USA v Ghana

[Urinal Mint]

beautiful goal. great pace and composure. my poor father is slumped in his seat. our turn tomorrow.

[Baines]

"The Black Stars are the dark knights in Rustenburg"

RIP Big Ron

[Baines]

And why would it be incredible if Ghana pull this off? They've played well in all their games so far and put in an excellent performance in 2006, only getting knocked out by Brazil.

[Ian Royal]

And why would it be incredible if Ghana pull this off? They've played well in all their games so far and put in an excellent performance in 2006, only getting knocked out by Brazil.

Agreed. USA have been less than convincing with two somewhat lucky draws and a slightly lucky win. Ghana have actually looked a very good side in a genuinely difficult group. Lack a little in the goals, but well worth their win.

[PEARCEY]

Pleased Ghana won but they were very poor in the second-half and the US should have won in normal time.
Gyan was very strong up-front and took his goal superbly. Think Uruguay will beat them in the Q/F's though.

[Urinal Mint]

And why would it be incredible if Ghana pull this off? They've played well in all their games so far and put in an excellent performance in 2006, only getting knocked out by Brazil.

i would say only because of the history books. i think only three african nations have now reached the last 16 of a world cup. credit to them, as you say they have played some good football and look very strong. delighted for them, even if one half of my family are head in hands about the result. america can be proud of the team, the national team continue to develop and there's a lot to be positive about going forwards. where as if we lose tomorrow, all we'll here about is failure, disgrace and the end of the golden age (no more world cups for heskey, beckham, terry, ferdinand, a.cole, j.cole, barry, gerrard, lampard..)

[paultheroyal]

Lack goals and yet have probably scored some of the best goals in this world cup!!

Well done Ghana, excellent performance.

[Baines]

Rosenthal to Desailly - you can do the dancing, I'll do the watching
*Desailly dances*

*homo*

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Meh

Stealing from myself then, as posted verbatim elsewhere:

FT: Taught a footballing lesson here, the States --when we produce talent to match our ambitions, we'll turn away opposition of the caliber served up today like an elephant slapping flies off of its ass with its tail --of this I have no doubt. So --when????????

Kingson is class, but I've no time for any of the rest of 'em and hope Uruguay destroy them utterly in the quarters

Good luck England 2moz --y'all gon' need dat, mm hmm

[PEARCEY]

Not even the hint of bitterness then Chi

[Tony Le Mesmer]

And why would it be incredible if Ghana pull this off? They've played well in all their games so far and put in an excellent performance in 2006, only getting knocked out by Brazil.

Because in the 3 group games they never looked like scoring? They look OK in patches but are nothing special at all.

[Rex]

Agreed. no gloating in this corner Chi. A few aspirations broken in the pub tomorrow will not be a heady mix. Get in, drink and run.

[PEARCEY]

And why would it be incredible if Ghana pull this off? They've played well in all their games so far and put in an excellent performance in 2006, only getting knocked out by Brazil.

Because in the 3 group games they never looked like scoring? They look OK in patches but are nothing special at all.

They scored as "many" goals as England in qualification=2. All other second round qualifiers scored more.

[bobbybottler]

And why would it be incredible if Ghana pull this off? They've played well in all their games so far and put in an excellent performance in 2006, only getting knocked out by Brazil.

i would say only because of the history books. i think only three african nations have now reached the last 16 of a world cup. credit to them, as you say they have played some good football and look very strong. delighted for them, even if one half of my family are head in hands about the result. america can be proud of the team, the national team continue to develop and there's a lot to be positive about going forwards. where as if we lose tomorrow, all we'll here about is failure, disgrace and the end of the golden age (no more world cups for heskey, beckham, terry, ferdinand, a.cole, j.cole, barry, gerrard, lampard..)

Jay - it's happened five times with four countries
Cams in 1990
Nigeria in 1994
Senegal in 1998
Ghana in 2006 and now.

* no google *

[Arch]

Strange and often frustrating game. Ghana eventually good value for the win, but they do go into their shell for long periods. USA in the second half looked like World Cup quarterfinalists, but otherwise like the USA of old. Donovan, Dempsey, and Bradley all definitely belong on this stage, but for me Altidore is ouank.

Having previously tipped Uruguay for this part of the bracket, I'm now slightly favouring Ghana so long as KPB and Gyan keep the pressure up in front of goal.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Donovan, Dempsey, and Bradley all definitely belong on this stage, but for me Altidore is ouank

If you were to see my text commentary posted elsewhere during and after the Algeria game, you'll conclude in short order that in my estim7ion, you've gone well soft on the lad

Before the end of the year, our Jozy'll be at liberty to purchase beer, wine and spirits upon the presentation of a valid photo identification, inclusive of proof of age, anywhere in the Fightin' Fitty

This ain't no old man's game, and if he's going to amount to much in it, then he already should have begun to do so; evidence of this where it would matter is sorely lacking to this point

I'll have more to say l7r --I need to go for a long-deferred walk for my heaLOLth

[Ian Royal]

Altidore is a good athlete. But he ain't a footballer. Really missing a quality striker like McBride these days.

The defence and midfield is solid with the odd gem as already mentioned. Just not quite enough. Great mentality. If the yanks can find a top striker and not have to rely on the likes of DeMerit as a defender then they'd have the goods to potentially get to a final.

Ghana for me just allow themselves to drop deep and leave Gyan totally isolated too easily. He's a great player but not really seeming like he'll get many goals (penalties excluded). That means the likes of Ayew, Boateng and Asamoah need to chip in.

Uruguay - Ghana should be a good game. Both teams seem to me to like to play good passing football, but can play over the top as well. I suspect the Uruguayan defence will prove too strong. Not that I feel it's been tested by a particularly good attack yet.

[Millsy]

WELL DONE GHANA!

WELL DONE AFRICA!

And **** off yanks lol

[Archie's penalty]

Altidore is a good athlete. But he ain't a footballer. Really missing a quality striker like McBride these days.

The defence and midfield is solid with the odd gem as already mentioned. Just not quite enough. Great mentality. If the yanks can find a top striker and not have to rely on the likes of DeMerit as a defender then they'd have the goods to potentially get to a final.

Ghana for me just allow themselves to drop deep and leave Gyan totally isolated too easily. He's a great player but not really seeming like he'll get many goals (penalties excluded). That means the likes of Ayew, Boateng and Asamoah need to chip in.

Uruguay - Ghana should be a good game. Both teams seem to me to like to play good passing football, but can play over the top as well. I suspect the Uruguayan defence will prove too strong. Not that I feel it's been tested by a particularly good attack yet.

Agree in general but the Yanks are never going to make a major final.

[Arch]

'Never' is a poor choice of words. They'll be hosts again some time in the next 20 years and may well have matured sufficiently by then to make the final on their own soil.