Official World Cup Soccer Thread

[Elganja]

I don't usually watch soccer but had the game on as I packed up for a trip. Right before the winning goal, an Algerian player had the ball alone at the top of the box. Instead of trying to score, he passed for a weak header and Howard stopped it and got it up the field fast and BOOM goal.

Howard is a beast, I'm a fan of him

 

[moshquerade]

The World Cup? Not by any means we don't. All we need to do is, at the very least, garner the respect of the world for american soccer (and drum up some domestic US support for the sport along the way). I think we've come a good way in doing that

Why would winning it be such a bad thing?

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Another n00b question:

Why are additional minutes added after 90? Is this to account for play stoppages?

 

[GasX]

The only thing Algeria was good at in that game was delivering knuckle sammies. Finally the ref gave the red at the end, should have gone to Yebda instead of Yahia, but man most of the calls were pure BS. When Donovan scored I kept expecting to hear some sort of whistle to recall the goal. Sorry, but as a long time soccer player I could tell that USA basically manhandled Algeria and deserved the win.

the first oppty of the game was a spectactular Algerian shot off the post. It would have been a different game had that gone in...

 

[mugs]

It was an extremely close call, especially real time. It looks like a wrong call but not blatant in any way.

It was close in that Dempsey was even with the defender, but it was not an "extremely close call" in that it would be a particularly difficult call to make. Dempsey held up until the ball was played and the ball was in the same vicinity so both the player and the ball could be seen at the same time. It wasn't a case where the linesman had to judge whether a running player passed the defender before or after the ball was played.

Besides which, Flipped Gazelle was asking about bias on the part of the announcers who do have the benefit of instant replay. It was an easy call for them; it was clear after the first replay.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Why would winning it be such a bad thing?

It would be an amazing accomplishment...Yes We Can

 

[gimmewhitecastles]

Another n00b question:

Why are additional minutes added after 90? Is this to account for play stoppages?

Yes. That's why they also call it stoppage time.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Yes. That's why they also call it stoppage time.

Thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[Kev]

The only thing Algeria was good at in that game was delivering knuckle sammies. Finally the ref gave the red at the end, should have gone to Yebda instead of Yahia, but man most of the calls were pure BS. When Donovan scored I kept expecting to hear some sort of whistle to recall the goal. Sorry, but as a long time soccer player I could tell that USA basically manhandled Algeria and deserved the win.

LOL, as a guy who has watched 4 full soccer games in my life I could also tell that the USA manhandled them

 

[ProfJohn]

Why would winning it be such a bad thing?

Because if the US won the world would come to an end.

Think 2012, but worse.

 

[spidey07]

Video of goal. WOW. It's like USA had 4 forwards going FULL SPEED against two defenders. Awesome goal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k29wBfLmNP0

 

[rcpratt]

Finally saw the highlights, that was epic. We had so many chances. The Algerian keeper really played well, but man we should have had 3 or 4 in that game.

 

[ProfJohn]

Video of goal. WOW. It's like USA had 4 forwards going FULL SPEED against two defenders. Awesome goal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k29wBfLmNP0

Awesome. Thanks

 

[JTsyo]

Why would winning it be such a bad thing?

It's just that the American team doesn't really have a chance against the big players. Even if we could beat one, we can't beat enough to win. We'll see if we have to play Germany next, hopefully they'll play England.

 

[sdifox]

Eat your words,England through with USA,England played well should of had a lot more goals.

I don't know, it looked like own goal to me. Besides, I don't know what happened to the Slovanian goalie. The ball was right in front of his hands...

 

[wheresmybacon]

It's just that the American team doesn't really have a chance against the big players. Even if we could beat one, we can't beat enough to win. We'll see if we have to play Germany next, hopefully they'll play England.

Saying the US doesn't have a chance against the big boys isn't really accurate. Maybe 20 years ago that was the case, these days we’ve got more than a puncher’s chance. Our best players play valuable roles for club sides in the best leagues in the world. Collectively we don’t have the talent of, say, Brazil or Argentina, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a chance. Underdogs for sure, but no longer pushovers.

 

[GasX]

Saying the US doesn't have a chance against the big boys isn't really accurate. Maybe 20 years ago that was the case, these days we’ve got more than a puncher’s chance. Two players play valuable roles for club sides in the best league in the world. Collectively we don’t have the talent of, say, Brazil or Argentina, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a chance. Underdogs for sure, but no longer pushovers.

fixed

 

[Anubis]

Saying the US doesn't have a chance against the big boys isn't really accurate. Maybe 20 years ago that was the case, these days we’ve got more than a puncher’s chance. Our best players play valuable roles for club sides in the best leagues in the world. Collectively we don’t have the talent of, say, Brazil or Argentina, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a chance. Underdogs for sure, but no longer pushovers.

this statement is correct, we have shown in the past year or 2 that we can compete. we beat Spain last year and lead Brazil for like 80 minutes in the Confederations Cup. We may lack some consistency but when can play with the better teams out there

 

[HumblePie]

Another n00b question:

Why are additional minutes added after 90? Is this to account for play stoppages?

Basically the main ref on the field has the official clock. He stops and starts it for various penalties and injuries. Unfortunately the clock keeper on the side line doesn't have access to exactly when the ref stops the clock and restarts it. As such, they just let the clock you see on the screen keep going.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Basically the main ref on the field has the official clock. He stops and starts it for various penalties and injuries. Unfortunately the clock keeper on the side line doesn't have access to exactly when the ref stops the clock and restarts it. As such, they just let the clock you see on the screen keep going.

in 2010, we don't have the technology to synchronize 2 clocks. amazing.

 

[HumblePie]

I will have to post am impressed with the US team. Things like Dempsey taking a punch in the mouth and although bleeding, he doesn't cause a huge stink over not getting the call. Or the fact that Altidore was continually being spiked on his left foot and ankle. Several times it looked like the Algerians were trying to cause intentional injury. Yet, he took it like a trooper and kept on playing. There was no flopping or acting by the US that I saw in any of their games. About the only person that comes close to saying anything back to the ref is Bradley. Other than that, the US team is earning mucho respect from what I can see.

That and they are a decently solid team. They aren't playing long balls all the time. They aren't playing defensively all the time. They aren't constantly going for low percentage shots. They are not constantly fouling. Instead they are keeping control of the ball. They are keeping the ball on the other side of the field. They are making good crosses and good attempts on goal. They have a couple of good stars like Donovan to help round out their solid play style. No, the team isn't made all out of super stars. No, they aren't playing flashy or stupidly. What they are doing is playing solid fundamental soccer. Moving the ball around, keeping control, playing aggressive offense without the fouls, and taking any good shot that presents itself. This is NOT the same US team we've seen in the past.

 

[HumblePie]

in 2010, we don't have the technology to synchronize 2 clocks. amazing.

We do, but it's the same reason FIFA doesn't have any sort of instant replay or allows officials to take back goals. It's "tradition."

 

[RichUK]

wtf

 

[Dominato3r]

 

[RKS]

You are a few pages (and days) too late.