OT: World Cup Day 5 Open Thread
Group G
Germany - Portugal 12pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)
Group F
Iran - Nigeria 3pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)
Group G
USMNT - Ghana 6pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)
I realize there will likely be a separate Open Thread for the USMNT match but I've listed it here as well.
Can't wait for 6 pm
Who to pull for, since I want the Nats to move on? My thinking is that I root for Germany to destroy Portugal (and then Ghana so their advancement is assured), so that they step off the gas when they play the US.
Have I got this right?
I agree. I want Germany to beat Portugal by like 5-0, do by the time they play the US, they don't care as much and Portugal is way down on the goal differential.
Can you please quickly wish for all my students to pass their finals, the US to win tonight by like 4-0, and world peace?
Not necessarily in that order. But quickly, before your magic runs out.
Combined, the powerhouses of Spain and Portugal have been outscored 8 - 0 in their first game. Must be a lot of wishing going on around the world.
I think the best chance for the US to advance is this:
1. Germany beats Portugal today
2. US beats Ghana
...
Germany wins all their games and wins group.
US draws with Portugal, loses to Germany and goes through on Goal Differential assuming Portgual beats Ghana.
But--it all starts with the US beating Ghana today.
But I'd say we need to pull for Germany and to have them get a big lead in the goal differential.
If we are lucky (but not super lucky) and Germany has already secured their place in the next round, they might rest key starters and/or players with yellow cards to save them for the knockout rounds.
If we are super lucky we'll have already secured our place in the next round with resounding victories over Ghana and Portugal.
A high-scoring draw is basically the nightmare scenario for this game
Wouldn't losing 4-0 to Ghana be the nightmare scenario?
needing the US to beat Ghana is kind of a given
Beat Ghana
USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
Also Deutschland.
GER
Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Mertesacker, Howedes, Khedira, Lahm, Kroos, Ozil, Muller, Gotze
POR
Patricio, Pereira, Pepe, Alves, Coentrao, Moutinho, Meireles, Veloso, Nani, Ronaldo, Almeida
I know that's where he plays for Bayern but what it means for Germany is that one of the midfielders is left on the bench in favor of Howedes, which doesn't exactly get the best eleven on the field.
I'm still hoping it's only temporary until Schweinsteiger is fit.
Yeah it's a bit odd. I get that Lahm can do what Schweinsteiger does in the centre but now you have Howedes up against Ronaldo.
Not ideal but have to think leaving Lahm where he is and playing Schurrle/Klose/Podolski a better option.
Halftime Edit: I withdraw my objection, please proceed Germany.
Costa Rica should be an inspiration to the boys that they can play with, and beat, anybody.
As American soccer continues it's slow ascension toward what can and should be a place as a world soccer power, this will have to be a core belief.
If you listen to the context of Klinsmann's "we can't win the World Cup" explanation, you hear that he understands what it takes for the USA to become a real soccer power--developing a style of play that reflects the American culture. It's a much broader picture he's seeing. I don't know enough about the game to understand, but he thinks American soccer should be about speed, a need to be the best, supreme fitness, and a never say die attitude. Sounds about right. We will never get there until this is instilled in every kid from the time they play youth soccer.
I like Klinsmann because he A) He knows what he's talking about and B) He's enough of an arrogant stubborn German bastard to not sugarcoat it for American reporters who want a feel-good story.
In Germany-Portugal, I'm rooting for the sun, the heat, and for a game that requires a lot of running.
His mustache is one of the best in recent World Cup history.
WOW, Rui Patricio incredibly lucky to get away with that.
Aforementioned Stache
Should be 1-0 Germany however after just missing an essential empty net goal.
Penalty, Germany. Looked like a foul in the run of play. Replay a little iffy.
Takedown in the box...Muller converts. 1-0 Germany
1-0!!!!! Keep it going boys.
Grabbing attackers seems to be a point of emphasis for officials. Hope the US defenders are taking note
Muller! Could easily be 2-0 but Khedira obviously wasn't expecting such a golden opportunity.
Thank goodness the 7 nation army chant made its way to the world cup, too. I knew it was missing something...
My friends and I were watching Italy-England on Saturday and thought it sounded weird to watch the world cup without vuvuzelas droning in the background, so we found a youtube clip of vuvuzelas playing for 10 straight hours and played it with the TV sounds.
After about 30 seconds of that we remembered why vuvuzelas got banned and went back to our regular non-vuvuzela lives
Soccer is where the Seven Nation Army first entered the world of sports. (Specifically, it was in Belgium a decade ago.) We copied soccer fans, not vice versa.
Germany will get blown out based on the history of PKs in this year's WC.
Jeez, Nani never shoots that well for United
I want MOAR contact on Ranoldo
Almeda looks done.
EDIT: Yep, Eider coming on at 27'.
Germany is absolutely terrifying on the break.
Why are so many people assuming that Portugal is a lock to beat Ghana? I think that could be a very tough game for them.
WOW what a header. #Hangtime.
Well executed set piece from the corner and Germany are up 2-0. Hummels on the header
I know they did some messed up shit back in the day. But, their pimp hand is strong and street cred is high.
Portugese for "Ruiner of Chances"
Portugal seems hampered by looking to Ronaldo in every attacking opportunity.
Pepe red carded. Out against US.
RED. Goodbye.
They didn't pass to Ronaldo ONE time and he went ape shit on the selfish teammate (who really should've passed).
Now every time they touch the ball they're trying to pass it to him. It's BAD, like I've never seen this before. They're completely losing it. They had one TERRIBLE pass that went like 2 feet and then another to him when he was clearly offside.
You must have missed South Africa 2010. SOS.
In SA they just run everything through him and couldn't win without him.
This was guys running around in a panic to get him the ball like it was death on sight if they didn't pass.
I haven't seen it as much in the 2nd half, but they're down 3-0 and the game is over, no one is really working on either side unless it's a clear advantage.
They're literally pissing down their legs? Eww.
Would like to see yellow to Muller there, if the official thinks he exaggerated the contact.
Pepe living up to his reputation.
No need to end the game like that. If it doesn't affect the play then it shouldn't be a red