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Marty Peretz · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 7:25 pm Post subject:

Let's skip the semis and have a best of 3 between Spain and Germany. That's what everyone wants to see anyways.
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InnervisionsUMASS · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 8:02 pm Post subject:

Italy!
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DrG · Hall of Fame Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 2175 Location: MA

Don't sell Portugal short. They are playing at a very high level, Ronaldo has found his game, and they are capable of surprising Spain. Italy has to be tired after the England game and has its work cut out against Germany.

ktabz16 · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:21 pm Post subject:

i would be shocked if germany didn't win this thing.

MJatUM · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 1:46 pm Post subject:

DrG · Hall of Fame Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 2175 Location: MA

Spain wins the shootout without the best European player ever taking a kick. This was akin to the Patriots playing in sudden death OT in the Super Bowl with Tom Brady on the bench.

ktabz16 · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:06 am Post subject:

i know there are a few footie fans around here. last night the us beat jamaica 1-0, which isn't an entirely remarkable scoreline. however, the first half the us played was something i've never seen. the us played the ball on the ground and controlled 79% of possession, we also completed 91% of our passes and were unlucky to hit the both posts and the crossbar with 3 different shots. with the right bounce we would have had a 4-0 lead at halftime. instead it was scoreless and in the second half jamaica made it more difficult on us and we were lucky to have hercules gomez finish his direct in the 55th minute.

why am i so encouraged by this? because we played in a way that people have suspected we could play but never had the guts to try. after the shock defeat last week in jamaica, it was good to see klinnsman try a new lineup and get good results from it.

it was so refreshing to see american wing backs having their way down the sidelines and center backs who looked for the pass on the ground first rather than the "boot it" mentality of the last 80 years.

Max11 · Junior Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 261 Location: OH

Huge fan of the sport. The first half was beautiful, and I can't remember seeing the U.S. control a meaningful game like that before.

The ironic thing about the game is that the stylish "new" U.S. went into halftime 0-0. In the 2nd half, we came out pretty flat IMO, and reverted back to old habits, but that was good enough to get the winning goal.

The player that has stood out to me recently is Geoff Cameron. He's actually a local (Attleboro, MA) product, and he appears to be our best defender, and a guy who we'll count on a lot in the coming years. I love that he's basically a defensive midfielder who can play Center-Back - he's just much smoother on the ball than the other guys we've had back there in recent years.

Marty Peretz · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 4:28 pm Post subject:

Best first half I've ever seen the US play without getting a goal and maybe the best overall. I loved the play of Danny Williams. Why haven't we seen him before?
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Mark 80 · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 6:05 am Post subject:

We have seen a shift in how both US Teams play. Pia Sundhage brought a more possession oriented game in for the women and I see Klinsman tryng to do the same with the men. I am hopeful the trend continues. It makes for a much more enjoyable match.
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ktabz16 · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:11 pm Post subject:

welp i watched all 95 eye-stabbingly awful minutes of tonights game. 2-1 US win at antigua and barbuda. awful field, awful weather and an awful effort but two classy headers from professional journeyman eddie johnson (2004 vintage) gets the result we needed.

DrG · Hall of Fame Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 2175 Location: MA

I survived the early heart attack and was satisfied with the Guatemala result. Klinsman has them going in the right direction but the back still needs to get stronger. Qualifying won't be easy . . . Mexico is still by far the best and Costa Rica and Honduras will be tough. But at least he has a few months to work on it. IMO, the USA should limit its home games to Kansas City, Columbus and/or Seattle. None of this LA, Miami or even Dallas BS.

Max11 · Junior Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 261 Location: OH

Nice performance and result against Guatemala despite the early breakdown.

The Hex will be tough this time around, and the U.S. has to get the defense in order before they head out for some very difficult road qualifiers. My CONCACAF power rankings:

1. Mex
2. USA
3. Hon
4. CR
5. Jam
6. Pan

It's going to be very difficult to get a result in Mexico/Honduras/Costa Rica. We need to get 12 pts from our 4 games vs. Jamaica and Panama to take some pressure off of those tougher games.