USA vs Belgium Game Thread (Tuesday @ 3pm ct)

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Are they going to do a 1 hr build up to the match?

I guess so.

A lot to talk about.

Klinsmann saying Jozy is on the bench.

He said

               Howard

Johnson Besler Gonzales Beasley

Cameron       Bradley        Jones

   Bedoya      Dempsey      Zusi


Well, this is the line-up.  I liked what Klinsmann was saying - he said he wants to bring Bradley and everyone else more forward.  Then I saw the line-up.  Trying to remain optimistic, but not having Beckerman in there means Bradley will be having to do too much defensive work.  Unless I'm missing something.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Belgium
Line-up:

G
   1    Thibaut Courtois

D
   2    Toby Alderweireld

D
   4    Vincent Kompany

D
   5    Jan Vertonghen

D
   15    Daniel van Buyten

M
   6    Axel Witsel

M
   7    Kevin De Bruyne

M
   8    Marouane Fellaini

M
   10    Eden Hazard

M
   14    Dries Mertens

F
   17    Divock Origi

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

I hope some of you guys can comment on our line-up before you head to your watch parties.

Btw, be SAFE out there, especially driving home!

[cbhawg03]

I think that Cameron will always hand back and look for Jones to hang back more as well, which will allow Bradley to help in the build up and up front. I don't necessarily like the idea, especially given Jones goal against Portugal, that thing was to good to be a fluke.

I personally haven't been awwed by Bedoya or Zusi, especially Zusi's crosses, but I sure don't want to see Davis back in the game either.

Need to attack Kompany, has injury concerns that could limit him and force Belgium into an early sub.

I would rather start with Jozy than finish with Jozy, being that if he can't go then you know early and have the subs to take him off, if you put him on late and something goes wrong then you could be stuck playing a man down, which is never good.

[razorbackfan86]

I would rather start with Jozy than finish with Jozy, being that if he can't go then you know early and have the subs to take him off, if you put him on late and something goes wrong then you could be stuck playing a man down, which is never good.

I agree with this.

[razorJAcker]

I'd rather see Yedlin in there instead of Zusi, who apart from the GW cross against Ghana has been very disappointing.

[Fort Dweller]

GK: Howard

Back line: Beasley    Besler    Gonzalez     Johnson

Midfield: Jones     Bradley     Cameron

Forwards: Zusi     Dempsey     Bedoya

Isn't this what we did against Portugal?  Press with Beasley and Johnson and slide Dempsey up center?

[Fort Dweller]

I'd rather see Yedlin in there instead of Zusi, who apart from the GW cross against Ghana has been very disappointing.

He's excelled in his role as a late sub though.  His speed against tired legs is a huge weapon.

[cbhawg03]

I'd rather see Yedlin in there instead of Zusi, who apart from the GW cross against Ghana has been very disappointing.

Yes. Yedlin can't play enough IMO. He looks super fit, I would tell him to go out and hustle, hustle, hustle. Go back and forth as much as possible, tell him to get forward, but know that you have to sprint back to help. Play him for 60 minutes at a suicide pace and see where we are after that, I would think we would be in a good spot.

He brings so much pace into the game and then when Johnson can get forward as well, it just creates a lot of problems for teams.

[cbhawg03]

Isn't this what we did against Portugal?  Press with Beasley and Johnson and slide Dempsey up center?

Don't recall formation, but this is who started:

Tim Howard
Matt Besler
DaMarcus Beasley
Geoff Cameron
Fabian Johnson
Michael Bradley
Alejandro Bedoya - replaced by Yedlin
Jermaine Jones
Kyle Beckerman
Graham Zusi - replaced by Gonzalez
Clint Dempsey - replaced by Wondo

Yedlin, Gonzalez and Wondo came on as subs

[cbhawg03]

He's excelled in his role as a late sub though.  His speed against tired legs is a huge weapon.

Agree completely, just that he is so much better going forward though than some of the starters and we could use that.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Wow.  When I see their line-up, I realize the talent they have.  They are loaded.

This is going to have to be another game where we "will" ourselves a win.

Belgium has only given up 1 goal(and it was a PK) in this entire tournament.  I didn't realize what a streak they were on.

[Fort Dweller]

Agree completely, just that he is so much better going forward though than some of the starters and we could use that.

And that's a solid point as well.  But I really cant bring myself to question Klins.  Dude seems to be able to see into the future.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Don't recall formation, but this is who started:

Tim Howard
Matt Besler
DaMarcus Beasley
Geoff Cameron
Fabian Johnson
Michael Bradley
Alejandro Bedoya - replaced by Yedlin
Jermaine Jones
Kyle Beckerman
Graham Zusi - replaced by Gonzalez
Clint Dempsey - replaced by Wondo

Yedlin, Gonzalez and Wondo came on as subs

Beckerman's out, Cameron has been moved to the midfield.

[cbhawg03]

Wow.  When I see their line-up, I realize the talent they have.  They are loaded.

This is going to have to be another game where we "will" ourselves a win.

Belgium has only given up 1 goal(and it was a PK) in this entire tournament.  I didn't realize what a streak they were on.

They don't need a back 4 or 3, just take one look at their keeper and you know why they haven't gave up any goals. 6' 6" with over 7' wingspan. He is massive with quick reflexes. Also though, who did they play? Algeria, Russia and South Korea, not necessarily scoring machines

[cbhawg03]

By the way, Belgian keeper just moved to Chelsea.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

They don't need a back 4 or 3, just take one look at their keeper and you know why they haven't gave up any goals. 6' 6" with over 7' wingspan. He is massive with quick reflexes. Also though, who did they play? Algeria, Russia and South Korea, not necessarily scoring machines

Yeah.  And look who we've played and the injuries we've had.  We should have all the confidence in the world coming into this game.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

By the way, Belgian keeper just moved to Chelsea.

