WE'RE TALKIN' FUTBOL: USA v. England (World Cup Day Two LIVEGAMEOPENTHREAD)
by RossWB on Jun 12, 2010 6:30 AM CDT
in Iowa Hawkeyes Game Threads
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Revolutionary War II: The Cosplay Edition
Finally. Six months after the "randomized" FIFA draw spat out one of the most tantalizing match-ups possible for the plucky U.S. national team, that match is finally here: USA v. England. Sixty years ago, the Americans pulled off one of the all-time great upsets in World Cup history against the English. A win today wouldn't be quite as shocking, given the improvement in the U.S. team over the years, but it would still be a major upset. England has the edge in history (they invented the game, after all), the pedigree (the English are basically better at every position aside from goalkeeper), and the coaching (Fabio Capello's been a massive winner at virtually every level of his career).
So why does the United States maybe kinda sorta have a chance? They thrive as underdogs (see: last year's stunning run to the Confederations Cup final), they have attacking players in very good form (Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey), and they have the better keeper (England would kill for Tim Howard). And if you're looking for goals, there's reason to think this match could deliver. England will likely be playing a back line that's never started a game together before, and the U.S. is dealing with fitness issues for its best defender (Oguchi Onyewu) and suspect form from other defenders (hint: if Jonathan Spector sees the field, be very afraid).
There's also a tasty appetizer in the morning, with Argentina taking on Nigeria. Come to delight in the magic of Lionel Messi, Argentina's brilliant forward, and stay to soak in the madness of his manager, Diego Maradona. As always, the standard rules of game threads apply: no porn, no piracy, be civil. There are legitimate online streams at ESPN3.com. All other discussion of streams is forbidden. So yeah: bring it on.
- Greece vs. South Korea -- 6:30am CST/ESPN
- Argentina vs. Nigeria -- 9:00am CST/ESPN
- England vs. United States -- 1:30pm CST/ABC
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Don't get stabbed in a pub
If anybody causes trouble just summon the patriotic powers of one Ricky Stanzi.
by Hank Thrasher on Jun 12, 2010 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Going to a giant meeting of American ex-pats, should be ok. I was just in a pub watching the Argentina match and some kid walked in with a US flag tied around his neck, I overheard one of the Brits near me saying he was going somewhere else to watch the match because he didn’t want to be there when the kid got fucked up.
I check cheddar like a food inspector
by SpanishJohnny on Jun 12, 2010 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions
2-0 final
Greece looked awful, a couple of decent opportunities which usually resulted in the ball flying into the 20th row and some major defensive screwups that led to breakaways or near-breakaways.
Will I get stabbed....
on my way to Tesco to get beer…here in Liverpool…with my USA jersey on? We shall see…
"Conan, what is best in life?" "Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of the women"
by Natty Bumppo's Murderous Gaze on Jun 12, 2010 8:22 AM CDT reply actions
Super Eagles is such a fantastic nickname.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
All the African teams have awesome nicknames
Seems to be a mandate of CAF. You have the Indomitable Lions, the Elephants, the Super Eagles, the Black Stars, the Desert Foxes, “Bafana Bafana” … and that doesn’t even count teams that didn’t make the WC (the Pharaohs, for instance).
Yeah, they really went to town on the nickname front.
Which makes America’s nickname (the Yanks?) even more pitiful.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
I don't think the USMNT has an official nickname.
Everyone just calls us the Yanks.
by The Mexican't on Jun 12, 2010 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Which is lame.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
I agree.
That said, I can’t think of anything, either.
by The Mexican't on Jun 12, 2010 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions
It's not like most of Europe or S America are much better
Spain (La Furia Roja, or “The Red Fury”) and the Netherlands (“Clockwork Oranje”) are pretty good, but most of the rest are just colors. For that matter, Germany’s nickname (Die Mannschaft) only sounds awesome because it’s in German; all it means is “The Team”.
If by "awesome"
you mean homoerotic, I agree.
by Hank Thrasher on Jun 12, 2010 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions
For that matter, Germany’s nickname (Die Mannschaft) only sounds awesome because it’s in German; all it means is "The Team".
