ORIGINAL: warspite1
Both parked the bus? God knows what game he was watching, but it certainly wasn't USA vs Belgium.......[&:]
Indeed. It was another match as no one parked the bus.
As I see it the Belgians basically used the 2nd-3rd gear most of the time (unintended, needless to say, a bad day that is). Whilst the Americans used the 8th gear LOL
Klinsmann has done a magnificent job. A hard-working team that doesn't give up. But the quality tends to prevail. And Belgium has got a LOT of this quality.
"Hitler is a horrible sexual degenerate, a dangerous fool" - Mussolini, circa 1934
Ahhhh thanks for the grammar lesson mr. w! Father what was I thinking!
ORIGINAL: warspite1
ORIGINAL: rogo727
And on a personal note thanks to mr W. I wouldn't have ever watched this without him. Wait did America make it father than England ? Thats just propaganda right? [8D]
Warspite1
No, the USA made it further in the tournament than England.
"I thank God that I was warring on the gridirons of the midwest and not the battlefields of Europe"
Nile Kinnick 1918-1943
What's all the fuss about this wimpy, sissy, no contact, un-American sport played by funny looking people who bite each other and fall down for no reason? And there's almost no scoring!
Moderator, please lock this thread for the next 4 years (or until we Yanks win something meaningful). [:D]
I don't know much about soccer, and I only saw the second half. I thought the US played a very defensive game, looked tired, and made a lot of mental errors. It was only a matter of time before Belgium won. The US goalie was more responsible for the 0-0 tie. Belgium players passed better, and generated better chances. The one great chance at the end for the US was called offside, so it would not have mattered.
What's all the fuss about this wimpy, sissy, no contact, un-American sport played by funny looking people who bite each other and fall down for no reason? And there's almost no scoring!
Moderator, please lock this thread for the next 4 years (or until we Yanks win something meaningful). [:D]
[:D] fall down and pretend to be hurt(truly bad actors.)
In June 1990, the football viewing public were eagerly anticipating the start of the sport’s greatest tournament, the FIFA World Cup, in Italy, a country widely known and loved for its creativity and artistic ambience. A leader in fashion, wine, art and sculpture, the host nation seemed ready to provide the perfect backdrop for a festival of exciting, flowing football.
However, the reality was far from the fantastic feast all had hoped for. Despite some tremendous waves of emotion, notably from host nation Italy in their painful semi-final exit, and likewise England, goals were at a premium. This was the first world cup which saw teams belligerently playing for penalties, without trying to attack or impose themselves in the 90 minutes and extra time. This was for many, a sterile, cynical World Cup.
The dreary deadlock of many of the knockout matches caused a headache for FIFA, who were desperate for the next World Cup, to be held in the USA, to be a triumph. Americans were more accustomed to high scoring sports, and tepid, defensive 0-0 results would send the TV viewers away in their droves, thus jeopardizing vast amounts of advertising revenue. FIFA needed a way to make football exciting and unpredictable again. Crackpot schemes like making the goals bigger were proposed, and then rightly binned, but FIFA had a brainwave. They asked the official matchball manufacturer, Adidas, to jazz up the ball.
FIFA WORLD CUP 1994
Adidas concluded that the key to more goals was a lighter, more responsive ball, which would be the perfect tool for a gifted player. Out went heavy, slow balls, and in came the Questra. Taking its name from an ancient word meaning “the quest for the stars”, the new ball took its logo from its space age technology, and as a tribute to the host nation’s rich history of space exploration. The whole concept was based on the themes of innovation and striving for perfection.
The technical development for the Questra took place in the Adidas center for ball development in France, followed by test games in France, Germany and the USA with professional players, amateurs and youth teams. The ball was manufactured from five different materials with a flexible but durable outer layer made from polyurethane. Each trigon featured an array of space imagery: planets, black holes and, of course, stars.
Within a week of the tournament, some spectacular goals had been scored. As predicted, the better players took to the lighter model with no difficulty. Memorably, Romanian captain Hagi floated a wonderful goal over the stricken goalkeeper’s head from distance in an early group match.
However, the goalkeeping fraternity found the ball too hot to handle. In some of the venues, such as Florida and California, the regional humidity caused the ball to bend and move in the air like never before. This made life extremely tough for the men in gloves. But, as FIFA had requested, the goals flew in from some impossible angles, and the competition was a resounding success. In terms of sheer, attacking play and flair, USA ’94 was a sensation. Of course, the final was a drab 0-0 affair, but not even space age technology could be expected to change the mentality of a defensive footballing nation such as Italy. Adidas was responsible for the balls, not tactics.
