Deleted Account 5,203 Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 US wins the group! And a VERY good chance to get to the Round of 8, playing Ghana next round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VivaFutbol 10 Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 And a VERY good chance to get to the Round of 8, playing Ghana next round. Not to mention a fair chance to make the Semis with the Round of 8 matchup with Uruguay or South Korea. Are the stars aligning for the US, it sure looks that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted Account 5,203 Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 Not to mention a fair chance to make the Semis with the Round of 8 matchup with Uruguay or South Korea. Are the stars aligning for the US, it sure looks that way. Uruguay's had very impressive defense though, and I think that's a plus for them in a potential matchup with the U.S. One of those games that I think the first goal wins it. I don't see South Korea beating Uruguay; they've looked just sloppy and have not been very opportunistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VivaFutbol 10 Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 South Korea look less than impressive. I personally thought Nigeria was the second best team in that group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vthokies4life 10 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 Well, I'm back from South Africa incredibly excited about this game that I love. It was such an amazing experience to be a part of the World of Soccer on it's biggest stage, and I hate that a trip like that had to come to an end. But here are a few quick highlights of the trip. First, we spent working at a church in Oukasie, a small village about an hour and a half outside of Johannesburg. We ran something similar to a Vacation Bible School, except it was very soccer based. So we would play games with these kids, have Bible lessons with them, feed them, etc. etc. until about 2 in the afternoon, at which point we would roll out a couple of footballs. From that point on, we were completely out of control. All we could do is just smile at the kids and pass the ball back whenever they decided to include us. It was an opportunity I will never forget. After we finished in Oukasie, we went back to Johannesburg to catch our first match, Argentina vs. South Korea. First of all, the pregame atmosphere is unlike anything I imagined. The closest thing I can get to describing it is the buildup and pre-game festivities that came before the Orange Bowl... only the World Cup is roughly 100x bigger. So once you get to the stadium, the soccer in the atmosphere is just palpable. It's an indescribable experience. Something I hope you all get to experience at some point in your life. But the first game we saw was at Soccer City, the stadium that is behind Alexi Lalas and others when they do their studio stuff from South Africa. The stadium holds about 95,000. We were there amongst about 85,000, so we weren't at capacity. And it was still LOUD. The best I can describe the atmosphere inside the stadium is festive. The argentine fans and the south koreans sang and sang and the South Africans blew their vuvuzelas. And whenever Lionel Messi got the ball, we all stood up. He is much more exciting in person. His movement off the ball is second to none, and opens him up to many of the great opportunities has. But when he gets the ball on his feet, you just know something amazing is about to happen. And it did more than once. Just an amazing player to watch. Argentina ended up with a 4-1 win on a couple of good goals, 3 of which came from Huiguan. Great game with a fun result. Then came the US vs. Slovenia match. The first thing you should know is that America travels really well. I would say that 60% of the stadium was AMERICANS. Not people supporting America, but actual Americans. I found this awesome to say the least. So we got to the game about 3 hours before kick off at which point we went and took part in various FIFA sponsored pre-game festivities. These consisted of all things carnival. Blow up slides, obstacle courses to dribble soccer balls through, etc. It added a lot to the atmosphere. While we're doing this, we are also just walking around talking to other Americans dressed as ridiculously as us. (side note: I went to the game with a guy dressed as Uncle Sam, I personally rocked a jersey, American Flag shutter shades, US bandana, and a Flag, etc. We brought it.) So we did this until about a hour before game time. At about the hour mark, there was just this new buzz that came across the crowd. All of us Americans just kind of started chanting U-S-A! at the same time and started moving toward our seats. The buzz became stronger when our National Anthem played. This was probably one of the coolest experiences of my life for one reason: All of us Americans sang it. Not just hummed it, but SANG it at the top of our lungs. It felt like everyone realized the lyrics and were proud of them. It was an unreal feeling. That buzz built and built until kickoff, but quickly diminished as we moved toward halftime. But when our first and second goals went in, it was pandaemonium. Absolute, unadulterated pandaemonium. The only experience I've had as close to that is when Tech beat Nebraska on that last second pass by Tyrod last year. But that is a distant, distant 2nd to what we experienced as those goals found the back of the net. As far as that third goal goes, I had no idea the magnitude of the call until I got back to where we were staying. In the stands, we figured there was some sort of justification to the call, but apparently not. Either way, this was an experience that I won't quickly forget. It's an experience that I hate ended. It was simply unbelievable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeper1 10 Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 1) that sounds absolutely amazing...i hope i get to go to a world cup one day. 2) haha, italy, ha, ha ha hahaha, ha, ha. 3) don't count us as being past ghana too soon. they beat us four years ago. i know the two teams are different now, but we can't afford to overlook anyone, and in the knock-out stages least of all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vthokies4life 10 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 1) that sounds absolutely amazing...i hope i get to go to a world cup one day. 2) haha, italy, ha, ha ha hahaha, ha, ha. 3) don't count us as being past ghana too soon. they beat us four years ago. i know the two teams are different now, but we can't afford to overlook anyone, and in the knock-out stages least of all. 1.) DO IT. Seriously, like book your plane ticket to Brazil right now. I promise you it will be worth it. 2.) My sentiment exactly. Buh bye you inventors diving, the thing that tarnishes the