pause this video at 1:06. you see 3 things Bocanegras head under the defenders arm pit, Altidore in front of his defender and Edu ready to score http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5rGDAZnvcI&feature=player_embedded#!
Hold this 0-0 draw Algeria! And do people realize that the Ref hasn't actually said what the call was in the USA game?? Clearly though Slovenia was fouling Altidore, and there were probably like 6 fouls going on between both teams in that box. And Edu did not look like he was one of them.
Geez. That was as woeful a 45 minutes as I've see from us in about 3 years. Only when Rooney and Gerrard start to link up do we look half decent. We look lethargic, off the pace and very poor. I'd imagine Joe Cole will be on soon.
Well, today we saw what I regard as the greatest failure of a great sport - about which I'm dumbfounded that the powers that be in the sport will do nothing to fix it. The officials in both games today (Germany-Serbia; USA-Slovenia) - Epic Fail. To allow an official to give a red card and throw yellows on virtually every foul, is absurd. Officials always have a difficult time but that is ridiculous. It would be like the refs in the NBA calling 6 fouls on Kobe Bryant before the 1st quarter is over. With no warning. That is so inconsistent with the way other games have been officiated - it's ridiculous. Germany got jobbed. Then, the call on the goal by Edu virtually took the game away from the U.S. And, he never gave an explanation. it wasn't offsides, there was no foul (if any foul should have been called it should have been against the Slovs!). Just unreal - in an event this big. If that happened in the SB here - heads would roll. It seems the same people who run world futbol are the ones who run Olympic Figure Skating and Gymnastics. Essentially, the official is behaving like a judge in one of those sports. It reduces the sport to an event based on judging like Gymnastics. They could also have replay in soccer in certain goal situations - such as offsides, or hand ball - that would save a great deal of angst.
Ha yeah, who would've thought the USA would still be in 2nd place at the end of the day? USA holds onto second since they've scored 3 goals to England's 1. So if USA beats Algeria, they're in no matter what. And if England beats Slovenia by 2 goals or less, USA wins the group I think. A draw for England-Slovenia and win by US also gives them a shot to win the group.
I am confused. Those are the real gerrard's...lampard's..Rooney's...right? Those are not body doubles?
The bottom line is I agree with Lalas on this, collectively they arent that good, which is INSANE for me to say....but it is true....they look off, and again Rooney, European Footballer of the Year........wow.....?? Whatever drive on Americans we are in 2nd place on goals.....crazy...
England has a lot of great players on the team, maybe they just don't work well together as a team? At least in the world cup. *cough* New York Jets *cough*
ESPN is using the ESPN Axis cam to show the goal that should have been. Nobody on the US fouls anybody. Bocanegra was actually in a headlock. A Headlock. They isolated each player in the box and followed them through the play..and..... drumroll... nothing. It was a goal. we got ****ed. BTW, ESPN is still reporting that the Ref told an official when leaving the field that the "goal scorer" committed the foul. (Edu)
That was awful. How on earth can a team filled with talented individuals draw with Algeria and to play so badly with that. The midfield could not hold onto the ball, when they had possession, they continuously made poor passes, over-ran the ball or got caught in possession. Every single midfielder for England tonight was guilty of that.As for the strikers, Rooney looks a shell of himself, he doesn't even look interested out there which is that saddest thing off all. Heskey up front? Did alright but is limited and not close to being an elite player. I dont know whats wrong, whether its pressure, lack of confidence, fatigue, over-rated, Cappello, I dunno, but that was awful, just awful. And the US better be careful of Algeria, they can handle physical football and will be very difficult to break down.
LOL!!! FIFA... yeah..them.. When reached for an explanation, said the "call" was "unknown" and would NOT confirm the ESPN report of the ref saying it was on Edu.
In an interview with Landon Donovan after the game, he said they asked what the call was and the ref just refused to answer the question. 5 hours later and they're still refusing the answer the question
We're not very good, we're not very good, we're not very, we're not very, we're not very good! Wayne Rooney clearly isn't fit. Frank Lampard is still at home. Stevie G tried without much success. Worst thing is that clearly Rooney is carrying an injury. We look lethargic. Patrick Vieira says there's a rumour he's carrying an ankle problem. No excuses, just not good enough. You look through the team: Ashley Cole, John Terry, Carra, Steven Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Crouch, Michael Carrick....have all played in a Champions League final and Carra and Stevie have played in two. Gerrard and Rooney are two of the top 10 players in world football. Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world. Frank Lampard has just been voted the best Premiership player of the past decade. I don't think it's about being overrated. But I don't know WHAT it's about. Very disappointing.
From refs angle and where it looks like he's looking can't see the foul being called on Altidore or Boconega or Edu. Maybe of all the grabbing the US player double teamed to Edu's left (Gomez?) hand check is somehow the only thing he saw. Crappy call but a crappy first half put us in hole. Need to come out strong vs Algeria and not fall in the hole. Definately dissapointed we didn't get 3 points...but geez...compared to Englands fans after that game with Algeria.
Never did get your thoughts on Capello? After your post one can only look at the collective team's desire or coaching. So, how do you feel about the way Capello has run your program? EDIT. What is the general consensus in ENG?
