2014-07-03, 09:11 | Link #1601 |
Seishu's Ace
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kyoto, Japan
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The USSF is finally (no doubt due to Jurgen's insistence) starting to transition to a more European-style pyramid system rather than their old residency academy lottery ticket. You need to cast a wider net, for certain - but young players needs different (and better) coaching across the board. Instruction for very young players is centered rigidly around systems and discourages individuality - boys aren't encouraged or even allowed to think for themselves on the pitch or display creativity. That's a big reason why the USA can't develop #10s or true finishers, but can manage some decent keepers and central defenders.
None of these changes will likely benefit Klinsmann as a coach, but he's thinking long-term and I applaud him for it. FIFA is considering giving the US the 2026 World Cup, and if they're interested in seeing soccer truly explode in America (I think that's an open question) that would dovetail very well with the timeframe in which we might become seriously competitive to win it. In the meantime Jurgen is forced to continue to poach good but not irreplaceable talent from Europe, mostly Germany - guys like Green and Diskerud, and of course the big prize he's currently busting his ass to steal from the Germans is Gedion Zelalem. He has the raw talent to be the first fantasista we've had since Claudio Reyna, and to be an even better player.
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2014-07-03, 12:26 | Link #1602 |
♪~ Daydreaming ~♪
Graphic Designer
Administrator Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Italy
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Referees for Quarter Finals:
France-Germany : Pitana (Argentina) Brazil-Colombia : Velasco Carballo (Spain) Argentina-Belgium: Rizzoli (Italy) Holland-Costarica: Irmatov (Uzbekistan) Velasco Carballo is ref who tends to help the home side, as seen many times in European Competitions. At this point I'm expecting Webb to ref a semifinal (not the final because he already did in 2010), while the dutch referee Kuijpers, a candidate for final, will be cancelled from the list if Holland gets through this round (just like any other ref from one of the nations qualifying for semis since those are the rules). The other one for the semis could be the serbian Mazic, who seems to be pretty liked by Fifa/Uefa. Don't know who could get the final, though I'd give the third/fourth place match to the Australian ref Williams.
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2014-07-03, 17:07 | Link #1603 |
Custom User Title
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These are going to be intense quarter finals. There's no game where I would say I had a good guess as to who's going to win, unlike in the most recent round of 16. The least close match-up is probably Holland vs Costa Rica, but even then, I wouldn't put it past the Costa Ricans to defeat the Netherlands, which I had thought to be the strongest team prior to the match against Mexico. Now, I'm not so sure anymore. The other three games though ... they are really tough to call. Well, here's my guess for this round:
France 2 - 1 Germany Brazil 2 - 1 Colombia Argentina 3 - 5 Belgium (after penalties) Holland 2 - 0 Costa Rica Here we go. Now I'm free to be ridiculed later. Oh boy.
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2014-07-03, 17:25 | Link #1604 |
¡Gracias Totales!
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Entre caníbales...
Age: 31
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Costa Rica has an advantage that no one else has on this quarter-finals... They got nothing to lose, they know that no one expected them to come this far, to play this well, and nobody expects them to win, they go in just to play well and try their best, and that will work our in their favor.
Also, I expect both Argentina and Brazil to be thrown out, and most likely Germany to go through. |
2014-07-03, 18:11 | Link #1605 |
Seishu's Ace
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kyoto, Japan
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I think to a certain extent the "nothing to lose" tag applies to Belgium, too, because there's such a huge gap between their historical success and their current talent level. And unlike CR, they have enough talent to go all the way.
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2014-07-03, 18:36 | Link #1606 |
Alive
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: in my really nice house
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You could said the "nothing to lose" tag applies to Costa Rica, Belgium and Colombia, especially Costa Rica and Colombia because they already did something important by being in their first time in the quarterfinals, now of course they could want more, but in case they lose they are already heroes in their countries.
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2014-07-03, 19:04 | Link #1607 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Amsterdam
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Belgium vs America: what a nerve-wrecking match. Belgium had the upper hand for a long time, but chokes when it comes to finishing. Tim Howard was Ace, but setting a record of 16 shots in a WC match says a lot about America's defense.
Quote:
Same goes for Holland. We've done very bad the last WC's, so coming this far exceeds all our expectations. I'm quite nervous about Holland - CR, because I've seen Holland choke so many times. Robben might make the difference though. He's very much the the driving force of the team, and not just on the field. I've never seen him so...relaxed and confident as he is now, and it has an influence on the entire team.iting match, both It should be an exciting match, both teams willing to play offensive. Last edited by cleo; 2014-07-03 at 19:17. |
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2014-07-04, 00:20 | Link #1611 | |
¡Gracias Totales!
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Entre caníbales...
Age: 31
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Howard
Also, If anyone here speaks spanish: Quote:
France v. Germany 1pm brazil time, Colombia v. Brazil 5pm brazil time. Sunday, July 5th: Argentina v. Belgium, same time as above, Holland v. Costa Rica, same time as above. Last edited by SuitUp; 2014-07-04 at 01:42. Reason: Adding a song. |
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2014-07-04, 00:34 | Link #1612 |
Juanita/Kiteless
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New England
Age: 40
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Howard really was great. I'm enjoying the world cup. This is the first world cup I've ever gotten into.
July 4th is when the next games are played, right? What are the times (Brazil time) for the games on Friday?
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2014-07-04, 05:06 | Link #1614 | |
魂を踊らすように
Join Date: May 2006
Location: London, UK
Age: 39
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Quote:
That's not enough, but it certainly does not hurt to have one, because they usually tend to be charismatic figures who play a huge role in making the whole defense feel and act with more confidence. A good goalkeeper has a great deal of influence on his team mates. |
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2014-07-04, 11:07 | Link #1615 |
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Hamburg
Age: 54
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Heh. I unterstand that 9am isn't Las Vegas prime time, but not having the big screen on AT ALL, essentially forcing customers to watch the game on small bar TVs is a bit disappointing
Back to my room, watching from there... |
2014-07-04, 11:24 | Link #1619 |
♪~ Daydreaming ~♪
Graphic Designer
Administrator Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Italy
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I'm watching it at home. It's the first time France plays versus a big team, and it's the first time France goes down in the result. So far no reaction but the german defense looks as vulnerable as always.
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