24 Jun 09
3 edits
Originally posted by hopscotchthe USA needed an impossible scenario just to be in position to play Spain today.
Landon Donovan isn't bad, but he's FAAAAAR away from being one of the best in the world.
And as for y'all beating Spain... snowball's chance in hell.
I just shocked that Italy didn't go through; what a bizarre set of circumstances at the end of the games in group B.
Do you believe in miracles? Yes!
and now....
Do you believe in miracles again? Yes!! Yes!!
The last time an American snowball made it's way so successfully through a very hot place was back in 1980 at Lake Placid.
Now...Do you believe miracles happen in threes? Or will it end up being "jugo feo" against Brazil?
25 Jun 09
Firstly, congratulations to the USA for making it to the final of the Confederations Cup (for you Americans, this is not to be confused with the World Cup!)
Despite the strange way in which they qualified for the semi-final, they deserved to beat a very lacklustre Spanish side, who appear to be reverting to type.
Secondly, an appearance in the final of the CC, does not make USA 'one of the top sides in the world'... I just thought I'd mention that before ya'll start getting ideas above your station!
Denmark won the Euro Championships in 1992 - and weren't recognised as a top side.
Thirdly, whilst the USA have an excellent workrate and team ethos by the looks of it - technically they're still a 3rd world nation.
Donovan, Howard, De Merit, and Dempsey aside, the rest would struggle to get into Oldham Athletics reserves.
25 Jun 09
Originally posted by blade68it was not the World Cup -- but it was more than a random match. These types of wins are extremely rare for America, so there's going to be a lot of hype when they occur.
Firstly, congratulations to the USA for making it to the final of the Confederations Cup (for you Americans, this is not to be confused with the World Cup!)
Despite the strange way in which they qualified for the semi-final, they deserved to beat a very lacklustre Spanish side, who appear to be reverting to type.
Secondly, an appearance in the final of t ...[text shortened]... e Merit, and Dempsey aside, the rest would struggle to get into Oldham Athletics reserves.
if Spain was "lackluster", why would that be? They had an undefeated streak to maintain. They probably took it for granted that they'd romp by the Americans. A truly great team knows they can never take a night off.
I do agree the US is far from being one of the top sides in the world -- which is why I compared their win over Spain with the US hockey team upsetting the USSR in the 1980 olympics which was the all time greatest upset by an American team in any sport.
Next up for Spain -- a grudge match against the Oldham Athletics reserves!! I expect it to come down to a shootout. 😀
26 Jun 09
Originally posted by hopscotchThanks Hoppy.
Help, I have foot in mouth disease!
Congratulations USA, I think you've stunned the world with tonight's performance. Your coach REALLY did his homework, and therefore your team had an answer for everything the Spanish threw at them.
The ref and linesmen were pretty bad, Michael Bradley should not have been sent off, Spain should have had a pe ...[text shortened]... side calls.
But jeez! The game was a lot more entertaining than I was expecting. GG to you.
Bradley is a great coach.
26 Jun 09
Originally posted by YugaI agree with you Conor Casey is a lump.
Spector and especially Demerit really nice finds in the back, Onyewu played terrific, and Howard of course a high-class goalkeeper.
Harkes had good analysis in the commentary in the US coverage, the other commentator really boring though.
Why the US brings in Conor Casey in the ends of games I don't know, he seems slow and fat to me, should replace him w ...[text shortened]... ld like to see more high pressure by the US, they went into a shell for a while against Spain.
he's suppossed to be our Rooney, but even rooney isn't that fat and slow.
But, don't question Bradley. He has something in mind for this guy.
Alot of people questioned his decision to put his son on the team almost two years ago and look how that has turned out.
26 Jun 09
1 edit
Originally posted by blade68So aside from on the top 5 mid-fielders in the world and the best keeper on the planet, our team is second rate?
Firstly, congratulations to the USA for making it to the final of the Confederations Cup (for you Americans, this is not to be confused with the World Cup!)
Despite the strange way in which they qualified for the semi-final, they deserved to beat a very lacklustre Spanish side, who appear to be reverting to type.
Secondly, an appearance in the final of t e Merit, and Dempsey aside, the rest would struggle to get into Oldham Athletics reserves.
Let's not forget we were missing four of our best players and we still stomped the best Europe has to offer.
It's a new era gentleman.
I think we can take Brazil. We're playing well and they looked flat against RSA.
26 Jun 09
Originally posted by Red NightAs I expected... you win a couple of matches and are getting ideas above your station...
So aside from on the top 5 mid-fielders in the world and the best keeper on the planet, our team is second rate?
Let's not forget we were missing four of our best players and we still stomped the best Europe has to offer.
It's a new era gentleman.
I think we can take Brazil. We're playing well and they looked flat against RSA.
Calm down.
26 Jun 09
Originally posted by Red NightThe talent gap has decreased for sure.
This was a pretty important victory for us.
This may have been our biggest win ever.
Holding Spain to 8 shots on goal and none of those golden opportunities, that's a great accomplishment.
The US has been great in defending against corner kicks, winning balls in the air.
US needs more ball control in the midfield before I'd consider them a world class side.
But the way the US played in the past two games is great for US soccer.
26 Jun 09
Originally posted by Yugahear hear
The talent gap has decreased for sure.
Holding Spain to 8 shots on goal and none of those golden opportunities, that's a great accomplishment.
The US has been great in defending against corner kicks, winning balls in the air.
US needs more ball control in the midfield before I'd consider them a world class side.
But the way the US played in the past two games is great for US soccer.
26 Jun 09
Originally posted by blade68So the USA was lucky and we are a 3rd world country talent wise?! lol what do we have to do to get some sincere credit for our accomplishments? Typical euro-snobbery...
Firstly, congratulations to the USA for making it to the final of the Confederations Cup (for you Americans, this is not to be confused with the World Cup!)
Despite the strange way in which they qualified for the semi-final, they deserved to beat a very lacklustre Spanish side, who appear to be reverting to type.
Secondly, an appearance in the final of t ...[text shortened]... e Merit, and Dempsey aside, the rest would struggle to get into Oldham Athletics reserves.
26 Jun 09
Originally posted by MoneyManMikebeat Brazil 😀
So the USA was lucky and we are a 3rd world country talent wise?! lol what do we have to do to get some sincere credit for our accomplishments? Typical euro-snobbery...
then do it all again next year in the World Cup -- although if that happened, there'd probably be more excuses about how lackluster all the other teams were playing.