Yeah the 3rd round games are all at the same time for each group. So one team doesn't get eliminated because of another team's result earlier in the day. So you can't watch both, but it remains exciting. Well you could flip channels or use picture in picture, but I'll just be watching USA since it's a win and in situation. And seeing the slow motion replay, Bocanegra was also being held in like a headlock. Whatever, it's over, I just wish FIFA wouldn't pretend it never happened and remain silent. It ruins the game. So the US needs to forget about it, beat Algeria and hope England beats Slovenia by 2 goals or less, or hope for that to be a draw. If Slovenia wins then US would finish 2nd place with a win. [And if it's a draw, then a draw for the USA would also get them through with only 3 points, but Slovenia would win the group.]
Well as a club manager he's won everything and in qualification he was awesome. But he's stubborn in playing a rigid 4-4-2 and he will get ABSOLUTELY CRUCIFIED in the press tomorrow. He'll make Steve Bartman seem like Obama when he won the election. The players like him but something is amiss. Seriously.
Now that the England game ended in a scoreless draw it could be in the end that no goal call will end up screwing England more than us.
thats the point brothers....calls non calls, it is the same with Miami....just make it happen...dont give us a reason to question refs, coaches, anything!!!!! go out on Wednesday and finish it....
Boom thats what is about.....there isnt answer, in FIFA WC 2010 not many clubs are apparently good enough besides Diego's team, and Uruguay thus far.... are the other mid-level teams starting to catch up with the elite teams in the world?? In any event, should be an exciting next week or so in these finals.....I am so engaged....
well that was absolutely dreadful for England. No imagination... playing not to lose.. playing too tight... it was like Ally McCoist said calling it for ESPN, they are frowning when they get off the bus. No lightheartedness... no kidding around like you'd expect a confident team. They aren't confident at all.. And I think Green's stupid mistake has cut out any confidence this team had. One game does change everything though. They should mix it up against Slovenia somehow... not sure how... but it's desperate times. Take Rooney off if he's not 100%. Play Dafoe and Heskey up top. Think of using Carrick. Their crosses from their wingers have been lacking. Both Lennon and Wright-Phillips have pace but nothing else. I hate saying it, but this team misses Beckham dearly. Slovenia will not be attacking on Wed at all... they will be playing back looking for the draw. And if it's a scoreless draw, England is out. They have to come out and find a way to get a goal. Full credit today to a team that came from two goals down... USA. They deserve to go thru at the moment while England should be sent packing.
Thanks Boomer, ENG looked scary good in qualifying. Rooney just didn't have it today. It'll come together. You guys are like us now. making it difficult on themselves. Maybe it's the italian coach you guys have? ENG will be fine.
Is that an old English drinking song??? Cause if it is....we will have to pull "a Francis Scott Key part II" and keep the tune but change to lyrics to make it our own...... Yup, all the garbage doesnt matter if we take care of business. All the rest is just wall trimming....!
I'd rather have gamblers in Vegas refereeing the World Cup than FIFA and it's refs. It's pretty simple now for both the US and England - win and you are in. Lose or tie and you can't expect to be there. But, on England, of which I am a huge fan, I think three things: 1) Rooney is clearly injured. Something is wrong. He does not run hard and is not charging in as he has - and even when he gets the ball not much is happening. It's really a bummer. Maybe they should add Crouch to the front line instead of Heskey. I think Heskey has always been a waste. Pretty much unproductive in the clutch. 2) Honestly, I think they miss both Beckham and Owen, out due to injuries. Even though Owen is no longer a 90 minute player, he would be an asset with his quickness and goal scoring ability to be on the team and come in at the 60th or 70th minute to provide some real attack. There is no one in this entire World Cup who can serve the ball into the middle the way Beckham can/could. People don't realize or appreciate how great a server of the ball he was. As accurate as Joe Montana with a football. Even though Gerrard is solid in that area, he's no Beckham in that particular feature of the game. 3) England is clearly talented. Lalas is an idiot in saying "maybe not!" (nonsense!). These guys are all stars on some of the best clubs in the world! But, I wonder if, along with the above two points, they just aren't together as a unit. Wonder if the stuff with Terry, then losing Ferdinand has hurt the leadership.
Mate, one of the interesting factors to look at is fatigue. Some of the world's best players are struggling. Be it Rooney or Ribery or Anelka or David Villa, etc. Take Spain for example. Their players play for the biggest and best teams in the world; Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool. Teams that are fighting out Champions Leagues and league titles. Spain have had 3 years straight of football; winning Euro 2008, then a full season where Alonso and Torres played in almost 60 games each. Then they play in the Confederations Cup and straight into another season and then straight to the World Cup. Frank Lampard for example played 61 games last season and 64 the year before. Sooner or later that catches up. Plus you have smaller South American countries with great technical ability like Mexico and Chile with few players in the world's top leagues. It's an interesting talking point. Apparently a fan breached security and got into the dressing room and got into a fight with David Beckham.
You left out Blackburn Rovers....its ok....we still know...we still know. Dang, Landon Donovan is fast, but didnt think he could get from one location to the next that fast!
We don't know yet. Right now Germany, Ghana, and Serbia all have 3 points in that group and Australia has 0. Australia and Ghana play tomorrow, then next week it's Germany vs Ghana and Australia vs Serbia. It can still be any of those teams.
