World Cup Brazil(USA ALL GAMES THREAD), Group G GAMES: USA, Germany, Portugal, Ghana

[The Boar War]

And that's why it's never a bad idea to have your country's highest world cup scorer on the bench.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Klinsmann going with #9 Johannson

The U.S. has to quit clearing the ball and try to keep possession and build from the back.

We can't keep just kicking balls in the air and out of bounds

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

There we go, much better.  Bradley goes and gets and they build instead of Howard sending  it back to Ghana or out of bounds

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Beckerman got whacked in the nose hard

[The Boar War]

And now Dempsey gets whacked.

[The Boar War]

Apparently Ghana took the old prey game "Lets go out and punch 'em in the nose" speech literally.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

And now Dempsey gets whacked.

Yikes.  Shin to mouth/nose.  People don't realize how much getting kicked hurts

I think Klinsmann may just have to admit he was wrong not bringing Donovan.

[The Boar War]

Our play in the middle third of the field has been terrible.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Our play in the middle third of the field has been terrible.

Yeah, they have us backed up.  And without Altidore bringing 2-3 guys with him, Klinsmann needs to make some adjustments.

[Wild Bill Hog]

We are definitely losing the time of possession battle in a big way.

[JonClaudeVanHam]

Man, Beasley scares me on every possession for Ghana.

[Fort Dweller]

Bradley looks lost and out of sync.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Finally, that was a good run.

Johannson shanks it but he made a good pass at first.  He had Bradley wide open though on the shank

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

You know what?  I agree, Bradley's out of sync, Altidore is out, Dempsey has disappeared since getting clocked in the mouth - we are not playing our game

YET we are up 1-0!

I'll take it.  Klinsmann will make adjustments.  As much as the Donovan thing was a bonehead move, he's a good manager.

We have another 45 minutes to get in sync, and Ghana has attacked but they don't look that great.

Let's get Bradley going and get Dempsey or Wondo(if Dempsey can't get the cobwebs out) another goal.

[FelixJonesorDMAC?]

you know Donovan inside is going, see Klinsmann, no w you know you made a mistake, but yes Klinsmann is a great coach.

[JonClaudeVanHam]

Donovan is understandably sick at his stomach.

[Fort Dweller]

Again Bradley with a mistake

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Donovan is understandably sick at his stomach.

He was a class act - I would have said "ssssssseeeeee???

Who'd a thought we'd be up, on the verge of 3 points, yet be playing so poorly and have 2 major injuries?

Gotta fight through this

[Fort Dweller]

That was great defense!

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

That was great defense!

Yes.  Sometimes when your game isn't clicking, you have to fight it out, and we are definitely showing heart - especially Howard.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

To this point in the match, Jermaine Jones has been the U.S. man of the match.

And Jones on D - agree

[Fort Dweller]

Another American cramping

[Fort Dweller]

Yes.  Sometimes when your game isn't clicking, you have to fight it out, and we are definitely showing heart - especially Howard.

Jones is ballin

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Another American cramping

I like this substitution, Zusi is an offensive player.  Got to get some counter attacks going

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Jones is ballin

Easily could be 2-1 or 3-1 Ghana if not for Jones

Good to get this kind of game out of our system, if we can maintain this lead.  Like Donovan said, we need to bury it when we get a chance.

Good start by Bradley.  That was a great build up.

[Fort Dweller]

I like this substitution, Zusi is an offensive player.  Got to get some counter attacks going

Johnson seems to be giving us life

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

SUCK

ugh

heartbreak

[Fort Dweller]

and as soon as I compliment him, he loses track of his man

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

We can afford a tie.  We cannot afford a loss.

COME ON USA!!!

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

That's either a foul or goal kick.  Ref compromised with a corner.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

GOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLLL!!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

[Fort Dweller]

YES!

[FelixJonesorDMAC?]

YEAAHHHHH!!!

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

OH MY!!!!!

UNBELIEVABLE!!

WHO IS BROOKS??  THE WINNER OF THIS GAME, THAT'S WHO HE IS!!!

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

COME ON HOLD ON USA

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

I'm guessing Twellman must be Bradley's agent or something.  I cannot see at all why Twellman thinks Bradley has played well. 

I think he's played with heart.  He hasn't been fed the ball.  He also hasn't stole it and made something happen like he normally does, but our players have to find a way to get him the ball.  We can't expect him to go take it every time.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

BALL GAME

USA USA USA

Brooks and Zusi, instand LEGENDS wow wow

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Indeed - but add Jones to that list too!

Yes - Jones was a gladiator.  Howard also.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Here's what I don't see in Bradley - and I admit this comparison is fraught with problem but here goes anyway.  When you look at the best midfielders, the ball doesn't always flow through them but the game still functions through them (see Iniesta and Alonso for example).

