Look. This is simple. Jermaine Jones warms up against Portugal, walks out there, and defends Cristiano Ronaldo as well as he can for the first ninety seconds of the game. Things can get pretty heated out there. People trip all the time. People can get tackled studs-up from behind anywhere. Three points for the USA while playing down a man? It could happen.
I know Portugal is streaky, but I'm really worried about this sentence: "I'm not worried about Portugal because I have full confidence _____________ can shut down C Ronaldo for the game" And with his reputation for diving and our luck with referees, I'm very nervous.
Kyle Beckerman, nobody likes to be near a Dirty Hippie, has he ever washed his hair? Or taken a shower?
But we need Bradley in the middle CR attacks with width most of the time. Even still, I don't rate Bradley's defense good enough. That isn't his game. Either way though, the first matches will determine everything.
We got drawn into the second toughest group in the Cup, no doubt about it for me. We couldn't have been paired in with Australia seeing as we were in the same pot as they were. So, would I rather face Spain, Chile and Netherlands, or Ghana, Germany and Portugal? Easily its the latter of the two. Play against Spain (currently Cup holders and two time Euro Champs), Netherlands (who are honestly a seeded team, but FIFA screwed that up) and a team from the host continent who finished 3rd in qualifying? No thank you. I'll take a third chance against Ghana (this time not a knock out match), then matches against a beatable Portugal team and then Germany. Also, anyone else find it interesting that if Egypt had beaten Ghana, we would have been playing against our former coach?
Egypt, Portugal & Germany... the sports media people would have loved that mix with all the extraneous stories they could pull from it. "Father vs. Son", "Old US Coach vs. New US Coach", "Old KgLand Coach vs. New KgLand Coach", "German Imports vs. Germans", "Who can forget the classic Confederations Cup clash?" and so on, so on. Good news for the media, they can still use a lot of those themes even when you switch out Egypt with Ghana.
I agree with this to a point. Group B definitely has the best top 2 teams in the group, Spain and Netherlands. And Chile is also a really good team and should be very dangerous, especially in South American soil. Australia, they're a decent team but they are probably going 0-3 in this group. I still give edge for the Group of Death to Group G. I think anyone has the potential to beat any team in this this group. You can't say that with group B. Now, I still have Germany winning this group but I wouldn't be entirely shocked if they don't advance to the knockout stage.
Very interesting to see Spain and the Netherlands open against each other. England has a tough road. None of their three games are gimmees, but no superpowers either. Three winnable games, but no guarantees. This is where Klinsmann earns his money. Holy shit.
four year contract extension for your boy - and made technical director. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25358540 http://www.cbssports.com/general/ey...linsmann-agree-to-fouryear-contract-extension
Deservedly so. What he's done with the infrastructure and the national team deserves another 4 years (barring a French like embarrassment in the WC) Plus, the TD position... great move
Especially given the hand we were dealt in this WC. We have a lot to gain, but it's going to be harder to judge his performance considering we could easily finish bottom of the group and nobody would be surprised.
It is a good idea to get these kind of things sorted well before a major tournament. Either put faith in your guy, or don't but don't let it hang out there days before the big event.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8718890.stm
Assuming we want to keep the 2013 thread going, here are some slightly inflammatory remarks by Oduro about Ghana's chances vs the US. http://www.afrikansoccer.com/2014/0...cord-a-third-victory-over-usa-in-brazil-2014/
I think it's a little late for that, that team is ridiculously young. I think the average age is like 23-24 years old. I think time has passed him by on that front.