Two things. One, there's a very good chance the game will mean nothing to Germany. That doesn't mean they'll let the U.S. win (ha), but they may not push to score 4. Two, the U.S. is quite a bit shorter than Germany, but isn't as athletically outgunned as they were against Ghana. That means at least a few jumpballs will be up for grabs. Germany will still destroy the U.S. if they're on their game, but the U.S. won't be totally out-hustled.

portugal did look really bad, which has given me hope there can be a draw or a win for the US.

That can really work either way.

I've got to say, I think the "I believe that we will win" chant beats out good ol' "USA! USA! USA!" Great match.

Portugal will beat USA comfortably.

another benefit will be that we play portugal before germany, in the event that injury or penalties are an issue. june 22, 6pm. bleh, another 2am match.

No, they didn't. They looked like shit against Ghana. Ghana were pathetic in front of goal but USA never were in front of goal and couldn't hold the ball for 5 passes in a row. USA deserved to win by virtue of that they won and not much else. One result against a potential favourite isn't enough for Portugal to lose their shit and they're surely still favourites to beat Ghana and USA. It's not a foregone conclusion, a draw could happen, a loss could happen, but they've still got some of the best in the world and the USA don't.

Ghana gonna Ghana

Don't forget it'll be in the middle of the Amazon.

Portugal should be favored, but I have a feeling anything can happen. The U.S. defense needs to play more disciplined against Portugal, though.

Did I even say anything about possession? I said USA deserved to win (because they did). Possession is overrated if you don't do anything with it but Portugal have enough quality to do something with it. They might be sloppy at the back (no doubt) but USA had not a lot going forward, their defence held together well, but like you said, Ghana were terrible in front of goal, you even say "that had nothing to do with USA" - well, that doesn't bode well for them either. If your opposition doesn't score, you surely want it to be because of you! Portugal will definitely score goals against USA, whether they can take their chances with as little opportunity as they had today will be whether they can get a result.

Asamoah Gyan plays for Al Ain FC, I did not know that. Well, he can play in the heat & humid, for sure.

And, I just realised my old boss (brit) from HK was in Brazil at the USA match. Sometimes I am jealous of the uber wealthy.

I don't know, possession doesn't seem that overrated to me. To me it basically means "I'm owning you". Unless there are teams that follow the Rocky Balboa technique and let the other team have the ball for awhile. But that didn't seem the case of the U.S., more they were getting owned by faster and more skilled black dudes.

fast mid-field sprinters tend to destroy well-crafted possession, such as the gareth bales of the world do.

heya, is georgi in brasil?

I'll be there in two weeks!!

Against a well organised defence, possession can be very overrated and we've had many great examples over the past few years with a lot of teams that hold the ball well (Barcelona, Spain, Bayern) and a lot of teams that defend well (Chelsea, Inter). You may have heard the term "park the bus", which essentially means you put all 11 players behind the ball (putting a bus in front of the goal), and when you get it, you don't commit to many forward and basically give it back and let the team come at you, hoping to score a lucky goal on the counter. The difficult thing about parking the bus is that it relies on an incredible amount of discipline and luck. As you point out, what you saw today was neither of those examples. Ghana did have high possession but it wasn't really in good areas and USA defended well but were lucky.

http://www.thenational.ae/sport/world-c ... iving-room

http://www.thenational.ae/storyimage/AB ... 619210.jpg

this is hilarious

so is this
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7J7jMldqfg[/youtube]