My friends, who before were indifferent to soccer and sports, have been converted so hard with this World Cup. I've been turning that way as well.
Yeah, this was me with the 2010 World Cup. Only watched games here and there before that but that one four years ago got me hooked. I can't really watch any other sports besides basketball or soccer though, no matter how many chances I give them.
You and me both. I fall asleep during American Football games and my friends look at me like i'm crazy.
My friends, who before were indifferent to soccer and sports, have been converted so hard with this World Cup. I've been turning that way as well.
Yeah, this was me with the 2010 World Cup. Only watched games here and there before that but that one four years ago got me hooked. I can't really watch any other sports besides basketball or soccer though, no matter how many chances I give them.
You and me both. I fall asleep during American Football games and my friends look at me like i'm crazy.
It's called Professional Advertising, not american football.
also, lol Mexico.
Gotta feel for Mexico, but they did the equivalent of going into a "Prevent" defense.
Shame too, because if they had won they guaranteed CONCACAF a spot in the semifinals. Can't see Costa Rica beating the Netherlands.
Shame too, because if they had won they guaranteed CONCACAF a spot in the semifinals. Can't see Costa Rica beating the Netherlands.
I can't believe Mexico's head coach is legit bitching about the referee. Robben didn't even dive when those two defenders annihilated his ass in the box in the first half. That absolutely should have been a penalty. Didn't see the second instance but the third instance at the end of the game that was finally awarded a penalty was the right call with or without the dive.
Try teaching your players how to not be fucking morons by kicking at the ball instead of the legs of your opponents when inside the box.
Really glad Netherlands made it through. Would've been a damn shame to see them screwed because of two of the most obvious should-be penalty non-calls in this cup.
Try teaching your players how to not be fucking morons by kicking at the ball instead of the legs of your opponents when inside the box.
Really glad Netherlands made it through. Would've been a damn shame to see them screwed because of two of the most obvious should-be penalty non-calls in this cup.
France is playing like absolute ass against Nigeria.
It's like every player has tunnel vision and they all legit forgot how to dribble and kick a soccer ball.
It's like every player has tunnel vision and they all legit forgot how to dribble and kick a soccer ball.
France is playing like absolute ass against Nigeria.
It's like every player has tunnel vision and they all legit forgot how to dribble and kick a soccer ball.
#internet
The game is pretty balanced. Problem is not in individual skills. Pogba and Matuidi are bossing the midfield.
The big issue is the wings. Benzema shouldn't play there.
France is playing like absolute ass against Nigeria.
It's like every player has tunnel vision and they all legit forgot how to dribble and kick a soccer ball.
#internet
The game is pretty balanced. Problem is not in individual skills. Pogba and Matuidi are bossing the midfield.
The big issue is the wings. Benzema shouldn't play there.
Oh please. Practically all of France's turnovers have been unforced.
And why is Debuchy allowed to touch the ball anywhere near the opponent's box? Some of the most embarrassing shot attempts I've seen.
France is playing like absolute ass against Nigeria.
It's like every player has tunnel vision and they all legit forgot how to dribble and kick a soccer ball.
#internet
The game is pretty balanced. Problem is not in individual skills. Pogba and Matuidi are bossing the midfield.
The big issue is the wings. Benzema shouldn't play there.
Oh please. Practically all of France's turnovers have been unforced.
And why is Debuchy allowed to touch the ball anywhere near the opponent's box? Some of the most embarrassing shot attempts I've seen.
Debuchy is having a tremendous game. His 2nd shot, outside of his foot, was fine. He can score, he did so at times with Lille.
You're basically complaining that they can't "dribble" or "shoot". Probably thinking of Giroud, because Pogba is incredible on both aspects for one. But that's like asking Shaq to shoot midrange jumpers. That was not the gameplan.
The left side of France is threatened, always attacked by Nigerians. They know Benzema won't defend it well, and Evra is far from the best french player.
France's turnovers unforced? Spoken like it's the wrong sports.
