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USA vs Ghana (WC; Group Stage); Monday 16 Jun 14; Natal, Brazil 1800 ET
Topic Started: Jun 8 2014, 09:36 AM (586 Views)
alabastergremlin
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The overnight rankings show a 7.0 rating for the US/Ghana game. Game 5 of the NBA Championship drew a 6.8. The final game of the NHL Stanley Cup drew a 3.4 (or 4.4, not sure). And keep in mind, this doesn't take into consideration the amount of people who watched the game at watch parties across the nation.

And with that, I present what might be the best watch party video and most important it takes place in the heart of Southeastern Conference country, the heart of college football country, Birmingham, Alabama. At Good People Brewery, home of the Birmingham chapter of the American Outlaws. A group I joined two weeks ago and only decided NOT to attend the game because I didn't know if I could do it publicly...LOL

US vs Ghana Birmingha, AL chapter of American Outlaws
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americafutbol10
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AWESOME video, alabastergremlin :o :D

Shows the power of the World Cup...that it reaches the most diehard of college football towns in America!

Warms my heart...as college football & soccer are my two favorite sports! Makes me wonder if there were any similar viewing parties in Ann Arbor, Michigan...my football team :P
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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Winslow
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alabastergremlin,Jun 16 2014
06:48 PM
Bradley probably played his worse game as a USMNT and we won. Think about that...

We lost our starting striker. Our most important player was off his game. And we won.

Really good points to remember, though this team can and must play a lot better. Portugal will, if only because it couldn't do much worse than it did against Germany.

Something I read today (USA Today IIRC) asked if Klinsmann has been overtraining the players, leading to last night's muscle injuries.

I am dumbstruck and awestruck by the amount of fan support, both in Brazil and stateside.
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alabastergremlin
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One thing I don't think I've seen mentioned and it is rare but, unless I'm mistaken, we made it through the game without a player receiving a card.
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James
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First off, wow. It feels so much better to win.

I don't know whether to be elated or scared senseless for Sunday's tilt against Portugal.

Much of it has already been said...the early goal, the heat and humidity causing so much stress, the injuries, and the emotional swings all contributed to a totally different game than I had imagined. But a win is a win.

Jones was absolute gold.

So, the biggest question to answer is what the h... happened to possessing the ball? Certainly, the quick goal threw all plans in the fire (they say in war that no plan survives the first shot). But, I think the real problem was losing Jozy. They needed to be able to get numbers up, but with the conditions, the wingbacks were slow getting forward. Without that target up front and the lack of options coming out of the back, there was no where for Bradley to go and everything ground to a halt. Just one or two seconds more for the offense to organize would have changed the formula. One of two things needed to happen, either Bradley needed to hold up the ball himself or Johannson needed to drop further back. But, Bradley looked strangely in-confident and Johannson was nowhere to be found (was JK telling him to stay up and stretch the field?).

Now, when Zusi came on possession immediately improved. Mind you, when Zusi came on, the right side of defense lapsed and gave up the goal. However, he was able to link up with Bradley once or twice. Result - Johnson has time to get forward and suddenly the Nats were creating danger again. For sure, Zusi's superb quality on the corner kick was crucial.

As ugly as it was, it doesn't invalidate the improvements that the team has generated over the past series of games. JK has been rotating players and systems leading up to the tournament, I am confident that right adjustments are there to be made.



... Ain't no pity in the Rose City ...
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shelsoccer
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Like Vince and ABG earlier, I also was struck by Brooks' reaction to his goal. Yes, emotional, stunned, disbelief. But, I'd also like to think it sealed his commitment to the US national team, not that he has an alternative now. But, more in the sense of, "OK, I belong. This is where I want to be."

I'll leave my amateur psychology at that. I'm undoubtedly reading too much into it, but I'm betting Brooks won't have any future dreams about scoring for Germany in a World Cup.
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Yogi
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You guys have covered the main points from the game. An edge of your seat match and I just loved the US reaction after giving up that tying goal. Brooks' goal will definitely go down in US Soccer lore, maybe not quite to the effect of Caligiuri's vs T&T in 1989, Wynalda's vs Switzerland in 1994 or Donovan's vs Algeria from 4 years ago but it is right behind them.

