You don't know that they win 5-0, managers make changes when they get behind, and teams play differently. As the USA did today. JK cost ys this game imho, with his tactics, he should have went 4-4-2 instead of 4-3-3 , which was really a 4-3-2-1. He played scared until 14 minites, then the players just started going all out. JK was accused at Bayern of being a bad tactician, I believe it. Hell we crushed Germany in 2002, with 59 percent possession and 9 shots on goal to 3.
Hmmm, I guess we'll agree to disagree on which team the U.S. looked closer to beating based on the game since I thought against Germany the defense looked vastly stronger and Omar had a good game and the midfield wasn't overrun thanks to Jermaine. But anyway I have to go back to consoling my gf but again, my respect for being involved with the game for nearly 3 decades. That's impressive pal.
That was down to Yedlin's inexperience although it was fun when he did go forward and pin them back on their heels.
Nothing is wrong with the round of 16 if youre a team without a history of top play whos not used to being there. As it stands, in the future the round of 16 wont cut it for the USA. Not anymore. Not after how close we've come to being better than the round of 16. The USA didnt play the best, but after 2 straight round of 16 exits, and being close to making the quarters...it wont be acceptable in the future. It def wont be acceptable to all the fans (even new ones) who latched onto this team and dreamed a big dream. We will be like Mexico...where round 16 exits leave you feeling angry and unfulfilled. You think the USA will be ok with a string of consecutive rd 16 exits like Mexico has? Nope...our country's fans wont stand for it. And some people are calling for Klinsmann to be fired already because he didnt advance us further than our last coach Bob Bradley.
They aren't far off - its the top 32 teams in the World based on qualifying if not rankings. Iran was moments away from an astonishing point against the Argies and Algeria made Germany work hard for their goals. Signs of quality opposition that have exploitable weaknesses.
I know, my question was a bit too complicated. Its ok, I can explain to you another time. Good luck the rest of the way whomever you support.
Yes, Belgium had trouble finishing most of their 26+ shots because they were pressured by the US defense and positioning. Howard stopped the other 16. Fact is Howard's heroics did make the difference. When it came down to it Wondos muff cost the US the game.
Now that did make me laugh at least. And now the thread is jumping the shark, I'll exit and leave it to the echo chamber.
lol... Yedlin is not five guys.^^ I am very positive I saw a little bit of Bradley's "island" in that flock, too.
Exactly - a better team finishes those chances, the US is humbled 5 nil and fans like me join the chorus of Eyors who consider the US not a very good team.
Yes, it's okay to visit the sites of other countries. No, it's not okay to make sweeping generalizations, nor is it okay to tell a country's fans on their own forum how we should react after a loss. What you said is you "should be angry." What you're also saying is that we should not have pride and optimism after the Belgium performance. You know what? I still have both. I have optimism that we'll find more Julian Greens, that we'll find someone like Gedion Zelalem or someone else. That the interest in soccer, our coaching in the youth ranks, youth clubs, and system are in place to maybe poach the next 4.3 40 yard, 40" inch vertical guy from the NFL or NBA... or that our pool is large enough now to develop our own Hazard, Messi, Ronaldo. I don't care, I still will always look at this game and ANY FUTURE GAMES LIKE THIS and think, we're almost there. Just need a few more players. We'll get them the next time... it was a bad day at the office... we created the best chance there at the end and on a different day we win, or if Dempsey decides on a different day to chip the GK or elevate his shot that we create a miraculous tie and go to PKs... that Belgium's shots were mostly from wide angles... I'll think to myself we just needed one or two more players. A few decisions here and there, and we were right in it. That maybe if Altidore was healthy, or Bradley didn't have nerve damage in his foot, or maybe we hadn't been in the Amazon and slightly more rested, we could have taken the game more to the Belgians. And yes, along with always thinking we're "almost there," I'll think to myself how PROUD I am of how hard the US fought when a lot of teams would have packed it in. I'll remember a quote I saw from a European player that he would always chuckle when he played against a US player in Europe, because the US player could always be counted on to still be running around like his head was cut off in the 90th minute, down 2-0, like he could still help his team win. I'll always have that optimism and pride about our team because I grew up on the Miracle on Ice, on Villanova beating Georgetown in 85, on Reggie Miller scoring like 10 points in 20 seconds, on Landon Donovan's last second goal, on miracle comebacks, on Never, Ever Say Die, because like Lieutenant Michael Murphy said to Marcus Luttrell, getting shot to hell while horribly outnumbered, You are Never. Out. Of. The. Fight. So yes, you are done, because you don't get it. This is America, where we never give up and we always think we have a shot to win. No, we're not the only people in the world who believe that. But that doesn't mean it's not an American quality. The Kenyans are known for their long distance running, the Brazilians for the flair in soccer, they're not the only ones but it's a defining trait. And it you don't get that after a month of reading our posts, so much so that you're surprised we're not angry at our team after today, that you're surprised we're proud as hell of the unbelievable fight, of how they represented our beliefs, then you'll never get it.
Iranians are delusional. In tournament play anything can happen and happenstance doesn't make you a contender.
First 90 minutes, the US wasted like 1 big chance in minte 92, belgium wasted about 7-8 big chances - poor finishing and very good goalkeeping from tim Howard kept the USA alive. still cannot believe how many chances we (belgium) wasted.
I tried to recall the game where Germany conceded 40 shots and Kahn broke the record for WC saves. Either that or this must have been a product of imagination of a delusional fanboy making things up. And no I don't think Germany has to bring up any 'what ifs' for that game, because they advanced after all.
