FIFA World Cup 2014

[slowoldman]

Proper result. Without Howard it would have been a blow-out.

We went down swinging. It's all you can ask.

I'm now pulling for Belgium to win it all.

Belgium is extremely lucky that it was Wando on the end of that goal at the end of regulation.

Stupid comment.

One of the greatest goalkeeping performances in World Cup history says you evidently think only the people outside of the pipes count.

Yes, to all of these. Fantastic game to watch. Both teams had times they were pressured, USA much more than Belgium. Can't wait for the quarterfinals.

Such a surprise you're now rooting for Belgium Scott!

Does anyone else think we were a bit unlucky with the one extra minute at the end of extra time? I thought 3 would have been more appropriate.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

They have to improve their kill ratio if they are gonna get any further. Keep in mind, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

No kill ratio. It´s like Baseball. If you are a talented .300 hitter you´ll do that over the long run, besides some slumps going like 1 for 19...
IOW, if Belgiums scoring slump is running out (likely), they´ll score on their chances. The talent is there. No doubt about it.

We'll see how he does after a few seasons, his predecessor was around for quite a while(and was not very well liked for a large portion of his tenure).

Reid was a coward, even punting inside TMW in playoff games being behind.
Kelly OTOH turned around the offense, brought Foles to the next level, and is agressive on 4th downs. Great coach...

 

[jaylew]

This is why I hate Americans sometimes (and also love them). Even when the other team is about 100 times better and sheer luck keeps them upright (some saves were really easy because of powerless shots even tho from close range), USA feels they should have won.

Totally ***. Sorry

Pretty sure just about every American who watched that game will tell you that Belgium was the better team today and deserved to win. Certainly everyone I've talked to thinks that it was mostly good goalkeeping that kept us in it. That said, we still feel like we certainly couldhave won and we still think that if we played again we'd at least have a puncher's chance to win.

 

[theyoungest]

Stupid comment.

One of the greatest goalkeeping performances in World Cup history says you evidently think only the people outside of the pipes count.

When your goalkeeper is your MVP it means you're being outclassed and outplayed. The US fought valiantly, even a little naively at times (which only suited the Belgians, as huge spaces opened up) but the Belgians were simply better in all aspects of the game. They were just poor once they got inside the penalty area... it seems ony their substitutes can create goals, doesn't matter who they are.

 

[Jagartrott]

Nice game, especially because the attacking stance by both teams, the fair play, no diving, the tremendous fighting spirit. Well done to both!

 

[ChewbaccaD]

You really do not understand football..

If one team gets 31 shots in in regular time, most of them for close range. Even if it's 0-0. It means they outperformed the other team big time.
It's only a miracle and a good goalie that kept USA upright at that time.

But it by no means merits them the win, on the contrary, they were largely outplayed completely by Belgium. And football pundit would say the same

So in fact, the only one making dumb comments, is you Chewbacca.
Also, I'm Dutch, not Belgian. And their is a big dutch/belgian rivalry in football. So I'd rather see them lose actually... except to the USA, just because of people like you

Completely idiotic comment. You have no idea what I know about the sport.

I never said we weren't outplayed.

But you keep up the idiotic xenophobic dialogue in your infantile brain if it helps you sleep at night. Nobody has ever really taken you seriously, and your comments tonight only strengthen that.

 

[anameli]

brazil is my favorite team

 

[hrotha]

Obnoxious nationalist fans ITT.

By the way, I think Howard's performance has been exaggerated. Yes, the stats say it was, like, the best game ever played by a goalie in the WC, but that has a lot to do with how poor Belgium's shots were.

 

[MBotero]

Superb performance from Belgium,they start showing what people are expecting from them ,having a squad full of talent of course make it easier also.USA was very lucky to get this one in extra time ,they where so heavy pressed,lucky for them that Howard was having a great game.USA fought bravely but the outcome was never in doubt,Belgium was at another level.

 

[Arnout]

Obnoxious nationalist fans ITT.

By the way, I think Howard's performance has been exaggerated. Yes, the stats say it was, like, the best game ever played by a goalie in the WC, but that has a lot to do with how poor Belgium's shots were.

He had some great saves though. Of course, if the Belgians had placed some shot in a different corner they would have scored, but that's beyond the call of duty for a goalkeeper, he should keep out the balls that are possible to keep out. Howard did that consistently and he looked composed throughout, it weren't flukes like with that Mexican goalkeeper.

