US vs Spain soccer (spoilers) - Now BRA vs RSA live

[Arles]

To quote the immortal Jack Buck - "I don't believe what I just saw!"

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Is that game?

Not by a long shot.

Still 10 minutes plus stoppage time, Spain still have time to tie or win the game, and they are probably good enough to do it. USA have to be very careful in the last 10 minutes.

[Crapshoot]

I am impressed as hell by the Americans here. Major props.

[BrianD]

That seemed like a harsh card.

Edit: Bradly sent off.

[Karlifornia]

Red card? WTF? That is so weak!

[chesapeake]

Is there some new FIFA rule that says that Americans must get a red card in every match?

[Celeval]

Me too - I really thought that any shot we had at going through would involve an early red on Spain, and/or them really not playing well - but this has seemed more the USA playing well than Spain playing poorly.

[Celeval]

wtf was that?

[Karlifornia]

Onyewu has come up big in some spots today.

[ISiddiqui]

2-0!!! WOW!!

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

Onyewu has come up big in some spots today.

He has been very solid all tournament.

[MJ4H]

Donovan really pisses me off.

[BrianD]

Because of his flop? He's been willing the team to victory after his early bad passes.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Wow. Been in a meeting all afternoon. Kudos to the boys, beating the #1 team like this.

[ISiddiqui]

Do you believe in miracles?!

[sterlingice]

Awesome

SI

[BrianD]

Amazing result. Way to go USA.

[cartman]

WOOT!

[sterlingice]

So, does South Africa have any chance against Brazil?

SI

[MJ4H]

No, not because of his flop. Because of how he acts every second.

[SirFozzie]

Bradley would have missed the final anyway, a yellow would have ruled him out for card accumulation

[Flasch186]

espn360....nice

[Karlifornia]

Suck on that, Spanish pretty boys!

[Big Fo]

USA USA USA

I can't wait for the first one of our retard fans to say this was another bad result because it means Bradley won't be fired

Shocking red card for Bradley, that will be a big loss in the final.

We've beaten the champions of Europe and Africa, bring on South America!

(Actually I'll be rooting for South Africa tomorrow...)

[ISiddiqui]

I simply cannot believe it. Absolutely amazing.

[chesapeake]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Bradley would have missed the final anyway, a yellow would have ruled him out for card accumulation

Actually, they tossed out the yellows accumulated in the earlier rounds according the the Wash Post's soccer guy. That was a costly red.

[rowech]

I'm not even sure if Bradley's red was a foul...let alone a red.

Onyeou played probably the best I've seen him although I thought DeMerrit was outstanding.

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

So, does South Africa have any chance against Brazil?

No.

[BrianD]

I would not have complained about a yellow for Bradley, but a red seemed too harsh.

[RomaGoth]

nice job USA!!

[Ksyrup]

I was wondering why the same picture of Wayne Brady in a soccer uniform is on both ESPN.com and SI.com right now.

That is Wayne Brady, right?

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

nice job USA!!

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

yes, football, not that crap called soccer that people in Europe call football

You aren't allowed to celebrate, sorry.

[DaddyTorgo]

so i avoided this thread like a good boy (covered the screen to hit "post reply" so i could post this even) and then my dad calls and leaves me a message. i pulled my phone away from my ear before i heard more than "just thought you might want to know...US beat"

so the surprise of it is spoiled, but i will be interested to go home and watch and see by what score and what the circumstances were and how the team performed.

this doesn't help the "get rid of bob bradley" chorus, that's for certain

[ColtCrazy]

All is right in the world...Spain are back to their underachieving selves. Nice result...SI has a nice big headline on it!

[MIJB#19]

nice!

[Big Fo]

The last two games should confirm that we'll be playing two strikers from now on, that's almost as big as the wins themselves.

I'd rather see the US beat Mexico in the Azteca than Brazil in South Africa. Anyone else?

[Icy]

Just got back from watching it with some friends. I'm really really disappointed as you can imagine, Spain has again underperformed in an important game, always the same story. We thought that things would change after the Euro Championship, but did not.

About the game itself:

USA played a PERFECT defensive game. In FM terms, they played a narrow 4-4-2 with very high closing down and direct/long passing with counter-attack checked.

USA started really well since minute 1, putting really high pressure against our creative guys, and killing us with speedy counter attacks. In the mean time, Spain started so slow, like sleeping and probably full of overconfidence.

Then the first goal came after a big mistake from our left wingback Capdevilla, that was marking Altidore from the front, that is against the rule number one for a defenseman, you must be always between the forward and your keeper. Capdevilla should be really ashamed today, he is the starting wingback in the Euro champion team, and a 19 years old kid that is a backup in the Spanish 2nd division, schooled him in that play.

