|
|
Post by hawaii bill on Jun 27, 2010 8:25:34 GMT -5
Well our boys are out.  Looked to me in the first half like we hadn't mentally recovered from the win over Algeria. Add to that Ricardo Clark giving the ball up in midfield, and us letting Boetang waltz on in and beat Howard. Thought we were going to take control after Donovan's PK, but we didn't. The goal in the 93rd minute was kind of quirky; still can't figure how that pass split the defense. That was a great effort by Gyan. One thing that stands out to me - no goals from our strikers in the whole tournament. I think you guys were right about Buddle. Feels to me like we finished up with a bullet in the chamber, without him getting serious minutes. Germany England this morning. A grudge match with a lot of history. |
|
|
|
Post by hawaii bill on Jul 1, 2010 19:43:18 GMT -5
Netherlands v. Brazil tomorrow. That could be great. Brazil is favored. Then Germany v. Argentina Sat. morning. Not sure which team there has more Germans. Couple of potentially very entertaining matches.
|
|
|
|
Post by gregcrow on Jul 2, 2010 8:20:57 GMT -5
Hup Holland, Hup!
|
|
|
|
Post by hawaii bill on Jul 2, 2010 16:51:27 GMT -5
Good call, GC. And what a finish to the Uruguay - Ghana game. Holy smokes. |
|
|
|
Post by hawaii bill on Jul 3, 2010 10:59:11 GMT -5
Wow, wasn't sold on Germany, but that was something. Thought Maradona took the right approach after yielding that early goal. Keep it close late and see if the Germans tighten up. Problem is the Germans just flat out overpowered Argentina in the second half. Pretty impressive. Now rooting for a Dutch-German final. Lot of history there between those two.
Also luckily no one in Buenos Aires will have to see Maradona run naked through the streets. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by IONA86 on Jul 3, 2010 20:07:36 GMT -5
I just want to see France take a beating and get knocked out early since they qualified in such a poor fashion. I hope they are shocked by Mexico and Uruguay. I don't think Brazil will win it. My Money is on England or Germany.  I was right about Brazil and Germany ( a bit off on England but I was correct on their midfield breaking down). I love watching Lukas Podolski. Best player overall in the tournament. The kid reminds me of John Barnes who played for Liverpool and was the star wing for England in the 80's and early 90's. His speed and passing are awesome. The scary part is the fact that 12 members of this team are 24 years old or younger. Their counter attack will destroy any team with lazy forwards who do not come back to help the "D". I think we could be headed for a Dutch vs Germany final like 1974. The Dutch could surprise the Germans (the Dutch love to attack but they all get back to help unlike the South American teams) but I don't see Spain beating the Germans in the Semi's. The German transition will be too much. The key is for Germany to score first, the other teams are forced to bring more players up later in the game and the Germans transition fast and expose the fullbacks who are left to defend by themselves. |
|
|
|
Post by gregcrow on Jul 4, 2010 9:13:18 GMT -5
I just want to see France take a beating and get knocked out early since they qualified in such a poor fashion. I hope they are shocked by Mexico and Uruguay. I don't think Brazil will win it. My Money is on England or Germany. I was right about Brazil and Germany ( a bit off on England but I was correct on their midfield breaking down). I love watching Lukas Podolski. Best player overall in the tournament. The kid reminds me of John Barnes who played for Liverpool and was the star wing for England in the 80's and early 90's. His speed and passing are awesome. The scary part is the fact that 12 members of this team are 24 years old or younger. Their counter attack will destroy any team with lazy forwards who do not come back to help the "D". I think we could be headed for a Dutch vs Germany final like 1974. The Dutch could surprise the Germans (the Dutch love to attack but they all get back to help unlike the South American teams) but I don't see Spain beating the Germans in the Semi's. The German transition will be too much. The key is for Germany to score first, the other teams are forced to bring more players up later in the game and the Germans transition fast and expose the fullbacks who are left to defend by themselves. I agree 86. I still think Holland has the best combination of Offense/Defense/Goalkeeping, but it's getting hard to argue against the Germans - their speed and surprising skill just seem to wear teams down. The one game they fell behind (Serbia) they did seem to scramble and looked very young. That is probably the only hope Spain or Holland have - get ahead and get Germany off it's game. Should be exciting! |
|
|
|
Post by tootie223 on Jul 5, 2010 15:49:02 GMT -5
After the USA and Italy, I have always been partial to Holland since watching my first World Cup in 1974 when Rinus Michels employed the idea of "total soccer".
|
|
|
|
Post by IONA86 on Jul 5, 2010 16:36:43 GMT -5
After the USA and Italy, I have always been partial to Holland since watching my first World Cup in 1974 when Rinus Michels employed the idea of "total soccer". The 1974 Dutch Team was the best team to not win the Cup. Johan Neeskens and Johan Cruyff were some combo but were stopped by the Kaiser and Muller. My buddys dad knew them both and said Neeskens and Cruyff did not really like each other. I always thought that Cruyff was a bit overrated and Neeskins underrated. When George Best nutmegged Cruyff in 1976 it was a great moment in Soccer. Cruyff was at his peak, Best was not not at his top form yet he told reporters he would do it the fist chance he got. Instead of his usual straight ahead approach, Best turned when he got the ball, dribbled through three dutch players and went at Cruyff and sure enough put it through his legs just to show he was still the best player in Europe. It is a shame Best only played in a handful of international games and never really played on the world stage. He was amazing and I don't think we will see his caliber for many years. Back in the late 80's I was in Kearney NJ at the Scottish American Club with friends one night (we were all Irish so of course there was going to be some barbs thrown back and forth) and everyone in the bar, with the exception of a man who played for Dundee back in the early 50's were Ranger fans. When we informed them we were Celtic supporters and the comments started flying about who the best team and players were. Even the old time Ranger fans had to admit that George was the top player of his generation but they all said that the best player was Patsy Gallacher who played for Celtic in the early 1900's. They said he was twice the player Pele was and that he had moves that Best could only wish to have. He never played in an era of TV . For the Old Timers from Scotland to admit that an Irish born, Catholic player who made his money playing for Celtic to be the greatest ever.... he had to be that good! Good bloodlines also... his two sons played in the Scottish League and his grandson Kevin Gallacher was a star for the Scottish National team back in the 90's. |
|
|
|
Post by hawaii bill on Jul 5, 2010 17:45:32 GMT -5
After the USA and Italy, I have always been partial to Holland since watching my first World Cup in 1974 when Rinus Michels employed the idea of "total soccer". The 1974 Dutch Team was the best team to not win the Cup. Johan Neeskens and Johan Cruyff were some combo but were stopped by the Kaiser and Muller. My buddys dad knew them both and said Neeskens and Cruyff did not really like each other. I always thought that Cruyff was a bit overrated and Neeskins underrated. When George Best nutmegged Cruyff in 1976 it was a great moment in Soccer. Cruyff was at his peak, Best was not not at his top form yet he told reporters he would do it the fist chance he got. Instead of his usual straight ahead approach, Best turned when he got the ball, dribbled through three dutch players and went at Cruyff and sure enough put it through his legs just to show he was still the best player in Europe. It is a shame Best only played in a handful of international games and never really played on the world stage. He was amazing and I don't think we will see his caliber for many years. Back in the late 80's I was in Kearney NJ at the Scottish American Club with friends one night (we were all Irish so of course there was going to be some barbs thrown back and forth) and everyone in the bar, with the exception of a man who played for Dundee back in the early 50's were Ranger fans. When we informed them we were Celtic supporters and the comments started flying about who the best team and players were. Even the old time Ranger fans had to admit that George was the top player of his generation but they all said that the best player was Patsy Gallacher who played for Celtic in the early 1900's. They said he was twice the player Pele was and that he had moves that Best could only wish to have. He never played in an era of TV . For the Old Timers from Scotland to admit that an Irish born, Catholic player who made his money playing for Celtic to be the greatest ever.... he had to be that good! Good bloodlines also... his two sons played in the Scottish League and his grandson Kevin Gallacher was a star for the Scottish National team back in the 90's. Great post, '86 |
|
|
|
Post by gregcrow on Jul 5, 2010 19:05:39 GMT -5
Bleep Celtic!  |
|
|
|
Post by hawaii bill on Jul 5, 2010 20:33:29 GMT -5
Alright, its looking like the Dutch will get past Uruguay. I still can't pick Germany over Spain, even with Torres basically a no show at this point. Picked Spain to win it all, so I have to go with a Netherlands-Spain final.
Let's do it,
|
|
|
|
Post by IONA86 on Jul 6, 2010 13:04:37 GMT -5
Bleep Celtic! Don't tell me your a Ranger supporter?  ? |
|
|
|
Post by gregcrow on Jul 6, 2010 21:24:20 GMT -5
Way to go Holland! - Yep, Ranger Supporter (Sort of, my real European team is Everton). It's very simple I grew up a N.Y.Ranger fan and always hated the Boston Celtics.Can't root for any team named Celtic. Having said that the soccer team I play for is called the Kicking Celtics. You gotta love Hypocrisy! Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by IONA86 on Jul 6, 2010 23:00:27 GMT -5
Well at least we can agree on Iona and the New York Rangers. I was raised on the New York Rangers, Celtic and Manchester United. At least you were smart and chose not to root for Liverpool...lol. ;D Maybe you should change the name from Kicking Celtics to "Kicking Celtics _ _ _!"  |
|
Looked to me in the first half like we hadn't mentally recovered from the win over Algeria. Add to that Ricardo Clark giving the ball up in midfield, and us letting Boetang waltz on in and beat Howard. Thought we were going to take control after Donovan's PK, but we didn't. The goal in the 93rd minute was kind of quirky; still can't figure how that pass split the defense. That was a great effort by Gyan.
