USA vs. Costa Rica

[mirkwood]

ESPN2 will televise the game on Sunday, 11:00am Mountain Time.

This should be an intense game. On the road in one of the most hostile stadiums. Last time there, Lalas was hit in the head with a battery, and I think it was Moore who got dosed with pepper spray. A tie would be acceptable in that stadium, but after the fiasco last week, we really need three points.

[mirkwood]

I really hate games that the referee decides the winner.

[gb1520]

I know everyone is going to hate to hear this, but i watched the match and costa rice deserved to win. yes the United States had the better of the possesion but Costa Rica always looked more likely to score. (i think it should be illigal for an american to make fun of the englands defense after this match, america's was horrible) and yes the penalty call was awful, but there should have been a penalty 2 minutes earlier, i don't know how the ref let that go. but in all the united states looked very poor on defense, and it looked like there strikers didn't know how to shoot, what was that guy lewis doing, he is in alone and he stops to let the defender catch him? yes the penalty call was bad, but the score was right, costa rica deserved to win.

[Black Hand]

I agree with gb1520. What was Lewis doing. Overall, Lewis would be open often and get good chances but he would blow every opportunity. Hopefully as he gets older he will mellow out. Hejduk's tackle cost the US the game. I wish Hejduk were off the team he totally blows. Also, isn't about team that Arena was fired. I mean he has not prepared the US at all for this tournament. The way the US has looked so far they will be lucky to qualify. Does anyone think we can beat Mexico and Jamaica playing like this. No offense but the US should be able to beat teams like Guatemala and Costa Rica.

[mirkwood]

OK, I am not so angry now as I cannot rationlly discuss the game.

All things aside, the US should not have tied, they should have won. Lewis should have put the go ahead goal in the back of the net. That was a choke, plain and simple. There were several long range shots that were ill taken, and should have been moved in closer to the goal for better chances.

Last bitch about the ref: the foul Hejduk committed is one we see quite often in games. It is called about half the time. Really, how many times have we seen a challenge like that where the ref does not blow the whistle. Surprisingly regularly. For whatever reason, the ref did not call a foul. Maybe he did not see it, maybe he thought Costa Rica had an advantage, who knows. The point is he did not call the foul. Two minutes later, to make a bullshit call like he did, is a game giveaway, plain and simple. The ref gave the game away at the end.

That said, the US, could and should have put Costa Rica away, much earlier, and failed to do that. In reality, that, and the fact that Costa Rica wanted the win more, are the reasons they walked away with three points.

That and the UFO Conspiracy against US soccer :)!

[This message has been edited by mirkwood (edited 26 July 2000).]

[gb1520]

I agree with you that USA should have won, they should have been the better team. but the reason why i said that they didn't deserve to win is because they never looked to score. i mean costa rica had some chances that seemed harder to miss and i knew that they were going to get the winner. i don't know who the strikers were but where were mcbride and moore. i know they are not great but they could be good together. i have seen moore and i know he can score and mcbride is good in the air and could be a good setup man (he reminds me of teddy sheringham). the thing i was surprised about was the lack of defense. the defense was in disaray for 90 minutes and even keller looked shaky. were is lalas and balboa and the old german.

[gb1520]

Dooley (the old german), i just remembered his name.

[mirkwood]

Dooley retired from Nat'l team, and is a sub in MLS, Lalas retired from soccer (he was not any good anymore, lost his passion IMO), and Balboa was not called up.

You're right, the US never really looked to score. Lots of long range shots...what the hell? Costa Rica marked Jones out of the game, and without McBride or Moore, that only leaves Stewart, who did score.

[gb1520]

i guessed that the y all retired, i just remember them in 94 when usa had a great defense. i guess times have changed.

[mirkwood]

The defense is actually better now, but two starters are currently injured: Pope and Agoos. Once they are back, I believe the back line will be Pope, Agoos, Sanneh and Regis.

[gb1520]

well then they must be the two best defenders in the world becuase the us defense was horrible against costa rica, a good team would have scored 4 or 5

[mirkwood]

Pope and Agoos play together at DC United. Sanneh was also with them until moving to Germany. Three good defenders, who played several years together. That forms a good backbone. Regis is supposedly good also, but I think he is the weak link. there are others who have seen his club play that say he is good. He also looked pretty good in the first half of the game. Put all four on the field together, and I believe the defense will be solid.

[gb1520]

well i think i have seen regis play for his club and he is a pretty good player. he used to be french right.

[mirkwood]

Yes, and he is playing in the French league. I think he plays for Metz. I could be wrong, I don't really follow him, except with the Nat'l team.

[lilphenom]

first and formost i am would like to apoligize for not posting in a while i went on vacation to south america amd i apologize mirkwood for leaving you hanging as for this match i did not get to see it i was very upset not to be able to see it and i have no clue as to what happened as for the lost like i said donbt know what happened and all i can say is well i dont know what to say about but after reading what was posted i agree with some things said and some things i disagree. as for arena being fired no way but i agree that he could have propared the team a bit better not to make an excuse but 4 key players were missing in the game and maybe 5 if pope did not play i do not know if he did mcbride llamosa moore agoos olsen with the exception the of olsen the other 4 are usually starters but thats not a big excuse but our national team has flatered at time but its tough to play in latin america on the road especially for American cuz i mean i will be honest we arnt the most loved team in the world and after being in south america for 3 weeks i can attest to that cuz i played down there and after findng out i was amrican i was treated pretty bad but anyway it dont care cuz we wll get it together and we will just wait and watch i am worried i will be honest we are in last in the group but we will get it together


USA 2002

the red white and blue will be there in 2002

[This message has been edited by lilphenom (edited 10 August 2000).]