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The 2013-2014 Football Thread
- Thread starter Jaffa Cake
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You must speak of the English Women's team, then.Just showing Pirlo he isn't the only one who can move the ball.
4 2 4 - the good old days. Though keepers are better now - women goalies remind me of the '50s.
Good luck from the non-Portuguese part of me - that blood wishes a plague on your National team's house.
Cheers,
OW
(Ever saw a match with a French or German team in the last 3 years? The latter try to imitate the GER men's team. CBs for defense and Wing-defenders as additional attacking material and for parralel assists. Well, Sweden tends to build up 4 defenders in front of the goalkepper (they like off side traps), but they are changing. The US throws in everything and you never know, where their defenders will end up during contender's counter attacks.)Well, you got your Berliner's goal.We got all the luck we could get. And gladly took it. But top performance overall and very disciplined. Kroos was brilliant!
Can't watch the game later unfortunately so good luck and a good game. Still rooting for Berlin's finest though! Kevin-Prince Boateng all the way.
Though it was Brooks.
Finally, a win against Ghana.
An outstanding result, an exciting match but a mixed performance. USA started hot and Dempsey got an instant goal, the team was fit and worked hard the whole match. Jones and Beckerman were effective behind Bradley. Howard was outstanding, as he always is.
The injury to Altidore is a major blow. The English might only see what he does in a Hull\Sunderland shirt but I was convinced he was going to have a good tournament. Besler also came out with a hamstring problem, not sure how bad. Dempsey faded a bit after getting kicked in the face (he couldn't breathe through his nose). Johannson came on for Altidore and was pretty quiet. The biggest issue was losing posession too often. Bradley had a sloppy game.
Ghana have some great talent, especially in the attack, but the quality of their through balls let them down a bit. They didn fully capitalize on USA's turnover problem. I also felt that they tired late in the game and weren't able to turn up the intensity at the end when they needed to push for a second goal.
So, Germany look like thay are already in the round of 16. We have a mini-league with the other three teams, in which USA has the advantage at the moment. A win against Portugal will surely see us go through and make the USA-Germany game a dead rubber - but beating Portugal is far from certain. Portugal are missing two of their starting defenders. USA have lost their starting striker, one starting center back and Dempsey's face is broken. I'm very nervous. We need to hope that Ronaldo has a crap game and Portugal are demoralized.
At the end of the day though, we beat the one team we HAD to beat. Now we test ourselves against superior opposition.
An outstanding result, an exciting match but a mixed performance. USA started hot and Dempsey got an instant goal, the team was fit and worked hard the whole match. Jones and Beckerman were effective behind Bradley. Howard was outstanding, as he always is.
The injury to Altidore is a major blow. The English might only see what he does in a Hull\Sunderland shirt but I was convinced he was going to have a good tournament. Besler also came out with a hamstring problem, not sure how bad. Dempsey faded a bit after getting kicked in the face (he couldn't breathe through his nose). Johannson came on for Altidore and was pretty quiet. The biggest issue was losing posession too often. Bradley had a sloppy game.
Ghana have some great talent, especially in the attack, but the quality of their through balls let them down a bit. They didn fully capitalize on USA's turnover problem. I also felt that they tired late in the game and weren't able to turn up the intensity at the end when they needed to push for a second goal.
So, Germany look like thay are already in the round of 16. We have a mini-league with the other three teams, in which USA has the advantage at the moment. A win against Portugal will surely see us go through and make the USA-Germany game a dead rubber - but beating Portugal is far from certain. Portugal are missing two of their starting defenders. USA have lost their starting striker, one starting center back and Dempsey's face is broken. I'm very nervous. We need to hope that Ronaldo has a crap game and Portugal are demoralized.
At the end of the day though, we beat the one team we HAD to beat. Now we test ourselves against superior opposition.
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Very happy now! Germany was so impressive. If Portugal wasn't a quality squad, maybe not such an impressive win, but they dominated, whistle to whistle. My man crush on Muller grows...
Proud of the US tonight for the result, but I wasn't thrilled about the game they played. Dempsey's start was amazing. Couldn't have scripted it better. Then for about 10 minutes, we pressured, possessed, and attacked, brilliant. Then, for the next 70 minutes, we were on our heels. I still cannot figure out what the gameplan for Bradley was. He's our team. The offense runs thru him, the defense clears thru him. But not tonight. He was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I couldn't hear the commentating but I hope they had some kind of answer for his positioning. Had me scratching my head.
Zusi is one of my favorite players in the squad and I couldn't figure why he was left out of the starting 11. His service on corners and set pieces is unparalleled on the team. Finally, he gets on the field and moments later, Brooks pounds the winner home off a beautiful serve. We should have had chances like that all game if he starts. I dunno...
