Book_guy,

Yoa are right about Agoos. He is the most experienced, cool-headed defensive player on the US team, but he is a great liability. His inability to close in and mark his Korean counterparts directly resulted on (I counted) at least three quality shots on goal. Thank goodness the Koreans are the "red gang who couldn't shoot straight" or the US was looking at a 2-3 goal loss.

I was equally dissapointed in Reyna, although his defensive marks were OK, his inability and undesire to push foward the ball to the wings took the US out of any offensive rythm. Time and time again, when he could have pushed foward or look to slot balls foward, he chose instead to square the ball or rotated it back to the defensive backline.

The US had NO corners. At least two they should have had were ignored or flagged away by the referee. This show the US had very few advances down the flanks.

Mathis was gassed at about 60 minutes as I predicted and became a defensive liability. He is an explosive offensive player and it is a shame he came to Korea not in his best physical form. He will be in for a rude awakening if he goes to Europe.

I hate to second guess coaches, having been one myself, but my subs would have been Mastroenni for Reyna at about the 55-60 minutes, JMM for Mathis and Jones for Beasely. within the same timeline.. Why Arena didn't use the third sub in a defensive situation like this is a mystery to the World Soccer community.

I think he maybe taking a page from the Lakers Phil Jackson. Jackson is famous for letting his players work out the problems on the floor and of it, by themselves.

"You are the ones who got us here, we believe in you, now finish the job"

Now the US can hope that Portugal beat Korea by three goals and the US, win lose or draw, can mail in the game against Poland.

Do you realize that if Mexico and the US wins it final game. the US will have to face Italy (or maybe even Croatia). in the next round. Let us hope that if the US wins, the Mexicans will have the decency to lose against Italy, so we can face them in the 2nd round.

OG

¡Los jugadores argentinos son mujeres!

http://www.expressen.nu/html/bildarkiv/bilder/argentina.jpg

Organ Grinder: I agree with you about Agoos and about the flank-play and the suggestions for substitutions; disagree about Reyna. I think his "holding up" worked well, and he should have done more of it. Ah well, I'll pay the first round you pay the second and we can argue about it some more.

My mother, who is an astute observer of the game and who told me this over the phone with a definite "trust me, from a mother who just knows" sort of flair, explained that Mathis was having an asthma attack. She's seen it before. The humidity, or allergies, or something -- it wasn't only low fitness, which may or may not have played a larger part in making exercise-induced ashtma attcks more likely. The trainers should have caught it before the match and pulled him. You can do a lung percussion test after the initial sprints and warm-ups.

So, I'm not so impressed with USA's staff for that game. Nor with the ref. But hey, the big red cauldron ... it's a good result to come out of there and run.

PS -- I say Korean fans are better than Japanese just cuz they seemed louder, more supportive, also more generally positive and knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Generally. Course, I wasn't there, at any of the matches, what do I know?

Has it ever occurred to you that the loudness you hear on TV is the function of the volume control?

I mean, why don't you turn up the volume so that the Japanese will sound as loud as Koreans?

So much for being a pre-tournament favorite - france bites the big one & is gone.

The bureaucrats killed 'em. Jacquet must be quite bitter about the way that he built something great that got pissed away through political infighting and inept management. There were flashes of brilliance, just to let us know what we'll be missing. But more power to the Danes, they rowed their Viking ship and executed a competent raid.

No llores por mi Argentina
Jamas yo te he abandonado
Aunque en silencio, mi alma te grita
Hoy y por siempre
[Soy Argentina]
Soy Argentina

Hey, if ya can't score against big tall European defenses, yer gonna have a tough time gettin' through round one. Bielsa gets the booby prize: biggest idiotic booby, definitely. At least France had injuries to blame their performance on ...

Paraguay gets a SQUEAKER. Chilavert looked like shit, but he got his goal ... an AUTOGOOOOOOOOOOOOOLASSSSSSSSSOOOOOOO ...

Hmm.. if USA ends up playing Mexico in round 2
this might not be a good time to be a gringo
south of the border. I would not have liked to be a
Japanese tourist at the Kremlin last week!
If this matchup happens it will be on 17th or 18th
Jun (maybe 16th/17th with time difference).

