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| World Cup draw & World Cup roster...; Discuss away! | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 21 2013, 08:39 AM (954 Views) | |
| Johnbuildr | Dec 3 2013, 09:50 AM Post #16 |
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That is a great idea by JK. They should go again in March if too many of the top players miss the January trip to Brasil and the USSF budget allows. The more comfortable they are with the surroundings in Brasil the better. |
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Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum | |
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| Johnbuildr | Dec 6 2013, 09:20 AM Post #17 |
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draw results..... well, the USA was just nicely fucked by luck of the draw: USA, Germany, Portugal, Ghana |
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Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum | |
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| shelsoccer | Dec 6 2013, 12:28 PM Post #18 |
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I said somewhere back in this thread that I wouldn't settle for anything less than the quarterfinals for the US. After this draw, I'd be elated if we just make it to the round of 16. For what it's worth -- probably not much -- the US can harken back to the tight 2002 quarterfinal vs. Germany, a friendly win over the Deutsch recently and the 2002 defeat of Portugal. As for Ghana, well, maybe it's time for the US to get over that hump. I do like the way the schedule plays out. Set the tone vs. Ghana, get a result vs. Portugal, and hope Germany has clinched and is coasting in the final group game. The travel involved is another question. |
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| raconteur | Dec 6 2013, 12:51 PM Post #19 |
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The US' worst nightmares have been met, this is an incredibly difficult group, IMO the deepest from team 1-4 of any in this World Cup. I think the talk of travel distance, while inconvenient for fans, is overblown for the teams. They'll be traveling in jets from city to city plus Natal and Recife are only 160 or so miles apart. It is inland Manaus that is a bit of a journey but not too bad. it would be I think like playing games in Washington DC, New York and Dallas over a 10 day period. What the US needs to rethink I feel is using far away Sao Paulo as its training base. They'd be better off I think choosing someplace closer to Natal or Recife as their base camp. As for the teams the US face, that first match with Ghana will be key. Time for the US to end its losing streak against its World Cup nemesis. A win is an absolute must in this first game. Then comes Portugal in another huge match, hopefully Germany beats them in game 1 and the US can avoid defeat in that one and head into the final match against a Germany which hopefully will have already clinched and is on cruise control. That is the best case scenario, the worst case, the US loses or ties Ghana, then does the same vs Portugal causing it to must win over Germany to advance. One advantage is Klinsmann will know Germany and its coaching staff inside out, a disadvantage is Joachim low knows Klinsmann and his way of thinking pretty well too. |
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| Johnbuildr | Dec 6 2013, 01:58 PM Post #20 |
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A very astute perspective raconteur! Like Shel, my exectations for 2014 realistically dropped. How could they not? But both of you are right on target, given our group it is best to be playing Ghana in a msut win game right off the bat. |
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Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum | |
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| americafutbol10 | Dec 6 2013, 10:02 PM Post #21 |
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When I saw the group, at first, I was very distressed & a bit bummed about our chances. There's no doubt that we got "screwed" by FIFA & it's THE Group of Death...but we also have more depth than ever before & should be able to deal with the oppressive heat & humidity of Brazil, especially Manaus, more than Portugal or Germany. Yes, the travel is going to be challenging but no more so IMO than the Euro-based Yanks who have to make those trans-Atlantic flights for WCQs or friendlies, occasionally. I saw Klinsmann's remarks after the draw & liked his comments..."we will be ready & prepared"! It's about time that the USMNT embrace challenges like this & show the world that we have arrived, as an international soccer power! I'm actually looking forward for a chance at redemption v Ghana & Germany...and, should we get to the Round of 16, we will have a very winnable game (Belgium, Korea or Russia)! Having said all that, the Ghana game IMO is HUGE & a MUST-WIN for us! My head says it will be Germany & Ghana advancing but my heart says Germany & USA
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US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me! Michigan Football...Harbaugh Effect (GO BLUE!) LA Galaxy...5-time MLS Cup Champions! Colombia...VIVA, Cafeteros! | |
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| robdog | Dec 8 2013, 10:05 AM Post #22 |
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I just realized that the US plays on my Birthday vs Portugal. So Jurgen I have one wish for my B-day present. Shock the World & Beat Portugal I am not asking for too much am I
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| Supporter for FCK, San Lorenzo, Chelsea, Pachuca, Corinthians & Real Betis | |
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| TonyDE | Dec 9 2013, 02:34 PM Post #23 |
