# \ USA v. Poland \ **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 14, 2002, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966 "2002-06-14T02:26:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/1 "2002-06-14T02:26:31Z")
Well, not really a spoiler, yet. But I wanted the thread started and we all know it’s gonna be full of spoilers for those who want to wait until 1:00 PM EST Saturday to watch this thing! My prediction: USA 2 Poland 1 But I’m not sure we wouldn’t be better off with a 1-1 draw and then face Mexico in the octofinal. This could be a great game for us, with O’Brien, Reyna AND Stewart playing. Of course, what do we do with the 20 yr olds then? McBride and Mathis up top, and, unfortunately, Goose and Pope in the back with Sanneh and Hejduk. Do you stick Beasley on the left and leave Donovan out of the lineup? When was the last time the US had to worry about who to start because it had too MUCH quality??? BRING THEM ON!!! ---
**Author:** ![g8rguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@g8rguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/g8rguy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/2 "2002-06-14T04:33:51Z")
Well, given that Goose (a) sucks and (b) has a yellow card (I’m right about this, yes?), I say we sit him for the game, in favor of, say, Berhalter. McBride has been working his tail off; give him a breather if possible. I’d think it might be interesting to see something like: Hejduk, Sanneh, Pope, Berhalter Beasley, Reyna, O’Brien, Stewart Donovan, Mathis as starters, and if we need to bring McBride on, we can slide Mathis or Donovan off later. Of course, keep Friedel in back, as if there was any question about that. But what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/3 "2002-06-14T09:16:05Z")
I’ll be rooting for the US. They have been a pleasant surprise so far - well, it’s been a _tournament_ full of surprises, but you know what I mean! Good to hear Earnie Stewart’s playing again too. He grew up in the same province as me. His father’s American and his mother Dutch, IIRC (does he have dual citizenship?). In any case, he speaks the local dialect better than I do. 🙂 Poland have disappointed, and need to go home. Well, they WILL, of course. C’mon USA! Give us some goals! ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/4 "2002-06-14T09:30:44Z")
Its a pity that Poland has disappointed. some great players. Jerzy Dudek dosen’t deserve that defence. ---
**Author:** ![funkynige](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@funkynige](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funkynige)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/5 "2002-06-14T10:58:05Z")
OK, this is what (I think) the US needs to do to get through - If they lose, they need South Korea to beat Portugal. If they draw, they’re through. If they win, they’re through. Whether they finish top or second in the group is a bit more complicated. So come on US! (we won’t beat, sorry meet, you until the final) ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/6 "2002-06-14T11:11:05Z")
Years and years of watching the Altanta Braves play in the post season has convinced me that I curse which ever team I watch. I also rooted for the Bills. So obviously I can’t watch the game. Plus the suspense would probably kill me. But my heart is with them in blissful ignorance. Come on boys, bring it on home! ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/7 "2002-06-14T11:12:18Z")
Here’s a quick Q. that doesn’t deserve it’s own thread. Why don’t national sporting teams have mascots? Why aren’t we the USA Eagles? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/8 "2002-06-14T11:35:29Z")
Because football is a _serious_ sport that doesn’t require cartoon caracters and cheerleaders. Just beer and offensive songs. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![funkynige](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@funkynige](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funkynige)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/9 "2002-06-14T11:39:44Z")
ROFL - 4 minutes in and… oops. 2-0 to Poland. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/10 "2002-06-14T11:46:40Z")
Holy Smokes!!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/11 "2002-06-14T11:51:18Z")
They do realize that the higher score wins, right?☹ ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/12 "2002-06-14T12:03:40Z")
Re other game going on at the moment: Now Portugal have had a man sent off in their game. If Portugal lose, USA go through no matter what the result of their game. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/13 "2002-06-14T12:09:59Z")
Yeah, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on Korea holding back Portugal, even if they’re down to ten. C’mon Yanks, SCORE already! ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/14 "2002-06-14T12:19:07Z")
Have you been watching the game? At the moment it’s Portugal holding back South Korea. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/15 "2002-06-14T12:24:00Z")
Argh… what a first half. I’m still upset about Donovan’s disallowed goal. My fear about the Portugal-Korea game is that they’ll realize that if they play to a tie, their both through - thus, why really try, as long as the US is losing? ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/16 "2002-06-14T12:26:24Z")
Oh, a question: why don’t they look at head to head matchups when determining tie-breakers? Shouldn’t the fact that the US beat Portugal count more than Portugal’s scoring more goals against Poland? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/17 "2002-06-14T12:29:35Z")
They DO look at head-to heads, eventually. But goal balance overrides it. So no, it’s not more important. Reason being that focusing on one game doesn’t provide as well a scope as focusing on three games. Seems fair to me. Jabba: I’m _reading_ the games on [uefa.com](http://uefa.com) 🙂 MilTan: I think that’s exactly what will happen until the US score. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/18 "2002-06-14T12:33:23Z")
**Coldy** : Yeah, I guess it does make sense. I’m just used to US professional leagues (for other sports, that is - dunno how it works in MLS) where head-to-heads are always the first tie-breaker. That also makes sense to me, as it doesn’t seem fair to let in one team even though they lost to another team with the same record. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/19 "2002-06-14T12:40:24Z")
but miltan, its the team that performs best over a series of games, rather than who beat who in one particular game that would determine who goes through. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966/20 "2002-06-14T12:47:23Z")
Why was donovon’s goal disallowed anyway? It doesn’t say anything about it on espn’s little running commentary… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoiler-usa-v-poland-spoiler/113966.md?page=2)