Posted on 06/17/2006 8:05:31 AM PDT by soccer_maniac
The U.S. national team faces a must-win situation Saturday against Italy (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC). The U.S. lineup could see some changes, including adding Eddie Johnson. Czech Republic and Ghana play earlier in the day (11:30 a.m., ABC), while Portugal advanced by beating Iran 2-0.
(Excerpt) Read more at mlsnet.com ...
One thing's for sure: FIFA needs to do something about all of the playacting and rolling around on the ground in soccer. It's BY FAR the most unattractive part of the sport and it really turns people off that are new to it.
I would put in a rule that says that if you go down and stay down for more than fifteen seconds you must be substituted or take an automatic yellow. That would end the acting pretty quick I think.
Kudos to our US Supporters in Kaiserslautern, they were the 12th Man, wait scratch that, 11th Man, oops, I mean the 10th Man for us today. :)
Wasn't that something? I thought they were playing in New York over the last thirty minutes.
Olsen, or maybe somebody that has proven he can score goals (albeit in MLS) like Taylor Twellman - I would have taken him to Germany instead.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Beasley has no place on this team.
Technical squabbling aside, the highlight of the game was the heart of the American team, which was magnificent and really carried the game for them despite a 9-10 field. The tie outcome was pure force of will. I do not think anyone -- the US, the Italians, or FIFA -- is happy with how this game played out. If the Americans displayed this much fortitude every time, they would be in a much better position.
ABC showed a live shot of Times Square during the second half, with the game showing on a big screen, and nobody paying attention to the game.
I guess that says how far soccer has yet to go in this country.
The ABC announcers were more concerned with the Italian coaches investigation - they must've mentioned that 4 times (or more) during the match. It's almost like they have tried to adapt the NBA or NFL model of announcing for soccer: lots of figures and stats during stopped play don't work well with soccer(these really bugged me during the matches today).
Sometimes you really don’t act but need more than fifteen second to recover. I think that after the game special video referee should re-watch the match. Evidently cheating players would be banned from the next game.
It did seem the US strategy was to foul the Italians a lot to keep them from developing any rhythm. The US fouled a lot. But if it works, then whatever it takes.
I guess the cream rises to the top, but not everyone likes ice cream...
My guess is that the audience appreciated the effort.
Sad. We need to get the Ami Pro Leagues up a little.
:-)
As a coach and soccer ferf, the call was dead wrong.
Both offensive players were on side at the attack. The person that he shuffled it off to was LEGAL. As a referee, we go over and over on this rule. They got it wrong in the World Cup. Sheesh.
Why is this important? Because a 2-3 goal differential is a big deal the way this is going.
I've always believed that soccer is more of an event than a spectator sport in terms of popularity.
If a "rabid" soccer fan were forced to watch two reasonably skilled teams play, representing different universities and if the fan had no rooting interest, he'd turn it off after 20 minutes.
The beautiful thing about American sports is that you can play coach. I mean, the US has sports talk radio for heaven's sake!
Budweiser Man of the Match: Kasey KELLER (USA)
17 June 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com
TSG member Alvin Corneal believes that Kasey Keller’s performance against Italy in Kaiserslautern not only kept the US in the game, but also in the tournament.
The 36-year-old produced a stunning display of goalkeeping to help earn his side a point against the Group E seeds, particularly after his side were reduced to nine men.
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060617/1/7rv5.html
Do you know what time the USA v Ghana game will be shown on ABC this Thursday? Thanks...
During my time in college, I dabbled a bit in culture studies.
And, culture is one of the most rigid things out there.
Every kid in Europe grew up with a soccer ball. With the big games on the telly etc. etc.
A new sport doesn't get adopted overnight.
Best hope for soccer in the US, is Bush's immigration bill :-)
They needed this win badly and had the horses on the pitch to do it, except Beasley.
I contend that American football and baseball can be interesting if you don't have a rooting interest because of your ability to play coach. Like basketball, there are some coaching decisions in soccer, but football has innumerable decisions to be made and second-guessed.
Soccer is much more fun to play, I think.
Looks to be something like 1000 Eastern, but you might want to tune in earlier, what with EDT games at nine, noon, and fifteen, thus far.
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