Pre-match: USA vs Portugal, June 22nd

Local radio guys start with the Star Spangled Banner. Then one guy says I believe that we will win, and chants second round, second round.

His partner asks him about the opponent, and the first guy says I don't know some country with a "P".

 

Same lineup as Monday; Zusi in for Altidore.

 

interesting. JK doesnt see any scoring by the US, just opportunistic football with midfield cover. I assume Zusi on the left.

 

holy crap, I think Klinsmann read my BS posts! A false 9!

 

It seems to me we're playing to absorb pressure and saving our attacking subs for 60+

 

wow! no aj

 

No, that's a lot of scoring opportunity with Demps as a false 9. He was made for the role

 

This means the 'sit and wait' game is in full effect, going to be another nail biter.

 

Yep. Given our options, I like it.

 

Cross well, Zusi.

 

with half a nose? He will be done by the 35th minutes assuming he manages to keep any possession as he is methodically hacked and kicked by a rotating portuguese spank machine.

 

Yeah, I guess if none of the options are a standout one, you go with the one with the least risk in this spot. That was Zusi. Plus, it gives us an extra man in the midfield to keep possession and free up Jones and Bradley to make runs from deep.

 

The morning after the Ghana match I was kinda surprised to find that the game was the first story talked about on The Front Row, which comes on at 9 am on 680 The Fan in Atlanta. Of course, it took all of 30 seconds for me to turn it off. I will listen to those guys talk about American football, baseball and basketball, but I just can't listen to a talk show that starts off by saying how much we are going to miss Joey Altidore in the next game.

 

We have just as many attacking players in this match as we did against Ghana

 

If Germany can play without any strikers so can we. If only we had Klose to come off the bench.

 

Wondo I guess

 

He should have more energy playing the false 9 than he did playing that wide/hole position against Ghana. More defensive responsibility with zusi now

 

And more importantly, someone to deliver a through ball. Something we were woeful with against Ghana. If Bradley has another subpar passing match, then hopefully Zusi can take up the slack. I'm not a huge fan of him outside, but love him as a central midfielder

 

I mean, I hope so. Last time I remember him banging with great effect was under Sanchez where he singlehandedly kept the Whites in 4 successive games.

He's the captain. All the best.

 

I'm not that surprised that Zusi got the start, I am however surprised that he's on the left and Klinsmann didn't swap Bedoya to the opposite side.

 

I suppose 1 does still equal 1...

 

My guess is they'll be pinched in quite a bit, and Bradley is deeper than the picture suggests. Sort of like a box midfield with an anchor.

 

Portugal lineup out yet?

 

I don't like the lineup at all. Can't see us getting a goal from the run of play with Dempsey by himself and a midfield in which Bradley is by far the most capable attacking threat.

I really felt this was the game to go for it. I guess Jurgen feels otherwise, though I suppose he may be playing for a draw until the 60th, when he brings on some subs.

 

A through ball? That will be interesting...because we are SLOW offensively.