Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I really should read my own blog.

The words do not have to be perfect.

Let me file that under fuck it.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Republicans would impeach Biden if he bit into a whole Kit Kat rather than breaking the sections apart.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

The problem people have with Biden’s age is the color of the VPs skin.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

Washington Post’s Catch and Kill, not noticeably better than the Enquirer’s.

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

No Justins, No Peace

No one could have predicted…

“Loving your country does not mean lying about it’s history.”

Please don’t feed the bears.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires.

Bad people in a position to do bad things will do bad things because they are bad people. End of story.

‘Museums aren’t America’s attic for its racist shit.’

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

You are here: Home / Sports / Group G Third Game Open Thread

Reader Interactions

229Comments

  7. 7.

    MattR

    Nine games for Suarez

    (EDIT: 9 international matches, plus a 4 month ban that will cover the first 9 matches of the Premier League)

  8. 8.

    Stan Gable

    @raven:

    Had to go to Univsion for a decent Ghana-Portugal feed.

    You should just go there anyways. The broadcasts are way more exciting.

  14. 14.

    SRW1

    Ghana shot itself in the foot, Portugal is too far back. I’d say unless the Ghaneans and the US collaps, the US will go through even with a defeat.

  16. 16.

    KG

    @MattR: nine international games and four months of soccer activities. Which means in addition to missing nine Uruguay games, he will miss nine premier league games and three champions league games

  17. 17.

    ? Martin

    Oh god, memories of playing in monsoon rain. It’s utterly miserable until about 30 minutes in, at which point you’re so cold and wet and uncomfortable that you just give in to it.

    Damn, the Germans are passing like Germans.

  18. 18.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    The drama in this tournament has been exquisite. Now Ghana just sent home two players?

  19. 19.

    japa21

    Keep it scoreless for another 85 + minutes and we are through to the knockout round. No problem.

  20. 20.

    ? Martin

    @KG: Someone noted that anything over a 3 game suspension can be appealed and allow him to play under appeal. We’ll see how that plays out, given that Uruguay has claimed that it’s all a photoshop hoax (which about a billion people saw on live tv).

  21. 21.

    HumboldtBlue

    One thing we can expect in this game is a horrible referee call going against the US

  23. 23.

    Amir Khalid

    @MattR:
    The ban also covers all football-related admin activities i.e. transfers so he’s off the market.

  36. 36.

    David in NY

    @? Martin:

    anything over a 3 game suspension can be appealed and allow him to play under appea

    According to NY Times, “Even if Suárez appeals the decision, the appeal will only delay his payment of the fine, according to FIFA; it will not delay his suspension.”

  38. 38.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    Man, watching them you’d almost think Germany was one of the favorites in this tournament.

  44. 44.

    Svensker

    The CBC livestream has video of the German coach. An interesting angle for 20 seconds or so, not so much at 18 minutes.

    However, if anyone would like an update on what the German coach is doing, I’d be happy to report.

  46. 46.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    In the other game, I’m not sure that the rest of the Ghana team didn’t join Boateng and Muntari on the flight home this morning.

  50. 50.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    That shot was one of those where I’m pretty sure that if it had been on target, the keeper would have saved it. There was almost no room between Neuer’s hand and the bar.

  51. 51.

    Stan Gable

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN):

    That shot was one of those where I’m pretty sure that if it had been on target, the keeper would have saved it. There was almost no room between Neuer’s hand and the bar.

    Still, good to see them put a little pressure on the German defense. They need some of that.

  55. 55.

    Stan Gable

    @hildebrand:

    Great now even the refs are taking our guys out.

    Allow myself to straight red myself. Or maybe he just gives himself a good talking to.

  56. 56.

    ? Martin

    I think we’re getting the feel of things. It’s hard to play in these conditions. Everything takes more strength, you’re much slower because you get no grip and you’re hauling around several pounds of water, the ball is sluggish, you have to adjust everything a little bit. I think the US is just slow to get going (30 second goal notwithstanding). If we can put some offense out there and get some possession time, that should pull Germany back a little bit.

