Football World Cup (Soccer) Germany 2006

#21

Folks, CONGRATULATIONS on the US team's performance!!!!!!

I can't stay here to discuss it with you, but I'd like to think that even though you fools don't follow soccer, you had enough sense to catch the game. Well, whatever, shame if you didn't.

the US played against Italy last Saturday, and although Italy didn't play AT ALL their usual game, that is hardly an excuse, IMHO the US played very well, plain and simple. The kids might finally have gotten a taste of what good low down dirty F†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬ ¢¢¬¢ž¢†™¢¢¬…¡¢‚¬Å¡‚ºtbol is all about, at the hands of a foul-friendly Italy, and some fucking horrible calls by the referees.

A serious foul cost the Italian team one player, described by many as the dirtiest move against another player so far in this World Cup (yeah, it was that lame). Apparently, wanting to balance it, the referee got one player out of the US team, later taking yet another player out, leaving the US team with 9 dudes, with no choice but to guard against Italy's constant attack on their side.

In all honesty, I think the US team, although this might not have been their best performance either, demonstrated that they are very quickly gaining the respect they deserve.

From the official FIFA World Cup site:

US praise team spirit after Italy draw
17 June 2006
by Reuters

The United States hailed their best result in Europe after playing most of the second half with nine men in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Italy.

"To tie Italy with nine men has got to be one of the best results we're ever gained," said U.S. captain Claudio Reyna. "This was huge, especially against a top team like Italy.

"It was a very difficult match for us," he added. "We gave everything we had. We were extremely motivated to get a point. We've a lot of confidence and the team spirit is really high."

Just five days after losing 3-0 to Czech Republic, the U.S. played with nine-men from the 47th minute to draw with the three-times champions in a Group E clash that had everything.

Apart from three red cards to equal a World Cup record, there was an own goal, a blood-splattered striker in the shape of Brian McBride who needed stitches after an elbow to the face and a late injury that left Italy effectively with nine men.

...Despite making a surprise run to the quarter-finals in 2002, the U.S. have never fared well at finals held in Europe.

The draw with Italy was the first time they have taken a point in a FIFA World Cup match on the continent, having lost all eight previous games dating to a 7-1 defeat by Italy in 1934.

The U.S. camp said it was their grittiest, and maybe best, performance in the modern era and would ensure the team from a country that plays 'soccer' would be given new-found respect.

#22

the US team will have to up the ante if they are even thinking of being on the field against Argentine in the finals.

How do you think the Murkins will fair against Ghana?

#23

US will beat Ghana, I doubt they can come out like they did against the Czechs again..but who knows, maybe..

Italy will beat Czech, I think they have something they would like to prove after tying the US a man up the whole second half...but then again, the Czechs got killed by Ghana...idk

I just want to see the US advance haha

#24

I think they will do well... but that could just be my hopes talking and not my head. /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
With a win and a little help from Italy, we could actually advance so that Brazil can knock us out. :jtd:

BTW - 7 teams have already secured advancement into round 2. Their final games will only have an implication on ranking and who they will play next.

Here are the updated standings.

June 15. 2006
Group A Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Ecuador-2-2-0-0-5-0--5-6 - ADVANCING
2-Germany-2-2-0-0-5-2--3-6 - ADVANCING
3-Poland-2-0-0-2-0-3---3-0
4-Costa Rica-2-0-0-2-2-7---5-0

June 15, 2006
Group B Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-England-2-2-0-0-3-0--3-6 - ADVANCING
2-Sweden-2-1-1-0-1-0--1-4
3-Trinidad & Tobago-2-0-1-1-0-2--2-1
4-Paraguay-2-0-0-2-0-2---2-0

June 16, 2006
Group C Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Argentina-2-2-0-0-8-1--7-6 - ADVANCING
2-Netherlands-2-2-0-0-3-1--2-6 - ADVANCING
3-Ivory Coast-2-0-0-2-2-4---2-0
4-Serbia & Montenegro-2-0-0-2-0-7---7-0

June 17, 2006
Group D Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Portugal-2-2-0-0-3-0--3-6 - ADVANCING
2-Mexico-2-1-1-0-3-1--2-4
3-Angola-2-0-1-1-0-1---1-1
4-Iran-2-0-0-2-1-5---4-0

June 17, 2006
Group E Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Italy-2-1-1-0-3-1--2-4
2-Czech Republic-2-1-0-1-3-2--1-3
3-Ghana-2-1-0-1-2-2--0-3
4-United States-2-0-1-1-1-4---3-1

June 18, 2006
Group F Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Brazil-2-2-0-0-3-0--3-6 - ADVANCING
2-Australia-2-1-0-1-3-3--0-3
3-Croatia-2-0-1-1-0-1---1-1
4-Japan-2-0-1-1-1-3---2-1

June 19, 2006
Group G Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Switzerland-2-1-1-0-2-0--2-4
2-South Korea-2-1-1-0-3-2--1-4
3-France-2-0-2-0-1-1--0-2
4-Togo-2-0-0-2-1-4---3-0

June 14, 2006 (2nd games are being played today)
Group H Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Spain-1-1-0-0-4-0--4-3
2-Saudi Arabia-1-0-1-0-2-2--0-1
3-Tunisia-1-0-1-0-2-2--0-1
4-Ukraine-1-0-0-1-0-4---4-0

#25

yeah, if Ghana pulls up to the US like they rolled over the Czechs, we might have a problem getting a foot on the field again.

