Can the US do it? Can the once vaunted Belgian team live up to expectations?
I love Moules Frites! Here’s why:
100g/3½ oz butter
3 shallots, peeled, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
500ml/1 pint dry white wine
A bunch of parsley, leaves picked
1.5kg/3lb 5oz mussels, scrubbed and de-bearded
Fries
5 large, floury potatoes such as King Edwards, peeled
Vegetable oil, for frying
Make the fries first. Slice potatoes lengthways into 5mm-wide slices, then slice these into 5mm-wide chips. Place in cold water for at least 15 minutes to wash off excess starch.
Half fill a deep pan with oil and cover a couple of baking trays with kitchen towel. Use a jam thermometer to heat the oil to 150C/300F. Drain the fries and very carefully lower a few handfuls into the hot oil (you will have to cook them in batches), stir once to prevent them sticking together, then leave to cook for 5 minutes before using a slotted spoon to transfer them to the baking trays to drain. Do the rest of the fries, then leave them to cool to room temperature. Keep the oil in the pan for later.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic and a pinch of salt and cook until the shallot is soft, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and parsley and bring to the boil. Add the mussels, stir carefully, place a tight lid on the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes until they all open. Once cooked, keep them in the pan to stay warm, perhaps adjusting the lid a little so they don’t continue cooking.
Return the oil to the heat, and bring the temperature to 180C/350F. As before, carefully lower small batches of the fries into the oil, stir once, and cook for 3 minutes until crisp and golden. Transfer to freshly lined baking trays to drain, then sprinkle with salt and serve with the mussels.
Mussels recipes
In honor of the US Captain, Clint Dempsey, I got a classic recipe from Texas guaranteed to make your arteries harden: Chicken-Fried Steak:
First the cream gravy:
Cream gravy
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons pan drippings, bacon grease or vegetable oil
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste
Combine fat with flour in a hot skillet, continuously stirring, cook on medium for a couple of minutes until a dark roux is formed.
Add milk slowly to skillet, and mix with roux using either a whisk or wooden spoon (be sure and press out any lumps). Turn heat to low and continue stirring until mixture is thickened, a couple more minutes. Add pepper and salt to taste.
If gravy is too thick for your taste, you can thin it by adding either more milk or water a tablespoon at a time. Goes great with mashed potatoes, fried chicken, biscuits, chicken fried steak, grits, vegetables, rice or anything else you can imagine.
Yield: 1 1/2 cups
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Now for the steak:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds top-round steak
2 cups flour
3 large eggs
1/2 cup milk or buttermilk
2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups cream gravy
Method:
Cut top-round steak into 4 pieces. Pound beef with a meat tenderizer until flattened and almost doubled in size.
Place flour in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix eggs in another large bowl with milk. Take piece of tenderized beef and coat in flour. Dip coated beef into egg mixture and then dip back into flour again.
Heat on medium enough oil or lard to fill halfway up the sides of a cast-iron skillet. When a drop of water makes the oil sizzle, it’s ready for frying. Take the coated beef and place it in the skillet. When the blood starts bubbling out of the top of the steak (about 3 to 4 minutes) gently turn it over with a long fork (using a spatula can cause the oil to splash out of the skillet).
Cook another 5 minutes and then take the chicken-fried steak out of the pan and drain on a paper-towel-lined plate. Repeat process for remaining cutlets. And while you’re frying the others, you can keep the cooked steaks warm in the oven.
Serve with cream gravy made from the pan drippings.
Randinho
Damn! Missed the schedule again!
burnspbesq
Let’s do this thing!
MikeJ
Dear England: Your football team is at home watching our soccer team. Perhaps you need to chill the fuck out about what people call it and just enjoy the game.
Violet
National anthems! Crowd’s into it.
raven
My Colombian-American friends just posted a pic from the game!
MattR
Speaking of steak, a friend was featured on ABC News this morning describing how to grill the perfect steak.
gocart mozart
Why is the governor of Maine hanging out with terrorists?
http://thetippingpoint.bangordailynews.com/2014/06/30/state-politics/gov-lepage-met-with-encouraged-sovereign-citizen-extremists/
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@gocart mozart: Because he is an asshole?
raven
It’s cool that they just introduce the team and don’t do all that other bullshit we do.
Roger Moore
@gocart mozart:
Because he’s a teabagger, and that’s their natural habitat.
HumboldtBlue
OK, boyos! Show those waffling Walloons who is boss!
Violet
US needs to get it together. Shaky.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
The Belgies seem to be invading.
Onkel Fritze
Is there a game on? fucking Colombian TV doesn’t carry it.
raven
WTF Michael?
MattR
@Onkel Fritze: Not sure if any of these are available in Colombia, but deadspin compiled a list of streaming links for the game
The Dangerman
@Onkel Fritze:
ESPN 3?
MattR
First attempt got kicked into moderation, but try here for suggestions.
Alex S.
The first ambush didn’t succeed.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
I watched the first game at a place without WiFi (but with all you can eat tacos on Tuesdays) but I have a couple of questions as I try to figure this game out.
It seemed like Messi could do magic with the ball on his foot but for most of the game it accomplished nothing. Was I mistaken in my viewing or am I correct that the Swiss game plan was to stick as many men to Messi as it took to shut him down and dare the rest of the Argentines to beat them, a challenge that the South Americans declined?
And on the goal, it seemed like the key moment was when the Swiss defender missed a tackle just before Messi crossed into the box and that sucked Ricardo Rodriguez into the middle, leaving di Maria free. It seemed like Rodriguez ended up in no man’s land where he wasn’t covering anyone but I’m not sure he had a choice. Accurate?
Violet
@Onkel Fritze: If you can’t get it in Colombia, try http://www.wiziwig.tv/. It’s peer-to-peer and live. Some connections are good. Some are crappy but we’ve watched rugby matches with it when no other options are available.
lol chikinburd
Has USMNT fandom officially become too mainstream? Is it too hipsterish even to pose the question?
