Author Topic: World Cup/Soccer Thread (2009/2010/2011) (Read 39208 times)

DPMOmaha · « **Topic Start:** June 24, 2009, 04:06:09 PM »

Who saw this coming? This isn't the same team I watched early in the Confederations Cup.

USA!
USA!
USA!

ronnynat · « **Reply #1:** June 24, 2009, 04:55:32 PM »

Great game. Howard was awesome.

2k6nats · « **Reply #2:** June 24, 2009, 05:03:23 PM »

I love me some Jozy. USA! USA!

tomterp · « **Reply #3:** June 24, 2009, 05:11:22 PM »

Okay, I'll bite.

What sport?

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #4:** June 24, 2009, 05:12:54 PM »

soccer. confederations Cup in South Africa. Brazil and South Africa play in the other Semifinal tomorrow. The winner gets the US on Sunday. Spain had been #1 in the world with a 34 match unbeaten streak dating back to 2006.

2k6nats · « **Reply #5:** June 24, 2009, 05:13:09 PM »

Quote from: tomterp on June 24, 2009, 05:11:22 PM

Okay, I'll bite.

What sport?

Women's basketball.

tomterp · « **Reply #6:** June 24, 2009, 05:14:34 PM »

Quote from: 2k6nats on June 24, 2009, 05:13:09 PM

Women's basketball.

haha, I'm not falling for that one. If it was women's basketball, the scores would be more like 18-13, 22-12, or along those lines.

cmdterps44 · « **Reply #7:** June 24, 2009, 05:46:53 PM »

Quote from: tomterp on June 24, 2009, 05:14:34 PM

haha, I'm not falling for that one. If it was women's basketball, the scores would be more like 18-13, 22-12, or along those lines.

Dave B · « **Reply #8:** June 25, 2009, 01:38:36 AM »

Spain had so many chances that the US got to and blocked the shot just in time

Nat of the Living Dead · « **Reply #9:** June 25, 2009, 10:03:34 AM »

USA.

JMUalumni · « **Reply #10:** June 25, 2009, 10:43:01 AM »

Great game from Howard and the middle defense stepped up as well. The goal by Altidore was nasty; he is only going to get better as he gets more experience playing in Europe. I wish they would use Adu more, he is very apt at serving Altidore and did so many times on the U-21 team last year. I am hoping Brazil wins, so the US can get another match against a very good opponent in.

Ali the Baseball Cat · « **Reply #11:** June 25, 2009, 10:49:27 AM »

I doubt that South Africa has a hope in hell against Brazil...though that's exactly what I thought about U.S./Spain, so who knows. RSA winning (or even making the finals of) a big international tournament at home would be pretty cool. I was in Joburg when the Springboks upset the NZ All Blacks and won the Rugby World Cup in 1995, and the whole country went nuts.

The U.S. hasn't ever won a big piece of FIFA silverware, so this might be their year.

2k6nats · « **Reply #12:** June 25, 2009, 01:12:21 PM »

Quote from: Ali the Baseball Cat on June 25, 2009, 10:49:27 AM

The U.S. hasn't ever won a big piece of FIFA silverware, so this might be their year.

Really?

UMDNats · « **Reply #13:** June 25, 2009, 01:23:38 PM »

i bet on the USA to win. nice

Dave B · « **Reply #14:** June 25, 2009, 10:28:25 PM »

Quote from: JMUalumni on June 25, 2009, 10:43:01 AM

Great game from Howard and the middle defense stepped up as well. The goal by Altidore was nasty; he is only going to get better as he gets more experience playing in Europe. I wish they would use Adu more, he is very apt at serving Altidore and did so many times on the U-21 team last year. I am hoping Brazil wins, so the US can get another match against a very good opponent in.

Adu played really well in that U-21 tournament last year. Took over games at times and made people look foolish. I'm worried he is undersized though. He's not 14 anymore.

ColtonWillems · « **Reply #15:** June 26, 2009, 01:28:56 AM »

Jozy Altidore has been my favorite soccer player since his early days with the Red Bulls. Needless to say I haven't followed them since he left, good for him.

Hopefully he gets his shot on a premier league team soon.

Can't wait until Sunday, was pulling hard for South Africa today, but what can ya do?

USA! USA!

JMUalumni · « **Reply #16:** June 26, 2009, 10:33:22 AM »

Quote from: Dave B on June 25, 2009, 10:28:25 PM

Adu played really well in that U-21 tournament last year. Took over games at times and made people look foolish. I'm worried he is undersized though. He's not 14 anymore.

Size is more of an issue for strikers and central defenders. Adu is the same height as Landon Donovan and Demarcus Beasley. I think the reason he hasn't been played, and this is what coach Bradley was alluding to with comments last week, is because of his lack of international experience (besides the U-21 tourney). He just moved to Benefica FC recently and was then loaned out to AS Monaco since he wasn't getting playing time in Portugal. While he does lack size, he has a good vertical to get to headers and has excellent speed. Then there is his pinpoint passes that set up the frontline nicely.

Dave B · « **Reply #17:** June 26, 2009, 11:16:46 AM »

i think it is more of a thickness issue than height. he is very slight. so is beasley, but isnt beasley more of an outside burner winger? adu plays in traffic. i'm not saying he is a failure yet, but when he played against somewhat smaller people in that u21 tournament last year, he was more effective than he was even in MLS

ronnynat · « **Reply #18:** June 28, 2009, 04:28:14 PM »

Fantastic first half for the Americans. Terrible second half.

Ali the Baseball Cat · « **Reply #19:** June 28, 2009, 09:49:27 PM »

Walked by the Brazilian bar/restaurant by my house after the game, and unlike the World Cup, the mood was pretty low key...some people drinking out on the sidewalk, a few flags, a couple of balls being kicked around, and one D.C. cop in a yellow jersey. I guess the outcome was never really in doubt (well, that, and after winning five World Cups, the Confederations Cup is pretty small beer...too bad, because it would have been freaking enormous for the U.S.).

Dave B · « **Reply #20:** June 28, 2009, 10:45:07 PM »

hopefully it gives them some experience and confidence going into the world cup.

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #21:** June 28, 2009, 10:49:54 PM »

Ali the Baseball Cat · « **Reply #22:** June 28, 2009, 10:57:18 PM »

That's what she said...

Quote from: sportsfan882 on June 28, 2009, 10:49:54 PM

(Image removed from quote.)

Ali the Baseball Cat · « **Reply #23:** June 28, 2009, 11:00:00 PM »

If nothing else, in the short run this ought to be a nice shot in the arm for the big upcoming USA/Mexico WCQ at Azteca...I don't believe the U.S. has ever won there, let alone in a big international game.

eagleskins · « **Reply #24:** June 29, 2009, 12:22:50 AM »

Who the F cares about the softest sport ever? It would have been nice if we won, but who cares? We dominate every meaningful sport in the world.