Indeed. But German makes everything sound more imposing.
England has a pretty good one – The Three Lions. Denmark’s nickname (Olsen’s Eleven) is charming.
Japan has a good one — Blue Samurai.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
If I had to Guess
England, Scotland, Wales
Except
England, Scotland, and Wales all have their own international teams.
The name comes from the team’s emblem.
I should guess less...
Also, Wales has a team?
That’s like letting Idaho field their own team.
Hey now, Wales finished fourth in their qualifying group of six ...
… which included Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein.
Well, they are a country on their own
Why wouldn’t they have a team?
Even Andorra and Malta have teams.
England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all compete separately as countries as the UK is really a confederation of states (Scotland even has their own banking system).
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jun 12, 2010 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions
Because the FA based their badge on King Richard I's coat of arms.
Which featured three lions.
by The Mexican't on Jun 12, 2010 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions
German does make just about everything sound imposing, I think Schweinsteiger is probably my favorite name in soccer just because it’s fun to say.
by Hank Thrasher on Jun 12, 2010 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions
It's even more fun to scream in a (bad) German accent.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Korea looked great up front this morning,
but shaky at the back. Luckily, Greece just looked flat and it didn’t matter. A win from Nigeria would be make Group B incredibly exciting.
I believe that's the scouting report for Korea: good up front, lousy at the back.
Fortunately for them Greece isn’t exactly a scoring dynamo.
Their game with Argentina could be crazy high-scoring, though.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Not who I would have pegged to score first there from Argentina.
But that set piece defense was diabolical.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Good luck lads!
And if your lloking for more inspiration, just watch The Patriot. That’ll get the blood flowing
Not feeling real good about that one so far, I have to say.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
No kidding
Nigeria seems to be getting a lot of chances that they’re just failing to connect on. That last cross falls a yard or two shorter and they’ve got a great chance.
I can't decide if I should start Howard or Casillas in goal.
Our back line scares the shit out of me, and I know nothing about Honduras’s ability to finish.
by The Mexican't on Jun 12, 2010 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions
I think I'd go Casillas.
I have way more faith in Spain’s ability to keep a clean sheet than America’s.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Depends how the scoring works
I have no idea, but if you get points per save, Howard might be a better choice (even though he’ll give up more) because he’s sure to be busier.
That's a good point.
Scoring is as follows:
Goalkeeper
Clean Sheet 4
Goal conceded -1
Goal scored 10
Penalty save 3
Every 3 shots saved by a goalkeeper 1
Based on that, I think Casillas has to be the choice. A clean sheet is equal to 12 more saves than goals conceded. If Howard has to save 13 shots and only concedes one goal, that would be a masterful performance.
by The Mexican't on Jun 12, 2010 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions
I chose the chile keeper
They have a decent defence so I just chose the cheapest keeper. Gives me a chance to get the best outfielders.
I would go with Casillas, he is phenomenal
Danny Shittu's name still makes me laugh.
Because I have the emotional maturity of a 12-year old.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Sounds like me yesterday
When I discovered that one of the stadiums is in Phokeng, South Africa.
by Hank Thrasher on Jun 12, 2010 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions
If Messi keeps the type of form he's had
In my opinion he could be the greatest player of all time, hes just silly good at times.
Granted I never really got the chance to see Pele etc, but can they really be better?
He's never played especially well for Argentina
Tactical difference between them and Barcelona, plus at Barca he’s got Xavi to set him up.
Agreed
This World Cup might be the making of him. I think though there is so much pressure on him for the Argies on relatively young shoulders. Maradona is maybe the perfect manager to get the best out of him for Argentina
I'm surprised there weren't more goals after the way that game started.
Things settled down a bit later on, though.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
It's really kind of unreal that Argentina has so much attacking talent...
that they can afford to sit Diego Milito, one of the best strikers in Europe this past year.
Crazy.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Really thought there'd be more goals in this game after the way it started.
