World Cup and European leagues

[Gray Fox]

The England result shows the US was in a mediocre group and has a LONG way to go.

Oh yes.  The same is and was true of England, although there has been more denial there.  They can't escape it now, with the aging of their team.

The "Group of Dirth".

[Mr. Ypsi]

Just when you think FIFA can't possibly sink any lower, they BAN replays rather than using them to correct obvious errors!   What a hopelessly corrupt organization. 

[Hoosier Titan]

The England result shows the US was in a mediocre group and has a LONG way to go.

Oh yes.  The same is and was true of England, although there has been more denial there.  They can't escape it now, with the aging of their team.

The "Group of Dirth".

LOVE IT! 

Sad that it's true, but it's good to have a laugh.

[Hoosier Titan]

Just learned that FIFA have a new regulation concerning the color of the shin guard straps, which has led to players coloring them with markers on the pitch.  Glad to know they are on top of what really matters <sarcasm switch off>.

I've been listening to a very interesting podcast from the Daily Mail (London).  It features Graham Poll, the three-yellow-card ref I've been talking about who has overcome the end of his reffing career to become an excellent commentator.  There's also a conversation with English and German commentators from South Africa.  The longest conversation was about what Germany is doing right that England isn't.  Evidently two years ago Mueller, one of the goal-scorers, was playing in the German third division in front of about 100 spectators.   German Premier teams are required to have 12 German players, and only a few like Bayern Munich really pay big bucks for foreign players.  The result?  20-year olds who are ready to play in the World Cup.  Interestingly, the word "denial" was used to describe the English Football Association (as I used it yesterday).  The US is mentioned (and in a positive light, compared to England).  Worth having a listen, if you have some time:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/index.html
The link is to the lower right on that web page.

The US has a different problem--getting players UP to the standards of the rest of the world.  Many of the starting eleven--Dempsey, Howard, Bocanegra, Altidore, and Donovan that I know of amongst current players, plus previous players like Reyna and McBride, have played in Europe.  I think they need to keep doing that, which obviously works against the needs of the English!  Right now it's looking like South America is the place for great soccer.  Speaking of which....almost time for Brazil-Chile.  Hope this one produces more goals  than cards.

[ScotsFan]

Hoosier.  I think it has to be noted also that the Germans must have one great sense of pride when they put on that German uniform.  Everyone and their mother was questioning Germany coming into this tournament for being too young and their best players being far from in top form.  Lukas Podolski had a pretty dreadful campaign for Köln.  Yet all he does is excel for Germany in international competitions.  He only scored 3 goals in 31 appearances for Köln this past season and he already has 2 goals (and he missed a PK that would have given him 3 goals) in four matches for Germany in this World Cup. 

And then there is Miroslav Klose.  All he does is score goals at the World Cup?!  He tied Pelé for World Cup goals with 12 yesterday vs. England and he also has 2 goals in this WC campaign after he too had a dreadful club season scoring only 6 goals in 38 appearances for Bayern Munich?!

I don't know what it is about putting on those German unis, but it sure seems to take the German players to another level.  Too bad the Three Lions jerseys don't do the same for the English players... 

[ScotsFan]

I think Bradley did an excellent job of ONE aspect of coaching - the team worked marvelously together as a unit, and had tremendous heart.  But I think he totally failed at another aspect of coaching - who should be on the field.  The former may be a harder task than overcoming the latter (e.g., Italy and France), so I lean towards retaining him, but I'm not strong either way.

Apparently, U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati isn't too happy with the early exit by the US as this article suggests:

What Is The Future For USA Soccer?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Amazing - no major officiating debacles today!

Scoring is way up in the round of 16 - 4 games with 3 goals, 1 with 4, and 1 with 5.  I haven't checked it out, but that seems unusual to me - isn't scoring typically higher in group play (with some total mismatches, and teams concerned with goal differential) than in the knock-out rounds?

[Mr. Ypsi]

The England result shows the US was in a mediocre group and has a LONG way to go.

Oh yes.  The same is and was true of England, although there has been more denial there.  They can't escape it now, with the aging of their team.

The "Group of Dirth".

Arguably an even better joke if you had correctly spelled "Group of Dearth"!

Since I think the US is rapidly improving, and will be stronger in 2014, here's hoping for a draw then anywhere close to this year.   Please save Brazil, Germany, etc., for at least the quarters!

[sac]

The cream is rising to the top.

[Gray Fox]

The England result shows the US was in a mediocre group and has a LONG way to go.

Oh yes.  The same is and was true of England, although there has been more denial there.  They can't escape it now, with the aging of their team.

