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pavy
we both know the us isnt better than spain. all i said to u was the us had reached the qf in 2002 and the round of 16 in 1994. those are statements of fact bro. I know more about soccer than you think as i watch it religiously and love the game.im not comparing the 2 teams but the us plays well sometimes in these big games just like in 1994 when brazil beat them only 1-0 on a late romario goal. the fact remains spain hasnt won the world cup ever and that is equal to the usa . that is fact also. your right spain is way better but spain have been known to be the worlds biggest chokers on the big stage until last euro as they always enter tourneys as one of the faves but almost always choke you know that 2. what does knowing the starting goalie for countries that will make 0 impact on any tournament mean anywaysComment -
The big money in soccer is made on games involving Estonia, Georgia, Belarus, etc. This is why knowing the players of these countries is critical in making money in soccer. Most of the money is made in qualifiers not at the WC. I nailed 3 draws a few weeks back in Euro qualifiers.Comment -
Hmm good point.For all those that say Spain basically didn't care, just a question; when a team has the chance to set an All-Time record for consecutive games without a loss, and Spain had won 15 in a row, why would they pick this specific game to tank?
Oh I know, they were afraid of Brazil
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i think there's been some confusion in this thread as to what was actually meant. This tourney was meaningless to Spain in the scheme of world football. That doesn't mean they didn't want to win, they did, and i'm certainly not saying they tanked and that's why the USA won, i'm saying the USA won because they caught them at the right time in as much as it was one game too far for Spain after 11 months hard competitive football for their club teams in things that matter like the Champions League and that's why EVERY respected soccer capper on this board got burned, because it was totally unexpected. It was a shock primarily because of the way the USA play, they look awful with absolutely no imagination or craft. That's not hating on the USA, but don't forget Spain only just managed to beat Iraq. When the World Cup comes round USA won't get out of the group, not because I want to hate on them but because they're not very good at the moment and it was a very good time to be playing Spain. As for Spain wanting to set the all time record, yes, of course they did. What's that got to do with playing non-stop for 11 months and being physically and emotionally drained?
I take nothing away from the USA, well done, just stop reading too much into it, you've got a poor side at the moment and if you don't beileve me take a look at the club sides your palyers play for.Comment -
good point mike- that was usa versus barca in todays game- but barca played like man uComment -
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Spain has the same success as the US does in world cup NONE , they have never done shit in the world cup , you are acting like the U.S players just came out of vacation , I'm pretty sure Spain wanted to win this just like Italy did and Brazil does but history repeats itself because Spain is known as big chokers because they always have good teams and never won a world cup , they hit their highest point at the EURO but that's it , the U.S played the perfect game against them (reminds me of how italy played the whole world cup ,try to get a goal and DEFEND DEFEND DEFEND and try to get a counter attack) and it worked perfectly for them , if they play 10 times Spain is going to win 8 because they are the better team but stop saying they didnt care or they were tired because that's bullComment -
This sounds alot like when Boise State beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. A competent team that plays a weak schedule beats a traditional power in a less than first tier game.
The USA beat a top tier team in a less than first tier setting, and the attempts to diminish that are pathetic, IHMO.Comment -
note to pokerjoe, keep posting your soccer picks, they are very insightful and provide an interesting alternative to the "chalk" hounds out thereComment -
The problem with the people in this thread is they have no concept of the tradition and timeframes of European football.
June 2007 Spanish players report for pre-season training.
May 2008 Finish Spanish season, go straight to international training for Euro 2008 and win that tournament at the end of June.
First 2 weeks of July: vacation
Last 2 weeks of July: Report to clubs for pre-season training and club exhibition tours.
August 2008 -May 2009 Domestic league and Champions league games.
June 2009 All European footballers are on vacation except those picked for out of season international tourneys (Spain)
Fernado Torres was quoted as saying he couldn't wait for the tourney to be over so he could go on holiday.
Did Spain tank it? No. Did USA deserve to win? Yes. Was it an extremely good time to be playing a tired and fatigued Spain team that wanted to go on holiday? Yes, and you won, congrats.
I just wish you'd all stop getting offended when it's pointed out to you this is nothing more than an exhibition at the end of two years of non stop soccer for European players, so whilst it's a fantastic result, keep it in context, nobody is saying you didn't deserve it, they're just saying this is an exhibition.
If you don't beileive me, ask any European football fan the priority European players place on such games and the sooner you do that the sooner you'll realise nobody is 'hating.'
This result is actually bad for the USA because it masks the regression in style and tactics under the current coach, watching the USA is like watching paint dry, basically because of a lack of quality, as you'll discover at the World Cup. That's not hating, it's just a reality.Comment -
Golly jeepers, those 38 games in 9 month seasons must be HELL on those players. Sounds very similar to a 16 games in 17 weeks NFL season, eh? Soccer is such a taxing sport, it takes alot to take a tap on the shins and do 3 revolutions. Trying to equate the life of an international soccer player with anything approaching a difficult life is beyond absurd.Comment -
englishmike, waste of time trying to talk soccer with Americans. Unless they're from south of the border.
