Wow. What a game... Really unfortunate that the refs only gave us one f***ing minute of stoppage time though... That was BS. US really missed some ridiculously good opportunities in OT, and I hope that we can find a fwd good enough to replace Dempsey within the next 4 years... We need stronger front guys who can push forward with speed. Dempsey is too much of a finesse player for int'l play, IMO.
It was nearly back to back identical games. The Swiss seemed afraid of Argentina and played in their own half like we did until the Belgium scored. Great to get out of the group but I would have liked to see them attack more, but it is what it is the Belgiums probably wouldn't trade one of their starting 11 for one of ours...tim howard had an amazing last game...assuming it was his last. Unfortunately, soccer is what it is in this country with its low popularity, but wow if we had some of our best athletes playing it we would be a force.
Am I proud of the USA, hell yeah I just have a few issues I can't get over 1)Green was suppose to replace the USA scoring machine in Donavon, he had 1 goal all tourney according to FIFA website. With our lack luster offense I don't see how Donavon couldn't of not helped this team. 2)IMO it was a bit embarrassing we didn't finish verse Portagul. 3) again maybe just me, but how can everyone be so rah rah when we won 1 game. Is that suppose to be good enough since it was Ghana. 1 FREAKING GAME. Again I'm all go USA but we can't just be happy we got out of group. We should expect to get to atleast 16 no matter group. To me it would be like us being happy we just won west, doesn't matter if we won B1G or Nc. We're just fine with west title
Wow, that extra time was something else. A completely different game. Julian Green with a goal on his first touch in the World Cup!? Altidore, Yedlin, Green: 24, 20, 19... there's a future here. I I believe I believe Tim I believe Tim Howard's a beast I believe Tim Howard's a beast I believe Tim Howard's a beast
Even if that went in I don't think it would have counted...that was ruled offsides (even though it wasn't) I believe. We really need to develop better midfielders, we don't have a Pirlo or Schweinsteiger. The teams who hold possesion and really look like quality teams have these players in the middle. Bradley really regressed, I don't know how his first touch actually got worse from the last world cup.
Olbermann is dead-on with all except one of those points. I think the FIFA video games do a lot for the sport. My five-year-old has a better understanding of offside, fouls vs penalties, and corners vs goal kicks than most the kids on my U12 soccer team... Mostly because of FIFA 2014. Every time he plays FIFA Street he wants to get outside and try moves and juggling. It's a lot like the Tony Hawk series when I was coming-up... I wasn't a car-nut until I got hooked on Gran Turismo. Even movies can do it: The Sandlot, Above the Rim, Karate Kid... Entertainment media can do a lot to encourage real-life education and participation in sports. Hell, my brother doesn't watch a minute of NFL, but knows the rosters better than I do because he's been a Madden-freak for ten years.
The sport needs a true super star. Plain and simple! Someone that will influence and make the youth to strive to be. Till then NASCAR will be more popular.
Could you imagine if Wondolowski converted that volley, but the assistant called a BS offside call? The casual American soccer fans that this WC run has created would be gone in an instant. It would forever be "proof" that soccer rules make no sense and the games are fixed. Though, I think the assistant put the flag up to signal goal-kick.
Nerd Stats: Michael Bradley leads the World Cup in distance covered in-game... 40 miles! Jermaine Jones is third and Dempsy is 13th. Bradley is also 5th in distance covered w/ possession. Only three countries have players in the top 15 in distance covered w/ possession. USA-1, Chile-4, Argentina-5, Germany-5. Stat we should be better at: USA only has two players in the top 25 in top speed. Tim Howard stat: Howard leads the tournament with 28 saves, Brazil's keeper only has 6. Howard will likely still be at the top of that list at tournament's end... Even with 3 fewer games played.
It's a pretty intense camera and data system by a company called STATS. There's similar technology being used for NBA analytics now that are mind-blowing. http://www.stats.com/sportvu/football_technology.asp
For perspective on Bradley's outrageous 10 miles per game average. LeBron lead the Heat in miles per game in the playoffs this year... 2.4 per game.
I'm not going to act like I know anything about soccer or that I even like it. I watched because I love anything the United States! With that said, I understand it well enough to know that Tim Howard is a f***ing warrior! That dude did not deserve to lose that game! It seemed like a performance of a linebacker having 25 tackles 3 sacks 2 interceptions and his team losing...I just felt terrible for the guy!