2014 FIFA World Cup: Group G (GER/POR/GHA/USA)

[truth18]

USA USA USA

[and1GS]

Alright let's dig up all those quotes from you lot who were scoffing at the US even having a chance to go through - WOOOOOOOOOOOO

On it

Not a particularly impressive match and Bradley looked like a pile of dog **** wrapped in tin foil then heated up in the microwave. **** passing, shooting, touch, defending and workrate.

Do all the sheeple believe my statement a few weeks back that Portugal didn't 'deserve' to be here as several of you noted? USA moves on, Sully Muntari punches out a team official and Portugal falls. Onto Belgium.

[MalikJoakim24]

USA USA USA

Even when America loses, we still win! We onto the next round baby

[britblazerdude]

8 teams from North and South America in the last 16. Must be a record.

[Little Italia]

We still might NOT face Belgium. I expect Algeria to beat Russia and South Korea can beat Belgium.

Algeria is dangerous.

[truth18]

really hope ghana somehow pull this off.

Nope

[Det the Threat]

Congrats to the USMNT, Belgium will be your likely opponents, which is pretty winnable game considering Belgium neither have the talent or experience as this German squad. They're still pretty dangerous though.

The Belgians are as talented as the current German team, especially when you factor in that we've got a RB playing DM and with Schweinsteiger only able to go for about 60 minutes.
The only thing they're lacking is some experience at big tournaments but that could only help if the US takes the lead.

Though, the USA can play their counter attacking style once again and their speed on the right side could be the key against Vermaelen or Verthongen.

[britblazerdude]

Belgium are still developing as a unit, and won't peak until the next Euros and World Cup. The USA has a fantastic chance at beating them. They have the talent, but have looked so-so thusfar.

[and1GS]

Sucks for USA/Ghana because there's no way I could pick against Germany or Cristiano to advance

Germany and Portugal advance from this group. I like Ghana's team more than the USA side. Poor Americans don't even stand a chance.

USA has improved but Ghana is a tough team.

I'm predicting Germany will advance, with a battle between Portugal and Ghana.

I don't get where people are coming up with this overrated stuff- if anything we're underrated. People forget this Portugal side was there at Euro 2012, where they held WC holders and eventual winners Spain to a scoreless draw in the semi finals, only losing on penalties. Team chemistry is never a problem for us, and the US don't have players on the level of Coentrao, Pepe, or Moutinho, let alone the best player in the world. I like our chances.

The only way that the US gets out of this group is if Ronaldo gets hurt and Germany wins its first two games. We manage to advance by beating a demoralized Portugal squad and Germany's bench players. Probably still lose to Ghana, because of course we will.

And a quick salute to the biggest patriot on this board:

9 pts to the US.

[cgf]

If Ronnie had finished all those chances I'd have a much harder time arguing against him being a legit option for one of those later top 10 spots on the GOAT list. Dude left about 5 great chances wanting there at the end.

[and1GS]

We still might NOT face Belgium. I expect Algeria to beat Russia and South Korea can beat Belgium.

Algeria is dangerous.

Uhh...Algeria is dangerous, against South Korea. They aren't a strong side.

[BUCKnation]

And a quick salute to the biggest patriot on this board:

9 pts to the US.

Was feeling pretty good about that prediction 94.5 min into the Portugal game.

[MalikJoakim24]

Ronaldo...

[Matty]

Congrats to the USMNT, Belgium will be your likely opponents, which is pretty winnable game considering Belgium neither have the talent or experience as this German squad. They're still pretty dangerous though.

The Belgians are as talented as the current German team, especially when you factor in that we've got a RB playing DM and with Schweinsteiger only able to go for about 60 minutes.
The only thing they're lacking is some experience at big tournaments but that could only help if the US takes the lead.

Though, the USA can play their counter attacking style once again and their speed on the right side could be the key against Vermaelen or Verthongen.

The Belgians despite winning their first 2 games looked really unconvincing to me. They lack that dominant presence big countries are suppose to have. The one thing they have that might fear the US is their very quick counterattacking and that's pretty much been the story for them. Hazard has been next to non-existent for the them and US have to keep it that way.

I can see a 2-1 victory for the Americans. Experience is what it comes down to in these Knock-out stages and the US surprisingly have the edge in that field.

