Group C last games (Wed 10 am, ESPN/2) USA vs Algeria

[CentralMOBuck]

Donovan deserves a ton credit and it's been a long time coming for him. Howard was huge in getting that run out started with setting up Donovan up for that long run.

 

[scarletmike]

I went from pacing, hanging my head, to riveted in place watching the ball move down the pitch, to jumping, yelling, and running around my apartment in pure joy. All in a span of about 10 seconds.

That was beyond words. Most exhilarating sports moment since the OSU/Miami game and the 06 scUM game.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

I'm spent. Tried watching on GameCast and at about 70' had to leave my desk and go out to my car to listen on the radio. Over the last 20'+4' I think I smoked half a pack of cigarettes. I had the fucking shakes by stoppage time.

I almost rear-ended the car in front of me celebrating.

 

[lvbuckeye]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qeI2z10Ct8]YouTube - Landon Donvan's Game Winning Goal vs Algeria in 2010 World Cup[/ame]

 

[Cornerback6]

The guy in the FIFA vest on that Youtube video is classic. The double fist down pump and clinch. 2x Hilarious!

 

[jlb1705]

I'm not ashamed to say that I cried when that goal went in. I live and die with US soccer the same way I do with Buckeye football. The US have advanced before, but it's always been through the back door. This time they went out to take it and did. I started off excited by all the chances, then frustrated, then disappointed, then just worn out and cynical. When the goal finally happened, what else was left to do?

It was just unbelievable to think that the US could play this game having nobody play poorly, having nobody not pull their weight and not win. It was unbelievable that the US could not win by not allowing a goal - with as shaky as their back line was and with so much being asked of them. It was unbelievable that the US could've had Clint Dempsey go to eyelashes and a whistle away from a hat trick, and somehow not win. The US deserved that win based on their play and demeanor for 90+ minutes. Donovan's goal brought order out of chaos.

I have to mention a few players as I look back on this game. Donovan, if not for that goal, I thought would've had to look back on this match with some regrets. He seemed tentative with the ball at his feet many times, and declined to take space that he was being given. I'm glad for him though that he's the one who scored the goal. I heard somebody say in the US-Slovenia broadcast that Donovan is *arguably* the greatest US player of all time. I don't know who could reasonably argue against that. No American player has a better or deeper resume on the games biggest stage.

Jonathan Bornstein - much maligned in the preparations for this tournament, he went out there and played a solid, solid match today. I have to give him credit. Onyewu wasn't getting it done out there, yet I was still disappointed when I read this morning that Bornstein would be starting instead. I'm gladly eating crow on how I felt before the match.

I was pleased with the entire team's work rate today, but Altidore gave a particularly special effort. Michael Bradley is growing into a star in his own right with the way he controls the ball, distributes it and can finish when called upon. Those are the two players for this squad that the US are going to look to as leaders in another four years, but they're showing they have a lot to contribute now. Truly a joy to watch.

 

[Merih]

I'm not ashamed to say that I cried when that goal went in. I live and die with US soccer the same way I do with Buckeye football. The US have advanced before, but it's always been through the back door. This time they went out to take it and did. I started off excited by all the chances, then frustrated, then disappointed, then just worn out and cynical. When the goal finally happened, what else was left to do?

It was just unbelievable to think that the US could play this game having nobody play poorly, having nobody not pull their weight and not win. It was unbelievable that the US could not win by not allowing a goal - with as shaky as their back line was and with so much being asked of them. It was unbelievable that the US could've had Clint Dempsey go to eyelashes and a whistle away from a hat trick, and somehow not win. The US deserved that win based on their play and demeanor for 90+ minutes. Donovan's goal brought order out of chaos.

I have to mention a few players as I look back on this game. Donovan, if not for that goal, I thought would've had to look back on this match with some regrets. He seemed tentative with the ball at his feet many times, and declined to take space that he was being given. I'm glad for him though that he's the one who scored the goal. I heard somebody say in the US-Slovenia broadcast that Donovan is *arguably* the greatest US player of all time. I don't know who could reasonably argue against that. No American player has a better or deeper resume on the games biggest stage.

Jonathan Bornstein - much maligned in the preparations for this tournament, he went out there and played a solid, solid match today. I have to give him credit. Onyewu wasn't getting it done out there, yet I was still disappointed when I read this morning that Bornstein would be starting instead. I'm gladly eating crow on how I felt before the match.

I was pleased with the entire team's work rate today, but Altidore gave a particularly special effort. Michael Bradley is growing into a star in his own right with the way he controls the ball, distributes it and can finish when called upon. Those are the two players for this squad that the US are going to look to as leaders in another four years, but they're showing they have a lot to contribute now. Truly a joy to watch.

GPA. Beautiful Prose.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

I'm not ashamed to say that I cried when that goal went in.

Pussy.

 

[AuburnBuckeye]

 

[billmac91]

I'm not ashamed to say that I cried when that goal went in. I live and die with US soccer the same way I do with Buckeye football. The US have advanced before, but it's always been through the back door. This time they went out to take it and did. I started off excited by all the chances, then frustrated, then disappointed, then just worn out and cynical. When the goal finally happened, what else was left to do?

It was just unbelievable to think that the US could play this game having nobody play poorly, having nobody not pull their weight and not win. It was unbelievable that the US could not win by not allowing a goal - with as shaky as their back line was and with so much being asked of them. It was unbelievable that the US could've had Clint Dempsey go to eyelashes and a whistle away from a hat trick, and somehow not win. The US deserved that win based on their play and demeanor for 90+ minutes. Donovan's goal brought order out of chaos.

