Pre-match: USA vs Germany: June 26th, 2014

I tend to think you are right, but you never know this is the world cup of unpredictability. Our best bet is to take care of our own business.

 

I think we should send DMB out for the next press conference. He should mention that we are aware of record goal scoring Klose and how he is strong in the air and then mention that we also realize they have one of the world's best keeper's in Kahn and a difference maker in the midfield in Ballack. And when people look at him funny he just say that he believes that we have great players like Reyna and Donovan and that we are confident in our guys.

It would be the best troll ever although nobody would probably understand how we were still hearing about players from the 94 world cup 10 years later...

 

Portugal is toast. The question is are we?

 

Ghana don't have much of a record of beating competent squads by multiple goals.

 

Some changes can be made. I'd like to see:

---------------------Wondo
----Zusi-----------Dempsey-------Johnson
------------Jones----------Bradley
---Chandler---------------------------Yedlin
---------------Brooks-----Cameron
--------------------Howard

 

You can get some massive odds on that if you feel that way.

We're something like 75% to advance right now.

 

I don't. I think Ghana will roll them. We blew a golden opportunity; good teams close games out, and I don't buy our ability to draw Germany under these circumstances.

 

The lineup will surely be the same. There is no room for AJ to start without Jozy since we can't remove our Suzi. Ony change should be Brooks for Cameron.

Yedlin in late for Bedoya again. Mix in and Green.

To start: --Dempsey --
---------Zusi==Bradley==Bedoya
----------------JJ-----KB---------

Down, needing goals ---

------Dempsey - AJ/Wondo
---Green---Mix------
-------Jones - Bradley

Playing for a tie late or preserving win.

-------Wondoloski/AJ-----
-------------Mix---------------
---Bradley--Jones- Beckeran--------
Chandler- Besler - Brooks- Cameron---FJ

 

The way most are talking on here, you'd think a win against Germany is completely out of the question.

Well after watching them against Ghana, I'd say a win against Germany isn't out of the realm of possibility at all.

 

I don't understand the pessimism. We've played pretty damn well for two games; we're undefeated so far. And Germany don't need a win anyways!

 

Do it USA. You've been excellent in this tournament. Go grab that 2nd round spot you deserve.

 

I am more reminded of Korea Portugal 2002 when Portugal wanted to take it easy to get the draw so both went through. Korea had other ideas

 

How about "we beat them 4-3 last time we met"? I know, a friendly, but Ghana did I when Germany were a lot more motivated than this time

 

I don't see Germany rolling out another stinker (by their standards). And I don't see how the U.S. won't have a letdown after the type of tie that feels like a loss. Bad combo.

 

Also, I wouldn't necessarily fear Germany. I don't know how it happened, but they are a finesse side now. There's almost no physicality to their play, and I feel that's something we can take advantage of. They're also rather slow at the back end.

Based on the end of Portugal, I wouldn't be surprised if JK plays Fab at attacking mid, and Yedlin at RB. Pace could be Germany's undoing.

 

I say we start out conservative to test Germany's intentions. We can't give up an early goal. I vote to keep the backline as is and flood the middle to ensure some sort of effective possession. We need guys that can hold and pass out of pressure. This is the lineup I wanted against portugal, but this time the tactic is a bit different...

Howard
Johnson Cameron Besler Beasley
Jones Bradley Bedoya
Mix Dempsey
Wondo/Altidore

Everyone is in a comfortable position and playing to their strengths.

 

I'm OK with this tactic. I actually this is the perfect match to bust our Arenas tactic against Portugal in 2002. First foul, first shot, first goal.

Punch Germany in the face. Dish out some hard tackles and attack a suspect back line, that's protected by two players who shouldn't be in the business of protecting them in Lahm and Khedeira.

 

I don't agree that Portugal's toast. I think Portugal still has some belief that they can put in an amazing performance and roll Ghana 3-0 and turn around goal differential while we lose. Its not like Ronaldo hasn't had great days for Portugal before. I don't think they are giving Ghana anything. Ghana won't have Muntari either, and Essien's best days are behind him. Ghana's midfield isn't nearly as dangerous without Muntari.

 

Lahm looks a bit suspect in his new position, I think the tandem of Dempsey and Mix would scare their backline and force Lahm&Khedeira to stay back, cutting off the connection between the CDM'S and AM's. Jones and Bedoya/Bradley fill in the gap on the counter and we have a good chance to hit them early.

 

We need to put Diskerud into the Mix for this game.

 

A couple of things:

1. The GerAmericans will be supremely motivated to win this game.
2. Even more importantly, this is where Jurguen earns his salary. Being a former WC winning international, he can pull this team away from any psychological whirlpool they may be feeling from pizzing away a win in the last 30 seconds of a potential WC group advancing scenario. The USMNT has never had a coach with his background and playing experience, not Bob, not Bruce, not even Bora.
AND he earns his salary by coaching the US against a team, no matter how much they deserve their #2 ranking, he should know most in the world about, tactically and technically. I knew there was a reason for his hiring--this is it. It will up to the US players to get it done.

Let's also continue to watch how all the European teams deal with their third game of Brazilian heat and humidity.

 

Well, I'm sure whatever disadvantage Germany has from playing in SA is negated ny the US having 27 fewer hours of rest having played in manaus...

 

The game will be in Recife, which is a cooler more southern city. We are lucky there.

Bradley really must have been feeling the heat with that horiffic howler. It must have led him to a weak moment of the mind. Surely a guy who runs that much would suffer from tropical heat more than others.

Yedlin could start the game. Bedoya was really no good going forward at all.

We need to play 5 in the back this game, with Yedlin on the wing. Jones stays back. Attack with 4 players.

--------Dempsey--------
-------Zusi----Bradley-----YEdlin
--------------Jones
---Beas --Bes-Gonzales-Cameron-FJ

 

I'm starting to get really worried. I think we now have to get some kind of result on Thursday. All the stars were aligned for a US win today, and it seems the opposite is true Thursday.

Portugal is going to be in attack mode from the beginning...they have no choice with their goal differential. Even if they go up 1-0, they have to keep scoring to have any hope of advancing. A 1-0 or even 2-0 win does very little for them. They need to keep players forward...and which team has shown the ability to finish counter attacks with ruthless efficiency? I'll take Ghana for $500, Alex...and for the daily double, the answer to "which team's back line is currently a train wreck?" is...Portugal! At least they will get Pepe back. Still, I just can't see this game ending in a draw. Both teams need a win. If t's tied late, both teams will start taking reckless chances going forward. Why wouldn't they? A draw is effectively a loss for both of them.

As for all this pregame secret handshake with Germany, the hell with that. I wouldn't want to advance in what is essentially a fixed game, and if the US was ever on the wrong end of that scenario where two teams conspired to screw us, this forum would scream bloody murder (rightfully so). Brazil did us a huge favor in the 2009 Confed Cup when they could have just sat back and agreed to draw with Italy...lets not ruin the karma with some kind of pro wrestling-style predetermined outcome. If it can't be earned legitimately, I'd rather go home.

 

Could play him underneath Dempsey with Jones and Bradley or Rasta and Bradley in deep roles.