Or is the “hipster” stigma inappropriate to folks who remember what it was like when the USA were first terrible, and then plucky underdogs starved for respect? Folks who are just chuffed as hell for the USA to have gotten where they are, have never gone for the customary “U-S-A!” chest-beating in any other sport and don’t want to start with the one they’ve followed forever, and aren’t going to be crushed by the eventual elimination in the early knockout stages?
(dunno, just not feeling all the nationalistic fervor this time round, other than in response to the occasional obligatory America-hater)
HumboldtBlue
US can beat this defense
MikeJ
The US loves route 1, don’t they?
MattR
@Onkel Fritze: Trying to include the link led to moderation, but go to deadspin.com and scroll down. They have an article with various links to live streams of the game (though I am not sure if any are available in Colombia)
HumboldtBlue
@lol chikinburd: Try this video and then tell us what you think, we’ll be over here watching the best soccer team our nation has ever fielded
Onkel Fritze
@The Dangerman: Nope. There’s 3 channels of ESPN and Foxsports here, but they don ‘t show any games. The free TV stations Caracol and RCN carry most of the games, but nor all. There’s a cable company DirectTV which has them all, but that’s not the company we have. Alas, I’m stuck streaming TV from my beloved Fatherland.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
Does Geoff Cameron think that if he adopts Cristiano Ronaldo’s haircut he’ll start scoring goals?
The Dangerman
@Onkel Fritze:
ESPN 3 is online and appears to be covering the game; give your ISP a workout!
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/id/1844107/size/condensed/
Violet
@The Dangerman: ESPN 3 may not be available in Colombia. May be blocked.
Onkel Fritze
@Violet:
@MattR:
Thanks, but I’ve figuered that out a loooong time ago, out of necessity. Using schoener-fernsehen.com myself. Further down the list of channels, there’s also a stream from the UK, for anybody interested.
PaulW
cmon US get some shots on the Belgian goal! CMON
Violet
“a fan wanting to make a spectacle of himself”? Was someone streaking across the pitch or something?
JPL
@Onkel Fritze: Is there a international univision stream?
Violet
@Onkel Fritze: Yeah there are a bunch of options. I prefer watching on TV but it’s nice to have the online options.
Hill Dweller
Why can’t Bradley stop giving away possession?
MattR
You know what would be great? If the US could win a 50-50 ball and keep possession instead of just whacking it down the field.
Onkel Fritze
@The Dangerman: No, ESPN Latin America is a different beast and does not have the rights (at least in Colombia). They are geoblocked on the internet. Would have to use a proxy, but my way is so much easier.
HumboldtBlue
@Hill Dweller: He’s killing us, whitey! He’s killing us! Although he was solid against Portugal and Germany
PaulW
Streaking? Streaking? THERE’S NO STREAKING IN BASEBALL!… wait.
Violet
@PaulW: Looking better now.
Onkel Fritze
@JPL: Univision also geoblocked. But they are really helpful and tell you where you are. So if you ever get lost….
HumboldtBlue
Arrrrrrggghhhhh
Southern Beale
The FUCKING nerve of these assholes. THE NERVE.
Do you like having YOUR healthcare needs treated differently from men’s? Do you like paying MORE for it? Because lady parts and Jesus? Do WE have the party for YOU!
/hurl
burnspbesq
DeBruyne has to do better with that. Big letoff for the US.
Violet
@Southern Beale: I know this is an open thread technically, but you might find that comment fits better in the thread just below.
HumboldtBlue
OOoooomph, nice fricking turnover
PaulW
@Southern Beale:
That’s because they think 1) voters are ignorant of current events and 2) genuinely believe their policy goals will win over everybody once we stop listening to EVIL feminazi socialist pod-people.
⚽️ Martin
Belgians are tall.
Amir Khalid
Since someone brought up American food, there’s something I’d like to know: Why does KFC keep its fried chicken recipe such a big secret, when the fried chicken it makes doesn’t even taste all that good?
Valdivia
Wow that was something
⚽️ Martin
That was an unbelievable (and should have been an unnecessary) save.
Violet
The US won’t get breaks forever.
Keith G
@⚽️ Martin: And lord how they can cover ground – fast and smooth.
Amir Khalid
This match will come down to which team’s striker is struck by a unique moment of competence.
⚽️ Martin
@Amir Khalid: Their chicken is like heroin. Once you get hooked on it, you don’t want anything else. So it’s distinctiveness (and consistency from restaurant to restaurant) is the secret.
Keith G
@Amir Khalid: Marketing ploy 101.
PaulW
@Amir Khalid:
because the secret is really salt+pepper. The flavor is from the way the chicken get cooked. It’s chicken grease.
Trollhattan
@Amir Khalid:
It’s a little thing called “marketing hype.” See, also, too: Coca-Cola secret recipe.
The actual KFC “secret” was a steam-pressure fryer, not the mediocre coating.
Onkel Fritze
@Amir Khalid: To make people feel special when they eat the crap.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@PaulW: If I am going with chain chicken, I prefer Popeye’s.
The Dangerman
KFC? Insert Homer Simpson drooling “ohhhhhhhhhh” here.
ETA: Popeye’s is good, too. I don’t do Fast Food often, but, when I need to do so, Popeye’s is a first choice if available.
PaulW
seems like there’s a 2 minute delay on the radio broadcast.
Violet
This isn’t good. I liked what I saw of Yedlin before, but he’s awfully young.
burnspbesq
I guess we’re gonna find out about Yedlin.
pseudonymous in nc
It’s like a Premier League vs Championship cup tie right now.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
The U.S. is having a lot of hamstring problems. I thought Klinsmann was all about the fitness.
lol chikinburd
Fabian Johnson’s gone. Not so good.
Replacing is him is DeAndre Yedlin. Not so bad. I like the kid.
HumboldtBlue
That’s a terrible loss
PaulW
could the playing surfaces of the Brazilian fields be causing the hamstring woes?
