World Cup draw

Klinsmann's boys just drew Germany, Portugal and Ghana.  

Well this sucks, is all i can say right now.

That doesnt suck. Lets see em step up and take it to em. Will be tough matches for sure, but will be fun to watch.

Ha!

Germany -  World Ranked #2
Portugal -  World Ranked #5
Ghana - World Ranked #24

You right, they have to step it up ... Way, way, way up!!

Ghana is beatable by the US. They can get a point from Portugal, and yes also beatable. Germany should take care of business.

US has a better chance of advancing than say England.

Time to prove the quality of our team at the biggest stage where it matters most. I think this has to be the Group of Death of the tournament. Ghana seems to perform well in world cups (recently as a kind of under dog). We could beat Portugal and Ghana if we perform well. The World Cup has some crazy things happen sometimes though you never know who is going to show up or be in the right form at the right time. Better to test against the best then play in an easier bracket. Guess we shall see what happens.

well at least there wont be any newspaper headlines like this one again http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3013091/USA-beats-England-1-1.html

Son_ofa_Pitch wrote:Ha!

Germany -  World Ranked #2
Portugal -  World Ranked #5
Ghana - World Ranked #24

You right, they have to step it up ... Way, way, way up!!

Portugal was the killer and made it tough on our boys but we caught a break in the round of 16 if we can finish top two in bracket play.

Who seeded this tournament?  Obviously, the TD just wanted to give an easy run for the home country.  I know for a fact that Costa Rica requested the Silver division.  Germany is just trophy hunting.  My country will avoid this one, next time.

Pinnochio wrote:

Son_ofa_Pitch wrote:Ha!

Germany -  World Ranked #2
Portugal -  World Ranked #5
Ghana - World Ranked #24

You right, they have to step it up ... Way, way, way up!!

Portugal was the killer and made it tough on our boys but we caught a break in the round of 16 if we can finish top two in bracket play.

Don't know I'd consider Lukaku, Benteke, Hazard, Fellaini, Kompany, Mignolet, et. al. much of a break....

We have to remember where this is, Germany and the Amazon may not be the best combo out there and we should beat Ghana. Also think England is toast in their group, Italy, Uruguay, and the Ticos all too tough for them. What I find the most interesting is the team everyone wanted to be with, Switzerland may have a decent shot of getting deep in the tournament. They should beat Ecuador and Honduras, and could grab a point or 3 from France. That could place them up against the #2 from Group F...Nigeria?

coachdom23 wrote:Who seeded this tournament?  Obviously, the TD just wanted to give an easy run for the home country.  I know for a fact that Costa Rica requested the Silver division.  Germany is just trophy hunting.  My country will avoid this one, next time.

Which group did the 04 Rase team end up in?

coachdom23 wrote:Who seeded this tournament?  Obviously, the TD just wanted to give an easy run for the home country.  I know for a fact that Costa Rica requested the Silver division.  Germany is just trophy hunting.  My country will avoid this one, next time.

haha good one! 

db10 wrote:

coachdom23 wrote:Who seeded this tournament?  Obviously, the TD just wanted to give an easy run for the home country.  I know for a fact that Costa Rica requested the Silver division.  Germany is just trophy hunting.  My country will avoid this one, next time.

Which group did the 04 Rase team end up in?

Heard a few countries got together to boycot them playing.

Reason: Lack of or Not enough testosterone!!

Lucky for RASE, Women World Cup is right around the corner..

I sincerely hope we learned a lesson by now and don't pencil in a W over Ghana just because the ridiculous FIFA ranking says we're 10 spots better. Forget the no. 5 fifa ranking, we have a better chance getting three off Portugal. Our draw isnt the greatest, but isnt THAT bad (could be worse).

Approach Ghana like we need our absolute A game to have a chance, and we have a shot to get out group. Take a point if you have to. If we approach Ghana as if we're the superior side, despite results the last few years across all our national teams indicating otherwise, history just repeats itself and the gnashing of teeth about the state of u.s. soccer starts again until 2018.

4-3-3 wrote:I sincerely hope we learned a lesson by now and don't pencil in a W over Ghana just because the ridiculous FIFA ranking says we're 10 spots better. Forget the no. 5 fifa ranking, we have a better chance getting three off Portugal. Our draw isnt the greatest, but isnt THAT bad (could be worse).

Approach Ghana like we need our absolute A game to have a chance, and we have a shot to get out group. Take a point if you have to. If we approach Ghana as if we're the superior side, despite results the last few years across all our national teams indicating otherwise, history just repeats itself and the gnashing of teeth about the state of u.s. soccer starts again until 2018.

That is trash, everyone knows they should use FBR!! Gophers rankings are 90% true or better.  

Gunner9 wrote:Klinsmann's boys just drew Germany, Portugal and Ghana.   

Could be worse.
Ask Costa Rica

This needs to be the Cup that we put all the excuses aside and Klinsmann and the boys need to put heart,sole, and country into performance and results.

1-1-1 could get us through. The key is winning the first match vs Ghana. Winning by 2 goals really sets things up to allow a draw with Portugal and a loss to Germany. If we can limit losing to Germany by 1 goal, we stand a chance to maintain a better Goal Differential than Portugal should they also go 1-1-1 with a win vs Ghana and loss to Germany.

IMO facing Germany last is a big advantage for us over Portugal, as Germany should come out full tilt in their opener against Portugal to make a strong statement. They may rest players or relax a bit in the last group game against us if they are already on 6 points and have won the group or only need a tie against the U.S. to win it.

That would be a spectators delight to watch that final group game with Germany on 6 pts and the U.S. on 4 pts with 1st place in the group on the line.

veritas vos liberabit wrote:1-1-1 could get us through.  The key is winning the first match vs Ghana.  Winning by 2 goals really sets things up to allow a draw with Portugal and a loss to Germany.  If we can limit losing to Germany by 1 goal, we stand a chance to maintain a better Goal Differential than Portugal should they also go 1-1-1 with a win vs Ghana and loss to Germany.

IMO facing Germany last is a big advantage for us over Portugal, as Germany should come out full tilt in their opener against Portugal to make a strong statement.  They may rest players or relax a bit in the last group game against us if they are already on 6 points and have won the group or only need a tie against the U.S. to win it.

That would be a spectators delight to watch that final group game with Germany on 6 pts and the U.S. on 4 pts with 1st place in the group on the line.

That sounds good ONLY if Germany can pull wins vs Portugal and Ghana.  If for some reason Germany can not get the first 6 points, then USMNT will be facing a Germany team bent on raising hell in their last group game.

Agreed.  If Portugal manage a draw vs Germany, (and they draw with the U.S.), the advantage swifts significantly to Portugal on the final day.

In looking back, I am happy the US did well and the Group of Death played out exactly as I hoped. We were a few seconds away from a nice treat in the Portugal game. I thought Belgium would beat us by 2 goals, but Julian Green and Tim Howard made it more respectable.