Good god, the us is hooped, if Ghana had anybody who could cross a ball half decently this would've been a runaway victory. Portugal will stomp all over the us and Germany will if they have any desire to put on a show, they won't need to so could take it easy which could allow the us to sneak into the next round but this score was flattering to say the least.
USA appears to be very underated. They basically dominated the CONCAF or whatever the division is called qualifying. I think they led from beginning to end in the freakin 3 years it takes to qualify. Then they score right away against a team that was somewhat considered superior, played defense the entire match, gave up a late score and then scored again right away for the win.
Also, seems alot of these groups are the luck of the draw. Say US opens against Germany and loses and Ghana beats Portugal in the 1st game. Then it is a whole different group than what it previously was with current draw even though everyone plays everyone because teams may rest players once they have advanced and if you start off with 3 points like the US did, most USA fans are satisfied with a draw against Portugal (so will play defensive) because that will get them out of the group because of Portugal's lopsided defeat assuming Germany doesn't blow the US out.
I dont know all the rules of soccer, but if you wanted to play purely defensive and not even care about scoring, I don't see how another team could score. Couldn't you have 3 goalies. Yes I assume only one can use his hands. But alot of goals are soft misdirection shots where another leg in there could kick it out.
Also, seems alot of these groups are the luck of the draw. Say US opens against Germany and loses and Ghana beats Portugal in the 1st game. Then it is a whole different group than what it previously was with current draw even though everyone plays everyone because teams may rest players once they have advanced and if you start off with 3 points like the US did, most USA fans are satisfied with a draw against Portugal (so will play defensive) because that will get them out of the group because of Portugal's lopsided defeat assuming Germany doesn't blow the US out.
I dont know all the rules of soccer, but if you wanted to play purely defensive and not even care about scoring, I don't see how another team could score. Couldn't you have 3 goalies. Yes I assume only one can use his hands. But alot of goals are soft misdirection shots where another leg in there could kick it out.
Then there is this:
Ben Lyttleton @benlyt
As if it couldn't get any worse for Portugal, @_GoncaloLopes says GK Rui Patricio is injured too. That's 3 of back 5 cld be out v USA
And Ronaldo is clearly not 100%. He's got major knee issues that can't be cured in a matter of weeks...he probably won't be fully fit until the summer is over. If you've watched him in the past, it's easy to tell he's not at top speed right now.
If you've watched sports long enough, you can see signs of when a team is ready to pack it in. Portugal has that look. Lots of injuries, crushed in the opener, bitching among teammates...it all adds up to a huge uphill climb. If the US can score the first goal, it's hard to see Portugal overcoming that.
Right now, the line is Portugal -1. I think that's an absolute gift...it may push, but I think there's very little chance the USA +1 would lose.