Onkel Fritze
@PaulW: Yes. They selectively target US players, too.
Violet
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): Makes you wonder, doesn’t it. Seems too many to be coincidence.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
@lol chikinburd:
Nah. People jump on the bandwagon every four years, then most jump off when the US goes out.
I have a method for sorting out the older poseurs from the old hardcores: I drop Tab Ramos at the Rose Bowl on the Fourth of July. Anyone who answers, “Yeah, that was great!” draws a red card.
Randinho
@Onkel Fritze: Try Hola
Amir Khalid
The BBC live-blogger wants to know how DeAndre Yedlin’s club, the Seattle Sounders, got their name. Does anyone here know?
PaulW
Seattle paid for the trademark rights, that’s how they got their name. :)
Violet
@Amir Khalid: From Puget Sound?
JPL
I’m not feeling positive about this game.
Maybe I’ll be able to speak a little spanish though after watching the matches on Univision. I mentioned to a neighbor that I watched the games on Univision and he was able to relate because he went to several family gatherings with his wife. Her father only speaks Spanish.
Keith G
@Amir Khalid: Nautical term?
PaulW
USA
USA
USA
USA
(maybe if we start chanting it often it will motivate the team to score goals)
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Amir Khalid: From Puget Sound?
Trollhattan
@Violet:
And there it is.
JPL
uhoh..
HumboldtBlue
Violet nailed it, Puget Sound
Rob in CT
I can’t watch yet, but from the “match stats” it looks pretty one-sided. Our side has at least had a decent amount of the possession, but the Belgians have dominated everything else (that’s good, I mean).
MattR
More than possession, the US needs some defensive pressure on the ball. The Belgians are able to jog their way into the offensive third before the US makes any attempt to get the ball.
raven
@Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again): I was in the Rose Bowl for the 84 Olympic Soccer and in Sanford Stadium in 96!
HumboldtBlue
@Rob in CT: US defense in midfield has been shaky and the Belgians should be ahead 1-0, but US has also has some good looks
Violet
Fabian Johnson–strained left hamstring. Same as Altidore. Seems like conditioning could be a problem.
Alex S.
For a while I thought a belgian goal was just a question of time, but it looks like both teams get their chances. After the break the game is going to slow down more and it should be a pretty open affair.
raven
@Violet:
He hears the ticking of the clocks
And walks along with a parrot that talks
Hunts her down by the waterfront docks where the sailers all come in
Maybe she’ll pick him out again how long must he wait
One more time for a simple twist of fate.
Keith G
@Rob in CT: The Belgians move like they are on skates. They are just inaccurate. I worry about later on. I think we will be a bit more tired as we match their movement.
MattR
I like Yedlin’s panache. The only other player on the team who plays with that kind of attitude is Dempsey.
raven
This Limey announcer is more pessimistic than your average juicer.
HumboldtBlue
@Violet: Conditioning isn’t the issue, they’re extraordinarily fit,I am trying to find a paper a Doctor wrote about the injuries and I recall he said it was just simple strain and can’t be prepared for
Rob in CT
Thanks for the descriptions, all.
raven
@HumboldtBlue: like I said. . . simple twist
PaulW
cmon USA USA USA USA
raven
Fuck this asshole, the score is zip zip.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@HumboldtBlue: Yeah, I don’t really see how conditioning could lead to hamstring problems.
Violet
@MattR: Agreed. Yedlin is fearless.
Rob in CT
@HumboldtBlue:
It’s been my experience watching other sports that sometimes injuries just happen – and sometimes come in bunches. The pattern recognition software we have in our brains gears up and tries to find an explanation, but there probably isn’t one.
Also, too: isn’t it also about hydration?
HumboldtBlue
@Rob in CT: No, he said specifically that is has nothing to do with hydration and all that bullshit from gatorade is just that, bullshit
PaulW
the obvious sin of soccer: scoreless games. /headdesk
Onkel Fritze
Talking about Belgium: anybody ever been to Bruges? Hands down the most beautiful town I’ve ever seen.
Cacti
@Rob in CT:
Hydration hasn’t been much of an issue in the late games that I’ve seen so far.
Now the days games where the sun is high in the sky, I’ve seen guys start cramping up late.
Violet
@HumboldtBlue: There’s a way to train to prepare for big events that allows your muscles to be in peak condition. Weather conditions–like heat and humidity–change that. Having trained in heat and humidity I’m aware of how I have to change my fluid, electrolyte, etc. intake in those conditions. Vulnerable muscles are the ones that go first, obviously.
Just wonder if all that is being managed appropriately. Seems weird that so many have hamstring issues. Noticed all those muscles injuries in the first match–the one where Altidore went out.
Maybe it’s coincidence. Maybe there’s something they need to look at.
PaulW
Half-time. Gotta keep moving. Let’s GO USA WIN THIS ONE #USA
burnspbesq
I’d like to see Beckerman on for Cameron. Back to 4-2-3-1. Get numbers in midfield to blunt the Belgians through the middle.
We’ve seen that Yedlin can get around Vertonghen any time he wants. Keep going at him. If it forces Hazard to be honest, so much the better.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Onkel Fritze: I’ve been. You could point a camera at random and get a postcard worthy shot.
raven
@Violet: Yea I’m sure these people have no idea what they are doing.
MomSense
@PaulW:
If I had to guess I would say the hamstring problems are caused by fatigue, inadequate stretching, and muscle imbalance with the quadriceps. Quadriceps are generally stronger than hamstrings, but if the imbalance is too great it can cause problems especially in situations when quick or explosive movement is needed–like a lot of soccer play. Dead stop to super fast start is a problem when combined with the other factors. When I started working with gymnasts, I changed their stretching and warm up routines because they had problems with pulled and strained hamstrings.
