If you bet on the US blindly in the first round vs. the number, you are 2-1. So according to the betting results, the US has only underperformed versus Slovenia. (They actually wouldn't have if the goal wasn't disallowed). In a perfect world (No incompetent ref in the SLovenia match)..Three US bets would have been three winners.
I get what you're saying, my bad about misunderstanding your last post. I was focuisng on those two words only. To each their own.
Dont think I have ever seen an Italian team defend so badly and thats not just today. Canavaro is a shell of his former self.
I'm at a loss for words right now. If that goal is called onside Italy is through to the next round. Sorry USA, the soccer gods aren't just against you. Like I said, it happens. F#@& !!! Too often it seems for us Italians, too often. I blame this on all on Lippi and the fact that Pirlo was injured. He turned the game around for us the second he came in. We played miserable soccer all tournament with no midfield, but we played well enough to get through if it weren't for a BS offside call.
I don't think the us is the best, but I do think they are better then they appear, and I do think they are a good team. Ill leave it at that.
What is going on with De Rossi? He has the concentration of a four year old it seems. That was awful on his part. He's responsible for two goals alone I believe. That third Slovakian goal, the defender ran right past him.
Dude...you can always go polish your trophy. But yes...till further review..you got screwed on that call. Seriously, how do you raise your flag on such a close call? The 'close call" is supposed to go to the attacker.
The reality is soccer in the US is on a clear upswing and our ability to compete at the highest levels will only continue to get better. After 14 years of existence, the MLS has finally realized the need for developmental squads. At some point in time we'll stop losing players like Rossi and Subotic to other countries. Further the technical ability of the current players far surpasses the previous generations and the technical ability of the next generation appears to be far greater than the current group. This reality seems to bothers alot of Euros.
I dont think he's that great, but nor are any of the younger guys in that midfield. Italy only looked good in midfield when Pirlo came on and in the Paraguay game when Camronesi came on. And considering just how bad that group was, I think Italian football is in big trouble.
Italy is a joke Pepe could have been the hero at the end and he missed the ****en ball. This would have been an EPIC turnaround Buffon was dearly missed as much as Pirlo was I don't even know if I hate Mark Sanchez as much as I hate the Slovak keeper for all the bull**** acting he did today
It is up to the Fans to keep doing what they are doing and keep supporting the MLS. it is well on it's way. TV will be key. Alot of the clubs have fan support and fan interest. They get the TV interest and they are off and running.
Every team goes through a transition. Euro 2012 will be a big indication of where we are going, but I am not worried.
I don't think they should be bothered by it. If my comments came across that way, forgive me. The US getting better is only good for the sport of soccer because it increases the competition level.
Second time during the WC. This time it knocked out a world power. I wonder if this will compel FIFA to finally revisit instant replay. A final 16 w/o Italy (especially when they should be) is inexcusable.
The problem has been brewing.... Ruud on ESPN was spot on...the EPL, and La Liga are gaining in their dominance. it is at the League level where the Italians have the problem. Look at the makeup of the best teams in Serie A. THERE is the problem. Juventus is the only feeder team.
*****ing about the referees again, sure the guy made a mistake, but was it his fault the the US got down by 2 earlier?? John Harks was *****ing about the referees in every single game, F-John.
My problem is the lack of replay use...especially when you consider the magnitude of goals in soccer. All major US sports use replay in one form or another. Yes there is a disruption in flow...but doesn't that pale in comparison to good goals not being awarded or vise versa?
i understand your line of thinking. but its not like we lost and gave up and blamed that for it. its the fact that they manned up and recovered from their mistakes and showed some serious domination doing it only to have a win robbed away.
The underdogs are rising. It is just going to get tougher for the same countries that have dominated for the past 80 years. Denmark vs Japan is going to be good. Japan needs a win or draw, Denmark needs a win. The edge has to go to Japan with the way they've been playing. It would be yet another group where the lower seeded team beats out some higher ones.
From what Ive seen, I would disagree. When your squad is primarily made up of the 3rd and 7th best teams in the league you have problem. There is also a reason why the top 2 are turning away from Italian players and looking elsewhere so they can have success.
