2014 FIFA World Cup

[Keith-N-Jax]

LOL, that's very funny. Go USA!!!!!!

[BridgeTroll]

I certainly am... but I am equally sure it will quickly fade when the World Cup is over.

Great Cartoon Urb! 

[I-10east]

Swiss fans have copied our Green Bay Packer fans... I like the cheddar version better...

You're right about the inspiration, although Swiss cheese is notable for it's holes, not cheddar.

[BridgeTroll]

Looks like everyone was stunned by our defeat at the hands of Belgium.  In the opinion of this admitted novice and soccer noob... we were lucky to get where we did... and are really not in the same class as the other quarter finalists.  With the exception of our goaltending we were awful.

My observations....

Our only credible attack... was counterattack.  Completely unable to move the ball consistantly upfield.

Poor ball handling.  Dribbling and passing skills were simply not as good the remaining teams.

Our team may have been more athletic... but the remaining teams certainly seem more skillful.

Like the Olympics... it was fun and but it is unlikely that I watch beyond the World Cup... until 4 years from now...

[blizz01]

Copa América (United States/2016) will be huge in my opinion - it's the first time that the tournament has been hosted outside of South America and I expect much of the young talent that we've seen teasers from will have begun to emerge.  If ESPN grabs hold of it and dedicates half of the marketing effort thrown at the World Cup, it will be well received in this country.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_Centenario

"Congratulations USA. Now that you know what it's like to have your soul ripped out by a game of football, you're in the gang.

— Paul Sinha (@paulsinha) July 1, 2014"

[Ajax]

Copa América (United States/2016) will be huge in my opinion - it's the first time that the tournament has been hosted outside of South America and I expect much of the young talent that we've seen teasers from will have begun to emerge.  If ESPN grabs hold of it and dedicates half of the marketing effort thrown at the World Cup, it will be well received in this country.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica_Centenario

"Congratulations USA. Now that you know what it's like to have your soul ripped out by a game of football, you're in the gang.

— Paul Sinha (@paulsinha) July 1, 2014"

I really hope we can get a Copa America game or two in here in Jacksonville. 

[Ajax]

Looks like everyone was stunned by our defeat at the hands of Belgium.  In the opinion of this admitted novice and soccer noob... we were lucky to get where we did... and are really not in the same class as the other quarter finalists.  With the exception of our goaltending we were awful.

My observations....

Our only credible attack... was counterattack.  Completely unable to move the ball consistantly upfield.

Poor ball handling.  Dribbling and passing skills were simply not as good the remaining teams.

Our team may have been more athletic... but the remaining teams certainly seem more skillful.

Like the Olympics... it was fun and but it is unlikely that I watch beyond the World Cup... until 4 years from now...

Good points.  Regarding the counterattack - this is something we're going to have to use against the big boys until we can get those technically-skilled players that other countries have.  But the counterattack is a valuable (and valid) weapon.  If you look at yesterday's game, we out-possessed Belgium (53% possession for the US, and I think it went up to something like 65% during the two overtime periods) and both of Belgium's goals were on counterattacks. 

I'm happy that you and many other "non-soccer fans" came along for the ride.  The more the merrier!  I'm sort of the same way with NHL and other sports - I don't really pay much attention until playoffs, but when they come around I do enjoy the games. 

But if you would, please keep an eye out for the next 3 summers because the US Men's team will be involved in tournaments every summer leading up to the 2018 World Cup.  We've got the Gold Cup next summer (competing against teams in our region including fellow World Cup participants Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras), then we have the Copa America in 2016 - this will be played in the US, and will include all of the South American countries that are in the World Cup - Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, etc.  We could possibly compete in the 2017 Confederations Cup which is always held the year before the World Cup in the same country that will be hosting the World Cup.  So it's seen as a sort of way for the teams to get a little familiar with the surroundings ahead of time.  2017 will also be important for our Olympic team, which consists of mostly under-23 year olds, with 3 exemptions for over-age players.  So, if you're so inclined, you don't have to hang up your brand new USA jersey just yet.   

[blizz01]

^And of course, there's always the prospect of additional "Friendlies" being played at Everbank along the way as well....

[ProjectMaximus]

This article covers what Ajax said but a little more in depth.

http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/7/1/5862612/us-soccer-2015-gold-cup-womens-world-cup

[Ocklawaha]

DAMN!