played like crap but yet came away with 3 pts every single time. that my friends is what you call a very dangerous team. at some point they won't play like crap
See I would be fine with if she said if you don't support America in the world cup you're a terrorist. She went the complete opposite direction on that one. Maybe she doesn't understand the offsides rule in soccer?
That is one thing that boggles my mind about Americans. The issues with ties. WTH? I'd rather my team tie its opponent ANY day and get a point or something good in the standings as opposed to a loss. Y'all want just a win or loss. Puzzles the heck out of me. I'd take a tie over a loss Any and Every time. Zero issues with a tie in a game.
This is obviously a major cultural difference. Where you see a tie is better than a loss, I see a tie is worse than a win. We want a winner and a loser, thrill of victory or agony of defeat. Ties are just so damn anticlimactic. I just can't imagine watching a great game without a true result. Yes losing and getting nothing sucks, but wins are just so damn sweet.
No sporting event should ever be able to end in a tie. It completely defeats the purpose of the event
That is right, bro. Their bench is really dangerous. And Vincent Kompany seems to be on a rampage when healthy. Defensive beast. The only aspects that are questionable are Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku. They were not in good shape and did not score.
Liking soccer is a liberal thing? We also see that a tie is worse than a win. So that is not the cultural difference. It is more about getting instant gratification, or not minding having to wait for the gratification. I think a difference is the play-off system. The champion in most soccer leagues is just the team that after a year has the most points. With most American sports you have to play a play off after the season has already ended. With soccer the regular season is important, so even with draws you still have a winner at the end of the year, and the difference between a loss and a draw could mean you will become champion. With the American sports the regular season are so much less important, so who cares if you win or draw, all that matters is the play offs. It is more about the getting instant gratification (American system, hating ties), and not minding to wait a year to find out who won (non-American system)
Only teams I guess who conceded 1 goal in group stage. Correct me. Belgium, Mexico and Costa Rica Defensive monsters like Italy used to be
Given that they were minimalists they had nothing to play for in the last game. They went with their B squad, lost a player and still managed to win. Results matter. If they were to choose between Germany or US in group stage, they would take US every day of the week.
belgium is sneaky good but if they don't beat the usa, then the usa will win convincingly. Back to you, bill and bull.
Talked about all their games, not just the last one. If not for their last minute goals, they would've finished with 5 points vs an extremely weak group. Said it before, they didn't impress in the WC qualification and in most friendlies. This is not minimalism or just being happy with winning in lazy fashion, they are not capable of playing much better currently.
As said before Van Buyten is their only experienced player. Wilmots is not playing any longer. You are wrong. They were titled a dark horse candidate because they did impress in the WC qualifiers. They finished with somewhat 8-10 wins and 2 or something (got to look up) draws. They may be playing worse but one aspect remains intact and it does not change the fact that: They are deep as hell. They have a B squad able to finish off games. And imagine there are 5-6 players (Thorgan Hazard) on the waiting list in that are about as good as some of the bench guys They do not score goals is because: Benteke is injured, main guys such as Hazard, Lukaku and Mirallas are not scoring
And as said before they have a pretty ok defense Teams with only giving up 1 goal in 3 games: Belgium, Mexico and Costa Rica.
Not disputing their depth of talent and success in the qualification. But remember, they played in a pretty weak qualification group and it was expected for them to finish at the top. But even in that group, majority of games was unimpressive. Regarding dark horse, I don't care if some sites or experts labelled them that, to me it shows a lack of understanding and scouting. Yes, they have one of the most talented rosters in the world, but all that doesn't help one bit if you're inexperienced and not yer clicking as a unit. And as you said, their main guys are not scoring and playing as good as their talent would indicate, so potential doesn't mean anything if they're not able to play up to it right now. And I don't think that will change in one game, this is not their tournament.
The US national does indeed have a chance because they are one of the best 11 nations left. So is Belgium. That makes it close. No other reasons. Not because how weak they are. Both nations have scored 4 goals. While US team's defense had holes Belgium did only give up a penalty and no goals coming within motion. True: I also think Colombia, CR and Mexico are playing slightly better right now. True also that they could be playing better but what at what high standards are you setting them? In elimination games anything can happen.
Alright I concede they were in a relatively weak group. That being said Algeria and Russia did strike me as pretty good.