HumboldtBlue
@Violet: I am a horrible reporter on this and I can’t find the article but Dr. Matt McCarthy addressed the issue and broke it down pretty well
Seanogar1
Wow. Every single recipe so far contains ecologically-unsupportable, heart-health-challenging, chock-full-of-cruelty animal meats. So appropriate for a liberal blog!
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Violet: Any evidence that there is a higher than normal occurrence of hammy injuries for the US during this tournament?
HumboldtBlue
@Seanogar1: You should see our gun play
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): Moderation? For what? Tourn a ment? Jesus fuck.
MikeJ
@Seanogar1: GYOFB
burnspbesq
@Seanogar1:
What to eat is a matter of individual choice (says the recent convert to vegetarian). Go preach somewhere else. We’re watching football here.
Violet
@raven: I’m sure they know what they’re doing. Or they think they do. Or they’ve decided they do. Or they’ve been told they do.
It’s weird how in groups or organizations sometimes poor decisions or strategies become ‘just the way it’s done’ even if they’re not effective. Lots of people make lots of money as consultants peddling crap. Lots of companies and organizations buy it. High level, high dollar sports are no exception.
Cacti
@Seanogar1:
When did vegan become a substitute for liberal?
Alex S.
@Onkel Fritze:
It’s like a fucking fairytale or something.
(Yes, it is.)
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Seanogar1: And we haven’t even gotten to the competing veal recipes for France vs. Germany.
raven
The reasoning behind the cause of hamstring strains continues to be confusing and inconclusive for both medical practitioners and researchers.
Cacti
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):
Or foie gras.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Alex S.: “It’s in fucking Belgium.” Love that movie.
MikeJ
@Cacti:
The only people I know that think that are republicans.
raven
@Violet: I have several friends who do massage and personal training and they certainly feel they could address these kinds of injuries better than professional sports trainers.
Violet
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): I haven’t looked that far. Noticed there were a lot of muscle issues in the US team in the first game and remember other people mentioning it. Idle speculation by me. I’m no expert.
xenos
@Onkel Fritze: Bruges? It’s a fucking fairy tale place.
burnspbesq
Origi is something of a black hole.
Violet
@raven: I know people who have more success in addressing these kinds of injuries better than traditional physical therapy too.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
The wide open games of the group stage seem to have disappeared.
Schlemizel
@Seanogar1:
crawl back under your bridge, troll.
Violet
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): That is such a weird movie. I enjoyed some of it but it wasn’t the lighthearted comedy the review billed it as.
Trollhattan
@raven:
Cycle racers travel with team masseuses, as one sport arguably on par or superior to futbol players in conditioning and who, unlike them, have to perform hours daily sometimes for weeks. I don’t believe for a second that the top WC teams don’t all have access to the same.
Hammys are problematic, as they’re antagonists to stronger muscles (calves, quads, glutes, etc.) and need to be strengthened and stretched in isolation.
Amir Khalid
Annoying American commenter on Guardian live-blog:
Yes we know, Mr Andersen. All the same, most of the planet calls the sport “football”, whether in English or in their own language. And no argument you raise changes that.
Alex S.
The trajectory of this game is not good.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Violet: Going into it expecting a lighthearted comedy would result in some shock. I saw it not too long after I had been to Bruges. I thought it was fucking brilliant.
Trollhattan
@Cacti:
And you know who else was a vegetarian and loved his doggies….
Violet
Tim Howard is getting a workout.
Steeplejack
Went to the dentist earlier this afternoon, and the feeling of having collagen-inflated duck lips is just going away.
Sort of speed-watched the first half, and the thing that struck me is that the Belgians’ passing is very crisp. And when a guy receives the ball it just sticks to his foot.
That said, USA are holding their own. I fear this game is going to come down to one awful moment. “Bradley sneezed at the wrong second and Shmecki Dijkstormer buried it from 35 meters!”
pseudonymous in nc
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN):
Too much at stake right now: the favourites in each match are going in with a “get the job done” mentality, and the weaker teams are not taking risks until late. I imagine the quarter-finals will be different.
This is just pressure and pressure and pressure now, and if you’re defending for this long, you get out of the habit of attacking.
SRW1
Impacts are getting closer, but so far the Alamo is still holding out.
HumboldtBlue
@Amir Khalid: You are so off base on this. After the game youtube the history of Liverpool, or the Kop and you will hear over and over again British commentators and historians referring to the game as soccer. It’s an English/American term and the ongoing debate and back and forth is utterly useless
Mike E
2nd half is settling into a nonstop Belgian offensive soccer clinic.
Violet
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): Yeah, the review was really misleading. I still enjoyed it but I think I was expecting a different movie entirely. Or at least something more like “Sexy Beast”.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
@Amir Khalid: I find the argument about what to call it, from both sides, really annoying. There are lots of things about the game itself we can hurl obscenities at each other over; we really don’t need to drag naming conventions into it.
askew
U.S. goalie is carrying this team right now. The rest of the team is playing very poorly.
The Univision announcers are so much more fun to listen to.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Violet: Another good movie.
MikeJ
@Mike E:
“Belgium” is the most offensive word in the galaxy.
I could really use a pan galactic gargle blaster.
MomSense
@Violet:
I was a dancer by training and years later when I was teaching and working with athletes (gymnastics, soccer, football, ice skating, etc) I was shocked at how out of date the stretching regimes were. The warm ups were problematic too as they often asked too much too quickly of muscles.
Violet
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): Ben Kingsley was the scariest thing in the world in that movie.
Onkel Fritze
@askew: I find this ‘gooooooool’ shit just pathetic.
Violet
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): Living where Spanish is a commonly heard language, I call it futbol by habit.
Amir Khalid
@HumboldtBlue:
Curiously, it seems to be Americans like Mr Andersen the Guardian commenter who seem to think it an error to call football football. The rest of the world seems content to use the terms “football” and “soccer” interchangeably, although the preference is for the former.
JPL
@askew: Only if you have a bottle of tums.
Steeplejack
Shots on goal: 14-2 Belgium. Mama!