  57. 57.

    lol chikinburd

    @burnspbesq: He’s now where Zusi was and vice versa, and the US are immediately looking better.

    Those two Gonzalez clearances did restore some confidence. Here’s hoping he’s used up his biggest whiff of the match with that near own-goal.

  61. 61.

    raven

    I guess there is no point of trying to watch the G-P game on the computer since they are going to give a score immediately and there is a couple minute delay.

  63. 63.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @SRW1: For the U.S. chances of advancing, yes, but I really don’t want Portugal going through.

  67. 67.

    Heliopause

    Does Kasey Keller ever stop complaining? He’s like a Monty Python sketch. I switched over to Univision, if they’re bitching about the refs and the weather and the travel and the hotel at least I don’t understand it.

  69. 69.

    Amir Khalid

    @japa21:
    Portugal now need to score five more goals and Germany to defeat USA. They’ll have to ask me very nicely …

  70. 70.

    raven

    @Randinho: That’s what I’m saying, I’m trying to watch both games but the Portugal game is delayed a couple of minutes so I already know when there is a score because they show it on TV.

  73. 73.

    dmsilev

    @Amir Khalid: What’s your going rate for making goals happen? Or is it one of those things where we have to offer up a sacrifice and only then do you decide if it’s sufficiently worthy?

  77. 77.

    catclub

    @? Martin: You would think they would practice that kind of thing.

    ETA: I also thought the attacking team should deploy someone well over on the far side of the goal just for that reason.

  78. 78.

    Amir Khalid

    @dmsilev:
    There is no “going rate”. It all depends on whether I feel like doing it. Feel free to offer sacrifices to me, but don’t pin your hopes on them doing the trick — after all, who knows what counter-offerings I got from the other side?

  81. 81.

    Amir Khalid

    Right now, Portugal’s scoring hopes are all on John Boye — of Ghana. He nearly scored a second own goal.

  82. 82.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    A win is doable here. Get three points and bypass the balanced Belgians.

  83. 83.

    dmsilev

    Well, I guess we managed to survive (and I think that’s the right word) the first half.

  84. 84.

    burnspbesq

    Ok. USA survives the first half.

    Wouldn’t mind seeing Yedlin on for Davis. If he and Johnson can get at Howedes and Mertesacker, they can blow by them.

  85. 85.

    Cacti

    Glad the rain is slowing down the German attack.

    They utterly dominated the possession and the shots on goal in the first half.

  86. 86.

    catclub

    @Amir Khalid: A judge gets a $10k bribe from one side and $15k bribe from the other. He calls the lawyers in, returns the extra $5k and says “Now I can decide the case on the merits.”

  87. 87.

    Stan Gable

    @hildebrand:

    Does Bradley ever hit his bloody mark? Jeez, he whiffs on a lot of balls.

    It looks like he’s playing fine. It looks like he makes a lot of errors because he’s involved every single time the US has the ball and since he’s in the middle, he’s always under pressure.

  88. 88.

    Cacti

    Also too, if there was any gentleman’s agreement about playing for a draw, the Germans are doing a first rate job of looking like they’re not playing for one.

  90. 90.

    Stan Gable

    @Cacti:

    They utterly dominated the possession and the shots on goal in the first half.

    They’re supposed to. The US is never going to have the majority of possession against the better teams.

  92. 92.

    ? Martin

    @dmsilev: Yeah, the first 20 minutes weren’t so hot, but the last 25 were a bit more balanced.

    At least 3 goals need to be scored for us to not advance (Ghana up 2-1, Germany up 1-0). That would put us and Ghana on equal goal differential, and put them ahead on goals 5-4. If Portugal wins 1-0, we’d need to lose to Germany by 5 goals.

    We’re looking pretty good right now.

  93. 93.

    Tripod

    The US gives up a bit having Bradley at point in the offensive end. Feilhaber is better at possession and the decisive pass, but he lacks the defensive bite that Bradley brings. I think Jurgen and staff made the right choice, but it leaves US offensive possession a bit dis-jointed.

  95. 95.

    Calouste

    @Cacti:

    I’d think one of the first things on the gentlemen’s agreement would be to avoid any yellow or red cards. They haven’t particularly succeeded at that.

