Yes, I see what you mean.
Posted on 06/30/2014 12:36:25 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
Having survived the “Group of “Death,” Jürgen Klinsmann is now aiming to make the United States the last country standing at the 2014 World Cup.
Klinsmann was criticized by many for stating ahead of the competition that it was unrealistic for the U.S. to leave Brazil with the World Cup trophy. While the reaction to his largely innocuous comments was overblown, there's certainly a greater air of positivity as the team prepares for its Round of 16 match with Belgium. And rightly so.
When the draw was made for the World Cup in December, few gave the U.S. a chance of prevailing from a group that contained perennial challengers Germany, a Portugal squad featuring the world’s then best player Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ghana, the country that ended American hopes in 2006 and 2010.
Instead, a last-gasp win over Ghana provided the perfect springboard for qualification and a point against Portugal proved enough, despite a defeat to Germany. Defender Omar Gonzalez, who made his first start in the 1-0 loss to Germany, emphasized the high ambitions now permeating through the camp.
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The U.S. will be attempting to match its best achievement at a World Cup, other than a third-place finish in 1930 when just 13 teams competed, of a quarterfinal berth reached in 2002. That World Cup also marked the last time the Yanks' opponents reached the knockout phase or even a major international tournament.
After a 12-year drought, Belgium has lofty expectations fueled by the finest generation of talent the country has produced since the reaching the semifinals in 1986. They can count among their squad Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini and Zenit St. Petersburg’s Axel Witsel, each of whom have changed hands for more than $45 million in the past two years.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibtimes.com ...
In any case:
Betting odds (bovada.lv)
In 90 minutes:
Belgium win: 21/20
USA win: 5/2
Draw: 13/5To progress:
Belgium: 20/37
USA: 31/20When and where: The 2014 World Cup Round of 16 match will kick off from the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador at 4 p.m. ET. TV coverage will be provided by ESPN.
It sounds like Altidore will play. Whoa Nelly!
Fellaini was a David Moyes “bring him along” buy. And since we all know what a failure Moyes was ...
I can’t see him being healthy enough to play more than as a sub.
Vermalaen now out. Kompany iffy at best. That back line for belgium could be real vulnerable. Thinking speed like Johanssen and Diskerud in this game could be a real game changer.
The US are getting what may be a gift in a lot of health issues for Belgium right now.
Hope they can take advantage!
When will this Soccer-Rama finally be over? They had all of the last two weeks to scream and shout about it. I think the main reason soccer seems to be “taking off” in the viewer ratings this year is mostly due to it’s transplanted fan base. Many of the same Central Americans illegally being lured across the border by the Dems are the ones most fervently watching on TV or internet.
Thanks for the quick summary of the dumbest comments available about the World Cup.
Because you just know “transplants” begin cheering for the U.S. soccer team the moment they cross the border. Seriously, could you do a little homework before telling the rest of us what you “think?”
Boredom.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Then don’t watch, little pussy-willow.
“It’s just too hard to score, and the other teams are just too good. It’s boring. Waah.”
Both Fellaini and Altidore have been called the worst trades in the Premier League.
The day after the World Cup ends it'll be like driving thru Punxsutawney, PA the day AFTER Groundhog Day... you'll be vaguely aware that 'something happened', but you won't be able to remember 'what'.
Kind of like the Super Bowl, then. Thanks.
Yes, I see what you mean.
A fraction of the size of a crowd at any College or NFL game on any given Saturday or Sunday in football season.
Not soon enough!
To me that is what makes soccer so intense - it IS hard to score. It makes EVERY run towards the goal the opportunity to WIN the game. It makes EVERY blocked pass a huge thing - even at midfield. It is like 4th down & 5 on the 1 yard line with 2 seconds on the clock, but for every play. (Well - sort of.)
Oh, boy. Look at all those illegal aliens.
Because it really appears to me that the argument boils down to, "my stadium's bigger." LOL
It’s like a pitcher’s duel. Some of the best baseball games are the 1-0, 2-1 games.
You know that one hit can make the difference. Everything is magnified.
In other sports, you make a mistake, you quickly overcome it......In soccer, make just one mistake and that could be the ball game.
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