Posted on 06/08/2014 3:13:46 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Nine days from now, the United States men’s national team will open the World Cup against Ghana in Brazil. And in their final official warm-up game, on the last day before they travel down, they ticked off a number of boxes on their lengthy to-do list in a 2-1 win over Nigeria.
Striker Jozy Altidore, on whom so much could depend in the coming weeks, finally ended his scoring drought by scoring in the 31st and 68th minutes. He hadn’t scored for his club Sunderland since Dec. 4 in his disastrous first season there, and his last tally for the USA had come on Oct. 11 -- a six-game scoreless stretch.
More momentum was built as the Americans took a third win from this three-game tune-up series, having previously vanquished Azerbaijan 2-0 on May 27 and Turkey 2-1 on June 1. The win itself, meanwhile, seems all the more significant since it came over another World Cup-bound opponent that plays much the same way as Ghana does. The Ghanaians, of course, bounced the USA from the last two World Cups. But the Americans will need a win this time around to retain any hope of advancing from a group that also contains world-beaters Germany and Portugal.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.foxsports.com ...
Last warm-up games:
June 8 in Sao Paulo
Iran vs. Trinidad & Tobago
June 8 in Lille
France vs. Jamaica
“2-1 win over Nigeria”
Exellent.
Nigeria are one of the best in Africa ,IIRC.
It’ll take a miracle to advance out of this group...
My worry has never been Altidore. It’s the porous back line that has given me chills. The set up last night was good. The best part is having Chandler positioned firmly on the bench.
Now if Fabian Johnson will remember that his first responsibility is to keep the other side from scoring, we might get to play four games.
Oldplayer
England’s manager must have held his breath at times, as studs were raised and bodies dropped to the floor, in a game that will be remembered as the first England international in history when play was stopped by lightning.
Gerrard: England relieved to have no injuries after horrific Honduras fouls
"I thought the refereeing was poor. They were doing stupid fouls, breaking up the play for no reason, " he told ITV.
"We're frustrated but we're relieved to come out unscathed. There were some horrific challenges going on out there.
"I don't understand referees who see balls kicked into stomachs and not send them off. We're relieved to come out of it with no injuries.
"A lot of the boys are frustrated but we've got a week to go to get ready."
Spain dominated the Central American minnows at the FedEx Stadium and barely broke into a sweat in securing a comfortable victory ahead of their opening Group B match against Netherlands in the city of Salvador on Friday.
The banner is regularly put on show before Argentina's games but with the World Cup looming it has put the gesture in the spotlight.
The South Atlantic islands have been ruled by the UK since 1833 but Argentina claims them and in 1982 attempted to seize control, sparking a brief but bloody war.
Bloodbath: Military Police warn England fans of Argentine 'Ultras' army Brazil ambush
Military police in Brazil have warned an army of 650 Argentine “ultras” will launch a full-scale assault on supporters travelling from the UK.
They are heading to the city of Belo Horizonte when England play Costa Rica on June 24.
Prince Harry is expected to be among the 10,000 England fans and his presence is likely to further inflame Argie hardliners still seething over the Falklands War in 1982.
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.