America at the World Cup?

[Wildcat1]

title changed

[Masherbrum]

Masherbrum must have tried out for the soccer team and got rejected.   

No, I'm just not so hung up on "National Pride" that I put blinders on and think they're actually "anything more than an average team".   

[Rino]

     It does sound like serious sour grapes ever time this topic comes up K.  As I have said before, I have
never liked FIFA...they refuse to admit mistakes or compromise.

     One thing interesting about the World Cup is that Europe gets 3-4 times as many slots as the rest of the world.
Very curious, hmm?

[SEraider]

I like our chances against Algeria.  That is a team we should beat providing we stop giving up 1st goals.  I think Altidore still has a chance to be a factor in future games (provided we win to advance).  I'd put Dempsey up front with Altidore.

But hey, any team is as good as their last result.  Just look at Germany.  They dominated 1st game and now they suck cause they lost their 2nd game.  As some would say.

[SEraider]

    It does sound like serious sour grapes ever time this topic comes up K.  As I have said before, I have
never liked FIFA...they refuse to admit mistakes or compromise.

     One thing interesting about the World Cup is that Europe gets 3-4 times as many slots as the rest of the world.
Very curious, hmm?

That is because European Soccer is a higher bar and better developed than the rest of the world.

[SEraider]

Altidore needs to be benched. he is about as useless as a striker can be.   

The US if they advance, will not last long.

Altidore played a crucial part in the 2nd goal by his post presence to bradley.  You don't have to score every game to be a valuable asset to a team.  Just look at Luciano (Brazil), no goals in a few games and scores 2 yesterday. 

I agree they wont last long as long as the defense falls asleep like they do in the beginning of games.  It's been dissapointing because several months ago they were way better than now.  But, they are as good or bad as the last result so we'll see what happens Wednesday. 

[TinmanX]

That is because European Soccer is a higher bar and better developed than the rest of the world.

Also because there are a heck of a lot more football playing countries in Europe than other continents.

[SEraider]

Also because there are a heck of a lot more football playing countries in Europe than other continents.

That too...

[Rino]

     Yep, you can fit alot of postage stamp size countries in a place the size of Europe 

[Raptor]

    Same here on the US thing, but I am a realist and do NOT buy into the "hype" of our Team.   

In the confederate cup USA beat Germany and was beating Brazil 2-0 but Brazil came back to win 3-2. The US is a better than average team but played below average first half. In the world cup after watching Germany play in the opener round I thought they would be one of the main contenders, however after their loss to serbia I now think that Brazil is one of the few teams to show enough consistency to win the World Cup. While I do not think the US will win it, I do think that when they have the proper mindset they can play competitively with the best.

[68Wooley]

     Yep, you can fit alot of postage stamp size countries in a place the size of Europe 

The postage stamp sized countries are doing better than the big ones right now. But seriously, who would you say deserves to be in the World Cup more than - say - Slovenia?

[Hoarach]

I think the US will do pretty well depending on if they will beat Algeria and who their next opponents would be.

Cant really count anyone out though in this World Cup, with the Serbia vs Germany the prime example.  Hell even North Korea gave Brazil a run for its money.

When I was London on my 2nd to last day, I was downtown watching the US vs England game and most people, there as much as they wanted US to lose, kept saying watch out for the Americans, its going be real close.  So even the Englanders are aware of the US apparent chances.

[Dragon]

If you cannot pass/dribble...."speed" is pointless.   

The accuracy of the USA's passing could be rated at piss poor or less.  These guys really need to work on their SA.

[jdbecks]

If you cannot pass/dribble...."speed" is pointless.  

hence the part " Technical Ability "  

[shiv]

Come on.   I watched the 1st half and on Slovenia's 1st goal, Howard didn't move an inch.   They did sh*t for the 47 minutes of the 1st half.   To gripe about a blown call is pointless.   They f*cked around the 1st half and it bit them in the arse.   Altidore needs to be benched. he is about as useless as a striker can be.   He's absolutely a pain to watch, the ball is either whiffed/missed by him 9 times out of 10.   

The US if they advance, will not last long.

Howard was out of position on that goal, true, but they're no way Birsa should have had all that space.  It wasn't all Howard's fault, the defense should have closed Birsa down.

And I don't know what you're watching but Altidore is having quite a good World Cup.  He's being played as a classic target forward which means he's getting the ball with his back to goal most of the time, and then he has to either hold it to wait for support for the midfield, or turn his marker, which he's done a few times quite nicely.  

Findley was the problem up top - thankfully he's out for the Algeria game.  Like to see Buddle in there, but I won't complain if they just go with the second half side against Slovenia with Dempsey and Altidore as strike partners.

As others have pointed out the real problem is holding the ball and passing.  Maybe with Feilhaber in there they'll settle down.  Edu on the other hand, goal-non-goal notwithstanding, did not look comfortable out there.  But again I won't complain if they go with the second-half lineup.