Bradley just seems to disappear for long stretches of the game far too often and doesn't seem to effect the game in positive ways without the ball. 

I don't want to overreact here because it is just one game but I certainly want to see much better from Bradley against Portugal. 

FWIW: realize the a win versus Portugal means a berth in the knockout round.... 

That's valid.  I will say he HAS to do more if we have ANY chance of getting out of this group.

What a win today though.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

I'm going to enjoy this for a week before I think about our weaknesses.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!!!

YEAH!!

[Bubba's Bruisers]

What a game.  WE COULD NOT TAKE A TIE TONIGHT.

Great win.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

What a game.  WE COULD NOT TAKE A TIE TONIGHT.

Great win.

huge, Huge, HUGE

We need a win or a tie against Portugal and we should move on.  Got to watch our goal differential against Germany though.

[Hogsooey]

Wow, what a match!  Quick random thoughts:  Jones was in absolute beast mode tonight. I think all the injuries hurt us in keeping possession.  Bradley surely won't play that poorly again.  That was his worst performance in years (what was he thinking pumping a hopeful cross in the box with less than a minute left - hold the ball!).  Yet we still won.

[Huckleberry Pig]

Wow, what's the old golf saying... "3 bad shots and one great shot can still get you par".  92 minutes of bad soccer and 3 minutes of good soccer can still get you a win.  Have a lot to complain about with this game.... But we got a W and that's all that matters so gonna enjoy the W for the evening before I start thinking about the bad and what needs to get corrected before last game.  If only for a bit, you should always get a chance to enjoy a win, they are tough to come by in World Cup play!

Look forward to discussing with y'all tomorrow - GO USA!!!

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Wow, what's the old golf saying... "3 bad shots and one great shot can still get you par".  92 minutes of bad soccer and 3 minutes of good soccer can still get you a win.  Have a lot to complain about with this game.... But we got a W and that's all that matters so gonna enjoy the W for the evening before I start thinking about the bad and what needs to get corrected before last game.  If only for a bit, you should always get a chance to enjoy a win, they are tough to come by in World Cup play!

Look forward to discussing with y'all tomorrow - GO USA!!!

Enjoyed your story and very cool to have someone who played soccer for The Hogs.

Tomorrow Mexico vs. Brazil should be good.

[Huckleberry Pig]

 very much looking forward to that game 

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Just showed a great clip of Klinsmann and Rimando hugging after the Brooks' goal, lol.  Good ol' Rimando, the bench cheerleader!

[JayBell]

Here's what I don't see in Bradley - and I admit this comparison is fraught with problem but here goes anyway.  When you look at the best midfielders, the ball doesn't always flow through them but the game still functions through them (see Iniesta and Alonso for example).

Bradley just seems to disappear for long stretches of the game far too often and doesn't seem to effect the game in positive ways without the ball. 

I don't want to overreact here because it is just one game but I certainly want to see much better from Bradley against Portugal. 

FWIW: realize the a win versus Portugal means a berth in the knockout round....

Yesterday, yes.  That is not usually the case.

Remember, he's not in the same kind of role as Xavi, Pirlo, Sneijder, etc., at least not until recently.  Bradley is a holding midfidler.  He is a prototypical No. 6, going box to box and facilitating everything in between.

It wasn't until recently that Klinsmann pushed Bradley further up.  He hitched the US's wagon to Bradley, and that probably wasn't a bad idea.

But Bradley was definitely poor yesterday, at least by his standards.  I would wager that was Bradley's worst performance in years.  He struggled to complete even the simplest of passes.  That was exacerbated by Besler and Altidore's injuries, but he has to be better against Portugal.

[JayBell]

Alright, first, the good in short form: it was simply one of the great US Soccer victories of all time.  It exhibited everything the US has come to embody: playing better than the sum of its parts, overcoming adversity, overcoming injuries, fighting through piss poor refereeing and taking advantage of timely opportunities.

Jones, Howard, Besler, Cameron, Beckerman, Bedoya and Dempsey were titans.  IMO, Jones is redeemed for every bit of boneheadedness and laziness we have had to endure since he had played for the US.  I thought he would be a beast finally getting to play in a World Cup, but he exceeded my expectations.  Zusi and Brooks will be legends for their contributions off the bench.

Yesterday was a momentous and monumental day in the history of soccer in America.  The official ratings are like a 7.0 overnight on ESPN, which I think is like 12 million.  With the number and scale of the watch parties, I'll conservatively estimate that at least 30 million Americans were watching yesterday.

[HogScoutMaster]

Though he was going to have his way, I started to pray