We're winning this. Come on. Gameplan is better with Grizi now.
good game france, wouldn't mind them winning it all.
guess my list would be:
1. Switzerland (lol)
2. Germany
3. Belgium
4. France
5. Netherlands
6. Colombia
7. Argentina
8. Brazil
9. USA
10. Algeria
11. Costa Rica
guess my list would be:
1. Switzerland (lol)
2. Germany
3. Belgium
4. France
5. Netherlands
6. Colombia
7. Argentina
8. Brazil
9. USA
10. Algeria
11. Costa Rica
If Algeria makes it to the quarter finals, it's going to be fucking crazy here in France, super passionate
Didn't watch the game, but looking at the stats, how is Germany only winning 1-0 in Extra Time?Stats don't mean anything in soccer. Germany play in a possession based style that leads to them dominating the stats in most matches they play.
Bayern play in the same style
They lost this game 0-4
Stats don't mean anything in soccer.
Oh god. :roll:
That thread is already driving me nuts.
Anecdotal evidence and counterfactual commentary. Positional football and possession strategy does not equate to taking 25+ shots in a game. You're not talking catenaccio football here, or tiki taka à la Barça.
Bayern plays "possession football"? With Ribery and Robben being so fucking relentless? Dominating is not playing the possession necessarily.
The truth is Rais (Algeria GK) had a really good game. Algeria played the counter attack, they had a solid 8 players at the back at all times, and they played their wings super quickly, definitely rushing it. It could have worked actually, Feghouli was, as expected, amazing.
Germany just had a fantastic center midfield, Schweiny, Gotze, Kroos, Khedira, etc, incredible depth.
Scary to think how good Germany would be if they had Reus. Same applies to France with Ribery tho.
Stats don't mean anything in soccer.
Oh god. :roll:
That thread is already driving me nuts.
Anecdotal evidence and counterfactual commentary. Positional football and possession strategy does not equate to taking 25+ shots in a game. You're not talking catenaccio football here, or tiki taka à la Barça.
Bayern plays "possession football"? With Ribery and Robben being so fucking relentless? Dominating is not playing the possession necessarily.
The truth is Rais (Algeria GK) had a really good game. Algeria played the counter attack, they had a solid 8 players at the back at all times, and they played their wings super quickly, definitely rushing it. It could have worked actually, Feghouli was, as expected, amazing.
Germany just had a fantastic center midfield, Schweiny, Gotze, Kroos, Khedira, etc, incredible depth.
Scary to think how good Germany would be if they had Reus. Same applies to France with Ribery tho.
I have no idea what you are going on about. My comment was about how misleading the statistics were about the flow of the game and you just went on and described why that was so. "Positional football and possession strategy does not equate to taking 25+ shots in a game." No, football powerhouse Germany playing positional football and using possession strategy against Algeria does though.
How is Bayern playing possession football even a question when they are coached by Pep Guardiola and he was criticized for an entire season for transforming their style despite dominating the league and reaching the semi-finals of the CL. I won't pretend like I watched a lot of their league games but in the CL Ribery and Robben were often used to keep crosses coming into the box and recycle possession, rather than be "relentless" in their attack.
I don't understand how such simple comment made you mad lol
I hate what's Pep done to my team. Toni Kroos has regressed. Goetze can't get on the pitch. Javi and Lahm played out of position. It's a mess.
Damn. Argentina steals it at the end again.
Oh well. The undercard is over. TIME FOR THE MAIN EVENT BITCHES!
Oh well. The undercard is over. TIME FOR THE MAIN EVENT BITCHES!
Only was able to watch most of extra time but looked like they played ok. The one goal we got was nice. Shame we couldn't have avoided Belgium going up 2-0. We would probably be in the quarterfinals right now if Altidore didn't get injured.
Only was able to watch most of extra time but looked like they played ok. The one goal we got was nice. Shame we couldn't have avoided Belgium going up 2-0. We would probably be in the quarterfinals right now if Altidore didn't get injured.
Nah. Both Germany and Belgium outclassed us by leaps and bounds.
So what? We still had a chance to win it and the player Klinsmann chose over Landon Donovan missed the easiest potential game clincher I've ever fucking seen.Only was able to watch most of extra time but looked like they played ok. The one goal we got was nice. Shame we couldn't have avoided Belgium going up 2-0. We would probably be in the quarterfinals right now if Altidore didn't get injured.
Nah. Both Germany and Belgium outclassed us by leaps and bounds.
Only was able to watch most of extra time but looked like they played ok. The one goal we got was nice. Shame we couldn't have avoided Belgium going up 2-0. We would probably be in the quarterfinals right now if Altidore didn't get injured.
