WORLD CUP UPDATE
CZECH REP. 3 USA 0
The big match so far was Monday's matchup between us and the Czechs. We haven't played them since 1990, and that match ended in a 5-1 drubbing. We did better, but only by fractions in this 3-0 rout. It would be cause for despair if the USA had played their best game and really taken it to the Czechs and still lost by 3 goals. Instead, the USA looked slow, lethargic and uninspired. We got beat to many 50-50 balls, no one slidetackled or got stuck in, we never exerted ourselves or imposed our fitness and physicality on the opposition. Key players like Brian McBride, Bobby Convey and Landon Donovan were all but missing. There was one breakaway chance when Donovan had only 1 person to beat and he was pulled down cynically. Besides that chance, Donovan was invisible. Eddie Lewis had a few good shots and even captain Claudio Reyna had a chance screw wide and hit the post - any of which would have turned the momentum of the match and given us a needed lift. This is not the time to hang our heads. We still have 2 more matches, against Italy on Saturday and then Ghana a few days later. The USA team knows they didn't show up. They know they are a much better team than what the world saw on Monday. Let's give our lads a boost and keep believing.
Go USA!
Sunday, June 11, 2006
World Cup
USA v. Czech Republic
At 9am on Monday, the USA will take on the Czechs in their opening match of the World Cup. The only other time we have played the Czechs was in 1990 when we were shitty and they drubbed us 5-1. That is not going to happen this time, as we are a different squad with different tactics. We're a lot better. I predict a 2-1 scoreline where the USA emerges as winners.
I have an extremely cool employer who has allowed me to show up for work after the match - thanks Amy!
Other matches:
England 1 Paraguay 0
England were balls in their opener. They won on an own-goal created off a David Beckham free kick. England, who is being touted as the team to beat, barely overcame a draw and did it on a free kick. They looked sluggish and were unimpressive aside from the excellent Frank Lampard who tested the keeper a couple of times with long range efforts.
Mexico 3 Iran 1
First, it must be said, the Mexican national soccer team is not very good. They had our number for decades as the only team in North America that could qualify for the World Cup, but we've been kicking their asses for the last 10 years, and that shows no sign of abating. They played a lacklustre Iran who couldn't figure out how to string 2 passes together. It was an easy match but even so, Mexico still gave up the ball far too often in non-pressurized situations. It would be great to knock them out of the tournament again, as we did last time, but I doubt Mexico is going to make it out of the group stages. Second, I hate the Mexican team because their fans are assholes who hold up photos of the Twin Towers burning and chant "Osama" during matches, so fuck 'em.
Portugal 1 Angola 0
The best player on the pitch was Luis Figo, 33 years old. He showed the other stars like Pauleta, Tiago and Ronaldo how it's done. Figo is a world apart. Ronaldo was pants, showboating like a trick pony, as is his wont. He did have a header bounce of the crossbar, to his credit, but how many wasted crosses does it take? Portugal's couch took Ronaldo off the pitch at the 59th minute, something Ronaldo's club coach, Alex Ferguson, never has the balls to do.
Holland 1 Serbia 0
Holland simply outclassed the Serbs. Van Nistelrooy, Van Persie, and Von Bommel just kicked ass over the likes of Mateja Kezman. Holland has always brought tons of skill but just can't seem to get it together in the tournament. I'd like to see them advance.
Sweden 0 Trinidad & Tobago 0
Okay, Swedes, you really fucked this one up. T&T acted like they'd won the World Cup by getting a point off you. Larsson and Ibrahimovic need to practice placing their shots, as they fired about 6 straight into the arms of Shaka Hislop, making him a God back in his home country. The Swedes looked a whole fuck of a lot better than England did, though, so when the two nations face each other my money's on Sweden.
Argentina 2 Ivory Coast 1
It's easy to get warm and fuzzy over Ivory Coast since the decades-old civil war has been temporarily called a truce since they qualified for the World Cup. Granted, soccer has the power of true healing. That said, Ivory Coast's entire plan consisted of lobbing the ball over the top to Didier Drogba, famous for recently admitting he dives when he can. Eric Cantona would kick his ass if he could! Drogba did well for himself and netted IC's only goal. Argentina had a number of chances turned aside. I don't know if Argentina has the squad this year or not, but I doubt it. They do have the cocaine fiend Maradona in the stands, so they've at least brought moral support. Argentina will advance.
