If I am JK, I employ the "steel drum defense." Every time Jamaica has the ball, the crowd needs to hold up giant blunts to distract them.
Seriosuly, Jamaica will be a test...they have a lot of athletes.
Panama upsets Trinidad on PK's...Mexico and Costa Rica likely headed for PK's too.
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Mexico advances on a BS PK in the 123rd minute. Refs gave that one to El Tri.
Lordy that was a travesty.
A US v Mex final is desired and will likely come about. It looked like Mexico didn't want to win with so many good looks going over the bar. I couldn't believe all the missed opportunities.
Sloppy play, Jamaica is more athletic, and obviously playing in Copa America helped them.
Our offense was relegated to whipping it into the box from distance in hopes of getting a header.
We so deserved to lose this game.
We better find a way to fix this because we are gonna see these guys again in the 1-game play off for the Euro cup.
Spot on in all aspects, PF. Except that it's the Confederations Cup if I'm not mistaken.
I've been very impressed by the growth in team play and sheer athleticism shown by the Caribbean squads in this tourney. T&T, Haiti, Jamaica all are putting players out there that make most of the U.S. squad look even more like plowhorses than they do ordinarily.
Don't know if this deserved defeat will temper the arrogance which has been steadily seeping into the USMNT and Klinsi over the past year since the WC. Our team and our program has a such a long way to go.
You're right, its Confed Cup.
Not sure I understand what you mean by arrogance...they've had some pretty bad losses in the last 12 months since WC.
I agree, PF, coupled with the USMNT looking utterly pedestrian in the Gold Cup with the exception of the decimation of a depleted Cuba team which wasn't that good to begin with. What I was getting at was the notion that this team would just waltz through the GC and that Klinsmann had turned a corner with his program. Maybe it was just me listening too much to the U.S. commentary in the run up to and during the tournament. Like I said above, there is a hell of a lot of work to do.
Again for Mexico.
CONCACAF gonna CONCACAF
Yup...they got some home cookin' for sure.
As well as Guzan had been playing, he really $hit the bed vs Jamaica. The fullbacks misplayed positioning on that header, but he's gotta be in better position to make that save. He came too far off his line.
Also, never should have left the box like that...granted, refs call that penalty about once a decade, but still, you gotta be aware.
$hit keeping aside, the US got their pockets picked way too often vs the Ganja Boyz. And the lack of offense was astounding...I mean, there were a ton of blown opportunities...especially in the first 20 minutes.
I am quite enjoying all the JK hate that is flying around though this morning. Knee jerk much?
Also, F Mexico...now I have to cheer for that turd sloop just so we don't have to play Ganjmaica in the Confed Cup playoff.
Like an idiot, I re-watched the game at lunch (fast forwarded mostly).
John Brooks screwed the pooch on his mark...50/50 blame on him and Guzan...that said, there was a tremendous amount of luck on that header...it was a rainbow, and it wasn't meant to go that way...he was trying to bullet it in, and just missed it.
Also, Guzan out of the box was barely out of the box...you see that every match, every day.
US had ample opportunities to win that game 4-2...but they could not finish...a theme that has happened a lot in this GC.
Missed game as at at business dinner.
Gotta find a link to the hand-ball call on Guzan.
Played goalie for 25 years and I never even heard of that call let alone saw it called.
How the f does the linesman 3 yards behind the keeper have the line of sight to make that call?
Ref is upfield so not his call.
Bullsycht.
BTW. Thanks Foo.
Guzan said the same thing...how does the guy 3 yards behind him make the call.
Also, I am not super familiar with the finer points of the rules, but how much of the keeper must be out of the box to make a call? Does a toe on the line constitute out of the box? Would seem strange to me since all of the ball has to be over the line to considered out.
Regardless...total BS call.
That said, they had their chances to score...game coulda been 4-2 USA...serious gut check time. If they lose the playoff on Oct 9 for the ConCup, the heat will be turned up on JK..but he's not going anywhere before then...even after that.
It is all about the position of the ball. Looks to me like Guzan handled it out of the box from the picture above. If any part of the ball is even with the line, he is fine. Usually, when it is that close the refs give the goalie the benefit of doubt.
