2014 FIFA World Cup™ Round of 16: United States v. Belgium | Tues, Jul 1

Agreed that luck does play a part. I think Klinsmann should be given a chance to build something.

 

i'm belgian myself , but have been following domestic european leagues, european cups and international tournaments since the early 80's

If the current USA team plays the current Belgium team 10 times it will proabbly result in a victory for belgium 8 out of 10. You can discuss tactics all you want but belgium just has the better players at this moment.

All this comments like " we are more a team than belgium" or "US coaching/tactical play is superior" in the pre match discussion just made me smile. as if belgium doesn't play like a team or teh belgium coaching staff are tactical zeros lol.

I would rank USA somewhere around place 15 in the world. And they are a long way off being a top 5 or even top 10 team.

i would rank england around the same place and for england that is bad enough

 

Where were you living in 1978? Here in Southern California, I was unable to find WC TV coverage except Spanish language, which I watched only understanding about 25% 0f what was being said. Obviously that was before Andres Cantor's bursting upon the scene.

 

Toronto, Canada. I remember watching games with my dad and brother in Italian.

 

I too watched the Spanish language games. And loved them. After a while you really start to pick up a lot. Now I can watch and understand a lot of what is being said, actually, and I have had only one beginners course in Spanish travel language.

 

I agree with a lot of your assessment. Belgium is clearly a top 10 team at this point and the USA is somewhere around 15. As an American I don't find this all that bad. Being a Top 15 team is a good thing for this nation at this point in history. Would I like it to be higher? Sure, who wouldn't? But I am realistic.

I actually think that the U.S., if it plays the right lineup and tactically smart, could hang with many of the Top 10 teams in many games, though, trying to squeak out a 0-0 draw or perhaps scoring a shocker late in the match to sneak in a victory. And there is really nothing wrong with trying to win that way. A win is a win. Say, for example, Chris Wondolowski had made that sitter in stoppage time and the U.S. had beaten Belgium. You could argue Belgium is better with the 15 forced saves, but you wouldn't be on here calling out overzealous (perhaps under-educated) USMNT supporters.

I understand why people spend so much time arguing about style and such with soccer. When it's played beautifully it is a marvel to watch. But the bottom line is winning.