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Ah, Germany
K-Capps breaks out the "United States Fails Nuremberg Trial" pun. But just imagine if we'd manage to go down 2-1 and then eventually win 2-3. Then we could have written about the "Nuremberg Rally." Realistically, events probably shouldn't be held in Germany, it just leads to Nazi jokes.
June 22, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
I think the moral of the story is that its better to take the line "US lucky to be there" than "US is one of the best in the world." I mean (IIRC):
1994 - little expectations, we beat colombia (thanks to an own goal) and make the second round
1998 - big expectations, we lose to Iran (I blame Clinton)
2002 - again, lower expectations, and we make the second round and the elite 8
2006 - huge expectations, and we score a single goal (I don't count the Italian own goal)
Posted by: Ugh | Jun 22, 2006 12:15:53 PM
One goal in three games. What a great fucking sport. Seriously why does anyone like this shit?
Posted by: Homer | Jun 22, 2006 12:54:08 PM
One goal in three games. What a great fucking performance. Seriously why does the US even field a team?
Oh homer, you are so aptly named. I'm getting ready to blow this red, white & blue popstand and all it's steroid-infused, corporate-dominated sports for the pure, virginal world of International Soccer. I think I'll start with the Italian Lega Nazionale...
Posted by: Greg | Jun 22, 2006 2:17:03 PM
Expectations were clearly too high, but the US got a raw deal in this pool. Groups C and E were clearly the class of the tournament. I would take our chances swapping out the US for any non-seeded team in A, F, and H for sure, and would be a very good bet replacing the second-place advancing teams in B, D, and G. Heck I might even take the US chanes against Mexico.
Arena seems to have goofed in game 1 putting Beasley & Lewis in unfamiliar positions, and sticking with a 4-5-1 where it's hard to generate offense. But the call against Gooch was questionable, and from that point the match would have been very different.
Posted by: Nicholas Beaudrot | Jun 22, 2006 2:25:47 PM
Aww c'mon. I *totally* thought Japan had it in the bag...
Posted by: Greg | Jun 22, 2006 4:35:56 PM
Heck I might even take the US chanes against Mexico.
Esoecially since, at least recently, we kick their asses in games not played in Mexico City...
Posted by: Pooh | Jun 22, 2006 6:17:40 PM
I hate to say it, but Homer is exactly right. As I've said elsewhere. One goal in three games is absolutely pathetic.
Nicholas Beaudrot is also right - the 4-5-1 was an idiotic idea. However the idea that you might take the US over Mexico is ridiculous. We OWN Mexico.
Posted by: Al | Jun 22, 2006 7:43:44 PM
not to defend the offense too much, but it was two goals. if the Italian defender hadn't deflected it into the goal, a US player (McBride? don't remember) was standing right there to knock it in.
I think the US (or the Czechs, for that matter) advance in any other group except C. But my hat's off to Ghana -- well done.
Posted by: right | Jun 23, 2006 5:36:48 PM
We were doomed before play started. We need to have more players playing against the improved competition of the Euro leagues instead of slumming it as stars in the crappy MLS. Donovan didn't like the higher level of competition in the Bundeslige and came running back stateside. If our players' attitudes are like that, we'll never compete on the international stage. Our geographic qualifying division is weak, so we can't play as well.
If we wanna win, we have to send our best players to Europe, so they know what they're up against and play in wild, high pressure situations that aren't found domestically.
Posted by: Mo | Jun 26, 2006 7:39:03 AM
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