I am hoping for USA and Mexico in next round for bragging rights Norte America style.
That Mexican player no 4 Marquez has been the best central defender, it's not even close. At first, I thought he was just not pushed around but after 3 games, no one has been able to go around him. Too bad mexican goalie is very soft in the air so i do not see mexico reach semi.
If Brazil can fix their defensive mental lapses which i believe they will, they should win 5th wc easily as too much firepower.
Too bad for ticos but turkey had better team anyway.
It's looking like a great weekend of futebol.
Go USA and thanks china for completing my 4 team parlay.

Hey, you bet against China? Wow, THAT'S a risk ...

I was rooting for China to get a goal so they would outperform France, heh heh. I am worried about Brazil's mental lapses in defense, as Athos says. I'm impressed with Italy's capacity to squeak through thanks to factors entirely out of their control -- maybe we're seeing the development of a new France98 squad (remember them winning Euro2000 even though they lost the game until the 94th minute?). I'd give Cannavaro the nod as best central defender so far, although Marquez sure is remarkable. Poor Jeff Agoos, mopping up for so many other people he'll never be in top form to perform his own position. Maybe a terrorist will get Tony Sanneh in the achilles tendon ... (no, I wouldn't REALLY wish that on anyone) ... I like the looks of Sweden, one of the most successful non-winners ever, we tend to forget. Ticos unfortunately go home, but a fair result in Group C.

The name of the game in this World Cup is most definitely NOT "listen to your coach, I know he sounds crazy as a loon, but listen to your coach." Rather, it's "run like hell and hustle, I know you're tired, but run like hell." Edgar Davids would have been the king of that, and I fear Holland would have taken the Championship thanks to him. But they had SUCH a blockhead as coach -- worse than Bielsa or Trap or LeMerre ... theories galore, never mind reality. That's why I like Brazil, they have an "un-coach." Kinda like the un-cola. Sweden and Germany also look to be shoe-ins (heh) to their respective Semi's (not that they look that GOOD, they just look better than the other teams in their brackets).

I know, I know, I'm jumping the gun. Two groups (D and H) aren't even decided yet. But really, do those results matter ... at all ... to the eventual knock-out competitions? USA versus Belgium for the Whole Big Magilla, riiiiiight.

book_guy
I am coming out with my picks tomorrow after tonight's game. Brazil will win 5th wc.
After watching round 1, I turned around to parlay against saudis and chinese remaining games. Cameroun barely beat Saudis, only sweat as Chinese I love them, so reliable.

athos,
i couldnt agree with your piks more, but that brasilian back line just goes to sleep at times. lucio played well for his german team, and edmillson did score that amazing goal, but they just dont seem to keep their concentration the whole match. if they can tighten it up back there, i think they will win. if not, i bet it is someone like sweden, germany, or even a darkhorse like denmark who steals the cup. dont forget the italians.....whining and all.

Sonnyp
I believe the Brazil problem on D is mental as players are top flight players. Otherwise Denmark could surprise them in possible 1/4 rematch from 98.
I also believe games in knockout rounds will be more defensive so I would expect Carlos and Cafu to be less adventurous. Rivaldo is starting to warmup as well as Ronaldo. They are way above the rest in terms of skills, they can score at any time it seems while other teams just hope for a break.

Agoos

Ouch. The poles are scoring like it is a basketball game. So much for the USA advancing to the 2nd round.

athos,

i agree that brasil's problems on D are mental, and that the players are obviously highly skilled. it just seems that once brasil starts scoring, that the mental lapses begin, almost if the whole team wants to put on a show rather than play good football. i guess this is the paradox of brasilian football......winning v.s. looking good.
i will be in rio for their next match as well as the 1/4 final match with eng/denk winner if all goes according to script. can only imagine the energy in rio if team plays well. nothing like relaxing in a therma after a big wc win....wish you were going to be there.

Ah Sonnyp, I envy you, have a great time.

YT
Not so fast, Korea beat Portugal to send Yankees through...

