Face it. We all know what will happen. The US has done it through the ENTIRE qualifying cycle and will not stop it now. Against Algeria, you will see thise from the US defense: 1. Leave player alone 5 yards outside to top of the 18. 2. Allow him to receive ball with ZERO pressure. 3. Any defender within 3 yards must immediately begin retreating, giving the attacker acres of space to shoot. 4. Attacker unleashes shot to upper corner that Howard lets in. 5. Repeat. 1-0 Algeria. Yanks go home. Bob Bradley is a FAILURE. PERIOD.
Actually I would recommend we get this part of the game over with as quickly as possible so as to have more time for our comeback.
+1 Apparantley this team needs to have some adversity to be motivated. Get behind the 8 ball and fight for 89 minutes instead of 45.
Algeria can't hang back and wait for the US to make mistakes. They need a win, a tie does nothing for them. They are desperate for goals. They have to push the tempo because for them it's not preventing us from advancing, it's they have a shot at advancing and 3 shots on goal isn't going to cut it. To answer the OP question: I don't think Algeria is a very good team. Algeria has played ultra conservative so far and has played not to lose. If they continue to play that style, they will be eliminated. The Algeria we'll face will be different than the Algeria we have seen through 2 games. They have to open up and they'll create more opportunities for the US to score. Howard will have to come up big for us and the US must capitalize on the opportunities that they will be given. I'm not going to count any chickens but the way this group has played out so far has been favorable for the US couter attacking style. We're facing a desperate but still ''alive" defensive team that has no shot of advancing without a win.
What USA needs to do is stop giving early goals to their opponents. Once the opponent score an early goal they feel confident and play extra better. Howard, get your "stuff" straight!
considering haven't scored a goal yet, I'm gonna be mighty pissed if we don't score first. and to answer OP: they're good enough to be held scoreless and be in last place
Unfortunately we can't hang back either as a tie does us no good if England wins, so we can't just sit back and prey that England loses. We will have to attack to guarantee advancement, we cannot leave it to chance or fate. Best scenario is the US scores early and really makes Algeria desperate and we pick them apart, an early goal would do wonders for the US's chance to advance.
There's a first for everything... France beaten by Mexico, Germany by Serbia, Spain by the Swiss, Algeria tied England... Howard needs to sleep well the night before the match. If the USA attacks more than England did today Algeria will prob end up giving us a penalty kick.
Now it is on to Africa on the last day of group play. That is always an adventure with the guys on our current roster... 2006 WC: Ghana 2 USA 1 (Eliminated) 2008 Olympics: Nigeria 2 USA 1 (Eliminated) 2009 Confederations Cup: USA 3 Egypt 0 (Act of God Advancement thanks to Italy losing 3-0) There are guys that played in each of these games on the 2010 World Cup roster.
Well, it's the final game of bracket play, so styles/tactics of all teams adjust accordingly. But, to answer the OP's question in simple terms: Algeria have given up just one late goal,and While Algeria has yet to score a goal, they are now facing the group's most porous defense, the USA (which has given up 3 goals, versus, 2 by Slovenia and 1 by England). So, Algeria are tied for being the hardest team in the group to score on, playing the easiest team in the group to score on. Do I think we're better? Yes. We have 2 points, they have 1. But, is this game even anywhere near "in the bank?" Not on your life. Oh, and despite being in last place, Algeria can advance with a win (and some help from Slovenia)
i think if we score more goals than they do, we'll win. before today i was 100% sure of it. now I'm only pretty sure
By no means do I want the US to sit back and play for a draw and put their chances of advancement to the outcome of the England-Slovenia match. But, the US situation isn't as desperate as the Algeria situation. The only way Algeria advances is by winning and they have yet to score a goal. Algeria is forced to open up their game because a draw eliminates them. Algeria has played well in a defensive shell but they have been poor goal scorers. A wide open game favors the US. Our defense needs to step up and Howard has to come up big. No more early goals conceded. I do agree that the best case scenario for the US is to score an early goal and pick apart a frantic Algerian squad.
Oh how I would love to see England out and US and Slovenia move on. That will be two teams (England and France) that always have a shot at the Cup out early!
I was surprised at some individual skill by the Algerians in defense today. But toothless attack in 2 games. Think positively. We are in 2nd place after 2 games heading into the last match where we play the last place team who were in fact expected to come in last place in the group.
One thing I noticed about Algeria is their composure in the back. They rarely booted the ball up the field. Most of the time they passed the ball on the ground out of trouble. Seems like if we pressure their back line we could cause problems. So far though we haven't done much to press up high. We seem to give the other team 30-40 yds before we get interested. If it's the first half of a game we seem to enjoy giving them 85 yards or so.
And as inconsistency goes, Algeria is among the most unpredictable in this tournament. Will we see the Algeria that held England and outplayed the Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations quarters? Or will we see the Algeria that got blown out by Malawi and had that unbelievable four-red-card self-destruction in the African Cup of Nations semis? Under pressure, it seems like they'll either play out of their minds or lose their minds, and not much in between.
Algeria deserve some credit, but England were just poor, poor,poor; no spirit, shape or ideas. I think the USA will beat Algeria. Algeria have good basic skills, but what they lack is any sting upfront and I'd credit their clean sheet more with the general ineffectiveness of the England attack than a great Algerian defence.