United States At Belgium: International Friendly - Gamethread
by Dave Clark on Sep 6, 2011 11:30 AM PDT
in US National Team, World Cup and Other International Soccer
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In a game on big ESPN (hooray midday schedules) at 11:30 AM Pacific, the United States faces Belgium. This second international friendly of September will have a slightly different cast of characters, with Clint Dempsey and Kyle Beckerman being the notable players joining, while Landon Donovan stays behind. In what likely should have been the test for Euro based players (and wouldn't have angered Jozy Altidore's coach), this will instead be most of the same players that we saw against Costa Rica. The troubles along the defensive line are the biggest issue, and they will be challenged by a young, growing team from the Lowlands.
Belgium offers a test in that the nation does not host one of the top leagues in the world, but their national team talent is in the top leagues on top teams in Europe. While the USA may not be able to get to that point, Belgium does offer a prime example of the next step in America's soccer evolution. While the USA is bringing up young talents, those talents aren't in the same level of competition. There are positives for Russia 2018, but this team aspiring for Brazil 2014 needs answers prior to Olympics Qualifying this Spring. That will give the squad as much time to develop together as possible, because it is unlikely that more than a handful of players become difference makers, so the only way that our nation will improve on its performance in South Africa will be by being more together than more talented sides.
This match may be the last viewing we get of a few players in the US shirt, but it should also be confirmation that a few certainly belong in Red, White or Blue.
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EPSN doesn’t have the game on until 12:00. Is it going to be delayed? Or are we missing the first 30 mins because of NASCAR
And it actually starts at Noon, the half hour is for pregame. Who doesn’t love that?
Boo! Tomorrow AM. I want all things now!
At least I don't have to FFwd thru
30 minutes of Lalas’ and Ley’s inane babbling when I watch the DVR tonight. Instead it will be 30 minutes of cars turning left.
FRIMPONG ought always be written in full caps #DEEEEEEENCH
welp, nevermind
i got a sweet DVR’d version of Nascar for 2 hours. I guess I won’t watch that USMNT game, espn. Thanks.
FRIMPONG ought always be written in full caps #DEEEEEEENCH
Same thing happened to me.
I know some sports events are going to go long, but I wonder if ESPN wouldn’t be better off punting the continuing broadcast to another channel so that programs could start where and when we expect them to. Viewers watching live can change the channel. DVRs cannot.
by The King of Norway on Sep 7, 2011 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
What if you were DVRing the earlier broadcast?
by Aaron Campeau on Sep 7, 2011 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Depends on the DVR, right?
If you only set it to record the first two hours (or whatever) of the broadcast and it goes into delay, then you didn’t catch the whole broadcast either — regardless of whether it switched to another channel.
I know ESPN’s in a tough spot here. Really, what we need are smarter DVRs that will move when a broadcast does. Or maybe I just need a bigger/better monitor to watch WatchESPN.com (formerly ESPN3, formerly ESPN360).
by The King of Norway on Sep 7, 2011 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
he'll rip us to shreds.
surprised that vertonghen’s not in the belgium squad. injury? anyone know?
FRIMPONG ought always be written in full caps #DEEEEEEENCH
Don't know about Vertonghen. But I can't wait till we see both Hazard bros play at once.
La Vecchia Signora Forever!
Someone is wearing a Sounders jersey in the crowd in Belgium!
La Vecchia Signora Forever!
by AKSupporter on Sep 6, 2011 11:45 AM PDT reply actions 6 recs
I see that Brek Shea's hair still looks like piss
by wyte_lightning on Sep 6, 2011 11:46 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
call me judas
but when it’s the red white and blue i become a brek shea fan. even if his hair looks like piss.
FRIMPONG ought always be written in full caps #DEEEEEEENCH
Nothing wrong with supporting any US players
When it comes to playing for country, I’m a fan of every player. Shea just needs a teammate to shave it off at night sometime.
Haircut
We didn’t score enough goals to get him a free one
by Toxtr3m34u on Sep 6, 2011 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I like how Klinsmann is doing the numbering
but I do miss having players names on the back, hopefully that will come back once jerseys are set.
I hope so too
I figured that right now it’s just him saying no one has a set spot yet.
by Derek R on Sep 6, 2011 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Commentators are on top of it
It’s in! Wait, flag is up! Wait, what?
Twice already
Dempsey has turned and bitched at the ref when the ball was within five yards of him. Keep your head in it, Clint.
Howard is amazing
And the fact that he does what he does while having Tourettes is even more amazing
Is it vocal tourettes
or some kind of tic? I haven’t been able to find anything that says what kind of tourettes he has
Check out the British tabloids cerca 2004.
Its a tic.
I had read somewhere that it was a motor tic
don’t know how severe it is but they can be a pain in the ass to control. The same article also mentioned that he controls it without medication.
I know having something to hyper-focus on helps a friend of mine
he hardly ever tics when he’s playing video games or other things that are really stimulating. I imagine National Team level soccer is mildly stimulating.
I have motor tics
And I agree that really focusing on something really helps. On the flip side of that, stress is one of the biggest triggers for tics. And I imagine national team level soccer is mildly stressful =P.
by Derek R on Sep 7, 2011 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Timmy Chandler is a right-footed right back
And it shows. His crosses from the left have all been atrocious.
I think he is immensely talented, and I’m not trying to slant him, but if he is going to stay out there he needs to work on his left crosses.
Or Klinsy can put him on the left side
I know he wants to look at young players, but what’s the point if you’re playing them out of position? Same with Robbie Rodgers.
Torres
I really like Torres and I think he has been the most improved player under Klinsmann. Still wondering how the center midfield is going to shape up for us but I think Torres has to be part of any possession oriented attack for the US.
The Belgians must have been
watching Zach Scott footage.
by 253Sounder on Sep 6, 2011 1:32 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Oh, come on
The “Klinsmann era” isn’t go to appear in three games. You know that just as well as anyone. He’s playing a ton of different players. To be fair, we should lose to Mexico, and we tie. We should beat Costa Rica, and lose. We should lose to Belgium, and lost. That’s one good result, one bad result, and one fair result.
FRIMPONG ought always be written in full caps #DEEEEEEENCH
by Kyle Ritter on Sep 6, 2011 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
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