Here are my picks for 1/8:
Germany 2 - Paraguay 0, Klose scores on header again!!!
Denmark 1 - England 1, Denmark wins on pk's, not 1 but 2 englishmen hit the post during shootout.
Sweden 2 - Senegal 1 in extra time, sweden scores winning goal on controversial pk in extra time, senegal get 3 red cards.
Spain 1 - Ireland 0. Raul scores winning goal, trying to make a pass, he hits top corner.
Mexico 2 - USA 1 in extra time, Agoos scores own goal but on a header this time, through Friedel's legs. Chicas rejoice, service gets even worse in Zona Norte, TJ...
Brazil 2 - Belgium 0, Ronaldo scores again towards golden boot.
Japan 1 - Turkey 0. Nakata scores on a volley.
Italy 1 - Korea 0. Korea dominates but Vieri scores lone goal.

Rematch from 98 in 1/4 Brazil-Denmark and Mexico-Germany (actually 86 rematch as well).
So I am looking at brazil-denmark, japan-sweden, germany-mexico and italy-spain. This looks like a repeat of 1994 and 1970. Brazil will end up being their 3rd greatest team ever behind 1970 and 1958 edition. Termas service gets even better, hombres rejoice and are the real winner.

The only bet that i like is to parlay Germany (Ballack may not play) and Brazil.

Hejduk is suspended for mexico game.
As much as i dislike Agoos he may be the right replacement for Hejduk and start Berhalter in central defense. USA has improved a lot but defense is achilles tendon.
O'Brien is best American, Reyna played better. I would bench Stewart and start Beasley and Donovan in midfield.
Mexico has better team, so let them have the ball and counter with Donovan and Beasley.

athos,
if therma service gets any better, hombres may start droppin dead from pleasure overload......we can only dream!

What I've learned from watching the results at this Cup, is not to value too much the notion of a capacity for wise tactical reading of the game.

Example: Agoos and Reyna, clearly, have those skills to a high degree, but fat lot of good it did them against the Poles. Similarly Veron of Argentina, Maldini of Italy. Cannavaro of Italy, on the other hand -- a hustling midfielder pressed into fullback service, rather than a cagey fullback in his own right -- is having a fabulous Cup. I am stunned at how effective USA's Sanneh, Donovan, and Beasley have been. Their physical skills make up for any stupid mistakes they used to make in Qualifying -- what happened to convince them to stop passing the ball to the opposition? Beasley is Jeff Agoos' roommate for Galaxy and USA -- and the kid has ADMIRABLY learned to cover his structural responsibilities despite his size. Time for him to start lifting weights and eating steak.

The same concept -- athleticism over brains -- goes at this Cup for whole teams. Example: Italy -- tactically sound, and great at defending Mexico's lead for them, LOL -- and Argentina and hordes of others. You go home if you can't out-hustle and out-fight big, tall, organized, stalwart European defenses (Belgium has one, Russia couldn't crack it; France couldn't crack Denmark; Argentina couldn't crack England or Sweden; Italy almost departed after not being able to crack Croatia). I'm a little disappointed, thus, that this Cup is turning into one of athleticism as the prime motivator for advancement. This bodes ill for Brazil against Belgium and / or the England-Denmark winner. Brazil have yet to PLAY, let alone beat, a "real" European side (by "real" I mean, not Turkey).

But USA get their needed result, a squeaker. We'll take what we can get. Portugal beat themselves. And yet they cracked the Polish defense ...

I think Jeff Agoos is just beyond his prime, and the fitness issue is getting worse. He's being asked to do too much, and though I don't "blame" him the way the brain-dead sportscasters do, for either first-half goal versus Poland merely because Agoos was last man -- first goal he was called off by Friedel, second he was trying to catch up to Sanneh's man to mark him after Sanneh had stood still and let him run through (you have to see a longer replay to note the shift) -- nevertheless, Agoos being the last man in last-man situations means we don't have an adequate last man. Pope is the call. Agoos should go back to being a wing-back -- what his body is made for, anyway; can't blame him for his height, can we?

Pope got to Olisadebe, bumped him hard and right off his game. But Pope got to him in the 12th minute, and by then the Poles had 2 goals.

I'll be posting my subsequent picks soon. I think we'll see lots of clearing headers from tall central defenders, and no surprises.

