matches are filled with predominantly Mexican nationals. And when they had a US-Mexico game? You didn't dare go and cheer for the U.S. team. I dare say there are more fans with Chivas' banners & flags in CA than there are with Galaxy merchandise.

The World Cup will provide a temporary boost to soccer popularity, just as it did when the U.S. hosted the tournament in 1994. Then it will go back to being a sport primarily played by children. Not that there's anything wrong with that...my daughter played soccer last Fall and I hope she does so again this year. It's great exercise (but boring as he##).

You're perveting the line between "troll" and "racist douchebag."

 

[prodigy]

 

[Loki]

Loki, you could have said the same thing 30 years ago when Pele came over to the U.S. and played in the NASL for the New York Cosmos. Wow! Soccer really took off in the U.S. after that. Ummm...

NASL played 16 seasons and folded. MLS is in its 14th season and continues to grow rapidly with no signs of stopping.
NASL had one premium player in Pele. MLS has had many premium players and will add a few more next season.
NASL never had soccer specific stadiums and with that the backing of communities and local governments. MLS does.
NASL was pre-US Hosted World Cup in 1994. MLS is after and will be around when the US hosts the 2018/2022 World Cup.
The United States Soccer Team did not qualify for 9 World Cups in a row (1954 - 1986) and did not quality once while the NASL was in existence. The success of the US Soccer Team over the last 20 years and qualifying for the last 6 World Cups has increased awareness and interest in the sport on an increasing basis.
The US had a great run in the Confederations Cup last year where it beat Spain in a match that meant something and very nearly beat Brazil.
However it happened the US tied England Saturday and is heavily favored to win against Slovenia and Algeria and move on to the round of 16.
The NASL suffered from a general lack of knowledge about the game in the US population. MLS does not have that problem as youth soccer programs (ironically one of the great byproducts of the NASL) have been popular since the 70's-80's and are now more popular than ever.

I guess what I'm saying is that soccer has been developing strongly on all fronts for the last 20 years. So no I really couldn't have said the same thing 30 years ago because all this foundation work wasn't in place. Sorry but you are trying to compare apples to oranges.

 

[prodigal punk]

Tim Howard has been cleared to play on Friday. You're going down random Baltic State/ Former Soviet Caucasus

 

[Archie Moses]

So far, the coolest things about the World Cup.

1. Games that end in draws.
2. Games end in draws are considered victories.
3. Goalies blaming easy blocks on new balls.
4. Goalies blaming not enough fans and cheers for reason team ties.
5. The horns. Beep yeah, man. They're not annoying at all.
6. Grown men chasing a ball on the most perfect mowed lawn ever.
7. Crazy amount of yellow cards and a red card. Print those bad boys.
8. Players acting like they're hurt every five minutes. It's a real contact sport, the injuries prove it.

 

[calijazz]

So far, the coolest things about the World Cup.

1. Games that end in draws.
2. Games end in draws are considered victories.
3. Goalies blaming easy blocks on new balls.
4. Goalies blaming not enough fans and cheers for reason team ties.
5. The horns. Beep yeah, man. They're not annoying at all.
6. Grown men chasing a ball on the most perfect mowed lawn ever.
7. Crazy amount of yellow cards and a red card. Print those bad boys.
8. Players acting like they're hurt every five minutes. It's a real contact sport, the injuries prove it.

You're right, Archie. Soccer sucks. I can't believe I didn't realize it until now. Thanks for showing me the light...

But seriously, move on. It's insulting that you think you can convince soccer fans that their sport sucks.

On a side note, for someone that despises soccer so much, you sure are following the WC awfully close...

 

[Archie Moses]

You're right, Archie. Soccer sucks. I can't believe I didn't realize it until now.

But seriously, move on. It's insulting that you think you can convince soccer fans that their sport sucks. For someone that despises soccer so much, you sure are following the WC awfully close...

When did I say soccer sucks? I'm following it, cause I like soccer. But I still can make fun of it tongue in cheek. Go Chile and USA!

 

[calijazz]

When did I say soccer sucks? I'm following it, cause I like soccer. But I still can make fun of it tongue in cheek. Go Chile and USA!

Right...tongue in cheek. Good one Archie.