What's great in these Cup moments is when teams from different continents face one another.

Algeria played against Germany without the kind of complex a European team would have shown.
I was puzzled at first, wondering whether their stamina wouldn't wither too early, but no, they were up for the task.

Neuer playing so high as a sweeper, as !@#$%! said, my eyes bulged.
Someone please lob him in the quarter.

Politics now: when Algeria got through the group stages, some demonstrations of joy here and there in France lead to the police arresting people being excessively violent (burning cars, looting shops). This made the news here. Which prompted the National Front leader to demand that immigration stopped. But she can't top Ann Coulter.
In the South of France, in Nice, the mayor published a decree to make sure noone would hand an Algerian flag at his/her window (I bet it wasn't restricted to Algeria, any non French flag, but the target was the Algerian community). Ridiculous. In my hometown, during the Euro, there were Portugese flags down a few streets, noone's ever complained.

I guess most people are happy here that Algeria didn't make it, fearing animosity in the aftermath of the game.

I'll try to watch the US face Belgium.
Haven't seen your team play a whole game yet.
I have no idea what the backline looks like, apart from DaMarcus (how I liked him in his younger days). I'd really like to see how Zusi plays.

watching argentina for 90 minutes has been an exercise in frustration

props to switzerland for defending well, but... COME ON!

BOrefest for sure.

it got hotter near the end but the clock won.

Was there some kind of conspiracy to make this the most BORING Round of 16 in WORLD CUP HISTORY?? What the fuck yo, its worse than watching the worst teams play in the fucking Gold Cup ;)

I swear Martinique vs Canada would blow away like the past FOUR matches!!

FINALLY. Thank God another boring fucking game didn't end in kicks! Seriously this has been so damned boring, the only good match was Brazil-Mexico, and even the second half of that was totally fucking boring to shit...

Difficult to disagree but the last 5 mins were pretty mental. and as a basketball fan, shouldn't you be used to games that only actually come to life in the last few moments?

Massively harsh on Switzerland. The game (and pretty my argentina's tournament so far) was summed up by Di Maria's goal. Provided by their best player for probably the most disappointing player in the tournament to benefit.

This difference between a basketball game going to the buzzer and these cera-a-cero borefests is that in a basketball game there were upwards of 200-240 points scored back and forth BEFORE crunch time ;)




And this happens between 10 and 20 times leading up to it!

when canada has something like that messi-di maria combo and can stand up to someone like shaqiri i'll take you seriously

argentina's i think is a coach problem though

One more hour until the Library heads to the Rockwell Pavillion to watch USA/Belgium!

my cuz just posted this up. This novela is over the top(wait...what novela isn't?)....but this picture is hilarious.

Di Maria ran the whole time like a rabbit and in the end seemed to be the only Argentinian on the attack. He deserves a gold medal for today. I don't recall anyone else having more attempts than him.

Not sure that Switzerland deserved better. Argentina dominated the 2nd half, Switzerland came back briefly in overtime but then gambled on penalties.

Also peculiar the ref gives no stoppage time at the end of the first half but at the end of the second overtime suddenly 3 minutes are required? Oh ha ha ha. Hm…

The Argentinian attack continues to be a mess though. Poor as a team, overcome only by individual brilliance. Again, I think Sabella is lacking. But Switzerland defended very well in their area and their gigantic keeper was very good-- I forget his Italian last name right this second.


HILARIOUS

And yet the results are the same as if it were any shit CONCACAF teams, 1-0 ;)

Meh, I could careless about talent on paper when it doesn't show up on the pitch. Be HONEST, how is watching 130 minutes of NO SCORING even remotely entertaining?? I mean, I love futbol, but I don't think ANYBODY loves that boring shit!

teh game was mega-frustrating but as usual you're looking at the surface.

argentina didn't fail to score for lack of trying. messi would have 3 men on top of him constantly. are they lacking cohesion? for damn fucking sure. are they terrible? no way.

strangely enough, this has been the best argentinian match of the world cup-- once they start cooking with gas you'll have to hide under the table because an earthquake is coming.

then again maybe sabella fucks it up.

I like no score or late scoring matches. The tension just builds and builds and builds! That is part of sport!

"I do not like basketball. Any sport where you can score 100 points and still lose makes no sense." - Tom Hanks.

Messi's pass was amazing though. Froze up the Swisssssss

You mad? There's only been two bad games. Brazil/Chile was great and so was Germany/Algeria. I guttingly missed the Columbia game so I can;t comment on that one.

Yeah, I'm exaggerating a bit, but all these 80 minutes 0-0 stretches are getting on my nerves..



Its true because I didn't even turn this game on until overtime BUT my point remains valid, 0-0 matches are boring. Yes, there is the obvious tension, but that same tension is there in 1-1 or even 1-0 matches as well, indeed its amplified.


Sorry, try harder. IF you're truly the best player in the world, fucking score a goal brah, its your job. For example, the Miami Heat may have just lost the Championship, but to be clear, the best player in the NBA was also the highest scoring, most assist, most rebounding player in that series. Even though Heat lost, Lebron did his job. Messi? I'm just not seeing it no matter how many "on-goal" kicks he has, because the point of futbol is to put at least some of those kicks through the goal no?




