Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

World Cup preview: USA vs. Germany [ESPN 12:00 EDT]
WP ^ | June 26, 2014 | Michael Caley

Posted on 06/26/2014 7:23:27 AM PDT by 1rudeboy

Can two defensively suspect teams settle on a needed draw? If Team USA and Germany simply equal each other’s goal tallies, both sides will go through to the knockout rounds. In most cases, it would be expected that the two sides should line up in highly defensive formations and show little adventure, committing only the minimum number of men to any attack. If both sides play defensively, the draw will come regardless of any conspiracy.

The problem is, neither side is built to play the sort of boring, unadventurous soccer such a fixture requires. American fans are well aware of the struggles of Team USA to secure a back line, and Jurgen Klinsmann has settled on a system which uses two deep-lying and mostly defensive midfielders in Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman to protect that back four.

Similarly, Germany is not the Germany of soccer legend, solid and hard-working and just good enough on set pieces to score one more goal than its opponent. Instead, under Jogi Loew Germany has been transformed into one of the most innovative and exciting attacking teams in the world. Playing a 4-3-3 without any true forward, the German system arguably includes either two or three false nines. As Mario Götze, Mesut Özil or Thomas Mueller drops out of the forward position and drags a defender out of position with him, one of the others or a midfielder like Sami Khedira will see the space that opens up and make a run toward the danger zone. These runs have produced many big chances already in the tournament, and the Germans have averaged three goals per match.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Sports
KEYWORDS: fifa; germany; soccer; teamusa; us; usa; worldcup
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 201-220 next last
To: cherry

We be through!


101 posted on 06/26/2014 10:54:24 AM PDT by Obadiah (None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 96 | View Replies]

To: BeadCounter

We are in and most likely will play Belgium.

Those teams, Belgium, Korea and Russia, Algeria play this afternoon in about 2 hours.


102 posted on 06/26/2014 10:55:22 AM PDT by BeadCounter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 100 | View Replies]

To: Colonel_Flagg

I know but considering Germany has the best team in the world after Brazil, this is the best they could do.


103 posted on 06/26/2014 10:55:46 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]

To: Colonel_Flagg

Concur, but just remember Germany may be the best team out there. It seemed Klinsman’s strategy was to park the bus in front of the goal and hope for the best.


104 posted on 06/26/2014 10:55:48 AM PDT by Obadiah (None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]

Some people are too critical, I’m happy USA is through, most all of these teams are very good, Germany, Netherlands are about the best there and Germany only beat us by a goal.


105 posted on 06/26/2014 10:56:52 AM PDT by BeadCounter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]

To: Obadiah

The USA team was rescued by Portugal.

I don’t envy our prospects in the Round Of 16.


106 posted on 06/26/2014 10:56:57 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 104 | View Replies]

To: cherry

Yes.

We have the same record as Portugal (one win, one tie, one loss). The tiebreaker is aggregate Goal Differential, and we won that [due in large part to Germany beating Portugal 4 to 0].

See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup


107 posted on 06/26/2014 10:57:13 AM PDT by Stat-boy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 96 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

Well, we need a different formation and we had better start controlling the midfield!


108 posted on 06/26/2014 10:58:30 AM PDT by Obadiah (None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

Germany only defeated and dominated Portugal in the end after Muller dived and the Portuguese player Pepy got into his face and sent off, maybe wrongly.

There’s definitely some teams that can beat Germany here, they barely got by Ghana, in fact, they didn’t beat them. They drew Ghana.


109 posted on 06/26/2014 10:58:45 AM PDT by BeadCounter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies]

To: BeadCounter

A worthy opponent. The US had a stellar defense but the Germans have a good attack squad.

That made the difference today.


110 posted on 06/26/2014 10:58:55 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 105 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

If you told me beforehand we would survive “The Group of Death” without Altidore, I would have said that you were nuts.

As far as I’m concerned, “Mission Accomplished”, the rest is gravy.


111 posted on 06/26/2014 10:59:03 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

Of course Germany was pretty safe anyway and played slightly softer to avoid injuries, cards and spending too much energy.

Before the game they had GD of 4 while Ghana had -1 and Portugal -4.


112 posted on 06/26/2014 10:59:25 AM PDT by Krosan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 103 | View Replies]

To: Stat-boy

Rush Limbaugh talking soccer now.


113 posted on 06/26/2014 10:59:34 AM PDT by conservative98
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: BeadCounter

GREAT RESULT, I’ve watched USA team since 1994 in truth in the World Cup, I guess we were there in 1990 Italia.

It’s the 3rd game, the important thing is to Survive and to Survive, we probably were a little cautious.


114 posted on 06/26/2014 11:00:39 AM PDT by BeadCounter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: BeadCounter

What if Ghana were full strength today though? Without Muntari and Boateng they were not the same.


115 posted on 06/26/2014 11:00:41 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Yup!!


116 posted on 06/26/2014 11:00:45 AM PDT by Obadiah (None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

We’re in second place.

Two weeks ago I would have said it was impossible to get out of Group G and now we’re playing in the quarterfinals.


117 posted on 06/26/2014 11:01:41 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies]

To: Obadiah

We are what we are....we just don’t have the talent at this point to compete at the highest levels.

I think given time with Klinsi, that will change. He’s done a great job so far. To get this team through without Altidore is quite an accomplishment.


118 posted on 06/26/2014 11:02:30 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 108 | View Replies]

To: BeadCounter

And Ronaldo missed a few chances that could have put Portugal thru. Great day for the US. We advance, which is what it is all about.


119 posted on 06/26/2014 11:04:22 AM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 100 | View Replies]

To: kabar

Well......that was pretty boring


120 posted on 06/26/2014 11:04:58 AM PDT by stuck_in_new_orleans
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 119 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 201-220 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson