OT: *** 2014 FIFA World Cup ~ Brazil ~ 6/12-7/13 [ESPN] ***

[aufheben]

Poor Aussies.

 

[NYR89]

Spain is totally falling apart.

 

[nyrpassion]

This World Cup doe

 

[Dalagaze]

Spain is totally falling apart.

Yes, and it's absolutely glorious.

 

[Vidic15*]

Yes, and it's absolutely glorious.

Spain is a football factory. It's time to remove the old guard and infuse some young blood. Ander Herrera, Isco, Oliver Torres, etc. They'll be back.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Spain is a football factory. It's time to remove the old guard and infuse some young blood. Ander Herrera, Isco, Oliver Torres, etc. They'll be back.

That's Austria's slogan.

 

[Kokoschka]

Chile póóóó! That's all.

 

[Kokoschka]

That's Austria's slogan.

Oh, we will be. David Alaba will lead uns to glory never seen before. A.k.a the Euro 2016 Group Stage.

 

[Fugazy]

Bye bye Spain.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

What a great World Cup so far. Spain eliminated. Wonderful!

 

[ecemleafs]

Spain is a football factory. It's time to remove the old guard and infuse some young blood. Ander Herrera, Isco, Oliver Torres, etc. They'll be back.

del bosque did a **** job. he didnt trust anyone but the 2010 stars and that failed spain. they were too old and needed players like isco/koke/herrara/etc to provide something new.

 

[Fitzy]

I sort of feel the opposite way about it. I think if Spain had stuck to proven commodities like Fabregas, Villa, and Xavi, rather than experiment with a brand new striker, and forcing Pedro on the wing, it would've been better.

Still, you could see this coming from the COnfederations cup meltdown.

 

[aufheben]

Spain lirl

 

[Kokoschka]

Cote d'Ivoire vs Colombia is going to be a good game. I recommend you watch it.

 

[Fugazy]

Jozy is officially out for Sunday's game against Portugal.

 

[AHB*]

Jozy is officially out for Sunday's game against Portugal.

Yup, really think we should go with Wondo, but I know we won't.

 

[silverfish]

Yup, really think we should go with Wondo, but I know we won't.

Agreed. Wasn't too impressed with the guy who replaced Jozy last game. Forgive me for not remembering his name. Can Abby Wambach play?

Is Brooks going to start now, or is Besler good to go? Even if Besler is good to go, does Brooks still start?

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Looks like Ronaldo will be out vs. US on Sunday, so that kind of mitigates the Jozy injury.

If they can beat Spain w/o Jozy, he can rest against Germany - and hopefully be ready to play for the round of 16. If we win we're guaranteed a spot.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

My most underrated player for this year's squad? Zusi. Guy is playing unbelievably well.

 

[NYR89]

Looks like Ronaldo will be out vs. US on Sunday, so that kind of mitigates the Jozy injury.

If they can beat Spain w/o Jozy, he can rest against Germany - and hopefully be ready to play for the round of 16. If we win we're guaranteed a spot.

Too bad we won't get the chance to beat Spain

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Too bad we won't get the chance to beat Spain

No worries. We beat them properly

 

[AHB*]

Agreed. Wasn't too impressed with the guy who replaced Jozy last game. Forgive me for not remembering his name. Can Abby Wambach play?

Is Brooks going to start now, or is Besler good to go? Even if Besler is good to go, does Brooks still start?

I think Besler will start. You don't put a guy in based on a good, but somewhat lucky play. Jurgen is actually very responsible for that since he ordered Brooks to move up and wanted the team to go for the win, more so then the tie. It was a ballsy move that paid off.

As for Aron Johannsson, he's a very good player. He's only 23 and will be featured for the USMNT for years. The problem is, the game plan behind having Jozy in the lineup does not play to Johannsson (or any of our other strikers) strenghts. Jozy's greatest attribute is his ability to protect the ball. He can dish it out well to guys like Dempsey who are there to finish.

Johannsson needs to be given the ball on breaks, similar to Wondo. They play in different formations in their respective leagues and ones that really play to their strengths. Neither player is able to hold the ball up the way Jozy does, which is why Johannsson was so invisible in that last game.

It's not as simple as just replacing a RW in the lineup. The formation is based around the style Jozy plays. Jurgen should consider changing the formation for the next game, to be honest. The team can't play the kick the ball to Jozy who holds it up. It was disastrous last game. We pretty much were dominated. They're going to need a new game plan to beat Ghana and especially Germany. Who will destroy them if they play the way they played against Ghana.

 

[member 116805]

Go Uruguay, go!

 

[LittleKev6D9]

Besler will start. John Brooks made a great play, but that one play doesn't warrant him starting over an established CB in Besler. USA's backline is shaky, so bank on Besler starting and playing the whole game.

As for the Altidore situation, I would argue the switch to a 4-4-2 has allowed transitioning Wondo or Johannson to the lineup easier than when the had a 4-2-3-1. Johannson is able to play off Dempsey easier when he has a forward playing with him.

Unfortunately the US didn't plan on Altidore getting hurt and never accounted for a backup for him. If they did then Eddie Johnson would probably be on this team instead of Wondo.

Also I think Zusi should be starting over Bedoya. He's a much better server and has more athleticism than Bedoya. That's gonna be important when playing opposite Ronaldo. Although Bedoya is probably the better defender, it would be difficult to defend him when he's burning past you every play.

 

[AHB*]

Besler will start. John Brooks made a great play, but that one play doesn't warrant him starting over an established CB in Besler. USA's backline is shaky, so bank on Besler starting and playing the whole game.

As for the Altidore situation, I would argue the switch to a 4-4-2 has allowed transitioning Wondo or Johannson to the lineup easier than when the had a 4-2-3-1. Johannson is able to play off Dempsey easier when he has a forward playing with him.

Unfortunately the US didn't plan on Altidore getting hurt and never accounted for a backup for him. If they did then Eddie Johnson would probably be on this team instead of Wondo.

Also I think Zusi should be starting over Bedoya. He's a much better server and has more athleticism than Bedoya. That's gonna be important when playing opposite Ronaldo. Although Bedoya is probably the better defender, it would be difficult to defend him when he's burning past you every play.

Completely agree on Zusi. I've never ever liked Bedoya. And I'm sure if they were planning on Altidore getting hurt, Johnson would have made the team. He's like a carbon copy of Jozy, just worse.

Jermaine Jones was a beast last game. Hopefully he keeps it up this game.

You're spot on with your D assumption. It's very similar to hockey, you're not going to change your starting lineup based on one play. It would be dumb and short-sighted. Besler has been one of the main guys on D heading into this tournament, for years. We don't have a stand out defense and veteran savvy/continuity back there is important. Jurgen isn't going to sit him for Brooks because of a feeling. I don't think he's that type of coach. Frankly, if he was, I don't think Jozy would have been starting on this team in the first place.