The Association Football Thread

[MSUDuo]

bradley has been our best player probably since WC 2010

Klinnsman has done wonders for our midfielders. MB turning a huge corner in his development

 

[Stupified]

A disheartening but not altogether unexpected scoreline. However our offense looked great for about 20 minutes there in the second half. That's something to take away from the game.

 

[slh1089]

Scoreline does not depict how we played. I am optimistic about this teams future.

 

[milohimself]

Unbelievable how many MLS sides have been knocked out of the US Open Cup. There's beginning to be a real chance that an amateur club will find themselves in the CONCACAF CL.

 

[milohimself]

Just got back from the Timbers losing to Cal FC btw... Pitiful. Lost in extra time, 1-0 to a goal in something like 100'. Cal FC didn't even exist two months ago. It was a bunch of MLS rejects that Eric Wynalda rounded up and said "let's go make a run in the cup."

Timbers were only running about half of their starting XI out there, but still...

 

[Boogieman]

Would be nice to see our (USA) full first team on the pitch for a full 90 mins... However, I'm really liking the play from the young guys from the Bundesliga.

 

[milohimself]

Would be nice to see our (USA) full first team on the pitch for a full 90 mins... However, I'm really liking the play from the young guys from the Bundesliga.

Well, we've got one that actually counts in a week here. But the next match against somebody that counts and isn't completely awful is in September against Jamaica.

 

[n_huffhines]

RSL slept through their open cup game, but it still took a BS PK call to take them out.

 

[milohimself]

At least you guys lost to an NASL squad, and presumably with mostly reserves on the pitch and a few out for international play. It's understandable, it happens to a number of MLS sides every year.

Portland trotted out something substantially more starting XI-y and lost to a fifth division USASA side. It would be like a premier league side actually making somewhat of an effort early in the FA Cup and losing to a league 2 side. :unsure:

 

[milohimself]

And, Cal FC is fully amateur. You read that right. Those dudes all have day jobs as dishwashers in fawkin San Bernardino and what not.

It's worth a read about them, Wynalda formed that club about a month or so ago and decided to try and make a US Open Cup right as a giant "eff you" to MLS. So far, it's working.

 

[slh1089]

I am just excited to see some soccer that actually counts and just isn't a friendly.

 

[milohimself]

The schedule looks like this...

June 8 H Antigua and Barbuda
June 12 A Guatemala
September 7 A Jamaica
September 11 H Jamaica
October 12 A Antigua and Barbuda
October 16 H Guatemala

 

[Stupified]

Who are the favorites besides the US and Mexico to make it to the WC from our neck of the woods?

 

[milohimself]

Looks like Jamaica, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama and El Salvador are all right there.

 

[Stupified]

And only four teams can advance from our groups, correct?

 

[bleedorange0037]

And only four teams can advance from our groups, correct?

Only 3 for sure make it to the WC while the 4th place team goes into a playoff with the winner of the Oceania qualifier for another spot.

 

[milohimself]

And only four teams can advance from our groups, correct?

Two sides per group advance to a final table, then the top three from that are in the wc and the fourth place has a play in with oceania for a spot

 

[bleedorange0037]

Two sides per group advance to a final table, then the top three from that are in the wc and the fourth place has a play in with oceania for a spot

Which gives the 4th place team from CONCACAF a good shot at qualification because New Zealand is really the only team who even has a shot at winning from that continent because for some odd reason Australia belongs to the Asian confederation.

 

[milohimself]

Australia moved to asia for stronger international and club competition. They were easily the biggest fish in a small, small pond with oceania.

 

[dmart71]

0-0 ft

 

[Stupified]

Prediction time!

Group A: Russia

Group B: Germany

Group C: Spain

Group D: France


Final: Spain v Germany, with Germany dethroning the defending champs.

 

[milohimself]

Who are your runners-up?

Group D is the biggest head-scratcher to me. England should clearly be the favorite, but they're without Rooney for the first two, and always seem to fall short in international competition, but FFF isn't in great shape right now. On the other hand, you've got Sweden who's never really been a threat for the championship, but always make it farther than they should, and Elmander and Ibrahimovic seem to be in pretty good form.

I wouldn't be surprised to see any of the three either win the group or not make it out altogether.

 

[milohimself]

Also, keep an eye out for group C; if there's anyone primed for a Cinderella run, IMO it's Ireland.

B and C are both stacked though.

 

[milohimself]

Making a final stab at predictions...

Group A: Russia, Czech Republic
Group B: Germany, Netherlands
Group C: Spain, Ireland
Group D: France, England

Winners and runners-up in that order

Still going with ze Germans over the Sthpaniards.

 

[Stupified]

My runners-up are the same as yours except I have Italy as #2 in Group C. I think England has a horrifyingly plausible chance of not making it out of the group stage though.