USA vs Germany

[brian]

And for those of you guys who do not have multiple screens going, Portugal does NOT look invested in this game at all.

That result was unbelievable. I can't tell you how much I thought Ghana was going to score... Not invested is a massive understatement, at that point that you posted that.

But, then... Ghana just looked disinterested at a certain point. It's not that some of them didn't put in effort, but they very rarely put together a collective effort forward, and were extremely lax getting back.

So, a moping, plodding Portugal team was allowed multiple counters... eventually leading to probably the 2nd worse goal of the tournament (that Russian dude is going to take that title, barring some true buffoonery.)

And once it was 2-1, Ghana really just quit. To the point that I started almost getting nervous that they'd allow Portugal to start pounding in goals. Thankfully, Portugal were still in supreme sulk mode and after a couple of close calls with CR, they stopped pressing with about 4 or 5 minutes to go.

Overall, that shit was just bizarre to watch.

Yeah, it really was. Your synopsis is exactly right. Ghana quit after that Ronaldo goal for some reason even though Portugal was still defending very passively. Portugal had at least two maybe three more great chances at goal and could have easily ended up winning that game 4-1 or even 5-1

[Nonlinear FC]

Easy fucking goal for him. Keeper cleared it right to him, just near the penalty spot.

He could've done just about anything else there, and been fine. The text book calls for him to... and this is gonna shock some people... CATCH THE FUCKING BALL. The next option, if he's a little nervous about a player jostling him so close to his own goal, is to tip the ball over the bar. Option 3, and this is suboptimal, but acceptable, is to swat the ball to the side.

But the one thing you are taught, over and over and over again as a goalie is NEVER push a rebound or a cross to the penalty spot. And that was neither a shot, nor a cross. That was horrible.

=-=-=-=-==-

I watched a good chunk of the Ghana - Germany game, and one thing I found really odd was the fact that Ghana's keeper pretty much refused to catch a cross. I could be wrong, but if I am not by much, but I don't recall that guy catching one cross in that game.

Catching is kind of important.

[Nonlinear FC]

Portugal is subbing their keeper in the 88th minute. Beto is apparently hurt

That was another really weird aspect of the denouement over there. He was wincing, limping, grimacing and holding his side for a good 10 minutes before that. Then they sub him out and has a little bitch fest about it.

Like, hey asshole, don't go through all of the classic "I'm hurt, but too much a man to wave for a sub, but HEY I'M HURT" bullshit and then act like a 7 year old told he can't get on the roller coaster routine when they sub you out.

Weirdo.

[A_B]

I figured he was crying because it was probably his last world cup moment.

[Nonlinear FC]

Survive and advance, I guess.

Ghana is gonna need a new witchdoctor

Some of you are friends of mine on Facebook, so apologies for the duplicate sentiment here:

Strike the "I guess" part.

NO ONE gave the U.S. a shot of getting out of this group when the ping pong balls were pulled in December. No. One. Even the most ardent and zealous U.S. supporter wavered.

But we just saw a team up against very long odds pull out of what most acknowledged was the hardest group in the tournament. Even if you want to quibble on what was the hardest group, THAT'S NOT THE POINT. We are moving on and two very good teams (on paper, at least) are booking flights home.

[govmentchedda]

Survive and advance, I guess.

Ghana is gonna need a new witchdoctor

Some of you are friends of mine on Facebook, so apologies for the duplicate sentiment here:

Strike the "I guess" part.

NO ONE gave the U.S. a shot of getting out of this group when the ping pong balls were pulled in December. No. One. Even the most ardent and zealous U.S. supporter wavered.

But we just saw a team up against very long odds pull out of what most acknowledged was the hardest group in the tournament. Even if you want to quibble on what was the hardest group, THAT'S NOT THE POINT. We are moving on and two very good teams (on paper, at least) are booking flights home.

Amen.

[brian]

Survive and advance, I guess.

Ghana is gonna need a new witchdoctor

Some of you are friends of mine on Facebook, so apologies for the duplicate sentiment here:

Strike the "I guess" part.

NO ONE gave the U.S. a shot of getting out of this group when the ping pong balls were pulled in December. No. One. Even the most ardent and zealous U.S. supporter wavered.

But we just saw a team up against very long odds pull out of what most acknowledged was the hardest group in the tournament. Even if you want to quibble on what was the hardest group, THAT'S NOT THE POINT. We are moving on and two very good teams (on paper, at least) are booking flights home.

Not only that, but even when we did try to do the math on advancing it went something like -- beat Ghana and draw one against Portugal and Germany and hope that's enough. And of course that's EXACTLY what we did. Not going to apologize for anything.

[mister d]

You could apologize for being mean to TurdRyan.

[degenerasian]

Red Card for Belgium's Defour just before halftime

That's 1 player suspended for Tuesday against the US plus 10-men belgium will have to run more in the 2nd half.

[brian]

Red Card for Belgium's Defour just before halftime

That's 1 player suspended for Tuesday against the US plus 10-men belgium will have to run more in the 2nd half.

It's not impossible (though unlikely) that Algeria might beat them out. They have to get two goals and have to have Belgium lose to KOR though.

[govmentchedda]

Red Card for Belgium's Defour just before halftime

That's 1 player suspended for Tuesday against the US plus 10-men belgium will have to run more in the 2nd half.

It's not impossible (though unlikely) that Algeria might beat them out. They have to get two goals and have to have Belgium lose to KOR though.

Does Algeria need to win by two, or get two to tie, then win by one?

[brian]

Red Card for Belgium's Defour just before halftime

That's 1 player suspended for Tuesday against the US plus 10-men belgium will have to run more in the 2nd half.

It's not impossible (though unlikely) that Algeria might beat them out. They have to get two goals and have to have Belgium lose to KOR though.

Does Algeria need to win by two, or get two to tie, then win by one?

No, they just need to win and BEL lose. That would take care of the GD.

[Sabo]

Red Card for Belgium's Defour just before halftime

Not surprised. He picked up quite a few red cards when he was on one of my Football Manager teams. Good player, though.

[brian]

This could well be the craziest second half in the group stage games yet. If KOR win 2-0 and Russia wins 1-0, then KOR goes through in second place. Russia can't park the bus.

[HDO45331]

Greece vs Germany

[howard]

Beckenbauer obviously a bit of a surprise…but Confucius say, "name go in book"

[Johnny Carwash]

Someone at Gawker is not familiar with the Men in Blazers' sense of humor.