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Subject: World Cup
Posted by: Superclydes
- [63402814] Fri, Mar 31, 2006, 15:28
I know it is early, but I actually got to see the USA V Germany game a couple of weeks ago. What are the US's chances at this? It was quite a shock to me that they made it as far as the quarter finals last time (HAND BALL!!) and lost it against Germany. I am not saying they didn't play well, but I never would have predicted it from the beginning.
Anyway, US had numerous people out and was really testing the players to fill a squad. They didn't look half bad against the Germans though. Granted, it wasn't their full squad either, but until the onslaught of goals and the freak lucky one from the US, they didn't look bad. They were certainly under constant pressure, but the Germans should have had a lot more shots on goal.
Opinions? |
| 1 | Motley Crue
Dude
ID: 439372011
Fri, Mar 31, 2006, 15:37
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Noticed the latest FIFA world rankings?
1. Brazil
2. Czech Republic
3. Netherlands
4. Argentina
5. USA
6. Spain
7. Mexico
8. France
9. England
10. Portugal
.
.
.
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22. Germany
I am not sure where that game was played, but I expect America has a better team than Germnay if we are ranked 17 spots higher than them.
Granted, the WC is in Germany, and that ought to make Germany the weighted #1. I really believe that.
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| 2 | Superclydes
ID: 63402814
Sat, Apr 01, 2006, 01:39
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It was played in Germany. I didn't realize the rankings, but with it played in Germany, I agree that they should be higher ranked. Maybe a bet might have to be placed?
Living in England and all of the coach worries, I can't see them getting even to the final 8. I could be wrong with the talent they have, but their coach worries will over ride thier playing ability I think.
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| 3 | THK
ID: 292171814
Sun, Apr 02, 2006, 16:00
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I am really excited for the World Cup after the last one in which Donovan should have had AT LEAST 2 goals to give the W to the US, but now we get another chance! Unfortunately our draw is horrific. It won't be a walk be any means to make it out of our group and if I looked at the pairings correctly like I think I did...if we finished 2nd in our pool we would play Brazil. OUCH.
Oh well. Sh!t happens! GO USA!
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| 4 | Motley Crue
ID: 2192327
Sun, Apr 02, 2006, 20:47
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That's right--Brazil will be our second round opponent if we finish #2 in our group and they win theirs.
Nice, huh? We could pull the upset of the century, though. Not many teams get that opportunity.
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| 5 | The Beezer
Leader
ID: 191202817
Sun, Apr 02, 2006, 20:59
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Brazil's kryptonite is playing in Europe. If it comes to that (and remember how France was going to roll over people in 2002?), the U.S. has a chance.
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| 6 | Motley Crue
Dude
ID: 439372011
Mon, Apr 03, 2006, 13:31
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Check our all-time record in Europe. It's f'ing abysmal.
I looked it up once before and almost cried.
I realize we have a much better team now than pretty much anytime in history, but historical trends favor Brazil crushing us everywhere within the confines of the Earth's atmosphere.
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| 7 | The Beezer
Leader
ID: 191202817
Mon, Apr 03, 2006, 17:51
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You'll get no argument here. My only counter is that Bruce Arena is the greatest soccer coach in U.S. history bar none - if anyone can get it done, he can. Even so, the word miracle would not be an overstatement if the U.S. were to beat Brazil anytime before 2010.
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| 8 | Motley Crue
ID: 2192327
Mon, Apr 03, 2006, 17:57
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I like "Upset of the Century," and not only because I coined it above.
But I'll go with "Miracle on Grass" if it comes to that.
Hopefully we win a few games in that first round, so we get to play #2 from the other group rather than #1.
Whatever. I look forward to seeing the US team prove last time was no fluke. This World Cup is very important in that respect.
The only team we dominated last time was Mexico. We need to dominate Ghana this time. They aren't anywhere near to our level. And Italy and the Czechs are very good, but we really ought to have a good chance to win one of those games.
I like what you said about Arena and agree for the most part. I'm not real familiar with US Soccer coaching history.
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| 9 | THK
ID: 33328819
Wed, May 03, 2006, 09:45
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WANT TICKETS???
They say it isn't too late! I would love to go, too bad US got one of the worst draws possible. That first game will sure be one hell of a matchup....CAN JULY COME FAST ENOUGH?!?!
