fanzee1
A DAYFATHER
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,863
Re: I haven't seen Portugal play yet...
Well, let's do the math. Let's assume everyone beats poland, which is likely if they don't wake up.
If portugal beats everybody, then the south korea/usa match decides the second spot in the group.
If korea beats everybody, then the usa/portugal match decides it.
I just can't see the u.s. beating everybody (except when i'm dreaming) so i think we really need to hope that one team wins all of its games and that poland remains soft. That way, it's one match to advance and even a tie might be enough.
Realistically though, things will be tougher for the u.s. than i thought. Mainly because i didn't expect s. korea to look quite this strong. I'll just have to hope they're not quite as impressive when defenders actually mark them in the box.
One thing's for sure, the u.s. is better prepared to handle s.korea's speed than poland was. Even with a couple of injuries, the u.s. is quite fast.
A lot of u.s. soccer fans are fretting over c. reyna not being available for the first match. I say it's a benefit. Hate to say it but claudio is a coward. In international play, we have repeatedly seen him disappear late in games, and at any time when the opposition gets physical with him. Our younger players are more fearless. It will make us less offensive at midfield but we'll still have plenty of speed on the wings, and our midfield isn't going to outdo most others at playmaking anyway (weakest part of the team is center midfield) so i'd just as soon we take a defensive stance there. Let's play the balls to the outside and let guys like mathis (him we will miss tomorrow), wolff and donovan attack outside in. That's where the u.s. is most dangerous.
Whew, that was a mouthful. Thanks for posting folks, you Litsters are making the world cup much more enjoyable for me. Soccer fans are definitely in the minority here in the u.s., especially in the midwest. Hopefully, we can keep up the chatter.
(edited for typo in name)
p_p_man said:but judging by S. Korea's performance just now America has got to beat them to stand any chance of progressing. US can handle Poland but without two wins it's going to be Portugal and S. Korea's group...
Well, let's do the math. Let's assume everyone beats poland, which is likely if they don't wake up.
If portugal beats everybody, then the south korea/usa match decides the second spot in the group.
If korea beats everybody, then the usa/portugal match decides it.
I just can't see the u.s. beating everybody (except when i'm dreaming) so i think we really need to hope that one team wins all of its games and that poland remains soft. That way, it's one match to advance and even a tie might be enough.
Realistically though, things will be tougher for the u.s. than i thought. Mainly because i didn't expect s. korea to look quite this strong. I'll just have to hope they're not quite as impressive when defenders actually mark them in the box.
One thing's for sure, the u.s. is better prepared to handle s.korea's speed than poland was. Even with a couple of injuries, the u.s. is quite fast.A lot of u.s. soccer fans are fretting over c. reyna not being available for the first match. I say it's a benefit. Hate to say it but claudio is a coward. In international play, we have repeatedly seen him disappear late in games, and at any time when the opposition gets physical with him. Our younger players are more fearless. It will make us less offensive at midfield but we'll still have plenty of speed on the wings, and our midfield isn't going to outdo most others at playmaking anyway (weakest part of the team is center midfield) so i'd just as soon we take a defensive stance there. Let's play the balls to the outside and let guys like mathis (him we will miss tomorrow), wolff and donovan attack outside in. That's where the u.s. is most dangerous.
Whew, that was a mouthful. Thanks for posting folks, you Litsters are making the world cup much more enjoyable for me. Soccer fans are definitely in the minority here in the u.s., especially in the midwest. Hopefully, we can keep up the chatter.
(edited for typo in name)
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