Poland 0 Ecuador 2
The Poles fucked up and underestimated their opponents who have only been to the World Cup twice before. Ecuador made the most of it and made the Poles pay on set pieces. I pegged Ecuador as taking this match so I was not surprised. What is surprising is that this Poland team beat England in a friendly. Ecuador will advance.
Reminder: USA plays tomorrow. I predict us taking it 2-1. Bobby Convey and Landon Donovan will get on the score sheet. Go USA!
USA v. Czech Republic
At 9am on Monday, the USA will take on the Czechs in their opening match of the World Cup. The only other time we have played the Czechs was in 1990 when we were shitty and they drubbed us 5-1. That is not going to happen this time, as we are a different squad with different tactics. We're a lot better. I predict a 2-1 scoreline where the USA emerges as winners.
I have an extremely cool employer who has allowed me to show up for work after the match - thanks Amy!
Other matches:
England 1 Paraguay 0
England were balls in their opener. They won on an own-goal created off a David Beckham free kick. England, who is being touted as the team to beat, barely overcame a draw and did it on a free kick. They looked sluggish and were unimpressive aside from the excellent Frank Lampard who tested the keeper a couple of times with long range efforts.
Mexico 3 Iran 1
First, it must be said, the Mexican national soccer team is not very good. They had our number for decades as the only team in North America that could qualify for the World Cup, but we've been kicking their asses for the last 10 years, and that shows no sign of abating. They played a lacklustre Iran who couldn't figure out how to string 2 passes together. It was an easy match but even so, Mexico still gave up the ball far too often in non-pressurized situations. It would be great to knock them out of the tournament again, as we did last time, but I doubt Mexico is going to make it out of the group stages. Second, I hate the Mexican team because their fans are assholes who hold up photos of the Twin Towers burning and chant "Osama" during matches, so fuck 'em.
Portugal 1 Angola 0
The best player on the pitch was Luis Figo, 33 years old. He showed the other stars like Pauleta, Tiago and Ronaldo how it's done. Figo is a world apart. Ronaldo was pants, showboating like a trick pony, as is his wont. He did have a header bounce of the crossbar, to his credit, but how many wasted crosses does it take? Portugal's couch took Ronaldo off the pitch at the 59th minute, something Ronaldo's club coach, Alex Ferguson, never has the balls to do.
Holland 1 Serbia 0
Holland simply outclassed the Serbs. Van Nistelrooy, Van Persie, and Von Bommel just kicked ass over the likes of Mateja Kezman. Holland has always brought tons of skill but just can't seem to get it together in the tournament. I'd like to see them advance.
Sweden 0 Trinidad & Tobago 0
Okay, Swedes, you really fucked this one up. T&T acted like they'd won the World Cup by getting a point off you. Larsson and Ibrahimovic need to practice placing their shots, as they fired about 6 straight into the arms of Shaka Hislop, making him a God back in his home country. The Swedes looked a whole fuck of a lot better than England did, though, so when the two nations face each other my money's on Sweden.
Argentina 2 Ivory Coast 1
It's easy to get warm and fuzzy over Ivory Coast since the decades-old civil war has been temporarily called a truce since they qualified for the World Cup. Granted, soccer has the power of true healing. That said, Ivory Coast's entire plan consisted of lobbing the ball over the top to Didier Drogba, famous for recently admitting he dives when he can. Eric Cantona would kick his ass if he could! Drogba did well for himself and netted IC's only goal. Argentina had a number of chances turned aside. I don't know if Argentina has the squad this year or not, but I doubt it. They do have the cocaine fiend Maradona in the stands, so they've at least brought moral support. Argentina will advance.
Poland 0 Ecuador 2
The Poles fucked up and underestimated their opponents who have only been to the World Cup twice before. Ecuador made the most of it and made the Poles pay on set pieces. I pegged Ecuador as taking this match so I was not surprised. What is surprising is that this Poland team beat England in a friendly. Ecuador will advance.
Reminder: USA plays tomorrow. I predict us taking it 2-1. Bobby Convey and Landon Donovan will get on the score sheet. Go USA!