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Excellent observations raconteur. I do not understand the reasoning for staying in Sao Paulo and traveling back and forth between that base camp and the three cities where the US will play. It just adds on unnecessary travel. To use raconteur's analogy of playing in Manaus, Natal and Recife as being like traveling between Dallas, Washington D.C. and New York, adding in travel to those Brazilian cities from Sao Paulo would be like flying to and from Minneapolis to each of those US cities after each game. Even using charters, why add those extra miles when you could instead have a base camp closer to Natal or Recife? As for the games, the US' hopes will rise or fall depending on that first match with Ghana. A tie would not be fatal but a loss would there. But a win would put the US in good position in those next two group matches. |
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| Winslow | Dec 10 2013, 02:26 PM Post #24 |
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Agreed that the first match is critical, and the US benefits from playing Ghana first (the Black Stars were slow starters in '06 and '10). As for the Portuguese, they had Luis Figo in '02 and we remember what happened in Suwon. I was there! And it could be worse--we could be Australia. To me, the combination of Spain, Holland, and Chile makes B the true Group of Death. |
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| Johnbuildr | Dec 10 2013, 02:48 PM Post #25 |
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Hmmmm, Winslow, that might be the group of death for Australia, but the toughest group considering the strength of all 4 teams still looks like G to me. I guess your point is that we'd just as soon be in our present group as be in Australia's shoes. But I'd rather be one of the other teams in Australia's group than in ours if we were gettin' our wishes... Maybe we are helped slightly by not having any So. American teams in our group. There! I'm being postive!! :o) Nit picking now though, it will all boil down on who comes to play like our team did from the start in 2002. The USA has never gotten off to a start with that kind of opening fire since then in the Cup. |
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Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum | |
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| alabastergremlin | Dec 10 2013, 05:25 PM Post #26 |
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I think it should be said that our presence is part of what makes this the Group of Death. Taking the other group mentioned, if you switch us and Australia...we are still in the Group of Death. We finally add to the overall strength of the group. And piggybacking on that slight optimistic feeling...I'm thrilled about this draw. I see this as a chance to prove something. If we do fail to advance it really will not shock anybody but will be disappointing nonetheless. The expectation will be that Germany and Portugal will advance. However, I think we have a good chance and advancing will go a long way in showing where we are compared to the power nations across the globe. No, it will not put us in the top level with those few countries but I think advancing will put us just below that. We will have made a statement that we had a chance to make in 2006. We shocked everybody in 2002 and tripped in a tough group in 2006. We were expected to advance in 2010 and met those expectations. We have a chance to exceed expectations and put our stamp on the game. And if we can get past the group I like our potential match-up in the round of 16. Color me excited for this chance! I think the aim for now is obvious...Ghana is nearly a must win. If I'm JK, I'm showing the clips from the previous two WC's. We need a result against Portugal. And hope Germany has locked up their spot. I don't see any team we can't beat in our group. I see one that is easily better than us. One that I do think is very good but we can play with. And one we, in theory, should be better than. Bring it on... |
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| vince stravino | Dec 11 2013, 02:15 PM Post #27 |
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Look on the bright side. We did not draw a South American side. Neutral pitch helps our chances, I think. It is a tough draw, but outside of Germany, we can play consistently with Ghana and Portugal. We just have to come prepared from the opening whistle. As others have said, we need something positive in the first match and we need some mojo working in our favor when the other teams in the group match up. In the end, every group is tough. All the teams are capable. We will just have to perform. I am optimistic. My odds on the teams in the Group to advance: Germany 2:1 Portugal 3:1 USA 5:1 Ghana 6:1 I am a homer. |
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| TonyDE | Jan 1 2014, 07:51 PM Post #28 |
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Steve Goff of the Washington Post with his projected 23 player roster plus a view of various US players next games. Gives you an idea of the roster fight coming up. There is plenty of time for players to make an impression with Klinsmann in these first 4-5 months of 2014. |
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| raconteur | Jan 1 2014, 08:23 PM Post #29 |
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Goff strangely picks only 3 centerbacks and just as many right backs (although one of the right backs is Geoff Cameron who also can play in the middle) I just do not see that happening. He does bring up Maurice Edu, we have sort of forgotten about him a she sits on Stoke's bench. Hopefully he moves this winter, gets playing time and reinserts himself into the picture at defensive midfield. I always like Edu's game. |
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| americafutbol10 | Jan 2 2014, 12:01 AM Post #30 |
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-----------------Howard-------------- Cameron----Omar---Besler------FJ -----------Bradley----Jones--------- --Zusi--------Dempsey--Donovan-- --------------Altidore----------------- |
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US Soccer...Don't Thread On Me! Michigan Football...Harbaugh Effect (GO BLUE!) LA Galaxy...5-time MLS Cup Champions! Colombia...VIVA, Cafeteros! | |
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I am not asking for too much am I

11:26 AM Jul 11