OT: 2022 World Cup Thread

Mikemarc

Heisman
Nov 28, 2005
68,986
17,571
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The diving a writhing in pain is a huge turnoff for me. That and the players arguing for a foul after every physical play.

Just doesn’t help get me into it
 
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Dec 17, 2008
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After that first goal, thought the US might be a little different team from I’ve seen in the past.

Seems about the same after that. Good athleticism but not the finesse or touch in general or the consistent final touch around the box. Defense still seems shaky too if pressed.

Hopefully it’s enough for the rest of this game and group play.
 

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
64,255
43,367
113
Well, we kind of blew that one after being up 1-0 and playing much better than Wales. It just looked like our intensity dropped in the 2nd half and theirs really picked up.
 
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Roy_Faulker

All-Conference
Feb 7, 2002
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Berhalter….wtf no Reyna and instead he puts in Jordan Morris??

And Haji Wright - no effort it seemed at all.
 

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
64,255
43,367
113
I think it’s interesting we didn’t see Reyna today.
That's what everyone is talking about - no idea why.

To me the biggest play was Zimmerman's reckless foul on Bale in the box. Bale had his back to the goal - it wasn't like he fouled him to prevent some easy point blank shot. Without that PK, we had a very good chance to hold on.
 

mildone_rivals

Heisman
Dec 19, 2011
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If it ends in a tie was that an expected outcome or a letdown?
Big let down, IMO. I think this team is the most talented USMNT I’ve seen. But we didn’t see that at all today. They were off their game from the start and the first half success was more due to Wales being very defensive and playing poorly than the US playing with real quality.

They are young, so that’s maybe part of it.
 
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MadRU

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
37,089
19,112
98
Bale goes 100 minutes, even tracked back late to make a vital tackle. Imagine that’d
 
Dec 17, 2008
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So what to expect against England? Hunker down style? I’d be worried England could finish off and create chances that Wales couldn’t in this game.
 

mildone_rivals

Heisman
Dec 19, 2011
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We are not there frankly if we have Morris Acosta Yedlin et al on the field at the same time a World Cup.
The injury to and loss of Miles Robinson is huge. Although Ream did very well, IMO. But Robinson created stability for Zimmerman and somehow that allowed our defenders to remain composed, beat pressure using great team play in the back, then quickly transition to a decent attack. Even against strong competition. Big boy style.

That didn’t happen today. We started playing long balls out of the back, caving to the second half pressure. We do that, we’re no better than prior USMNT World Cup teams. And that’s a bad thing.
 

MadRU

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
37,089
19,112
98
So what to expect against England? Hunker down style? I’d be worried England could finish off and create chances that Wales couldn’t in this game.
England will control the midfield way more than Wales. Have to absorb their pressure and hit them on the counterattack. Their center backs are susceptible to mistakes.
 
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RuSnp

All-Conference
Jan 14, 2004
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England will control the midfield way more than Wales. Have to absorb their pressure and hit them on the counterattack. Their center backs are susceptible to mistakes.
Musah and Adams have to be MoM quality to get a result.
 

MadRU

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
37,089
19,112
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Musah and Adams have to be MoM quality to get a result.
Probably right. Defensive midfield and pressure breakers will be critical. A link up player will be important on the counter.
 

mildone_rivals

Heisman
Dec 19, 2011
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So what to expect against England? Hunker down style? I’d be worried England could finish off and create chances that Wales couldn’t in this game.
England is very deep with talent, very fit, and extremely well organized when attacking and defending. We will have to play our best soccer to tie or win. I also think we’ll need a bit of luck, because our D is so compromised by the loss of Miles Robinson.

IMO, this iteration of the US tam is at its best when attacking aggressively and defending high. So I hope that’s what Berhalter does. If we sit back and play for counter-attacks or a tie, I think we lose big.
 

krup

Heisman
Feb 5, 2003
70,133
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The injury to and loss of Miles Robinson is huge. Although Ream did very well, IMO. But Robinson created stability for Zimmerman and somehow that allowed our defenders to remain composed, beat pressure using great team play in the back, then quickly transition to a decent attack. Even against strong competition. Big boy style.

That didn’t happen today. We started playing long balls out of the back, caving to the second half pressure. We do that, we’re no better than prior USMNT World Cup teams. And that’s a bad thing.
Your second paragraph was the most disappointing thing. Long balls out of the back, and playing down the wing for crosses, is what these Wales players have been doing since they first put on boots so we made it comfortable for them by resorting to that style.

The one time we played fast and right at them we carved them up.

Yes, they didn’t allow much of that in the first half, but in the second half there was more space and I thought the US settled for low percentage crosses instead of taking the Wales defenders on, numerous times.
 

krup

Heisman
Feb 5, 2003
70,133
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England is very deep with talent, very fit, and extremely well organized when attacking and defending. We will have to play our best soccer to tie or win. I also think we’ll need a bit of luck, because our D is so compromised by the loss of Miles Robinson.

IMO, this iteration of the US tam is at its best when attacking aggressively and defending high. So I hope that’s what Berhalter does. If we sit back and play for counter-attacks or a tie, I think we lose big.
The US needs a Jordan Pickford head-scratcher (which has been known to happen) on Friday, and to not think the crossing game is going to work any better against England than it did Wales.
 

mildone_rivals

Heisman
Dec 19, 2011
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Your second paragraph was the most disappointing thing. Long balls out of the back, and playing down the wing for crosses, is what these Wales players have been doing since they first put on boots so we made it comfortable for them by resorting to that style.

The one time we played fast and right at them we carved them up.

Yes, they didn’t allow much of that in the first half, but in the second half there was more space and I thought the US settled for low percentage crosses instead of taking the Wales defenders on, numerous times.
Agree.

Could well be a youth thing. They looked tight at the start, settled down as Wales sat back in D, and gathered confidence as the first half progressed. Did okay, but still nervous in their touches and a little one dimensional at times.

Second half, Wales had to score, couldn’t sit back, so they went on the attack and, unlike during during most qualifying matches when we had Robinson in the back, we lost composure and never really regained it.

Once a team stats playing kick ball instead of soccer, it’s going to burn through energy chasing the ball all over the field. Which is what happened.

I think this team is on the right track, but even before seeing this game, I have been thinking that our time would be the next WC. Because of our youth and the need for this group of players to get more time together. And even more so to get Robinson healthy and back, maybe find another like him to replace Zimmerman.
 

mildone_rivals

Heisman
Dec 19, 2011
55,607
51,271
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The US needs a Jordan Pickford head-scratcher (which has been known to happen) on Friday, and to not think the crossing game is going to work any better against England than it did Wales.
US needs Reyna, with his fearless creativity in the ball, to compliment Weah‘s deep runs. Although Weah didn’t really look himself for much if this game. So we need him to be on on Friday.

It’s gonna be a tough game.
 
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Doctor Worm

Heisman
Feb 7, 2002
29,826
21,689
113
Not true. It may feel like a loss, but you know what they say about your feelings.

Still have a reasonable shot to advance. Should have had an excellent shot. Could well have had virtually no shot. We take reasonable and move on.