If you say so. I can appreciate the nuances and subtleties of a low-scoring futbol match as much as the next guy, BUT this is the Round of 16, these are some of the best teams in the world, I expect at least SOME scoring yo ;)


If Argentina couldn't score against the Swiss, they should be careful to think they are favorites. For all the no-scoring games that have happened, the Argentinians did the worst (the French, Dutch, and Germans all managed to pile on a few quick goals at the end of their scoreless matches meanwhile Argentina was a posted on-goal kick by the Swiss away from going to penalty kicks or did you forget that part, hence why scoring goals is important, Argentina scores two goals that Swiss chance never happens)

colombia was awesome! i hope you catch a recording.


i won't dignify that with an answer


i don't think they are. they have a lot of individual quality but as a team they're still a no go. if they shape up in time though...

You should it was a perfectly apt analogy. Lebron James is indisputably the mos talented player in basketball in the world. Messi has been considered the undisputed best player in futbol in the world. Lebron James OWNED the US Olympics in 2012, and even in the last series where the Heat played LIKE SHIT and got BLOWN out three consecutive games Lebron was literally the best player on the court, from either team, even though his team lost. I just haven't seen that from Messi in this Cup..




Isn't the Quarters about time already?

Btw... GO USA!!!!

I stand totally corrected!

EXACTLY what I was worried about. !@#$%! is right that against Belgium we should attack more, indeed we've had the ball more than them but they are shooting the shit out of us, 8-2!!

Even worse, whenever we get into the penalty area and it looks like we may be about to get some good scoring opportunity, somebody fumbles the ball around and its a broken play and Belgium gets the takeway.

!@#$%!, are you watching?? This is what I warned you about if USA relies on a heavy attack.. we just don't have the creativity or the footwork. Look at some of the best goals of this Cup, they all came from opening up something explosive near the goal. The US just doesn't have that..

Also, the debate should be settled. Landon Donovan > Clint Dempsey PERIOD. Landon, put on the deal with it meme shades






Props to how we play better as a team, move the ball better midfield, can actually control a possession until... we try to score ;)

shit, this has been an exciting first half

my favorite US players so far are damarcus and deandre yedlin.

bradley has to be the most uncreative trequartista on the planet. the anti-maradona. he makes decent passes from the midfield but upfront he chokes.

BRING IN JOZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4-4-1-1

tense! So many goals in Group round and so few in the round of 16!

Bradley isn't about creating, he is about being in the middle as an anchor. His defense is good and he is at least always on the ball.. We need some better offense. Bring in Diskerud or Wondo.. Definitely try Jozy though since he isn't playing I'm not sure he is healthy enough to play. Honestly USA has been the WORST offense in the World Cup (statistically and aesthetically) but this is largely been a result of the absence of Jozy, we're just not the same team without him on the pitch..

Dempsey?? Not cutting it. We dropped Landon Donovan for that?? Meh!

It has been an exciting first half BUT only if you're rooting for (a) Belgium or (b) USA defense to get some good defensive stops and saves ;)

he doesn't anchor for shit unless he's low on the midfield. up top he's just confusing. dempsey needs a partner, and golden child is as skilled as a 3-legged giraffe.

He has been playing out of position if you hadn't noticed, I'm talking about what Bradley NORMALLY does, and what is his skill set.

Also, I think the debate is officially settled,

Landon > Dempsey

When we had Landon AND Dempsey they could create off of each other, but one minus the other and the entire offense suffers so I hope Jurgen is proud of himself, with Landon in we actually could beat Belgium :(

Literally the ONLY team worse offensively in this World Cup was Honduras!! And it was just barely at that!! That is frankly embarrassing.

Awful so far. Interesting he dropped Beckerman.

I think its been hurting our defense BUT clearly our offense (in regards to passing and possession) has markedly improved..

shit fuck dog fuck

we're inviting a goal

we need an outlet up

MAKE A CHANGE GODDAMMIT

By the way y'all keep shitting on the wrong dude shitting on Bradley. WHERE THE FUCK IS DEMPSEY??? IS HE EVEN PLAYING?? Funny, if he is I hadn't noticed ;)

Bring In Wondo Or Brooks Or Diskerud And Put Fucking Clint Out Of His Misery Already!!! This Game Is Getting Painful To Watch :(

no titbrains no!!

bring in jozy for the finish

take out golden child

switch to 4-4-1-1

give dempsey a partner

Clearly Jozy isn't coming yo, accept that and move on. If you think Clint should stay in this match you're fucking crazy.. Bradley had a great take away, it got passed down to Clint in the penalty area? What happened? Oh right, clint was running so damned sloooooooow that the ball almost sailed right past him. Another wasted opportunity.


STOP DISSING BRADLEY, HE HAS NOT BEEN THE PROBLEM.


Fuck that. I love Clint, but the guy is playing shit futbol and somebody has to say it. Yes, OF COURSE Jozy being out has been the crucial difference, but next man up , no excuses.

Finally Some Fucking Wondo Time!!!!! Hopefully he can pick up and give us that boost we need offensively.. maybe even motivate Clint to step the fuck up or sit the fuck down..

hapless fucker can only pass backwards

he's a midfielder, but not on the attack.

NOT IN THE LAST 3RD

FOR THE LAST TIME BRADLEY'S JOB ISN'T USUALLY ATTACK, HE HAS BEEN PLAYING OUT OF POSITION, AND VERY ABLY AT THAT. He has been the most consistent ball handler and a top defender.. If you're asking him to attack its YOU who fucked up, expecting a player to do more than they are capable of.

Who on the roster do you suggest replace him exactly?

klinsi already pulled him back and put wondo up w/ clint.

fuck now gonzalez hurt. shit!

--

if he goes out, pull back cameron and put in beckerman

good, pull him back into where he is more comfortable.. for once we agree on this, USA needs to ATTACK!!!!

One thing about when USA has Landon, we attack ably enough AT THE LEAST to get a lot of good corner kicks..