The Chance of US against European teams.

[SUSIE-Q]

Which European Countries do you all really think that we can win a match against,

here's my opinion based on the last performances :
- Holland : maybe not
- Chzech Rep : not sure
- Germany : we can definitely beat them if we play in a neutral stadium.
- England : not sure
- Poland : we can
- Italy : we can, anywhere we play
- Spain : fifty-fifty chance
- Sweden : yes we can
- Norway : yes we can
- Russia : definitely can
- Portugal : with Ronaldo and recent good performances of Nuno Gomez, i really don't know if we can

[Asprilla9]

i would LOVE for the czechs to miss out. they are literally one of the 2-4 teams that i would wish for the US to avoid at all costs. big, physical, talented + something to prove + only moderate expectations throughout europe. i'd almost rather play a team like portugal in '02 -- less physical, plus they had the incredible pressure of being a favorite to win the whole thing (pressure they couldn't handle).

a team like czech rep will not come out pus$yfootin' around like portugal did, they will come out cool, calm and ready to steamroll our a$s. i generally feel that, outside of guys like Gooch and McBride, we're still a pretty small, physically weak team. i'll think we'll fare best if we avoid the big bone crushing teams like germany and czech republic, maybe ukraine...IMO we're still slightly vulnerable to being pushed around (think Jens Jeremies vs. Claudio Reyna of '98, but less severe).



- Holland : may take us lightly
- Germany : want no part
- England : want no part
- Poland : ehh ... not sure
- Italy : they always take one group match off, only if we're the lucky one
- Spain : would love to play them, machismo driven idiots :eek:;) ... could take us lightly a la portugal 02
- Sweden : we can beat them
- Norway : we can beat them
- Russia : will not take us lightly + will have no real pressure of expectations = not a good combination for Bruce's boys

[dmike]

Which European Countries do you all really think that we can win a match against,

- Holland : maybe not
- Chzech Rep : not sure
- Germany : we can definitely beat them if we play in a neutral stadium.
- England : not sure
- Poland : we can
- Italy : we can, anywhere we play
- Spain : fifty-fifty chance
- Sweden : yes we can
- Norway : yes we can
- Russia : definitely can

Holland we can... Gibbs shut down Rud last time. Overall its not the forwards that worry me, their midfielders are their strenght.
-Czk Rep We can hang with them
-Germany They will be harder to beat at their home. We can match up with them though
-England iono...they struggled against some really really bad teams in the WCQ. Still a dangerous team.
-Poland ya we can even though they creamed us in the last WC
-Italy LOL......
-Spain by far the most overated euro team.
-Sweeden yap
-Norway yap
-Russia yep

[Asprilla9]

you guys, i admire your confidence. but trust me, we want NO PART of germany on their own soil. i mean, that idea is completely asanine. they would stomp us like a bavarian grape. unless we got them in the final group match after they've already advanced.

england? england has got something to prove this time around. many say this is their most talented roster since 1966, but probably ever. i know they've had qualifying slip ups, but i want no part of these guys either.

and i keep talking about teams taking us lightly, england is a team that is guaranteed to respect us (generated by claudio and brian of course). i want a team like spain or portugal that still looks at our clumsy North American style and laughs a la Ricardo Antonio Lavolpe.

[The Lion Keeper]

Which European Countries do you all really think that we can win a match against,

here's my opinion based on the last performances :
- Holland : maybe not
- Chzech Rep : not sure
- Germany : we can definitely beat them if we play in a neutral stadium.
- England : not sure
- Poland : we can
- Italy : we can, anywhere we play
- Spain : fifty-fifty chance
- Sweden : yes we can
- Norway : yes we can
- Russia : definitely can
- Portugal : with Ronaldo and recent good performances of Nuno Gomez, i really don't know if we can

Holland - Good Lord no way, not even close.
Czech Rep. - no way.
Germany - we might come close but we'd lose.
England - no.
Poland - no. This would be similar to a Germany game.
Italy - same as Poland and Germany.
Spain - slight chance if we catch them on a bad day but same as Germany.
Sweden - we'd probably lose by 1.
Norway - if we play well we could beat them.
Russia - we should but we'd probably tie them.
Portugal - no, they're mad at us.

I am a USMNT fan but also a realist.

[Jaison]

Holland we can... Gibbs shut down Rud last time. Overall its not the forwards that worry me, their midfielders are their strenght.

