US SOCCER

[CAA Flagship]

Or did the Spain defense stink?
As a Devils fan, and Brodeur fan, I have seen great defenses that made Marty look good. The Devils won many games where the opponent had less than 20 shots. Marty was good, but that defense made him look better with the neutral zone trap.

No, it was actually the keeper that was terrible for the Spanish. Had a couple of just awful gaffes, was in the wrong position. No amount of defense in front of him was going to save him.

And it has to be some kind of violation to be a fan of the neutral zone trap in hockey and then not like soccer because teams don't score enough. Cognitive dissonance, no?

You are the king of putting words in people's mouths. I never said I liked the NZT. I like the Devils and Brodeur but I am admitting that a good portion of Brodeur's success can be attributed to the defensive players and the NZT.

[CAA Flagship]

OK, I'll buy the 2 good saves. But talking about the crosses, the one in the first half that I remember, he got it only because the runner was a split second late. I know that timing is everything but was he out of position on that? Shouldn't he have come towards the near post or was there just not enough time for it?

Just rewatched that play that you are talking about. Howard positioned himself well enough to when he realized that the guy did not have a chance to hit it (not as close as you think), he was able to dive and hold on to it. Once again it was a combination of the reaching it and holding on. A number of goalies in dry weather have bobbled or attempted to push the ball away on those plays which opens up rebound opportunities. He had no chance to catch the save before the goal which is why his punch was a good play especially getting it deep away. Just unfortunate that Muller was there who is a great finisher.

Thanks man, seriously. I didn't know what to think about that play. I was thinking that once the ball (pass) is on the ground, or low, the first step should be to the near post. Unlike one in the air. I couldn't tell if he recognized that quick enough or not. But I hear you on the "not as close as I think" thing. He probably had a much better angle to see that the sliding runner had no chance.

[Ivytalk]

There's a front-page story in today's WSJ about Belgium. The country can hardly form a government, due to the Fleming-Walloon ethnic split, but they love their soccer.

Until they lose, when it will be back to fratricide as usual!

[tribe_pride]

Just rewatched that play that you are talking about. Howard positioned himself well enough to when he realized that the guy did not have a chance to hit it (not as close as you think), he was able to dive and hold on to it. Once again it was a combination of the reaching it and holding on. A number of goalies in dry weather have bobbled or attempted to push the ball away on those plays which opens up rebound opportunities. He had no chance to catch the save before the goal which is why his punch was a good play especially getting it deep away. Just unfortunate that Muller was there who is a great finisher.

Thanks man, seriously. I didn't know what to think about that play. I was thinking that once the ball (pass) is on the ground, or low, the first step should be to the near post. Unlike one in the air. I couldn't tell if he recognized that quick enough or not. But I hear you on the "not as close as I think" thing. He probably had a much better angle to see that the sliding runner had no chance.

No prob and I had the same initial thought that you did on that play about the guy running inside him. It was only after I saw replays that I saw he was a little further back.

[CAA Flagship]

The sales growth slowed, and market share growth was stagnant, but profits were still decent with plenty of room to trim expenses if necessary (which is what Inbev has done to pay down their $60B debt to buy the company). A-B's failure was remaining too small by being too cautious in M&A's.

Now he's talking mergers and acquisitions.

That was a typo. It was supposed to say "M&M's".

[bluehenbillk]

Just rewatched that play that you are talking about. Howard positioned himself well enough to when he realized that the guy did not have a chance to hit it (not as close as you think), he was able to dive and hold on to it. Once again it was a combination of the reaching it and holding on. A number of goalies in dry weather have bobbled or attempted to push the ball away on those plays which opens up rebound opportunities. He had no chance to catch the save before the goal which is why his punch was a good play especially getting it deep away. Just unfortunate that Muller was there who is a great finisher.