THK
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| 10 | Twarpy
ID: 551151920
Wed, May 03, 2006, 14:18
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Its actually in June THK:)
Anyways I just ordered some category 1 tickets to Brazil vs Croatia on the 13th of June, should be a lot of fun. For anyone who's going to be there I'm in Berlin from June 10th to June 21st.
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| 11 | leggestand
Leader
ID: 451036518
Wed, May 03, 2006, 14:20
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Can't wait for kickoff. Anyone have any thoughts on Rooney going down last weekend for England? As an England fan, this puts a serious damper on any World Cup title hopes. Maybe he can get back for the later rounds as their group is fairly weak.
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| 12 | youngroman
ID: 50818914
Wed, May 03, 2006, 14:33
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Rooney needs a miracle - Eriksson
Rooney broke a metatarsal bone against Chelsea
Wayne Rooney has "more than one fracture" and needs a "miracle" to be fit for the World Cup, according to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The striker, 20, had a second scan on his metatarsal on Wednesday.
Eriksson said: "I knew yesterday [Tuesday] that he had more than one fracture. Miracles happen in life now and then, but I don't really know."
Manchester United believe Rooney is six weeks away from training but Eriksson may still include him in his squad.
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| 13 | Outsidergua
ID: 910291711
Wed, May 03, 2006, 14:55
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Who else is in our group?
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| 14 | youngroman
ID: 50818914
Wed, May 03, 2006, 15:17
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groups
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| 15 | THK
ID: 33328819
Wed, May 03, 2006, 16:04
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Twarpy-
I was looking forward to the finals! ;-) Just over a month until we kick off against the 2nd best team in the world. WHY?!?!?
THK
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| 16 | leggestand
Leader
ID: 451036518
Wed, May 03, 2006, 16:51
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What's the deal with Czech? Is Nedved playing and is Baros playing? Without them, I think the US will at least have a shot.
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| 17 | barilko6
ID: 63312113
Wed, May 03, 2006, 17:37
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What? No Dutch fans?
Go Orange!
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| 18 | Mike D
Leader
ID: 041831612
Wed, May 03, 2006, 20:24
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bariko, Cruyff ain't playin'. Either is Rijkaard.
;)
I was watching the game live when Rooney got hurt. Crushing blow for Man U, though the game was out of reach, and for England.
As a USA resident, I'll obviously root for the American team. But as a huge EPL fan, I was really, really pulling for England. Rooney is my favorite player. Major bummer.
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| 19 | barilko6
ID: 63312113
Wed, May 03, 2006, 20:27
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As a Canadian, I don't have Canada to cheer for, so I have to go with the Dutch!
And Ruud...we still have Ruud!
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| 20 | StomoDotCom
ID: 54213285
Thu, May 04, 2006, 19:02
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The FIFA World Rankings have are as reliable as John Daly watching your money.
These are a joke. Some shouldn't be surprises, but some just dumbfound me. It's incredible how 1 Injury seems to be the end of the world.
Losing Rooney is not like losing your cleanup hitter, or your top contract. Plenty of guys left on that team (even though they're older) to pickup the slack.
As for the US, you know it would be something, but this is a tough group (Maybe toughest, but in terms of competativeness, I like Group C With Argentina, Serbia and Montenegro and Netherlands). The Czech Republic is a phenom, Italy is always good, and even Ghana, a team no one is paying attention to, could do some shocking this summer. I don't see the USA advancing, unless Italy falls apart like its the Eurocup Again.
Germany is ranked 19th. It seems odd, but it's definitely legitimate IMHO. The Kevin Kouranis and Oliver Khans are way beyond their prime, and Germany has a bunch of young defenders and an offensive system that will need time to kick into full gear. I think that Germany, however, has one of the highest potentials to be monsterous in the future, but they aren't that dominant force anymore really. A joke of a group will get them into the next round, but it remains to be seen if they will last.
I like France, regardless of them being minus Zidane and a few other guys like Silvestre. But if there's one thing that can take Brazil, I think it's them.
What do you guys think about Brazil's chances (of getting stunned that is)?
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| 21 | The Beezer
Leader
ID: 191202817
Thu, May 04, 2006, 23:16
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I'm picking against Brazil making the final. I don't have a good feel for how the hosts will do, but I expect them in the final 8 at least.
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