Love the win. Proud of the team. Let's hope they bring the chip on heir shoulder to Portugal and play the full 90. We win, we advance. Simple. Love that.
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I'll disagree on one point, your Lordship, and that's the injury to Altidore. I'm not a fan. He's not a quality finisher, he's not a true talent at sniffing out the net, and he's never been a gamer in my book. I'd rather take my chances with Johansson and Wondo. Both of those guys can and will make it happen. Jozy's had every chance and hasn't closed the deal. I'd rather a hungry guy go out there and prove himself rather than Altidore go it there and defend himself.
I think Dempsey will be alright for the next match. I was hoping he'd use the halftime to fire up his troops but his face may have been a little more broken than I initially thought.
I admit it, I'm an Altidore fan. He was great for AZ, looked great at times in qualifying. He struggled with Sunderland but had a crap team around him and a crazy manager for part of the season. Johansson has a lot to prove (and may yet do so) and Wondo is a cut-rate MLS Inzaghi. I don't rate him at this level though he might be good for a late poached goal. But Wondo will never wear out a defense like Altidore, neither will Johannson. Plus, Wondo is quite slow.
If I can criticise Klinsmann's game plan it would be an overreliance on Altidore; the team was shaped around his ability to hold up the ball and grind down defenders. Without him as a focal point the team became a bit defensive. We must find ways to bring our remaining pool of strikers to bear against our opponents, or to manufacture goals from elsewhere. More rests on Bradley's shoulders now too, we'll need goals from him.
I could not agree more Jozy is just a shadow of his former self, by AZ he had both confidence and had the skill to back it up. He scored 22 goals in his first season and 23 in his final season. He was the main reason that AZ won the KNVB Beker, and got so far in the Europa League.
I'm not sure if the kid has been having 'relations' with Messi's missus, or he called him names, but there's a bit of Suarez/Evra going on here
Finally, a win against Ghana.
An outstanding result, an exciting match but a mixed performance. USA started hot and Dempsey got an instant goal, the team was fit and worked hard the whole match. Jones and Beckerman were effective behind Bradley. Howard was outstanding, as he always is.
The injury to Altidore is a major blow. The English might only see what he does in a Hull\Sunderland shirt but I was convinced he was going to have a good tournament. Besler also came out with a hamstring problem, not sure how bad. Dempsey faded a bit after getting kicked in the face (he couldn't breathe through his nose). Johannson came on for Altidore and was pretty quiet. The biggest issue was losing posession too often. Bradley had a sloppy game.
Ghana have some great talent, especially in the attack, but the quality of their through balls let them down a bit. They didn fully capitalize on USA's turnover problem. I also felt that they tired late in the game and weren't able to turn up the intensity at the end when they needed to push for a second goal.
So, Germany look like thay are already in the round of 16. We have a mini-league with the other three teams, in which USA has the advantage at the moment. A win against Portugal will surely see us go through and make the USA-Germany game a dead rubber - but beating Portugal is far from certain. Portugal are missing two of their starting defenders. USA have lost their starting striker, one starting center back and Dempsey's face is broken. I'm very nervous. We need to hope that Ronaldo has a crap game and Portugal are demoralized.
At the end of the day though, we beat the one team we HAD to beat. Now we test ourselves against superior opposition.
#wewillwinourgroup
You must speak of the English Women's team, then.
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It's goalies who stand out - maybe because they are usually the last line of defence. Watching film of games from '30s - '50s, it seems keepers as a group have taken the biggest step; may just be my attention being drawn to the goalkeeper. The goalies seem to be the weak point in women's football.
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Put the kettle on then walked in to see a replay of the Dempsey goal
. Took it well, as did the Ghana player for their goal - foxing Howard. As others, was wondering about Bradley. The corners Tilpots mentions should be useful v Portugal.Cheers,
OW
I have to be the party pooper here, though. At some times it seems still like grinding gears and the only reason Germany always wins is, because they are so superb still, despite being a grinding gear as whole.
Müller's goals, a bit of luck there. I mean, was that hit with the hand that hard? OK, you are not supposed to provoke someone, when he is sitting on the ground. I bet Pepe said something like "Puuuussy", with a nice accent.
The other two goals were 1m away assists by the Portugese. Just lucky to be there at the right time and get the ball directly on your foot.
I am not saying he is a bad player or the match was bad, though.
Oh, an Ozil. I know, I am being unfair, but he still appears to be the Teenager looking at his feet when caught with weed and then probably say: "I swear, for realz! It's not mine! I swear!!! For REALZ! UNDERSTAND? FOR REALZ!!! No xbox for one week for me
you are so unfair!"That is true in both ways developement and re quality of women's football, though comparing to '50s is a bit to far.