Onkel Fritze
@Amir Khalid: Well, sometimes you do have to dumb it down when talking to Americans /jk
lol chikinburd
“SaxOphonist”? Stress on the second syllable? Really, Mr. Darke?
HumboldtBlue
@lol chikinburd: I caught that too
HumboldtBlue
US simply look terrible
Violet
@MomSense: Yep. I know a lot is known about muscle conditioning, food and hydration intake, but it’s surprising how much of it is ignored by athletes. One would think that high level sports organizations would be up to date but who knows.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
This is starting to look like the hockey drill where a team forms a semicircle and just fires the puck at the goalie.
Steeplejack
@Amir Khalid:
Was commenter Anderson saying football is wrong? From the snippet you quoted above, it sounds like he’s in the “soccer is okay” camp and was ragging on the Guardian blogger about that.
raven
Who counts how far each player runs?
justawriter
Thought the stratergery for the Yanks would be to kick it at the Belgium goal, but methinks they are more clever than that.
Steeplejack
@raven:
NSA.
raven
@Steeplejack: :)
MomSense
@Violet:
Hydration is really important!
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
The ESPN Gamecast says the possession is 50/50 but it sure doesn’t feel that way. It says the shots are 22 (7 on goal) to 5 (2 on goal).
Trollhattan
@Violet:
Ever see “House of Sand and Fog”? Now that was one disturbing film.
raven
@MomSense: We hydrate, we wait
Otmar
The more the Belgians miss the good chances the more I expect a lucky punch by the US boys.
raven
@Otmar: That’s what I’m talkin bout!
Violet
@MomSense: And too much is just as bad as not enough.
@Trollhattan: Nope didn’t see it. Remember hearing about it and kind of decided not to see it.
Joel
Been getting dominated in the 2nd half. Still alive, though.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
@Trollhattan: Disturbing movie. Both Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly were fantastic.
Onkel Fritze
Ouch. That ankle looked bad in slowmo.
Trollhattan
The little phone that could–have figured out how to get the live pheed on my phone. May need to avert my eyes, anyway.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
Tim Howard is the US man of the match so far.
Steeplejack
@MomSense:
I know! I just started a
dirtyfilthy martini to get me through this critical second half.In honor of Martin, I went to the bespoke state liquor store and bought a bottle of Plymouth gin.
raven
Behind the Scenes with the U.S. Men’s National Team Head Athletic Trainer , Ivan Pierra
raven
dupe
Amir Khalid
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN):
There’s no agreed definition of “possession”. Is it time on the ball? Is it percentage of completed passes? Something else? A team can have nearly all the possession and still be behind on goals scored, which is really the only stat that matters. It’s not a stat I take very seriously myself.
Keith G
Man, Belgium is really good at quickly getting to the American attack before a shot on goal.
Violet
I’m really enjoying watching Yedlin.
Baud
Yedlin’s fast.
Otmar
The Belgian defense looks pretty vulnerable to one good pass.
Mike E
Watching the waves crashing on the seawall here…USA needs a bolt in these last 10 mins.
Trollhattan
@Steeplejack: Don’t recall that model. Was it before or after the Roadrunner?
Steeplejack
@Otmar:
Yes, too bad the Americans aren’t offering any.
MomSense
@raven:
HA!!
@Steeplejack:
I only had a Belgian IPA in the house and that just wouldn’t do.
HumboldtBlue
Without Howard doing his best Patrick Roy impersonation it would 3-0 Belgium
raven
@HumboldtBlue: They don’t ask how Dawg!
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Trollhattan: It was brought in to supplement the Fury.
Steeplejack
@Trollhattan:
Wha? No comprendo.
ETA: Plymouth? Oh.
Violet
This game is exhausting.
Steeplejack
Jeez, get some loft on that corner!
Violet
US also looking really tired.
HumboldtBlue
Belgian fans have gotta be hating this
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
Is it +3?
raven
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): yes
Keith G
Oh my god
MikeJ
Out of what material should we built the statue of Tim Howard?
burnspbesq
Fuck.
raven
shitttt
Otmar
Sheeeesh
Jay C
Missed it by THAT much…..
SRW1
Jebus, that was the lucky break you gotta make use of for an upset.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
Horrible shot on an open goal.
Steeplejack
Sleepin’ Hey-soos!
⚽️ Martin
Oh my…
Violet
Extra time. Holy cow. Wouldn’t have thought.
Baud
@MikeJ:
Pure human balls.
Trollhattan
@Steeplejack:
A
smalltiny joke, but it would only be fitting if the company that gave us the minivan also gave us the Gin.Onkel Fritze
The refs ruled it offsides. It wasn’t, though.
lol chikinburd
Good thing Wondo missed that, or else the blood-pressure spike from a wrongly-disallowed goal would have killed a lot of us.
Trollhattan
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):
See that a lot with our U13s.
Stan Gable
Wondo’s going to have nightmares about that for a while…
MattR
Wondo, Wondo, Wondo :(
I still think a Wondo header off a Yedlin cross is our best chance for a goal.
Steeplejack
@Trollhattan:
I could picture the Plymouth Gin being their clumsy, doomed-to-fail attempt to rip off the Mini Cooper.
Amir Khalid
@Violet:
They’ll need to keep the ball out of goal for another half an hour.
JPL
I’m trying to explain to Mr. Finch that I was expressing disappointment with him. How long is the break?
Otmar
I have to lodge an official complaint here.
I’m at GMT+2, and all these stupid extra time games starting at 10pm are killing my sleeping rhythm.
Arghh.
raven
@Otmar: noted, go see the chaplain and get your card punched, you are authorized one personal problem a day.
burnspbesq
Might as well vomit now and get it over with.
Keith G
@burnspbesq: Ready for my close up Mr. DeMille.
Baud
@burnspbesq:
Finally read the Hobby Lobby decision, eh? ;-)
Trollhattan
@Steeplejack:
Yup–a slightly retooled Omni. “Research indicates the youths will love it!”