After that goal and seing the first 20 minutes, i knew the game was lost. The only hope was that USA players would get exhausted in the second half and wouldn't be able to keep the pressure and the compact 4-4-2 lines, but they didn't. USA players showed great stamina, of course the huge motivation boost of the first goal helped a lot. They played PERFECT defense, PERFECT team work and totally deserved the win.

On the other hand, Spanish players lost the ideas too early. Our usually creative midfield played really bad today (Xavi, Fabregas and Xavi Alonso).

Then our team decided to play to the wings and crossing the ball instead of our usual slow and creative play building. That was a huge mistake, Torres and Villa were totally lost in the battle vs the tall and strong defenders, and to make things worse, our defense was sleeping and having more newbie mistakes, that with a touch of good luck and a couple of rebounds, gave the second goal.

On the top of that, our coach was too conservative, not recognicing what the problem was, and doing a couple of conservative lineup changes instead of going for the game taking more risks with an extra forward like Guiza or Llorente, that are both tall and excellent headers. He also removed Fabregas just when he was getting hot and creating good chances.

But that is why our current coach is known for since his R.Madrid days, he just puts the best players there and hopes for the win, but has zero tactical iniciative. He has inherited the Euro Championship team and both the fans and the Spanish press are afraid of him ruining this incredible generation of players with his poor, conservative and slow reaction coaching.

I really hope this loss will move things here. This has been terrible for us. Soccer is our sport, this is like if we won USA in baseball.

Anyway, congrats for the really deserved win and i'll root for USA vs Brazil. I'm sure tomorrow Brazil will show that they are BIG when needed, while Spain has a huge problem under high pressure.

I go to bed now, have a terrible headache.

[kingfc22]

Hell of an effort today. 2nd half was totally controlled by Spain.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

The last two games should confirm that we'll be playing two strikers from now on, that's almost as big as the wins themselves.

I'd rather see the US beat Mexico in the Azteca than Brazil in South Africa. Anyone else?

While a win in Mexico would be great, I still think winning the Cup here is a huge boost for U.S. Soccer. Will get them a lot of press and some much needed hype before the World Cup. I think for the program as a whole, the win over Brazil would mean much more. But I can see as a fan how a win in Mexico would be better feeling.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Icy

I really hope this loss will move things here. This has been terrible for us. Soccer is our sport, this is like if we won USA in baseball.

I'd actually use football as our national sport these days. I believe our best athletes are playing that sport. I've always wondered what would happen if football didn't exist here and those athletes were shifted into soccer. We'd have a few World Cups under our belt.

[Eaglesfan27]

I can't wait to watch a replay of this game, amazing upset.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

USA USA USA

I can't wait for the first one of our retard fans to say this was another bad result because it means Bradley won't be fired

Shocking red card for Bradley, that will be a big loss in the final.

We've beaten the champions of Europe and Africa, bring on South America!

(Actually I'll be rooting for South Africa tomorrow...)

I will take this as a second comment towards me (and one other person on this board), the first from the other day which I brushed off. If you want to call me (or actually bitch out by just refering to me) names because I want Bradley gone as coach, then grow the fuck up. I never said a U.S. win was bad, I said it is disappointing to know Bradley will stick around longer and added he probably will not change his ways as a result of that one win. There is a difference, sorry you are unable to see that. The team has looked like crap until these last two games, if you don't agree with my take on Bradley then fine, but the name calling is childish.

As for the game, I am very happy to see the U.S.A. win, and yes I still want Bradley fired. Thank goodness the guy decided to stick with a 4-4-2. I even give him some credit for trying Bocanegra at DL, even though from what I hear he didn't play so hot today. The guy has shown he is no soccer version of Rich Kotite, doesn't make him good in my eyes though. Otherwise I will comment on the game more later, I haven't seen it and will be glued to my seat when ESPN2 replays it tonight at 11 EST.

[MrBug708]

Just because Bradley wins the game, doesnt mean he is a great coach

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by BrianD

I'm very surprised Donovan didn't take the shot on the second goal. That extra pass through traffic really doesn't help. Spain misplayed the ball which is the reason we scored.

finally finished the game.

Yes, Sergio Ramos BADLY bungled on that second goal. He deserves to be roasted for that.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I'd actually use football as our national sport these days. I believe our best athletes are playing that sport. I've always wondered what would happen if football didn't exist here and those athletes were shifted into soccer. We'd have a few World Cups under our belt.

