Anyone watching the US/Spain soccer game?

[Pazuzu]

I can't watch from work, but I've been keeping an eye on the score.

This is shaping up to be a David and Goliath game if the US can bunker down for the next 30 minutes.

[Pazuzu]

US up 2-0 against the unquestionably best team in the world. The US are ranked...well, it takes a few digits to rank them.

[dd74]

1st half? 2nd half? Damn! I wish I were watching it.

[Pazuzu]

about 16 minutes left in the second, I'm keep tabs from a message board.
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1077934

The US team is gassed from playing Egypt, Spain is well rested and ABUSING our guys, but they're fighting tooth and nail to keep this one in their hands.

[Pazuzu]

US won.

They broke Spain's 35 game unbeaten streak, and their 15 game winning streak.
They beat Egypt this weekend in a do or die scenario, where they had to win by 3 points or more, AND Italy had to lose by 3 points or more...that miracle happened.

Now, they shut down the #1 team in the world, a team that has not lost in YEARS.

On to Brazil next weekend, another team that the US has no right to play, but with the way things are, they have every right to beat and take the Confederation's Cup.

[MikeSid]

I caught most of it at lunch. I'm not a fan of the bunker-down-when-you-get-a-lead style of play, but against Spain in this game, I was fine with it. Awesome result for US.

I was also happy to see Conor Casey take the field. He deserves some playing time at that level. I'm also not disappointed that he'll be busy with National Team duty on Sunday when Seattle faces Colorado.

[ckissick]

So when is the final, west coast time, and what channel? I'd love to watch it.

[TechnoViking]

We have a national soccer team? You learn something every day, I guess.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Martin Smith

We have a national soccer team? You learn something every day, I guess.

That was just sooooo useful. I'm glad you posted. You are aware that acting like that to be cool went out of fashion when you were 10, right?



ckissick, the final is Sunday at 2:25pm EASTERN on ESPNHD2 and ESPN360, and possibly some stolen sites.

[LeRoux Strydom]

Congrats to the US team for taking out Spain. If the local boys can take out Brazil tonight (highly unlikely), we will have a SA vs US final...

Tell me, do you guys in the US get the HD broadcasts of the game? Those of us here in SA either get to see the games in the stadiums or on the HD channel. Cool beans.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

US won.

They broke Spain's 35 game unbeaten streak, and their 15 game winning streak.
They beat Egypt this weekend in a do or die scenario, where they had to win by 3 points or more, AND Italy had to lose by 3 points or more...that miracle happened.

Now, they shut down the #1 team in the world, a team that has not lost in YEARS.

On to Brazil next weekend, another team that the US has no right to play, but with the way things are, they have every right to beat and take the Confederation's Cup.

This would be an upset as big as when the USA beat the USSR in hockey for the gold, right? GO USA!

[Paco Anton]

Unfortunately I was watching the game too. The Spanish team did not want to make the necessary effort to win the game, the US did so they won.

Good game, guys. Good luck against Brazil!!!

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by LeRoux Strydom

Congrats to the US team for taking out Spain. If the local boys can take out Brazil tonight (highly unlikely), we will have a SA vs US final...

Tell me, do you guys in the US get the HD broadcasts of the game? Those of us here in SA either get to see the games in the stadiums or on the HD channel. Cool beans.

I have to apologize...in my post above, I *assumed* that Brazil would win and we would play them. This was my own childish urge as a US national team fan to be able to play Brazil in the final. I really should have said that SA would win, and then would beat us, and then would marry the supermodel down the street.




Go USA! Beat the snot outta Brazil on Sunday!!

[TechnoViking]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

That was just sooooo useful. I'm glad you posted. You are aware that acting like that to be cool went out of fashion when you were 10, right?



ckissick, the final is Sunday at 2:25pm EASTERN on ESPNHD2 and ESPN360, and possibly some stolen sites.

I was actually quite serious. I knew we played in the Olympics, but really, I had no idea the US has an official team that travels around the world playing soccer.

I thought they pulled the Olympic team together from MLS teams every 4 years like we do with basketball.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Martin Smith

I was actually quite serious. I knew we played in the Olympics, but really, I had no idea the US has an official team that travels around the world playing soccer.

I thought they pulled the Olympic team together from MLS teams every 4 years like we do with basketball.

I'm sorry, I've heard the "golly, there's more than 4 illegals in the US that play soccer?" racist ignorant hate speech too often lately, I snapped at you because of it.


The US Men's National Team is the official team for world events. They play all year every year, and that culminates in the World Cup, although there are several smaller cups/competitions along the way. They have to qualify to get into the World Cup each time. The Olympic team is different, and only shares a few players with the USMNT at any time.

The USMNT consists of players from all over the world, as long as they are American citizens. Some of them play in South America, Europe, etc, and they get called up as needed to play for a USMNT game. The general international rule is, if a national team calls up one of your players, you let them go.

http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/index.jsp.html

[Pazuzu]

Brazil beat South Africa 1 to 0, basically scored in the final minute of the game.

The US now play Brazil in the final game on Sunday. Brazil is ranked #5 in the world right now. New FIFA rankings come out in July 1st, it'll be interesting to see what this series gives the US (ranked #14).

We've outlasted the #1 and #3 teams in the world, now it's on to #5, and hoisting what may prove to be the most famous and more important Cup ever by the US team.

Also, this Confederation Cup was a testing period for South Africa to prove that it has the infrastructure put together for next years World Cup, something that has been questionable ever since they were awarded the tournament. I've heard nothing but success stories from this cup, and I give South Africa big props for getting their act together, hunkering down as a cohesive country, and making themselves shine in front of the world.

LeRoux, sorry about the loss, but congrats on a well run tournament.

[artplumber]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

This would be an upset as big as when the USA beat the USSR in hockey for the gold, right? GO USA!

Bigger.

[Rusty Heap]

Soccer kicks butt!!!!!!!!!!!

Baseball is SO BORING AND SLOW in comparison.

Soccer is a WORLD SPORT.

'nough said to close minded americans that think football is full of action. I read once that the average NFL football game has between 8-12 minutes of actual playing time per game. 10 MINUTES! The average play is 5-7 seconds long between the time they hike the ball till the ball is downed.

Heck, soccer is non stop. NON STOP!

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Soccer kicks butt!!!!!!!!!!!

Baseball is SO BORING AND SLOW in comparison.

Soccer is a WORLD SPORT.

'nough said to close minded americans that think football is full of action. I read once that the average NFL football game has between 8-12 minutes of actual playing time per game. 10 MINUTES! The average play is 5-7 seconds long between the time they hike the ball till the ball is downed.

Heck, soccer is non stop. NON STOP!

Sorry...I enjoy a red sox/yankees game more. NOT trying to denegrate the efforts of the USA soccer team...but it will never replace baseball or football for me..

[LeRoux Strydom]

What a bummer when Brazil took out our local boys 3 min before the end.

Anyway, good luck to the US team in the finals. It will give me some consolation if they can beat Brazil.

Now its us against Spain for 3rd place.

Thanks Pazuzu for the compliments to the local organisers.