Cacti
31 shots on goal and 16 corners for Belgium. Is there a record for the most unsuccessful chances?
Baud
Dammit. Thank god it’s not sudden death.
burnspbesq
Lukaku got away with a foul, and away they go.
Mike E
Who didn’t see that coming
MikeJ
Fuck
Violet
@Amir Khalid: And right away they don’t.
Otmar
Why couldn’t he do that a bit earlier?
Amir Khalid
And Belgium score.
Hill Dweller
Once again, that sequence started with Bradley turning the ball over.
Anoniminous
shit
HumboldtBlue
@Onkel Fritze: He was waving for a goal kick, US was on side and goal would have counted
MomSense
NOOOOOOOOOO!
Trollhattan
Wow, you could just see that coming.
Tripod
SPLAT
Keith G
De Bruyne’s been knocking on the door all match.
Anya
Damn it!
Hill Dweller
Awesome free kick, Bradley.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
Time to bring on Altidore?
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@Trollhattan: A matter of when and not if.
MikeJ
@Otmar:
Try watching EPL at GMT-8. Half the games start at 4am.
Amir Khalid
Still 28 minutes to go. Anything can happen. Remember yesterday’s matches?
Otmar
That should have been the 2:0
Anya
my dad is offended by all the African players playing for the “former brutal colonizer Belgium.” For some reason, he’s okay with African players in the US team.
Onkel Fritze
@HumboldtBlue: No way.
Tony J
The important thing now is do NOT concede another one quickly. Let the Belgian adrenaline peak and ebb, keep it tight, and take the chance that WILL come.
The prize is a match against an average Argentina (plus Messi), worth fighting for.
Steeplejack
@Hill Dweller:
Poppycock. DVR replay shows USA regained possession and three other guys (20, 13 and 7/8?) handled it before posession turned over.
askew
Man, I’d like to see the U.S. pull off an upset here just for Howard’s sake. He’s working his ass off. But, unless he can also score goals I don’t think it is likely. The rest of the U.S. team just blows.
Anya
US team seem to be hesitating a lot. Take charge damn it! WTF is up with all the lost time.
Anoniminous
Kick the round thing at the net thing once in a while.
jeez
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@askew:
Granted, it isn’t their best game, but just blows is a bit much.
Anya
Go Howard!
Amir Khalid
@askew:
That’s harsh. The USA outfield players aren’t the big stars at their clubs; most are just squad players. They’ve done better than anyone had a right to expect, and most of it has been Klinsmann’s organisation and their own fighting spirit.
Anya
This is too painful to watch.
Mike E
@askew: The whole middle of the attacking zone seem disinterested.
raven
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): No shit!
Steeplejack
@Steeplejack:
No edit, FYWP. Should be 20, 11 and either 7 or 8.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
What’s the record for saves in a knockout game?
Baud
Win for Howard!
ETA: Ugh.
MikeJ
Ow.
Anya
Fuck!
Steeplejack
Damn it! They are killing us on the counter!
Randy Paul aka Randinho
That should be it.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
That does it. I doubt the US can get two in the time remaining.
Hill Dweller
Another goal after Bradley makes a stupid decision to take a weak shot right into two Belgian players. Bradley is Belgium’s best player.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
Jermaine Jones is taking a beating without getting fouled.
askew
@raven:
Yeah, that’s what I am seeing. They just don’t have the chase that the Belgians have.
Then again, if I had to play in that heat I would have given up 1 minute into the game.
Trollhattan
Sigh.
Amir Khalid
2-0. It’s over.
JPL
From the NYTimes.. Tim Howard keeps it close. They’re saying that’s save No. 14 by Howard — the most by a World Cup goalkeeper since 1966! He ended with fifteen…
Randy Paul aka Randinho
If Wilmots doesn’t start Lukako against Argentina, he’s an idiot.
lol chikinburd
And Julian Green is the white flag. May as well put him on, I guess.
ETA: Hm. Whaddya know.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
I’m also watching a feed that’s about three minutes behind you guys.
Violet
Tim Howard is just amazing. I will miss watching him and his pretty green eyes.
Onkel Fritze
@Randy Paul aka Randinho: Looks like Lukako needed that time on the bench. He really wasn’t good in the group games.
Baud
Whoa!
Hill Dweller
Another great free kick from Bradley. Thankfully it didn’t lead to another counter.
Violet
Holy fuck! Julian Green!
Tony J
Ah, right. The thing to do now is get one back quickly.
Yes, just like that.
MazeDancer
Tim Howard definitely going to be looking at some PR buzz.
Baud
We need to Ranaldo Belgium!
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@lol chikinburd:
Maybe not.
Steeplejack
Fuckin’ A! Julian Green gets one!
ETA: And must note it was on a sweet pass from the much maligned Bradley.
SiubhanDuinne
Ain’t over til it’s over.
SRW1
Well, boring it certainly ain’t, this WC.
Are the Red Devils rattled?
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@askew: it’s 79 degrees in Salvador right now.
Valdivia
Finally! Tim Howard has been otherworldly, good to see the rest of the team hustle for it.
lol chikinburd
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): Yeah, I’m laughing my ass off at karma, cosmic absurdity, and myself.
burnspbesq
That was a superb run by Green, and a pretty composed finish for a kid with 40 minutes of first-team football.
Trollhattan
Well I’ll be dipped and boiled.
Onkel Fritze
Was it over when the Belgians bombed Pearl Harbor?
Amir Khalid
It might not be over after all. One more like that from young Julian and you might have a new national hero.
Trollhattan
The difference in body language is profound.
JPL
16 saves
Amir Khalid
Ooh, that was very nearly the equaliser!
Anya
equalizer!
Baud
Ugh.
MazeDancer
@JPL:
Magazine covers are already lining up for Mr. Howard. Also talk shows.
⚽️ Martin
OMG. That so should have been a goal.
burnspbesq
We’re dying with our boots on.
