World Cup

[ClementeFanOh]

USA and UK advance! All right!

Trent King

[howard38]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

USA and UK advance! All right!

Trent King

Only part of the UK. Wales is going home.

[58pinson]

Thrilled that the US will advance to the round of 16. That said there are a few obviuos reasons to be concerned.

The two injuries, especially to Pulisic, are very troublesome. I see Pulisic is saying he'll be ready for the Netherlands game. I hope so.

The game seemed to me to somewhat mirror the opening game against Wales. The first half - very impressive. Second half - not so much. I know there's a limit to how long guys can go at 100%, and that the opponent's change of strategy will influence a lot of things you can do..... but that leads to the next thought.

Thought the subs were woeful for the second time in three games.

Lastly, how many times did the attempt at one extra pass eliminate a possible shot on a keeper who was obviously a bit shakey (England put 6 in against him)?

I've been very impressed with Dest, Robinson and Adams. Kind of feel that if the starting 11 are at 100% we go in against the Dutch with a decent chance. Fingers crossed.

[Snapolit1]

While I have no doubt that the US will rally around the men's team should they continue to advance, I don't see this tournament so far growing soccer much in the US long term. Young people who played the game are very into it, but casual observers are bored with the 0-0, 1-0 games. And the ridiculous flopping in really beyond the pale. I played soccer for years and can appreciate a well played game. But so much of what I've seen so far is why I'm convinced soccer will always been a second or third tier sport in the US. We just don't watch games all afternoon that end in a tie or worse a 0-0 tie. Yes, we are the outliers on that, but it is what it is.

[ClementeFanOh]

Steve- while the original thread was designed to celebrate the world's
biggest sports tournament, I'll dive in and contest your remarks which
downplay the sport...

First, the sheer amount of kids playing in the US is noteworthy- it ain't going
away. Next, the WC's purpose isn't to grow the sport, it's to crown a world
champion. The sport is growing just fine on it's own, whether casual US
fans want it or not...

Regarding "boredom", I can't identify with that comment at all. Soccer is a
sport of surpassing beauty and skill, and is rarely "boring". The NFL, on the
other hand, is BO-RING. Tons of pregame blather, commercials, time outs,
overly long halftimes, and utterly colorless play that goes on for 3 1/2
hours ( I love the endless debate among announcers as they try to
parse whether some luckless WR "made a football move" as he crossed the
goal line- riveting stuff!) Golf? BORING. I'm sure you've heard people claim
they don't understand soccer, which is hilarious as it's painfully simple. If
we understand baseball and it's gazillion rules, we can understand soccer
and it's 17 Laws...

Regarding flopping, couldn't agree more. Keep in mind there are players
who don't do it, and a gender (female) that generally is too proud to do it.
Just like I root for Tom Brady to get drilled inot next year because of his
relentless chiseling and whining, I root against the play actors who flop.
It's okay to do that

So, back to the point of the thread. Can't wait to see how the round of 16
plays out, the US could have done a lot worse than Netherlands!

Trent King

[Peter_Spaeth]

It seems by and large Americans prefer sports where there are discrete plays, or in the case of basketball nominally continuous play but with innumerable breaks in the action where everything resets. Soccer and hockey to an extent are much more continuous, and also don't have a lot of statistics to keep track of during the game, so it's a very different mentality.

[ClementeFanOh]

Peter- keen observation, I find similarities between soccer and hockey. I
understand soccer 1000 times more but think hockey players are skilled
athletes (and yes, I know that's an understatement).

Back to thread purpose- will be fascinating to keep an eye on Pulisic's health.
Will Argentina remember they are the #3 team in the world? Trent King

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It seems by and large Americans prefer sports where there are discrete plays, or in the case of basketball nominally continuous play but with innumerable breaks in the action where everything resets. Soccer and hockey to an extent are much more continuous, and also don't have a lot of statistics to keep track of during the game, so it's a very different mentality.

Interesting insight. Never thought of that. And more bettting opportunities when there is a plethora of individual stats, etc.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by 58pinson

Thrilled that the US will advance to the round of 16. That said there are a few obviuos reasons to be concerned.

The two injuries, especially to Pulisic, are very troublesome. I see Pulisic is saying he'll be ready for the Netherlands game. I hope so.

The game seemed to me to somewhat mirror the opening game against Wales. The first half - very impressive. Second half - not so much. I know there's a limit to how long guys can go at 100%, and that the opponent's change of strategy will influence a lot of things you can do..... but that leads to the next thought.

Thought the subs were woeful for the second time in three games.

Lastly, how many times did the attempt at one extra pass eliminate a possible shot on a keeper who was obviously a bit shakey (England put 6 in against him)?

I've been very impressed with Dest, Robinson and Adams. Kind of feel that if the starting 11 are at 100% we go in against the Dutch with a decent chance. Fingers crossed.

agreed and it would be nice if they could score because in the Round of 16 some of the other Countries know how and also play solid defense. Cannot rely on tie games any more