90 minutes from making history

[Onkel Neal]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/06/28/2009-06-28_us_soccer_heads_to_big_dance_with_brazil.html (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/06/28/2009-06-28_us_soccer_heads_to_big_dance_with_brazil.html)


The U.S. men's national team today finds itself only 90 minutes from making history and winning its first major international soccer tournament in the FIFA Confederations Cup final in Johannesburg. The Americans have to beat mighty Brazil to do so.

"We found out against Spain that anything's possible," goalkeeper Tim Howard said of the 2-0 upset of the world's top-ranked team in Wednesday's semifinals.

If the U.S. pulls off its second huge stunner within five days, it would send shock waves throughout the world. "If beating Spain in the semifinals was a statement, then this would be incredible," Howard said. "It probably will be one of the most unexpected wins in the history of sports."



Woot! Go, USA!:rock:

[Rhodes]

:o but then again, the referee, humm:hmmm::hmmm::hmmm:

[Torplexed]

Now for the typical American response....."We have a national soccer team?" :D

[SteamWake]

Now for the typical American response....."We have a national soccer team?" :D

LOL thats what I was thinking. :yep:

[Max2147]

Anything could happen in this game. The US team is one of the most schizophrenic on earth.

A few weeks ago this team got blasted by Costa Rica and barely squeezed past Honduras. Then at the start of the tournament we got spanked by Italy (led by an American-born teenager) and buried by Brazil. To get into the next round we had to beat Egypt by 3 goals and Brazil had to beat Italy by 3. In other words, it was a mathematical possibility, but 6 goal swings in soccer basically never happen.

Of course, we all know what happened then. The US ate something magical for breakfast the day before the Egypt game, and a 3-0 win, together with a 3-0 win for Brazil put the US into the semis against Spain, where the US again played a great game to end Spain's record winning streak.

We see glimpses of real brilliance from the US team every once in a while. In 1994 they beat Colombia and were reasonably competitive against Brazil. In 1998 they beat a full-strength Brazilian team in the Gold Cup. In 2002 they were a German handball away from the World Cup semis. In 2006 they matched Italy for a 1-1 draw in a brutally tough group stage game.

But then there are also moments of despair. In 1998 the US was embarrassing at the World Cup. In 2006 we just needed to beat Ghana to advance, but we lost that game.

So who knows what US team will turn up later today. It could be amazing, but it also could be embarrassing.

[Platapus]

We will have to be pretty lucky to win against Brazil in Soccer/Football.

The fact that the US made it this far is an achievement in itself. :yeah:

[Torplexed]

I just flicked through all the cable sports channels I have. Didn't see this game being televised anywhere. It is any wonder soccer can't ever get more than a foothold of interest in this country.

[SteamWake]

I just flicked through all the cable sports channels I have. Didn't see this game being televised anywhere. It is any wonder soccer can't ever get more than a foothold of interest in this country.

Probably on some obscure sattelite channel. The 'major' channels aint going to brodcast something that will draw a very small audiance.

[Bort]

The game is on at 2 pm ET on ESPN.

[nikimcbee]

Now for the typical American response....."We have a national soccer team?" :D

rgr that.:haha:

My ethnic blood says: "Brasil uber alles.":D

But torplexed stole my thunder:03:

[Jimbuna]

You should all be proud of your teams achievements thus far. They are within a game of making football history which doesn't honestly suprise me when taking into consideration the fact that a fair proportion of them play in the English Premiership and many other top European leagues.

I wish them luck....Brazil have won plenty of silverware over the years.

[goldorak]

Now for the typical American response....."We have a national soccer team?" :D

:har: maybe they should call it "national football team" like the rest of world does ? :timeout:

[nikimcbee]

:har: maybe they should call it "national football team" like the rest of world does ? :timeout:

Never! That's blasphemy!

[Torplexed]

:har: maybe they should call it "national football team" like the rest of world does ? :timeout:

Throw in some cheerleaders and maybe I'll watch.....the cheerleaders. :D

http://thenationalevil.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/dallas-cowboys-cheerleader.jpg

[VipertheSniper]

Congrats, you're leading 1:0

Edit: 2:0

Edit 2: 2:1 and from what I've seen a regular goal not given for Brazil

Edit 3: 2:2 now

[Onkel Neal]

omg, Brazil in the lead!

[Jimbuna]

Brazil win 3-2....very unlucky USA, you certainly took the game to them.

The USA gained a lot of merit/kudos and admiration from the footballing world over on this performance. :up:

[Onkel Neal]

Good game, congrats to Brasil, they showed how to finish.