Here again Germany is on the lucky side, having one of or the best goalkeeper in women's football, (Japan's is very good and they even constantly change, always 1 game the first and the next the second and then the 1st again and so on. US's Hope Solo was overrated, I like that they have taken a new one, same as in the Swedish team, where, with the old one you could always tell, that she will run out and not get the ball or stay to far away from the goal, so you would have a good chance making a goal from 16-30m away.)The last WC Quali Germany Ireland, was interesting. Germany's coach had said they watch scenes of Dortmund before matches and try to swap 6, 9, 10. Ireland's coach said, they analysed the ManU-Bayern CL match to know how to get hold of Germany.
Enough women's football, now.
Sorry...
No idea what my fellow Germans have with Özil. He played really well yesterday and one could see that after he went off our attacks weren't nearly as structured as with him. Front four, he and Kroos the most important players imho. Götze and Müller are easier to replace (yes, Müller too). Think he took Özil off early for protection.
Didn't post about it yesterday: imho the pen can be given, red as well. Ref obviously was on our side, so that leaves a bad taste. Should have been a pen for Portugal later too.
Didn't post about it yesterday: imho the pen can be given, red as well. Ref obviously was on our side, so that leaves a bad taste. Should have been a pen for Portugal later too.
The match didn't tell us much about either team, really, but when I'm in charge of FIFA refereeing then my first edict will be 'send Pepe off at the earliest opportunity'.
Ooooh, penalty to the Algies!
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Sad eyes. Undemonstrative. SAD EYES.
1-0 to Algeria. That should wake Belgium up.
considering the amount of goals he scores,especially in high pressure tournaments games, i question the notion of "luck". He has 8 world cup goals: 2 against England, 1 against Argentina, 1 against Uruguay, 3 against Portugal (+1 vs the kangaroos
). 8 goals is as many as Rudi Völler, Maradona , Rivaldo and the guy is only 24compared to that Ronaldo has scored a goal vs Iran and one vs North Korea. And played a world cup more.
Sometimes being the absolute perfect technical and physical player like Ronaldo isn't the top priority. Sometimes mental strength and instinct are more important.
Oh, an Ozil. I know, I am being unfair, but he still appears to be the Teenager looking at his feet when caught with weed and then probably say: "I swear, for realz! It's not mine! I swear!!! For REALZ! UNDERSTAND? FOR REALZ!!! No xbox for one week for me
i don't understand him either ... he is one of the absolute top players but every time there is pressure on him he simply buckles
I think that's harsh. He's never going to be a fist-pumping, kick-up-the-arsing leader of men. He, and his sad eyes, simply get on with his game.
Wenger's not the sort of manager to sign anyone who doesn't exhibit EXCEPTIONAL MENTAL STRENGTH!
Why is the Belgian team playing with 3 CBs and why is Chadli getting a nod ahead of Mirallas or Mertens.
Been disappointing so far. Pass pass pass and then run out of ideas.
On another note, is Özil to Germany what Fabregas is to Barcelona then? Unliked for some reason or another.
Been disappointing so far. Pass pass pass and then run out of ideas.
On another note, is Özil to Germany what Fabregas is to Barcelona then? Unliked for some reason or another.
Massive result for Mexico against Brazil, 0-0. Ochoa had to make some crucial saves. Brazil will probably still win the group but second place is anyone's guess.
Indeed unlikely, Mesut needs to get a grip on his mentality, he did improve quite a bit yesterday though, compared to the last games
Ochoa was huge. I know I'm not supposed to root for Mexico, but this team is fun to watch and have been playing very hard. They are not a dirty team either, as I've believed past Mexican teams have been. Rafa Marquez is like an old lion prowling around back there and getting chances during set pieces. Di Santo hasn't finished as well as he should. I enjoy watching Chicharito and wish he was starting. I'd like to see those 2 together more often. Seems like they'd give El Tri more firepower upfront.
Love watching all these games everyday!
Sorry, I have to disagree.
I know Bayern is different, but everytime Pep put Götze+Müller on the pitch in minute 70+ they immediately created dangerous chances or Müller even scored. So I hold them high in the national team, too. I mean it works without them, but it is definitely fun to watch and some extra turmoil and speed and dangerousness added.
You're NOT supposed to root for Mexico!!!!
Mexico have been so terrible lately that I was surprised to see such an organized performance. With that being said, Brazil knows that the game was there to be won and some better finishing would have gotten them all three points.
The games continue to be exciting though.
Mexico have been so terrible lately that I was surprised to see such an organized performance. With that being said, Brazil knows that the game was there to be won and some better finishing would have gotten them all three points.
The games continue to be exciting though.
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