Posted on 06/08/2014 3:13:46 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Nine days from now, the United States men’s national team will open the World Cup against Ghana in Brazil. And in their final official warm-up game, on the last day before they travel down, they ticked off a number of boxes on their lengthy to-do list in a 2-1 win over Nigeria.
Striker Jozy Altidore, on whom so much could depend in the coming weeks, finally ended his scoring drought by scoring in the 31st and 68th minutes. He hadn’t scored for his club Sunderland since Dec. 4 in his disastrous first season there, and his last tally for the USA had come on Oct. 11 -- a six-game scoreless stretch.
More momentum was built as the Americans took a third win from this three-game tune-up series, having previously vanquished Azerbaijan 2-0 on May 27 and Turkey 2-1 on June 1. The win itself, meanwhile, seems all the more significant since it came over another World Cup-bound opponent that plays much the same way as Ghana does. The Ghanaians, of course, bounced the USA from the last two World Cups. But the Americans will need a win this time around to retain any hope of advancing from a group that also contains world-beaters Germany and Portugal.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.foxsports.com ...
After three weeks of preparation in Miami, Portugal and in the heat chambers of St George’s Park, England arrive in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday for the meat of their summer.
The last time the two sides met was two years ago, when the Italians knocked England out of UEFA EURO 2012 on penalties after a 0-0 stalemate in which Hodgson’s team were passed off the park. Unlike last time, a goalless draw would not result in a shoot-out lottery from 12 yards.
Instead it would give England a solid base on which they could go into their next games against Uruguay and Costa Rica. But there is certainly no suggestion from the England camp that a draw will be good enough.
Speaking from the tarmac, he said:
"Team spirit is very very good, and it has been good since the moment we met up in Portugal, we have always had our focus on the day when we would focus on Manaus, we are getting more and more acclimatized to conditions."
Odd phrasing - its WINTER in Brazil and Sao Paulo was cold last week, mild this week - who knows for WC?
“It’ll take a miracle to advance out of this group...”
Yes, but I think they can beat Ghana, and if Christiano is injured they could have a chance to beat Portugal.
The work stoppage over wage demands by staff has caused massive traffic jams for the past three days in Sao Paulo as the city prepares to host the opening game.
With five days to go until kickoff, authorities are hard-pressed to resolve the dispute
The England game was a pretty grim affair - albeit a disrupted one. Honduras were alarmingly over physical for the last friendly before the World Cup. Sturridge was poor, Johnson is really starting to worry me at right-back and Rooney huffed and puffed but was largely uninspiring. Henderson looked good though.
It’ll all mean nothing when the real thing begins next week. I am starting to feel genuinely optimistic and excited. Fans from all the nations involved are entitled to feel the same way. At this stage, all dreams are still alive.
I’d better not comment on the Argentina-Falklands thing though. I want to keep my current high spirits!
The Portuguese will lead Iran into their first World Cup since 2006 when they take on Nigeria in Group F on June 16.
If they have been unconvincing in their on-pitch build-up, their off-field goings-on have been chaotic with assistant coach Majid Salih leaving his post following their training camp in Austria.
Les Blues' preparations for the marquee tournament were rocked by the news that the Bayern Munich winger will play no part in Brazil due to a back injury.
The 31-year-old had shown signs of improvements and it was hoped he could feature in Sunday's encounter with Winfried Schafer's men at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
However, he suffered a setback during sprint tests on Friday and an MRI scan ruled him out of contention.
In a further blow, Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Clement Grenier has also been forced to miss the tournament in Brazil with a groin injury sustained in training on Thursday.
And with Germany’s star injured, US’s chances have slightly improved.
Add me to your ping list please.
Ah, is that the team we won against? ;-)
Four years ago in South Africa, France imploded. They failed to win a match in their group and lost to both Mexico and the host nation.
Off the pitch, manager Raymond Domenech was accused by Zinedine Zidane of losing control of the players and Patrice Evra was involved in a row with fitness chief Robert Duverne that led to the players refusing to train.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was part of that squad – and as the present captain, he wants no repeat.
Exactly. The1980 Olympic hockey team was a miracle. The US getting out of this group would just be an upset.
USA, Game 1 vs. Ghana, Game 2 vs. Portugal, Game 3 vs. Germany
Because the USA defeated Portugal in 2002, Portugal will be extra-wary of the USA. USA defeated them in the 1st game hence a big setback and Portugal did not get out of the group. Portugal also will be in a Portuguese speaking nation, their former colony for whatever that is worth. Would their be an advantage for Spain playing in Mexico? Maybe a slight one. In exchange with that, USA will have many many fans there. 15,000? I don't know but a lot and the largest traveling contingency.
Obviously, it is one game at a time for the USA but should we defeat our nemesis Ghana, I've got to think we would find a way to advance out of the group.
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