I HATE getting up and hearing the results of a game I thought would be on later in the day!
Now, having said that, what effect does the US getting another tie have on our moving to the next round? I just do not get the idea of a tie being acceptable. If you aren't going to win - or lose - why play? Aren't there things like sudden death kicks or something?
Okay, I'm done...
Now, having said that, what effect does the US getting another tie have on our moving to the next round? I just do not get the idea of a tie being acceptable. If you aren't going to win - or lose - why play? Aren't there things like sudden death kicks or something?
Okay, I'm done...
Ties are definitely not acceptable, but given the circumstances, I think most fans will take a tie here. Coming into the game, we viewed it as "should win" and at worst case, "must tie."
Because you get 1 point for a tie, and 3 points for a win, losing to Slovenia would have meant elimination. They would have had 6 points, we would have had 1, and our only chance of advancing would have required an England loss to Algeria or Slovenia (unlikely, especially since Slovenia would have nothing to play for in its final game). The tie gives us 2 points, and Slovenia 4. If England wins today, they also have 4, but since England and Slovenia still have to play each other, the winner of that game goes to 7, and the loser stays at 4. If we beat Algeria, we move to 5, and into second place. Even if Slovenia and England tie, and we all end up with 5 points, we would win almost every conceivable tiebreaker. So, while winning would have made things much easier, a tie was absolutely essential, and still puts us in good shape to advance (if we beat Algeria).
That said- even the chances of a tie were on life support. Coming into the game, I think very few thought a tie was acceptable, but down 2-0 at the half, a tie should be considered a huge actual and moral victory. Seriously, 2-0 down at the World Cup is a huge obstacle- teams just don't come back from that kind of deficit (we were only the 4th team since the 1994 world cup to come back from 2-0 at the half to get any result at all). The fact that we should have won (the disallowed game winner was a horrific call) makes it that much more unbelievable.
It is too bad you missed the game. This team showed a ton of moxy and character. We didn't play beautiful soccer (even in the second half), but we showed that no one will play with more heart, enthusiasm, and athleticism than us. If you get a chance to watch the replay, you should do it. Even if the game won't give you a great appreciation for soccer itself, I have a hard time believing that you will find it hard to root for this team after watching the second half. Our enthusiasm, love, and underdog spirit just comes through the TV.
That said, we really need to learn how to play like a favorite. Should never have been down 2-0 to Slovenia. But, at least we can revel in the result rather than being knocked out...
Because you get 1 point for a tie, and 3 points for a win, losing to Slovenia would have meant elimination. They would have had 6 points, we would have had 1, and our only chance of advancing would have required an England loss to Algeria or Slovenia (unlikely, especially since Slovenia would have nothing to play for in its final game). The tie gives us 2 points, and Slovenia 4. If England wins today, they also have 4, but since England and Slovenia still have to play each other, the winner of that game goes to 7, and the loser stays at 4. If we beat Algeria, we move to 5, and into second place. Even if Slovenia and England tie, and we all end up with 5 points, we would win almost every conceivable tiebreaker. So, while winning would have made things much easier, a tie was absolutely essential, and still puts us in good shape to advance (if we beat Algeria).
That said- even the chances of a tie were on life support. Coming into the game, I think very few thought a tie was acceptable, but down 2-0 at the half, a tie should be considered a huge actual and moral victory. Seriously, 2-0 down at the World Cup is a huge obstacle- teams just don't come back from that kind of deficit (we were only the 4th team since the 1994 world cup to come back from 2-0 at the half to get any result at all). The fact that we should have won (the disallowed game winner was a horrific call) makes it that much more unbelievable.
It is too bad you missed the game. This team showed a ton of moxy and character. We didn't play beautiful soccer (even in the second half), but we showed that no one will play with more heart, enthusiasm, and athleticism than us. If you get a chance to watch the replay, you should do it. Even if the game won't give you a great appreciation for soccer itself, I have a hard time believing that you will find it hard to root for this team after watching the second half. Our enthusiasm, love, and underdog spirit just comes through the TV.
That said, we really need to learn how to play like a favorite. Should never have been down 2-0 to Slovenia. But, at least we can revel in the result rather than being knocked out...
