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Post by Kickball Kevin on Dec 4, 2009 9:51:06 GMT -5
With the World Cup draw today, I thought I would post Team USA's World Cup Stumbles.
Team USA's World Cup Stumbles
As qualifying rages on, we look at Team USA's hapless World Cup history.
1891 and 1895: United States athletes invent two much more entertaining games with a soccer ball
1950: Unaware they could take on new players to replace old ones, the U.S. loses 12-1 with the same team that played in 1930's World Cup
1954: One of the most talented U.S. squads in history is still unable to qualify after failing to send in its World Cup application on time
1958: The world knew the U.S. team was destined for failure when it unveiled its one-name soccer sensation, "Bert"
1986: The U.S. fails to qualify after Paul Caligiuri hits what is commonly regarded as the worst corner kick in the history of the world
1988: This year is considered the rebirth of American soccer after enough people sign up to have a national team
1990: The United States is quickly eliminated after losing to the United States 1-0
1994: This incarnation of the U.S. team probably did okay because people still kind of recognize the names Tony Meola and Alexi Lalas
1999: The U.S. women's team wins the World Cup
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cowtownmike
honorary peso (chingador*)
I done been thru the scruggles.
Posts: 12,467
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Post by cowtownmike on Dec 4, 2009 10:49:56 GMT -5
Will Tattoo or the "indoor warrior" Doc Lawson be on the US World Cup team?
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sully
honorary peso (chingador*)
Posts: 13,045
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Post by sully on Dec 4, 2009 15:05:50 GMT -5
Blah.
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Post by The River Assassin on Dec 7, 2009 1:50:15 GMT -5
I would cheer for a soccer player named Bert.
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Post by Kickball Kevin on Dec 7, 2009 7:57:32 GMT -5
How could you not
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fischer
honorary peso (chingador*)
Posts: 16,271
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Post by fischer on Dec 7, 2009 8:12:50 GMT -5
I wouldn't.
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Post by P. Marf on Dec 7, 2009 10:37:08 GMT -5
I say the US makes the final 8 in the upcoming world cup, upsetting Germany after group play. Thoughts meyer.
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Post by Kickball Kevin on Dec 7, 2009 12:07:01 GMT -5
If they don't make it out of their group, it will be a huge upset. A match against Germany would be a good one. They tend to be physical upfront, but our guys in the back like to play that way. The problem the US has is in its ability to break teams down defensively while we are in possession. We are much better at getting behind teams when we are able to break out quickly in a counter attack. Many of the European teams (Slovenia, who is in our group, for example), are very organized defensively and give us fits. We have got to be able to hold the ball, be patient and find the space they give us and be deadly when we do. If they want to be a big boy in soccer it has to happen. That's what makes the good teams so good. That being said, at this point, nothing surprises me with the US team. They have the ability to beat Germany if that matchup happened. They also possess the ability to lose 3-1. We have to go out and get 6 pts from Algeria and Slovenia, and then see who we play. A trip to the quarterfinals would be a good run. We were there in 2002 where we lost to the Germans.
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Post by The River Assassin on Dec 7, 2009 14:01:34 GMT -5
Question: What the hell is offsides in a soccer game?
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Post by P. Marf on Dec 7, 2009 14:19:53 GMT -5
Its the same concept of the hockey offside where the blue line in hockey is essentially the furthest back defender (not goalie) of the the defense. So, an offensive player cannot be past the last defender unless the ball is past that last guy or left the foot of a player that is passing to said offensive player. It takes away the snowbird I guess is one way to put it. I'm sure that's an awful and confusing way to explain it but seeing as Meyer is rarely on I thought I'd take a stab. Meyer?
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Post by Kickball Kevin on Dec 7, 2009 14:36:26 GMT -5
Basically at the time the ball is played there must be two players from the opposing team between the player the ball is being played to at the time the ball is kicked. That is unless the ball is being played back to another player or square. Think of a ball being played square as traveling on a line parallel to the goal line. Now if a player is in an offisides position when the ball is played but makes no attempt to play the ball a teammate may run from an onsides position and play the ball. If the player in an offside position(even while not playing the ball), causes the defense to adjust or deal with him, the play is ruled offsides. If a player is in an offside position but a player from the other team plays the ball he is not offsides. The most important part of offsides is where is a player when the ball is kicked. There are all kinds of situations that are offsides. If you take a shot while i'm in an offsides position and there is a rebound that I play, it's offsides. Offsides can only occure in the half you are attacking. Confused??
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Post by P. Marf on Dec 7, 2009 14:40:10 GMT -5
Exactly. ii was close.
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Post by Kickball Kevin on Dec 7, 2009 14:41:23 GMT -5
Quite close. Well done
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Post by P. Marf on Dec 7, 2009 14:42:57 GMT -5
I just didn't include all of those technicalities that I really didn't know.
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fischer
honorary peso (chingador*)
Posts: 16,271
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Post by fischer on Dec 7, 2009 14:43:39 GMT -5
1950: Unaware they could take on new players to replace old ones, the U.S. loses 12-1 with the same team that played in 1930's World Cup This is a joke, right? |
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