[geetrue]

+ We want a replay :salute:

[VipertheSniper]

I think Brazil earned the win with their performance in the 2nd half. Still a great accomplishment by the U.S. Soccer team.
I wish our team was as good as yours. It's actually a shame soccer isn't more popular in the U.S., I mean the Austrian soccer team is one of the worst teams in Europe (although there have been promising steps in the right direction), yet soccer is still hugely popular. Yours on the other hand certainly has the quality to beat the best in the world, but the popularity is nothing compared here.

[Dowly]

The USA gained a lot of merit/kudos and admiration from the footballing world over on this performance. :up:

Yeh... for what it's worth. Football sucks. :D

[UnderseaLcpl]

I'm still trying to get over the idea that we have a soccer team. When did that happen?:-? Do we have any other international sports teams lying around that I don't know about?

[Torplexed]

I'm still trying to get over the idea that we have a soccer team. When did that happen?:-? Do we have any other international sports teams lying around that I don't know about?

Me too. I think they live a feral existence in the basement off the scraps that the NFL, MLB and the NBA throw out.

Oh...and congrats to Brasil. :up:

[goldorak]

Yeh... for what it's worth. Football sucks. :D

You mean those guys wearing protection suits carrying a ball in their hands and being struck down like bowling pins ? :haha:
Yep football does suck, soccer on the other hand rules. :rock:

[geetrue]

How could they lose with a team like this?

Just plain unfair ...

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x7/cleetusthefetus/spiderman.jpg

[UnderseaLcpl]

I think they live a feral existence in the basement off the scraps that the NFL, MLB and the NBA throw out.


Most intriguing......:hmmm:
Perhaps we, as a nation, can reach out to these primitive peoples and show them the wonders of civilized sports that people actually watch.
This sport they play involves kicking a ball of some kind at a goal, yes?
Maybe we could teach them to kick field goals:DL

[Onkel Neal]

You mean those guys wearing protection suits carrying a ball in their hands and being struck down like bowling pins ? :haha:
Yep football does suck, soccer on the other hand rules. :rock:

You line up against a 250 lb mass of muscle that can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds and you'll need the "protection suit", too.

[OneToughHerring]

I'm still trying to get over the idea that we have a soccer team. When did that happen?:-? Do we have any other international sports teams lying around that I don't know about?

Well you have a whole team for winter olympics including biathlonists. Oh yea and you're actually pretty good in curling. :)

[goldorak]

You line up against a 250 lb mass of muscle that can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds and you'll need the "protection suit", too.


Uhm, me wonders why such "protection hazard suits" are not necessary in rugby. I don't think the guys playing rugby are "thin sized human beings". :D

There really is a saying which I think is fundamentally true, americans love sports were it is possibile to score a lot. You can score tens of points in baseball, american football, hockey, basketball not so in soccer. So soccer is kind of relegated to a minor sports. If by a miracle the US won the next world championship it wouldn't do anything to make this sports popular.
Right now its only popular with girls, isn't soccer mom a term invented by americans by the way ? :03:

[Max2147]

You line up against a 250 lb mass of muscle that can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds and you'll need the "protection suit", too.
That sound you can hear is rugby players laughing at you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwDTIiGSEYs

The haka alone makes rugby better than American football. Coolest thing in all of sports.

[nikimcbee]

That sound you can hear is rugby players laughing at you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwDTIiGSEYs

The haka alone makes rugby better than American football. Coolest thing in all of sports.

I don't know what that was, but here are some real hits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OMG-epMCFA

[Buddahaid]

That sound you can hear is rugby players laughing at you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwDTIiGSEYs

The haka alone makes rugby better than American football. Coolest thing in all of sports.

Through their toothless gobs. :har: Looks like there are no rules but get the ball.

Buddahaid

[Max2147]

I don't know what that was, but here are some real hits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OMG-epMCFA
2 minutes in they show a replay.

Rugby is actually a wonderfully simple game. You can throw the ball backwards, and you can kick it forwards. If you get tackled you have to let go of the ball.

Scoring is basically the same as American football. A "try" is basically the same as a touchdown, and a "drop goal" is basically the same as a field goal. However, unlike a field goal the drop goal doesn't come off a set play, you can just try to kick one whenever you want. In that clip South Africa tries for a drop goal, but they miss. The crowd are unhappy because they wanted South Africa to keep pushing for the try.