Yea, but don't forget where the Serie A was in 2000, 2001, and 2002....it was NOWHERE!!! They didn't have a team in the QF of the CL for 3 consecutive years. 2003 and beyond Serie A came roaring back and had teams consistently in the QF and beyond. This reflected in the 2002 world cup when they also had a mediocre team and went out in the round of 16. It comes and goes in cycles with Serie A. The league right now is in a lull, but I fully expect it to bounce back in a year or two. The dire situation that we just witnessed from the Italians has a lot to do with Lippi and his neglect for the younger playmakers. I'm not overly worried about the state of the Italian NT in 2 or 4 years.
Fair enough. Time will tell. The problem is all of our emerging stars are on lower rated teams. Criscito on Genoa, Paloschi on Parma, Acquafresca on Atalanta, Bonucci and Maggio (he will be a hell of a player) on Napoli, Bochetti on Genoa, Marchetti and Cossu on Caliari. I can go on. These players will likely find there way to top tier Italian teams. If they go abroad, so be it. The reason, our next coach won't be so f'n pigheaded to favor Juve players and not consider players playing outside of Italy - Rossi and or players he has personal vendettas against - Cassano. Remember those names for 2012, and consider the addition of Balotelli, possibly Cassano. Attackers will be fine, and the midfield will emerge with Cossu, Marchisio with more experience, Montolivo, Aquilani, and whoever decides to step it up. As I mentioned, we are in a transition period. Where the players that will eventually take over on the Azzurri squad play to me is not relevant, as I've said before, I am personally confident of the future of Italian football.
You said it perfectly, and i think it was you who stated that he's like a 4 year old. That couldn't be more accurate. When things are going good, De Rossi is a monster. Plays hard, plays good. When things are going bad, De Rossi becomes a child. He quits, makes horrible passes, stupid fouls. It's amazing how big of a baby he is sometimes. EDIT: See Roma vs. ManU, Roma vs. Panthiakos, Italy vs. USA, etc., etc., etc.
Ughh...thank God my grandparents are passed as they surely would have rolled a seven after watching Italy in these finals...
I'm still trying to figure out how a team that struggles with scoring can leave off Guiseppe Rossi. I love Rossi's game and felt he would have been perfect for them.
The fact FIFA rules allow this US born player to play for Italy is beyond me. You should only be able to play for the country of your citizenship...not your heritage. Imagine the current US team with Rossi instead of Gomez or Subotic instead of DeMerrit.
Dude, I don't know that much about soccer, but I like watching it every now and then, especially the World Cup for obvious reasons. England kicked our *** except for a tragic mistake by their goalie. That was a heck of a come back against Slovenia, but probably nine times out of ten we're toast in that situation. And yeah, we gotted robbed on that last goal. Donovan saved the day against Algeria at the very end when the U.S. teams' bags were all but packed. Even I know enough to know that we're LUCKY to still be in the tournament. U.S. soccer fans are probably best served showing some humility, shutting the **** up, and hoping for the best. As to some of the other posts on this thread, this is a sports web site for Christ's sake, anyone can root for or against whomever they like. If the U.S. team wins, that's great. If not, that's how it goes. It's not an assault on America to root against a U.S. national sports team. This is a sports website anyway, open to people from all over the world, not some rah rah pro U.S. propaganda machine.
He has an Italian citizenship. If that were the case, - Klose and Podolski of GER would be playing for Poland - Camoranesi of ITA would be playing for Argentina - Vieri of ITA would be playing for Australia (born there with two Italian parents but raised in Italy) - The entire French team would be disassembled - Cocuo or whoever the black guy is for GER would be playing in Brazil, if they called him, etc etc. It is the way it is.
IMO there's nothing wrong with it. If your heritage has other countries to it, why not? Also, clear this up now before someone else says it (not saying you will), I can completely understand why you feel that way, as a lot of that happens with the Bosnian soccer players. It's a pain in the *** and sucks to watch but I think FIFA is being fair.
it was the opposite..we were UNLUCKY to have even been in a situation to miss the round of 16. The robbed goal vs. Slovenia alone was enough to put us through. For good measure, we were robbed of another in the first half of the Algeria match as well. "lucky" my balls.
And the way it is had a negative impact on US soccer. Btw - does Rossi have Italian citizenship? He was born in the US and has barely played in Italy since leaving abroad.