Road to the World Cup 2010

[pfeifere1]

US Soccer President Announces New Man in Charge

The United States national team have just announced a big change in hiring Jurgen Klinsmann. Klinsmann's first job is to get Team USA through the second round of qualifying. The United States have hit the training ground hard since Klinsmann has been here. The first noticeable change was in the formation, which endorses a more attacking feel and that is possession oriented.



World Cup 2010
Legendary
7 min. halves
Qualifying Only (no friendlies)

[pfeifere1]

Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

Tim Howard

Jonathan Spector--Oguchi Onyewu--Carlos Bocanegra--Steve Cherundolo

Michael Bradley--Ricardo Clark

Benny Feilhaber--Clint Dempsey--Landon Donovan

Jozy Altidore

Substitutes
GK Brad Guzan
LWB Edgar Castillo
LM DeMarcus Beasley
CAM Jose Francisco Torres
CAM Stuart Holden
ST Brian Ching
ST Charlie Davies

Reserves
GK Troy Perkins
GK Marcus Hahnemann
LWB Heath Pearce
LB Jonathan Bornstein
CB Jimmy Conrad
CB Danny Califf
CB Chad Marshall
CB Jay DeMerit
CB Clarence Goodson
RB Marvell Wynne
RB Frankie Hejduk
LM Robbie Rogers
CM Maurice Edu
CM Kyle Beckerman
CAM Sacha Kljestan
ST Eddie Johnson
ST Connor Casey
ST Kenny Cooper
ST Robbie Findley
ST Jeff Cunningham

[pfeifere1]

Stage 3 Group A
August 20, 2008
Guatemala City

Guatemala 1-1 USA

24' G. Ramirez - GUA
86' O. Onyewu (L. Donovan) - USA



Onyewu celebrates his last gasp goal.

Team USA Steals a Point

Going into a hostile environment for your first game as head coach is never easy, especially when it is your first qualifier. Team USA took the trip down to Guatemala and took it to them in the first twenty minutes of the match. Clint Dempsey had the best chance, but clanged his shot off the near post. Then, in the 24th minute Guatemala found themselves inside the US penalty area. The ball bounced out to G. Ramirez, who collected the ball with his first touch and sent a wonderful strike to the far, side netting with his second touch just passed the outstretched arms of Tim Howard. Both teams continued to create chances, but neither could find the net until a corner kick in the 86th minute. Landon Donovan took the out-swinging kick that found an on-rushing Oguchi Onyewu, who powered the header passed the Guatemalan keeper. The game would end 1-1, both teams sharing the spoils.


Around CONCACAF
Group A
Cuba 1-2 Trinidad & Tobago
Guatemala 1-1 United States
Group B
Canada 1-1 Jamaica
Mexico 4-0 Honduras
Group C
Costa Rica 3-1 El Salvador
Haiti 0-0 Suriname

[pfeifere1]

Stage 3 Group A
September 6, 2008
Havana


Cuba 1-2 USA

22' C. Dempsey (J. Altidore) - USA
30' B. Feilhaber (C. Dempsey) - USA
87' M. Ruiz (L. Villegas) - CUB


Benny Feilhaber celebrates his eventual game-winner.


USA Hangs On in Cuba

What started out as pure dominance ended by just hanging one to three critical road points. Team USA came out strong with early strikes by Clint Dempsey from a through ball by Jozy Altidore in the 22nd minute and a thumping shot into the roof of the net by Benny Feilhaber from Clint Dempsey in the 30th minute. By halftime the stars and stripes seemed to pack it in, not knowing what was in store for the second half. Cuba came out by dominating possession and creating chance after chance until finally breaking through in the 87th minute when a cross by L. Villegas came off the crossbar and fell to M. Ruiz, who tapped the ball into the open net. All seemed lost as it was too little, too late for Cuba. Besides the US claiming a crucial three points, the story line coming out of Havana was two late injuries to Steve Cherundolo and Clint Dempsey. Both were subbed out and will be looked at back in the States to see whether or not they will be ready for the next qualifier.


Around CONCACAF
Group A
Cuba 1-2 United States
Trinidad & Tobago 0-1 Guatemala
Group B
Canada 2-1 Honduras
Mexico 1-0 Jamaica
Group C
Costa Rica 2-0 Suriname
El Salvador 2-2 Haiti

[HKPound]

This looks very intriguing. I''m thinking of picking up 2010 World Cup game, how does it play now compared to FIFA 13? Main thing I remember was a lot of cheap fouls lol.

[pfeifere1]

Quote: Originally Posted by HKPound

This looks very intriguing. I''m thinking of picking up 2010 World Cup game, how does it play now compared to FIFA 13? Main thing I remember was a lot of cheap fouls lol.

If you can remember that there was a significant boost in realism somewhere in between WC 2010 and FIFA 13 you'll love the game. Just make sure you remember that. I lie this game for what it is. The presentation is amazing, and to tell you the truth I actually like all the chippy fouls. It's better than the lack of fouls in FIFA 13.

It's a game with an enormous amount of playback value. I pick this game back up so frequently and have certainly made it well worth it's 60 dollar value...you'll love it for the 19 bucks or however much you get it for at your local GameStop.

It plays much more arcady than FIFA 13, but it's a nice change of pace that has you on your toes for the duration of the 90 minutes. My bit of advice is to be careful if you are going back and forth between the two as I am doing with both my threads...the games play drastically different.

[pfeifere1]

Stage 3 Group A
September 10, 2008
Washington D.C.

USA 0-0 T&T




Clayton Ince was spectacular in the 0-0 draw.


USA Dominates, Nothing to Show

From the kickoff it was apparent Trinidad & Tobago were going to sit 10 players behind the ball, leaving K. Jones up top to keep the American defenders honest. Klinsmann expected this and kept pushing his players forward, creating chance after chance. Benny Feilhaber sent in six great crosses that were never connected with. Clayton Ince was insurmountable in goal for the Trinidadians. In the end, the Americans dominated corners 6-0, shots (on target) 10(7)-3(1), and possession 56-44 but left two huge home points on the field. With three games left, there is no clear-cut group winner. Back to the drawing board for Klinsmann's Team USA.


Around CONCACAF
Group A
Guatemala 0-0 Cuba
United States 0-0 Trinidad & Tobago

Group B
Mexico 4-0 Canada
Honduras 0-0 Jamaica

Group C
Haiti 0-3 Costa Rica
Suriname 0-2 El Salvador

[pfeifere1]

(Stage 3 Standings after 3 games)

Group A Standings
TEAM	W	D	L	GD	PTS
United States	1	2	0	+1	5
Guatemala	1	2	0	+1	5
Trinidad & Tobago	1	1	1	0	4
Cuba	0	1	2	-2	1

Group B Standings
TEAM	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Mexico	3	0	0	+9	9
Canada	1	1	1	-3	4
Jamaica	0	2	1	-1	2
Honduras	0	1	2	-5	1

Group C Standings
TEAM	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Costa Rica	3	0	0	+7	9
El Salvador	1	1	1	0	4
Haiti	0	2	1	-3	2
Suriname	0	1	2	-4	1