⚽️ Martin
@MazeDancer: He’s already doing commentary for NBC for BPL games.
Anya
Come on Julian! One more goal!!!!
MikeJ
Pity they didn’t have this sort of fire in the first 90.
Anya
Fuckety fuck!
burnspbesq
Shocking the way Belgium has come unglued.
Tony J
As wave after wave of Yankee attacks crashed against the Belgian ramparts one question echoed across the battlefield. WTF is Fellaini doing at a World Cup? He’s shite.
Steeplejack
I’m dying here. We need a miracle from the gods of soccer or football. Either one—I don’t care.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
Squeaky bum time for Wilmots.
Anya
Less than a minute
Amir Khalid
@Tony J:
People were wondering about that all season at Manchester United. He’s been shite there too.
Steeplejack
One minute added! Fuck.
Steeplejack
Okay, last chance. Boom it down there and go for it.
ETA: And it ends before my comment even posted. FYWP.
Baud
Ah, well.
Anya
And I am dead!
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
Damn. But they went down fighting.
Amir Khalid
Remember, there’s no disgrace in losing if you fight like Team USA have today.
burnspbesq
Arrgghh.
Tony J
Great US comeback, fantastic defensive performance from the first whistle, but that’s football.
MikeJ
Not going to be safe to walk through the streets of Belgiumtown tonight.
Otmar
You could have been a contented, dear US team, if you had played the whole time like you did the last 13 mins.
Cacti
Too conservative for too much of the game.
Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
⚽️ Martin
Fuck. Not saying Belgium didn’t earn that, but what an unbelievable comeback that would have been.
Amir Khalid
Also, all the group winners are through to the quarter-finals, which doesn’t usually happen.
Baud
See you in Russia.
burnspbesq
In the end, the difference is depth. Belgium goes to the bench and brings on two guys who start in the Premier League. We go to the bench and we get an MLS guy and a Regionaliga guy.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
Courtois looks unhappy. Why?
Steppan
the heck was that one minute nonsense?
Trollhattan
No shame to be shouldered–played your guts out, boys.
Violet
Wish they’d played the 90 minutes like they played the extra time. Still, they fought and fought hard. Great job by the USA team. Made us proud!
Cacti
@Amir Khalid:
Meh.
The other name for a moral victory is a loss.
burnspbesq
Wondo-fuckin-lowski.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
I guess it’s Allez les Bleus time pour moi.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
Wondolowski’s going to have nightmares.
lol chikinburd
The US had an exit worthy of Algeria, which is a great compliment.
Cacti
@burnspbesq:
This.
Team USA has reached the point of being consistently respectable, but without further player development, we won’t make the move to dark horse contender or contender.
Baud
Now I’ll have to find something else to do on Saturday.
Steppan
@Cacti:
Though we did have to put them in much earlier than we wanted, too.
Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)
@Cacti: Hey, some days the other team is better. Honestly, is anyone surprised by the result?
scav
yoikes. I still love goalies.
SRW1
@Randy Paul aka Randinho:
Because his colleagues wasted a shitload of chances, looked like a chicken farm during the last ten minutes, and only just about managed to escape?
burnspbesq
@SRW1:
Courtois could have been watching movies on his iPad most of the night, but he made the one save he had to make, and his team advances.
Cacti
@Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):
But for Howard’s brilliance in the net, it could have been much, much worse.
The Belgians obviously had more offensive firepower. It just seems a shame that USA spent 105 trying not to lose and then the last 15 actually trying to win.
Steeplejack
@Mike J:
Yes, I’ll be avoiding the tidy but menacing Little Brussels section of Capital City tonight.
ETA: Your name still has nym blight. Anybody replies to MikeJ, change it slightly in the hyperlink.
proterozoic
Tim Howard: MVP. Did as much useful work as the rest of the team combined.
That late volley was great, but too little too late. Should have had that energy during regular time.
We’ll get the fuckers next time. Grrr
Steeplejack
Well, I’ve got to start working on my trauma counseling protocols for Bro’ Man and the horde of Brazilian in-laws who are visiting. On current form, I don’t know if Brazil gets by Colombia on Friday.
SRW1
@burnspbesq:
I don’t think he enjoyed watching his team mates waste one chance after another.
And yes, he made the critical save at the end, but watch again how the Belgian defenders stood still like tin soldiers in that situation and left him totally exposed. I don’t think it takes a hughe leap of faith to think that might dampen his joy about the final score somewhat.
Hill Dweller
The US just doesn’t have enough talent nor technical ability. We’re probably a couple, possibly three, generations away from correcting that deficiency. Our purported best player(Bradley) was shit in all four matches.
As an aside Bob Ley’s sanctimony is nauseating.
Heliopause
In case you missed it, here is today’s final score: Belgium 18 goals, USA 1 goal, Tim Howard -16 goals. Whatever they’re paying him it’s not enough.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@SRW1: yeah, but the game was over.
Tripod
The original sin was roster selection.
Rostering a bunch of d-mids, pushing one forward and hoping things work out in the offensive third was a bad idea. The US had bite out on the wings, but every time Jones or Bradley had the ball at their feet at the eighteen yard box, it just got ugly.
Cacti
@Hill Dweller:
Only since 2008 have MLS teams started following the youth academy model that is used by the club teams of international soccer powers.
15 years from now, we might actually have the horses to make a deep run.
SRW1
@Randy Paul aka Randinho:
You know, some people have a harder time seeing positive aspects than others.
MattR
@Hill Dweller: Pretty much. We need players with a better first touch. Defenders who can maintain possession when they intercept a long pass instead of just whacking it away. Midfielders and forwards who can similarly control passes sent in their direction and hold the ball in tight quarters. And finally, players with creativity who can beat a defender one on one in the attacking third and put a shot on goal.