Play only stops for scores, balls going out of bounds, and penalties. As you could see in that video, they don't even stop play for injuries. The South African player was knocked out cold in the middle of the field, and they just kept playing on around him while the medics ran on and tended to him.

I've played both games. Rugby is way more fun.

[Max2147]

I should note that the US has a national rugby team too. They're not that good, but they're improving.

In the last World Cup (2007) they were playing South Africa, the eventual winners. South Africa won comfortably, but the US turned a lot of heads with a magnificent try late in the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWtBTvCDjX4

The player on the far left of the South African line was Bryan Habana, one of the best players in the world. Facing him was the unknown young American Takudzwa Ngwenya. Habana was widely regarded as the fastest player in world rugby, at least before this game.

[Onkel Neal]

Uhm, me wonders why such "protection hazard suits" are not necessary in rugby. I don't think the guys playing rugby are "thin sized human beings". :D

There really is a saying which I think is fundamentally true, americans love sports were it is possibile to score a lot. You can score tens of points in baseball, american football, hockey, basketball not so in soccer. So soccer is kind of relegated to a minor sports. If by a miracle the US won the next world championship it wouldn't do anything to make this sports popular.
Right now its only popular with girls, isn't soccer mom a term invented by americans by the way ? :03:

Seriously, you don't understand the difference between rugby and football.

[goldorak]

Seriously, you don't understand the difference between rugby and football.

The only thing that changes is how the players are taken down.
American football is much more violent and therefore requires helmets, protections and so on.
It has nothing to do with and I quote you :


You line up against a 250 lb mass of muscle that can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds and you'll need the "protection suit", too.


Since rugby players go against the same kind of adversaries.


The game strategy between american football and rugby is different of course, but the fundamental change is that the former sport is much more violent (maybe americans like it that way, maybe its more spectacular ? ) than rugby.

:shucks:

Ps: just look at the kind of tackles american football players are subject to, and compare that to tackles in rugby.

[Max2147]

Seriously, you don't understand the difference between rugby and football.
I don't think the differences in football really require pads. The biggest reason to have pads in football is that the other guy has them. A football helmet is just as much an offensive weapon as a protective device.

And anyways, besides a few feeble attempts by Hawaii, football doesn't have this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB3xVZaBDtE

[Aramike]

I don't think the differences in football really require pads. The biggest reason to have pads in football is that the other guy has them. A football helmet is just as much an offensive weapon as a protective device.That's completely incorrect. Any player attempting to use a helmet as an "offensive weapon" will find their necks snapped pretty quickly.

The main reason for the helmet is simple: look at your average football tackle and pay close attention to the head. In many, if not most, cases once the player is down momentum carries his head into the ground.

American football is a game of intense collision, moreso than Rugby. Nearly every player on the field makes contact with someone on every play, and that facilitates the need for protection.

[OneToughHerring]

Pretty good stuff from the US, maybe now football/soccer will be seen there too as the truly global sport it is.

I've wondered why US hasn't really taken part in traditional British sports like rugby, cricket, etc. I guess US wants to break apart mentally from the image of it still being Britains underling.

[Schroeder]

That's completely incorrect. Any player attempting to use a helmet as an "offensive weapon" will find their necks snapped pretty quickly.

Hmm, did you watch Niki's video? Most of those "hardest hits" were carried out using the helmet as a weapon. :hmm2:

[goldorak]

Pretty good stuff from the US, maybe now football/soccer will be seen there too as the truly global sport it is.

I've wondered why US hasn't really taken part in traditional British sports like rugby, cricket, etc. I guess US wants to break apart mentally from the image of it still being Britains underling.

I think it has more to do with the "not invented here" syndrome. :D

[Dowly]

You mean those guys wearing protection suits carrying a ball in their hands and being struck down like bowling pins ? :haha:
Yep football does suck, soccer on the other hand rules. :rock:

Soccer is football to me. Or do you see that much footwork in the other football? :03:

Anywho, they both suck. Football (SOCCER) is boring as hell and full of crybabies who "break their leg" if the opponent as much as sneezes at them (dont worry, they'll be in perfect condition 10sec later).

The american football is just... well what's the darn point of it?! It's just stupid. :yep:

[OneToughHerring]

I think it has more to do with the "not invented here" syndrome. :D

Yes, could be.

Btw, you Italians have one pretty violent sport, a kind of 'football'. Calcio Fiorentino is the name I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUdOFssfJtQ&feature=related

They don't just fight, they also play a game which is reminiscent of rugby, only MORE violent. :)

[Kratos]

Soccer is football to me. Or do you see that much footwork in the other football? :03:

Anywho, they both suck. Football (SOCCER) is boring as hell and full of crybabies who "break their leg" if the opponent as much as sneezes at them (dont worry, they'll be in perfect condition 10sec later).