Oh yeah, forgot to say ... Mexico plays down to their opposition. Against USA and the rest of CONCACAF in qualifying, and then against Croatia and Ecuador, they were pretty much shit. But in friendlies and against Italy they looked pretty good. This is an indictment of MEX's onfield leadership, and perhaps their "national character" as followers rather than leaders -- sort of. (As with all football-based generalizations, it's more for fun than accuracy. Anyway ...) Hopefully USA can drag Mexico down to our untactical and only quasi-defensive game, turn it into a midfield brawl, and use our speed up front to sneak a few. If, on the other hand, Aguirre gets THROUGH to those anxiety-laden Mexican Seleccion's skulls and gets them to play their game, we're dead meat.

blazers

Your "glorious" scenario didn't seem to work out, hunh? Your beloved Koreans advanced, while knocking out Portugal whatever your relationship to that country is. Oh, yeah, don't forget to say thank you thank you thank you to the Koreans for helping your US squeak by.

Hey Athos, when are you gonna get rid of that gambling monster in your blood? Didn't we have this discussion already in terms of how many more Solarium or Centaurus sessions you would have in Nov if you didn't lay those bets. JUST DO IT for Rio bro as it's so unpredictable to figure out this WC. Shit, the Poles didn't look any near the way they played the 1st two games, and we did look like newbies walking in the Adelita or terma Centaurus. I'm glad to see Agoos finally volunteer to take himself out of the game. Heiduk is my new Minister of Defense, too bad he won't be playing against Mex. Sanneh and Donovan played well as did the always hustling & reliable Beasley.

Regard the Portugese, what a bunch of talents w/o brains. They played as of they had no scoreboard relay from the sideline. They gave the Koreans no choice but to attack them after playing 8 against 10. Pure morons...

I would suggest that avoidance of TJ on Monday evening (late) might be a good idea, on the off chance that the USA wins vs Mexico.

The Mexico vs. United States game is scheduled for this Sunday night, 11:30 p.m., Pacific Standard Time.

Where in Tijuana would it be good to watch the game? Where would it be crazy good to watch a game from? (Adelitas, sports bars, etc.?) Where would it be a bad idea (safety, otherwise) to watch a game from? What would you expect in terms of the crowds and behavior (especially toward U.S. citizens, and what would/could that behavior be if Mexico prevails, and especially, if Mexico loses)?

I've also thought of taking along a camcorder to capture the people watching the game and the excitement of the crowds. Is this a good idea/bad idea? Would this be a bad thing to do even if there weren't a game?

What about the mongering on this night? How is that affected?

Would hotels in Tijuana be booked? Would it be hard to get back across the border if I'm not staying overnight in T.J.?

Thank you in advance for your responses. Any advice/suggestions/comments would be appreciated.

Byron. "Beloved Korea", I guess that was sarcasm. I root against Korea in everything because South Korea hates the U.S. Fuck them. My relationship to Portugal is that I am Portuguese and half of my family still lives there and the Azores. For me, Portugal and the U.S. would have been ideal. Portugal just got way too cocky. Portugal is the Portland Trailblazers of the World Cup. All talent and no heart.

Hey, did anyone else get screwed over by ESPN / ABC, and get up early to see that there wasn't a game on TV? What happened to GER-PAR?

I luckily recorded my local Univision affiliate, who have the good sense to show all games live (and about umpteen replays during the day on Uni, and on Telefutura). I'm disappointed the US networks can't figure it out better.

SB
I am done making big money bets sticking to low amount so I can still afford those high Centaurus fees.
I decided to parlay Germany and Brazil, Germany Brazil and Spain, also Brazil to win wc.
1/4 final between Brazil and England may be the real wc final.
Germany struggled mightily to beat lowly Paraguay showing no imagination.
England sure looks good having given up 1 goal so far. Oh so that's how you beat Denmark.

The world cup started yesterday as first round is mostly a tune up for better teams. Just too bad Argentina, France and Portugal just thought they needed to show up to advance.

I agree with Blazers. Fuck Korea, worthless America hating xenophobic gook maggots...

I don't really give a damn about Soccer, but I will pull for the USA as long as they last (although I'm not gonna watch any of it unless I'm having trouble sleeping).

I'm a little perturbed by some Mexican-Americans who are pulling for Mexico. I just got back from 7-11 where there were 4 Mex-Americans discussing it. I had to tell the jackasses that they are American citizens and should be pulling for the U.S., and if they wanted Mexico to win maybe they should move there. They were lit and might have started trouble, but there was a cop sitting in the parking lot.

