We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
On the surface, this match against perennial South American favorites seems like a hiding to nothing for Bob Bradley's boys. However, if Donovan and co. can perform with bravery as they did on Monday against Italy, they'll at least be able to save some face. Join me from 10 a.m. onward.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 9:52 AM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
86 Comments:
The U.S. side today includes Kljestan in for the suspended Clark. Otherwise it's the same side.
Brazil go with Luis Fabiano as the lone striker with Robinho somewhat wide and Kaka bombing in behind them. Maicon is in for the injured Danny Alves.
Dunga as usual has been blamed for playing a more defensive unit than many of the fans of the Jogo Bonito would like.
And we're underway from Joburg.
Bradley and Bornstein combine to bring down Robinho for an early free kick oppo for Brazil. They were lethal against Egypt from set pieces.
The free kick earns a corner.
Dempsey more and more looks like he plays with the burdens of the world on his shoulders. Whatever happened to the smiley Clint with all fell in love with at the Revolution.
The back four is giving up the ball far too easily in the early going. That's creating more pressure on them. They need to keep it simple.
Kaka wins a corner on the right side. And he'll take it too. Goes over everyone.
Luis Fabiano looks to me to be the kind of #9 for Brazil that no one really gets excited about but who can stick the tap ins home for his side.
Maicon to swing another free kick in for Brazil.
GOAL! Brazil's #5 Felipe Melo sticks home an easy header.
1-0 Brazil!
I like Jay Demerit as a center back but I have to admit that he completely lost his man there. Poor marking.
Brazil already enjoying themselves with some party pieces here. Not a good sign.
Yet another free kick out wide right. They have to shut down these oppos.
Oh, that was a let off. Luis Fabiano crossed to Robinho who whiffed on it.
Why oh why does Beasley continue to get the starts at left back? He completely allowed Luis Fabiano to ghost by him there.
This is fairly ominous now. Brazil are cutting through the U.S. defense like a hot knife through butter. This could get ugly. Another corner to come.
Fifteen minutes in and we're lucky to be only 1-0 down to be frank.
This has got to be one of the most solid defenses that I've seen a Brazil side put out.
A little momentum here for the U.S.
First corner now for the U.S. We need something here...
Oh dear, a poorly executed corner, the Brazilians run it down the pitch and Robinho tucks in easily past Howard.
2-0!
Harkesy is really sticking the knife in with Beasley, as if the kid owes him some poker money.
Honestly, though, he's looked crap and that was a schoolboy error. really embarrassing stuff.
Another U.S. corner over and at least Dempsey is challenging for it. Wide of the mark, though.
Hi Bob .
Just thought I would drop in for a minute or two . How are things ? I'm waiting for a phone call and then I have to go out . So I don't know how long I'll be on here . I'm watching it on the BBC digital service . I fear for the US .
This is the third match in this tournament where ESPN has lost the feed from SA. They'd better sort that out for next summer.
Hiya, Tony. I fear for the U.S. too. We at least played well against the Italians the other day and still got turned over. This could easily go to 4 or 5-0 if the Brazilians can be bothered.
It doesn't look as if there's been much press coverage of these games over in Blighty, is that right? I wonder why? There's no other footie going on right now. Is everyone watching the cricket?
We're just not winning the second balls in the midfield. Every clearance just comes back at us.
The cricket is all on Sky or Setanta and you are right there is very little press coverage . Can't understand why because the Big boys are all fielding strong sides .
A third corner now for the U.S. Decent delivery but it's cleared out.
Yeah, it's a good chance to see Spain, Italy and Brazil at just about full strength. I'm also intrigued to see Egypt this afternoon. I missed their last match and my brother said that they were good.
Where is Davey Boy ? I didn't think he had any classes today .
I'd love to see little Alexandre Pato get a nod in the second half. That kid is amazing.
Dunno - I assume that this is probably the last week out at school for him.
I hope to have the Egypt - Italy game
on down the pub later .
Robinho lets one loose and it's wide of the mark.
Sounds good - make mine a Strongbow!
What did you think of the Italians the other day. Pretty special, eh? Particularly Pirlo.
Nearly a third goal. Gilberto Silva latched onto a great ball in from Maicon but put his header over. Bornstein completely lost Maicon there.
Don't do Strongbow at the Walnut Tree
They do Magners . Which is an Irish cider I think . Seems to be very popular . As for me , make mine a Carlsberg .
Onyewu hacks down Robinho again. He's got to be careful. He's already on a yellow. Another free kick oppo on the left side. It goes right through to Melo, who should have scored easily.
Good man. I'm hoping to drop in and out of the match over at work. I took the morning off but I have to show my face at some point.
