Quote:
Originally Posted by MaTH716
Very ugly. The only reason for replay to be instituted would be to check for balls going across the goal line.
I thought that todays ref actually did a pretty good job. The thing i don't understand is with the field being as large as it is, why not use a 2 referee system? That coupled with the linesman should cut down and catch many of the fouls. Hell, a hockey rink is what 1/4 of the size of a soccer field? And they use 2 refs.
As far as the game went they just can't afford to always play from behind. It's unbelieveable how their defense always seems to have a lapse every game. But, the difference today seemed to be the goaltenders. Although Howard is one of the best in the world, he was outplayed today. The other guy made the key saves. They should be disappointed, they lost to an inferior team today that seemd to have about 4 shots on net the whole game and 2 of them found the back of it.
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I would disagree with you about Ghana being an inferior team. Ghana is very good, people just don't know much about them because they are so young and most of their top talent save for Essien, Gyan, Muntari, Appiah, and Kingson are all from their 2009 U20 World Cup Winning team. Ghana didn't really need to push forward once Boateng put the early marker on the board especially with Rajovic's tactical tendencies. If Ghana had not put the early goal on the board, you likely would have seen a different plan of attack. I mean, Ghana was missing their leader and best player Michael Essien for the entire Cup, as well as bringing established Top Level veterans like Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah off the bench this year, for younger players. Ghana will be a thorn in many team's sides for the next couple of years and it wouldn't suprise me in the least if they are one of the 2014 World Cup favorites with the talent on that squad.
Personally, regarding the game, I thought they lost to a better team today. It was pretty simple, Ghana was better with the ball, better tactically, better in the back, disciplined, and physical with pace. The US Soccer team is good, but Ghana outplayed them today and absolutely deserved to move on. Now, if Edu is in from the start, yeah, decent chance they don't give up the first one, but then, chances are, they don't play the same style coming out of the halftime break if it's 0-0 compared to 1-0, especially against a good defensive side in Ghana with Kingson, who has been outstanding at the World Cup.
The US will always be competitive with most of the world, but you will always have your top teams like Brazil, Argentina, etc., that the US will struggle to beat on a consistent basis. It's not like this was any lock that the US would win today.