Yeah I am not liking this one bit. However, they didnt not really threaten the England goal that much.
Algeria looked good today and it does not look like a pushover by any stretch. Their GK was cool and in control. Something tells me that will not happen on Wednesday. Then again, England looks totally lethargic and tentative. No one wants to take the shot. Going to be a great group of games on Wednesday.
606: America: A taste of their own medicine I am a big fan of 'My name is Earl' Talk about an arrogant SOB... I aint even gonna look to see what Shit he's taking on a long pointy stick
So everyone keeps claiming, and yet you still get that possibility with the Mexico/Uruguay match. Or am I misreading that scenario?
Group C Standings and Scenarios OK, here it is. Points and goal totals: Slovenia: 4 pts (3 - 2 = +1) USA: 2 pts (3 - 3 = EVEN) England: 2 pts (1 - 1 = EVEN) Algeria: 1 pt (0 - 1 = -1) Slovenia: Advances with a win or a draw. Advances with a loss, IF the USA/Algeria match ends with a draw, or Algeria wins and both matches have one-goal margins. (Both Algeria and Slovenia would have 4 points, and even goal differentials, but Slovenia would advance by having more goals scored. Unless Algeria runs up the score on us.) USA: Advances with a win. Can advance with a draw IF England loses to Slovenia, or England draws, but fails to score enough goals to catch the U.S. on goals scored. England: Advances with a win. Can advance with a draw IF USA/Algeria ends in a draw, and England scores enough goals to catch the USA in goals scored. (They would have to score at least twice.) Algeria: Advances with a win AND a Slovenia win or draw against England. Can also advance with a win AND a Slovenia loss, IF either match is decided by a wider margin than one goal (would win on goal differential) or if Algeria scores enough goals to catch Slovenia on goals scored. Who knew that Group C was actually the Stealth Group of Death? Digest.
I know were not as conceited as they are but we also thought we would glide through to the next round. I'm very very worried for next weds. Gonna be a long five days.
Chew on this: USA 0:0 ALG ENG 2:2 SLV See what that would do? Slovenia would win the group on five points. USA and England would be tied at three points, with equal goal differentials, equal goals scored, and a 1-1 draw between them. Warm up the designated coin.
Who is 'WE'?!!!!!! You got a mouse in your pocket? I didnt think so .. and I dont recall a lot of overconfidence on here or anywhere else. The only overstating on here and most places was on what we thought England could do. Dammit... how many times you got to be called for that kinda comment.. ADDED: Just a thought.. have you been trash-talking on 606?
That's an extremely unlikely result since Algeria knows they need to go out and score to have any chance of advancing. If that game remains scoreless into the second half, I'd expect lots of space to open up for US players going forward.
Yeah I'd like to see us relax and play a straight foward game for the first half. Hopefully we don't give up an early goal as is our trademark. The longer the game stays knotted up the more likely it is we can get a breakaway in the 2nd half. No reason for us to go out and attack from the get go next week.
"Oh, dearest Michael, will you marry me?" ------------------------------------------------------------------
I am still quite angry about the referee in the US match, but I want to take a moment to express my disappointment in Torres today. My goodness, man.
Ya know... I guess that's fair. Of course, BB cant be right all the time and I'm more pleased with his roster selection and subbing than I thought I would be. But I'm taking a slightly different and more global view, and I am REALLY up in arms about Gooch and his piss-poor career choices. CERTAINLY we cant know if he could have escaped injury if he had been playing for a mid/lower-table EPL team but we know even if he hadnt got injured, he wouldnt have played much in milan. I may be all wet, but I would like to point out: it's not who's on your team that makes your mark. It's who you play against.
One great thing, and I use the term great loosely, is that I can't recall soccer getting this much publicity in the states ever. People and websites I never thought would give soccer notice are now talking about today's game and how excited they are for next week. Even spielman said he's become a fan. Almost crashed my car when I heard that today.
OK, one more referee comment because as someone else posted earlier, I think I get more frazzled the more I think about it: IF there was a US foul on that play, it looks as if the standard for a foul has been lowered to the point that there's no reason to take free kicks so close to goal anymore. Just let the attacking team play the ball directly over the goal line for a goal kick and save everyone the time and effort.