The american football is just... well what's the darn point of it?! It's just stupid. :yep:

I suppose ice hockeys much the same....put a crash helmet on and a well padded strip, then give em a 6' hooked stick and let em knock the living crap out of each other. dont see the point in that :O:

[Fincuan]

Some of the football "injuries" might look like acting to the outside, but trust me the speed of professional-level games make it certain that pretty much every contact hurts, even if it didn't look that bad on the tape. Feet are naturally the most vulnerable. Often it's impossible to judge how badly you're hurt right after a rough contact. It might hurt like hell at first, and when it at that point you go down instinctively. If it's not a big one, like bones broken or such, then the pain usually subsides(or adrenaline takes over) enough so that you can continue playing. After-match and the next morning are another story then(trust me, if you break your thumb and toe don't continue, you'll regret if afterwards) :haha:

[Skybird]

Soccer is football to me. Or do you see that much footwork in the other football? :03:

Anywho, they both suck. Football (SOCCER) is boring as hell and full of crybabies who "break their leg" if the opponent as much as sneezes at them (dont worry, they'll be in perfect condition 10sec later).

The american football is just... well what's the darn point of it?! It's just stupid. :yep:

Lets call Football what Football is for hundreds of millions if not billions around the globe: football. What that minority in the US is watching, is called American Football. :DL In many places people simply will not know what you mean when saying "soccer".

Beside Basketball, Football is the most popular team sports there is.

Congrats to the US team, must have been an intense fight. I read they already lost in the first round of the tournament against Brasil, 0-3. Then to have a comeback like this speaks volumes about their morale. However, today many US players play in european clubs, so the quality of their national team is not really surprising anymore.

[Janus]

About football and crybabies, just look at this crap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s89DN8Dq5pw&feature=related

[Onkel Neal]

The only thing that changes is how the players are taken down.
American football is much more violent and therefore requires helmets, protections and so on.
It has nothing to do with and I quote you :



Since rugby players go against the same kind of adversaries.


The game strategy between american football and rugby is different of course, but the fundamental change is that the former sport is much more violent (maybe americans like it that way, maybe its more spectacular ? ) than rugby.


Ps: just look at the kind of tackles american football players are subject to, and compare that to tackles in rugby.

Thank you.



I don't think the differences in football really require pads. The biggest reason to have pads in football is that the other guy has them. A football helmet is just as much an offensive weapon as a protective device.



The difference is, in rugby the players have no protection and pull up before hitting each other. One only has to to watch a little rugby to see that. In football, it's wide open, players smash into each other at full speed.




I've wondered why US hasn't really taken part in traditional British sports like rugby, cricket, etc. I guess US wants to break apart mentally from the image of it still being Britains underling.

Haha.

[TDK1044]

I've wondered why US hasn't really taken part in traditional British sports like rugby, cricket, etc. I guess US wants to break apart mentally from the image of it still being Britains underling.

In the case of cricket, it's because it's sooooooo boring. There have been wars shorter than some of those turgid games of cricket.

Do you actually have to pay to watch it? Or is it some form of community service!?

[Sailor Steve]

The american football is just... well what's the darn point of it?! It's just stupid. :yep:
That IS the point. It's a Yankee thing.:rotfl:

[goldorak]

In the case of cricket, it's because it's sooooooo boring. There have been wars shorter than some of those turgid games of cricket.

Do you actually have to pay to watch it? Or is it some form of community service!?


Cricket or Croquet ? Croquet is boring, Cricket is not.

[Skybird]

Btw, this evening the classic football duel there is: Germany versus England in the finals of the European U21-Championship.

[Aramike]

Hmm, did you watch Niki's video? Most of those "hardest hits" were carried out using the helmet as a weapon. :hmm2:No they weren't. In many cases, they were leading a shoulder tackle with their face. "Kiss the ball" or "kiss the numbers" is a tried and true tackling technique that aids success AND protects the players' heads.

[Skybird]

Hehe, Germany beats England 4:0. That's quite a package. It's fair to say that the best defence of the tournament has won the title - they got just one goal against them, and their positional play was exquisite.

[Jimbuna]

Btw, this evening the classic football duel there is: Germany versus England in the finals of the European U21-Championship.

