It'll probably be USA 1:2 Belgium, but of course I'd like it to go differently. I just know historically whenever the USMNT gets praise from fans of other countries for their play, the coach starts telling player's families to book tickets for July 13th, Belgium has red carded players and injuries starting to pile up, Altidore may make a miraculous appearance as possibly even a late game striker addition, and everyone is saying the match could go either way with the USA having a great chance to make the QF...that's exactly the time we make a couple unthinkable mistakes and kill ourselves again.
Dear lord, these matches burst into flames and fireworks in the dying moments seemingly every time. Argentina goal, then Switzerland's goalkeeper almost converts one with a bicycle kick (!!!), and then moments later they hit the post then miss the goal from a distance of one meter.
Deserved draw at half, both teams have had chances, though Belgium has clearly looked more dangerous, Bradley is poor going forward, but Jones is doing so well. Yedlin coming on for Johnson was less than optimal, but he's made the best of his chances so far.
Surely Howard can't be blamed that the US is down a goal. Rather thank him that they're not down five!
I agree that Howard has been phenomenal in this world cup, not even open for debate. It doesn't take away from the fact that his angle was incorrect on that goal and the Belgium player saw this over commitment and made a nice shot into the far corner. That my friend is the harsh critical reality.
Now we have had two more goals....do we still have a game here
As someone who actually supported the American team, I completely disagree that USA deserved to win the match, considering how dominant Belgium was in almost the entirety of it. However, the US team fought really heroically in the last 15 minutes in particular, and deserve a lot of credit for that.
I'm a bit afraid that the media has given a lot of people slightly unrealistic expectations - it's still not among the best teams, and I think just advancing from that group was a good result.
Edit: I like how USA played though. First team that didn't keep ten men behind the ball against us. But in the end this was probably the most dominating performance of all the 1/8 finals.
You really just need to embrace the rage. I keep a small colony of hamsters next to my computer and every time I lose a match to mana screw I throw one against the wall.
Tim Howard did an amazing job, but based on the rest of the game, Belgium definitely deserved the win. As one of my friends shared on FB yesterday, "Watching the Belgium v. Tim Howard World Cup game right now." The other 10 players just weren't strong enough to make the win deserved, IMO, even if they did rally during the second half of extra time.
Yes the Red Devils dominated most of the game. USA obviously chose to play a defensive wall/counterattack game like always. The problem is their clearances were so piss poor for 75% percent of the game and to either no one or a Belgian player. They could not start a counterattack.
That said the best chance in the game was in the 90th minute with Wondolowski. Had he converted that one, USA wins. Now apparently the flag was up anyway despite the fact that he was a mile onside, can you IMAGINE the fallout if the goal had been disallowed???
What a near comeback by the Americans which goes to prove that in desperate times they can attack "two walls of 4" defense at will like any other team. Not every team in the world can just turn it on when they want like that. They need to be able to play forward more consistently and have a confidence in their back four. They obviously are not there yet. They play afraid to lose, instead of trying to win.
Tim Howard is amazing and makes me laugh at everyone who laughed at my analysis of Howard as a Top 5 GK in the world pre-World Cup. Really????
I LOVE the future core of Yedlin, Jones, and Green. Love the fact that Kilnnsman is signed through 2018. I expect easier qualifying and USA to show themselves as even more of a powerhouse globally leading up to Russia 2018.
It's back today! We should get two awesome games, and I'm honestly worried about Brazil's chances. Colombia has been the best team this World Cup so far, in my opinion. I hope the home turf advantage is enough to make us advance.
But first we'll get France-Germany! Cheering for France, mainly because their supporters were freaking awesome against Switzerland, but what I really want is an intense match, preferrably with a penalty shootout at the end.
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most of these have even been game winners :/
Yeah, that was tense.
I'm almost glad I'm working this summer just so that I have a good excuse to not do anything but stay home and watch all the matches.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
I agree that Howard has been phenomenal in this world cup, not even open for debate. It doesn't take away from the fact that his angle was incorrect on that goal and the Belgium player saw this over commitment and made a nice shot into the far corner. That my friend is the harsh critical reality.
Now we have had two more goals....do we still have a game here
Tim Howard deserves a statue.
special thanks to sentimentgx4 for the sig
Pourquoi?
At least the Ticos are still in it.
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
I'm a bit afraid that the media has given a lot of people slightly unrealistic expectations - it's still not among the best teams, and I think just advancing from that group was a good result.
Nice trolling there.
Edit: I like how USA played though. First team that didn't keep ten men behind the ball against us. But in the end this was probably the most dominating performance of all the 1/8 finals.
Also, from Wikipedia:
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
That said the best chance in the game was in the 90th minute with Wondolowski. Had he converted that one, USA wins. Now apparently the flag was up anyway despite the fact that he was a mile onside, can you IMAGINE the fallout if the goal had been disallowed???
What a near comeback by the Americans which goes to prove that in desperate times they can attack "two walls of 4" defense at will like any other team. Not every team in the world can just turn it on when they want like that. They need to be able to play forward more consistently and have a confidence in their back four. They obviously are not there yet. They play afraid to lose, instead of trying to win.
Tim Howard is amazing and makes me laugh at everyone who laughed at my analysis of Howard as a Top 5 GK in the world pre-World Cup. Really????
I LOVE the future core of Yedlin, Jones, and Green. Love the fact that Kilnnsman is signed through 2018. I expect easier qualifying and USA to show themselves as even more of a powerhouse globally leading up to Russia 2018.
But first we'll get France-Germany! Cheering for France, mainly because their supporters were freaking awesome against Switzerland, but what I really want is an intense match, preferrably with a penalty shootout at the end.
*****
ricklongo and RicardoLongo on MTGO
*****
Visit my gaming blog: http://www.gamingsweetgaming.blogspot.com
****************
Check out Rick's Picks, my PureMTGO article series
****************