Beautiful Game the most this (and past) World Cup. 3.) This game scares the crap out of me. First and foremost, they are going to be playing for the whole continent of Africa. It's easy to look past things like this, but I personally think it makes a difference. Second, it's going to be hard to match their physicality. We have a tendency to get pushed around easily, especially up front and in our midfield. They are the ones who are going to have to take the knocks, take the bruises and just work through them. But between us and Ghana, then Uruguay and South Korea, one team HAS to make it to the semifinals. I see no reason why that shouldn't be us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokie07 11 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 But between us and Ghana, then Uruguay and South Korea, one team HAS to make it to the semifinals. I see no reason why that shouldn't be us. My thoughts exactly! Let's go USA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokie07 11 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 P.S. This is one of the coolest videos I've ever seen on the internet. It literally gives me chills when I watch it. The World's Reaction to Landon Donovan's Game Winning Goal: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhs7695 185 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 It is a wonderful goal to watch! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj1aJ3OKvHA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vthokies4life 10 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 It is a wonderful goal to watch! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj1aJ3OKvHA I can't quit watching it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VivaFutbol 10 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Is it just me or does the camera zoom in on that chicks booty in Kansas City? Hahahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefieldRocks 14 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Is it just me or does the camera zoom in on that chicks booty in Kansas City? Hahahaha Nope. That happens Davis, California was the loudest roar of applause. Kinda scared me at first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefieldRocks 14 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 P.S. This is one of the coolest videos I've ever seen on the internet. It literally gives me chills when I watch it. The World's Reaction to Landon Donovan's Game Winning Goal: I watched the same video last night and It only had 11,000 views. Now it's up to 311,000.....Crazy how fast something like that can get around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublue 939 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Davis, California was the loudest roar of applause. Kinda scared me at first. A great video....thanks for posting H7. I'll have to admit when I saw Davis, CA in the clip....home to UC-Berkeley....and saw an American flag in the scene.....I did a double-take. One of the premier sites for the genesis of extreme liberalism.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacker 82 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Davis CA is not Berkeley, it is the home of UC-Davis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublue 939 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Oops.....you are correct. (I should have researched the connection though they do have some bonds....they now share a shuttle service.) Does that count like in horseshoes b/c I was in the vincinity/close.....:) http://daviswiki.org/Town_History excerpt: Prior to 1959, UC Davis was the agricultural extension of UC Berkeley, and Davis was a sleepy little college town. Students attended UCD for some ag classes, and then went to Berkeley to complete their undergraduate degree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeper1 10 Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 another thing, how can you be surprised that the former associates of uc-berkeley would cheer for commie kickball? the whole sport is a homosexual/liberal/socialist conspiracy to ruin america. sorry, i had to say that in the absence of the political discussion board contingent. they'll sleep better tonight now and not know why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted Account 5,203 Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 Well, it's over for the U.S. Defensive breakdowns at the worst possible times. The more things change... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeper1 10 Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 two big give-aways cost us the match. shame, it was a good run, boys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VivaFutbol 10 Report Share Posted June 27, 2010 If you take a look at the USA roster now and what we will have. Their age is what they will be in 2014, and I am only putting ones that I think would make the squad. GK-Howard 35 GK-Guzan 29 D-Spector 28 D-Bornstien 29 M-Bradley 26 M-Dempsey 31 M-Donovan 32 M-Holden 28 M-Torres-26 M-Edu 28 M-Feilhaber 29 F-Altidore 24 So those are the players that I think will be on the 2014 roster. Dempsey and Donovan will both be over 30, so they could play a more attacking role as a forward. But I think Donovan and Dempsey at 32 and 31 will still be quality. Now you take a look at what we had in our arsenal at home. GK-Seitz 27 D-Orozco 28 D-Castillo 27 D-Marshall 29 D-Pearce 29 D-Wynne 28 M-Bedoya 27 M-Rogers 27 M-Adu 25 F-Davies 28 F-Tracy 27 So this is my prediction on what the US roster will look like. Will Onyewu be good to go in his 30s? Bocanegra be able to play at 35? If you see, our defense will still be our week spot. But we will have a world class midfield and just think what Altidore and Davies will be like in 4 years time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vthokies4life 10 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Spain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VivaFutbol 10 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Who would have thought that New Zealand would end the tournament as the only unbeaten team? Not I. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted Account 5,203 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Spain. And they survived the thugball tactics of Holland to do it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vthokies4life 10 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 And they survived the thugball tactics of Holland to do it... Yeah they did. I was pretty surprised that Holland thought they could win like that. Yes, they did need to handle pretty potent attackers, but they didn't have to completely turn away from the free flowing football they've been playing to do so. I was disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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