I only saw bits and pieces of the game because I was behind the bar that evening . I hope they are better than they were at the last Euro's .
The umpteenth free kick given up by the U.S. on the left side. They were warned the other day when Brazil scored three times from free kicks. Why are they diving in?
Half-time: 2-0 Brazil.
The horns continue to blare but it's been a fairly dismal performance for the U.S. Brazil in total control. Hard to see us getting back into this one, in all honesty.
Second half starting up here. Not surprisingly, the studio team was not very happy with the first half performance by the U.S.
Conor Casey has come on for the second half. Nice one two there between him and Jozy but Altidore blazes over.
Nice crack from distance there from Michael Bradley. The players have responded well to Bradley's half-time team talk. Much better.
Kljestan lost position in midfield, which allowed Kaka to run through and have a shot on goal. Well saved by Howard.
Nasty late challenge from Kljestan that leaves Ramirez prone.
I didn't see a card flashed by the ref, but Kljestan has loped off so apparently he's been sent off. That looked a yellow to me and once again the U.S. are down to ten men.
Dempsey catches Kaka right on the edge of the box and somehow the ref waves on. Very lucky.
GOAL! Lovely move down the left leaves Maicon one on one with Howard and his shot is deflected high into the net on the near post.
3-0 Brazil!
The momentum has completely shifted back toward the Brazilians now since that red card for Sasha.
That was a really well worked goal .
The shots are just raining in on Howard's goal from a variety of sources. Lots of weapons on the Brazil side.
Those horns are really doing my head in !!!
Two subs coming on for Brazil. Kaka lopes off to be replaced by The Beast Julio Baptista and Luis Fabiano and coming off for Nilmar. No Pato yet.
Agreed, Tony. They mentioned on the coverage back here that the broadcasters around the world are calling on the South African FA to ban the horns from next summer's games. I hope that happens - I hate them.
Did you think red or yellow for Kljestan?
Harkesy's having a go at Conor Casey for being lazy. I agree - he's just jogging about.
I heard there were calls for a ban .
I don't think I could stand a month
of them .
Free kick to come for Brazil here...
Howard punches out convincingly.
Apparently the authorities hand out the bloody horns to fans who don't have their own!
I didn't see the incident . I didn't even see the red card being shown .
Fifteen minutes left. The only question now is how many the Brazilians will bother to get.
I don't think the cameras originally picked up the ref giving the red card. We saw it much later on the replay.
I see North Korea have qualified for the finals for the first time since 66 , and they knocked Italy out of that one . I remember it well !
Before my time, unfortunately. The first one I remember watching at all was '70.
I was hoping that Iran might qualify given the bravery of the players wearing green armbands to protest the recent election fraud. But a 1-1 draw wasn't good enough for them.
Oh, very nearly there. Feilhaber rockets a shot against the bar from the top of box.
70 was a good one . But my favourite one was 82 .
Unlucky ! Off the bar .
Nilmar with a weak effort on the run there, easily saved by Howard.
My favorite too. It was the year that we graduated and the last hurrah for all of us before going off to college. And some great teams (Brazil, France, Italy) and some superb games (Brazil vs. Italy) (Germany vs. France). Marvelous tournament.
90 was good as well , but the two
best teams finished Third and Fourth
So six countries are in so far. South Africa as hosts, Japan, North Korea, Australia, South Korea and Holland.
Agreed. 90 was a bit more difficult for me to follow as I was in the States and it was during the period before the US World Cup in 94 and the introduction of the MLS in 96. I remember watching a lot of games at the pub in Spanish.
Good clearance from Gooch.
Into stoppage time now.
I agree . Those two games Brazil - Italy and Germany - France were classics . And to top it off , Italy stuffed The Germans in the final .
The noisy horns mask the reality that there have been a lot of empty seats in the stands for this tournament.
Dangerous free kick here for Brazil deep in stoppage time...
Julio Baptista seems to be lining it up with Robinho.
The beasts hits it high over the bar. Just about done now.
Full-time: 3-0 Brazil.
Disappointing effort from the U.S. We went a goal down early and were never in it in truth. I don't really fancy our chances against Egypt.
I fear it could be like that in the real thing .
Nice chatting with you, Tony. Enjoy the pint and the match this evening.
Thanks for your company Bob .
Talk to you later .
Well, that is interesting. The impressive Egyptians have just wrapped a surprising win against the Italians. Lalas and co. are trumpeting the idea that the Yanks are still in it, but in reality Egypt will probably do us over and knock Azurri out. It would take us a 3-0 win against Egypt and a 4-0 Brazil win for us to go through. Ain't gonna happen.
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