I have to mention a few players as I look back on this game. Donovan, if not for that goal, I thought would've had to look back on this match with some regrets. He seemed tentative with the ball at his feet many times, and declined to take space that he was being given. I'm glad for him though that he's the one who scored the goal. I heard somebody say in the US-Slovenia broadcast that Donovan is *arguably* the greatest US player of all time. I don't know who could reasonably argue against that. No American player has a better or deeper resume on the games biggest stage.

Jonathan Bornstein - much maligned in the preparations for this tournament, he went out there and played a solid, solid match today. I have to give him credit. Onyewu wasn't getting it done out there, yet I was still disappointed when I read this morning that Bornstein would be starting instead. I'm gladly eating crow on how I felt before the match.

I was pleased with the entire team's work rate today, but Altidore gave a particularly special effort. Michael Bradley is growing into a star in his own right with the way he controls the ball, distributes it and can finish when called upon. Those are the two players for this squad that the US are going to look to as leaders in another four years, but they're showing they have a lot to contribute now. Truly a joy to watch.

Sweet write-up but you left out one player in particular. Tim Howard won this game today. Some of the throws and transition opportunities he started were simply amazing. That 60 yard throw towards the end of the second half was ridiculous. I'm not sure any other keeper in the world can do that. And then the start of the break on the winning goal wasn't as hard of a throw but he put it on the money leading his man, and the counter-attack paid off right in time.

Props to Dmaarcus Beasley for providing a nice spark and Edson Buddle as well. Both guys came in and created some opportunties.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Sweet write-up but you left out one player in particular. Tim Howard won this game today. Some of the throws and transition opportunities he started were simply amazing. That 60 yard throw towards the end of the second half was ridiculous. I'm not sure any other keeper in the world can do that. And then the start of the break on the winning goal wasn't as hard of a throw but he put it on the money leading his man, and the counter-attack paid off right in time.

Props to Dmaarcus Beasley for providing a nice spark and Edson Buddle as well. Both guys came in and created some opportunties.

Timmah had some remarkable distribution from the box today. Deserves so much credit.

Really, as jlb said, everyone did their part. No one had a bad game really, yet the USA was staring elimination in the face. Jozy was taking people on all day. Some poor decisions, but he is a horse and yet so young. Buddle looked lost, but those were his first WC minutes and he did some things well. Every sub added to the game. Every player, for that matter.

The last two games from the US- historic.

 

[bkochmc]

Awesome, just awesome moment in US Soccer! And it was only fitting that Donovan scored the winner.

I think these are the scenarios for who the USA and England will play.

Ghana/Germany and Serbia/Australia both tie - England/Ghana, USA/Germany unless Serbia can make up a 3 goal differential then USA/Serbia
Ghana/Germany tie, Serbia win - England/Serbia, USA/Ghana
Ghana/Germany tie, Australia win - England/Ghana, USA/Germany unless Australia can make up a 7 goal differential then USA/Australia
Ghana win, Serbia/Australia tie - England/Ghana, USA/Serbia
Ghana win, Serbia win - England/Ghana, USA/Serbia
Ghana win, Australia win - England/Ghana, USA/Germany unless Australia can make up a 7 goal differential then USA/Australia
Germany win, Serbia/Australia tie - England/Germany, USA/Ghana unless Serbia can make up a 1 goal differential then USA/Serbia
Germany win, Serbia win - England/Germany, USA/Serbia unless Serbia can make up a 3 goal differential then England/Serbia, USA/Germany
Germany win, Australia win - England/Germany, USA/Ghana unless Australia can make up a 3 goal differential then USA/Australia

The best chance for the US to avoid Germany is for the Germans to beat Ghana as it would be highly unlikely that Serbia also would win and make up a 3 goal differential.

 

[jlb1705]

Sweet write-up but you left out one player in particular. Tim Howard won this game today. Some of the throws and transition opportunities he started were simply amazing. That 60 yard throw towards the end of the second half was ridiculous. I'm not sure any other keeper in the world can do that. And then the start of the break on the winning goal wasn't as hard of a throw but he put it on the money leading his man, and the counter-attack paid off right in time.

Props to Dmaarcus Beasley for providing a nice spark and Edson Buddle as well. Both guys came in and created some opportunties.

Agreed. You could say something great about everybody who stepped on the pitch today.

 

[fourteenandoh]

Props to Dmaarcus Beasley for providing a nice spark and Edson Buddle as well. Both guys came in and created some opportunties.

+1,000,000

The nature of our attack completely changed when Buddle came in. That guy is a player. It may just be that he was fresh, and he added an extra attacker (in which case props to Bradley for making the move), but he was in on every play. I can't wait to see who we get in the round of 16.

 

[tmporter]

Good point.

However, look at the scenarios that BB posted, I would also LOVE to play the Aussies.

All that takes is an Aussie win and a Ghana win. Say what you might about the Germans, but I think Ghana plays them tough today. Doubt Australia beats Serbia, but not impossible. Serbia or Australia, please.

We need Germany to win. I would feel fine playing either Serbia, Ghana or Australia. I would like Australia, simply because they would be the weakest of the 3. Ghana would be fine too, much tougher though. Serbia would be a challenge. They are very defensive. They do not concede many goals. My hope is that Germany and Australia win today.