World Cup thread

[Wildcats1st]

All sports need to start eliminating the benefits of faking an injury. For football, it's simple. You get hurt in a way that stops play you're out of the game until the series is over (or a timeout). For soccer, it's harder, but I would do this... keep the same rules in place as today when there is a foul, but if a foul isn't called the player can either:
1) Get up and stop being a *****
2) Lay there on the field until his fake cramp stops hurting while play continues
3) Raise his hand to stop play, but he has to either be subbed out or sit on the sidelindes until the next throw in or goal kick by his own team.

Do guys take dives? Yes. But soccer is such a grueling non stop sport that it’s impossible to tell if a guy is faking it. Especially at this level. Have you had your foot in a glove tight boot stepped on? It hurts like hell. These guys yesterday no one was faking a cramp it was alot of guys falling out with fitness issues. I’m not trying to call you out but 90% of the time a guy goes down it’s legit pain. Soccer is the most physically demanding sport.

Now if we are talking concacaf teams that’s a different story or South Americans. They will dive and milk. At this level though these guys aren’t going down unless it’s legit.

 

[vhcat70]

Do guys take dives? Yes. But soccer is such a grueling non stop sport that it’s impossible to tell if a guy is faking it. Especially at this level. Have you had your foot in a glove tight boot stepped on? It hurts like hell. These guys yesterday no one was faking a cramp it was alot of guys falling out with fitness issues. I’m not trying to call you out but 90% of the time a guy goes down it’s legit pain. Soccer is the most physically demanding sport.

Now if we are talking concacaf teams that’s a different story or South Americans. They will dive and milk. At this level though these guys aren’t going down unless it’s legit.

What makes it so grueling is they don't call clear fouls or give enough yellow cards. Grab a guy's shirt - foul. Never called. Step on his foot - yellow card. Never happens. Sure calls disrupts the game - the whole reason they foul. But do it enough times & players will change their tunes.

 

[Wildcats1st]

Gonna say it now and talk to my good friend marcello balboa tomorrow about this. I’ve already talked with some colleagues within US soccer concerned. The US media coverage if we can’t get a result against England needs to get out in front of the posssibility of a Charles brokered draw when England plays wales next week. If they aren’t preemptively called out I promise you it will happen. Only thing more corrupt than fifa is probably the royal idiots who run GB. Lalas especially with his big mouth can make some waves I think in helping prevent this from happening. Hopefully though we get at least a pt out of the next match or Iran gets a result outta their match with wales. That is a real possibility too.

 

[LOL_Man]

Why do they call it the "World Cup" when America doesn't even play in it? Granted, technically, we hire a few mercenaries and call it America but it really isn't.

They should call it "The Rest of the World Cup" just so everyone is aware the greatest country on earth doesn't really send our best. I think that clarification is important.

 

[mhroe1984]

Japan 'bout to take down the once-mighty Germans.

 

[vhcat70]

Gonna say it now and talk to my good friend marcello balboa tomorrow about this. I’ve already talked with some colleagues within US soccer concerned. The US media coverage if we can’t get a result against England needs to get out in front of the posssibility of a Charles brokered draw when England plays wales next week. If they aren’t preemptively called out I promise you it will happen. Only thing more corrupt than fifa is probably the royal idiots who run GB. Lalas especially with his big mouth can make some waves I think in helping prevent this from happening. Hopefully though we get at least a pt out of the next match or Iran gets a result outta their match with wales. That is a real possibility too.

Check the odds of a Wales/England draw before US plays England & afterwards. If US loses & Wales beats Iran, see if those odds go up a lot.

 

[Popquiz81]

If you can’t trust the King of England who can you trust?

 

[funKYcat75]

More like Deutschland über nichts.

 

[Dore95]

I could easily see England/Wales playing to a draw. If England beats the US, they will be playing their C squad in that game, and Wales will know what they have to do to advance. On the other hand, history shows that teams who broker some kind of "gentlemens' agreement" and fail to play in that last game do not do well in the next rounds. England will want to continue to play their game so I seriously doubt they will participate in some kind of explicit deal to get their neighbor through.

 

[Wildcats1st]

I could easily see England/Wales playing to a draw. If England beats the US, they will be playing their C squad in that game, and Wales will know what they have to do to advance. On the other hand, history shows that teams who broker some kind of "gentlemens' agreement" and fail to play in that last game do not do well in the next rounds. England will want to continue to play their game so I seriously doubt they will participate in some kind of explicit deal to get their neighbor through.

Already said it read above. There’s a definite fear in US soccer for this and pressure is high to get a result Friday bc of it. Everyone knew we needed to get 3 points against wales to feel good about advancing from the group. I think there is gonna be a preemptive US media push to call it out before it happens. Marcelo balboa is a good friend of mine and he’s covering the WC I messaged with him today it’s definitely something they will try to address but he also said not to rule out Iran v wales.


