FIFA 2014 World Cup - Official Discussion Thread

[Franzl]

I'd like to see the US win, but they're incredibly lucky it's still 1-0 at this point.

[patrick1]

This is torture.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The US has no chance of getting out of groups, as expected.

[Arturo Belano]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Keystone Phil]

The US has no chance of getting out of groups, as expected.

Jinxed it.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

bloody yanks

[Keystone Phil]

Complimenti, Stati Uniti.

[Lief 🗽]

A legendary night. So proud to be an American today.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

And now we have to hear more bullsh**t from ESPN and the hordes of screaming frat bros. Death to America.

[Lief 🗽]

Snow stalker go move to Venezuela or some sh**t, this America and you love your country here or you gtfo

[Lief 🗽]

Just need a draw against Portugal and we're likely through

[Franzl]

Just need a draw against Portugal and we're likely through

Easier said than done. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather see the US advance than Portugal, but that wasn't a convincing performance tonight. Ghana screwed up too many scoring opportunities.

[patrick1]

The ESPN studio analysis is terrible.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The ESPN studio analysis is terrible.

ftfy

[bedstuy]

Just need a draw against Portugal and we're likely through

Easier said than done. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather see the US advance than Portugal, but that wasn't a convincing performance tonight. Ghana screwed up too many scoring opportunities.

To be fair, the US played fairly disciplined defense considering how much Ghana had the possession of the ball.  The US kept Ghana from attack through the middle which really helped and limited their quality shots.  Plus, the US has a quality goalkeeper.  It's not just blind luck that Ghana only scored one goal.

I think the better argument is that we were lucky to score two goals, considering the US seemed to never have possession.

But, we'll see how this plays out.  I think the US matches up better against Portugal. 

[Lief 🗽]

Portugal will be missing Pepe and Coentrao, their best defenders and are demoralized. They're still favorites, and USA will have to play better (i.e. connect more than two passes in a row at some point), but it's far from impossible. Ghana actually didn't have that many clear goal scoring opportunities. They had a lot of possession and made a lot of crosses, but most of their shots were speculative from outside the box and most of their crosses were cleared fairly easily.

[King]

Man, I don't know how USA managed to win that one. 90% of it looked like a Ghana kick practice vs Howard.

[muon2]

Just need a draw against Portugal and we're likely through

Easier said than done. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather see the US advance than Portugal, but that wasn't a convincing performance tonight. Ghana screwed up too many scoring opportunities.

To be fair, the US played fairly disciplined defense considering how much Ghana had the possession of the ball.  The US kept Ghana from attack through the middle which really helped and limited their quality shots.  Plus, the US has a quality goalkeeper.  It's not just blind luck that Ghana only scored one goal.

I think the better argument is that we were lucky to score two goals, considering the US seemed to never have possession.

But, we'll see how this plays out.  I think the US matches up better against Portugal. 

The US defense was clearly disciplined during the first half. As the second half progressed the side seemed to tire and didn't hold as tight as in the first half. By the last twenty minutes the defense was offering Ghana chances, but they only connected on one. Keeping the US defense tight for the whole game would seem like an important objective of Klinsmann between now and Sunday.

[Хahar 🤔]

America haters can go live in Ghana

[Simfan34]

America haters can go live in Ghana

Don't mind if I do.

We played well, but it was a constant failure to close that killed us. This could have- and should have- been something like 5-1. But we kept on hitting it above the net. I'd say it was just good luck on the US's part- that first goal certainly was- but it's our fault we failed to win. Good game though. US soccer needed this victory, I think, and I guess that makes it worth it, in a way.

[Platypus]

Pepe... stupid, but just reminding the world that soccer is for the weak. I'd've sent them both off, for diving and the Maori kiss (that was far from a headbutt), or neither. Diving is worse than the headbutting in my eyes, which is why Italy in particular are such a noxious team.

[Lief 🗽]

Also this was the third best part of the match:

[Bacon King]

All in favor of deporting Snowstalker say AYE

[Хahar 🤔]

AYE

[morgieb]

So how about my Italy vs. Portugal Final prediction, eh? What an ass kicking. They'll still advance (there's a clear opening for Ghana though) but definitely not as winners.

And no shock that Iran vs. Nigeria was the first draw and a scoreless one at that. Oh well. The streak of no draws was nice.

Face it guys, Italy is the only team that can beat Germany.

Divers winning again? Eww.