Are you kidding me? You aren't worried about RVN, Robben, Van Persie, Makaay? This Holland team under Van Basten is a strong, well organized squad. They're strong in the back (Stam, Boularhouz, Kromkamp), strong in the middle (Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Cocu), and of course their forwards. Believe me, you don't wish to be grouped with the Dutch.


Some of you guys are also really underestimating Sweden. They could be a surprise packet in the WC. With Larsson and Ibrahimovic upfront and Ljungberg in the middle, they pack a punch.

[dc 1sided]

Fun thread.

Holland - Ridiculous talent, but why not, they choke every time.
Czech Rep. - Too strong, scary.
Germany - In Germany, no way.
England - They actually can't lose to US. It would destroy them.
Poland - Absolutely US can beat Poland.
Italy - Decent chance, Italy shouldn't frighten US
Spain - Absolutely, overrated.
Sweden - Could win, probably not. Sweden doesn't mess around.
Norway - Absolutely.
Russia - The only team on this list I think US is better than.
Portugal - Why not? Double Rui Costa, dangerman.

[bltleo]

Fun thread.

Holland - Ridiculous talent, but why not, they choke every time.
Czech Rep. - Too strong, scary.
Germany - In Germany, no way.
England - They actually can't lose to US. It would destroy them.
Poland - Absolutely US can beat Poland.
Italy - Decent chance, Italy shouldn't frighten US
Spain - Absolutely, overrated.
Sweden - Could win, probably not. Sweden doesn't mess around.
Norway - Absolutely.
Russia - The only team on this list I think US is better than.
Portugal - Why not? Double Rui Costa, dangerman.


Russia will be not in the WC.
They played against Slovakia, 0:0. It means Slovakia has a chance to be in the World cup. This team is quiet new and they never played in the WC in soccer. We Germans had already a chance to play friendly against Slovakia and they showed their aggressive style of play. Their best player is actually Bundesliga player, striker of year Mintal from Nürnberg. Mostly of slovak national team consists of Artmedia Bratislava who play in Champions league of best clubs in Europa. They already beat Porto or Glasgow. I would not
underestimate Slovak team. They will know today against which team they will play in order to qualify for the WC. It can be Spain, Czech, Turkey. Slovak soccer has no history. But keep in mind that in former Czechoslovakia czechoslovak teams has more slovak than czech players. It would be interesting to watch Czech-Slovak how they play against each other. They play similar style. I would root for Czech in this case, but it will be interesting. I will follow how they play and inform you about their progress. I have the feeling that we will see both in the WC Czech and Slovak. They are really motivated teams.

The advantage of czech team is that they upgrade from game to game. They are good tournament-team. The best czech players are Nedved, Kollar, Rosicky and Baros.

I also would not underetimate german team. Despite we lost friendly with Turkey and Slovakia and won very unhappy against China 1:0, does it not mean that we are weak soccer nation. Germany is good tournament nation as well.

Bltleo
Germany

[bltleo]

Are you kidding me? You aren't worried about RVN, Robben, Van Persie, Makaay? This Holland team under Van Basten is a strong, well organized squad. They're strong in the back (Stam, Boularhouz, Kromkamp), strong in the middle (Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Cocu), and of course their forwards. Believe me, you don't wish to be grouped with the Dutch.


Some of you guys are also really underestimating Sweden. They could be a surprise packet in the WC. With Larsson and Ibrahimovic upfront and Ljungberg in the middle, they pack a punch.

I think no one wish to be grouped with the Dutch. I´m German but I say it loud dutch has really aggresive soccer and they offer many talented players.
It is always pleasure to watch how they play. This excellent skill balls of Rooben, Rud van Niestroj, Makaay. To play against Holland is always challenge.

[Jaison]

I think no one wish to be grouped with the Dutch. I´m German but I say it loud dutch has really aggresive soccer and they offer many talented players.
It is always pleasure to watch how they play. This excellent skill balls of Rooben, Rud van Niestroj, Makaay. To play against Holland is always challenge.

Especially how they are playing under van Basten. It's a very well composed and balanced squad. A lot of the best dutch players are not being played (Van Bommel, Seedorf, etc..), but the 11 he puts out play better as a team.

[Eliezar]

First off, the US does not want no nonsense, play extremely hard, and are talented Euro teams in their group.

This means I think that Sweden and perhaps England would be bad.

The second thing the US doesn't want is one of the more talented squads and in Europe right now I think its Holland and Portugal. Let's stay away from those two.

