Posted on 07/01/2014 10:02:58 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
SALVADOR, Brazil — Every four years, soccer cleans its slate and allows nations to reinvent themselves. Forgotten teams resurface. Small programs make big strides. Champions uphold their legacy or, in the case of Spain this summer, show their age.
For the second consecutive World Cup, the United States is in position for a breakthrough, a fresh narrative, a defining moment.
[From Fancy Stats: How the United States can beat Belgium | What to expect from U.S.-Belgium (not much scoring) ]
Four years ago in South Africa, the Americans won their first-round group in a heroic manner but lost to Ghana on an extra-time goal in the knockout stage. It wasn’t an upset; rather, it was a missed opportunity to reach the quarterfinals for the second time in three tournaments and set the tone for the next World Cup cycle.
On Tuesday, the U.S. squad enters a round-of-16 match against Belgium with another chance to nudge the program along a little further. The Belgians are a more formidable foe than Ghana was in 2010, having arrived in Brazil with a stable of top-flight talent and a deserved label as dark-horse candidates to hit the semifinals or beyond.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I have to agree. But Howard has been excellent and is holding us in this match.
Hopefully dropping Dempsey back to midfield where he belongs will slow the bleeding.
If they can get it to Extra Time, and get a little breather, maybe they can catch their second winner, but I don’t see a US winner coming in regulation.
s/b second wind.
If there is one, it will have to be on a counter.
Tim Howard is playing the match of his life.
He has been excellent. You need that when you’re getting outplayed.
You see it in hockey all the time...a goalie can carry a team a long way.
All I ask is for them to hold some possession.
90th minute, still no score. Maybe the US can score in stoppage time.
I’m definitely an honoury American for the night. Your lads have played incredibly. Dogged, determined defending.
If the US pulls this off, it will be the greatest heist since Brinks.
How did he miss that?!
Thoroughly enjoyable game!
Safe to say Wondoloski should have buried that?
Well if it gets to penalty kicks we know who the hot goalie is.
Maybe getting a chance like that bodes well for Extra Time.
But Belgium definitely has the more skilled shooters.
It’s a sign of life, anyway.
We`ll take it!
Hopefully they’re slugging down some magic juice to get replenished for these next 30 minutes.
Just turned on the game at the end of regulation.....
0 - 0, oops, I mean nil - nil.......
Guess I didn't miss anything.........but I did manage to get my laundry done.
Dang thing sails. Was all set up for the score.
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