US soccer coach is psychic!!!

[rubato]

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mlb.com ... 19333?mt=8


There you go.


Yrs,
Rubato

[Big RR]

No Jim. That's American football. You can't steal the label and declare it to mean whatever you want it to mean. Football is football. What you enjoy (aside from mocking aboriginal peoples ) is American football.

It's like tea (which is always hot) and iced tea which isn't - there is no such thing as a necessity to specify "hot tea" - except to blockheads who can't handle the English language.

Iir "soccer" IS the English coinage for the game and was changed later to "football".


Yrs,
Rubato

Rubato--my understanding is that "soccer" was originally a slang term derived from association football, much like rugger was derived from rugby. But I do think even in England it was originally called football. Not sure in the US, because both sports (at least in organized play) seem to have developed around the mid-19th century. My guess is Americans have always called it soccer to distinguish it from our own style of football.

[Lord Jim]

Yes, according to my research, what these folks are incorrectly referring to as just "Football" ought to properly be referred to as "Association Football"...

[Guinevere]

On to the 16!

I believe the little nation that makes great chocolates and brews excellent beer is up next.

[Lord Jim]

That's what the commentators are saying; Belgium likely up next...

Germany controlled the ball most of the time, but we defended well, and had a couple of great chances to tie it up right at the end...

But even with a 1-0 defeat, with a little help from our Portuguese friends, we're in!

Whatever happens from here on out, we have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of; we've acquitted ourselves well against some of the best teams in the world and managed to advance when almost no one would have given us a snowball's chance in hell of getting out of the "Division Of Death" into the next round...

Congratulations to our guys

And oh yeah:

USA!
USA!
USA!

[Gob]

Well done USA, it would be great for the world game for them to go further. Hook more American money into the beautiful game.

ETA;

Parts of the US came to a standstill as people took time out from work to watch their team's crucial World Cup match against Germany.

Despite losing 1-0 to one of the giants of world football, USA advanced through the so-called Group of Death to the knock-out stages.

A record 24.7 million Americans tuned in for Sunday's 2-2 draw with Portugal, but Thursday's game was during the day.

USA's German coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, tweeted a "get out of work letter".

"I understand that this absence may reduce the productivity of your workplace but I can assure you that it's for an important cause," he wrote.

In response, New York governor Andrew Cuomo gave state employees an extra hour for lunch.

Some fans took the liberty of taking time off work without authorisation, filling bars, parks and other public viewing areas across the country.

Among up to 500 fans watching the game at The Archway Under Manhattan Bridge in New York's Brooklyn borough was one USA fan, 21 years old, who said he had skipped work to watch the game with his girlfriend.

Around him, chants of "U! S! A! U! S! A!" filled the air and the famous Stars and Stripes were draped over people's shoulders or painted on their faces.

[rubato]

By chance we were in Belgium for their independence day a few years ago. I asked several people who they were celebrating independence from and they said "everybody". Good answer. And they make the best beer in the world (although the best US beer is equal. ).


yrs,
rubato

[Sue U]

Parts of the US came to a standstill as people took time out from work to watch their team's crucial World Cup match against Germany.

I've been watching the livestream from Univision on my computer while "working" and yes, productivity has suffered. My boss is cutting me some slack, though.

[Guinevere]

Parts of the US came to a standstill as people took time out from work to watch their team's crucial World Cup match against Germany.

I've been watching the livestream from Univision on my computer while "working" and yes, productivity has suffered. My boss is cutting me some slack, though.

It's good you have such an understanding boss. What a lucky lawyer you are

Luckily, I was in the office all day yesterday (not an event that happens often), so I saw bits and pieces on the not-very-good ESPN feed. Not good because it kept slowing and freezing. Either too many others in my office were watching, or too many across the country.

[Lord Jim]

That's okay Sue...

If somebody has to wait a few extra days to get their pants sued off them, I'm sure they can deal with it...

[Lord Jim]

Well, this is good news:

World Cup: Jurgen Klinsmann optimistic Jozy Altidore will play Tuesday

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said he's optimistic about the chances of forward Jozy Altidore playing in Tuesday's World Cup knockout stage game against Belgium.

"We are very optimistic. Every day is a big step forward for him," Klinsmann said.

Altidore pulled up lame with a hamstring injury in the American's group opening win versus Ghana and hasn't played since. He was seen jogging at the U.S. team's training session earlier Friday.

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/so ... /11473173/

My analysis, based on my admittedly very limited observations and a little bit of research, is that our team has a "first tier" defense, anchored by a superb goalie...

