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2006 SOCCER WORLD CUP - Day 9 Thread - USA v Italy, Czech v Ghana
MLSnet.com ^ | 6-17-06 | MLSnet.com

Posted on 06/17/2006 8:05:31 AM PDT by soccer_maniac

The U.S. national team faces a must-win situation Saturday against Italy (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC). The U.S. lineup could see some changes, including adding Eddie Johnson. Czech Republic and Ghana play earlier in the day (11:30 a.m., ABC), while Portugal advanced by beating Iran 2-0.

(Excerpt) Read more at mlsnet.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: 2006; fifa; futbol; hideandgoseek; isntitoveryet; jimromeisgay; keywordtrolls; makeitgoaway; pleasemakeitendsoon; redrover; rockpaperscissors; sleepingaidtime; soccer; spellingbee; timeforcaprisun; usa; usteam; wheresmyorangeslices; worldcup
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To: soccer_maniac; romanesq
Thank you for the great listing on soccer events. Nice job.

Man, I was taken to the wood shed by my fellow coaches around the country for not knowing the rule on the Gahna goal. Funny, but not, I'm one of the guys that teach the off side rule at the ODP training camps.

Warning, just when you think you know it all, look out. I already appoligized to romanesq for my mystake.

801 posted on 06/17/2006 5:57:28 PM PDT by AGreatPer (Better Living Through Government Interference - Democrats Platform)
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To: AGreatPer

It's not that big a deal. It's an evolving rule for offsides. Couldn't tell you when it started. They don't blow the whistle automatically for it now if the offside player remains passive on the progress.

It wasn't consequential and I don't expect the potential goal will be.

Just want to see one more grand effort from our guys.
(Watching the game again right now. It's sweeter the second time.)


802 posted on 06/17/2006 6:03:23 PM PDT by romanesq (.)
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To: romanesq
Soccer or real football my friend is both an art and a chess game

Actually, you could say the same about the gridiron game, as well. Even moreso, when one considers the descending clock and usage of "timeouts" with context of field position and limited plays per possession.

My intent was to moderate the Football vs. Soccer "Who's In Better Shape" debate, not to, as the first post says, engage in a "which sport is better" pissing contest. Soccer players are some of the most wiry, physically unstoppable, cardio specimens I know, while no one would EVER mess with even a small college Am Football player. That's all I meant!
803 posted on 06/17/2006 6:04:03 PM PDT by IslandJeff (who drove the red sports car?)
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To: Perdogg

Photo

804 posted on 06/17/2006 6:10:24 PM PDT by Incorrigible (If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
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To: IslandJeff

C'mon you know this ain't the thread for compartive sports class.
Besides, the more in shape 300 pound plus steroid lineman doesn't always win the battle in the trenches.

Then you have the Denver Bronco shrimp linemen.
Please no more here. It's not relevant to The Game.


805 posted on 06/17/2006 6:11:00 PM PDT by romanesq (.)
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To: romanesq
Just got off the phone with Barry Gorman, coach at Penn State. He agreed with Arena for backing off the last 15 minutes to get the tie. When I asked why, he said they (Italy) was already pressing hard because of the 10-9 situation. He said, grab what you got and get outta there.

On the reffing today. Ho hum. Some days you get it some days you don't. Just the way it goes. Personally, I never argued with the reffs. That's a can't win situation. I have told my players over the years to say two words, "Yes Sir".

806 posted on 06/17/2006 6:12:51 PM PDT by AGreatPer (Better Living Through Government Interference - Democrats Platform)
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To: romanesq

You brought it up, Dude. I love them both, and wish I could play either.


807 posted on 06/17/2006 6:14:10 PM PDT by IslandJeff (who drove the red sports car?)
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To: AGreatPer

You give the best advice to your players. The refs must be quite an uneven lot here but I'm sure their egos are plenty large and they will make you pay if you slight them.

Usually I would agree with the ho hum aspect of refing. But not today.
Not when you throw out two guys who didn't draw blood. Not to be extreme, but from a realistic perspective, this was not defensible.

But from a coaching perspective I agree. You have to move on and deal with it as best you can.

Today, what the US did with 9 men is just incredible. That they did it against Italy is nothing short of amazing.

Let me put it this way. If it was Italy or another European team down 10 men to 9, do you think you would see the amount of risks and attacking the US did today. Hell no!

That's why I think people should temper any criticism of the US. They had to battle with fatigue and the strain of effort late in the game being down two men.

Not many people can say they've experienced that. On any level.


808 posted on 06/17/2006 6:19:45 PM PDT by romanesq (.)
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To: romanesq
Damn, I know that Ben was put on the team for his time in Virginia U. and United with Arena. But I wish he would just get some minutes. Proud of him, no matter what.

I'm still coming down from the game. Takes about 8 hours.

When I coached, the most important hours were the four hours after the game. It is fresh in your mind, you write stuff down, sleep on it, then make an evaluation.

The best thing to do after a game, win, lose or draw is to go home. Hey, they have to pee.