Ghana knew Bradley was the key to the US attack and pressured him well, you'd have to expect both Portugal and Germany saw that and will attempt to do the same so Bradley will need to lift his game.

Such a shame about Altidore especially a she was finally rounding into form but today's reports that it is just a hamstring strain and not a tear are hopeful.

Curiously shelsoccer I read Brooks was not officially tied to the US (i.e. he could still have elected to play for Germany) until he came on yesterday as a sub. I guess that also means Julian Green is not yet cap tied t the US either so expect to see him come off the ebnch in one of these next two games.
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Yogi
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tnorth88,Jun 16 2014
08:19 PM
Regarding the muscle strains - Too many 3 or more to maybe be a fluke.

I seem to remember in my much younger days having difficulty in hot humid conditions when muscles were over worked. Did we train too extensively for the Brazil weather?

any one have experience?

As somebody who plays soccer in the heat and humidity of a summer in St Louis I can say I do not have trouble with muscle strains in the heat and humidity, it is cramps which can become more of a concern even when you do hydrate yourself.

I find colder weather to be more of a cause of muscle strains especially if you do not properly stretch beforehand.

An interesting theory about over training as a possible cause of the injury problems to Altidore and Besler yesterday. I hope that is not true and it was just circumstantial that both went down with hamstring problems.
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raconteur
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I agree with my former teammate Yogi about the effect of heat and humidity on possibly causing muscle strains. The cold is the greater risk.

Gritty but not pretty, that describes the US win. The US controls its destiny in these final two games. We have all been critical of Klinsmann and many of his roster decisions and while I would love to have a Donovan or Eddie Johnson available for the Portugal game, Klinsmann thought otherwise and after orchestrating this win, it is very hard to argue with his personnel decisions now.

By the way, Dempsey's goal, officially after just 29 seconds of play, made that goal the fifth fastest World Cup Goal, the fastest goals ever at any World Cup:



SECONDS PLAYER, TEAM (YEAR)
11 Hakan Sukur, Turkey (2002)
15 Vaclav Masek, Czechoslovakia (1962)
25 Ernst Lehner, Germany (1934)
28 Bryan Robson, England (1982)
29 Clint Dempsey, USA (2014)
]
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Johnbuildr
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too late to post anything enlightrening about the game.

But as the father of a doctor of physicall therapy and so going by what she says, the the number one cause of muscle strains after over-exertion itself, is failure to properly stretch the muscles before the activity. With Altidore's injury coming so early in the match, it is almost certain he did not properly stretch the muscles for the exertion and conditions they were about to face.

What a damn shame too, as it severly lmits an already questionable offense.

And, the USA sure as hell didn't need Portugal to be embarrassed by Germany. They are going to be hell bent on regaining their honor against a injury staggered US team.

Not giving up on the team, as I predicted a win the other day, but not expecting much from our team other than a great effort on Sunday either. sadly. :(
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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vince stravino
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Yogi, I believe you are correct. Brooks was not cap-tied until he featured in a true international match for the US. His previous appearance was in a friendly.

He is totally red, white and blue now...forever.

Next on Klinsmann's radar is to cap-tie Julian Green. Somewhere int his tournament, he will make a cameo, I bet. I hope it is in the second round :D
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shelsoccer
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I hope Green's cameo comes against Germany when both teams already are assured of advancing.
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Winslow
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Johnbuildr,Jun 18 2014
06:22 AM
And, the USA sure as hell didn't need Portugal to be embarrassed by Germany. They are going to be hell bent on regaining their honor against a injury staggered US team.

But the US certainly is glad to have a +5 goal difference over Portugal going into this match. If our boys manage a draw Sunday, they'll only need to avoid disaster against Germany to advance.

And Portugal is staggered too -- no Pepe, no Fabio Coentrao, no Almeida, and reportedly a hobbled C. Ronaldo.
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alabastergremlin
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I'm actually excited about our chances Sunday. Fun thing will be watching the Germany/Ghana game. Lets go Germany!


And this might be a good omen but I found out today that one of my drivers (I managed a delivery restaurant) is the niece of Frank Borghi. No lie.
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Johnbuildr
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good one Ag, the 1950 US GK in the BIG WIN, no kidding?

Ok, you guys have turned me. Portugal is the one on their heels, not the USA! :D :lol:
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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