I Jinxed Iran but next up are my tip for top African team, Ghana, so RWAB will be hoping I jinxed them as they play the Yanks (sorry Americans!).
A thumbs up from me to Phil Neville for willingly taking the piss out of himself for the social media attacks on him recently.
Clint Dempsey put the USA into an early lead with the fifth fastest goal in World Cup history. Nice for him. Jurgen Klinsmann was quite pleased by it: https://vine.co/v/MIjmzEFXIvI
Ghana have the better players, more pace, better footballers, while USA are more organised and are making it difficult to create chances and that early goal played perfect into their game plan. Ghana starting to crank up the pressure but counter attacks are ruling this world cup so far and danger is USA can strike on the counter and finish the game off but USA can just sit back as they won't take any risks.
I read that as Iran were your top tip out for the African teams. I had to check they hadn't invaded! Well done RWAEB and Dempsey. They're both welcome to a pint on me next time they're in town, despite my awful prediction competition performances they won me another £30 tonight. U-S-A, U-S-A
Why wasn't Brad on the pundits chairs tonight? And whilst we're on the subject, all rivalries aside, Henry is a brilliant pundit.
Thanks Boss! I agree with your summing up. Klinsman has worked a small miracle with this team, really, because who do they have? A bunch of Championship level players, Howard and Dempsey, who may not be anyone's pick for a great footballer, but who has, unlike certain players who will go unmentioned (cough, Rooney, cough) always scored goals at every level. Getting the US to win a maybe not so-weak Concacaf and then beating a world cup defending quarterfinalist is quite an achievement. The defense looked very well organized and disciplined, and the set pieces (we practiced them over and over, Klinsman said) looked like they'd practiced them over and over. Got to say I was proud of my national team, not so much for the dramatic if somewhat fluky win as for the sportsmanship. Dempsey getting what looked like a broken nose from a kick without whining, rolling on the ground or going off the field for more than thirty seconds was cool.
Well done to Deuce and his boys. Haven't seen any of the highlights yet but recorded it ready to watch when I have time at home.
Better manager, better game plan and more organised. Plus your defenders clearly don't panic and held it together for most of the game. Klinsmann is clearly a smart manager! Had high hopes for Ghana but these African teams need a European coach, they where robbed of the world cup semi final last time by that little rat but this year they had the wrong coach, what was he thinking leaving KPB & Essien on the bench? Can't see Ghana going through now as whoever won this match had an outside chance of beating Portugal (who look out of sorts). Plus you also had YV at home chanting U-S-A.....U-S-A!