  96. 96.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    @MattR:

    I only look one game ahead. Focus on this one and the next one. :)

  97. 97.

    MattR

    @? Martin: At what point do you feel comfortable enough to make subs to give players rest or protect them from a second yellow card?

  98. 98.

    Stan Gable

    @Calouste:

    I’d think one of the first things on the gentlemen’s agreement would be to avoid any yellow or red cards. They haven’t particularly succeeded at that.

    There’s like a 0% chance that there was a gentlemen’s agreement. The issue is that both teams benefit from playing conservatively so the number of good scoring chances should be low.

  103. 103.

    Amir Khalid

    USA looking better against Germany as the match progresses. Portugal don’t look like they can beat Ghana by enough goals to pip USA to second place.

  104. 104.

    Cacti

    @Randinho:

    I thought shots on goal were irrelevant? /snark>

    Totes irrelevant.

    There is no correlation between scoring chances and scoring. None. :-P

  105. 105.

    Tripod

    @MattR:

    I’d guess if it’s knotted up 0-0 at the seventy minute mark, that’s how it’s going to end.

  106. 106.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Randinho: That’s one of the things I’m trying to figure out about soccer. In ice hockey, net attempted shots (attempted shots for minus attempted shots against) is the best proxy for quality of play and the best simple predictor of future performance. No idea if that’s true for soccer.

  107. 107.

    Rob in CT

    I can’t watch it, but just looking at the “match stats” it looks like the USA has been dominated to this point. So I guess a nil-nil tie to this point is something to be thankful for. Now, play better!

  110. 110.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    If you let them keep having chances, that’s going to happen.

  111. 111.

    Cacti

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN):

    If you look at the ESPN game stats, it shows shots on goal, location of them, and how many were saved.

    5 of Germany’s shots have been inside the box, and 3 were virtually from point blank range.

  113. 113.

    Hill Dweller

    That entire sequence started with another shit Bradley pass and giveaway. Then he fouls, setting up the free kick, and ultimately the corners.

  119. 119.

    MattR

    Uggh, Ghana tying is bad news despite what the announcers say. The US is now one Ghana goal away from being eliminated.

  123. 123.

    Cacti

    Come on US, show some spirit.

    Germany’s playing to win this match, USA is playing not to lose.

    Playing not to lose rarely works. See Italy/Uruguay.

  126. 126.

    Joel

    Germans are really taking it to the US now. I understand the necessity but I really hate the US’ approach in this game.

  128. 128.

    Amir Khalid

    Ghana equalise and are one goal away from going through at USA’s expense. Portugal are still five goals away.

    Isn’t this exciting?

  130. 130.

    gene108

    @Joel:

    I really hate the US’ approach in this game

    Seems like the USA does not have the horses to keep up with Germany. I do not know much about soccer, but damn the Germans seem to be winning all the midfield balls and rarely make unforced errors.

  131. 131.

    MattR

    The US should really start pushing forward more soon. A second goal by Germany doesn’t really matter if the US gets one as well.

  133. 133.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    It feels like the U.S. is just playing for a fluke goal now. We badly need Portugal to score.

  135. 135.

    MattR

    @raven: If the US loses 1-0 and Ghana wins 2-1, the US is eliminated since Ghana has more goals scored. If the US loses 2-1 and Ghana wins 2-1, the US advances because they are tied in goals and the US defeated Ghana head to head.

  136. 136.

    hildebrand

    @MattR: Even some legitimate chances on goal would be nice. The US has been playing defense this whole half.

  139. 139.

    gene108

    But when the USA tries to make a run at goal the passes are all off. None of the passes are clean and just either are not controlled or go out of bounds because our guys cannot get to it.

  140. 140.

    Cacti

    @gene108:

    Seems like the USA does not have the horses to keep up with Germany. I do not know much about soccer, but damn the Germans seem to be winning all the midfield balls and rarely make unforced errors.

    US soccer has improved sufficiently in recent decades that we field a consistently respectable side. We don’t have the player development system in place to get us into the next tier of consistent legitimate contender.

  141. 141.

