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Soccer experts, tell me why USA will beat Belgium
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:01 am
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:01 am
I don't pretend to know a lot about soccer, I'm starting to understand the formations and the basic strategies involved but that's about it.
From what I have seen of the USA team (A few friendlies and these last 3 matches) it seems like we are much more effective when we are running, attacking, and being aggressive. Every time we play back I get nervous, case and point was the Ghana game, I swear I thought they were going to score about 25 times.
So what do we have to give us an advantage today? Doesn't Belgium have one really great player?
From what I have seen of the USA team (A few friendlies and these last 3 matches) it seems like we are much more effective when we are running, attacking, and being aggressive. Every time we play back I get nervous, case and point was the Ghana game, I swear I thought they were going to score about 25 times.
So what do we have to give us an advantage today? Doesn't Belgium have one really great player?
5
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:05 am to Tiger1242
they start 4 CBs and they may be missing the glue of their team (vicnent kompany, one of the 10 best CBs in the world). starting 4 CBs means that their outside defenders are slow. this prevents them from aiding in attack on the wings (which should play to our advantage b/c their best player is a wing player who will be either without help, or they'll be leaving a massive gap defensively)
they haven't really played well. they have a lot of attacking talent and some defensive talent in the middle. they lack midfielders who will do the link up work (b/c their midfielders are either big oafs who play defense or small/quick guys who want to score goals. michael bradley or jermain jones, in his current form, would be major pieces for belgium)
their attacking talent mostly are wingers and on top of missing a link-up midfielder in the middle, they lack an in-form striker. their striker options are talented as frick, but just haven't played worth a shite so far
they haven't really played well. they have a lot of attacking talent and some defensive talent in the middle. they lack midfielders who will do the link up work (b/c their midfielders are either big oafs who play defense or small/quick guys who want to score goals. michael bradley or jermain jones, in his current form, would be major pieces for belgium)
their attacking talent mostly are wingers and on top of missing a link-up midfielder in the middle, they lack an in-form striker. their striker options are talented as frick, but just haven't played worth a shite so far
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:06 am to Tiger1242
I'm a soccer noob as well, but to me we seem at our best (I realize this isn't some new concept I've discovered) when we are actively and consciously possessing the ball.
When we make smart passes that keep possession, things open up for us and we get good looks at the goal. When we are just haphazardly kicking the shite out of the ball and hoping for the best, bad shite happens. We have done both in this World Cup. Although we beat Ghana and played to a draw with Portugal I thought we played a much better game against the Portugese. We made smart passes and held possession and forced Portugal to defend. We tried to play run and gun with Ghana and make 50 yard passes and we just looked sloppy as hell. The team that drew Portugal can play with anyone in the world. The team that beat Ghana flies home tonight.
When we make smart passes that keep possession, things open up for us and we get good looks at the goal. When we are just haphazardly kicking the shite out of the ball and hoping for the best, bad shite happens. We have done both in this World Cup. Although we beat Ghana and played to a draw with Portugal I thought we played a much better game against the Portugese. We made smart passes and held possession and forced Portugal to defend. We tried to play run and gun with Ghana and make 50 yard passes and we just looked sloppy as hell. The team that drew Portugal can play with anyone in the world. The team that beat Ghana flies home tonight.
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:08 am to Tiger1242
Their defense is the glaring weakness. 1 most likely 2 of their top defenders will not play and that leaves them very vulnerable to Dempsey, Jozy(?) and the rest of the attack
If we can keep them on their heels from the very start and minimize opportunities for their midfield to hold possession I can see us netting a ball in the first 20 minutes and play like we did vs Ghana
If we can keep them on their heels from the very start and minimize opportunities for their midfield to hold possession I can see us netting a ball in the first 20 minutes and play like we did vs Ghana
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:08 am to Tiger1242
quote:
Doesn't Belgium have one really great player?
I may be reading this wrong. The best is Eden Hazard. But they have more than one great player.
They are loaded with talent. But they have some weak spots (they play centerbacks as fullbacks) and their best striker is out of the World Cup (Benteke), and their second best is in horrible form. Some rumors that Kompany, their great centerback, might not play. They would probably slide Vertonghen over from left back and put someone horrible at left back. We could exploit that.
But they have tons of great midfield talent.
Kevin de Bruyne
Fellaini
Dembele
Chadli
Januzaj
Miralles (sort of a forward)
A world class keeper in Courtois.
This post was edited on 7/1/14 at 10:12 am
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:09 am to SwaggerCopter
quote:
Kompany
This is the guy I was thinking about
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:13 am to Tiger1242
Okay. Well think about Hazard. Because he is incredible. He was undoubtedly the best player for Chelsea this year. Tremendously fast and skilled winger. His skill set (though not quite as good) is similar to Ronaldo or Bale.
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:14 am to SwaggerCopter
quote:
put someone horrible at left back
This is what I'm hoping for. Hazard is great in the attack but doesn't always join in on defense. If they also have a bad LB that leads to the left side being exposed to Zusi/Fab attacks all game.
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:17 am to Tiger1242
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:24 am to SwaggerCopter
So will we be playing deep today and looking to counter or will we be more aggressive on the attack?
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:32 am to Vegas Eddie
I say we go for it from the get go for a few reasons.
1) No one gave us a chance to even get out of the group so we're already playing with house money
2) Belgian backline is vulnerable and as weak as they will be all tourney
3) Jozy is back and I think he could be an X-factor if he can play some good minutes
1) No one gave us a chance to even get out of the group so we're already playing with house money
2) Belgian backline is vulnerable and as weak as they will be all tourney
3) Jozy is back and I think he could be an X-factor if he can play some good minutes
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:33 am to Vegas Eddie
I feel like we can control some possession against Belgium if we want to.
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:38 am to SwaggerCopter
quote:
I may be reading this wrong. The best is Eden Hazard. But they have more than one great player.
Agreed.
Romelu Lukaku is no slappy either. Truthfully, they're stacked, but no more so than Portugal or Germany. They may have better talent than us, but we're better as a unit than they are.
Posted on 7/1/14 at 10:41 am to hendersonshands
quote:
I feel like we can control some possession against Belgium if we want to.
This. I hope this is the approach we take, but the US has looked most effective when playing aggressive.
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