World Cup 2010

[fanforever]

RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 12: Robert Green of England misjudges the ball and lets in a goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between England and USA at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 12, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)


RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 12: Robert Green of England looks dejected as he walks off at half time after letting in a goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between England and USA at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 12, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)


RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 12: Clint Dempsey of the United States points to the heavens as he celebrates his goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between England and USA at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 12, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)

[Fat Strat]

A couple thoughts....

* Howard might be the best american soccer player ever. He is just insanely awesome as a keeper. He has balls the size of Montana.
* Our back line played significantly better in the 2nd half. England had some more opportunities as they were attacking hard to get the 3 points, but they held firm. Cherundolo and Onyewu in particular were strong. Dolo all game. Gooch was his old self in the second half.
* Findley confirmed my fears about him. He disappears against elite competition. He had no chances at all. Might we see Buddle start next game? I hope so.
* Clark gave up the first goal and then disappeared for the rest of the game. Not a pretty game.
* Rooney didn't decide to start playing soccer until after the break and when he did we were lucky that he didn't play all match.
* I'm adding Green to my Christmas card list.

BTW, here was my prediction from page 11.

And in soccer that's all they have to do -- hang on for 90 mins. I think that the US has a knack for scoring on set plays -- corners, rebounds, etc. -- and Howard can be dominant. 1-1. Both teams start a little tentative for the first 20 mins., followed by an English goal and then 50 minutes of the US playing like mad and finally getting a squeaker in after a rebound on a set play. Tim Howard makes a few amazing plays; the Brits miss a shot or two that they should make, and we walk away with a tie.

[thrill]

Fat, you do realize that you are now part of my soccer superstitions and I'm going to need to you to make pregame predictions from now until we win a World Cup title.



DeMerit and Cherundolo were warriors. Gooch answered every question and looked like his dominant self like last summer. Dempsey is magic and TIM MOTHER [expletive] HOWARD I WANT YOUR BABIES.


I'm drunk, pressure is off and I can now enjoy the rest of the group games a ton more than I would have with a loss.

Oh yes, and England...congratulations on continuing your proud tradition of underachieving and playing like a bunch of individuals instead of a team. You should have and easily could have won this game 2-0. Suck a bag of dicks.

[Centreville]

that was buckner-esque. the brits are livid..

[thrill]

that was buckner-esque. the brits are livid..

Looked like a little leaguer playing short stop.

OLE!

Get your body behind the ball, son!

He may want to consider political asylum. MLS would love to have him. Chicago needs a keeper

[lukethedrifter]

that was buckner-esque. the brits are livid..

Looked like a little leaguer playing short stop.

OLE!

Get your body behind the ball, son!

He may want to consider political asylum.

Colombia, perhaps?

[Centreville]

what an amazing start to the world cup so far

[jim]

I watched more of that game than any other soccer game I have ever watched. I enjoyed it for the most part, the monotone buzz of the crowd gave me a headache and I absolutely couldn't stand that British announcer, but I learned alot. I actually think I understand offsides now.

And I have to say that besides watching the athletes and the obvious athleticism going on, it's hilarious. I love the substitutions, the yellow flag ritual, and words like "friendlies". I was ooing and ahing and absolutely laughing my ass off the whole time. I just can't get enough of the yellow card thing. Holding it over their heads ... that's really funny.

I did notice something about the game itself and the athletes, it's a very narrow range of athletic abilities permitted on the soccer field. Football you have posiitons that stress strength, others speed. Basketball less so, but still you have Kobe and Shaq. Baseball .. well when you can legitimately field a team with Matt Holliday, Dennys Reyes, and Aaron Miles need I say more? Soccer they all look the same, with basically the same skill set, outside of the goalie which looks to be a position that just anyone could do.

Is that a fair assessment? (besides the goalie thing, I'm sure it's harder then it looks)

[lukethedrifter]

I watched more of that game than any other soccer game I have ever watched. I enjoyed it for the most part, the monotone buzz of the crowd gave me a headache and I absolutely couldn't stand that British announcer, but I learned alot. I actually think I understand offsides now.

And I have to say that besides watching the athletes and the obvious athleticism going on, it's hilarious. I love the substitutions, the yellow flag ritual, and words like "friendlies". I was ooing and ahing and absolutely laughing my ass off the whole time. I just can't get enough of the yellow card thing. Holding it over their heads ... that's really funny.

I did notice something about the game itself and the athletes, it's a very narrow range of athletic abilities permitted on the soccer field. Football you have posiitons that stress strength, others speed. Basketball less so, but still you have Kobe and Shaq. Baseball .. well when you can legitimately field a team with Matt Holliday, Dennys Reyes, and Aaron Miles need I say more? Soccer they all look the same, with basically the same skill set, outside of the goalie which looks to be a position that just anyone could do.

Is that a fair assessment?

You didn't really watch, did you?

[thrill]

Is that a fair assessment? (besides the goalie thing, I'm sure it's harder then it looks)

Haha, of course it's not a fair assessment.

I would say more than any sport other than basketball, soccer rewards having a wide array of athletic skills. The best players in the world all have elite speed, strength, balance, coordination and conditioning. It's just a lot more subtle and tougher to evaluate since there are so few individually isolated 1v1 events. Baseball is the easiest to break down because everything is isolated. In soccer, you have to find the order within the chaos. That takes a more refined scouting eye.