It's unlikely that any team will blow us out 4-0...

Where we are not up to top quality play is on offense...

We don't seem to have the ball control and fast break attack co-ordination and finesse of the best teams...

We're not "lousy" in this regard, but we're not "first tier"...

That doesn't mean it's impossible for us to win it all, but we'll definitely need a certain amount of luck to do it; for the US to win The World Cup, our defense will have to play up to its maximum potential every game and we'll have to really make the most of the fast break scoring opportunities that we do produce...

[Lord Jim]

Oh my...

In reviewing my latest post in this thread, one might easily reach the conclusion that I have actually developed an interest in this "sport"...

Clearly I'm not well...

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll have a nice strong shot of single malt, watch some Highlight Films from Super Bowls XVII, XXII, and XXVI, have a nice little lie down, and I'll be right as rain...

ETA:

And oh yes, I want to report my account being hacked...

Some "One World" type Euro clown has added the emblem of the US Soccer Team to my sig line...

[Sean]

That doesn't mean it's impossible for us to win it all, but we'll definitely need a certain amount of luck to do it; for the US to win The World Cup, our defense will have to play up to its maximum potential every game and we'll have to really make the most of the fast break scoring opportunities that we do produce...

Your defence is going to have to be something pretty amazing to cope with the likes of Januzaj & Hazard next, then (probably) Messi & Aguero, Van Persie & Robben and finally Neymar & Oscar (in that order).
Which is what they would have to do to win it...

Trust me Jim... any of those attacking duos are well capable of destroying any defence in the world!

You aint seen nothing yet!

[Lord Jim]

Yes, well, we shall see what we shall see...

[Lord Jim]

Trust me Jim... any of those attacking duos are well capable of destroying any defence in the world!

Yes, it's going to be pretty tough for us to have to fight against the British and Australian teams in the Final 16, I can tell you...

Oh, just a moment, hang about...

I forgot; they're not the there...

[BoSoxGal]

Talk about a

WTG, LJ!

[Sean]

Trust me Jim... any of those attacking duos are well capable of destroying any defence in the world!

Yes, it's going to be pretty tough for us to have to fight against the British and Australian teams in the Final 16, I can tell you...

Oh, just a moment, hang about...

I forgot; they're not the there...

You are correct Jim, they are not there. They were not good enough to get close to winning the world cup.
And as someone who actually has a very good knowledge of the game I can tell you this: Neither are the US.

They came through their group after losing to the Germans and drawing against a mis-firing Portugal. I have a feeling that someone is going to give them a good shoeing before this tournament is over (if they get past the Belgians that is... the Belgians don't look like rolling anyone over at the moment).


P.S. Jim, I think you meant 'England' rather than 'Britain. there. Maybe this is the famous American 'knowledge' of world geography I keep hearing about...

[MajGenl.Meade]

It brings up an interesting point though, doesn't it Gob? Many top players are able to change their nationality, taking citizenship in a country for which either they want to play football or which particularly wants to entice them to do so. But can any player become naturalized as "English"?

How did it work for those SA cricketers who turned up in three lions whites (no pun intended)?

Even more pertinent, can a UK footballer from one of those peripheral 'nations' (Wales, N. Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall) play for England and if so, why don't they and if not why can't they? Gareth Bayle for example.... or can he play for England anyway as a citizen of the U.K. because for sure there's not a citizenship test to become "English"?

And yes, I know three of those nations have their own footie team and pride and hubris and so on... but if Gareth wanted to play in the World Cup finals, then he'll have to become English or USian (or Spanish of course - ironic that this move would be easier)

[Long Run]

Jim, I think you meant 'England' rather than 'Britain. there.

Did Wales or Scotland make it?

Even though in large part, we are on average still clueless about the sport, and really do not have much emotion riding on the outcome, if we can't tweak our better-informed and greater-invested friends then we have no reason to pay attention. Still, it would be fun if the U.S. team manages to get by the next game, which is within the realm of reality.

[rubato]

"...
P.S. Jim, I think you meant 'England' rather than 'Britain. there. Maybe this is the famous American 'knowledge' of world geography I keep hearing about...

A shallow distinction. When it suits the fancy they're all "Britains" and when it doesn't they're "English", "Scottish", "Cornish" &c. Dividing it up in slightly different ways to make different claims on identity.


R-W politicians in the US use the same worn-out old ruse in the opposite way to exclude "Californians" from the American collective identity or more often "San Franciscans".


"A difference has to make a difference to be a difference." William James. Exaggerating trivial differences to pretend they're real does not count.


yrs,
rubato