US Mens Soccer Shocker - Aircraft of World War II

Amsel · 06-26-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa – The world will surely take notice of this. The U.S. soccer team is in the final of the Confederations Cup, beating mighty Spain 2-0. Even more stunning, the Americans were on the verge of elimination and ready to head home last weekend before a reversal of fortune. On Wednesday, goals by Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey led to an upset of the planet's top-ranked team.

Call it a miracle on grass — maybe not the World Cup, but still an American soccer echo of the U.S. hockey team's upset of the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

By winning, the maligned United States advanced to its first men's FIFA final since starting play in 1916.

Altidore scored in the 27th minute and Dempsey added a goal in the 74th as the Americans became the first team to defeat Spain since Romania in November 2006.

"It goes to show what hard work and commitment to each other can bring," said U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, who made eight saves as he frustrated David Villa and Fernando Torres. "Sometimes football is a funny thing."

Now the U.S. will play defending champion Brazil or host South Africa in Sunday's final, which concludes a two-week tournament designed to prepare the organizers of next year's World Cup.

timshatz · 06-26-2009, 03:39 PM

Yeah, that one was a shocker. Playing Italy and Brazil in a row makes you wonder if somebody didn't like them. Egypt was a rebound but I had no faith that they were going to take Spain like they did and stay in it.

Who woulda thunk it?

Colin1 · 06-26-2009, 03:50 PM

It's an impressive result
Spain are the current European champions and you have to knock some footballing giants down to achieve that. Brazil is a daunting task for any team in the world but it sounds like the US have earned their shot, good luck with it, I'll be rooting for you.

Glider · 06-26-2009, 04:33 PM

It was a heck of a result, no question.

vikingBerserker · 06-26-2009, 08:04 PM

That is a Shocker!!! I didn't even know we had a soccer team!!!!!

syscom3 · 06-26-2009, 09:37 PM

I wonder if the Spanish coach said "We have awoken a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve".

Matt308 · 06-26-2009, 10:03 PM

Please gents. If you watch the game, it was total domination by Spain with a couple of shots by US that went in. A shocker yes. But telling of superior talent on the US team... not by any stretch. Now what really would have been a shocker is US and Republic of South Africa in the final. That would have been quite the match and more even.

Unless there is some hiccup in soccer reality (and that does sometimes happen), US is gonna get crushed by Brazil. Just like they did with Spain... just the score didn't reflect reality. The end score in futbol is often VERY deceiving.

Go US!!!!!!

syscom3 · 06-26-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt308

Please gents. If you watch the game, it was total domination by Spain with a couple of shots by US that went in. A shocker yes. But telling of superior talent on the US team... not by any stretch. Now what really would have been a shocker is US and Republic of South Africa in the final. That would have been quite the match and more even.

Unless there is some hiccup in soccer reality (and that does sometimes happen), US is gonna get crushed by Brazil. Just like they did with Spain... just the score didn't reflect reality. The end score in futbol is often VERY deceiving.

Go US!!!!!!

He who scores the most points wins the game.

If Spain was the superior team, why didnt they win?

Matt308 · 06-26-2009, 10:37 PM

Soccer is not a single game sport... just like baseball. Just because Seattle Mariners beat Los Angeles 1 game does not demonstrate a better team. Surely you are not going to argue otherwise, right? Did you watch the US-Spain game? It was total domination by Spain. Spain owned the field and most of the game was in the US 1/3 defensive end. Damn lucky the US was. Damn lucky.

syscom3 · 06-26-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt308

Soccer is not a single game sport... just like baseball. Just because Seattle Mariners beat Los Angeles 1 game does not demonstrate a better team. Surely you are not going to argue otherwise, right? Did you watch the US-Spain game? It was total domination by Spain. Spain owned the field and most of the game was in the US 1/3 defensive end. Damn lucky the US was. Damn lucky.

The US scored more goals when it counted.

US won, fair and square.

All hail the victors!

Matt308 · 06-27-2009, 01:51 PM

TenGunTerror · 06-27-2009, 02:07 PM

I am a huge fan of soccer and watched the entire game, Spain dominated but that does not mean that U.S. did not play well, they played better than ever and were rewarded just as they should be. All though the second goal was all luck

U.S. was not lucky at all, they played marvelously.

Colin1 · 06-27-2009, 04:16 PM

There's

training
discipline
team ethic
talent and ability and
commitment

teams have gone under displaying all of those qualities simply because on the day, luck wasn't on their side; luck can win you a match when you've spent most of the match taking a beating. If you were on the side administering the beating, it's an ugly way to lose.

Those of you who remember World Cup 94 (USA) will recall the US team giving Brazil a real run for their money in the group stages, losing 1-0 in the end; if Alexei Lallas had gotten on the end of a low cross across the goalmouth, it might have been a different game.

I'd like to hear that the US had really taken the fight into Brazil's half and win or lose, had let them know they'd been in a fight - they've done it before.

Amsel · 06-27-2009, 06:25 PM

It is really great to watch soccer start to take hold here in the states. I wish the American media would give more coverage to the USMNT and the MLS. I don't see how they can ignore the sport much longer, with the growing popularity of MLS. The skills here are growing fast as well as the fan base. I am hoping that the next year or two will at least double the fanbase here and hopefully continue to grow our talents.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 06-27-2009, 06:43 PM

While I am happy the US won, I would not be too excited about it.

