World Cup - England vs USA (Sat 2:30 ET, ABC)

[Meyer]

The English seem to be pretty distraught over this result. The guy on ESPN just kept talking about how bad they played and stuff. I was just thinking shut up dude, maybe England just isn't that much better anymore?

They seem to be pretty upset.

It's too bad it was only a tie, I was hoping for a "revolutionary" type result.

 

[Steve19]

Dempsey interview: Hey, yeah, the goalie should have stopped it. But, hey, you see these on TV and wonder, "Why doesn't that happen to me?" [Big smile] They all count, don't they? On to the next game.

Completely relaxed. Looked good. Commentators very positive about his response and the way he handled himself in the interview.

 

[Steve19]

My next door neighbors are English and were flying the flag today. I'll have the Stars and Stripes flying tomorrow.

 

[Meyer]

Coach Bob Bradley [censored]ed me off big time.

Starting Rico Clark over Mo Edu.
Not getting Jozy and Findley out around the 70th minute. Both were gassed and were losing impact on the game. Give me Gomez and Buddle for the last 20 minutes. Guys that have that poacher's mentality and ability to steal a goal.
Holden should have came in for Dempsey at some point earlier, as well.

Bob just sat on his hands. Yes, I'm happy with the tie, but I thought his apathetic style was going to cost us the game. Fresh forwards can do a lot to help burn clock and Demps was done. Holden brings calmness and possession in the midfield.

Oh well, on to the next one.

Props to you for being right about Clark. And yea I agree with everything you said here. We needed to get some fresh legs out there. Both forwards and Dempsey were dead.

 

[OHSportsFan]

The experts on television are saying that USA is a great goalie and a team that plays a compact defense but otherwise does not impress. Also, saying that Clark is a problem.

John Barnes is disagreeing: The United States is a disciplined team. They can play against teams that are quick and whatever. But, look at them. Five minutes in, look at them, they did not lose their composure. They are well coached and have excellent discipline. With that, you can go a long way.

England captain being interviewed on SA television. He says that their goalie was the problem and that they "let a poor goal in." Agh, shame, poor lad! Go Algeria!

I think it's a little bit of both.

It comes as no surprise to American sports fans that the USA's best assets on the soccer field are defensive organization/discipline, set-plays (free-kicks, corners, defending), and goalkeeping. Those are basic American traits in all our sports (teamwork, designed plays, and well, hand-eye coordination). Fitness/effort/heart are key assets as well.

We still lack that impressive flare and ability to put real offensive efforts together in the final third, at least against teams that have superior talent.

I expect some changes and more domination against the 2 other group teams, Slovenia and Algeria. We do have some offensive talent, just couldn't/wouldn't show it against a better team.

 

[Jaxbuck]

How sure are we football games aren't fixed? basketball? hockey?

Any basis for your conspiracy?

Please don't tell me you're going to say Green's mistake in the first half. There were a ton of chances in the second that could've ruined that "fix", unless both teams were in on it.

Not to piss in your cheerios but that's a pretty dumb question. Seems a little bit conspiracy theorist to me and anyone could ask that about any sport...

I'm not really sure where you're trying to go with that??

I bring it up based on how soft the goal was and just a casual knowledge of how heavily bet the English team was in books across the world.

You have an ass ton of money on the English to win at something like -200 type juice. You have a ton of money on the US team at +400 to +500 kind of money. You have the push odds only paying +250 to +300 type money and not so heavily hit.

So one of the softest goals in sports history just magically produces the result most profitable and least damaging to sports books and you don't even wonder?

 

[OHSportsFan]

It's England.

They always f*ck up in the World Cup. No fix needed for that. It's in their blood.

Plus, I'd say most people were expecting a tie when it came down to it. England's talent=America's heart.

Finally, when soccer games are fixed, it's through the refs. The center and the linesmen were outstanding today. So far, through 5 games, all the referees have done a superb job, imo.

 

[Buckeye513]

I don't hate Ricardo Clark, but with as well as this entire team gets back, I don't see any functional reason to play him. Might as well just play Feilhaber and tell Bradley to chill a little with those forward runs. I'd rather see Kljestan in there though.

I have a feeling Bocanegra being on the left is going to cost us eventually. HATE seeing him out there anymore, nowhere else to put him though with DeMerit being in form in and Gooch being beardly.

Fuck England.

 

[Meyer]

I bring it up based on how soft the goal was and just a casual knowledge of how heavily bet the English team was in books across the world.

You have an ass ton of money on the English to win at something like -200 type juice. You have a ton of money on the US team at +400 to +500 kind of money. You have the push odds only paying +250 to +300 type money and not so heavily hit.

So one of the softest goals in sports history just magically produces the result most profitable and least damaging to sports books and you don't even wonder?

No we're not all conspiracy theorists. People choke in big moments. Especially people who aren't very good.

 

[Jaxbuck]

It's England.

They always f*ck up in the World Cup. No fix needed for that. It's in their blood.

Plus, I'd say most people were expecting a tie when it came down to it. England's talent=America's heart.

Finally, when soccer games are fixed, it's through the refs. The center and the linesmen were outstanding today. So far, through 5 games, all the referees have done a superb job, imo.

Fair enough. The refs fixing games goes with what I have heard other people say about soccer so with an outsiders eyes this one sure as hell looked fishy but I'm obviously glad it worked out for the US no matter what.

 

[Jake]

So one of the softest goals in sports history just magically produces the result most profitable and least damaging to sports books and you don't even wonder?

Not when it happens in the 40th minute of a 90 minute game. That would be leaving an awful lot to chance.

I can only imagine how you would see the 2002-3 NC game versus Miami if you were Jaxcane.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Fair enough. The refs fixing games goes with what I have heard other people say about soccer so with an outsiders eyes this one sure as hell looked fishy but I'm obviously glad it worked out for the US no matter what.

Oh, there is definitely a history of corruption in soccer. The Italian league had a huge scandal I believe just 5 years ago that featured some of the top teams in the history of Italian soccer fixing matches. Then again, Italians being corrupt?

Water's wet?

And being the world's most popular sport, there are a lot of hands involved. FIFA is a pretty sketchy organization sometimes, but I don't think an England goalie botching a low-driven ball on a wet, hard field is what they would go for. Robert Green just let down an entire country...do not want to be that guy.

 

[Jaxbuck]

No we're not all conspiracy theorists. People choke in big moments. Especially people who aren't very good.

Just a quick google search comes up with a lot of shit about soccer matches being fixed. Given that track record I don't think wondering aloud requires that one be a conspiracy theorist.

I agree with what Jake and OHSF9 are saying, it would probably be done a different way if it were being done at all.