Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:28 pm
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.
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.