Argentina Vs. Usa In World Cup: Who Would You Root For?

[Hybrid Ambassador]

I think you mean "soccer," though.

It is pronounced - "Sucker"

 

[ajoknoblauch]

It is pronounced - "Sucker"

No, that means "soccer fan."

 

[Joe]

No, that means "soccer fan."

You need to take your OCD meds!

 

[Joe]

It is pronounced - "Sucker"

Hybrid-san getting into World Cup spirit:

 

[ghost]

So much for the politics of Foooooooot Bol http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/06/24/isis-hails-argentinas-messi-after-victory-over-iran/

 

[French jurist]

Hybrid-san getting into World Cup spirit:

I prefer this one, looks like 能

 

[sleslie23]

What? No comments about Dracula Suarez? I guess I have to read the comment section of the Telegraph now.

 

[French jurist]

What? No comments about Dracula Suarez? I guess I have to read the comment section of the Telegraph now.

I talked about him in the Dulce de leche thread. We've got our positions covered!

 

[Joe]

What? No comments about Dracula Suarez? I guess I have to read the comment section of the Telegraph now.

 

[Napoleon]

Haha. Ok, you are either trolling or are a homer.

#1: Zusi over Di Maria? Really!!! LoL. I didn't know who Zusi was before this wc but seen him play didn't impress me at all. Just another mediocre US player with a funny surname. #2 The US team doesn't have even one player that I would say "Hey, that guy can play". Perhaps they can do good as a team (they will be out against Belgium though) but individually they are not good. I really hope we meet in the quarter finals and there will see. #3I predict a 3-0 score for Argentina unless the US pull an Iran and park the bus the whole game.

#4: There's a reason why our entire bench of midfielders play in the biggest clubs in Europe while the best US midfielder plays at the MLS.

RESPONSE:

#1: Zusi has one assist off of a set piece. Di Maria has zero. (El no tiene nada.) Advantage: ZUSI

If I were to start one, I'd definitely pick Di Maria. Every coach in the world would. But if I needed someone to take a set piece, I'd pick Zusi. (Only about 5% of the coaches in the world would... maybe 1%.)

Perhaps Di Maria's failure on set pieces is because he is serving the ball to hobbits, but so far Zusi > Di Maria on set pieces. You either produce or you don't. And Di Maria hasn't.


#2: Clint Dempsey's goal against Ghana, a team that is far superior than Iran, was every bit as impressive as any Messi goal. And it was all him. And he wasn't being marked by a striker, but rather defenders.

He also has as many goals as Messi, but against much more impressive competition. He also has more career World Cup goals as Messi, but in fewer matches. Of course he is not as good as Messi, but unlike Agüero or Higuaín (both of whom I love as players), Dempsey is getting it done. And absolutely no coach in the world would say "He doesn't impress." He wouldn't have ever even earned a cap in a friendly if he were from Argentina, but he's now scored in 3 straight World Cups, something Messi will never do.

Jermaine Jones has been one of the best players in the entire World Cup. He has played far better than any midfielder on Argentina. Absolutely no coach would say "He can't play."

Fabian Johnson has been Zabaleta-esque going forward. Again, no coach would say that he can't play.

Tim Howard had a bad game, but is still better than any keeper that Argentina has had in the last 30 years, if not ever. He was also one of the best, if not THE best, keeper in the EPL this past year.

Michael Bradley has been crap (for him) this World Cup, yet he was a starter at Roma up until Kevin Strootman from the Netherlands showed up. And even then, he was getting starts. Considering Roma didn't deem Gago worth keeping, and Bradley if much more of a threat to score on set pieces (and has a World Cup goal under his belt), I would not only say that Bradley would be considered "someone who can play", but up until these past two uneven games, would be considered better than Gago. (Considering the US has shown up Gago in the past when the two teams played, I don't think that many think much of Gago anymore, but his familiarity with Messi is his greatest asset.)


#3: Iran was the more dangerous side in that match. If it weren't for arguably Romero's best game ever for the albiceleste, Argentina would have lost. (Again, the hobbit factor comes into play... as it does against Germany... every time except for 1986.) If the US were to play Argentina, there would be know doubt that Argentina would be favored and that Argentina would have the far superior players. The only doubt would be whether they would win.

Staying defensively compact, yet being opportunistic is how the US beat Spain 2-0 in the Confederations Cup in 2009. And this US team is superior to that team. And that Spanish team is superior to this Argentine team.


#4: There are many reasons that the entire bench is on the books for big clubs in Europe.
-There is a history of amazing players coming from Argentina, so as in the case of Gago... and Funes Mori, the mere fact that a player has played for Boca or River brings amazing clout. And more often than not, it shows in their play.
-The technical ability of Argentine players is borne out of years of honing their skills on their own, or in pickup games in addition to getting proper coaching at the earliest ages. Again, the opportunity for that in Argentina far exceeds that in the US were people who practice "sports" on their own are either doing it with a basketball or a skateboard.
-The pure numbers of kids who have to fight and scrap against players their own age, or younger, just to get noticed is a survival of the fittest petri dish for producing outstanding soccer talent (as it is in Brazil... though their team is kind of crap this year). The opposite is the case in the US and explains why a player like Landon Donovan could be "a star" from the age of 20 and yet feel that he can take some personal time to recharge his batteries. (Something that is never considered if you've had to fight for what you've got.)

All that being said, Kyle Beckerman has played as well as Mascherano. No one has come close to playing at Jermaine Jones' level. And Zusi has an assist from a set piece.

Advantage USA Midfield