Official USMNT Rio 2014 Thread

Cerebus · June 23, 2014

I was watching in my office. My reaction to the end of that game:

MeanGreenHoops · June 23, 2014

I was watching in my office. My reaction to the end of that game:

I'm still not over it. And I agree what was Gonzales doing? The last play was a comedy of errors leading to a great cross and finish and you're dead. Basically we made two mistakes in the game and paid dearly. I hate that Thursday matters so much now.

The World Cup ratings don't surprise me, so many people like watching it. I think it's funny watching the idiot broadcasters on tv trying to talk about it. You can tell they feel dumb.

This game was a microcosm of US Soccer. Funny, everyone blasted Klinnsman for saying that winning the title wasn't realistic because we had to play the best 7 games of our lives to do it. But that game shows how hard that is to do. We played our best game for 93 minutes, but those other two blew it.

I really hope we can win/draw Germany

MeanGreenHoops · June 23, 2014

So I've watched that last play 10+ times and listened to tons of post-game....and the one thing that I don't understand is what was Gonzales doing? You bring him on to sit right in the middle of defense and take out any balls sent into the box through the air. That is the extent to which his skillset can possibly be used at this level. Nothing more. Period.

Where was he playing?---up in the mid-field next to Jermaine Jones and Beckerman. Someone please explain this to me. I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable soccer fan, and all I can come up with is that either Gonzo is the dumbest mother effer on the earth or our coaching staff is, collectively, a bunch of morons.

Well, that was what they wanted him to do, but he is worthless there. I disagreed with the substitution more because it told them team, ok just hold on now, and they turned off too soon.

H-towngreen · June 23, 2014

Not a gonzo fan at all. Fabian Jihnson had a great match, as did Beasley.

ChristopherRyanWilkes · June 23, 2014

I think Portugal will be stronger against Ghana and Ghana is without their key midfielder. I think that game will either draw or Portugal will win in a close one which would have the US advance. Was tossing and turning last night thinking of all the scenarios and that last second goal. But as a Dallas sports fan I've become accustomed to the choke.

Cerebus · June 23, 2014

Michael Bradley had quite possibly his worst game in an American shirt.

Bradley had the worst game I've seen from him in years.

So... how do you guys think... he did... against Portugal?

I'll hang up and listen.

TIgreen01 · June 23, 2014

So... how do you guys think... he did... against Portugal?

I'll hang up and listen.

Better, but still not good---or good enough. He's still giving the ball away much too easily. In the Ghana game he rushed everything and was wildly inaccurate. Yesterday he was more patient, but his touch is still not there.

To me, and it's been debated elsewhere, there is something to this "he doesn't play well as well with Jones as he does Beckerman" line of thinking. It has been interesting to see the staff put them ALL on the field at the same time, and kind of force Bradley to trust those guys to do the heavy lifting on defense so he's free to move forward. But yesterday you saw Bradley dropping deep again and picking up possession around our own box. I think Jones and Beckerman have been the stars of the team. Nobody is talking at all about Beckerman, and that says a lot---that's what is supposed to happen when your central defensive midfielder is doing his job. Kind of like the offensive line---if you're talking about him, it's a bad thing. Either way, Jones and Beckerman need to be trusted a bit more and Bradley needs to continue to settle down and work on linking with Zusi, Bedoya and Dempsey. Most of our dangerous pushes yesterday were started by Jones or Beckerman linking guys up (esp. the Jones - Johnson link that was there all day long), and not by Bradley.

Ultimately, he and Jones are very similar players in what they want to do on the field. So they struggle when they have to share the field. I think with Jones being absolutely on fire, we can't take him off. If Bradley continues the bad give-aways Germany will punish us mercilessly--whether or not they take it easier on us because they only need a draw, like Klinnsy, or any number of other reasons. I'd like to see us take Bradley off if it looks like he's going to have another bad game---or we find ourselves in a position late where we need to keep possession to kill off the game.

Edited June 23, 2014 by TIgreen01

TIgreen01 · June 23, 2014

Basically we made two mistakes in the game and paid dearly.

Which is why I was so worried about this team's back line before the tournament. We've seen them be prone to all sorts of lapses over the past 2-3 years. How many games did we start over that period where we give up an easy goal inside of 10 minutes?

What we saw yesterday should come as no surprise. It's what happens when you have nobody really step up to captain the back line. We've finally gotten settled into Besler & Cameron holding down the middle, but Cameron showed yesterday why he's not really a CB. Honestly, I think a lot of it comes down to communication and having that field general out there making sure guys are in the right spot and making the right challenges.

To be fair, our midfield play has done a great job protecting that back line and has played mostly beyond expectations (Bradley being the obvious exception with Bedoya not far behind).