Still always a threat, I guess.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
soccer
No self-respecting man from Iowa goes anywhere without beer
by Hayden Fry's Moustache Ride on Jun 12, 2010 10:27 AM CDT reply actions
Can you go into a Nigerian bar and order a Lars Lagerback?
And if so, what does it taste like?
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
USA doesn't even have a team chant. The unoffical two are the "USA" chant or "America, Fuck Yeah!"
"Want a donut go to dunkin donuts, want a linebacker go to Penn State." - Chris Carter
I'll give you a reason the US could win
Altitude. Rustenberg is at 5000 feet. The US is used to playing at altitude—compared to Mexico City, that’s nothing. The English get dizzy on the third floor of buildings.
We all know how tough it is to play in Denver when you’re not used to it.
Argentina is impressing me
they’re essentially only playing 4-5 men up against a packed-in Nigerian defense
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
This has "trap game" written all over it.
If Argentina gets through this looking good, maybe even Maradona isn’t enough to hold them back. They’re due.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
That's like Uraguay blowing their wide-open chance in the closing minutes yesterday
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
Good opportunity for Nigeria
But they’ve been unable to finish those all day on the few occasions they’ve gotten them.
These two teams look like the best in the group.
Well, assuming Nigeria’s keeper stays this good.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Dunno
Nigeria hasn’t shown any sort of competence at defending set pieces, and their skill at finishing seems to be nonexistent. South Korea could give Nigeria a challenge for second.
True.
I guess I’m operating under the assumption that if they get more chances they’ll convert a few. Which may erroneous.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
I think Nigeria
is just riding the high of being a)the African team and b)playing a “big” team
don’t be surprised if they flame out after this game.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jun 12, 2010 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Classic calcio right here
just marking time ’til the end.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
Who knows
I think he should probably have 3 goals by now, he just can’t seem to finish
by Hank Thrasher on Jun 12, 2010 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions
I do wonder a little how much effect the ball is having on some of these shots and crosses.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
don't we here this EVERY WC though?
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jun 12, 2010 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions
There are always complaints about the ball
Not sure if they’re always the same ones.
For that matter, could be adrenaline and players just over-hitting everything.
Maradona looks like he should be getting my table ready
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
Did Maradona get that suit at a Men's Warehouse?
Maybe just Kohl’s?
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
I, for one, think it's remarkable that the Missing Link could be so good at soccer.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
The beauty of soccer is that it's so easy
even a cavem…ah, fuck that.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jun 12, 2010 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Nigeria reminded me of watching the U.S. 10 years ago.
Not all that impressive and inept at finishing, but solid goalkeeping keeping them in the game.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
And that's all she wrote
Group B standings:
1 South Korea 1-0-0, 3 pts, +2 GD
2 Argentina 1-0-0, 3 pts, +1 GD
3 Nigeria 0-1-0, 0 pts, -1 GD
4 Greece 0-1-0, 0 pts, -2 GD
Love to see Greece at the bottom.
Their style of play sets the game back a century. They play the way others think the Big Ten plays. Plus, don’t Greeks like to be bottoms…
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jun 12, 2010 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions
They're not as bad as they were in '04
They were actually tied for second in their qualifying group in total goals per game.
Yes, the sooner Greece is out, the better the tourney will be from an aesthetic POV.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
And by that I mean I won't have to look at their swarthy Greek faces anymore.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Argentina will score 5 goals against South Korea
because SK will get caught in the counter attack.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
Maybe they'll run into a hot goalie again
I mean, it’s not like Greece gave us any idea of whether the SK goalie is any good. Maybe he’s just as ridiculous as the Nigerian keeper.
(That said, yeah. I’d expect at least a 4-2 game.)
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/pop_up.asp?fpVname=NY_NYP&ref_pge=map&tfp_map=USA
I check cheddar like a food inspector
WARM UP MUSIC 1
Are you a real American? You damn well better be.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Davey Boy Smith sucks!
