World Cup 2010

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http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/

Yep it's coming. Time to start talking smack now and send Beckham home to England with a cheeseburger. As an American the question isn't whether I am hoping we win the world cup. It is my hope that England gets pounded back to Albion.

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We're going to have a party on the evening of the first game, just to make it a bit more lively.

With all the English fans I talk to dismissing us out of hand, I think they'll be unpleasantly surprised at the quality of our game. (That said, boys don't let me down!)

If we do lose that one, though, I still expect us to qualify for the knock-outs, so you never know - we might get another chance at them.

Although everything begins and ends with bacon soccer, I believe this should be in the Sports section of the forum. That way I won't be confronted with Belgium's second abscence in a row from the world stage as often

dejanzie wrote:

Although everything begins and ends with bacon soccer, I believe this should be in the Sports section of the forum. That way I won't be confronted with Belgium's second abscence in a row from the world stage as often :-)

I disagree, the Winter Olympics deserved a spot on the number 2 forum, so does soccer.

And hey, we are going to get beat hands down as the host nation, I would prefer if our team didn't qualify.

dejanzie wrote:

Although everything begins and ends with bacon soccer, I believe this should be in the Sports section of the forum. That way I won't be confronted with Belgium's second abscence in a row from the world stage as often :-)

Done, I completely forgot we have a bac- Sports section!

Haakon7 wrote:

We're going to have a party on the evening of the first game, just to make it a bit more lively.

With all the English fans I talk to dismissing us out of hand, I think they'll be unpleasantly surprised at the quality of our game. (That said, boys don't let me down!)

If we do lose that one, though, I still expect us to qualify for the knock-outs, so you never know - we might get another chance at them.

I completely agree. I suspect we'll finish second if we don't cram the limeys into a goat bag. A group of us are also going to have a party- featuring maple bacon chili, hamburgers, tacos...you know...everything those pickled egg suckers don't eat. Donovan will be hot after his vacation, and I suspect Dempsey will be surprising. Whomever they're going with for tender will inevitably be bored (I hope).

I am a huge US Soccer fan. They are my second favorite team behind the LA Kings. Anyway, Donavon is tearing up the EPL and finally showing the world that he is a star. Ferguson got rid of Howard a year too early.

I hope Charlie Davies is ready. From what I have just read it looks good that he will be.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...

Sadly, Donovan's only got one last weekend in the EPL before returning to the MLS, unless the work stoppage turns from a threat to something real.

As Wolverine-like as Charlie Davies' recuperation has been, I'd be surprised to see Bradley include him. It's not just about health, it should be about form as well, and spending several months recuperating after a major car accident isn't the best way to prepare for the World Cup. It's not match practice, certainly.

I was going to create this thread closer to the cup. Thanks for beating me to it.

I've been following the USMNT very closely throughout the qualifiers and friendlies and in a nutshell, I'm seriously worried about getting out of the group. I have a lot I'd like to say but frankly, I've been ranting so much to friends and fellow soccer fans that I don't have much energy to rehash is all again. Here are a few major points:

Bob Bradley Sr. should not be coaching this team under any circumstances. He's a terrible coach in all regards and I believe he's one of the biggest reasons why this team will not be as successful as it should be. The team has no identity, no organization, and no unity. Part of the reason is because Bradley has never been able to commit to a starting XI and his refusal to play certain players and poor substitutions further compound the situation.

We lack any depth whatsoever in the forward postion. You have to score goals to win games and with Altidore. Findley (why is this guy even on anyone's radar), and Ching as the primary strikers, I seriously doubt we'll be able to muster up any goals. Davies' injury highlighted this problem quite well and yet Bradley has done very little to address it. Conor Casey flat out sucks, Findley looks lost, Altidore is sometimes lathargic and outplayed, and Ching is nothing more than a header magnet. We've experimented with Cunningham, Adu (I really think he deservers a spot on the next two friendly rosters), and Cooper but those haven't panned out. The only other players we have to fill these spots are Dempsey and Donovan but we really need them in the mid-field.

The competition we play hurts more than it helps. I realize we're in CONCAF and have to play these inferior teams to qualify but why the hell are we scheduling friendlies against weak teams (Hondorus & El Salvador for example). Playing against the Netherlands and Turkey were great moves but it's a bit moot considering how close we are to the cup. Also, when we do play these friendlies, Bradley usually plays the B or C team, which does nothing toward the formation of a solid starting XI that has the opportunity to gel together, learn to play with one another, and succeed as a team. What use is it for the WC starting XI to get one game together in late May?

I'll stop here and post some more thoughts later.

PS: Why is it so god-damn difficult to find a USMNT jersey? I've looked all over the web and their either sold out or only selling S or XXXL. Anyone have a good sight to find one? The new jersey's are terribly designed (ugly Miss America sach?) so I'd be happy with the older version.

Yeah that sash is pretty ugly.
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I have a jersey that is solid dark blue with red on the collar and sleeve ends.

This one.

http://www.soccerpro.com/Nike-USA-Aw...

The white one here is pretty nice.

http://store.nike.com/index.jsp?coun...

goman wrote:

The white one here is pretty nice.

http://store.nike.com/index.jsp?coun...

I really want this one. Have you seen it anywhere else and in any size other than S or XXL?

Are the new sash ones out yet?

93_confirmed wrote:

Good stuff

Seconded on the striker issue. The best striker we have right now is Altidore, and that's not exactly great news. The boy's a great physical specimen, but not really a great footballer yet.

Part of what frustrates me about Freddy Adu so much is that, while he was without a doubt overhyped, if he even begins to capitalize on the talent that should be there, he could become the technically adept No. 10 that the US so desperately needs, either to play as a old-fashioned No. 10, with Altidore and Donovan as a Deep-lying forward, or for Donovan to play attacking midfielder with Adu dropping back to support the attack.

