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US vs Germany (WC Group Stage); Thurs 26 Jun 14; Recife, Brazil 1200 ET
Topic Started: Jun 8 2014, 09:40 AM (468 Views)
shelsoccer
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Ronaldo almost knocks us out of the Cup with a great assist and then gives us a lifeline with a goal vs. Ghana.

Other thoughts:

1. I don't think there was an effect from Manuas. I think it was more a case of one day less rest than Germany and the travel. Still, the US mustered perhaps its best chances of the game in stoppage time.

2. Neither team played for a tie. I'm not sure Germany went full bore, but they certainly didn't pull a 1982.

3. For the first time, the US gets to the knockout stages two World Cups in a row.

4. If we're going to go any further, Bradley better find his game and JK needs to find a way to bring it out of him. A key to that, of course, would be getting Altidore back.

5. I thought Jones had another fine game. He was almost playing his traditional role and Bradley's at times. Howard, Besler, Beasley and Beckerman played effectively. Zusi and Johnson battled just enough. Dempsey didn't get any service, largely due to our lack of possession.

6. As I posted in another thread, I was really nervous about the Gonzalez start. He proved me right for about 10 minutes but then was quite solid. I was more OK with the Davis start, but he contributed little and really left Beasley on an island for much of his 58 minutes. I thought JK was running a risk leaving him in even that long. So, I was wrong about those to decisions in the lineup.

7. I'm happily wrong about my prediction the US wouldn't advance. Belgium, if that's who's next, doesn't scare me despite the manhandling they gave us in a friendly last year. Belgium hasn't been playing that well, and they're young. Again, I hope Altidore can go and Bradley can find his way.

8. Finally, Klinsmann has to be given his props. There may some minor things I will question after the Cup, but he's brought us further than I thought and his decision-making in Brazil has been pretty hard to find fault with.
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Johnbuildr
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I am dumbfounded on how we can get out of that group with Bradley playing like he forgot all of his touch and field vision, if not his confidence to boot, without Altidore and with a "you-pick-em" back line, other than Beasley who has been the nuts.

I said I'd give JK his props if he gets us out of that group and I do so now. How in the world he did it, and how the team maintained a 0-1 game with that defensive, cowering approach to the match is a mystery to me as well.

But the Gonsalez decision was huge as exemplified in the huge goal saving header in front of Klose and some very good tackles in the box.

Yedlin needs to see more of the pitch. Jones touch and stamina was gone today but no one is playing withr more heart or making more dangerous runs. Still, JK should have sat him the last 20 with the card looming and no legs left.

We are through men, what a day and congrats to the team and the coach on a great acomplishment!!! :lol: :D

Tell me, what in the world could this team be doing with a healthy Jozy and normal Bradley???? :blink:
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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Roosevelt
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Don't know that I have much to add to shel's thoughts. I've certainly been among Klinsmann's biggest detractors, but despite the injuries he got the team to advance, and that's the bottom line. I'll certainly tip my hat and enjoy my wrong-ness!
Another day in June, we'll pick eleven for football
We're playing for our lives, the referee gives us f**k-all

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tnorth88
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My two take aways.

One key to the US success is the play of our midfield on D. Jones, Beckernan and Bradley have been very effective. Look at how they limited Germany today. And this may be a contribution to the ineffective O by Bradley. Often he is not very far forward when he gets the ball.

Second is we are very anemic on creating O. Look at our goals - great individual effort and set plays. This has been will be a problem as we move forward.

JK focused on possession at the expense of O in his picks. His bias with LD has limited his O options. We hear a main reason they selected Davis was his set play prowess. OMG!

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Martin
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A damn good accomplishment getting out of this group without Altidore, with Bradley playing below par and, without trying to beat a dead horse, not selecting Donovan (I sure would have liked to have seen him out there in this game and against Portugal.)

Despite Klinsmann's claims to transform the US team, this team qualified on what has worked for past US teams which got out of their groups in a World Cup- good defensive organization and hard work. That worked in 94, 02, 10 and now 14.

