World Cup chatter thread.

[Phishfan]

But aren't we pretty much expecting Portugal to beat Ghana?  Aren't they the better of the team.  This is the group of death because of Portugal and Germany...not Ghana.

Portugal is not playing well and Ghana is underrated. It is the Group of Death because it is the toughest group of four teams, not just because of two of them.

[Pappy13]

It's pretty difficult for the US to not advance.

US win - Advance
US tie - Advance
US loss + Ghana tie - Advance
US loss + Ghana loss - Advance, unless Portugal wins by several goals and US loses by several goals.
US loss + Ghana win - Kicked out, unless Ghana wins by only 1 goal, in which I think US advances on H2H, but I'm not sure.

Now put percentages on those happening. The most likely scenario in my opinion is the US losing and Ghana winning the way Portugal is playing. The goal differential between Ghana and the US is +2 in favor of the US as they have won 2-1 and tied 2-2 for +1 GD and Ghana has lost 2-1 and tied 2-2 for -1 GD. If the US loses by 2 or more and Ghana wins Ghana is in as they will have a better GD. If Ghana wins by 2 or more and the US loses, Ghana is in again as they will again have a better GD. The only way that the US advances if they lose and Ghana wins is if the US loses by 1 and Ghana wins by 1. That will put them even on GD, but then it comes down to total goals scored and the US can score no fewer than 1 less than Ghana because they have 4 total goals and Ghana has 3. For instance if Ghana wins 2-1 and the US loses 1-0, Ghana is in and the US is out as Ghana would have scored 5 total goals and the US only 4.

There are actually quite a few ways that Ghana can beat out the US and some of them are likely. Portugal, not so much.

[Fau Teixeira]

Well when we drop 7 on ghana we'll make it in on goal difference vs. the US .. it's sad but it'll just be the way it goes.

[CF DolFan]

Well when we drop 7 on ghana we'll make it in on goal difference vs. the US .. it's sad but it'll just be the way it goes.

Being a Dolphins fan has made you ever the optimist! 

[Fau Teixeira]

which is the exact opposite of being portuguese. by definition no-one is as pessimistic about the national soccer team than portuguese people are about the seleção

[Brian Fein]

We were discussing this yesterday... 

Wouldn't it be mutually beneficial for both Germany and US to play to a draw?  Both would then advance to the knockout round automatically.

Why not make a phone call before the game and make some arrangements?

[CF DolFan]

We were discussing this yesterday... 

Wouldn't it be mutually beneficial for both Germany and US to play to a draw?  Both would then advance to the knockout round automatically.

Why not make a phone call before the game and make some arrangements?

West Germany has done that before in a game against Austria. Hrubesch scored for the West Germans 10 minutes in, and players spent much of the rest of the evening passing to their teammates without threatening the opposing goal.  Klinsmann has adamantly denied the US and Germany will do that although he has many good friends over there .. including the coach.

[Brian Fein]

All the players already know that they are in with a draw.  Just sayin' as a smart player, with a 0-0 tie in the 70th minute, I don't expect either team to be putting on a lot of pressure...

[Dave Gray]

I don't think it's so much a matter of friends, but just a matter of self-preservation.  When you push offense, you leave yourself open for steals and goals the other way.  5 points gets you in.  Though unethical, both teams "should" just push for a tie and move on.

[Phishfan]

^^^ I would not call it unethical. It happens in the sport all the time from friendlies to qualification games to the tournament itself.

[Fau Teixeira]

So the game between Uruguay and Italy was a real biter !!!

[Guru-In-Vegas]

Luis Suarez really sank his teeth into Italy's defense.

[CF DolFan]

Orlando City has drafted up a letter for employees to give their employers in order to promote ... For Lunch/Club and Country. They are asking employers to give longer lunch breaks on Thursday to watch the game. I've taken PTO in order to have enough time to watch.

http://orlandocitysc.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/MLS/OC_ForLunchAndCountry.pdf

[Pappy13]

Wouldn't it be mutually beneficial for both Germany and US to play to a draw?  Both would then advance to the knockout round automatically.

Why not make a phone call before the game and make some arrangements?

While it's mutually beneficial for both teams to play to a draw, there is incentive for both teams to win the game. Are you going to risk that the other team suddenly decides in the last minute of the game to go for a win? On top of that, while a tie gets them both in, a 1-0 loss for the US is not nearly as good as a 4-3 loss, so they would really like to score a couple of goals before settling for a tie. So what are they going to do, simply watch while the other teams scores a couple of goals and then sit back and play it safe? That would be very poor sportsmanship on both teams parts.  While it's technically feasible, it's just not all that probable.

[masterfins]

I could easily see Germany & US play to a draw.  It was a very rainy morning down there and I doubt either team wants to see a player get injured because they were going all out.