#26

It's going to be a very tough game. Both the US and Ghana is missing 2 important players for the game so the subs will have to step it up big. Of course I would like to see the US win it, but I'm not feeling very optimistic

#27

In all honesty, the US still has a way to go, and this might not be their time yet. The team DOES have spirit and fairly good techinque. What it lacks is the un-fucking-holy overhuman endurance and speed that Ghana has, plus they are hungry for the finals. It has GOT to step it up, the US /Italy game was good but they absolutely have to be even better if they hope to defeat these unrelenting fuckers in Ghana.
As I said before, Italy just wasn't playing their game, that's a fact, that being said, I did not perceive the US to be loosing any steam when faced with at the least maintaining a tie.

The games so far have been full of surprises both good and bad. Fuck, EVERYONE is wondering when tha fuck Brasil is thinking of playing "Bonito". The US cannot count on another fuck up like Italy's giving away one goal like they did. Ghana, would be one of the surprises I'm talking about, they are rising up the charts like their lives depended on it...come to think of it...I don't wanna even consider that, but they are playing like it. If you only knew how much shit those kids have gone through to even make it to the Cup, you would see what the US is facing.

#28

World Cup Standings - UPDATE

Groups A, B, C, & D have completed play. Groups E (USA's Group) and F (Brazil's) complete bracket play tomorrow and G and H will finish on the 23rd.

June 20, 2006Group A Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Germany-3-3-0-0-8-2--6-9 - ADVANCING
2-Ecuador-3-2-0-1-5-3--2-6 - ADVANCING
3-Poland-3-1-0-2-2-4---2-3
4-Costa Rica-3-0-0-3-3-9---6-0

June 20, 2006Group B Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-England-3-2-1-0-5-2--3-7 - ADVANCING
2-Sweden-3-1-2-0-3-2--1-5 - ADVANCING
3-Paraguay-3-1-0-2-2-2--0-3
4-Trinidad & Tobago-3-0-1-2-0-4---4-1

June 21, 2006Group C Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Argentina-3-2-1-0-8-1--7-7 - ADVANCING
2-Netherlands-3-2-1-0-3-1--2-7 - ADVANCING
3-Ivory Coast-3-1-0-2-5-6---1-3
4-Serbia & Montenegro-3-0-0-3-2-10---8-0

June 21, 2006Group D Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Portugal-3-3-0-0-5-1--4-9 - ADVANCING
2-Mexico-3-1-1-1-4-3--1-4 - ADVANCING
3-Angola-3-0-2-1-1-2---1-2
4-Iran-3-0-1-2-2-6---4-1

June 17, 2006Group E Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Italy-2-1-1-0-3-1--2-4
2-Czech Republic-2-1-0-1-3-2--1-3
3-Ghana-2-1-0-1-2-2--0-3
4-United States-2-0-1-1-1-4---3-1

June 18, 2006Group F Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Brazil-2-2-0-0-3-0--3-6 - ADVANCING
2-Australia-2-1-0-1-3-3--0-3
3-Croatia-2-0-1-1-0-1---1-1
4-Japan-2-0-1-1-1-3---2-1

June 19, 2006Group G Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Switzerland-2-1-1-0-2-0--2-4
2-South Korea-2-1-1-0-3-2--1-4
3-France-2-0-2-0-1-1--0-2
4-Togo-2-0-0-2-1-4---3-0

June 19, 2006Group H Standings
-GP-W-D-L-GS-GA--GD-P
1-Spain-2-2-0-0-7-1--6-6 - ADVANCING
2-Ukraine-2-1-0-1-4-4--0-3
3-Tunisia-2-0-1-1-3-5---2-1
4-Saudi Arabia-2-0-1-1-2-6---4-1

Key
GP: Games Played, P: Points, W: Wins, D: Draws, L: Losses, GS: Goals Scored, GA: Goals Against, GD: Goal Difference
The top two teams advance to the 2nd Round of 16

The first games for the 2nd round have been set and so far it looks like this:
Jun 24 11:00 ET Germany v Sweden
Jun 24 15:00 ET Argentina v Mexico
Jun 25 11:00 ET England v Ecuador
Jun 25 15:00 ET Portugal v Netherlands

This is a single elimination round... i.e. Win or Go Home!

#29

ARGGGHHHH.... Italy is up 1 - 0, which would be good for the US...if we weren't fucking down 1 - 0 to Ghana..... SHIT! This doesn't look good for the US....

#30

OK... spoke to soon..... Dempsy just tied us up and the US is back in the game. Of course, a tie does us no good. We have to go for the win!