General Soccer Thread

[thrill]

Let's do this [expletive], boys. This is not impossible . No one wants a [expletive] group e free ride anyway. We've struggled to put these Klinsmann wins in a real context all these years, now we'll find out where we really stand. For a team that can't win it all, that's what the World Cup is all about.

[Vidor]

It would be an overstatement to say I care about soccer, but hell, I'll watch the World Cup. So it was somewhat disappointing to hear that the United States is doomed right off the bat.

Amusing article at Slate about the group-fixing conspiracies.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/ ... fixed.html

One would think the presence of the United States in the "group of death" is the best proof there was no hanky-panky going on--FIFA would make more money if we advanced.

[thrill]

The soccer fan community's reaction to getting a tough draw has been pathetic, obnoxious and completely ridiculous.

It's the World Cup, guys. There are going to be good teams there. You will have to play them. Part of the whole deal of rooting for the US, and all but like 5 countries in the world, is that they have no chance to win the World Cup. Figure it out.

[Vidor]

The soccer fan community's reaction to getting a tough draw has been pathetic, obnoxious and completely ridiculous.

It's the World Cup, guys. There are going to be good teams there. You will have to play them. Part of the whole deal of rooting for the US, and all but like 5 countries in the world, is that they have no chance to win the World Cup. Figure it out.

It's like the whole country turns into Cubs fans.

I'm one of those people that FIFA surely wants to get in front of the TV--it's like watching the Olympics, you only watch the shot put or the javelin throw once every four years. People are upset by this draw? As you say, we all know we won't win this thing, right? When East Armpit U. wins their Whatever Conference basketball tournament, are they upset with a #15 seed and a match against Duke?

[jim]

I saw a highlight at the health club tonight where there was some snow somewhere and they had to "abandon" the game. Not cancel. Not postpone. "Abandon".

Don't they play in snow? Or was this just a friendly? Maybe they don't play friendlies in inclement weather and must to abandon them.

Indeed.

[cardsfansince82]

They would have played if it was just snow. I think we can all agree that playing anything in hail and ice would suck.

[JackofDiamonds]

They would have played if it was just snow. I think we can all agree that playing anything in hail and ice would suck.

DON'T CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.

Soccer players are so soft, right?

[thrill]

Yeah. They play in snow. The thing about this dumb sport, Jim, is that they play it everywhere. Iceland, Russia, Scandanavia, all over. It snows a lot in those places. That game will be rescheduled. Calling it "abandoned" is just part of the annoying American media adopting Englishisms when covering soccer.

[TimeForGuinness]

Let's do this [expletive], boys. This is not impossible . No one wants a [expletive] group e free ride anyway. We've struggled to put these Klinsmann wins in a real context all these years, now we'll find out where we really stand. For a team that can't win it all, that's what the World Cup is all about.

I like our chances of getting out of the group...we can beat Ghana, and I'm pretty sure we're about even with Portugal.

http://regressing.deadspin.com/nate-sil ... 1480312496

http://espnfc.com/spi/rankings?cc=5901

In Klinsmann, we trust.

[thrill]

We have as good a chance as Ghana and Portugal, I think. The schedule is favorable in that we play Germany last. It all hinges on the first game with Ghana. A win there and we're probably through. A loss and we're done. Draw and we have a shot but we have to beat Portugal.

Portugal, by the way, is not scary. They seem scary, because they have Ronaldo, but the rest of their team has a bad habit of standing around waiting for him to win the game for them. Ghana is tough. We have no athletic advantage, no technical advantage, but we have more motivation and of the two teams, Ghana is much more likely to underestimate the US than vice-versa. That game hinges on Jermaine Jones. If he's disciplined and gets under his club teammate's (Kevin Prince-Boateng) skin, which is easy to do with that dude, we could take their whole team out of their game.

Germany is a lock to win the group and the rest is a crapshoot based on team form and health.