World Cup thread!
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@wissox assuming we park the bus against England, hopefully keep it close and try to do our own drilling of Iran. We knew our England game didnt matter after they beat Iran 6-2.
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@approxinfinity Thanks you too @AsadZ I’m not too knowledgeable about how the world cup works.
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@wissox said in World Cup thread!:
@approxinfinity Thanks you too @AsadZ I’m not too knowledgeable about how the world cup works.
I have no idea. Best I can figure it, for us here in the US, we continually: trash the coaches of the team and how they are selected, lament our performances in the Cup over the years (heightened by nonstop disappointment for when we don’t qualify), get extraordinarily offended when the corrupt FIFA responds to major bribery corruption by awarding the Cup to brutal host countries whose only qualification is enough assets to generate far more corruption, threaten to protest about the brutal host country’s brutality, and seemingly get most upset because an Islamic law country decides not to allow alcohol.
Ok, being satirical here, but I am totally shocked by how much anger was expended by people totally offended before the Cup by virtually everything related to Qatar, but now it is all about the games after all. What would happen if people just didn’t watch?
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@mayjay I don’t really watch that much. Matches on in the mornings of weekdays doesn’t help attract my eyes as I still have that daily four letter word to attend to. Not enough invested in it to record matches and watch when I get home, especially when there’s college hoops to watch. I honestly don’t know what FIFA stands for although I assume one is foosball. The I is for IMLAYINGONTHEFIELDACTINGLIKEIMHURT. The other F is probably some other F word and the A has to be America because it’s always about America.
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I mainly watch and enjoy the highlights.
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I’d like to watch more, but you know, that work thing gets in the way! doh! I try to avoid scores til i can watch at night, but that’s not easy. So, maybe i’ll just keep tabs during the day.
US-England game will be interesting for sure. I don’t think we’ve lost to them in a WC game in awhile. So, who knows.
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@wissox so the way the group stage works, 2 out of 4 of the teams in our group will advance and we play each of the other 3 teams once. England being one of the best in the whole thing, and having smashed Iran 6-2 in the morning, that put them in the drivers seat and Iran in the hole, leaving us and Wales. Had we beaten Wales, we would likely only need to beat Iran, by any margin, in order to emerge from our group. Now because we tied Wales, and with there being very little chance of us beating England on Friday, that means we probably have to beat Iran by a greater margin than Wales and lose by a lesser margin (in total, those two things) to England. All of that pressure and uncertainty could have been avoided. This is why its a headscratcher to me why we would “save Gio for England” unless he is really just not fit. We should have thrown everything at Wales.
Of course anything can happen.
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@approxinfinity said in World Cup thread!:
@wissox so the way the group stage works, 2 out of 4 of the teams in our group will advance and we play each of the other 3 teams once. England being one of the best in the whole thing, and having smashed Iran 6-2 in the morning, that put them in the drivers seat and Iran in the hole, leaving us and Wales. Had we beaten Wales, we would likely only need to beat Iran, by any margin, in order to emerge from our group. Now because we tied Wales, and with there being very little chance of us beating England on Friday, that means we probably have to beat Iran by a greater margin than Wales and lose by a lesser margin (in total, those two things) to England. All of that pressure and uncertainty could have been avoided. This is why its a headscratcher to me why we would “save Gio for England” unless he is really just not fit. We should have thrown everything at Wales.
Of course anything can happen.
I read somewhere today that Gio had a “slight strain,” so they held him out.
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@rockchalkjayhawk ok thanks that makes a lot more sense. Berhalter just throwing smoke screens.
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How bout those friendlies in our last window? Looking pretty good now… Saudi Arabia and Japan, both won huge first games at World Cup. Maybe we are better than it appeared when we were flat against them.
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lol at Canada
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@BShark Hey…it’s Canada’s first World Cup match in nearly 40 years. They are ranked 41, playing #2. Give them a break.
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@tundrahok Unlucky in the first half. Belgium adjusted in the 2nd half but it was also only a good strategy change because they managed to pinch the lead.
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@approxinfinity National holiday in KSA today.
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Canada is a good team. That 0-0 croatia draw this am still leaves it open for them to advance
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Canada really created some chances in the first half. But their attempts to finish were no bueno.
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Y’all see that crazy half bicycle goal from Brazil today? Wow!
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I’d say a draw through the first half is a victory for USA soccer, no?
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Draw against England is a win for US, chance of advancing has improved.
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Fabulous result today!
And I was very impressed with the US squad today. excellent game all around.
All about Iran now. I skimmed thru their game earlier with Wales. No game’s a pushover at the WC.
Bottom line: we gotta score some goals and win.
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Crazy that we could still win the group if England draws Wales
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man, didn’t even cross my mind, @approxinfinity . I’d settle for any result where we advance!
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@rockchalkjayhawk said in World Cup thread!:
Fabulous result today!
And I was very impressed with the US squad today. excellent game all around.
All about Iran now. I skimmed thru their game earlier with Wales. No game’s a pushover at the WC.
Bottom line: we gotta score some goals and win.
US was better than England today. Our midfield talent is
Not sure what happens this year but give these lads another 4 years…could be REALLY special in 2026.
