TheTruth05

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 01:22 PM) 1) What the hell was that Bradley? Way too many loose passes all over the field, but I cringed every time the ball came to you. 2) More Yedlin please. 3) Germany was clearly the better team...dominated every statistical category and we're fortunate Loew stepped on the brakes after Mueller scored or we easily could have been knocked out by that +2 goal differential with Ghana. An assist goes to Boateng/Appiah or Muntari/GFA for messing up their team chemistry completely the last couple of days. 4) Happy for Klinsmann being validated a bit (despite the last second Portugal goal)...it would have been amazing to get to face Russia/Algeria and then France (probably) to get to the Final 4, and done wonders for soccer in America, but we'll just have to do our best to knock off Belgium and Edens Hazard (one of the coolest tourney names). Obviously, we don't be favored against Belgium, so that might work to our advantage to continue to play the underdog role that fits this team's mindset so well...compared to being expected by lots of Americans to beat Russia/Algeria. Well, that's the positive spin. 5) Seems like the US didn't have a legit shot at goal until the two chances in the last 2-3 minutes. That offensive effort was garbage. Seems like they just had a really hard time controlling the ball and making simple passes....granted, the weather was a factor, but it didn't seem to affect Germany as much as the US. Germany was a better team plain and simple. Conditions were bad and every player, including some on the German side, didn't look top notch. USA still would have advance even by losing 2 or 3 nothing because Ghana lost and Portugal needed more than 2 goals

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 12:59 PM) Meh, I'd say like a 4 or 5. Us and Portugal were very close for most likely to grab that 2nd spot out of this group. Portugal was very underwhelming as, IMO, expected and Ghana dissapointed as well but i believe it had alot to do with their numerous internal problems.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 12:55 PM) So I know nothing about soccer, but on a scale of 1-10, how surprising is it that the US advanced? 1 being not at all, 10 being shocked beyond belief. A 6? 7? I think alot of things worked in favor for the US to advanced but the surprising part would probably rate tops a 6. This team might not be an offensive jauggernaut but they position correctly on defense and play a very good counter game so the fact they beat the 2 teams they legit had a chance against is great. Edit: sorry, tied Portugal but in reality could've won

Probably will face Belgium which will be a very tough match up as well, should be good.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 08:59 AM) Suarez banned 9 international matches as well as 4 months. Well Uruguay is gone next round.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Jun 25, 2014 -> 09:56 AM) Why can't they have a booth ref? The games get held up significantly by a dozen players surrounding the officials and arguing anyway, so there's no harm in a guy looking at replays for a minute or two to make an informed call about the foul. This sums it up, FIFA has so much money yet only brought on goal line tech this WC, which i don't believe has even been used.......yet?

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 25, 2014 -> 08:31 AM) Gifs of the Ivory Coast penalty and Italy Red. I love complaining about FIFA refs but these were definitely the right calls. These were definitely the right calls, although the more I see the Italy foul it looks less and less expulsion worthy, I realize he was given the red card more his intentions than the actual hit but it makes the ref and overall fifa look bad that he gave the play a red and nothing came of the Suarez debacle later in the game.

and overall he ended having a pretty decent career but man, what could have been.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jun 25, 2014 -> 08:20 AM) It'll take him a while to get back into it but I think/hope once he gets back into game shape that he'll be good to go... until he gets injured again. Hopefully he doesn't become today's version of Grant Hill.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jun 24, 2014 -> 08:39 AM) yea, something is up. Who can even give him a max deal without substantial trades? the knicks?

Pathetic as it gets

Back and forth game right now, Mexico needs to go on the offensive a little more. Game is getting feisty

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Jun 23, 2014 -> 03:05 PM) Let's do this

Whoever ends up coming out of group A is going to have a tough first round match up against either of these teams (Netherlands, Chile) both very tough. Impressive.

Italy better come out firing and try their best to at least get a draw out of this game. They are being outworked by Costa Rica and they definitely do not want to play Uruguay in a winner take all match.

