Posted on 06/22/2014 4:34:49 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
The American team has a chance to move on to the next round of the World Cup Sunday when it takes on Portugal.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Today’s games:
Belgium vs Russia 12:00 PM EDT
South Korea vs Algeria 3:00 PM EDT
Portugal vs USA 6:00 PM EDT
First two games will be broadcast on ABC. ESPN will carry the Portugal-USA game tonight.
I find soccer extremely boring and not unlike watching grass grow.
I feel the same way about baseball. I grew up on it and can’t stand to watch it on TV now. I much prefer soccer now. The international aspect is great. No matter where someone is from in the world you always can talk soccer.
Prevent defense in soccer is more boring than prevent defense in NFL.
If you play good defense, you can prevent the other side from scoring.
Football games generally don’t lead to blowouts unless one team is very weak against the other.
It would be no shame if the US kept it a tie today, it would still be assured of making it to the next round.
But winning their group would be doing the impossible. Then again, no one predicted they would defeat Ghana.
All eyes are on them tonight.
Argentina 1:0 Iran Match Highlights
Nigeria win knocks out Bosnia
Bosnia-Herzegovina's maiden appearance at a World Cup finals ended in disappointment as Peter Odemwingie's goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat by African champions Nigeria in Cuiaba and ensured they could not qualify for the second round.
Nigeria's win, their first at a World Cup finals since 1998, leaves them as favourites to join Argentina in the second round.
Nigeria 1:0 Bosnia and Herzegovina Match Highlights
“If you play good defense, you can prevent the other side from scoring.”
True but if you allow the other team to continually attack and play on your side of the field eventually they will score while you give yourself ZERO chance of scoring.
If it is 2-0 maybe, but 1-0 you still have to attack. Going to prevent defense with almost the whole game left?
World Cup 2014: Miroslav Klose equals World Cup scoring record
Ronaldo has been all too aware of the possibility of losing his record.
He spoke at a fans' festival in Fortaleza only last week, and his message to the Brazilian fans was clear. "I have one big favour to ask of you," he said. "Please cast a tiny spell on Miroslav Klose. That would be good, so that Klose scores no goals."
Baseball NOW! Though not really the national pastime.
“Our national pastime is shooting, Always will be.” ... Cole Younger (Cliff Robertson ) “ The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid”
I also grew up playing baseball among other sports but cannot watch a game on TV.
That said, soccer is REALLY, REALLY boring and requires such a low level skill set - kicking a large ball while running. At least baseball requires a far higher skill set including an ability to hit a very small ball traveling close to 100mph with a very narrow bat.
Add the fact I totally reject the media meme of “You must accept soccer as THE world sport and assimilate into the world community” as patently un-American.
What the Germany-Ghana tie means for U.S. hopes in the World Cup
In short, a tie was probably the best possible result for the Americans.
Having been demolished by Germany, the Iberians know defeat by Group G rivals USA would end their involvement - and a draw would leave them with much to do in their final game.
Belgium v Russia
South Korea v Algeria
USA v Portugal [USA! USA! USA! USA!]
We made it to the round of 16 in 2010. We actually came in third in the 1930 World Cup.
I also grew up playing baseball among other sports but cannot watch a game on TV.
That said, soccer is REALLY, REALLY boring and requires such a low level skill set - kicking a large ball while running. At least baseball requires a far higher skill set including an ability to hit a very small ball traveling close to 100mph with a very narrow bat.
Add the fact I totally reject the media meme of “You must accept soccer as THE world sport and assimilate into the world community” as patently un-American.
You are falling for stereotypes. Soccer isn’t anymore boring or any less technical than a 4 plus hour baseball game. You just chose not to understand the game. Fine.
I was at the US-Nigeria game in Jacksonville a couple weeks ago. The 50,000 crowd was as white bread as can be. Mostly 20 and 30 somethings out having a blast. Fact is the sport is growing in the US because it’s fun to play & follow. More people watched the US-Ghana game than watched game 5 of the NBA finals.
Feel free to continue soccer hating but the times they are a changing for soccer in the US.
There is a lot of “dissing” of soccer going on in this thread. I have never been a big soccer fan, my kids never played it. Then we spent a couple of years as an ex-Pat family in Europe. My older son is now a huge AC Milan fan, and my youngest literally learned to play on the playground at recess. Now that younger one has been doing rec league back here at home for a couple of years. He HAD to get a Messi jersey when we visited Barcelona, because ALL of his friends had them.
The World Cup has been a fixture on our TV this entire week. We are loving it! (even me, Mom, who still needs a rules clarification occasionally)
Crossing my fingers for a USA win today. My “other” rooting interest is Argentina, because Messi seems like a class act, and it would be nice for him to get the big win (if USA is out of it).
Bosnia got screwed twice by the officials. The real score should have been 1-0 in favor of Bosnia.
This ref crew will likely not be moving on to the knockout stage.
As much as I dislike soccer, it is most definetly NOT a low skill level. My kids played, one is still playing in college.
Your is a statement similar to the clowns who say they don't play defense in the NBA. You could never get a shot off against an NBA player. Put yourself on the field against an 'Advanced' soccer team of 15 year olds, and the score would be 100 - 0. You couldn't stop them. You wouldn't get a shot on goal.
South Korea vs. Algeria
FOXES ORGANIZED BUT CAN THEY SCORE? Algeria have only given up four goals in the last four World Cup games, so that's not a problem. But that attack? Problem with a capital "P". The Fennec Foxes have not scored from the run of play in any of the four games, with their only goal coming from the penalty spot. Can Algeria finally score and secure a win?
MASTER PLAN: South Korea lost their last game before heading to the World Cup 4-0 to Ghana in Miami. According to manager Hong Myung-Bo, that was all part of his plan. “The players did what was asked of them, I want to thank them,” he said. “The defeat against Ghana was just part of the process.” His plan was also to bring Lee Keun-Ho on so he could score against a tired Russian defense and that worked as well.
"It seems to me that Spanish tiki-taka is going bankrupt", he said.
Pak Chol-Nam, a teacher at Pyongyang International Football School, said Spain's failure provided a valuable lesson.
"The Spanish team's defeat gave me a lesson that it is most important to grasp the tactics of rivals and smartly counter them," Pak was quoted as saying.
"I will further study together with my trainees lessons and experiences gained in the on-going World Cup to put the training on a more scientific basis."
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