Finally, you don't want to play the hosts, Germany.

This means that we get to choose between France, Italy, Poland, Croatia, Ukraine, and Serbia.

Possibly Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, Czech Rep, and Norway

Since you have two chances to get Euro teams we might as well break it down.

Pot 1: Give me France, Spain, or Italy. (Let's stay away from Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and England)

Pot 2: Give me Switzerland, Slovakia, Norway, Poland, or Croatia. (Let's stay far away from Portugal, Holland, Czech Rep, and Sweden)

[bltleo]

Especially how they are playing under van Basten. It's a very well composed and balanced squad. A lot of the best dutch players are not being played (Van Bommel, Seedorf, etc..), but the 11 he puts out play better as a team.


I think dutch team has so much players that they send send two national 11 to Germany:). Many talented players don´t play as you right mentioned.
Dutch is strong team.

[bltleo]

[QUOTE=Eliezar].

Possibly Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, Czechoslavakia, and Norway


Well Czechoslovakia does not exist since 1993. It exist only Czech Republic and Slovak Republic

[The Lion Keeper]

I think the U.S. can do well against finesse teams like Portugal, Italy, Spain
but would not do well against an England, Poland, Czech's or any other team
that plays a strong physical game. I think we throw finesse teams off with our erratic play and we will be overpowered by the physical teams.
A team like Holland, just like Brazil, is out of our league right now.
A team like Holland may get knocked out of the WC but it wont be by us.
It could be by a team that would normally lose to them 8 times out of 10 but
just hit it right on that day.

[Shaydee]

We could beat anyone of them on a good day.

[bltleo]

We could beat anyone of them on a good day.

this is truth. ....a bit good luck belongs always in soccer ....and every team
has a chance to win the WC, USA as well.....so you can beat even Germany or Holland on good days:)

[Eliezar]

Being able to win and wanting to play someone are completely opposite things.

How about France, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia for a group. 8)

Then again how about Brazil, Holland, and Ghana for a group? 8(

[bltleo]

Being able to win and wanting to play someone are completely opposite things.

(
I think being able and wanted to win a game are not opposite things.
It has something common with motivation. I you WANT to win, you need MOTIVATION. If every of your players want to win, is perfect motivated, not frustrated, it can cause WONDER. So any team is able to win!

In soccer, nothing can affect performance as dramatically as a sudden loss of motivation. Without the motivation to succeed a player cannot survive the challenges soccer can throw up.

In general we can talk about personal self-motivation and motivation from the outside by the coach, teammates, friends etc. Both are important.

Every player has a dream in soccer and some players pursue their dreams and expect to achieve them through hard work . Obstacles are seen as a challenge and each setback as a call for more effort to improve and overcome these problems.

So beeing able to win and wanting to win is the same for me.

But i might be NOT right. It is just my opinion.

so good motivated US team, good prepared US team has a chance to beat any european team.

Or otherwise to say: Without highly motivated team any team can not win games.

Bltleo
Germany

[Bruce S]

remember Portugal in 2002: the USA had NO chance.Remember Colombia 1994: the USA had NO chance.
If the USA team plays together and has a bit of luck, they can beat any team ( Brazil?...maybe not). It is not also the great players a team has-you also have to look at their weaknesses.Portugal had Figo,Conciecao,Rui Costa... but they also had a defense that was crap and very disorganized.
One last one for bltleo: Germany would be tough, very tough, but I honestly believe that the USA could get a point from them, maybe better.

[bltleo]

remember Portugal in 2002: the USA had NO chance.Remember Colombia 1994: the USA had NO chance.
If the USA team plays together and has a bit of luck, they can beat any team ( Brazil?...maybe not). It is not also the great players a team has-you also have to look at their weaknesses.Portugal had Figo,Conciecao,Rui Costa... but they also had a defense that was crap and very disorganized.
One last one for bltleo: Germany would be tough, very tough, but I honestly believe that the USA could get a point from them, maybe better.


this is what I have already told. Motivated team can beat anyone.
Well maybe you don´t know. But before WC 02 I made a bet about games and i was probably one of few people who told that USA would beat Portugal. People have told me I was crazy. Germans laughed me at. But I won my bet. So everything is possible, especially in soccer.
I have never told that USA has no chance to beat Germany. I have told that your team can beat any nation. And any nation has a chance to win the Cup.
This is the best on soccer. Everyone has chance. The best win.

Bltleo
Germany