World Cup -- USA v Italy, post-match thread {R}

thanks

 

I don't know ... I just have the sense that the full story of this game is yet to come out.

Just saying ...

 

send beasley home.

as bad as the ref was, the linesmen were equally bad. there were a couple of italian offsides calls that weren't really offside. not enough communication by our backline.

******** this shit. this wasn't a real game. this game needs to be replayed.

 

Considering Reyna was barely moving and gasping for air, I'd say a substitution would have been a good move, especially considering all those chances italia got at the end.

 

We don't need to kill Ghana IF the Italians win. If they draw with the Czechs, then we need to beat Ghana by 5 goals or 4 goals (if the Czechs score no goals versus Italy). Needless to say, having Italy win is much more likely.

 

Can we get a link?

 

Exactly, I hope all their cards are retracted before the Czech game so they're full strength. And get well soon Perletto (sp?). Forza Italia!!

 

Perhaps we could have won. Bruce's biggest mistake was leaving Pope in after halftime. But Italy should have won. They had a man advantage for almost 45 minutes. This was truly a heroic effort under the most difficult circumstances. We showed the heart and a lot of times the skilla lot of people didn't think we had.

 

I was expected EJ to show up at the 80th minute, but my guess as to why BA did not make the move: 10-9, you play for the draw, pure and simple. And, we had our best 9 defenders on the field.

 

They talked about it on the post game show on ABC

 

Where has reality gone. Down 10 v. 9 for the whole second half, a draw gives you a chance for the next round (and a real one, not one based on goal differential) and you want to push for a win?

This doesn't change anything. If we win, we still would have to win against Ghana. I'll take my chances in the Czech vs. Italy game knowing Italy will want a win to avoid Brazil and that the Czechs have a defender and yet ANOTHER striker out due to cards.

Do you know what happens when you make you final sub in a 10 v. 9 game? A player gets injured in the next minute. Then you're 10 v. 8 and the game is over. Not to mention McBride defended heroically, have you ever seen EJ defend?

The team played brave and strong. We're still alive.

I'm proud as hell.

 

Both red cards were very harsh but two veterans like Mastro and Pope simply MUST know better.

Gooch has managed to play almost 180 minutes now without getting a second yellow. And he's like 23 years old. These 30-something guys have to be more disciplined. Both bits of recklessness could have EASILY ended the US's World Cup.

 

WTF????

 

Bocaneggra - MOTM....no doubt.

 

It's what Musberger said on ABC's postgame show.

 

Keller as the MOTM is off. He had an OK game, but I hate that boot it all the way down the field to no one crap he does. Also, every save he made was one that any decent keeper should make, nothing special to me.

Beasley was absolutely the worst player on the pitch today for either side. He's got the freshest legs on the field and he's walking, not challenging people flopping and giving away possession, just disgusting.

BA not subbing in the last 20 min qualifies as criminal stupidity. The Italians were tired, if we could have gotten a fresh EJ out there, I think we could have gotten at least a few quality chances.

 

Extremely proud of the 9 guys that finished the game, what a heroic effort. Particular props go out to Boca, Onyewu and Keller.

How Arena doesn't use that last sub is mind boggling to me. I was waiting for Johnson as soon as the 60th minute. I was even looking for Donovan to come out around 80, he was totally drained. Putting Johnson, Wolff or Ching out there could've changed the game.

I'd love to see some stats pulled up about substitution patterns of 9-man teams. I can't imagine there are many historical examples of a team being shorthanded for so long and not using all their subs. Unbelievable.

Even worse was leaving Pope out there in the second half. He was a step slow on every play and needed to clutch and grab and foul to get by. With such a rash official out there you're asking for trouble. Not to mention that Pope was playing like crap.

Arean's lack of substuitutions in those 2 cases is entirely unforgiveable.

 

Include de Rossi. That guy is an aßß. Did you see his foul in the 'friendly' against Switzerland??? This guy is a total disgrace for soccer.
And from a neutral: Great game by the USA. Completely different compared to the game vs. the Czechs. And I'm glad, because that means, that this group will be exciting until the last gameday. (In difference to the other groups)

 

Saving the last sub for a potential injury was the smart thing to do when we're playing 9. We couldn't risk going down to 8. Seems obvious to me.

 

http://www.soccerbase.com/refs2.sd?refid=542

Check out the 2001-02 season and tell me that's not interesting.

 

Damn right. Boca was a beast today. Too bad he didn't start against Czech.

 

Umm, yeah.

That explains it all.

 

Keller -

"no chance in hell Mastro should get sent off for that"

 

I was screaming for EJ also, BUT, at that point in the game, McBride was still moving fairly well, and if for some reason you lose a player due to injury and no subs left, you're now playing 8v10 - THAT would be stupid and scary as hell. It's a catch-22, but one that I think the Bruce played correctly.

 

Coaching 101 for the morons.