After seeing yet another one of ESPN's ads for the big kerfluffle today, I'm wondering.

What do we think the over/under on the number of "God, stop it with the f**king Vuvuzelas" articles is going to be? Let's keep it to English-language media at least. 500? 1,000?

Dempsey scores a sweet (albeit lucky) chip shot to give Fulham a huge win.

Charlie Davies is rejoining his team in France next week and the chances of him playing in the Cup are increasing every day!

Before the last world cup in 2006, I read Fernando Fiore's book, "The World Cup: The Ultimate Guide to the Greatest Sports Spectacle in the World" and I found it a useful guide. Does anyone have a recommendation for a similar kind of preview type book for this year?

Davies is back with the team and will start training with them next week. He hopes to be playing by the end of April. CD9 is back!!!!!!!!!!!!

pop58 wrote:

Before the last world cup in 2006, I read Fernando Fiore's book, "The World Cup: The Ultimate Guide to the Greatest Sports Spectacle in the World" and I found it a useful guide. Does anyone have a recommendation for a similar kind of preview type book for this year?

Seconded; as an ignorant Yank, I'd be glad to have some sort of playbook to let me know what I'm watching. I followed the 2002 and 2006 Cups very casually, but I've been feeling a void in my sports-fandom since my favorite baseball team turned to mush.

Edit: also, I need to figure out what team to root for after the US is inevitably knocked out in the first round.

This thread has opened some wounds... why did Pat Onstad have to punch the corner into our own goal against Jamaica? Why wasn't there a yellow card when Tomas Radzinski got shoved into the boards in touch against Honduras?

At the start of World Cup Qualifying my hopes were so very high, "best Canadian team ever" I heard people say. Yet it ended in a typically Canadian manner when it comes to soccer, with a spectacular failure or two and then a whimper.

At least we didn't get screwed by the refs (I'm looking at you Archundia and the 2007 Gold Cup).

I just hope the English guys keep screwing each others' wives/girlfriends and are too busy to focus on us.

Tanglebones wrote:

Edit: also, I need to figure out what team to root for after the US is inevitably knocked out in the first round.

Inevitably? I wouldn't be so quick to write them off. If everyone is healthy, I think they could make it to the quarterfinals. Let's say they finish 2nd in the group. They'd likely face Germany or Serbia - hopefully the latter.

Prederick wrote:

What do we think the over/under on the number of "God, stop it with the f**king Vuvuzelas" articles is going to be? Let's keep it to English-language media at least. 500? 1,000?

Is it that bad? IMO they are nicer to listen to than the air-horns used in Europe anyway. At least most articles are complaining about Vuvus and not crime or violence.

93_confirmed wrote:
Tanglebones wrote:

Edit: also, I need to figure out what team to root for after the US is inevitably knocked out in the first round.

Inevitably? I wouldn't be so quick to write them off. If everyone is healthy, I think they could make it to the quarterfinals. Let's say they finish 2nd in the group. They'd likely face Germany or Serbia - hopefully the latter.

Agreed, I think the US is going to be a surprise package. They did well in the Confed Cup.

93_confirmed wrote:

Inevitably? I wouldn't be so quick to write them off. If everyone is healthy, I think they could make it to the quarterfinals. Let's say they finish 2nd in the group. They'd likely face Germany or Serbia - hopefully the latter.

I think it’s completely dependent on who they draw. Some teams are just WC monsters historically and the biggest one might be Germany. As it stands the most likely scenario is USA 2nd vs Germany 1st and Germany is one of those teams that are just consistently great at the WC. Really hard to get out of that scenario without US winning their group which means an England choke (doubtful that early under cabbage man) or a Germany choke which is also doubtful.

Stele wrote:

I just hope the English guys keep screwing each others' wives/girlfriends and are too busy to focus on us. :D

A fatalistic view but I agree. Let em suck those eggs because the U.S. yields a benefit! At least the press has stayed away from our boys...thus far...

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/...

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Home kit is out. I like better than the blue one.

goman wrote:

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/...

IMAGE(http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_sow_experts__4/ept_sports_sow_experts-66653699-1272593559.jpg?ymXC9DDDDqTYRdh7)

Home kit is out. I like better than the blue one.

USSoccerStore.com has them for $69.99. Has anyone found a cheaper price?

30 man preliminary roster announced today. No Charlie Davies. Apparently he has not played any games for his club team yet this season.

Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), leading scorer of MLS early this season, in his stead.

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/wor...

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton), Tim Howard (Everton).

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Heath Pearce (Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham).

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus), Jose Torres (Pachuca).

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Hull), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles), Brian Ching (Houston), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla), Eddie Johnson (Aris).

Roster still needs to be cut to 23 man.

Here is England's provisional roster.

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Spurs), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Spurs), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Man City), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Spurs), Adam Johnson (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Spurs), James Milner (Aston Villa), Scott Parker (West Ham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City)

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Spurs), Jermain Defoe (Spurs), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Man utd)

Two comments on the US Roster:

Thank god they were bright enough to take Hercules Gomez.

I know it's causing a kerfluffle, but Charlie Davies shouldn't have been selected. He hasn't even been medically cleared by Sochaux yet.

I would account all accounts of Davies playing to be a bit showboat-ish.

The new Nike World Cup commercial is out.

Ronaldinho plays quite a large part in that, for someone who isn't even going.

Zen Mutty wrote:

I would account all accounts of Davies playing to be a bit showboat-ish.

The support and overall morale of Davies on the bench (or Davies playing at 70%) is better than some of the garbage MLS players that Bradley has on the squad.

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