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USA vs. England: The Prematch Tailgate

The time has almost arrived.

The U.S. men's national team takes on England in TWO hours and I know American fans all over the country are eagerly anticipating a match that can be called the most highly-anticipated match in American soccer history.

I am coming to you from Rustenberg, where the match will take place, and I will be providing you with live commentary on the match. For now, please use this post for your pre-match discussions. I will post the live commentary (including starting lineups) at 1:30pm so be sure to switch over at that time.

For those of you who could use just a bit more to read about today's match, you can read my Fox Sports piece on how the United States can pull the upset today.

What do you think about today's match? Excited? Confident the Americans will get at least a point today? Worried about the starting lineup?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Findley? Wow. A year ago – 6 months ago! – who would have predicted that Findley would start in the first game of the World Cup against England???

    Obviously, Bob wants to try to take advantage of speed against Terry & King.

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  2. Yeah. Crouch has a better scoring record for England than Rooney does! Nowhere near as good a player, but way more prolific

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  3. I saw that the starting XI were Howard, Dolo, demerit, Onyewu, Boca, Donovan,Bradley,Clark,Demspey, Altidore & Findley!!!

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  4. Ugh, Findley’s starting. He’s not ready for a game of this magnitude. Going to be deer-in-the-headlights time. Buddle would’ve been a better choice to pair with Jozy given his recent form.

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  5. Clark is playing. However, I suspect Bradley will use Torres in the second half as a sub along with Buddle for Altidore when the game becomes more open.

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  6. Good lineup with a chance to see Torres, Feilhaber, Buddle, Beasley…depending on the score at half or around the 70th minute.

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  7. US lineup from USSoccer twitter: Howard; Cherundolo, DeMerit, Onyewu, Bocanegra (c); Donovan, Bradley, Clark, Dempsey; Altidore, Findley

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  8. Today’s lineup:Howard; Cherundolo, DeMerit, Onyewu, Bocanegra (c); Donovan, Bradley, Clark, Dempsey; Altidore, Findley

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  9. Good day colonial militiamen. We hear you are keeping artillery and wish to confiscate it. Would it be too much trouble to lead us to it?

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  10. Milner instead of Joe Cole or SWP eh? Not utilizing all their speed, but Milner Gerrard and Lampard all have wicked shots.

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  11. I would disagree! THIS IS NOT THE MOST ANTICIPATED MATCH IN US SOCCER HISTORY! I believe 2002 match against Mexico was most anticipated! If we lose, we still can advance! If we would have lost to our most hated rival Mexico, we went home and had to listen to all the Mexico fans in the USA! So, although great match today, not most anticipated! Don” believe the hype!

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  12. (Sung to the tune of God save the queen)

    My country tis of thee
    Sweet land of Liberty
    Of thee I sing

    Land Where my fathers died
    land of the pilgrims pride
    from every mountain side

    Let Freedom Rind

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  13. I agree with some others, no red cards please. If our team plays hard and with heart however it turns out I’ll be proud. Of course I want to us to beat England and send them with a loss.

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  14. Or which England team shows up… We were garbage against Mexico and Japan recently. Also, with Barry missing, we’re not playing our preferred formation we used during the qualifiers. I think this could go either way tonight 🙂

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  15. I predict a performance similar to the quality they had against Egypt last year.

    They’ve been in SA for 10 days, and they’re now acclimated to the altitude. About the same period of time from when they arrived in SA last summer to when they played Egypt.

    Bob Daddy will have ’em ready to go tactically and strategically. My fear is that even being properly prepared and fit, they still might not win…or draw.

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  16. No penalties so far this World Cup. That worries me. I have a feeling that we will see one in this game. Here’s hoping that it’s either Jozy posting up Terry and LD cooly converting or Howard saving one / Gerrard skying it over the bar.

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  17. Been at the bar since 7 am pdt and have officially made the switch to American beers only for the day. Come on you yanks!

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  18. The question for me is which USA team shows up. Too often we have seen this team just not show up to games and play no where near potential. So does the team play to potential today or something near it, or do they stink it up. Either way I shall be cheering them on.

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  19. England fan here. I love the USA and have been there many times. I love you guys! But today I have to cheer for my country and I think we’re gonna beat you 2-1!

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  20. Mine eyes have seen the Glory of the coming of the Yanks.
    They are scoring down the center and they‟re scoring from both flanks.
    We will beat you every time, and you can take that to the bank.
    The Yanks are marching on!
    Glory, glory US Soccer!
    Glory, glory US Soccer!
    Glory, glory US Soccer!
    The Yanks are marching on!!!

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  21. Whatever else happens today, please, please let their be no US red cards or penalties that turn the game against us or keep it out of reach. One would hope that we — namely Bob Bradley and all of the players — learned something since the last time ’round.

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  22. I would be thrilled to see Torres but know it will be Clark. Hope Buddle is paired withAltidore. His form is too good right now to sit.

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