I hope you and Method realize that Belgium is in an entire other class. Hazard alone is almost worth the entire USA national team on the transfer market. Courtois and Kompany are basically top 5 at their position, De Bruyne and Lukaku are stars in the making, so is Benteke who's injured... USA fought well, but they were getting smashed.
I think Method's point is that it was tied at 90 mins and all it needed was one lucky goal to get away with a win.
I think Method's point is that it was tied at 90 mins and all it needed was one lucky goal to get away with a win.
Howard saved what, 15 shots? "All it needed"... USA already got a lot. It's the nature of the sport that it is decided by few goals.
I think Method's point is that it was tied at 90 mins and all it needed was one lucky goal to get away with a win.Right? No one cares how many shots Belgium took or how "unmatched we were by their insane talent" if wondo makes that shot.
I think Method's point is that it was tied at 90 mins and all it needed was one lucky goal to get away with a win.
Howard saved what, 15 shots? "All it needed"… USA already got a lot. It's the nature of the sport that it is decided by few goals.
The bottom line is that the score was tied after 90 minutes. What happened before didn't matter.
Luck is part of all sports but even more so with one that is usually decided by a single goal in a single elimination system.
You could dominate for 90% of the game and still lose due to bad luck, that's what people are saying.
Ruh-roh. World Cup matches might be rigged.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/a-primer-on-match-fixing-in-the-wake-of-the-cameroon-world-cup-allegations/
What are the odds this is the only one?
The allegations come from a story in German newspaper Der Spiegel, which reported that notable alleged Singaporean match fixer Wilson Raj Perumal told the paper in a pre-match Facebook chat that the African side would have a player sent off in the first half before losing 4-0. Both would later occur in the match.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/a-primer-on-match-fixing-in-the-wake-of-the-cameroon-world-cup-allegations/
What are the odds this is the only one?
So what? We still had a chance to win it and the player Klinsmann chose over Landon Donovan missed the easiest potential game clincher I've ever fucking seen.
Look again, it's not a easy finish at all. He should've done better to get that on target, but Courtois is 6'5 and he pretty much sealed off all angles. Had Wondo laid it off to Dempsey next to him that would've been a sure goal, but it would've been incredibly difficult to do for anyone not named Messi or Iniesta.
I agree, Wondo's catching too much shit. It was far from an easy chance.
The US had a great run, but it's pretty apparent that barring an easy draw or pure luck that the quarterfinals are the realistic ceiling of the US Soccer program at this point.
Thankfully, I think Klinsmann's trust in young players (especially Yedlin and Green) will pay off big time in future competitions.
The US had a great run, but it's pretty apparent that barring an easy draw or pure luck that the quarterfinals are the realistic ceiling of the US Soccer program at this point.
Thankfully, I think Klinsmann's trust in young players (especially Yedlin and Green) will pay off big time in future competitions.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/usa/10941624/World-Cup-2014-Jurgen-Klinsmanns-next-task-should-be-to-smash-the-American-system.html
Great write up on the U.S. and where to go from here.
Great write up on the U.S. and where to go from here.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/usa/10941624/World-Cup-2014-Jurgen-Klinsmanns-next-task-should-be-to-smash-the-American-system.htmlI really hope Klinsmann is able to make some of the (many) changes that are needed.
Great write up on the U.S. and where to go from here.
The nice thing about US Soccer's position is that we're not starting from zero. We already have some promising young guys and we just made our second knockout stage in a row (this time from a very tough group).
If soccer starts to become a pathway out of poverty instead of an ivory tower, we'll start to see some incredible talent that would have otherwise been wasted on short careers plagued by injury in the NFL.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/usa/10941624/World-Cup-2014-Jurgen-Klinsmanns-next-task-should-be-to-smash-the-American-system.htmlI really hope Klinsmann is able to make some of the (many) changes that are needed.
Great write up on the U.S. and where to go from here.
The nice thing about US Soccer's position is that we're not starting from zero. We already have some promising young guys and we just made our second knockout stage in a row (this time from a very tough group).
If soccer starts to become a pathway out of poverty instead of an ivory tower, we'll start to see some incredible talent that would have otherwise been wasted on short careers plagued by injury in the NFL.
It's not really NFL talent that would go to Soccer. It's more, basketball.