2061 replies to this topic

[BSLMikeLowe]

Yedlin seemed to run out of gas sooner than everyone else, but being the senior citizen on the team (if you can call a 28 y/o that) maybe explains it. They'll still miss him Sunday.

[DuffMan]

Agree that Adams was not the worst. I'd give a joint award  to the CFs. Pepi was mostly non-existant and Pekok (who was only there for the singular reason to score a sitter) failed to do so. And the rest of Pefoks game showed why he doesn't fit with the US tactics. He can't defend, can't press, and can't keep the ball at his feet.

 

I thought Yedlin was fine.

Late in the game you could see Berhalter motioning for Pefok to move up and pressure the ball

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Yedlin seemed to run out of gas sooner than everyone else, but being the senior citizen on the team (if you can call a 28 y/o that) maybe explains it. They'll still miss him Sunday.

28 years old and playing at 7000ft. That's tough at this level and yes they will miss him. But Moore is fine as long as he stays home. He was fine in the Gold Cup.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Just an FYI, the Costa Rica - El Salvador match is tomorrow afternoon. We will know the outcome before the US match. Go ES!!!! Would be awesome if they could get a draw.

 

The scenarios for the US qualifying tomorrow are simple.

 

Beat Panama and ES beats or draws with Costa Rica.

 

Tie Panama and ES beats Costa Rica.

 

If the US beats Panama and Costa Rica wins then the US can't finish lower than 4th and will take 3rd even if they lose to Costa Rica as long as their current big lead in goal differential remains. The US is currently +7 ahead of CR. So for example if the US and CR both were to win tomorrow 1-0, then CR would have to beat the US 4-0 to move ahead of us into 3rd.

 

If the US draws with Panama tomorrow the WORST finish we could end up in would be 4th and the play in match against a not good New Zealand team. Still one game play ins suck. Too many bad things can happen.

[BSLMikeLowe]

If the US draws with Panama tomorrow the WORST finish we could end up in would be 4th and the play in match against a not good New Zealand team. Still one game play ins suck. Too many bad things can happen.

 

They really have to avoid that play-in. Qatar in the middle of June? Players are gonna be dropping like flies.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

They really have to avoid that play-in. Qatar in the middle of June? Players are gonna be dropping like flies.

Mind boggling to me that they did this.

 

Remember that the original request for countries to submit bids for WC2022 was for the traditional summer time frame. Qatar submitted such a bid with some outlandish claims of how they could handle the air flow at their stadiums to keep the field temperatures to acceptable levels. To which FIFA awarded the the bid.

 

Then after a bunch of technical oversight they said well actually we can't do that its just too hot so we want to move it to winter. Instead of opening the bid process back up since Qatar failed to meet the original RFP FIFA just decided well ok we'll let you host it in the winter. As pissed as the domestic leagues in Europe were they didn't file lawsuits because they figured FIFA would hold that against them for future bids for WCs and Euros. 

 

So in all that process the ONLY thing FIFA got right was that you really can't hold a WC in Qatar in the summer as its just too hot. So then they go and eff that all to hell by deciding the play in matches will be held in Qatar in June. So players have to fly from all over the world to a shitty place in the summer (still has the same too hot issue) to play ONE match. Insane how stupid, and/or corrupt, FIFA is.

 

So yeah Mike we are going to kick some Panamanian ass tomorrow night!!

[BSLMikeLowe]

Here's a question, Steve, or anyone else. What are the general plans for all these WC teams for this summer? I assume there are going to be a ton of friendlies scheduled, and they'll feature more frontline players than usual? Has the US talked about what they'll do, or are they just focused on getting in and they'll cross that bridge when they come to it?

[BSLSteveBirrer]

The biggest thing this summer is CONCACAF Nations League group stage play. Then there will be friendlies in September. There may be friendlies right before QATAR but that remains to be seen given that its during the club seasons.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Game Day.

 

Breakfast at the hotel and saw a Panama fan. Glorious day to kick their butts. Sunny, warm, light breeze. Should be just perfect around game time.

 

Probably go do some tourist stuff for a few hours just to kill time. Don't forget kickoff is 7 EDT and its on FS1.

 

We got this!!

[BSLChrisStoner]

CBS Sports: USMNT vs. Panama: Gregg Berhalter's strategy of heavy rotation could pay off as World Cup qualification looms

https://www.cbssport...fication-looms/

[You Play to Win the Game]

Game Day.

Breakfast at the hotel and saw a Panama fan. Glorious day to kick their butts. Sunny, warm, light breeze. Should be just perfect around game time.

Probably go do some tourist stuff for a few hours just to kill time. Don't forget kickoff is 7 EDT and its on FS1.

We got this!!

Is this the game in Orlando that you’ll be at?

[BSLChrisStoner]

2-0 US. That goal was nice.

[BSLChrisStoner]

And another...3-0!

[Hooded Viper]

Holy crap what a great game so far!!!

[You Play to Win the Game]

They are humming. Could’ve easily been 4-0, but a missed bicycle attempt by Ferreira. Arriola having quite a night. Great crowd.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Now 4-0 after the penalty kick. What a beat down.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Panama tries to start a brawl at half. Classy.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Costs Rica did win so the US can’t clinch here. Keep scoring though, could need the goal differential.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Since I failed so hard last time, someone explain our situation to me. CRC is 3 points behind and could tie us but the tiebreaker is GD? Looks to me like they have no chance of winning that tiebreaker.

[glenn__davis]

Correct. US is up 3 points and 10 goals on Costa Rica. Goal differential is the 1st tiebreaker, so Costa Rica would need to win by 5 goals to catch up. Don't know what the 2nd tiebreaker is.