809 posted on 06/17/2006 6:34:59 PM PDT by AGreatPer (Better Living Through Government Interference - Democrats Platform)
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To: romanesq
Knee surgeries are brutal to careers, and not just soccer. Really sad when someone has a major knee injury as they are usually never the same in play again. Glad I never had that issue. I quit soccer because all my close friends that played premier division I club soccer in youth leagues got cut down to division II or III and I lost the drive to keep going. I stopped playing basketball & football because I stopped growing after 7th grade (Was 6' in 7th grade and was 'big' at the time'). I quit both of those sports competitively in 11th grade. I should have switched to a field goal kicker in football probably. My father had his football career ruined to knee injury. My uncle's baseball career was cut short due to knee injury.

I would like to coach at some point as well, but I'm actually considering going back and playing in the adult leagues for outdoor & indoor soccer. I still play basketball frequently at the YMCAs and with my friends in pick-up games!

810 posted on 06/17/2006 6:43:09 PM PDT by rb22982
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To: AGreatPer
That's a can't win situation. I have told my players over the years to say two words, "Yes Sir".

Wise advise, not always easy to follow though, regardless of what sport you are playing.

811 posted on 06/17/2006 6:46:17 PM PDT by rb22982
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To: AGreatPer

I was just thinking about the team as I finished watching the game again.
No matter what, whether Ben gets minutes or not, you know that he has played a role in the team as they have to practice and push each other to be better when they scrimage.

I've never been so emotional about the US team. It's thrilling that we are not an afterthought on the big stage. I never want to see the 98 disaster again.

Admitedly, I never thought the US could handle the physical play with Germany in the 2002 quarterfinal. Arena put out the right players and it was amazing.

So tonight you know what's great. We played Italy being on the brink and we live for one more day. Who could ask for more, considering being down to 9.

These guys are now history and nothing short of legends!


812 posted on 06/17/2006 6:55:33 PM PDT by romanesq (.)
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To: romanesq

I think '94 was my favorite tournament. I got to see Brazil play the Netherlands in the quarterfinals in Dallas. That could have been the USA game...

You must remember the semifinal game that Italy played against Bulgaria then I imagine -probably my favorite game of all time. I still have that one on tape somewhere...I must have watched it two or three dozen times. There was a fifteen or twenty minute spell there - between the two Baggio goals - where the Italians looked like gods playing around with children. I still see the first goal as if it was yesterday - Baggio dribbling at the edge of the box, beating two defenders out of their shoes and then sending that curling shot around the Bulgarian defender, using him as a screen...Then there was that shot off the post, that beautiful chip that Mihaylov just got a fingertip to...Baggio's second goal...the atmosphere in the stands...the image of Baggio overwhelmed and in tears at the end of the game...that twenty minutes made me a diehard soccer fan for life. I can only imagine what it must have been like in the stands.


813 posted on 06/17/2006 7:02:21 PM PDT by notfornothing
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To: IslandJeff
It's like comparing the physical fitness of bears versus cougars. Both survive, and both thrive.

That's a good comparison.

814 posted on 06/17/2006 7:07:42 PM PDT by eyespysomething (Chuck Norris was what Willis was talkin' about.)
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To: notfornothing

Looking forward to the Ghana match. The US got Pope and Mostroeni suspended due to red cards.

I think John O'Brien will start instead of Matroeni so it's not a huge loss - just a different, softer style.

As for Pope, he used to be the best defender the USA had. But that was a long time ago. Nowaday's Arena's continuing reliance on him is questionable at best. I expect Conrad will start so, again, it's not a loss here - perhaps it's even a gain.


815 posted on 06/17/2006 7:09:43 PM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)
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To: dfwgator

How come you are for Mexico getting kicked out?


816 posted on 06/17/2006 7:12:26 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu (www.answersingenesis.org)
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To: Michael81Dus

And Christians are a rather small minority in iran, too.


817 posted on 06/17/2006 7:13:16 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu (www.answersingenesis.org)
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To: dfwgator

816 replies · 8,464+ views

Wow! Just wow!


818 posted on 06/17/2006 7:16:55 PM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)
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To: romanesq
"These guys are now history and nothing short of legends!"

WOOOOOOW, I love your attitude. It is Soooooo good to see people that understand true football.

Oh, I'm sure it won't be in the Sunday newspapers. But what the US has accomplished in this game is nothing but amazing. Your down, 10-9 with 20 minutes or more remaining and can still stop the mighty Italians. Every sports reporter in the world would say, no way.

To be alive after two games in this bracket is an accomplishment.

I say one more time, "against Italy, you got to be kidding". 1-1. Proud, Proud, Proud of the USA Team.

I am so proud of the US Soccer Team tonight, I just might have another brew.

819 posted on 06/17/2006 7:17:17 PM PDT by AGreatPer (Better Living Through Government Interference - Democrats Platform)
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To: soccer_maniac

John O'Brien for Mastroeni isn't bad at all. I think in most situations I'd take O'Brien's creativeness and imagination anyway, but I think Arena decided to go with a more defensive lineup today. I really REALLY hope Johnson gets the nod against Ghana. Looks like we might just have to bite the bullet and beat them American style - by a touchdown - and Johnson's just the man to do it. I'm also hoping Dempsey starts again; what a game he had.

Can't wait 'til Thursday!!


820 posted on 06/17/2006 7:18:03 PM PDT by notfornothing
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