    Greg

    @SRW1:

    I think its two Ghana goals. One squares up points and goals, but the US won the direct comparison.

    Strangely, the direct comparison is the last tie-break. Goal differential and total goals scored comparisons come first.

  143. 143.

    raven

    Oh jesus “It’s all come down to this” AND “control their own destiny” shut the fuck up!

  157. 157.

    Stan Gable

    @? Martin:

    I think we’re just stalling so we can tie this up in the last 30 seconds of added time.

    I think you stall so that Portugal-Ghana finishes first and you have some time to try to come back if that’s needed.

  161. 161.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    This is the first and last time I’ll say anything nice about Cristiano Ronaldo.

  162. 162.

    lol chikinburd

    “Good” news: Portugal score.

    Bad news: it’s Ronaldo. Really wanted him to finish level with Zlatan Ibrahimovich in the Golden Boot race.

  168. 168.

    PaulW

    So if Portugal wins, US can still go ahead even with a loss to Germany? Or does it depend on the goal count too?

  174. 174.

    Amir Khalid

    Portugal lead 2-1. USA have a three-goal cushion over the Portuguese, so you USAians can now breathe a bit easier.

  178. 178.

    SRW1

    @PaulW:

    Portugal has a huge goal difference to make up to threaten throwing out the US (three, to be precise).

  183. 183.

    Amir Khalid

    Check out the 6:42pm BST post on the Guardian’s Ghana-Portugal live-blog. Some splendid wedding-tackle action.

  187. 187.

    raven

    Goalie sub for Portugal looks unhappy!

    Damn, he’s crying his eyes out on the bench.

  190. 190.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    I thought there was more than four minutes of injury time just on that one collision.

  200. 200.

    Cacti

    @raven:

    As the English would say, I’m content knowing that we’ve beaten Germany twice at their historical national sport.

  206. 206.

    burnspbesq

    I’m not complaining. I sincerely thought, before the tournament started, that we were going home with zero points.

  210. 210.

    proterozoic

    Well, it sure wasn’t our team that put us through – it was Portugal’s corpse.

  211. 211.

    Hill Dweller

    @Mike E:

    A healthy Jozy Altidore is a must for team USA in the next round.

    Altidore playing, and Bradley actually contributing.

  214. 214.

    SRW1

    @raven:

    Kenneth Clarke: Isn’t it terrible about losing to the Germans at our national sport, Prime Minister?

    Margaret Thatcher: I shouldn’t worry too much – we’ve beaten them twice this century at theirs.

    Thatcher quote from June 1990

  217. 217.

    MattR

    So Portugal is the only team to win the game after playing in Manaus.

    What a wonderful sport. One game you are desperately hoping for a tie and then 30 minutes later are crushed when that is the final result. Next game, a 1-0 loss feels like a victory. :)

  218. 218.

    magurakurin

    That was shit. If soccer is the future of sport, the future is very bleak indeed. They might as well have agreed to the draw because that fake game they just played was more of a disgrace than just honestly admitting the rules are such that you don’t actually have to play to win every game in the World Cup.

    Luckily there is a rugby test match on the DVR for tomorrow. New Zealand and England.

  219. 219.

    ericblair

    @Cacti:

    I can’t do it.

    Their beer is too good.

    Yep. Beer, french fries, and their politics is even more screwed up than ours.

  226. 226.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    @Villago Delenda Est: @Randinho:

    You are both far too kind. Everyone knows that the Belgians are ****-*******, ****-faced, ***-eating ***********s…Who also smell funny, too.

  227. 227.

    pseudonymous in nc

    @magurakurin:

    Luckily there is a rugby test match on the DVR for tomorrow.

    Oh, I remember back when rugby was fun, before it got management-consulted into homogeneity and tedium.

    just honestly admitting the rules are such that you don’t actually have to play to win every game in the World Cup.

    The Rugby World Cup has a round-robin with bonus points for not losing badly, and pool ties decided by points differential. I’m sure you’ll be moaning about that as well, right?

  229. 229.

    Cassidy

    Rugby is the Black Keys of sports: not all that fulfilling but it sounds good when you tell people you like it.

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