I can understand if they are illegals rooting for their home country, or even if they just recently immigrated, but come on. If you are a U.S. Citizen you root for the U.S.

-Superman-

I have no trouble with mexicans in the US rooting for mexico AFTER the US has been eliminated. But rooting AGAINST the US is bullshit, if they love Mexico so much, they should go there and root.

"If you are a U.S. Citizen you root for the U.S."

What if you have friends or family who play for or are associated with that other team?

Is it possible to root for both teams?

And if you are a California resident, are you required to root for California sports teams?

A Devil's advocate kind of guy,

Out-of-Towner

Guys, I just gotta say this: Damn, I hope that the U.S. beats Mexico tonight...What a face that would be on the fetching selecion nacional...

Go U.S.!!!!!....

YoungBrig

My favorite player Jeff Agoos is out so how is Mexico going to score now? USA wins on pk's 0-0.
Ootie is right, it's only a game, you root for whoever you want to root for. Plus it's a free country. Go USA...

Go Mexico !!!!
I am gonna be at Plaza Fiesta , look for the white mexican wearing the mexican soccer shirt!
Sports is the only thing that other countries can be against the usa and still feel safe.
If not we blow you up or stop giving you money until you agree with us or do things our way !
Mexico wins by a blowout 1-0.
Usa couldn't score even if Mexico pulled its goaltender.

Soccer is a very violent spectator sport , it has to be one of the worst when it comes to fan violence.
I am glad I will look Mexican tonight.
I hope no whities will be hurt while having fun in Mexico tonight.
I am sure we will hear about a few instances if the USA wins.
i just hope it really isnt Kill whitey tonight.

Take care guys
any of you gonna be watching the game in TJ ?
Milky

LOL "Jeff Agoos is out so how is Mexico going to score now?" Brilliant repartee, but abysmal observational skills. Just watch what kinds of holes open up everywhere that Agoos used to be covering ...

If Mexico looks like they did against Italy, USA is dead meat. If Mexico looks like they did against Croatia, Mexico is dead meat. I think Mexico performing well can beat USA, Germany, Italy, Spain, even (maybe) Brazil. I think Mexico playing as usual can be beaten by USA.

I'm guessing Aguirre is a good coach and only now is his influence catching fire in the Seleccion. So, they're on their way up from their Qualifying performances. In which case, USA is, as I said, dead meat.

About rooting for your homeland -- people take sports "seriously" over there on the other side of the waters or borders, and take soccer the most seriously of all. I used to live in Toronto and saw something similar go against the Canadians. When the Olympic basketball side for Greece eliminated Canada, lots of Greek-Canadians (even second and third generation people) were out tooting car horns as though they were happy, and that offended many. It would have offended me to some extent, too. But, on the other hand, the USA isn't "the great bleaching pot," where everyone comes over here in order to be just like the fundamentalist WASPs (thank God!); it's the MELTING pot, where various flavors get mixed in but retain their old characteristics somewhat.

I like the fact that I can "connect" with a Hondureno or a Mexicano about soccer arcana -- just deliver a mindless "Cuauhtemoc! Placente! Borgetti!" at 'em and they're your best friend. How nice, you don't even need grammar.

Everybody loves to hate the USA. I'm especially pissed off at Korea, who benefit tremendously from our perpetual vigilance and great expense at defending them from a totalitarian state along their Demilitarized Zone, but who nevertheless rooted "against" USA and "for" Poland, in a rather vehement and confrontational sort of way (at least as far as media accounts go). LOL, then, irony of ironies, THEIR goal by Park (a name that will go down in infamy!) sends US through to the next round. Nyah nyah ...

Being king of the hill means everyone resents you. We have more money -- so, we should give up some money. We have more army -- so, we should protect them. We have more of everything -- so, they want to beat us at anything. Example: New Zealand is very proud to have "won" at a little game most Americans have never heard of. The town of Auckland (no, I don't call it a city) declared its harbor to be a "nuclear free zone" and celebrated heartily when the US nuclear subs had to depart for international waters, and the mariners on board had to start using landing craft for their shore leaves. All my New Zealand friends in Toronto told me, "ha ha we beat yooouuu..." and I didn't even know what they were talking about. They were miffed that I was not "embarrassed" to be a fallen Goliath to their David, and hadn't even HEARD of the incident until they told me all about it (in glowing detail; regularly; over and over again; yawn). Frankly, I'm Goliath to their Dangerfield -- no respect to them.