A below par England with 5 first team choices either injured or banned from playing are trounced 4-0 :nope:

[Agiel7]

Most people I know who have at least a passing knowledge of "football" have all but given up on rooting for the American teams. In fact, more often than not, they root for then not, they root for the team their parents were from (China, Germany, etc.)

[Platapus]

At times like this, we need to turn to the Master. George Carlin :salute:

Baseball is different from any other sport, very different. For instance, in most sports you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs. In most sports the ball, or object, is put in play by the offensive team; in baseball the defensive team puts the ball in play, and only the defense is allowed to touch the ball. In fact, in baseball if an offensive player touches the ball intentionally, he's out; sometimes unintentionally, he's out.

Also: in football,basketball, soccer, volleyball, and all sports played with a ball, you score with the ball and in baseball the ball prevents you from scoring.

In most sports the team is run by a coach; in baseball the team is run by a manager. And only in baseball does the manager or coach wear the same clothing the players do. If you'd ever seen John Madden in his Oakland Raiders uniform,you'd know the reason for this custom.

Now, I've mentioned football. Baseball & football are the two most popular spectator sports in this country. And as such, it seems they ought to be able to tell us something about ourselves and our values.

I enjoy comparing baseball and football:

Baseball is a nineteenth-century pastoral game.
Football is a twentieth-century technological struggle.

Baseball is played on a diamond, in a park.The baseball park!
Football is played on a gridiron, in a stadium, sometimes called Soldier Field or War Memorial Stadium.

Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life.
Football begins in the fall, when everything's dying.

In football you wear a helmet.
In baseball you wear a cap.

Football is concerned with downs - what down is it?
Baseball is concerned with ups - who's up?

In football you receive a penalty.
In baseball you make an error.

In football the specialist comes in to kick.
In baseball the specialist comes in to relieve somebody.

Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting and unnecessary roughness.
Baseball has the sacrifice.

Football is played in any kind of weather: rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog...
In baseball, if it rains, we don't go out to play.

Baseball has the seventh inning stretch.
Football has the two minute warning.

Baseball has no time limit: we don't know when it's gonna end - might have extra innings.
Football is rigidly timed, and it will end even if we've got to go to sudden death.

In baseball, during the game, in the stands, there's kind of a picnic feeling; emotions may run high or low, but there's not too much unpleasantness.
In football, during the game in the stands, you can be sure that at least twenty-seven times you're capable of taking the life of a fellow human being.

And finally, the objectives of the two games are completely different:

In football the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.

In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! - I hope I'll be safe at home!

Also

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmXacL0Uny0

[Onkel Neal]

Haha, we had that here a while back, it's a classic :yeah:

[nikimcbee]

Soccer is football to me. Or do you see that much footwork in the other football? :03:

The american football is just... well what's the darn point of it?! It's just stupid. :yep:

:nope: Doctor, for our next session, we'll up the voltage on mr. Dowly. We should get better results.:haha:

[nikimcbee]

Hmm, did you watch Niki's video? Most of those "hardest hits" were carried out using the helmet as a weapon. :hmm2:

I believe the "helmet hits" get you a pretty nasty penalty and may get you ejected from the game in some cases. It still happens though, intentional or unintentional.

[nikimcbee]

...then there's ice hockey:hmmm:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2W3Qm1YTFc

:yeah:

Soccer....was fun when I was 6.

[Aramike]

I believe the "helmet hits" get you a pretty nasty penalty and may get you ejected from the game in some cases. It still happens though, intentional or unintentional.Indeed. In all levels of football hitting or leading with the crown of the helmet is a personal foul, and if intentional, an automatic fine in the NFL.

Putting your facemask into someone is hardly using it as a weapon, though.

[OneToughHerring]

...then there's ice hockey:hmmm:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2W3Qm1YTFc

:yeah:

Soccer....was fun when I was 6.

Here's some of the rougher tackles and fights from football.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx0DHVB2mNo

There is plenty of even more gruesome footage, from legs being broken in a game from a tackle etc. I don't care what you 'Amis' say, football is a tough game. :O:

[Jimbuna]

Here's some of the rougher tackles and fights from football.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx0DHVB2mNo

There is plenty of even more gruesome footage, from legs being broken in a game from a tackle etc. I don't care what you 'Amis' say, football is a tough game. :O:

....and without the need to wear body armour for protection :03:

[Aramike]

Here's some of the rougher tackles and fights from football.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx0DHVB2mNo

There is plenty of even more gruesome footage, from legs being broken in a game from a tackle etc. I don't care what you 'Amis' say, football is a tough game. :O:Except these are the exceptions and not the rule. :|\\