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jun 12, 2010 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions
WARM UP MUSIC 2
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Suck it, England
"Now we can no longer hold back. It will be a terrible war." - Emperor Jim Delany I
by ReadingRambler on Jun 12, 2010 12:26 PM CDT reply actions
The trouble with England is that's full of England.
"Now we can no longer hold back. It will be a terrible war." - Emperor Jim Delany I
by ReadingRambler on Jun 12, 2010 12:29 PM CDT reply actions
Pat Angerer's rooting for America. You better be too.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
PRE MATCH MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Damn I'm getting nervous
So important to have a strong start. Hope Gooch can go a full 90. Holden for Findley, Dempsey moving up in the 65th minute?
Do they sell beer in real glass there?
That seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 12, 2010 1:28 PM CDT reply actions
espn3.com
From the site:
“PROGRAMMING NOTE: USA vs.England will be live on ABC and ESPN Radio at 1:30 PM ET. The replay will be available on ESPN3.com.
That sucks. This totally means I have to put clothes on to go watch the game. I hate clothes.
Apparently the Mothership doesn’t want cheapskates like me to get their games online.
Shocked to see Findley up top, instead of Buddle.
Findley seems like he’s a better fit to come in at the 60th minute or so.
I guess they want his pace.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Seems to me that his pace would be better used later in the game
However, it won’t matter if we can’t sort out the issues at the back.
by The Mexican't on Jun 12, 2010 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Well... fuuuuck.
That wasn’t in the plans.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
It's okay
I’ve seen this plot before. Penn State scored on the first play from scrimmage last year and look how that worked out for them.
:-(
8====D
Got more suits than Jacoby and Meyers.
by Run Up The Score on Jun 12, 2010 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Difference is...
Iowa’s defense actually played like they had a clue.
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 12, 2010 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Emile Heskey appears to have too much pace for us.
EMILE fucking HESKEY. Ye gods.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Our defenders need to get the pressure on
Waaaay too much uncontested movement by England near our goal.
jozy!!!
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 12, 2010 1:49 PM CDT reply actions
had a good chance off that cross
but the header just missed
"Stats from the spring," he said when handed the numbers. "I can take those down to the spare bathroom in the house. We can put them to use down there."
- Paul Rhoads
We're playing sloppy as shit.
But we’re also showing some good ol’ fashioned American improvisation.
Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.
those damn Vuvuzela's sound like a hornets nest
"Want a donut go to dunkin donuts, want a linebacker go to Penn State." - Chris Carter
I absolutely hate them
I want South Africa nuked off the planet after this World Cup.
Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.
it seems the only reason that they are not banned is because its a south africian tradtion
"Want a donut go to dunkin donuts, want a linebacker go to Penn State." - Chris Carter
I'm guessing it's based on horns...
African warriors carried into battle.
It was probably the last sound more than one English soldier heard before he died, if that makes you feel any better.
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 12, 2010 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions
“Vuvuzelas have been said to be based on kudu horn instruments and thus rooted in African history, but this is disputed. During the last quarter of a match, supporters blow vuvuzelas frantically in an attempt to “kill off” their opponents"
^ from wikipedia
"Want a donut go to dunkin donuts, want a linebacker go to Penn State." - Chris Carter
they even had a national vuvuzela day on the 9th
"Want a donut go to dunkin donuts, want a linebacker go to Penn State." - Chris Carter
yellow card to milner
just missed on the free kick
"Stats from the spring," he said when handed the numbers. "I can take those down to the spare bathroom in the house. We can put them to use down there."
- Paul Rhoads
Oh shit.
Howard is hurt.
Looks like a shoulder. Probably dislocation. I’ve been there, done that.
Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.
He stayed in?
Gangster!
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 12, 2010 2:02 PM CDT reply actions
I'm starting to understand...
How Purdue fans felt watching Frank Duong try to tackle Shonn Greene.
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 12, 2010 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions
England just has acres and acres of space to work with...
Our defense is dreadful.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
That card...
may have saved a goal.
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 12, 2010 2:10 PM CDT reply actions
AND WERE TIED!!!!!!!
