I'm a fan, so I have the luxury of looking ahead.
First Up: Ghana - I just like our chances against them instead of Germany. Plus, time for some payback.
Quarter Finals: Uruguay-South Korea. Uruguay (my bet to win over South Korea) looked strong winning their group, but had we been on the other side of the bracket and made it past Germany, we would have played the winner of the Mexico-Argentina game.
SemiFinals: Here, a lot of good teams are going to eliminate themselves.
My guess Netherlands over Slovakia. Brazil over Spain/Chile. Brazil over Netherlands.
Lots could happen here, but maybe we get a little luck and beat Brazil.
Finals: Who knows, but nice to dream.
So, overall, I think we are in a pretty good spot.
You're right. Lots of very tough teams for us to face, but most other teams left would gladly trade for our spot in the knockout bracket. Ghana won't be easy, but our hopes are higher than having to face the Germans.
While it isn't as tough as Germany/Argentina, Ghana/Uruguay is no cakewalk
Plus, I heart Diego Forlan.
(06-24-2010 12:58 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ]While it isn't as tough as Germany/Argentina, Ghana/Uruguay is no cakewalk
While it's not a cakewalk, we're in the only pod that doesn't have a seeded team, and is by far the easiest path to semis (every team in our group can say the same, of course)
Compare the other pods Germany, Argentina, England, Mexico
and likely pods of
Slovakia, Netherlands, Brazil, Chile
and
Paraguay, Spain, Portugal, and either Japan or Denmark.
Tell me where you'd rather be.
There are no easy paths from here on out; but geez, I wouldn't want to switch with anyone else. If you told me we would only have Ghana and possibly Uruguay standing between us and the semi's, then I would have thought someone @ US Soccer would have had to have sold their soul to Sepp Bladder. We have an arduous task in getting back up to take on the Ghanians on Saturday, but then I'd much rather it be them than the Germans.
(06-24-2010 01:04 PM)jgardne Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 12:58 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ]While it isn't as tough as Germany/Argentina, Ghana/Uruguay is no cakewalk
While it's not a cakewalk, we're in the only pod that doesn't have a seeded team, and is by far the easiest path to semis (every team in our group can say the same, of course)
Compare the other pods Germany, Argentina, England, Mexico
and likely pods of
Slovakia, Netherlands, Brazil, Chile
and
Paraguay, Spain, Portugal, and either Japan or Denmark.
Tell me where you'd rather be.
I didn't say I would want to be in any other group. I just think that people's expectations of this team are too high right now. We are no better than even money against Ghana and we would be underdogs against either S.Korea or Uruguay.
(06-24-2010 01:17 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 01:04 PM)jgardne Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 12:58 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ]While it isn't as tough as Germany/Argentina, Ghana/Uruguay is no cakewalk
While it's not a cakewalk, we're in the only pod that doesn't have a seeded team, and is by far the easiest path to semis (every team in our group can say the same, of course)
Compare the other pods Germany, Argentina, England, Mexico
and likely pods of
Slovakia, Netherlands, Brazil, Chile
and
Paraguay, Spain, Portugal, and either Japan or Denmark.
Tell me where you'd rather be.
I didn't say I would want to be in any other group. I just think that people's expectations of this team are too high right now. We are no better than even money against Ghana and we would be underdogs against either S.Korea or Uruguay.
I'll start with this, I'm about as big of a fan of the national team as you'll find, most already know this.
I disagree with your statement. Expectation aren't too high, they are just higher than where they were. Ghana will be tough as they will have the home field advantage (but is there real home field advantage now with the influx of thousands of vuvuzuelas?). We should beat Ghana if we play our game. Uruguay looked great in group play, but to say we would be underdogs doesn't give us enough credit, and especially to say we would be underdogs to S.Korea is almost insane.
We have the heart, the athletes, and the mental determination on THIS team that we have never had before. I'm glad for all the new fans, and I'm sure they don't understand how HARD it is going to be starting on Saturday forward. That being said, because I know this team, the players, and the coach. I have no doubt we can make the semifinals (and if we made it there, who knows what could happen). Remember the Confederations Cup? Things are lining up in our favor........I hope it's a sign of destiny.
(06-24-2010 01:17 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 01:04 PM)jgardne Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 12:58 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ]While it isn't as tough as Germany/Argentina, Ghana/Uruguay is no cakewalk
While it's not a cakewalk, we're in the only pod that doesn't have a seeded team, and is by far the easiest path to semis (every team in our group can say the same, of course)
Compare the other pods Germany, Argentina, England, Mexico
and likely pods of
Slovakia, Netherlands, Brazil, Chile
and
Paraguay, Spain, Portugal, and either Japan or Denmark.
Tell me where you'd rather be.
I didn't say I would want to be in any other group. I just think that people's expectations of this team are too high right now. We are no better than even money against Ghana and we would be underdogs against either S.Korea or Uruguay.
Well, maybe some people's expectations are too high. I personally think we could get to the semis, but this thread is about the path and not necessarily about if we will get there.
But is that really a bad thing that people have high expectations. Twenty years we would have had no expectations. Regardless of how we finish, I think we have presented ourselves well on the national stage that is the world cup.
Of course, I think we can beat Ghana. I just think that expecting consistancy from a team that is known for being inconsistant is setting them up for failure. Enjoy the ride and don't talk about the semis until/if we actually get there.
(06-24-2010 04:51 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ]Enjoy the ride and don't talk about the semis until/if we actually get there.
Hey, I'll make you a deal, I won't tell you how to post and you don't tell me how to post.
(06-24-2010 06:32 PM)AmazingTigerMan Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 04:51 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ]Enjoy the ride and don't talk about the semis until/if we actually get there.
Hey, I'll make you a deal, I won't tell you how to post and you don't tell me how to post.
Then don't post stupid ****. I'll agree to that deal.
(06-24-2010 06:34 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 06:32 PM)AmazingTigerMan Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 04:51 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ]Enjoy the ride and don't talk about the semis until/if we actually get there.
Hey, I'll make you a deal, I won't tell you how to post and you don't tell me how to post.
Then don't post stupid ****. I'll agree to that deal.
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha, you broke that long ago my friend
(06-25-2010 06:49 AM)AmazingTigerMan Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 06:34 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 06:32 PM)AmazingTigerMan Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 04:51 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ]Enjoy the ride and don't talk about the semis until/if we actually get there.
Hey, I'll make you a deal, I won't tell you how to post and you don't tell me how to post.
Then don't post stupid ****. I'll agree to that deal.
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha, you broke that long ago my friend
Yea, I'm not the one seriously contemplating us beating Brazil is a WC semifinal.
(06-25-2010 11:23 AM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ] (06-25-2010 06:49 AM)AmazingTigerMan Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 06:34 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 06:32 PM)AmazingTigerMan Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2010 04:51 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote: [ -> ]Enjoy the ride and don't talk about the semis until/if we actually get there.
Hey, I'll make you a deal, I won't tell you how to post and you don't tell me how to post.
Then don't post stupid ****. I'll agree to that deal.
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha, you broke that long ago my friend
Yea, I'm not the one seriously contemplating us beating Brazil is a WC semifinal.
Hey, it's all good. We may lose to Ghana for all I know. I agree that the US has been terribly inconsistant in years past. Maybe we'll surprise a few people.