Folks watch this Spain v. CR game. The formation Spain plays (4-2-3-1) is what US soccer is geared toward. Not the front runner heavy 4-3-3 that causes us to lose midfield. This is berhalters detriment that he plays the 4-3-3 no matter what and even when the game is one the line out outside strikers/wingers do not fall back to defend in the midfield. 4-3-3 only works when you run high press bc your outside backs fill the space in the mf behind the wingers. If you low press in a 4-3-3 the outside backs stay in the defending third and the 3 mf have to cover ridiculous amounts of ground. So that’s why we wore down chasing wales. It’s what berhalter pitched to Ernie Stewart when he was hired this formation and his inflexibility cost us that game with wales. If you want to win in soccer you must win mid field. At least if you run a 4-2-3-1 you can like Spain against an inferior side like CR get those two outside mide forward and it becomes basically a 4-3-3. Against japan and Germany they will need the numbers in the mf. USA fd itself im sorry to say.

 

[WayneDougan_rivals170043]

If Wales & UK "brokering a deal" was a concern, the USMNT should have addressed this by beating Wales. Since they didn't do that, they need to beat England and destroy Iran. But frankly, if you go 1-1-1 in the group stage it's always going to be a crap shoot to get to the next round.

 

[Wildcats1st]

If Wales & UK "brokering a deal" was a concern, the USMNT should have addressed this by beating Wales. Since they didn't do that, they need to beat England and destroy Iran. But frankly, if you go 1-1-1 in the group stage it's always going to be a crap shoot to get to the next round.

Yep! Wales may haunt us soccer like the Trinidad match for 2018 qualifier. Probably seals berhalters fate unless we can beat iran. Beating Iran has to be a concern now.

Meanwhile. A very young Spain team looks very very good and will be favorites in 26.

 

[mhroe1984]

best case scenario is to beat England then have Wales/Iran tie

 

[Catman100]

Wow Germany.
Let’s see what Brazil looks like tomorrow.
England, France, Spain look the best so far?

 

[catlanta33]

Wow Germany.
Let’s see what Brazil looks like tomorrow.
England, France, Spain look the best so far?

From what I seen to this point, Spain and France are playing different games. Just so damn quick and relentless.

 

[mhroe1984]

FIFA protecting Ronaldo and screwing Ghana in the process.

 

[rudd1]

-******* gutless. Why I can't take soccer seriously.

 

[rudd1]

-that'll do Ghana

 

[Catman100]

No way that was a penalty.

 

[rick64]

 

[Catman100]

Ugh really thinking we need 3 points tomorrow against England.
Really would be awesome for Iran to beat Wales.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

The world cup for the usa is like being a uk fan in the sec football. We know going in we have 0% chance of winning the conference or even finishing highly a lot of seasons but we believe. Lol

 

[Kennedy_UK]

Well, Iran threw us a lifeline. Today’s result doesn’t really matter if we beat them in Match 3. A lot like 2010 when we head to beat Algeria to top the group.

Not that it’ll be easy, but at least it’s back in the USA’s control.

 

[Glenn's Take]

Go England!!!!!

 

[Wildcats1st]

Go England!!!!!

Take your take elsewhere

 

[Catman100]

Never thought I’d ever say this in my lifetime, but thanks Iran.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

Go England!!!!!

Hey Glenn. Go f*ck yourself!!!!!

 

[Dore95]

Initial US social media reaction was negative about the Iran win, as if it is horrible that we will have to beat Iran in what is likely a winner take all game for that second spot. Did these people somehow think we could get through without winning a single game? If we can’t beat Iran then we don’t deserve it.

 

[Get Buckets]

No Reyna in the starting lineup

 

[Kennedy_UK]

No Reyna in the starting lineup

Of course not.

This 4-3-3 lineup is f*cking naive. Needed a 4-1-4-1.

Dest and Robinson are going to get pinned back. We’d be better off overloading the MF and have pace up front, not a point man like Wright. Reyna should sit in the MF with McKennie, and Aaronson for Weah.

I said earlier I thought we’d get a result. With this lineup, we’ll be lucky to get a SOG. England are going to DOMINATE the ball.

 

[RogCat1119]

England are going to DOMINATE the ball.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

England has 11 payers. Shocking, I know.

 

[RogCat1119]

England has 11 payers. Shocking, I know.

Trying way way too hard.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

Haji Wright is maybe the worst person to play at CF in this game. He's slow and his positioning sucks. Believe it or not, Jordan Morris would've been a more effective CF. Not sure what the f*ck Berhalter was thinking.

 

[SaltyCat22]

Trippier with a nasty trip.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

Trying way way too hard.

I don't even know what this is supposed to mean. And exactly what are you contributing? Nothing. STFU moron.

 

[SaltyCat22]

My Country ‘Tis of Thee bitches.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

Both Trippier and Stones should have YCs.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

Those are great corners from Pulisic. Anybody going to make a f*cking run?

 

[UnfrozenCatfanLawyer]

We kinda controlled the last 25 minutes or so?