June 27, 201411 yr Author So I know nothing about soccer, but on a scale of 1-10, how surprising is it that the US advanced? 1 being not at all, 10 being shocked beyond belief. A 6? 7? To the public in general? An 8-9. To me, a 3-4. Win, draw, lose was exactly the outcome I expected, though I expected the team to look better against Ghana and not look as good against Portugal.
June 27, 201411 yr Author Algeria ties it. Keep going. Korea's got a one man advantage, they have to score at least once right? If they're going to keep inviting Asia to the World Cup, they are going to need to give them a one man advantage for all 90 minutes every game. Maybe then they will do better than 0-9-3. That's what makes it even more remarkable that 3 CONCACAF teams advanced, since none of them got free points by being in a group with an Asian team. You can say that Mexico had a somewhat easy draw with Cameroon and Croatia, but they got a point off the hosts so they clearly earned their way through, and the US and Costa Rica survived absolutely loaded groups.
June 27, 201411 yr Author Belgium has the talent to win the whole damn thing so Tuesday will be tough. Nate Silver's SPI not all that high on Belgium. SPI has all 8 group winners as favorites to win in the second round, but Belgium is one of the two most vulnerable. Germany 80% vs Algeria Brazil 78% vs Chile Argentina 75% vs Switzerland France 72% vs Nigeria (this one sounds low to me) Netherlands 69% vs Mexico Colombia 63% vs Uruguay Belgium 57% vs USA Costa Rica 56% vs Greece Brazil-Argentina remains the most likely final. It remains very unlikely to happen, but a US-Mexico semifinal would be epic. Univision's ratings would be through the roof.
June 27, 201411 yr QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 27, 2014 -> 02:11 AM) Belgium has the talent to win the whole damn thing so Tuesday will be tough. I can't see there being an easy team at this stage.
June 27, 201411 yr QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 27, 2014 -> 10:11 AM) I can't see there being an easy team at this stage. I'd play Greece or Nigeria any day of the week at this point, or any point really, in the tournament
June 27, 201411 yr QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 27, 2014 -> 09:20 AM) Altidore is likely out again, right? I thought he was back in, I could be wrong.
June 27, 201411 yr Author I'd play Greece or Nigeria any day of the week at this point, or any point really, in the tournament Yeah, Ghana finished dead last in Group G managing only one point in three games and I'd favor them over at least three teams that advanced (Algeria, Nigeria, Greece) and possibly a fourth (Costa Rica). Just another example of why the WC draw process needs a major overhaul.
June 27, 201411 yr QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 27, 2014 -> 08:22 AM) I thought he was back in, I could be wrong. Tough to tell with a hamstring... really, really hope he can go. Even if it's just 50-60 minutes, he adds so much to the US attack - notably: (1) hold up play; (2) drawing fouls in dangerous spots; and (3) letting Bradley play in a less advanced position. Of the group winners, outside of Costa Rica and maybe France, Belgium is the best matchup for the Americans. Getting out of the group makes this a successful World Cup (and should be the expectation going forward), but reaching the quarterfinals is within reason. First day at a new job is July 1... don't think I'll be able to take time off to watch live (2 pm start out here), so I'm going to need to completely avoid all technology to not have the result spoiled before I get home from work...
June 27, 201411 yr Jozy is jogging and stretching with team USA today. Per Dan Wetzel. This is happening right now I think. Doesn't mean he's going to play or not but he's getting closer. Lets hope no set backs.
June 27, 201411 yr QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jun 27, 2014 -> 06:53 AM) If they're going to keep inviting Asia to the World Cup, they are going to need to give them a one man advantage for all 90 minutes every game. Maybe then they will do better than 0-9-3. That's what makes it even more remarkable that 3 CONCACAF teams advanced, since none of them got free points by being in a group with an Asian team. You can say that Mexico had a somewhat easy draw with Cameroon and Croatia, but they got a point off the hosts so they clearly earned their way through, and the US and Costa Rica survived absolutely loaded groups. Korea and Japan had success in past world cups. Both qualified for the knockout round in 2010 and 2002. They were just awful this time around.
June 27, 201411 yr Author Korea and Japan had success in past world cups. Both qualified for the knockout round in 2010 and 2002. They were just awful this time around. They were hosts in 2002 and every host gets to the knockout round. So yeah, there's been basically one WC ever where Asian teams have done much of anything.
June 27, 201411 yr QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jun 27, 2014 -> 10:56 AM) They were hosts in 2002 and every host gets to the knockout round. So yeah, there's been basically one WC ever where Asian teams have done much of anything. Except South Africa. Edited June 27, 201411 yr by chw42
June 27, 201411 yr QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 27, 2014 -> 11:46 AM) But the US made the knockout round as hosts. Only South Africa hasnt. Yeah I realized that and edited it. I was thinking of 98. Edited June 27, 201411 yr by chw42
June 27, 201411 yr You can probably cross Russia (unless they fix the draw in their favor) and Qatar off that future list (if the WC's even held there at this point, with the bribery scandal) of host teams getting to the knockout round. Qatar could probably beat Maldives, Afghanistan or Yemen? Maybe Eritrea... Edited June 27, 201411 yr by caulfield12
June 27, 201411 yr QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 27, 2014 -> 05:57 PM) You can probably cross Russia (unless they fix the draw in their favor) and Qatar off that future list (if the WC's even held there at this point, with the bribery scandal) of host teams getting to the knockout round. Qatar could probably beat Maldives, Afghanistan or Yemen? Maybe Eritrea... Qatar has improved quite a bit recently, but they're still probably only on the level of a country like El Salvador, Canada, Azerbaijan or New Zealand. So not good, but they aren't a joke anymore.
June 28, 201411 yr QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 27, 2014 -> 04:57 PM) You can probably cross Russia (unless they fix the draw in their favor) and Qatar off that future list (if the WC's even held there at this point, with the bribery scandal) of host teams getting to the knockout round. Qatar could probably beat Maldives, Afghanistan or Yemen? Maybe Eritrea... Not sure what you're saying, but as a host I would expect Russia to advance. You have to remember that as host they get seeded so they won't face any of the other top teams unless the rankings go out of whack (very real possibility).
June 28, 201411 yr QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 07:48 AM) I am predicting South American wins in both games today. I get it. I think Chile gets Brazil today.
June 28, 201411 yr QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 09:35 AM) I get it. I think Chile gets Brazil today. Agreed. Chile and Colombia advance today.
June 28, 201411 yr QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 09:35 AM) I get it. I think Chile gets Brazil today. I think and hope so as well, if these teams play the way they played in their groups then I think Chile can pull this one out.
June 28, 201411 yr QUOTE (TheTruth05 @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 10:29 AM) I think and hope so as well, if these teams play the way they played in their groups then I think Chile can pull this one out. Oh God we agree with Row, Brazil is going to win 6-0.
June 28, 201411 yr QUOTE (farmteam @ Jun 28, 2014 -> 10:41 AM) Oh God we agree with Row, Brazil is going to win 6-0. Pssh I'm much better at predicting sports I don't watch as much compared to sports that I do.
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