The Official Soccer/Futbol Thread

Boom! No one expected the USA to make it this far. I love it when a team I support confounds the skeptics!

 

Good to see the US advance, watched most of the game today vs. Germany, and team US looked somewhat overmatched and on their heels most of the game. Germany dominated play with 63% possession, the US will have to do better than that in the round of 16.

 

From here on out, there is no such thing as a tie.

 

Good to see the USA embrace the game more and more as time passes on. I would say though that your players would do well to play in La Liga more, develop their passing and wing play. Which is also what young English players should be doing.

 

Quite true. I think the team's success thus far has a lot to do with Klinsmann's impeccable coaching, plus the EPL, Bundesliga and foreign experience of many members. The ideal team is German organization and defense with Brazilian improvisation and La Liga passing. Der mannschaft + el Tiki Tiki + Samba = Goals.

 

Strike 3, he's out? How many chances is this guy gonna get?

 

This is probably going to force him into the Russian, Turkish or Qatari leagues, where they have the money and don't care as much about his unmanageable status in the EPL.

 

The Amazing Soccer Ball That’s Virtually Indestructible

Very cool story, and yet one more reason imo why Sting is awesome...

http://news.yahoo.com/katie-couric-one-world-futbol-223434918.html

 

Boateng was supposed to have said vulgar words to the coach and Muntari allegedly slapped one of the team officials. Smh there was too much drama in camp and i am just happy they are coming home. I like what Klinsmann has done with the USMNT, there is now tactical discipline in the team and i expect you guys to beat those over-hyped Belgians.

 

You're spot on. This is the best USMNT performance in my lifetime. I'm still guardedly optimistic about the Belgians, though. Fellaini, Kompany and arguably the best goalie in La Liga, Courtois. A solid side all around. They are not to be trifled with. And as for the USMNT now, two broken noses and two hamstring injuries later, I wonder who dares to say football isn't a 'real' sport? Lol

Very cool story and concept. More power to them. Very cool of Sting to get involved and help.

 

Nigeria almost forced France into a PK shootout. They could have recovered from that first goal if not for the own-goal. Smdh...

Algeria v. Germany was a slugfest. Not an inch of terrain was given up. Great games all around. The quality of this Cup continues to amaze.

 

I was very impressed with Algeria, they made Germany look very average. Still the Germans usually find a way to win games even when well below their best.

As for Belgium vs USA I'm predicting a Belgium win, at the moment Belgium are getting at the American back 4 almost at will.

 

USA out but what a strong showing. I'm looking forward to the next Gold Cup & Copa America

 

Nooooo!!! I'm sad. I don't follow the sport but it was nice to hear the buzz.

 

That was an exciting match. I was hoping they could hold them off throughout extra time and go to PKs. The USA team keeps getting better.

 

USA just need to improve their passing and general midfield play. I imagine an American team will always be strong and athletic but that alone won't win you games in modern international football. But they did themselves very proud. Pushed Belgium to their very limits

 

It's a shame really. Considering USA had some great 'warm up' teams and Belgium didn't, it should have gone USA's way. But Belgium is known for scoring late in games and snatching them. I'm still a lil depressed over it. USA's goalie Tim Howard was amazing though!

 

I am glad USA is out,

Not a big fan of US soccer.

 

Secretary Hagel congratulated ..and invited Howard and the entire team to come to the Pentagon later this year.

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- For his efforts in turning back the Belgians’ numerous attempts on goal, Howard was briefly named the U.S. secretary of defense on Wikipedia. :lol:

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'Tim Howard was randomly DRUG TESTED after incredible 16 save performance.

Howard wasn't able to join his teammates in the locker room immediately after the 2-1 defeat because FIFA selected him to take the test.

He joked that ‘maybe' the test stopped being random after his 10th or 11th save'

‘I got dragged into drug testing, again, randomly,’ Howard told ESPN Radio when asked about the somber mood after the match. ‘So I didn't hear all of [the reactions].’

Two players from both teams are randomly drug-tested after each World Cup match, per FIFA regulations.

But some fans might wonder just how random Howard's selection could be - especially after the goalkeeper's impressive game.

Howard said the performance showed that his team could perform well at the World Cup level, despite having holes.

'We can compete, there's always pieces to the puzzle missing until we get it exactly right,' he said.

'We couldn’t have given anymore. We played four phenomenal games and, you know, last night everybody gave everything they had,' he told Good Morning America, his voice hoarse from Tuesday night's match.

'And sometimes you don’t win, but we’re proud of ourselves.'

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Haha at his prophetic year book quote...



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