Next year, when it does count, bring back this thread.
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em, since your so well endowed with this knowledge it sure sounds like a great opportunity to take the 14-1 on offer for the usa
i know almost nothing about soccer but i know usa is not a 14-1 dog
so what they are "boring" , sounds like you know TOO much and missing good shotsComment -
I'm glad I can get out of this thread on this note, your ignorance is exactly why this is a waste of time trying to explain nuances and tradition, i'm just glad I haven't got such an insular view towards American sport and also a perfect example of why 'saaccer' will never make it here.
You forgot to add the two domestic cup competitions, exhibitions Champions League and Internationls to your inaccurate and misleading number based on a total lack of knowledge.Comment -
What's your point? If you bet exhibition games, fine, bet them, I don't and didn't because it throws up false results such as this one.
And by the way, apart from losing horses, what exactly are you well endowed in?
Check the soccer threads to see if I make money and check the golf threads to see who's 60 Units up in two weeks.
Get back to me when you contribute something sports related.Comment -
Perhaps we can agree on one thing. America could be great at soccer. If there was no ball.
The cultural difference cuts too deep. If, in Europe or South America, a little boy picks up a ball with his hands, the father will seriously worry that his son may be gay.
If you didn't sleep with a ball as a little boy, and didn't walk with it to school, if the ball wasn't the center of your universe that you wanted to master beyond anything else, you will never get it. You may learn a thing or two about a ball later in life, but that will be too late. The difference will always show.Comment -
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Typical international arrogance. "Those Yanks can't possibly understand our beautiful game, so we'll just call them ignorant and appear superior."
Professional athletes are expected to perform, and if it is at the horribly exhausting level of once a week over a year or two year period, well that explains a loss by the #1 ranked team in the world to a relative minnow.
Please go back to your sanctimonious place and have another Newcastle.
Can you please call me ignorant and lacking nuance and or tradition one more time, please???Comment -
I think calling it "soccer" is a far worse offense.
Let's not get crazy kids. The U.S. is ranked 14th in the World. Not exactly great but for a country that doesn't give a shit about the sport, I think it's fairly decent. Plus, back in the last World Cup - if I remember correctly - the U.S. was ranked 8th in the World. They've made plenty of improvements throughout the years and have tried to instill the sport into American culture. Hopefully it permeates a little more...
Plus, America dominates pretty much every other sport. The best golf player in the world is American. That's sad. Best Basketball player? Once again. Best American Football player? Once again.
Europe should also learn to play Baseball. I think they're too scared of a hard ball coming at them at 90 mph Pussssssssies.
Instead they love being in the stands yelling out racial slurs to make themselves feel better.
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Congratulations with the win over Spain. I was in the stadium when the US beat Columbia for the 1994 World Cup. That too was based on fighting spirit, but it was a true and remarkable result.
US wins over Brazil in the Gold Cup or over Spain in the Conference Cup have little or no meaning on the international stage. I'm sorry if that doesn't fit with the pride you may take in this victory, but it is the reality.
I agree that a rare result by a US team should not be laughed at by those who grew up in soccer cultures. But that is not the case here. The criticism is directed at the misplaced importance that is assigned to this game, or to this tournament, by people who suddenly jump on the soccer bandwagon. There are Americans who understand soccer, but you won't hear them sing the national anthem here.
From the very start I've called this a meaningless tournament. Italy was the most obvious about their lack of interest. But don't take my word for it. In the short history of the Conference Cup several European squads have refused to play in the tournament. Why do you think that is?Comment -
Thanks Horse, at last some fukkin depth.
I said exactly what you said in the same congratulory tone in post 82, they don't get it, it's either complete paranoia or just basic ignorance, probably both but I really can't be bothered to try and converse with people who are either too stupid or just unwilling to listen to another perspective, no matter how kind you try to be.Comment -
Why is this whole thing even an argument?
Bottom line is the U.S. had a nice win against Spain - it was clearly an upset. Is the U.S. superior to any European team? No. Is the U.S. going to win the World Cup? Ha. Does the U.S. care about the sport of "soccer"...no.
Yet, the U.S. beat a team that was clearly far superior..and that's that.
All this other shit you guys are talking about is trivial. lolComment -
About every two years I love English soccer fans. For betting on England to win the tournament.
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Just reading your post it's obvious you know absolutely nothing about cricket, which is good, you fit perfectly in this thread.Comment -
Why do you turn up in every thread on the board?Why is this whole thing even an argument?
Bottom line is the U.S. had a nice win against Spain - it was clearly an upset. Is the U.S. superior to any European team? No. Is the U.S. going to win the World Cup? Ha. Does the U.S. care about the sport of "soccer"...no.
Yet, the U.S. beat a team that was clearly far superior..and that's that.
All this other shit you guys are talking about is trivial. lolComment