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@BShark said in World Cup thread!:
@rockchalkjayhawk said in World Cup thread!:
Fabulous result today!
And I was very impressed with the US squad today. excellent game all around.
All about Iran now. I skimmed thru their game earlier with Wales. No game’s a pushover at the WC.
Bottom line: we gotta score some goals and win.
US was better than England today. Our midfield talent is
Not sure what happens this year but give these lads another 4 years…could be REALLY special in 2026.
The first 15 minutes were a little suspect, but the lads did indeed step up and adjust very nicely. Easily could have been 3 pts. damn!
I still love Weston’s game. Not sure why others do not. Midfield was awesome beyond awesome today.
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@rockchalkjayhawk said in World Cup thread!:
@BShark said in World Cup thread!:
@rockchalkjayhawk said in World Cup thread!:
Fabulous result today!
And I was very impressed with the US squad today. excellent game all around.
All about Iran now. I skimmed thru their game earlier with Wales. No game’s a pushover at the WC.
Bottom line: we gotta score some goals and win.
US was better than England today. Our midfield talent is
Not sure what happens this year but give these lads another 4 years…could be REALLY special in 2026.
The first 15 minutes were a little suspect, but the lads did indeed step up and adjust very nicely. Easily could have been 3 pts. damn!
I still love Weston’s game. Not sure why others do not. Midfield was awesome beyond awesome today.
Yeah McKennie is very good. I think we have at least 4 guys better than Pulisic but the narrative is that he is our best player. Super super impressed with Musah, MASSIVE to get him instead of England. Adams is incredible.
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@BShark i didnt get to watch most of the game, was at my sons tournament. Thrilled with the outcome. That being said, i think aaronsen is legit challenging mckinnie for the attacking mid role and its debatable musah makes the roster on england. If he did hed be the last mid on. I do think hes a good place for the US but i also want to see De la torre get minutes.
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@approxinfinity said in World Cup thread!:
@BShark i didnt get to watch most of the game, was at my sons tournament. Thrilled with the outcome. That being said, i think aaronsen is legit challenging mckinnie for the attacking mid role and its debatable musah makes the roster on england. If he did hed be the last mid on. I do think hes a good place for the US but i also want to see De la torre get minutes.
Oddly i’ve seen De la Torre look decent and not so decent in a US uniform.
He’s pretty stiff. But, i liked DLT early on. Not much of a challenging defensive presence?
Aaronsen deserves some PT for sure, but not at the expense of Weston IMO. Not sure BA has a set position so maybe he floats and fills in as needed between the front and mid lines.
I think he’s better suited as a mid. Can use that energy to cover a lot of ground.
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@approxinfinity Yeah I don’t think he would start for England but honestly that might make it even more important. We see all the time now guys that could be starting for their African team riding the bench for a European side. Heck the guy that scored the game winning goal for Switzerland against Cameroon was…born in Cameroon.
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My coaching soccer started in 2000. Until around 2012 I had little experience with kids getting cleated. My son and daughter both played and never once complained about it happening. But the last decade I started noticing it. It’s one thing when it’s an organized pro team with trainers and such, but when you’re a lone varsity coach on a sideline and one of your kids comes off because he’s been cleated, and it keeps happening, it becomes a major problem. Junior high kids are doing it where I coach and kids are getting hurt.
This world cup has seen the exit of one of its stars from Brazil when someone from Serbia when cleat first into his ankle. Seeing guys rolling around on the field grasping their ankles is getting tiresome. Matches get to the 90th minute and the referee is adding 7-9 minutes to the match nearly every time.
Despite my coaching experience I’m not an expert on the international game. So my comments may be unwarrented, but it’s an observation I’ve made based on my experience. And just as I’m typing a guy from Denmark gets cleated by a frenchman.
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Story link on the US midfield.
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Costa Rica beat Japan so they still have a shot. Got my eye on Croatia Canada today should be gooood.
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@BShark said in World Cup thread!:
Costa Rica beat Japan so they still have a shot. Got my eye on Croatia Canada today should be gooood.
Major bailout for Germany. Still alive
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@rockchalkjayhawk enjoyed the read, thx
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@approxinfinity Spain will murder Germany shortly.
Wow Belgium were horrid today.
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@BShark reports of Germanys demise were highly exaggerated!
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@approxinfinity Indeed. Could have won that even.
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Canada effed around and found out with Croatia. A game that should clearly dispel the “if the best athletes played” garbage but the people that spew that don’t understand athleticism and aren’t interested in discussion either.
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@BShark said in World Cup thread!:
Canada effed around and found out with Croatia. A game that should clearly dispel the “if the best athletes played” garbage but the people that spew that don’t understand athleticism and aren’t interested in discussion either.
I don’t think yesterday disproves the best athletes thing because it’s more complicated than just that. I don’t think Canada’s best athletes play soccer, hockey is their #1 sport and basketball, especially in the Toronto area where the biggest population pool is, as the second biggest sport.
Also, infrastructure and money matter at national team levels. How many Canadian soccer players are playing over in European top divisions compared to how many are playing in Canada or the MLS?
