Posted on 06/12/2006 12:39:37 PM PDT by The Blitherer
For those who DO like soccer, this is too bad. I had high hopes for this team. They can still come back, but it'll be difficult.
The bottom line, is that the US is badly overrated.
I don't mind soccer. I think it's a decent sport.
But truth be told, I didn't expect the US to be on the wrong end of 3-0 score.
Ouch!
For those who may not understand it, that was a drubbing! OUCH!
I agree, but I thought they were better than a shut-out and a 3 point loss to the CR!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_World_Cup#Format
Quote:
"The current finals tournament features 32 national teams competing over a month in the host nation(s). There are two stages, a group stage and a knockout stage.
In the first stage (the group stage), teams are drawn into eight groups of four. Eight teams are seeded at the draw (based on both current FIFA World Rankings and recent World Cups), and assigned a group. The other teams are drawn at random. Since 1998, constraints have applied to the draw to ensure that no group contains more than two European teams or more than one team from any other confederation. Each group plays a round-robin tournament, guaranteeing that every team will play at least three matches. The last round of matches of each group is held simultaneously to prevent collusion between nations. Since 1994, three points have been awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss (prior to this, winners only received two points). The top two teams from each group advance to the second stage (the knockout stage). If two or more teams finish level on points, tie-breakers are used: first is goal difference, then total goals scored, then head-to-head results, and finally drawing of lots.
The second round, or knockout stage, is a single-elimination round in which teams play each other in one-off matches, with extra time and penalty shootouts used to decide the winner. It begins with the round of 16 (or last 16) in which the winner of each group (from the group stage) plays against the runner-up from another group. This is followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final. The losing semi-finalists contest a third place match."
Elimination does't begin until the second round. The US has to get out of their group first.
There are 4 teams in each "group." (There are 8 groups.) The 4 teams in each group all play each other and the best 2 of the 4 advance.
SD
So we can't advance unless the Czechs collapse, and we catch fire? Doesn't seem likely in a 4-team bracket.
How long was the field goal?
If the US didn't give up a goal so early, they might have been able to gain some confidence during the match. But they went into panic mode 5 minutes into the match and never recovered.
The US is playing now for second in the group, with Italy, Ghana. The best case scenario has the Czechs winning the group, beating Italy.
But if Italy wins against Ghana today, and they are up 1-0 at halftime. The US is going to have to beat Italy outright, if they are to have a chance to advance.
And if they do advance, they most likely would have to face Brazil in the round of 16.
ha ha. (At least, I HOPE it was a joke!) :-)
Sorry, couldn't resist. Carry on...
LOL. Actually, I think it was a home run with two on board.
...(kick)...(run)...(kick)...(run)...(kick)...(run)...(kick)...(run)...(kick)...(run)...(trip and fall, get a boo-boo on knee)...(run out of bounds)...(throw in)...(kick)...(run)...(kick)...(run)...
(repeat ad infinitum or 90+ minutes, whichever comes first)
[script for soccer fan]
...(drink beer)...(shout)...(drink beer)...(shout)...(drink beer)...(shout)...(drink beer)...(shout)...(bust up the place)...(drink beer)...(shout)...
(repeat ad infinitum or 90+ minutes, whichever comes first)
Then it is possible for the US to advance.
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