Pre-match: USA vs Portugal, June 22nd

I want Dempsey in the middle connecting with midfield, not up front trying to hold the ball alone or running onto passes. Not his game.

 

With a fanbase of 33 mil. I dont think that will make any difference......

 

I am about to take off to watch the game at a local pub.


It's time to kick some ass!!!

 

The latest regarding the presence of Bruno Alves, still no definitive word but "there's confidence in his recovery".

http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Internacional/mundial2014/interior.aspx?content_id=890556

 

I was feeling really bad about the game, but I went out in the car and a song by America came on the radio. Then, in the store, I heard a Wilco song. Suddenly, I feel better.

As for what I'm wearing, I decided to go with the qualifying shirt since I wore the qualifying shirt for the 2002 US-Portugal game.

 

I have no clue about Vegas and such but came across this tweet

P. Schrager @PSchrags · 3m
My Vegas guys tell me there's a ton of "late, big, big action" coming in on the US right now in international sports books.

P. Schrager @PSchrags · 1m
Vegas source says Portugal went from being 60% favorite to win to 50% to win in matter of hours. "Shocking" amount of late action on the US.

 

I hope we can press against Portugal early -- we need to take the action to them. This is a team, I think, that if they are on their back foot, find it hard to find themselves. But if we give them time and possession, can carve you open. Will be interesting to see our approach...

 

If Dempsey wears a mask, it needs to be this one:

 

I sure hope the Wilco song wasn't "I am trying to break your heart"! , "Ashes of American Flags" or " Impossible Germany"

 

It's more of a counter-attacking team. Sure they have some technical players, but allowing guys like Nani and Ronaldo to get behind us would be far worse.

 

I don't understand why many well-read and well-studied US fans keep saying this. Wanting to "take it to Portugal," and "be aggressive." Certainly, different people = different opinions. But the name of the game is advance. Portugal MUST win against us. They know this. The longer we can deny them that first goal, the more desperate they become, the more aggressive and more spaces we'll see. I want to see a very conservative team for us with minimal open spaces. We need to be very smart on when we go forward. As the match goes into the 65+ minute, assuming that POR will begin to fade physically due to a combination of over-exertion and the environment, that's when we put our foot to the pedal a bit and put in a couple subs that can really put them on their back foot (Green?). If POR scores first because we give them too much space, I smell some 9-10 men behind the ball action the rest of the way for us, and I don't think we have the skillset or manpower to over come that. So...conservative, smart, and wait until the last third of the match to pick it up a notch. Go US!!!

 

I really hope Dempsey does not start up top alone. He had very bad games up top alone when he had to fill in there because of injuries for Spurs. He is just not a lone striker type guy. I fear our offense will be completely impotent if he does.

 

I booted up football manager pressed "continue" and got a news update that Ronaldo is out 3 months with a torn hamstring. Hoping that's a good omen.

 

My one big fear is that if we really start taking the game to them that there will be one time where we just get too lazy defensively and Ronaldo or someone else will get it on a quick turnover and they'll punch it in for an easy goal.

Because I know Klinsmann is in the room with them right this very second preaching "Attack, attack, attack"

Huge fear for me right now.

 

Via Reddit:

 

Honestly, at this point in time, I do not believe that is what Klinsmann is saying.

 

Oh my.

 

Off topic: Where the heck did this Algeria team come from? Or is S. Korea that bad?

 

He's saying..."I just got off the phone with Jogi and he says we just need a draw today to advance..."

 

Algeria is really good, Korea is about as good as maybe Panama or something.

 

So, not this?

 

Algeria looked really good against Belgium.....and, South Korea might be that bad.

 

Good, we need a wall mount.......

 

Sucker born every minute. They want that US money.

 

US take a red card early. Ref got the call from Batter. One goal disallowed, one PK given. Dempsey off with broken jaw. US forced to suffer through 2 CR7 goal celebrations. Bradley 2014 officially becomes Donovan 2006.

US lose 3-0.

Whew. Just had to get that out of the way.