Atempts have been made to change the way football is played, but some teams seem adapt their style of play.
Mat
"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill
What's all the fuss about this wimpy, sissy, no contact, un-American sport played by funny looking people who bite each other and fall down for no reason? And there's almost no scoring!
Moderator, please lock this thread for the next 4 years (or until we Yanks win something meaningful). [:D]
[:D] fall down and pretend to be hurt(truly bad actors.)
That Robben acting was pretty special though. Taps his foot on the other guy's foot, then kicks his own legs out while throwing the arms out all over. Someone should just kick him in the nuts every time he does that crap.
As uninspiring as the USA has been been over the years I will say I find it interesting despite the rather mediocre talents the US puts out it always seems to do pretty well on goalies. US national Strikers, Midfielders, and defenders with a few exceptions rarely play big roles in Europe (there are definitely a few examples) however US Goalkeepers have done very well for themselves, Howard is very well regarded, Keller was as well, and so too was Friedel. America seems to do alright putting out top quality keepers vs other positions.
I also think despite regular statements of soccer/football (whatever) not mattering in the US that's becoming less and less true. I've seen many people say people claimed soccer was the next big sport 10 years ago and it still isn't big but people who claim that rarely consider the age of current sports fans. I grew up playing Soccer/Football and most of my generation played at one point or another, my entire generation or anyone I know follows the Champions League and European soccer at least passingly and that's in a city with no team (Milwaukee)too root for, an entire street in Milwaukee was shut down for the Portugal, Germany and Belgium games with over 15,000 people packing streets and bars to watch the US. Soccer might not be peoples first choice of a sport but I do think as generations flip over you will see the US get more and more interested in the sport. It probably will never pass Football and likely not Baseball either but it may get into the #3 discussion with Basketball and I could see it passing Hockey. But none of this will be fast, it will take 20-30 years or more, people who are 50-60 are not going to change their sports viewing habits, people who are 30-40 probably won't either but the younger generations are more interested in Soccer than they have ever been and given time that will lead to a higher caliber of domestically grown soccer players within the US.
in 1995 the MLS didn't exist, in 1996 it started with 10 teams, its up to 22 teams and still expanding. Professional Soccer in the US has a long way to go but give it a few decades and you'll see improvement.
I should say that las vegas (my home town)has immediate plans to allow the construction of a soccer stadium. So we will have a professional soccer team very soon. Las Vegas has a large population of Mexican and south americans. So I guess they will be the fans going. I don't see many regular americans attending,
Crap, LAS vegas has been trying to get a professional sport team here for years.
I have several friends attend Dallas games and everyone I know growing up at least passingly follows the Champions League (we're all in our 20s) I think Youth Soccer which is huge is grooming the next generation of Soccer fans in the US, I could be wrong but I would guess the explosion of youth soccer in the 90s to present will have a big impact, as well as the increasing number of Mexican immigrants as well in expanding the soccer fanbase. It is going to take some decades however as you're not going to convince many 40+ year olds to change their sports viewing habits (nothing wrong with that) and even the 20-30 year olds who grew up playing soccer need a competitive entertainment option which the MLS really isn't yet so most just passingly follow the real leagues in Europe while ignoring the MLS at home.
I think if the MLS adopted more European transfer rules rather than the draconian rules they have in place as well as over time if they establish at least a two tiered system with promotions and demotions you could see Soccer get into the #4-#3 range of most popular sports. I really find promotions and demotions central to the appeal of European Soccer but I doubt that will ever happen as American sports owners would never let it and its a completely foreign concept to American sports culture.
So, one Quarter Final to go - can Costa Rica spring a surprise or is this the year that Holland finally get their hands on the cup they should have won twice in the 70's?
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
I must say I thought the tame exits of France and Belgium - as soon as they came across someone half decent - was really disappointing. Belgium especially have rally disappointed. A team full of gifted players, this "Golden Generation" (remember that phrase England fans?) did not play anything like the hype suggested they would. Their best player - Hazard (who is tipped to be the next Messi/Ronaldo) - simply did not show up and was especially awful against the Argentinians.
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