"Stats from the spring," he said when handed the numbers. "I can take those down to the spare bathroom in the house. We can put them to use down there."
- Paul Rhoads
Deuce!
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 12, 2010 2:11 PM CDT reply actions
Robert Green..
.UR DOIN IT WRONG
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Jesus
Our defenders are playing like a bag of dicks.
Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.
"Catastrophe" Green
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
In Brazil...
keepers get shot for shit like that.
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 12, 2010 2:13 PM CDT reply actions
SUCK IT BECKHAM
"Want a donut go to dunkin donuts, want a linebacker go to Penn State." - Chris Carter
That looks like success to me
For whoever’s foot that is, anyway.
by Brock Sampson on Jun 12, 2010 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Will there be enough time at half...
for the defense to unfuck itself?
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 12, 2010 2:19 PM CDT reply actions
Marcelo Balboa?
Do you want to see Jeff Agoos out there, too?
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jun 12, 2010 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions
So it's like Guilford Court House?
"Now we can no longer hold back. It will be a terrible war." - Emperor Jim Delany I
by ReadingRambler on Jun 12, 2010 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Awesome reference Monmouth courthouse was another good tie
"I love it when a plan comes together!" Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith
by psu in the w-b on Jun 12, 2010 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions
So the U.S. is winning...
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jun 12, 2010 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions
So far so good
If we can just get a couple more once-in-a-century screwups out of Ingerlund I like our chances.
The BBC commenters are...
…collectively shitting their pants now. Bring on David James…Let’s see if he can do better than Robert Greene.
"Conan, what is best in life?" "Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of the women"
by Natty Bumppo's Murderous Gaze on Jun 12, 2010 2:29 PM CDT reply actions
correction
they’re shitting their trousers.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jun 12, 2010 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
See Green
That’s how you hold onto a shot.
Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.
Tim Howard is how I think Clayborne would play
if he was sick and broke a leg. Howard is really good, but he’s know AC94
Dempsey and Howard
know how England plays. no question that their experience was invaluable.
As a soccer "hater"...
(no, I don’t hate soccer, but I’ve explained why I don’t love it), I must now admit that most of the US-England game was fun to watch. And I didn’t think I’d say that about a 1-1 game.
It amazes me that England can have so many stars, yet a goalie that might be 3rd on many teams.
America needs to get their defense to at least “pretty decent” to keep going, because I don’t see it raining goals for us in the near future. And England may have to actually have somebody other than Gerrard do something on offense in order to escape group play. I don’t know if I see Rooney doing all that much very soon. Of course, I say this with no clue about how good Slovenia or Algeria are.
All in all, a good use of 2.5 hours today.
I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
-- Judge Smails
Their goalie wouldn't be 3rd on the US team
He might not even be 5th. GK is the one position that we’ve always had world-class depth.
Our defense wasn’t all that atrocious (aside from the Gerrard goal); gave up a lot of chances but nothing really ridiculous. Most goals come in situations where the keeper has absolutely no prayer; Howard had a lot of tough saves but he doesn’t miss many shots that can be saved at all, no matter how tough. That said, if Coach Bradley does the obvious thing and starts Buddle (who’s actually, you know, capable of scoring) instead of Findley, it may well start raining goals.
Slovenia and Algeria are definite underdogs in the group. Slovenia’s win over Algeria gives them a decent chance to advance, but neither England nor us should have much trouble getting at least a win and draw out of those two, which will see both through unless both draws are against Slovenia and one of us is level on GD and loses the goals-scored tiebreaker.
This
England was always going to dominate possession. Everyone knew that. But I was pleasantly surprised with the play of Demerit limiting Rooney’s chances and Gooch looked better than in any of the friendlies. Him going a strong 90 was massive. And Cherundolo was good on the left.
Torres or Edu to start against Slovenia? Maybe some better distribution out of the back?
I was amazed that Buddle didn't get the start.
I’d love to see him paired up top with Altidore. I understand that Findley’s pace is a treasured commodity, but he’d be a much better fit as a sub.
by The Mexican't on Jun 13, 2010 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions
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