The Confederations Cup is a meaningless cup. It is nothing like the World Cup or the European Cup. It is used by the hosts of the next World Cup (in this case South Africa for the 2010 World Cup), to check out and make sure they are ready to host the big one the next year. In Germany it is known as the "Korn Feld Cup" (Cornfield Cup).

"Considered a dress-rehearsal for the World Cup it precedes, it uses around half of the stadiums intended for use at the following year's World Cup and gives the host nation, who qualifies for that tournament automatically, experience at a high level of competition during two years of friendlies. At the same time, participation was made optional for the South American and European champions."

Like I said, I am happy that the US has made it to a final of a game, but it is a meaningless cup. Don't get to excited over it...

06-26-2009, 08:04 PM	#5
vikingBerserker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,768	That is a Shocker!!! I didn't even know we had a soccer team!!!!! __________________ "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it" "Those who dwell in the past, condemn the future"

06-26-2009, 09:37 PM	#6
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,283	I wonder if the Spanish coach said "We have awoken a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve". __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

06-26-2009, 10:03 PM	#7
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,386	Please gents. If you watch the game, it was total domination by Spain with a couple of shots by US that went in. A shocker yes. But telling of superior talent on the US team... not by any stretch. Now what really would have been a shocker is US and Republic of South Africa in the final. That would have been quite the match and more even. Unless there is some hiccup in soccer reality (and that does sometimes happen), US is gonna get crushed by Brazil. Just like they did with Spain... just the score didn't reflect reality. The end score in futbol is often VERY deceiving. Go US!!!!!! __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

06-26-2009, 10:37 PM	#9
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,386	Soccer is not a single game sport... just like baseball. Just because Seattle Mariners beat Los Angeles 1 game does not demonstrate a better team. Surely you are not going to argue otherwise, right? Did you watch the US-Spain game? It was total domination by Spain. Spain owned the field and most of the game was in the US 1/3 defensive end. Damn lucky the US was. Damn lucky. __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

06-27-2009, 01:51 PM	#11
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,386	__________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

06-26-2009, 03:39 PM	#2
timshatz Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Phila, Pa Posts: 3,446	Yeah, that one was a shocker. Playing Italy and Brazil in a row makes you wonder if somebody didn't like them. Egypt was a rebound but I had no faith that they were going to take Spain like they did and stay in it. Who woulda thunk it?

06-26-2009, 03:50 PM	#3
Colin1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,766	It's an impressive result Spain are the current European champions and you have to knock some footballing giants down to achieve that. Brazil is a daunting task for any team in the world but it sounds like the US have earned their shot, good luck with it, I'll be rooting for you.

06-26-2009, 04:33 PM	#4
Glider Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 3,655	It was a heck of a result, no question.

06-27-2009, 02:07 PM	#12
TenGunTerror Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 42	I am a huge fan of soccer and watched the entire game, Spain dominated but that does not mean that U.S. did not play well, they played better than ever and were rewarded just as they should be. All though the second goal was all luck U.S. was not lucky at all, they played marvelously. __________________ I need to lean to keep my mouth shut

06-27-2009, 04:16 PM	#13
Colin1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,766	There's training discipline team ethic talent and ability and commitment teams have gone under displaying all of those qualities simply because on the day, luck wasn't on their side; luck can win you a match when you've spent most of the match taking a beating. If you were on the side administering the beating, it's an ugly way to lose. Those of you who remember World Cup 94 (USA) will recall the US team giving Brazil a real run for their money in the group stages, losing 1-0 in the end; if Alexei Lallas had gotten on the end of a low cross across the goalmouth, it might have been a different game. I'd like to hear that the US had really taken the fight into Brazil's half and win or lose, had let them know they'd been in a fight - they've done it before.

06-27-2009, 06:25 PM	#14
Amsel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,738	It is really great to watch soccer start to take hold here in the states. I wish the American media would give more coverage to the USMNT and the MLS. I don't see how they can ignore the sport much longer, with the growing popularity of MLS. The skills here are growing fast as well as the fan base. I am hoping that the next year or two will at least double the fanbase here and hopefully continue to grow our talents. __________________ 'Live Free or Die'

06-27-2009, 06:43 PM	#15
DerAdlerIstGelandet Der Crewchief Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany Posts: 33,152	While I am happy the US won, I would not be too excited about it. The Confederations Cup is a meaningless cup. It is nothing like the World Cup or the European Cup. It is used by the hosts of the next World Cup (in this case South Africa for the 2010 World Cup), to check out and make sure they are ready to host the big one the next year. In Germany it is known as the "Korn Feld Cup" (Cornfield Cup). "Considered a dress-rehearsal for the World Cup it precedes, it uses around half of the stadiums intended for use at the following year's World Cup and gives the host nation, who qualifies for that tournament automatically, experience at a high level of competition during two years of friendlies. At the same time, participation was made optional for the South American and European champions." Like I said, I am happy that the US has made it to a final of a game, but it is a meaningless cup. Don't get to excited over it... __________________ fly boy:"isnt that the first jet bomber becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"[/I]

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