Also, way off topic, but Kaka is moving to MLS' Orlando team, from A.C. Milan.  He's been one of my favorite players for years.  Brazil made a huge mistake not calling him up for the national team.  I'm really excited about the chance to see him play live.

[cbhawg03]

JK brought up the fact that the ref will be from Algeria. He wasn't a fan of the idea.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann isn't thrilled with FIFA's decision to appoint Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi for Tuesday's Round of 16 match against Belgium.

While Klinsmann praised the job Haimoudi did in the two games he worked in the first round -- the Netherlands' 3-2 win over Australia and Costa Rica's 0-0 draw with England -- the former Germany coach is concerned that while all FIFA referees must be able to speak English, the Belgian players will be able to communicate with Haimoudi in his native tongue.

"Is it a good feeling? No," Klinsmann told reporters here Monday at his pre-match press conference. "He's able to speak French with their players on the field, not with us. We hope it's not a concern."

"It's the country that we beat in the last second in the last World Cup," Klinsmann said.

"It's hard, because there are more European referees here than from any other [confederation]," U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati, who also serves on FIFA's executive committee, said shortly after Klinsmann's comments.

"FIFA abandoned the rule about having only people from different confederations because so many of the top referees come from the top leagues, many of which are in Europe," Gulati added.

Earlier, Klinsmann had conceded as much.

"I understand that sometimes it's difficult for FIFA to always choose the right referees for the right games," Klinsmann said. "It is what it is. We respect the decision and we give him absolutely the benefit of the doubt."

[cbhawg03]

Also, way off topic, but Kaka is moving to MLS' Orlando team, from A.C. Milan.  He's been one of my favorite players for years.  Brazil made a huge mistake not calling him up for the national team.  I'm really excited about the chance to see him play live.

Think his A.C. Milan contract was up or bought out. Will play for Sao Paolo until January 15

[razorbackfan86]

Here we go. Lets go USA!

[cbhawg03]

I believe we will win

[Fort Dweller]

I believe we will win

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Good run by Beasley...but how is that NOT a corner???

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Good build up, great ball by Bradley.....Jones mishits it...


We need to keep building like that.

[Fort Dweller]

Good run by Beasley...but how is that NOT a corner???

Just about to say "He looks 20 y/o out there with that run."

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

I like how Beasely is trying to maintain possession and not just clearing it

[Fort Dweller]

any theories as to why we look so shaky in the first 5 minutes of each game?

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

We are being given a lot of room to operate....looks like they are settling for trying to counter-attack.

This is good for us, I would think.  We will get more quality chances this way.
Going to need a couple of world class saves from Howard, and a couple of goal-saving plays from Gonzalez and Besler.

And of course, we need Dempsey or Bradley to put one in the back of the net!

[DukeOfPork]

any theories as to why we look so shaky in the first 5 minutes of each game?

Relative lack of talent is a factor

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

any theories as to why we look so shaky in the first 5 minutes of each game?

New players, fairly new coach and the big stage of the World Cup..

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Relative lack of talent is a factor

and that as well

But we are getting better!

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Is this game being televised? 

SIAP..

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Is this game being televised? 

SIAP..

Yes ESPN

Bradley needs to tee that up and fire it!  A little too much unselfishness..

[cbhawg03]

Dang Bradley is still killing us.

Bradley's fault on the Cameron yellow

[cbhawg03]

Horrible ball by Bradley gives Belgium a brake and Cameron picks up a yellow. Really we are still having to fight with Bradley for better play?

[PonderinHog]

Is this game being televised? 

SIAP..

Yes but the announcers are speaking a foreign language.  I think they're British.

[Fort Dweller]

damn

[Fort Dweller]

That throw by Howard to Beasley was perfect

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Yes but the announcers are speaking a foreign language.  I think they're British.

You're on my list, smart guy..

[PonderinHog]

Dodged a bullet right there.

[Fort Dweller]

You're on my list, smart guy..

You know he read that as he's on a smart guy list, right?  He thinks it's a compliment.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Dodged a bullet right there.

Yep.  Bradley has not been that bad.  He does things we don't always see and has been a workhorse.  He's covered more ground than anyone at the WC so far.

He just needs to break through offensively with an assist or score.

[Fort Dweller]

Beasley is on point today

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

You could say what people are saying about Bradley about a lot of our players.


Beasley with a game-saving play.

Belgium getting too many easy chances.

[cbhawg03]

Somebody take a chainsaw to Fellaini's unibrow

[DukeOfPork]

Yep.  Bradley has not been that bad.  He does things we don't always see and has been a workhorse.  He's covered more ground than anyone at the WC so far.

He just needs to break through offensively with an assist or score.

Yeah, no one is questioning his workrate at all.  He's overdue for an offensive impact moment.

[dj shanon "Notshavin" smeya]

Somebody take a chainsaw to Fellaini's unibrow

I hate that guy

[Fort Dweller]

I hate that guy

is he the fro?

[cbhawg03]

Yep.  Bradley has not been that bad.  He does things we don't always see and has been a workhorse.  He's covered more ground than anyone at the WC so far.

He just needs to break through offensively with an assist or score.

I agree but his passes are killing us, put guys open into space and quit giving the ball away with bad passes