Now on to Belgium, as shel wrote despite the beating Belgium gave the US a year ago, the Belgians have not looked particularly impressive yet in Brazil, the opportunity is there to win this match but it sure would help if Altidore could be ready to go.
Club Sportivo Desamparados
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americafutbol10
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We did what we needed to do...advance from the Group of Death...but didn't like the defensive style, whether it was by choice or by necessity.

- WTH is up with Bradley? He just hasn't looked impressive, at all <_<

- I get the reasoning behind Omar for Cameron, because of his height, & thought he did ok but still questioning why Brooks wasn't the choice at CB?

- Tim Howard is a BEAST :D

- Can't remember a single, truly solid chance we had.

We advanced & like our chances v Belgium...only if we play like we did v Portugal & hopefully, we'll have Jozy back ;)
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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vince stravino
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I guess I should be happy, but it is more a feeling of relief.

Like Roosevelt, I am concerned about the lack of shared minutes from the full 23. Like in the Bradley era, I worry it catches up to us. Brad Evans was especially ineffective. He was not fast enough. It seemed redundant to have both him and Zusi paired together on the pitch at the same time.

Donovan would have been helpful in many ways. Julian Green, at this point, is just taking up a roster spot. Diskerud and Johannsson could have been helpful and could have added some offense.

Well, the ends justifies the means. Knockouts start tomorrow.
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Johnbuildr
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- Can't remember a single, truly solid chance we had.>>

Oh, af, you need to go back and look at Zusi's rip that was only a foot or two at most over the bar in the first half. A beautiful shot that woudl have rocked Germany if it had gone in. No way the GK saves that if it was a hair lower. And that is not to mention a couple of extra time scrambles in front of the German goal that we should have scored on.

But I am not saying we had much if any offense because we didn't. LD where art thou?
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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robdog
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americafutbol10,Jun 26 2014
11:33 PM
Can't remember a single, truly solid chance we had.

IMHO Bedoya's shot in the 90th was going into the back of the net. Lahm made a great run & block to stop that shot.
Supporter for FCK, San Lorenzo, Chelsea, Pachuca, Corinthians & Real Betis
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americafutbol10
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Stand corrected, Johnbuildr...Zusi, Bedoya & Dempsey had quality chances but they were few & far between, indeed.
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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garbaggio
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More than a bit late posting. I'm so patriotic, or maybe mashochistic, that I rewatched the entire game today. It was worse watching it the 2nd time.

However, we are through to the Round of 16 and that is by far the most important thing.

One thing that had escaped me watching live was how close we were to elimination for a good stretch of the 2nd half. I had forgotten or overlooked the tiebreaker sequence where goals scored is more important than head-to-head results. So, between the German goal in the 55' minute and the announcement of CR7's go-ahead goal for Portugal in about the 80' we were just a single Ghana goal away from elimination. I think the Twellman or Gray had mentioned it, but they had made some kind of mistake earlier so I discounted what they said.

Anyway we looked pretty poor for the entire game - like a team that really only knows how to defend. The only thing that saved us was the "Meanwhile, back in Brasilia..." part which we had no control over.

There was not a single 5-minute stretch of the game where we outpossessed Germany. On the other hand, we kept the scoreboard close and a good final result was always within striking distance. Our most dangerous attacking moment was in the 93rd minute (and we had 2 chances then). But, as Martin points out, we look like a one-dimensional team with a well-organized defense and not much else. Maybe Klinsmann's transformation has taken us back to Bora Ball v Brasil in USA'94.

We kept it close which is a positive thing. Howard was solid, Omar played very well after an early whiffed cross. Yedlin provided a good offensive outlet coming in late. The scariest moment was when Jones and Bedoya clashed heads and looked like they both might be seriously hurt. At that point I feared a late game meltdown but luckily both were able to continue.

We are in as good a spot as we've ever been after the 1st Round. Belgium is good but didn't overwhelm any opponents in the 1st Round. Last time we backed into the 2nd stage was 2002 and we went on to the quarterfinals.

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