Comments on: A History of Futility Gives Birth to Hope: The U.S. Improbably Vanquishes Spain

By: Sean Jean

Sean Jean — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:57:13 +0000

I don’t want to debate the points in the article or compare this upset to other upsets, but I just wanted to echo other sentiments that this is probably the best written post I have ever seen on TBL. Really good job. You’re a pro.

By: Paolo4007

Paolo4007 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:00:31 +0000

The best article ever written on here. Bravo Andy! TBL Godfather, he need not pledge any more he’s in! Andy get ready to be “vouched.” Captain Duffy go get the pinky ring.

By: Andy Hutchins

Andy Hutchins — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:23:28 +0000

That’s a little different from playing the best team in Africa.

Give ‘em a year, and it’ll be one of the central African teams. Honestly, they’re all crapshoots, because so few of the players play outside Africa.

Though Egypt impressed the hell out of me against Italy (didn’t see the Brazil game). El Hadary was every bit the man in that game that Howard was today.

By: Dirtheavy

Dirtheavy — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:21:23 +0000

Oceania doesn’t get jobbed.

You missed my invisible sarcasm tag. It’s almost always there.

By: Wally's World

Wally's World — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:17:58 +0000

Oceania doesn’t get jobbed. Only the Aussies play reasonable soccer and they chose to move to Asia for qualifying. The Kiwis are dreadful as their work in this tourney showed.

Bufana Bufana advanced because they got to play the Kiwis and Iraq in the round robin. That’s a little different from playing the best team in Africa, Italy, and the ridiculous Brazilians.

By: Dirtheavy

Dirtheavy — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:11:52 +0000

You think 4.5 is too many for South America? And it’s only 3.5 for CONCACAF. 8 total, between the two.

I think Oceania gets jobbed.

By: molemaninthemorning

molemaninthemorning — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:00:49 +0000

Speaking of WCQ, CONCACAF and South America get far too many teams. Europe deserves at least two more. Four CONCACAF teams is absurd.

By: Andy Hutchins

Andy Hutchins — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:57:38 +0000

Did they change how the seeding will be done? In 2006 it was a score based on your performances in the prior two World Cups and your FIFA rankings. If that's the same, we have absolutely no chance of getting a seed.Don't forget that South Africa automatically gets a seed so that only leaves 7, and Italy automatically get a seed if they qualify and could drop down as far as eight in the FIFA rankings pretty easily.

I was asking about that elsewhere, and got this in return.Looks a little grim.

By: molemaninthemorning

molemaninthemorning — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:55:06 +0000

Did they change how the seeding will be done? In 2006 it was a score based on your performances in the prior two World Cups and your FIFA rankings. If that’s the same, we have absolutely no chance of getting a seed.

Don’t forget that South Africa automatically gets a seed so that only leaves 7, and Italy automatically get a seed if they qualify and could drop down as far as eight in the FIFA rankings pretty easily.

By: Andy Hutchins

Andy Hutchins — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:54:34 +0000

It’s a designer tournament, with stunt casting (New Zealand, for instance).

Yeah, but that doesn’t make Spain (or Brazil, or Italy, or Egypt) any less imposing. We’ve played a harder slate than we ever do in CONCACAF and done well. That’s promising.