Edited June 23, 2014 by TIgreen01

Cerebus · June 23, 2014

Mexico v Croatia:

9 Rakitic picks up a yellow. I'll let you guess which country he plays for.
16 Croatia has been the better side, but Mexico just bounced a ball off the cross bar.
18 Peralta slips and hoses a sure goal.
23 People have kicked the ball around a lot, it's been pretty entertaining.
25 There a section in the Mexican crowd dressed like El Chavo del Ocho. Awesome.
28 Croatia has been generating a lot of pressure, but nothing on goal yet. If they keep giving them chances they will find the range.
30 The guy in the Aztec ManKini should have worked out more first.
33 Rakitic fouls hard on an obvious break and really dares the ref to give him a second yellow. The ref declines. Croatia is getting really chippy. Dos Santos gets mugged right afterwards.
35 Croatia makes the bold fashion statement of showing how hungry they are for this win by wearing table cloths.
36 Mexico continues their proud tradition of being really terrible on set pieces.
38 Croatia gets away with a CLEAR handball... leads to a brake away where Marques has to mug someone and gets a yellow card.
39 Croatia misses the free kick. Lots of chances, no range... so far.
41 Mexico jumps right into the GK. I've been told that's illegal. Shame, seemed a promising tactic. Mexico still AWFUL on set pieces.
44 Mexico gets called for a questionable foul while on attack. El Piojo does what he does best, looks disgusted and angry.
45 Ref has to separate players after a hard sliding tackle by Mexico.
45+ Ref calls a hard foul against Croatia while they take a corner. Things are getting even more chippy.
HALFTIME: There was much ball kicking. Nothing much else happened. ESPN will make the mistake of going in for analysis instead of just showing attractive Brazilian women in the crowd.

Edited June 23, 2014 by Cerebus

MeanGreenHoops · June 23, 2014

Which is why I was so worried about this team's back line before the tournament. We've seen them be prone to all sorts of lapses over the past 2-3 years. How many games did we start over that period where we give up an easy goal inside of 10 minutes?

What we saw yesterday should come as no surprise. It's what happens when you have nobody really step up to captain the back line. We've finally gotten settled into Besler & Cameron holding down the middle, but Cameron showed yesterday why he's not really a CB. Honestly, I think a lot of it comes down to communication and having that field general out there making sure guys are in the right spot and making the right challenges.

To be fair, our midfield play has done a great job protecting that back line and has played mostly beyond expectations (Bradley being the obvious exception with Bedoya not far behind).

I think most of those lapses were due to Gonzalez who's been benched in favor of Cameron. I don't really agree with your point on Cameron, i'd say his problem has been more not playing the position at the club level anymore. Besler has been very good.

Army of Dad · June 23, 2014

Cameroon has scored an equalizer. 1-1 in the 27th minute according to ESPN...

Nymar scores his second of the game to put Brazil back on top, 2-1.

Edited June 23, 2014 by Army of Dad

TIgreen01 · June 23, 2014

i'd say his problem has been more not playing the position at the club level anymore.

Agreed.

But the main point I was getting at is that we've been a revolving door at CB. Brooks, Goodson, Gonzales, Gooch, DeMerrit, etc....the list goes on. All these guys have played in the last year. We need to have someone step up and take the position and lead. Maybe Besler is that guy who'll be steady for a few years back there. But we need stability.

Edited June 23, 2014 by TIgreen01

Coffee and TV · June 23, 2014

Agreed.

But the main point I was getting at is that we've been a revolving door at CB. Brooks, Goodson, Gonzales, Gooch, DeMerrit, etc....the list goes on. All these guys have played in the last year. We need to have someone step up and take the position and lead. Maybe Besler is that guy who'll be steady for a few years back there. But we need stability.

Matt Hedges be thy name. He'll end up in the EPL before long.

Cerebus · June 23, 2014

Can't update the thread this half. I'll just leave you this.

Cerebus · June 23, 2014

Second CLEAR handball on Croatia, should have lead to a Mexican PK.

Cerebus · June 23, 2014

Mexico is full murder mode. Up 3 in the 82 minute.

Cerebus · June 23, 2014

Mexico will work their ass off and it will be a fun competitive match, but I'll say 2-1 Croatia

Coffee and TV · June 24, 2014

Took bad they'll get murdered by the Dutch. Hup Holland.

Censored by Laurie · June 24, 2014

yup.

well...since I'm on such a roll...

Pirlo's Beard 2-2 Suarez's Weasel-Face to push the guidos through...Joel Campbell 2-1 Three Lions/Zero Points...YaYa Toure 3-0 Yuvarlakia...you guys remember Carlos Valderrama? 2-0 Japan national team helps it's fans clean the stadium after the match