Salvador sets up Belgium-USA for high-scoring World Cup matchup

yahoo sports ^ | June 30, 2014 | Martin Rogers

[Berlin_Freeper]

SALVADOR, Brazil – The eyes of two nations will be glued to it no matter what happens, but statistical history from this World Cup suggests that the United States' round-of-16 showdown with Belgium on Tuesday could turn into a high-scoring classic.

Because if you want to see goals galore, you'll see them in Salvador.

The previous line was more than a terrible attempt at rhyming. A genuine trend has seen 21 goals rattled in over the course of just four games at Arena Fonte Nova. Forwards such as U.S. captain Clint Dempsey, who has already struck twice in the tournament, and Belgium's Eden Hazard, who has yet to score, will be licking their lips.

Not since 1958 has a World Cup venue averaged so many goals per game, leaving soccer experts baffled. Scoring has been up in general at this tournament, but Salvador has been the epicenter of the goal glut.

"It is quite unprecedented in modern times," said John Ley, a soccer statistics expert for the Daily Telegraph in London. "Football was very different going back half a century or more and there was a higher number of goals in general. For there to be so many in Salvador is remarkable."

[dfwgator]

Only a little luck was missing at the end.

And Skill, which Belgium had in spades over the US. Playing hard will get you so far, but to get past this point, it takes players who can create those magic moments, like Messi did late against Switzerland.

[BeadCounter]

And Skill, which Belgium had in spades over the US. Playing hard will get you so far, but to get past this point, it takes players who can create those magic moments, like Messi did late against Switzerland.

I don't know if it still applies to the USA now that we have our own competent league but in the past, I'd heard that the USA plays somewhat like collegians, we can run, we have the work-rate but as for skill, that's where our fall-off is.

Belgium put together a host of threats before actually converting. But in the end mainly from AET I guess, we ended up with about even possession, roughly I heard Belgium had 185 passes completed to 165 for us

[dfwgator]

Maybe it would have been better for Belgium to score early, like Portugal did. Because really the best the US played the entire tournament was after they conceded that early goal....It’s like once they get giving up that first goal out of the way, they suddenly loosen up and play better.

[BeadCounter]

I’m hearing some people think Wondolowski really choked on the goal attempt at 90+2 minutes but I’m hearing others say the Belgian goalkeeper had gotten the angle down on him pretty good, so just try picturing trying to kick the ball into the goal where the goalkeeper is right on top of you. I think this was a similar situation. I can see that point of view some.

[BeadCounter]

L'homme du match : Tim Howard

Translated, Man of the Match: Tim Howard

Le gardien d'Everton n'a certes pas permis à son équipe de se qualifier pour le Top 8 de ce Mondial, mais il est tout de même entré dans l'Histoire du tournoi. En réalisant quinze arrêts en 120 minutes de jeu, l'ex-portier de Manchester United a effacé le record du Péruvien Ramon Quiroga (13) établi en 1978 face aux Pays-Bas (0-0). Incroyable sur sa ligne (47e, 57e, 76e et 79e), il a fait tout son possible pour retarder l'échéance. En vain.

Translated, he played real well.

The logo of Gent, Belgium Football Club.

KAA Gent, established 1900. Isn't it amazing how American their logo is? It has been updated but it is still an Indian Chief.

[BeadCounter]

That USA set-piece at about 113 minutes almost worked. Watch that everyone. Excuse: If the players had not been gassed, would it have worked?

[cartan]

This is what the announcers say. Strange, some other people are saying it was not blown offside. Just saying.

The German tv accouncer said the same, and I just checked a game ticker that also says it was called offside. Maybe it’s good that the ball didn’t go into the goal. If that goal had been robbed, we would have been angry about it for decades.

[cartan]

And Skill, which Belgium had in spades over the US. Playing hard will get you so far, but to get past this point, it takes players who can create those magic moments, like Messi did late against Switzerland.

Well, yes, but even so, the US showed good defensive style, and with just a little luck, would have made it at least to a penalty shootout, out maybe even outright won in extra time, if the refs hadn’t incorrectly called it offside. Liverpool won the Champions League once playing very defensively.

[cartan]

I’m hearing some people think Wondolowski really choked on the goal attempt at 90+2 minutes but I’m hearing others say the Belgian goalkeeper had gotten the angle down on him pretty good, so just try picturing trying to kick the ball into the goal where the goalkeeper is right on top of you. I think this was a similar situation. I can see that point of view some.

I agree; at least as I remember it, that wasn’t an easy shot at all. He had to get the ball over the keeper somehow, at a short distance, if I recall correctly.

[dfwgator]

I was thinking that, it’s a shame that we have to wait another four years for people to get interested in the USMNT again.

At least in Europe, they have the Euro Tournament in-between, and qualifying begins I believe 6 months after the conclusion of the WC.

So there should be a Euro-Type tournament for the combined CONCACAF and COMNEBOL teams. So you would have the US, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, etc. all involved. I know there is the Gold Cup for CONCACAF, but really, who cares about that?

[cartan]

Oh, there isn’t one? That’s strange. I thought there must be some sort of “American Championship” two years after the World Cup. If there is not, they should set one up!

[dfwgator]

Well they have the Gold Cup every two years for CONCACAF.

I have long advocated merging CONCACAF and COMNEBOL. Sure it would be a little more tricky for the US to qualify if they had to deal with playing Brazil or Argentina, but it sure would make for a lot more meaningful games.

[dfwgator]

And actually in 2016, there will be such a tournament. The Copa America, which normally is held in South American for COMNEBOL, is going to be held in the US, and will include six teams from CONCACAF.

It is a one-off to celebrate the Centennial of COMNEBOL, but if it is a success, I could see it becoming permanent, and held concurrently with the Euro.

[cartan]

Cool! Yes, they should make something like that permanent.