It seems like the younger players on the team – F Johnson, Yedlin, J Green – all have that touch. Dempsey has it as well and Jones showed he does as well. I thought Bradley had that level of technical ability, but it wasn’t apparent in this World Cup. The rest of the team is serviceable, but not what you need to compete with the top teams of the world.
burnspbesq
The 23-man US squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Brad Guzan, Bill Hamid, Sean Johnson, Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, John Brooks, DeAndre Yedlin, Fabian Johnson, Marc Pelosi, Oscar Sorto, Michael Bradley, Paul Arriola, Gedion Zelalem, Julian Green, Luis Gil, Mix Diskerud, Terence Boyd, Joe Gyau, Jozy Altidore, Aron Johannson, and three kids you haven’t heard of yet.
Randy Paul aka Randinho
@SRW1: True that, but I would still feel relieved and be smiling
Valdivia
@Steeplejack: maybe not popular up say but I’m cheering for Colombia. They’re such a great team.
pseudonymous in nc
1. It’s the moments when you’re down a goal but playing up that you remember, because sometimes everything goes right.
2. The US needs a stockpile of agony, and that was a big delivery. It’s getting close to being full.
3. If you needed proof why the golden goal was shit…
4. Every group winner goes through to the quarter finals, which is pretty rare, and every second round match was about the stronger team outlasting the weaker one in ways that weren’t pretty but did the job.
5. I’m not going to join in any postmortems: the US did pretty much as well as they deserved given their squad and schedule and opposition. Probably better in the long term to have a heroic defeat in a match where they were outclassed and somehow kept it level for so long, than to advance squeakily and get a shoeing from Argentina.
Steeplejack
@Valdivia:
They have been looking terrific! And I would expect no less from Valdivia the Terrible.
Brazil seems to be coasting on the attitude that we all accuse my Brazilian brother-in-law of having: “I’m pretty and people like me!”
Stan Gable
@Cacti:
I don’t think that’s true – the US isn’t vastly outmatched against the better teams, so it’s not like they’re 20 guys short of competing.
raven
It was fun.
Tripod
Cut the shit. This isn’t 1990. The US squad is fine with the ball at their feet. Friggin’ Bob Bradley managed to put a squad together that beat Spain and lead Brazil at the half of the Confed Cup final.
Mostly Jurgen fucked this up.
mali muso
I’d say that Michael Bradley fucked this up. Pretty much everything he touched turned to crap.
Tripod
@mali muso:
Jurgen pushed him into an attacking mid role. He’s just not that player.
Steeplejack
@Tripod:
Alexi Lalas made exactly this same point: Bradley excels as a defensive midfielder, struggles as an attacking midfielder.
I think Lalas’s analysis and comments have been pretty good throughout the World Cup.
Violet
From the Belgian captain:
Respect.
mali muso
@Violet: Tim Howard was incredible. He deserves a better team, to be honest.
Elie
@Valdivia:
I am so tempted to join you having watched and enjoyed them (Columbia). I was however, born in Brazil and love Brazil…….though I don’t think that they have been playing well at all and I resent their sense of entitlement.
I will wait till the last minute to decide…
Elie
@mali muso:
Building a team is always hard but particularly so in the US where so many of our athletes play the other games (baseball, football, hockey and basketball). I hope we can one day pass this phase, but its always interesting and occ fun to watch a team build over a time. They just need a tweak or two — defense was great, they just need an offensive approach
Violet
@Elie: I’m pulling for both Colombia and Brazil. I love Brazil and watching them play. Plus they’re the hosts and I’d like to see them do well. But Colombia has been amazing to watch and James is a thrill to see play. I hope it’s a good game.
burnspbesq
@mali muso:
He has one. It’s called Everton.
trollhattan
@Elie:
Reason the infinitieth I believe women’s soccer will surpass men’s in the States. There’s a much bigger cohort of girl’s soccer, all the way through college, to feed a competitive and exciting league. Women’s tennis is already better, from a spectator’s standpoint.
pseudonymous in nc
@Stan Gable:
The line that comes to mind: “you don’t have to outrun the bear, you just have to outrun the other guy.” Think of all the teams that went out in this round — apart from Uruguay, teams that have had some success within their confederation, but aren’t top tier. Some will be worse, as a golden generation ages or loses form, and not make it to Russia in 2018. Some will be better. Can the US compete consistently with a Switzerland or Algeria or Chile or Cote d’Ivoire?
The 2016 Copa America will be in the US. It’s going to be a treat and a test.
Elie
@Violet:
Si!!!
Tripod
@Steeplejack:
Well to be fair, It was an overly defensive central midfield, and the coach burnt it out in a tough group with a non-existent rotation…..
Tripod
@Elie:
They had one under Bob Bradley. He couldn’t get the backline (defense) sorted out. Still the 2009 team is the best USA team ever fielded.
Elie
@Tripod:
I am a Chicago Bears and more significantly, a Chicago CUBS fan. I know all about that…..
As Mike Ditka said –(chgo Bears), making it to the championship an winning is not “automatic”. You have to recognize and treasure each opportunity, as there may not be another one in a while. People forget that.
The Bears haven’t been back since ’85 and the CUBS are still waiting. Us Chicagoans know all about that… Thank the Lord that the Blackhawks have helped us a lot. Also
aretino
1. Anyone who thinks that Bradley was a liability watched a different match than I did. He was just huge for the US at both ends.
2. It would help if we had a manager who actually understood what bold managing meant. It doesn’t mean naively pushing eight men with tired legs up into the attacking third with our first attack of overtime, especially not against the best counter-attacking team in the world. It means having some faith in the roster he selected. I said before the match that Yedlin and Chandler should start in the wide midfield positions and Green should start up top. We needed fresh legs. Zusi and Bedoya had nothing left to give, and Dempsey was close to tapped out, too. Unfortunately, I was totally vindicated be events.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
@aretino:
Saying that Bradley was a liability is a bit off. However, as a distributing midfielder (and one who looked as he was growing into that role in the run-up to the tournament) he was disappointing. He allowed the cautious, defensive instincts within him dominate his play.