I think I'm gonna just avoid the whole Mexico scene tonight, and hole myself up with my remote at home. It's tempting to go find a Mexican bar that's going to be open in Tampa ... but risky, since I don't know the scene.

How about Senegal? Heart-breaker for Sweden. I SAID Senegal looked like they could keep getting the upsets. (Of course, I said that well after their first upset; and after I'd said they wouldn't score a single goal.) That game could have gone either way.

And how come Spain wilted? Their glorious elan and classy elegance disappeared for major stretches of the match. Iker gets my nod ... but Ireland only scored 3 out of 7 penalties, pathetic performance, so it's not like he gets to claim too much of the credit.

YOU ESS EY
YOU ESS EY
YOU ESS EY

I have a distinct memory that makes me angry every time I think about it. I like to see as many competitive soccer games as possible. On two occassions I was able to see the U.S. play Mexico in Los Angeles. We lost in 98 but won in 2000.

In 98, there were 99,000 screaming fans (95,000 being of Mexican descent) and 4,000 of us lowly Americans behind the goal. They played the U.S. National anthem and they booed so loud that I could not hear the song...at all.

In 2000, the U.S. started mostly young players and won the game. This time there were about 66,000 fans (65,000 Mexican). The National anthem played and again the booing was so loud that the stadium was shaking. I left the building slightly drunk and telling everyone Mexican there how shitty their team is (in Spanish). I was lucky to leave there alive.

If Mexico wins, no big deal. Soccer is the only sport that they can compete with the U.S. If we beat Mexico, the entire country's nuts are completely cut off. Mexican men must look at themselves in the mirror and realize that the U.S. is now better than them in EVERYTHING. No amount of beers can ever wash that feeling down. The sad thing is that these are mostly people whom have benefitted from the opportunity the U.S. gives them yet they hate us and love a country whom gives them nothing.

I hope that the USA shows up & plays a great game against Mexico. The USA should know Mexico as well as any opponent. Mexico has been playing well so it will be an extremely difficult match. I think that the USA is making progress in terms of becoming competitive at the professional level.

Rooting for one's team with class does not seem to occur very often in football. Personally I think going to Mexico to watch the game in a bar (or a bar on any opponents home turf for any sport) is not the wisest thing to do. Passionate fans often forget that it is only a game & get carried away.

Some of the worst post-game celebrations that I have seen involve our very our American citizens. After several of the Chicago Bulls teams won championships, the riots that ensued were extremely violent and embarassing.

Anyone knows the odd for Senegal to win it all? They looked damn good so far as no team really dominated them in 4 matches, and they scored quickly when opportunity emerged.

Any of you brass balls talkers want to join us for the match tonight at the AB or HK to root for our American team? Look for a dude wearing a Friedel shirt. If we win, I celebrate my joyce with a single, but if we loose which I doubted because we have been dominated the Mexico team recently, I will take my frustration and sadness out with a 3some.

Go RedWhite&Blue!!!

"Rooting for one's team with class does not seem to occur very often in football." Unfortunate, but I true. I think this fact is more due to the general nature of the world's football supporters -- lower class, uneducated. The English who become hooligans, for example, would have rioted over tiddly-winks, were tiddly-winks England's most popular sport. Likewise across the globe, most lower uneducated and destitute classes provide large portions of football support.

But there are bastions of high-class, here and there. Although not in the club matches, in internationals Spain, Italy, Germany, and (most notable) Holland provide wonderful non-partisan hosting and support. Remember the Oranje at Euro2000?

Busan's "red cauldron" was a wonder to behold as well (although the Poland attitude later tainted it). Japan's Blue Army has been good, as have the Danes, the French, even the Senegalese and the Saudis. If you're a small fish, you have smaller expectations, and any accomplishment is viewed in a positive light. Did you hear the interview with the man on the street in Copenhagen after the 3-0 loss to England? "Well, we are thankful that Sweden did not beat us. We do not like Sweden." LOL.

Bookguy: Thanks for a bit of reassurance regarding the U.S.' chances tonight...I have been rather depressed about our chances ever since that fetching Poland match-- that was rather disillusioning...I could kind of understand the Korea outcome...