Agreed. We're not beating anyone in baseball these days...

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Icy

Then the first goal came after a big mistake from our left wingback Capdevilla, that was marking Altidore from the front, that is against the rule number one for a defenseman, you must be always between the forward and your keeper. Capdevilla should be really ashamed today, he is the starting wingback in the Euro champion team, and a 19 years old kid that is a backup in the Spanish 2nd division, schooled him in that play.

Yeah. That's how I explained it to my dad...Capdevilla made a really really fundamentally poor play on that goal. NEVER let your man turn inside you in the centre of the pitch like that. And still Casillas almost managed to save it. It just barely nicked in off the post.

Originally Posted by Icy

On the other hand, Spanish players lost the ideas too early. Our usually creative midfield played really bad today (Xavi, Fabregas and Xavi Alonso).

As a fan of the Spanish team's play, I was frankly surprised by the dissapearance of Xavi and Fabregas today. It almost seemed that Xavi Alonso had more of the ball than Xavi did.

Originally Posted by Icy

our defense was sleeping and having more newbie mistakes, that with a touch of good luck and a couple of rebounds, gave the second goal.

That second goal was a HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE fundamental mistake by Sergio Ramos. Pathetic really (says a guy who is a huge fan of his). My 14 year old brother knows better than to do that for god's sake! He was already thinking ahead to starting the counterattack instead of clearing the ball out safely.

Originally Posted by Icy

Anyway, congrats for the really deserved win and i'll root for USA vs Brazil. I'm sure tomorrow Brazil will show that they are BIG when needed, while Spain has a huge problem under high pressure.

Be nice if we could avoid a 3-0 drubbing by Brazil this time around. I'd settle for a 1-0 loss or even a 2-1 loss.

I'm sorry Icy. Classy classy post by you by the bay. I have been very impressed with Spain since 06 really, they seem to have finally put it together and I really enjoy their style of play and the passion that they show. I'm sure they will bounce back and be okay - although I know that doesn't help right now.

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by Cringer

I will take this as a second comment towards me (and one other person on this board), the first from the other day which I brushed off. If you want to call me (or actually bitch out by just refering to me) names because I want Bradley gone as coach, then grow the fuck up. I never said a U.S. win was bad, I said it is disappointing to know Bradley will stick around longer and added he probably will not change his ways as a result of that one win. There is a difference, sorry you are unable to see that. The team has looked like crap until these last two games, if you don't agree with my take on Bradley then fine, but the name calling is childish.

As for the game, I am very happy to see the U.S.A. win, and yes I still want Bradley fired. Thank goodness the guy decided to stick with a 4-4-2. I even give him some credit for trying Bocanegra at DL, even though from what I hear he didn't play so hot today. The guy has shown he is no soccer version of Rich Kotite, doesn't make him good in my eyes though. Otherwise I will comment on the game more later, I haven't seen it and will be glued to my seat when ESPN2 replays it tonight at 11 EST.

It was a comment directed towards US fans across the Interwebs, not just on here, who said that they wished the US had not beaten the Egyptians on Sunday because it meant that Bradley would keep his job for longer. The US could have lost 5-0 in every match at the Confederations Cup and as far as I can tell Bradley would have kept his job for winning the 2007 Gold Cup and being on track to qualify for the World Cup. It was the national team's best result since the 2007 Gold Cup final and reading that some fans wished it hadn't happened really rubbed me the wrong way, even if the manager's job were on the line which I do not think was true at all.

I don't agree with all of Bradley's decisions either. Every time he has picked Beasley over Adu I've been seething and believe me I was no happy camper watching that dreadful performance in Costa Rica a few weeks ago. I want to see Torres play more. I don't rate Conor Casey. Mastroeni shouldn't be called up anymore. Bradley's tactical experiments have not paid off and I'm happy to see that a switch back to 4-4-2 has seen results improve in the last two games.

Even with those issues, bad performances by the players had more to do with the Costa Rica loss and the rough start against Honduras than anything Bradley did or didn't do imo. I thought the US actually did pretty well against Italy but that awful red card doomed them in the second half. Brazil just outclassed the US and given the talent on the two teams I don't find that to be unreasonable. Frankly, the US just doesn't have that many good players and bossing CONCACAF/possibly making it out of the group in World Cups is the most we can expect at this point.

[henry296]

Game is being replayed at 11 PM EST on ESPN2 if you missed it this afternoon.

[RainMaker]

Are they going to ban those fucking horns for the World Cup? It's the most annoying thing I've ever heard. Completely drowns out the crowd and makes me want to hit mute.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I blame Angels fans.