 

[Jagartrott]

Too bad of some negativity here - why can't we just acknowledge that both teams provided great entertainment, and that the fans of Belgium and the USA are right to be proud of their team.

 

[theyoungest]

He had some great saves though. Of course, if the Belgians had placed some shot in a different corner they would have scored, but that's beyond the call of duty for a goalkeeper, he should keep out the balls that are possible to keep out. Howard did that consistently and he looked composed throughout, it weren't flukes like with that Mexican goalkeeper.

What's the difference? Both of them got the ball shot straight at them. And that save from Ochoa on Neymar's header is still the best save of the tournament.

Of course Howard played a great game, but one chip should have done the trick. He sits more than he stands up as a keeper.

 

[thrawn]

What's the difference? Both of them got the ball shot straight at them. And that save from Ochoa on Neymar's header is still the best save of the tournament.

Of course Howard played a great game, but one chip should have done the trick. He sits more than he stands up as a keeper.

Yep. Alan Shearer analysing the game for the BBC at half time said Belgium should chip Howard as he always goes down pretty quickly. Put the blame on the Belgium players having not done their research.

It was a great game to watch. There were both Belgian & US fans in the pub I was in so even better!

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Shots allowed by quarter finalists over 4 matches


COL 64
ARG 51
CRC 50
BRA 49
BEL 47
GER 45
FRA 42
NED 36
Although not a quarter finalist the us allowed 94 shots.

 

[The Hitch]

Interestingly it has no correlation with goals allowed.

Shots allowed by quarter finalists over 4 matches


COL 64 2
ARG 51 3
CRC 50 2
BRA 49 3
BEL 47 1(2)
GER 45 2(3)
FRA 42 2
NED 36 4
.

 

[Eshnar]

Interestingly it has no correlation with goals allowed.

As long as you consider "shot" any desperate attempt to kick the ball, you'll never get a correlation. Maybe you could even get the glimpse of a negative correlation, actually.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Technical Studies Group is considering proposing to Fifa that a 4th sub be allowed in extra time.

 

[theyoungest]

Interestingly it has no correlation with goals allowed.

2 of those goals allowed by Holland were penalties.

 

[del1962]

Yep. Alan Shearer analysing the game for the BBC at half time said Belgium should chip Howard as he always goes down pretty quickly. Put the blame on the Belgium players having not done their research.

It was a great game to watch. There were both Belgian & US fans in the pub I was in so even better!

Yeah, while a good performance from Howard, its not like he pulled of a save like Banks against Pele

I wonder how many saves Tomaszewski made in that epic performance against England?

Anyway on to Belgium, to me they don't see to live up to all the pre-tournament hype we have had about them in the UK.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

Obnoxious nationalist fans ITT.

By the way, I think Howard's performance has been exaggerated. Yes, the stats say it was, like, the best game ever played by a goalie in the WC, but that has a lot to do with how poor Belgium's shots were.

Only one of the people here disparaged an entire nation. I never made a negative comment about any country. That was that fu*&ing little twit DekkerT. So if your comment is directed toward me in any way, go f*&k yourself.

 

[sagard]

Superb performance from Belgium,they start showing what people are expecting from them ,having a squad full of talent of course make it easier also.USA was very lucky to get this one in extra time ,they where so heavy pressed,lucky for them that Howard was having a great game.USA fought bravely but the outcome was never in doubt,Belgium was at another level.

Never in doubt? When a team goes all game unable to finish and then the opponent gets a glorious chance in stoppage time that most US born 3rd graders would put away, I'd say it was in doubt. Maybe not as much doubt as Brazil's most recent game, but it was likely the US best chance to advance in a long time.

The Belgians will have another nice game possession wise vs. Argentina, but in the end Argentina will capitalize and set up some brilliant semi finals.

 

[Amsterhammer]

Zico's current WC All star team.

 

[l.Harm]

Daley Blind only because of two passes

 

[Arnout]

Anyway on to Belgium, to me they don't see to live up to all the pre-tournament hype we have had about them in the UK.

This seems to hold for all pre-tournament (semi-)favourites. In fact, it was the same in South Africa, the difference being that the second-tier teams now recognize the big teams are far from invincible.

 

[Jagartrott]

Zico's current WC All star team.

Slight Latin American bias.
Yepes and Luiz in defence