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2014 FIFA World Cup - Brazil

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OHSportsFan said:
Great post.

And yes, Ghana are poised, again, to rip the hearts of the Americans. Worries me a ton.
Click to expand...

The other part of the Ghana/Portugal side of the problem is that Portugal are going to have to push forward bigtime because of their negative goal difference. That combined with their shaky/depleted back line should leave them very open to the counterattack, where we know Ghana can be deadly.

That said, while I can easily envision the scenarios that send the US home, I think they'll end up making it through. So far this tournament has generally rewarded the tough, athletic teams that are used to playing in crap conditions. It hasn't always been kind to the most talented, technically gifted or tactically astute sides. While that trend seems to benefit Ghana against Portugal, it could also benefit the US against Germany. Just a gut feeling, mostly.
 
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jlb1705 said:
All the scenarios:

BqxnZE0IgAA_tbb.png:large


Anything in green or yellow is good.
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The neat feature about World Cup scheduling is that all 4 teams in a group play their 3rd match at the same time. Since the US/Germany and Portugal/Ghana matches are at the same time; no team will know the final outcome of the other match before their game.

US/Germany on ESPN Thurday @ noon
Portugal/Ghana on ESPN2 Thursday @ noon
 
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jlb1705 said:
The other part of the Ghana/Portugal side of the problem is that Portugal are going to have to push forward bigtime because of their negative goal difference. That combined with their shaky/depleted back line should leave them very open to the counterattack, where we know Ghana can be deadly.

That said, while I can easily envision the scenarios that send the US home, I think they'll end up making it through. So far this tournament has generally rewarded the tough, athletic teams that are used to playing in crap conditions. It hasn't always been kind to the most talented, technically gifted or tactically astute sides. While that trend seems to benefit Ghana against Portugal, it could also benefit the US against Germany. Just a gut feeling, mostly.
Click to expand...
Don't forget that Portugal gets Pepe back, one of their better defenders (maybe even best? I don't watch outside of the WC). And additionally, and I actually forgot this, Sulley Muntari is out for Ghana due to back to back yellow cards. That could be helpful for us.

Edit: On a side note, does using the term "us" or "we" still bug people if it's a world/national event?
 
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UpNorth_Buckeye said:
Don't forget that Portugal gets Pepe back, one of their better defenders (maybe even best? I don't watch outside of the WC). And additionally, and I actually forgot this, Sulley Muntari is out for Ghana due to back to back yellow cards. That could be helpful for us.

Edit: On a side note, does using the term "us" or "we" still bug people if it's a world/national event?
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Good point about Pepe. That will certainly help. I think the guy they miss the most is Coentrao though. Christian Atsu tore Beasley a new one on the right wing. Fabian Johnson, a lesser player than Atsu, gave the replacement LB for Portugal fits. The defensive left side for Portugal is going to be key and there is every reason to believe that they will struggle in that area. Also, some stats I read before today's game showed that Coentrao's presence had been pretty important to the Portuguese attack so I think they miss him for more than just defense.

I don't know if "us" or "we" bugs people. I tend to rail against it for most sports, but tend to fall into using it for soccer because it's the way that most supporters speak about their teams. The club structure throughout the rest of the world lends itself to this, though that way of thinking is pretty much an anachronism these days.
 
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ScriptOhio said:
The neat feature about World Cup scheduling is that all 4 teams in a group play their 3rd match at the same time. Since the US/Germany and Portugal/Ghana matches are at the same time; no team will know the final outcome of the other match before their game.

US/Germany on ESPN Thurday @ noon
Portugal/Ghana on ESPN2 Thursday @ noon
Click to expand...
Neat? More like terrible for blood pressure.

Here's a modified version of the chart posted earlier as it pertains to U.S. advancement.

Edit to add: It still blows my mind that FIFA resorts to a freaking COIN TOSS in these situations. I'm pretty sure nobody's ever been eliminated via drawing of lots in World Cup or Euro history. The only time I ever remember it happening was in the 2000 Gold Cup, when Canada advanced via drawing of lots over South Korea. Why was South Korea involved in the CONCACAF Championship? God only knows. Canada actually went on to beat Mexico and Colombia to win the title, bizarrely enough.


Bqxz9eKIEAA6o_a.png
 
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Bucky32 said:
Neat? More like terrible for blood pressure.

Here's a modified version of the chart posted earlier as it pertains to U.S. advancement.

Edit to add: It still blows my mind that FIFA resorts to a freaking COIN TOSS in these situations. I'm pretty sure nobody's ever been eliminated via drawing of lots in World Cup or Euro history. The only time I ever remember it happening was in the 2000 Gold Cup, when Canada advanced via drawing of lots over South Korea. Why was South Korea involved in the CONCACAF Championship? God only knows. Canada actually went on to beat Mexico and Colombia to win the title, bizarrely enough.


Bqxz9eKIEAA6o_a.png
Click to expand...
I think the crazy thing is that we can beat Ghana and still lose to them- because head-to-head is the 3rd tiebreaker, I believe.

I mean, FML, right? :smash:
 
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