Oh cool. Another post about how Americans are the only ones with the certain innate qualities of drive to win and improve. And the only players who "run" at 90 I guess South Korea is almost there too.
I know you're elsewhere but thought about the pats efficiency metrics and it acties ties nicely to my point about the US team. If you have just 4 dog and 1 goal you're at 25% vs 16 shots on goal and 2 goals. So even if Belgium outshoots, I'd still take the team with the higher efficiency metric - ie the pats.
But I'd does matter. If you talk whatifs your off the map? What if Cameron doesn't miscue that clearance and we win the group? What if that last minute shot goes in for the USA? To say close games and close results are two different things tracks things that don't matter: Statistics! Who, besides those trying to make a lame argument, think statistics matter? I don't care if they out shot them usa 40-5...if the USA wins 2-1 who cares? Well the losers may care because it makes them feel better to make excuses.. But close,games and close results very much do matter.
Agreed. Yet with all that transpired for 89' 50", the match boiled down to that one instance that will haunt Wondo forever.
Sigh... how anyone can live their lives with such insufferable idiocy is beyond me. Like I said, no it is not uniquely American. But it IS an American quality and strength. That's a huge part of why I'm really proud of this team, they personified that trait perfectly. South Korea... huh, funny you mention that, I'm South Korean-American. In living there and here, and in watching the South Koreans, there is a similarity in the "hard work" aspect. The "belief" aspect doesn't exist to the same extent as in America, nor is it bred into the culture as it is in the US. But belief and hard work only take you so far. South Korea regressed greatly this year because the players aren't as skilled as in 2002, not that they were world beaters back then. The US has more resources and a much larger pool of athletic talent to draw from. There is enormously growing interest in the game at all levels, the emergence of more and more prospects. Why wouldn't anyone think the team will continue to improve? And in reference to your other post, I don't think it's UNIQUELY American. But it is American. I'm repeating myself, but judging by the intellectually defunct nature of your replies, I feel like I have to. And WHO THE F%$K said we were the only ones who are improving?
At a point in the game where we should've been down 3-0 or 4-0 if it wasn't for Tim Howard. It's kinda telling when your first decent scoring chance comes in the 92nd minute....by which time the other team has already had 10+ decent scoring chances....
It's awfully nice of the public to blame Wondo and totally forget that it's Klinsmann's chickensh*t formation that really made this happen. I mean, we saw how futile a formation with no offensive capability was against Germany, and he trots out the exact same thing against Belgium? To me, it bespeaks of a lack of respect for his players. You will note how terrible we were UNTIL he subbed in Wondo and we FINALLY had some attacking players for our wide backs and midfielders to play to -- I am confident that had we played a full 90 with a reasonable formation (i.e. TWO attackers at least) Howard would not have had to look like a pinball machine and we may have actually made the Belgians play honest. Instead, we conceded 2/3 of the field to them for 2/3 of the game. I'm really angry at Juergen right now. BTW -- I am really hoping for a Belgium/Columbia final. I have to say that this game (US vs Belgium) was played as soccer should be played; hard and fast, but with no theatrics, diving or cheating. I'm really impressed with the Red Devils and wish them well for the next rounds.
The fans may not want to stand for it but the talent level is what it is. The naivete of the average American soccer fan is truly outstanding. There are other teams who are also striving to improve and have a much better talent pool and infrastructure in place to dream of bigger things and that STILL doesn't guarantee success. What you see is a forced narrative that is meant to drive up interest in the sport. Countries that lack that forced narrative would not be praising their team for going all out in the last 15 minutes of a game they spent in a defensive shell. It was reactionary, not proactive like Klinsmann promised. The spanish speaking media in the US has already called him out on it. Less than an hour after the game ended. They didn't praise the "guts and heart" of the team. That is a trademark of the US team.
Klisman played a 4-3-3 vs Belgium, and took off Beckerman for Cameron. Windolowski's goal wouldn't have counted, he was called offside, sven though he was onside by 3 yards, linejudge had to know he was onsides. He should have passed to Dempsey for the tap in. Donovan being left at home hurt us on our counters, no doubt. We should have playef counter football once again, Belgium have more individual talent than Germany. Best of wishes to them. Felani was my favorite player until he moved to Manu.
Not going through every page, but it seems some posters are refusing to acknowledge one of the all-time best performances by a goalkeeper (Belgium kept shooting right at Howard!!). My goodness, that was one of the greatest single-game performances by an American athlete that I can remember, and had to have been one of the top five performances every by a World Cup goalkeeper. Belgium was clearly the better team. Not even close. I don't think a single US fan will deny that. But the USA was also a tap in at the death from winning (Altidore scores there. Never been a Wondo fan), and a nice save on a Dempsey shot from going to penalties. While I was certainly disappointed in the outcome and play of many players (Zusi in particular), it was an encouraging World Cup. Soccer has come so far in this country. I remember the 1990 Cup when TNT televised games, which included commercial interruptions. I remember going to a 1988 qualifier in St. Louis where we beat Jamaica 5-1 in front of about 3,000 fans. Now, starting with 2018, anything less than the quarterfinals will be considered a disappointment, and I never thought that day would come.
Not much to say, except that I am very sad for this loss. But this was the best World Cup ever for the US. I' ve never seen people so excited about soccer as they were this year. Overall, I am very proud of how my adopted country performed. The US still is new to soccer, but the future looks very promising.