I'm sorry, I just had the same discussion with a co-worker & replayed the goal online multiple times - if you ask Howard I'm sure he'd answer he could've & should've caught versus punched the save that led to Germany's goal. The shot was a header vs a kick, that bounced toward the goal - not exactly a screamer & if you can purposely punch a ball with two hands like a baseball bunt you can surely catch it as well. I'm not anti-punch as there are plenty of times that is warranted but you can't give up rebounds and purposely punch them in the direction he did & not have the expectation that bad things could, and unfortunately for the USA, did on that play. It's like a hockey goalie opting not to glove hand a puck but direct a rebound out front. Laser kick, I get it, punch it, head a ball you can get two hands on, catch it. Watch the replay some more.

[89Hen]

FYI, Belgium beat us 4-2 last summer in a friendly.

Didn't we beat Germany pretty soundly in a friendly just a month ago?

[tribe_pride]

FYI, Belgium beat us 4-2 last summer in a friendly.

Didn't we beat Germany pretty soundly in a friendly just a month ago?

Last year and was 4-3 though we were ahead 4-1 at one point. Though they only had 4 players from todays game that played then.

[CitadelGrad]

FYI, Belgium beat us 4-2 last summer in a friendly.

Didn't we beat Germany pretty soundly in a friendly just a month ago?

It was a few months ago and Germany sent their "B" team.

[89Hen]

Didn't we beat Germany pretty soundly in a friendly just a month ago?

It was a few months ago and Germany sent their "B" team.

That was my point about mentioning a friendly.

[dbackjon]

I wonder if anyone anywhere put down money on England, Spain, Italy and Portugal not making it through....

Only the ECB and IMF.

(Finance joke )

Explain Greece making through then

[tribe_pride]

It was a few months ago and Germany sent their "B" team.

That was my point about mentioning a friendly.

You have a point to a degree but I think we actually played our A team in those matches though since we were prepping for qualifiers and wanted our A team to get experience then.

[GannonFan]

The not-so-bad thing about finishing second in the group is that now we have the longest wait possible to play the round of 16 game. We play on the last day of the round of 16, July 1st.

[89Hen]

The not-so-bad thing about finishing second in the group is that now we have the longest wait possible to play the round of 16 game. We play on the last day of the round of 16, July 1st.

Jozy

[GannonFan]

The not-so-bad thing about finishing second in the group is that now we have the longest wait possible to play the round of 16 game. We play on the last day of the round of 16, July 1st.

Jozy

yup

[93henfan]

Steven Defour of Belgium just got a red card. That means he sits against us?

[clenz]

Steven Defour of Belgium just got a red card. That means he sits against us?

[Grizalltheway]

Steven Defour of Belgium just got a red card. That means he sits against us?

Yessir

[dbackjon]

Russia up 1-0 on Algeria
Belgium South Korea 0-0 at the half

If that holds up, Germany gets another chance to beat the Russkies

[93henfan]

Woot. Every little bit helps.

[Grizalltheway]

Woot. Every little bit helps.

Of course, if SK manage to beat Belgium and Algeria comes back to beat Russia, we'd be facing Algeria instead.

[tribe_pride]

Steven Defour of Belgium just got a red card. That means he sits against us?

Yeah but I just looked and he didn't play in either of Belgium's first 2 games so looks like they just put him in for whatever reason since they are already advancing

[Seahawks08]

Steven Defour of Belgium just got a red card. That means he sits against us?

I've read he isn't a starter anyway. They were starting him because his replacement has a yellow card. But any little advantage, even in subs, is good for the US.

[BDKJMU]

Watching the game in Munich surrounded by Krouts.

Cool story bro.

Why do you hate 'Murica?

Really, there are a lot of Germans in Munich? Tell us more.

Btw, it's "Krauts".

English Gardens to Champs Sports Bar at our hotel to some other restaurant in the Schwabing part of Munich back to Champs. Krouts. Krauts. Whatever. 10 + pints of strong beer. I am happy.

[tribe_pride]

Algeria ties it up. If Algeria scores 1 more to take Russia and South Korea can score on a short manned Belgium team, Algeria takes the group.

about 30 minutes to go in both games.