729 replies to this topic

[Hooded Viper]

Very happy with the performance of such a young team in their first World Cup; zero shame in losing to a very good Dutch team that could win it all! Their only weakness was finishing but 2026 could potentially be the best World Cup team the US has ever fielded with all of these players in or entering the prime of their careers with hopefully some young studs sprinkled in, particularly at striker. Good job US players you represented your country well!

[Pedro Cerrano]

Netherlands 3 - 1 USA FT

[BSLMikeLowe]

Yeah, if there is one major need you can point to going forward, it’s a finisher in front of goal. Too many good chances go to waste right now.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Played them toe to toe. The Dutch late runs from midfield and their ability to finish was ultimately the difference maker. So proud of these guys and its going to be a long 3 1/2 years to wait.

 

Saving my pennies.....lots and lots them.....

[BSLSteveBirrer]

BTW the Xg for today.

 

Netherlands 1.77 - US 1.51

[mweb08]

Lots of good to highlight and to be optimistic about the future. This was a game they were very competitive in other than the score.

However, besides the finishing, the inability to mark guys on D was a big problem that needs to be cleaned up. Lazy, poor defense on several occasions, most notably their goals.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

France - Poland coming up. Should be a fun match to watch but I think Les Bleu have too much under the hood for the Poles.

[glenn__davis]

France - Poland coming up. Should be a fun match to watch but I think Les Bleu have too much under the hood for the Poles.

 Mbappe, what a finisher.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I have talked about this many times, that one of the difficulties facing US soccer is the draw of other major sports that no other country faces when it comes to their pool of athletes. Watching the WC and I have been pondering this a bit deeper and have come to an expanded thought on this topic.

 

For years the US has always had very strong goalkeeping. And while this cycle isn't quite as stacked as perhaps we have been historically, still a solid part of our program. And the conventional wisdom for as long as I have been associated with this game has been that the reason for this is that kids growing up in the US do so surrounded by sports and in most every sport kids play eye - hand coordination is just a fundamental aspect. And I have always and still do agree with this assessment.

 

But when it comes to field players we haven't been as strong as one would think with the population we have to draw from even having our resource pool divided up so much. So here is my latest thinking (I know that and $5 will get buy you a beer) on this.

 

The US is in general not lacking in talent across the board compared to the rest of the world. Where we are lacking is at the #9 position. And here is where I think the draw from other sports is hurting soccer the most. Take a look at the top strikers in the world and you start to see some pretty similar aspects. Most of them are tallish, freakishly athletic, and strong. Yes there are the outliers like Messi who can dribble between 3 defenders but by and large the #9s are just the whole package when it comes to athletes.

 

Look at the most technically skilled players on the US right now. Gio Reyna may be the closest we have to a freakish athlete. But Pulisic, Adams, Aaronson, McKennie, et all while all are extremely gifted players just are inot n the physical class of guys like Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe. And those later guys are exactly the type of athletes coveted in other sports.

 

So this is a long winded way to say that I think the US is on a upward trajectory and when we get some of these physical freaks staying in soccer then we are going to be a world class team.

[Pedro Cerrano]

In what should be an excellent match, England and France are through to the Elite 8.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

In what should be an excellent match, England and France are through to the Elite 8.

You missed your calling. 11pm sports anchor

[Pedro Cerrano]

Netherlands 0 - 0 Argentina

Kick Friday

[DuffMan]

Netherlands 0 - 0 Argentina
Kick Friday

I'll take the over

[glenn__davis]

Pedro, do you know the score of the England/France game?

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Pedro, do you know the score of the England/France game?

2-1 France

[TwentyThirtyFive]

2-1 France

Lets hope. I have Mbappe to win the golden ball

[glenn__davis]

Japan and Croatia is the first game to go to extra time.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Japan and Croatia will be decided via shoot out as to who goes through to the Elite 8

[Pedro Cerrano]

Pedro, do you know the score of the England/France game?

England 0 - 0 France

Kick off set for Saturday

[JeremyStrain]

Yeah, if there is one major need you can point to going forward, it’s a finisher in front of goal. Too many good chances go to waste right now.

They have one. They just left him on the bench for all but 9 minutes of the whole tourney :/