World Cup

[mosholu]

US looked good in the second half but they still need to have more production form their strikers. The defense, especially no. 5 looks very shakey at times but they have shown they have the fight which is a lot more than I can say for England. Absolutely terrible performance! The midfield is again way too high in the other team's zone and looking uncomfortable on the ball. They seem to lack any plan for getting the ball in the box and set plays which should be a strength have found them sorely lacking. They will get hammered in the press which will only add to their pressures. US has a very good chance of going through with a win vs. Algeria who do not really look like they can play like they did this afternoon twice on the trot.

[SurfCaster413]

Am sorry call me an ignorant american but one word describes the world cup for me " JOKE "

[numbskull]

Congrats to Spain. Intriguing team to watch and a very deserved win. (which is a strange thing to say about a team that won by scoring a total of seven goals in 8 games). Iniesta and Xavi are a joy to watch.

Fascinating game today and a very tough test. I thought Holland looked like thugs....but you do what you gotta do and they almost pulled it off.

I was disappointed in the Germans. I think they had the wheels to take it to Spain, but lost their coaching nerve and played too conservatively. Enjoyed their other games, however. That kid Mueller looks like the real deal.

Kudos, too, to Paraguay and Uruguay. Both tactically great teams that put scares into teams full of much better players. Forlon was immense. MVP of the tournament in my eyes. Wipes out those memories of him missing the easiest goal ever while with ManU.

A fun month. Great theater, top class skill, low class acting, plenty of controversy, overall good reffing (a few major gaffes aside), neat venues, HDTV.............. a great show by a great sport.

[Clogston29]

Does anybody still think that a draw with England was a good result?

Loved watching nz draw Italy today. Italy will probably still advance, but it would make the world cup for me if neither France or Italy advance.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[mosholu]

Yes, because it was the first game of the cup and they were playing the pre-cup favorite from their group. Other than one shot in the second half the US really did not produce much on the offense so to come out of it with a draw by way of a gift goal I would say was a good result.

[luds]

My stomache is turning following the US vs. Algeria. Tied in the the 77th minute.

[Tattoo]

What a comeback by the US!

Donovan just added a zero to his paycheck with that goal!

Man that was awesome!

[luds]

Yeah, I just tackled a co-worker. Thanks god for ESPN radio. Can't wait to watch the replay tonight.

Too bad we had to listen to JP Delacamero's call of the game.

[Clogston29]

The us's style is basically to play predictable, high school style soccer - just at a higher level. Good hustle and teamwork, but no style or imagination.

It'll be a really hard thing to change. I don't buy into the whole, we just need to attract out best athletes to soccer argument. I think they are fine from an athletic standpoint, not from a soccer standpoint. American players aren't plucked up and put into development programs and youth teams of elite clubs at 14-16years of age like they are in Europe and other parts of the world (kind of like juniors for hockey in canada). because of this, they develop playing with inferior players and coaches, and develop to be only good enough to stand out in that system. just look at the style and level of play in the MLS.

just a few examples. rooney (who was very disappointing in the cup) was with united at 16. giggs (my favorite player as a kid) too. remember when holland was churning out stars like kluivert, van de sar, bergkamp, gullit - they were all coming out of the Ajax youth progam (although in hind sight, steroids may have had a lot to do with it). Spain and Portugal have both built their current teams out of their national development programs from U14 to U21 to olympics to full squad. The African and South American countries have development camps, often sanctioned by european clubs looking to farm talent, where success is a way out of poverty - a level of motivation very few american players have.

i'd love to see the US soccer federation bring in Klinsman either as a coach or a consultant to help develop their program from the ground up. there's no reason that the US, with our population and diversity, cannot become an elite (say, top 5) team in the world.

[Raider Ronnie]

Anyone else been watching the news lately with the reporter in Framingham because of the huge Brazilian population ?

Bay State Brazilians Primed For World Cup Match - Video - WCVB Boston

I'm watching the reporter and saying to myself,
WHY THE HELL IS THE INS NOT DOING IT'S JOB ???
70% of them in Framingham are ILLEGAL !
(this info assured to by a legal Brazilian I work with)