The U.S. Men's National Team takes on Jamaica in Cleveland tonight in the back end of a home and home series that has major implications on our qualification for the 2014 World Cup. The Reggae Boyz slotted a pair of free kicks against the run of play on Friday in Kingston to knock off the U.S. for the first time in history, 2-1. The win gives Jamaica the lead in the four-team CONCACAF semifinal group, with the U.S. tied with Guatemala for second and Antigua & Barbuda bringing up the rear. The top two teams in the group advance to final qualifying.A loss this evening would give the U.S. absolutely no margin for error over the remainder of this stage. Jurgen Klinsmann's team has had very good results this year in friendly matches, beating Mexico on the road, and topping Italy, but the loss to Jamaica and a desultory tie against Guatemala are decidedly subpar outcomes. The USMNT faces a great deal of pressure tonight at a venue in which they've never lost, and will be without and injured Landon Donovan (big loss) and a card-suspended Clarence Goodson (less big).
ESPN2's got the match at 8:00 this evening. I expect you to be glued to your televisions.
UPDATE:
Because we care about what our fans think, a little equal opportunity.
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mo and theo
ReplyDeleteis barbuda located right in between barbados and bermuda?
ReplyDeleteI think between the left and right thighs.
ReplyDeleteAlso great interview with Patterson Hood (DBT fame) and Will Johnson (Centro-matic nonfame but good band) for you DBT fans.
I think there's a pretty high likelihood that Klinsmann is massively incompetent and a complete fraud. Certainly there's an enormous disconnect between what he says and what he does. He came in talking about possession and attacking soccer, yet almost all of his lineups feature 3 or 4 defensive midfielders with almost no offensive skills.
ReplyDeleteAlmost every USA game since he took over has been dreadfully boring with extremely few scoring opportunities or goals. In our "good" games, we have some possession, but it's meandering, pointless possession, just knocking the ball around low threat areas. No creativity, no threat, no flair. Nothing.
He's been ridiculously stubborn in his player selection, not even looking at several guys who would suit his alleged style (and would fill a huge need in the team). Not that any of these guys are world-beaters, but rolling out 3 DMs every game is just brutal.
Right now we're in a struggle to finish in the top 2 of a 4 team group that includes Jamaica, Guatemala, and Antigua and Barbuda. And we're looking miserable in the process. We'll probably win tonight and we'll probably qualify, but what we've seen from Klinsmann has been crap and lies.
Think I'ma change up my style just to fit in?!
ReplyDeleteDeceit, lies and chicanery?
ReplyDeleteIt's a style!
ReplyDeletein klinsmann's defense, jerry is a noted kraut-baiter
ReplyDeleteI was recently criticized for using "chicanery" and "weakly-thrown Hail Mary" in the same paragraph.
ReplyDeleteclarence can be such a pedantic dick
ReplyDeleteshallow...and pedantic
ReplyDeletehttp://mysp.ac/TGYQHZ
danimal, advice: whatever towson is giving to w&m this weekend, give it freely.
ReplyDeletethere won't be a line on that game but i bet you guys win it. admittedly i know absolutely nothing about either team other than your 1-point loss to a d1 school, albeit a bad one.
ReplyDeleteThey had 1-aa lines on 5dimes.com back when I was in the numbers game.
ReplyDeleteJerry pulled a Wallace and said "I don't want to play no more," thereby exiting the game.
ReplyDeletedanimal, we're getting smoked in this game. take it to the bank. we'll be playing our third-string quarterback, towson is the defending caa champs and return 17 starters (with a couple of 1-a transfers added to the mix), and the game is at towson.
ReplyDeleteThe Feds took me out of the game. Shut down my site and took my cash.
ReplyDeletethe photos for this post...seriously, Rob?
ReplyDeleteAccording to Gregg (don't call me Frank) Easterbrook:
ReplyDeleteFor a decade the Bills have been the league's worst-managed, worst-coached and worst-drafting franchise. There's no sign of any change -- and no sign anyone at the top of the Bills' organization cares.
she looks like a fan to me, shlara. i don't understand the issue.
ReplyDeleteSo who gets to shoot Jerry for turning his back on the game?
ReplyDeleterob - can't argue with those facts. gentlemen's bet that they keep it within 6.
ReplyDeletehang in there, hoops is right around the corner.
have you guys seen eric decker's girlfriend? hubba hubba.
who is the extra from L.A. Ink that you added to this post?
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/9b9pqgp
ReplyDeletehey, what a shock, Bleacher Report has a slideshow of an attractive WAG. never seen that before.
ReplyDeleteaaah...surly boy.
ReplyDeletethat's every day, danimal
ReplyDelete"The Game Chose Me"
ReplyDelete- Thabo Sefolosha's Shoulder
bocanegra is in la liga now? that's pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteour post-striking skills are sublime
ReplyDeletefirst day of double soccer practice-- 8th grade try-outs and then U-8 travel. threatened my son with severe bodily harm. definitely going to end up on youtube before the fall is over. thank god for beer.
ReplyDeleteDave, change the password on your twitter account. It has been hacked...unless you actually willingly tweet this nonsense:
ReplyDeleteSweeet! I earned $125.66 so far from surveys! Waiting for more! LOOK > http://facebook.com/419974111399304
are you kidding me? i've made like a grand following dave's links.
ReplyDeletegoal, America. this game over yet?
ReplyDeleteposed this on twitter, too, but is has there ever been a better american backliner than cherundolo?
ReplyDeleteUS is winning, but they look very bad. Just not a lot of talent.
ReplyDeleteno donovan, no bradley didn't help, nor did the fact that we went into a shell after we scored.
ReplyDeleteI hear that TR goes into a shell when he scores.
ReplyDelete