The "Group of Dirth".

Arguably an even better joke if you had correctly spelled "Group of Dearth"!

Since I think the US is rapidly improving, and will be stronger in 2014, here's hoping for a draw then anywhere close to this year.   Please save Brazil, Germany, etc., for at least the quarters!

My computer has spell check.  This one doesn't.  Thanks. +k.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I, too, was astounded to see the ages of Edson Buddle and Hercules Gomez, since they so suddenly exploded on the scene.  At 33 and 32 in 2014, they should not totally be counted out.  And Clint Dempsey will only be 31.

Out of those three, plus Charlie Davies (then 28), Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley, Freddie Adu (and a player [or players] to be named later - then all under 26), I am cautiously optimistic that we will have a world-class striker (or two) in 2014.  I have no clue who it will be - but hopeful he (or they) will emerge!

Personally, my bet is on both Dempsey (or Davies) and Altidore.  Jozy missed a goal against England on a save every bit as good as the whiff on Dempsey was bad.

[Hoosier Titan]

I guess my spellchecker was off too!  Thanks both for a chuckle.

Is this progress on the technology front?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/29/world-cup-2010-sepp-blatter-technology

I like the statement that bad calls are not the end of competition.  They can be for the side that loses!

[ScotsFan]

I, too, was astounded to see the ages of Edson Buddle and Hercules Gomez, since they so suddenly exploded on the scene.  At 33 and 32 in 2014, they should not totally be counted out.  And Clint Dempsey will only be 31.

Out of those three, plus Charlie Davies (then 28), Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley, Freddie Adu (and a player [or players] to be named later - then all under 26), I am cautiously optimistic that we will have a world-class striker (or two) in 2014.  I have no clue who it will be - but hopeful he (or they) will emerge!

Personally, my bet is on both Dempsey (or Davies) and Altidore.  Jozy missed a goal against England on a save every bit as good as the whiff on Dempsey was bad.

Do we still hold out hope that Freddy Adu can ever live up to even a portion of the hype that was being lauded over him as a youth?    I have pretty much counted him out long ago... 

Personally, I'm hoping for another Jozy Altidore to come along.   

As for the player or players to be named later, I haven't been really following the U21's but that is where Altidore was excelling in '06 during the last WC.  Maybe I'll have to do some digging to see if there are any up and comers ready to be the next Jozy Altidore!

[Mr. Ypsi]

I, too, was astounded to see the ages of Edson Buddle and Hercules Gomez, since they so suddenly exploded on the scene.  At 33 and 32 in 2014, they should not totally be counted out.  And Clint Dempsey will only be 31.

Out of those three, plus Charlie Davies (then 28), Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley, Freddie Adu (and a player [or players] to be named later - then all under 26), I am cautiously optimistic that we will have a world-class striker (or two) in 2014.  I have no clue who it will be - but hopeful he (or they) will emerge!

Personally, my bet is on both Dempsey (or Davies) and Altidore.  Jozy missed a goal against England on a save every bit as good as the whiff on Dempsey was bad.

Do we still hold out hope that Freddy Adu can ever live up to even a portion of the hype that was being lauded over him as a youth?    I have pretty much counted him out long ago... 

Personally, I'm hoping for another Jozy Altidore to come along.   

As for the player or players to be named later, I haven't been really following the U21's but that is where Altidore was excelling in '06 during the last WC.  Maybe I'll have to do some digging to see if there are any up and comers ready to be the next Jozy Altidore!

While I no longer have expectations for Adu, I still have hope.  He's still years younger than Buddle or Gomez who only recently emerged.  While I can't offhand recall any phenom (in any sport) who flopped then re-emerged, he certainly seems to have the body-type and skills to do so if he has the will.  I suspect his mind may have gotten messed up up with the hype, and he doesn't seem to get into the right settings, but I haven't abandoned hope - just expectations.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Amazing - no major officiating debacles today!

Scoring is way up in the round of 16 - 4 games with 3 goals, 1 with 4, and 1 with 5.  I haven't checked it out, but that seems unusual to me - isn't scoring typically higher in group play (with some total mismatches, and teams concerned with goal differential) than in the knock-out rounds?

I seem to have been premature, as today's two games yielded one goal, total!  But another day with no major officiating gaffes!   And FIFA has now put replay back into discussion.  I doubt they'll do it, once the uproar subsides, but who knows?  With Blattner apologizing to both England (could be just goal-line technology) AND Mexico (which could only be corrected by replay [or better refs!]), anything is possible.

Seven group winners are in the final eight.  The exception, alas, is the US.