I am sincerely hoping we come to play and *perhaps* catch the Mexican side a touch overconfident...Perhaps we pack-it-in defensively, compete in the midfield, and only go-forward on a breakaway...Send it into penalty kicks, like Athos suggested, where we'll take our chances with Friedel...

Go U.S.!!!!

YoungBrig

its 2-0 USA ..wow...... donavan is a stud!! Mexico just cant break into the tough usa defense.... about 20 minutes left plus injury and penalty time... Mexico has dominated possesssion and goal kicks, but the us has the two goal lead..

USA !! USA!!! 2-0 victory, assisted by a non call, a handball that was missed earlier, the USAs version of the "Hand of God"..lol... First time ever the USA team goes to the elite eight... any chance of beating germany?? lol...oh well..

Brad is a god. Luis Hernandez (one of the 1998 world cup stars) hasn't been paying attention during this world cup; taking the dive in not rewarded (although he got away with it once). I luv Obrien - he can really pound the shots on goal from 25-30 metres ou). Mexico has a bunch of really quick forwards but they couldn't put it into the net. Lots of yellows against the USA - might be forced to play some different guys in against Germany. Obrien really got away with one on that ball that he punched. Cobi Jones was a great hustling sub (that was any amazing shot that he took from Marquez - Marquez got his red card). Mexico dominated for 2/3 of the match but the USA took collected on their opportunities so they move on.

Sanneh played an incredible match, consistently winning balls and cleaning up on the U.S. end...He made a number of impressive runs forward as well...

Mastroeni was wonderful as well, frustrating the Hell out of Blanco...Late in the game after a hard tackle, it looked on replay like Blanco wanted to kill Mastroeni as he hovered over him-- but Mastroeni wouldn't be goaded into doing something stupid...

As for Donavan, just when I think he's finally in over his head he makes a run and puts the match away with a beautiful header...

After the opening 10 minutes of the 2nd half, I didn't think that Mexico seriously threatened...

Hernandez was flopping like a fish...He finally got called on it...

This is very sweet...Fetching unbelievable...

Go U.S!!!!!

YoungBrig

Oops - the bbc says that it was Balhalter that punched that ball; the USA was very lucky on that one. BBC has had the best online coverage that I've seen for the world cup. Espn's has sucked; It takes about a week to find the world cup and then it only works if you are using Bill Gates' browser.

Wow I hope the USA did not use all their luck especially with the non call on O'Brien. Bruce Arena is one of the best coach out there. I have never seen this, he played without a left back and 2 defensive midfield on the left hand side. Reyna looked much happier roaming the right side. Donovan was awesome, he only missed the volley in the last minute from perfect pass from Jones, he got handcuffed otherwise would have scored. Sanneh played very well like in game 1. this was a repeat of Portugal game. Mastroeni plain awesome, and all over Blanco. Marquez what a cheap shot on Cobi Jones who was playing the game of his life. O'Brien has a very good shot and almost connected. On the first goal Reyna beat 2 defenders and Wolff made the great deflection back to McBride who made no mistake. USA was a bit shaky in first half but completely shut down Mexico in second, frustrating them.
TJ was pumped today. Horrible loss for Mexico which cannot shake its loser mentality. It is a dagger through their heart.
Big if, but if they can survive first 15 min vs Germany, USA can win 1/4 finals. Germans are very big but lack a superstar on offense so USA can play with them like Paraguay did.
Was a bit disappointed in Lewis who did not run much but he made that great pass for second goal. Berhalter was shaky but not as clumsy as Agoos. A few scary turnovers in first half by both Berhalter and Pope but excellent second half. Last 10 min were extremely physical, I was worried Mastroeni would get a clumsy red card but Arena did right thing taking him out.
Too bad night time match vs Germany as germans do not handle heat very well. It was over 90 degree today and Americans are in good shape.
USA biggest surprise of world cup so far.

Mexico did not dominate game as it is their style to control ball, they rarely pushed the ball inside the last third. Their head coach saw that and put Hernandez pretty early in the game. Blanco was a complete wuss and kept going to midfield to touch the ball. Borgetti never got the ball. Mexico had its chances but efficient Americans do show their talent upfront, vey dangerous any time Donovan or O'Brien controls the ball.