USA in the World Cup

The stakes weren't as high (for the people on this board in particular) but the end of USA - Portugal reminded me of the 2009 lax final against Syracuse. Terrible, brain-fart turnover, amazing pass, killer finish. If the WC opening round had sudden death overtime, surely Portugal would have ended it quickly.

We were on the cusp of being a contender. Still could be.

I thought the same thing. Just like '09 I was standing in front of the television saying, "What just happened?" and looking to see the goal waived off for any reason at all.

ugarte
The stakes weren't as high (for the people on this board in particular) but the end of USA - Portugal reminded me of that raid over Macho Grande.

You had to say it, didn't you? Those wounds run...pretty deep.

Any late score will always haunt CU lax fans just as most lengthy and inconclusive replay stoppages take CU hockey fans to a particular place and time.

billhoward
We were on the cusp of being a contender. Still could be.

I've been impressed at how much of a better team this has been than the last few US WC entrants. Although they always punched well above their weight, in prior years they didn't look like they belonged on the same pitch as a good squad. This team looks like a solid second tier contender that could bite, like Uruguay in '10.

I totally thought of the '09 lax game. I feel like that game has prepared me well for late-game implosions by any team I am rooting for. Let's just hope US-GER doesn't turn out like OT of the '09 game.

Trotsky
...in prior years they didn't look like they belonged on the same pitch as a good squad. This team looks like a solid second tier contender that could bite, like Uruguay in '10.

Agreed. We seem to have responded well to Altidore's hamstring "adversity." (My feelings regarding Altidore in general are implicit in those scare quotes.)

Best team since '02.

If we can make it out of this group and Michael Bradley stops sucking, I wouldn't be surprised to see us in the semis.

Winning the whole thing? Eaaaaaaahhhhnnnn...

Trotsky
I've been impressed at how much of a better team this has been than the last few US WC entrants. Although they always punched well above their weight, in prior years they didn't look like they belonged on the same pitch as a good squad. This team looks like a solid second tier contender that could bite, like Uruguay in '10.

(emphasis mine)

I certainly hope that US soccer doesn't bite like Uruguay.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Y'know, before the Ghana-Germany game, I would have said I was perfectly fine with a tie against Portugal. After that tying goal...not so much. But now, I'm Ok with it. And now I can't help thinking about the old Monty Python bit:

We asked you to find a derogatory term for the Belgians. Well, the response was enormous and we took quite a long time sorting out the winners. There were some very clever entries. Mrs Hatred of Leicester Said 'let's not call them anything, let's just ignore them' ... and a Mr St John of Huntingdon said he couldn't think of anything more derogatory than "Belgians."

But in the end we settled on three choices: number three ... "the Sprouts" sent in by Mrs Vicious of Hastings...very nice; number two...."the Phlegms"... from Mrs Childmolester of Worthing; but the winner was undoubtedly from Mrs No-Supper-For-You from Norwood in Lancashire...

"Miserable Fat Belgian Bastards."

cbuck
I totally thought of the '09 lax game. I feel like that game has prepared me well for late-game implosions by any team I am rooting for. Let's just hope US-GER doesn't turn out like OT of the '09 game.

You know what else reminds me of the 2009 lax game??? And by a team wearing orange, no less.

Today's game reminded me of how important it is to have "finishers"; players who can put the ball in the goal (puck in the net) when the game is on the line.

I hate overtime/extra time losses.