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USA-Germany Bullet Points
12:27 AM on June 28th, 2014 by Jay Soester

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Make sure to get your World Cup Pickem game score picks in before the start of each game, especially with the Round of 16 matchups set.

  • The US played with a wait and see approach. Bunker down, keep it close and make sure 1-0 was good enough either way. Push to score if things get away. It worked. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't tactical (or technically, it was), but it worked. I'm hoping not to read anything into the attack given that strategy. When we finally broke out of the shell in the last 5-10 minutes, we created a few chances solid chances, especially the Bedoya shot that started from midfield interchange.
  • Bedoya had to do better on the shot in stoppage time. He's been doing his work up and down, but not in the box, or really even in creating chances.
  • Howard has to do better with the rebound that set up the goal. I realize it's wet, but you can't put it to the top of the box in that situation, at least get some air under it. He was strong as usual otherwise.
  • I didn't agree with starting Davis or Gonzalez, but it worked out.
  • This is the game where Davis made plenty of sense as a sub. I would guess he started because Altidore was hurt, otherwise Dempsey drops into Bradley's role and Jones goes out wide, or Dempsey goes to the left himself. He didn't fit into the rest of the game plan. Before someone asks, Donovan wouldn't have filled the role either. The Donovan from four years ago would have, but not current Donovan. If anything, Joe Corona would be a better fit of the final cuts when flipped with Zusi.
  • In a semi-park the bus situation, Gonzalez makes sense, but Cameron might be a better fit if the game's going to be stretched. Gonzalez certainly had a strong game, especially in the wake of Cameron's mistake in the Portugal game.
  • Besler and Beasley were solid. Beasley's bounced back considerable from looking fragile vs Ghana. Besler's looked good the entire time he's been on the field, hopefully his hamstring holds up (I failed to find a fifth word starting with an "h").
  • Fabian Johnson got forward less than in the other two games combined. Hopefully he's not worn out.
  • Bradley's first touch has continued to fail him. It never has before.
  • Dempsey wasn't as effective in link-up play either. I doubt Jozy has a shot at playing in the next game, but we could use him, especially with it allowing Dempsey to make the runs into the offensive third instead of having to hold up for them.
  • Aside from the Brooks goal, Zusi hasn't been giving any good service this tournament. He did his job defensively rather well though.
  • Yedlin has been our best wide midfielder so far. I'm almost for his starting against Belgium, but I don't know that he has that in him. A second defender and more speed against Hazard on Belgium's left might be a good idea.
  • Jermaine Jones was the best US player on the field again, though he does seem a bit fatigued. He showed some of his temperament this time though. Him not getting a second yellow in the group stage is a win. The ref may have felt bad about knocking him on his ass in the first half.
  • Beckerman was solid again as well, he needed to be to help protect Beasley and Gonzalez (I'm intentionally leaving out Besler, not dyslexifying a center back for a left back). Beckerman has been the perfect cover for our central defense and the five that have played in the three positions have been nearly perfect in working together.
  • Eight teams to advance to the Round of 16 are from the Americas, six are from Europe and two are from Africa.
  • Dear FIFA, swap an Asia qualifying spot for a CONCACAF one? No? Well, I had to try.


Portugal created a load of chances in the first half of their game, but thankfully couldn't finish effectively enough. I was worried when Ghana scored that Portugal would be suceptable in the manner that allowed us to score the Donovan goal in 2010 against Algeria. The Algerians had pushed everyone into the attack in stoppage time because they were two goals and an England goal away from advancing. Portugal would have realized they needed an inordinate amount of goals to advance, but they had no reason not to attack until the end of the game. Without Portugal's second goal, Ghana would have had a rather credible chance at replicating the Donovan goal. My biggest reaction on the day (positive or negative) was when Ronaldo scored in the 80th minute to put my fears to rest.

It was more difficult to effectively analyze a game while simultaneously watching another game.


The US game vs Belgium is at 4 on Tuesday, the first day in my life I can officially use a sick day. I'm debating whether to use it, or simply finish out the eight hours and stick to watching recordings for luck's sake.


What did you think of the US' performance in their final group stage game. Did you even watch?

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Tags: Soccer_Talk, World_Cup_Talk, Talk, World_Cup_Pickem, ASFL2_Fantasy_Games, Unofficial_Games, Games_Available

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