Costa Rica looking pretty impressive in the 1st half. 1-0

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 19, 2014 -> 04:10 PM) Really, they're playing a game of chicken, and Boras will eventually lose. If Rodon returns to school, he's risking $6 million to try and potentially earn an additional $2.5 mill, and he could lose as much as all of that $6 mill (though it likely be closer to losing $2-4 mill). Had this been prior to the last CBA, there's no way the Sox would have drafted Rodon because Boras would have been asking for $12 mill and he could have let it known well before the draft. The Sox likely would have taken Nola or Hoffman. With the slot, the Sox are likely offering the full slot value to Rodon while Boras is asking for $6.5-7 mill (or something along those lines) and both sides say "we're not moving." Boras realizes how important it is for his client to get the most and safest possible contract, but he also realizes that the White Sox badly want his client under contract. The Sox could likely wait until the very last second and Rodon would eventually sign, but they may cave a little to get him under contract sooner("if he signs by July 4th, we'll give him $6.25 mill, but that offer will be withdrawn beyond that date and will revert to a slot valued deal beyond that"). Either way, there's still a 99.999% chance of getting it done. I think i've seen you explain this like 15 times already , but this basically sums it up in my mind

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Jun 19, 2014 -> 04:11 PM) I think England's effort level will depend on the result of Italy-Costa Rica today. A draw or a Costa Rica win in that game and England is eliminated and likely throws in the towel in game 3. If Italy wins England still has a small chance of advancing. Costa Rica is so difficult to gauge because i feel like Suarez not playing last game really helped them not only on the pitch but mentally. This game against Italy is huge for both squads but I think it will show who Costa Rica truly is.

Real Madrid is probably salivating at the thought of getting Suarez this summer. Better have an open wallet.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 19, 2014 -> 03:36 PM) A lot of the superstars of this generation have been ineffective in the world cup. Messi and Ronaldo average around one goal a game in club play, but they have like 4 WC goals combined between the two of them. Very true, in 2010 Messi was in his top form and had a good companion in the front with Tevez, but they were beat by a better Germany team. Plus i had read somewhere that him and Tevez weren't and aren't very friendly so that doesn't help Argentina's overall cause. Ronaldo I think suffers to a lesser extent from the same thing Rooney, Superstar of your national team but can't do it alone. Figo left a huge gap in the Portugal squad when he retired that has yet to be filled.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 19, 2014 -> 03:26 PM) He's just not meant to score in the World Cup. Feel kinda bad for the dude, I mean, he's the main face and leader of this England squad but they haven't had a true cup contending team around him in almost every WC he's been to. I guess it comes with the role, you're supposed to be the best player on the squad now prove it no matter what. Easier said than done.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 19, 2014 -> 01:32 PM) Entertaining 2nd half with local favorites Colombia and Ivory Coast. After two goals for Colombia, Gervinho had a really nice run and finished on the left hand side despite being fouled...but they couldn't quite manage to tie it in the final minutes. It's becoming clearer how difficult it will be for a European team to win in South America. Clearly, Netherlands is the co-favorite right now, but Argentina/Colombia/Chile/Paraguay all are going to be tough to knock out in front of their home fans. Even Mexico and Costa Rica seem to be energized playing closer to home. Article on the enigma that is Rooney, and why he's so controversial among England's faithful. http://www.espnfc.com/blog/marcotti-musing...oney-is-madness Paraguay isn't in the WC, and I honestly don't see Messi in his best form so I see them having trouble once they get done with their easy group. Colombia and Chile look very strong, and Germany and Netherlands look the strongest from Europe right now. It's been a fun and interesting WC so far.

Chile is coasting and Spain looks lifeless accepting their fate. Looking forward to the Croatia match now.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 18, 2014 -> 02:47 PM) Pretty sure I'd be better than Casillas in goal. Guy is a shell of his former self right about now, instead of deflecting the shot to the side he puts it right back into the action, not blaming it solely on him but he ate that one.

2-0 Chile