The 2014 FIFA World Cup
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^^ Unfortunately yes, I think they're in with a good shout of winning it. Portugal aren't as good as some people think and possibly rely too heavily on Ronaldo, who has had his (alliterative!) injury problems, whereas the US are a solid if unspectacular unit. Plus Portugal will be desperate to win this, having been tonked so heavily in the first game, which may just leave them a little exposed at the back, especially if they don't score early. In addition, this World Cup seems a great leveller - Ghana lose a close-fought encounter with USA and then (possibly unluckily) draw with Germany, who thrashed Portugal - you see what I mean? Anyway, I'm staying up late for this one…
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If Portugal play like they did against Germany I think even England could have a good go at them.
Fixed for you
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I wasn't going to go THAT far
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What high drama at Manaus! Portugal saving a draw at the very, very last minute. Now at Germany v. USA on Thursday the current German national coach will meet his predecessor in charge of the opposing team, and for both a tie will be sufficient to advance, hmmm…..
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If I had been told we'd have 4 points through two games before the tournament, I'd have been ecstatic. But now I'm inconsolable.
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If I had been told we'd have 4 points through two games before the tournament, I'd have been ecstatic. But now I'm inconsolable.
Agreed
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In context it's a great result even if it might not feel like it right now. Portugal were amongst the favourites pre tournament and the USA should have won.
I'm personally hoping for a draw against Germany (as I love how Germany play when they play well), and I want to see the USMNT go as far as possible to raise the profile of the sport in the States.
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I couldn't give a flying one about how popular football is in the US. If they want to play it, then fine, but if they prefer their own sports, that's OK too. I quite like it when countries have their own traditions and things don't become too homogenous or ubiquitous.
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It's not about being redneck but I think there are some cultural barriers. There's a lot of subjectivness to the game that we hate. Timekeeping is a perfect example of what I mean here. The transparency of a countdown timer is more "fair" and takes some of the power out of the officials' hands. The penalty system rewards flopping even more than basketball. Definitely need to use a digital system not just for detecting goals but for offsides. Not saying football should change for America, just telling you that Americans get really hung up on issues they perceive as unfair.
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folks in the states are mostly only interested in things where they excel. I really don't want to sh!t up the thread but the olympics & all "world events" kind of show this. i think the only reason the World Cup is gettign the traction it's gettig at the moment is cause of folks from other nations that are into it that have immigrated to the States & spending that dollar & are neilson rating families. no money in it & we losing, no one would care.
of course i've no proof or anything to support this theory, it's purely early monday morning speculation & b$ing from a madmofo.
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I prefer the idea that football as it is challenges some very American hang ups. If it were to gain wider acceptance in its current form then it would be a signal of societal change, if not then it shows that American sporting culture isn't ready for change.
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oh & as far as traction i'm talking about in the united states.
what hang-ups & societal change you talking 'bout? we talking bout dudes kicking a ball around right???
i kid, i kid. very interesting article about pro hockey in the US & how they could ban fighting, will put the link when i get a moment . . .
