Final: United States 1, England 1

Source: NYTimes

The Americans pull off an upset draw, though England pressed the team’s defense relentlessly in the 2nd half.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/pages/sports/index.html

It doesn't take much. ;)

It is another step in rejoining and embracing the world.

Awesome game, and tying England is huge for us.

This was unexpected.

can't...get it...out ...of my...head...

Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher
See the champions, take the field now, you define us, make us feel proud
In the streets our heads are lifting, as we lose our inhibition,
Celebration, it surround us, every nations, all around us

Singing forever young, singing songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautiful game,
And together at the end of the day.
We all say

When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a wavin’ flag
When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a wavin’ flag
So wave your flag, now wave your flag, now wave your flag

Give you freedom, give you fire, give you reason, take you higher
See the champions, take the field now, you define us, make us feel proud
In the streets our heads are lifting, as we lose our inhibition,
Celebration, its around us, every nations, all around us

Singing forever young, singing songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautiful game,
And together at the end of the day.
We all say

When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a wavin’ flag
When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a wavin’ flag
So wave your flag, now wave your flag, now wave your flag
Now wave your flag (4x)

We all say
When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a wavin’ flag
When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a wavin’ flag
So wave your flag, now wave your flag, now wave your flag
Now wave your flag (4x)


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however, I was not rooting for them. I think both countries should get through to the next round.

the play.

and the US defense was sleeping.

It was a team of Brazilian arbitros. I thought the ref issuing early yellow cards helped to keep the game on an even keel without any serious incidents.

Btw, the Brazilian refs were given a crash-course on English-language obscenities because the English players (especially Rooney) are well-known for their potty-mouth protestations during a match.

As for the U.S. defense, it kept the favored English (especially Rooney) from scoring except for that one very early goal. Holding the high-powered English to only one goal is a feat in itself.

Tim Howard (from North Brunswick, New Jersey) was terrific in goal. Has to be MVP of the match.

the rest of the defense spent most of the game watching the Brits shoot (and this comes from the wife of a man who played for 18 years).

The US defense has *always* been a weak spot.

How do they count "shots on goal" in soccer? At one point in the second half ABC had a graphic that showed England with ten shots to the US' two or three in the second half. I could only recall the US goalie making three maybe four saves total in the second half at that point. Do they count every kick into the goal box? The ones that go just wide or just high? Do kick-ins from far out that go on goal count?

I am not a soccer fan, I am watching the WC and trying to get interested but so far I am a bit underwhelmed. Not enough scoring chances. Don't have to have a lot of goals, but if it were more like hockey with 50-60 legit chances a game....

Stats Summary: USA / ENG
Shots: 13 / 18
Shots on Goal: 4 / 8
Saves: 6 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 8
Fouls: 14 / 12
Offside: 2 / 5

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2010/06/US-Draws-England-to-Open-2010-FIFA-World-Cup.aspx

Keep watching. Other teams may have more exciting play and more goals. But it will never be basketball numbers...

Cheers

the cards given were for perfectly legal challenges, yet the refs missed the clear cleat lead-in fouls.
I'm not at all saying the refs gave the Brits the advantage. I'm just saying they were totally ridiculous in some of their calls. I know my way around a soccer game. I played for a little bit, but I've watched my husband play and watched him watch and call games. Even my Brit friends admitted that the refs were off.

It seemed to me that Howard saved the US defense time and time again. There were numerous situations where it was the English player and Howard 1 on 1 where Howard either made the save or got the English player to kick it wide. I thought the US defense allowed the English forwards to penetrate wayyyy to much.

I'm not a soccer buff or anything, so I could be way off. I watched with soccer buffs who were saying the same thing. Still, who knows. All I know is I was MORE than pleased to get out of that game with a tie. Hopefully the US can take care of business with Slovenia and Algeria now and avoid Germany in the Round of 16.

If so, a draw kind of translates as a win for the US, I guess...

I don't care. I'm going for Argentina coz that's what I got in the office sweepstake thingy. Oh, and seeing Australia is actually considered to be underdogs at this World Cup stuff, I'll go for them until they start winning and then I'll drop them like a hot potato until they start losing again...

Soccer in the US has become more popular in recent years. No one here knows cricket, though the Caribbean guys often play it in the park near my house.

Australia is a heavy underdog today v. Germany. I will root for Australia.

Poor goalie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUEOq4cPsiI

:woohoo:

He fucked up and nobody will forget it.

making such a big deal of his "mistake" that it takes away from Dempsey's shot. This was NOT an 'own goal' situation. Dempsey deserves credit.
AND unlike all the comparisons to Bill Buckner, Green did not lose the game, or the series. It was a draw.


And WELCOME to DU by the way.

:hi:

sport.

now if they could ban those damned horns from the WC.

Keep going team!