[cgf]

Congrats to the USMNT, Belgium will be your likely opponents, which is pretty winnable game considering Belgium neither have the talent or experience as this German squad. They're still pretty dangerous though.

The Belgians are as talented as the current German team, especially when you factor in that we've got a RB playing DM and with Schweinsteiger only able to go for about 60 minutes.
The only thing they're lacking is some experience at big tournaments but that could only help if the US takes the lead.

Though, the USA can play their counter attacking style once again and their speed on the right side could be the key against Vermaelen or Verthongen.

We've got one of the top two lone holders playing lone holder, whether he's also the best FB or not and who cares about schweini when Khedira got to rest today? Just start Kroos and if he's playing poorly swap schweini on at the half so he doesn't run out of steam. Hell they're even doing the same 4 CB backline thing.

Belgian are talented and jogi's an idiot, but they're not actually a better team than us, certainly not yet and I doubt they ever will be in this generation. Anyway this WC has really been showing off what I want the NT to adopt, namely saying **** the idea of a striker and wingers all together and just have both Reus and Mueller, with Kruse and Schurrle as backups until Werner and Draxler are pushing for the jobs, play the way Chile's wide forwards play, or the way the dutch are using robben, or how Streich and Tuchel have done from a 4-4-2 shell in our league.

My team, assuming Ilkay's never healthy again, would be
Reus/Kruse ------------- Mueller/Schurrle
-------------- Ozil/Gotze --------------------
--Khedira/L.Bender ------- Kroos/Schweini--
---------------- Lahm/Geis -------------------
Durm/GK --- Mats ---- Boa -----Jantschke/Jung

If Jogi could do that and get the pressing right in that formation we could win consecutive titles.

[Bernman]

I was disappointed how Klinsmann and the U.S. wasn't on the front foot after Germany went up 1-0. At that point, the only way realistically the U.S. wouldn't have advanced was if Ghana won period and the U.S. didn't get any sort of result. So that's what Klinsmann and the players should have been going for instead of retreating and leaving only 1 up top. I wanted to see Johannsson. If Germany scored another, who cares, because U.S. was still 3 up on Portugal. Klinsmann has an over-reverence for his nation.

Klinsmann also botched the choice to start Brad Davis who isn't one of the teams better players and had a howler. His supposed skill is crossing, but he was retreating every time he had the opportunity, and he senselessly gave up the corner which not shockingly cost the U.S. against the Germans who are nasty on set pieces from the wings.

That said, I was wrong about saying Klinsmann and the team wouldn't advance after I saw that roster. I still think he made some mistakes from it (Green is still useless, Davis is still borderline, and there was no backup CF), but we got thru, and that's all should have been expected. Everything else going forward is a bonus.

As far as Belgium is concerned, of course the U.S. has a much better shot than against Germany, because we aren't incentivized to tie, Klinsmann doesn't have the same built-in over-reverence for Belgium, they are greener, and no they aren't as talented just because they've come out of nowhere as a small country who is normally just another WC side to produce a bunch of club standouts. A high majority of Germany's players are key to Champion's League winners and finalists. It's a different level for Germany. Belgium are more like the golden generation of Portugal who the U.S. beat in '02. One of the more talented teams in the WC, but far from the most, and haven't been overly impressive so far. They've been squeaking out results.

[Wolfay]

[No_20]

Tough bracket for USA.

Belgium, Argentina, Netherlands.

[Bernman]

Tough bracket for USA.

Belgium, Argentina, Netherlands.

I disagree. Neither Belgium nor Argentina have impressed at this tournament, and upsets happen. In the unlikelihood the U.S. does make the semis, they could be facing their arch rivals Mexico for a shot at the final.

Frankly, the other half is tougher. Brazil at home, Germany, France, plus Colombia, Chile, and Uruguay in South America; now that's a gauntlet.

Advancing in this WC was never going to be easy. That was always obvious from playing the WC draw simulator. Most groups led to likely death. But the U.S. is still alive, and now have to pass their next challenge.

[britblazerdude]

Tough bracket for USA.

Belgium, Argentina, Netherlands.

I disagree. Neither Belgium nor Argentina have impressed at this tournament,

Well if you disagree, you're wrong. The winners often don't impress in the group stage. It's exceptionally difficult to play Belgium then Argentina, probably the hardest 1/4 of the last 16.