Compare that to Croatia and how many of their top players are playing in top leagues in Europe?
Canada’s soccer program is where the US was about 10-15 years ago. If they keep investing, they’ll have a chance to advance to the knockout rounds next World Cup because they have a lot of really good, young players. Davies is an incredible player and not even in his prime yet at only 22.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 Canada was more athletic than Croatia. Croatia had better technical players (which does go to the point of it being the most important sport there) and a much better tactical plan.
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@BShark said in World Cup thread!:
@Texas-Hawk-10 Canada was more athletic than Croatia. Croatia had better technical players (which does go to the point of it being the most important sport there) and a much better tactical plan.
Davies is so fun to watch.
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Some really interesting tensions in this US-Iran match today.
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Well, a few interesting lineup decisions today.
Sargent starts up front.
CC Vickers in for Zimmerman at CB. interesting.
I know all our forwards are a dime a dozen offensively, but I liked what Haji did on the field. Covered a lot of ground pressing.
This is it, Berhalter. Don’t eff it up! Just win!
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I’m assuming Iran will sit back, let the US have most of the possession today, Then counter. Maybe that’s why CCV is starting over Zimm? Quicker?
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Holy jeebus.
Knockout stage!
Wow. The US tried so hard to mess that up. Pretty close to a PK for Iran at the end there. Hmmm. Close call.
Shocked they never really showed us a replay/offsides freezeframe of the Weah goal in the first half that was disallowed.
Jeez was that stressful!
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@rockchalkjayhawk said in World Cup thread!:
Holy jeebus.
Knockout stage!
Wow. The US tried so hard to mess that up. Pretty close to a PK for Iran at the end there. Hmmm. Close call.
Shocked they never really showed us a replay/offsides freezeframe of the Weah goal in the first half that was disallowed.
Jeez was that stressful!
I WANTED TO STRANGLE BERHALTER HOLY CRAP
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@BShark said in World Cup thread!:
@rockchalkjayhawk said in World Cup thread!:
Holy jeebus.
Knockout stage!
Wow. The US tried so hard to mess that up. Pretty close to a PK for Iran at the end there. Hmmm. Close call.
Shocked they never really showed us a replay/offsides freezeframe of the Weah goal in the first half that was disallowed.
Jeez was that stressful!
I WANTED TO STRANGLE BERHALTER HOLY CRAP
i wanted to strangle a few players today. Haji at the end? With a soft, meaningless shot on goal instead of taking it to the corner to waste time??? game over and no idiotic calls for a PK if he does! my god.
So much effort from our guys, but very loose with the ball in important moments.
Why Berhalter?
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Dest Musah and Aaronson were beasts. Jedi too. Adams was solid. CCV wasnt good. Shaq Moore was clueless and had me holding my breath. McKinnie doesnt go hard enough, but did contribute in the run up to the goal with a nice ball. All our corners were flat. Pulisic and Aaronson took them all, we got nothing there and makes me want to smash my head into a wall at this point. You have Acosta in the game who can drop the ball on a dime. PLEASE. I dont know why we never tried weah at the 9 since we are still soul searching there, but Sargent was good i thought. Played in the flow and offense came from the overlap runs by our wingbacks, then crossing.
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@approxinfinity said in World Cup thread!:
Dest Musah and Aaronson were beasts. Jedi too. Adams was solid. CCV wasnt good. Shaq Moore was clueless and had me holding my breath. McKinnie doesnt go hard enough, but did contribute in the run up to the goal with a nice ball. All our corners were flat. Pulisic and Aaronson took them all, we got nothing there and makes me want to smash my head into a wall at this point. You have Acosta in the game who can drop the ball on a dime. PLEASE. I dont know why we never tried weah at the 9 since we are still soul searching there, but Sargent was good i thought. Played in the flow and offense came from the overlap runs by our wingbacks, then crossing.
We will continue to soul search for a No. 9 for years to come. Best we can hope for is a guy who can press and cover ground when offense turns to defense. We simply do not have a world class striker. Sucks to say, but it is what it is.
I think everybody played very hard today. Musah was everywhere. He made some bad decisions with the ball a few times though. Sophomoric stuff. But he’s young, like a lot of our team.
Adams was way more than solid. way more. And i know you have a thing for McKinnie. ha! He’s looked a bit slow and out of shape so far. But, ironically he’s normally known for playing hard, and making some hard challenges.
I got no clue about Acosta’s free kick abilities.
I take most issue with Weah’s play today. Shoot the freaking ball when you’re at the net, man!!! Dude should have had three goals today. not even hard ones either.
I about crapped my pants when i swear i saw Zimmerman late in the game try a bicycle clearance in the box, with Iranians on his ass. PK waiting to happen! man oh man.
But, we won!!! Victory!
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!!!Ok i agree. Adams was a beast as well.
And Musah seemed gased by the end, but yeah his decision making was a mixed bag but he worked his ass off.
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@approxinfinity said in World Cup thread!:
!!!Ok i agree. Adams was a beast as well.
And Musah seemed gased by the end, but yeah his decision making was a mixed bag but he worked his ass off.
U-S-A!
