World Cup thread!
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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!
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@approxinfinity Adams is our best player and performed like it today imo. The three you mentioned and McKennie are all guys I like A LOT as well though.
Agree the corners STUNK and Sargent was fine
With this midfield we can compete with anyone and could be a real threat to actually win the whole thing in 2026.
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@rockchalkjayhawk said in World Cup thread!:
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 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.
W takes. Weah is not good.
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@BShark i dont like whatever controversy we seem to have brewing with Gio. Wonder if thats weighing on Weah. Added pressure to perform.
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@approxinfinity said in World Cup thread!:
@BShark i dont like whatever controversy we seem to have brewing with Gio. Wonder if thats weighing on Weah. Added pressure to perform.
I wonder what’s up there with Gio? Something’s amiss.
It has to be about trusting him with his fitness and his injury concern, right?
I know I’m likely the lone dissenter here — I’m not quite on the Gio train yet. I say that only because I’ve never really see him do much in a U.S. jersey. Injuries likely the reason for that.
Maybe Berhalter agrees? I dunno.
I read somewhere today or yesterday that Gio may not be a formation fit for Berhalter’s system. He likes his 4-3-3. His midfield is set in stone. That leaves Gio on the front line, on the wing. And he says he prefers a more central midfield role I think.
So unless we switch to a 4-4-2, or 4-2-3-1, maybe Gio doesn’t have a home.
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I just wonder if the question is about where Gio would play. I would also be an advocate like some of you for trying Weah as the 9 so Gio could play winger. That said…assuming GGG is going to stick with one of Sargent/Haji/Ferreira as the 9…where would you want Gio in the lineup? You’re taking one of Pulisic/Weah or MMA off the field to get him on…nevermind Aaronson as another option as well. It’s a great problem to have, but we’ll have quality on the bench in there somewhere regardless of who we play.
I also don’t find fault with GGG for playing Sargent again…I think he played pretty well before he got nicked. CCV playing was a surprise, but more so was that he played instead of Zim. I wholeheartedly agree with keeping Ream in there…just pleasantly surprised that GGG would’ve played CCV for Zim over him.
Shaq Moore should never touch the field again.
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@focojayhawk said in World Cup thread!:
I just wonder if the question is about where Gio would play. I would also be an advocate like some of you for trying Weah as the 9 so Gio could play winger. That said…assuming GGG is going to stick with one of Sargent/Haji/Ferreira as the 9…where would you want Gio in the lineup? You’re taking one of Pulisic/Weah or MMA off the field to get him on…nevermind Aaronson as another option as well. It’s a great problem to have, but we’ll have quality on the bench in there somewhere regardless of who we play.
I also don’t find fault with GGG for playing Sargent again…I think he played pretty well before he got nicked. CCV playing was a surprise, but more so was that he played instead of Zim. I wholeheartedly agree with keeping Ream in there…just pleasantly surprised that GGG would’ve played CCV for Zim over him.
Shaq Moore should never touch the field again.
Poor Shaq Moore. Saw this quip in one of the player ratings…
Shaq Moore (On 82′): 6 — Wyd, Gregg? Moore’s only job should’ve been to shut down crosses. He didn’t.
Ha!
And this about Weah, which i agree with 100%
Tim Weah (Off 82′): 7.5 — The team’s second-biggest threat, could’ve had this match salted away at the hour mark with a hat trick on another day.
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And this blurb about Pulisic and crossing/set pieces just to soothe @approxinfinity
There are issues with Pulisic’s performance here: his corners were not useful in a game where set pieces could have been a major factor.
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REST IN PISS MEXICO YOU WON’T BE MISSED.
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@BShark said in World Cup thread!:
REST IN PISS MEXICO YOU WON’T BE MISSED.
I was torn by that. root for Concacaf, or just root against El Tri. Tough call.
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@rockchalkjayhawk It was very easy for me but I understand. I was definitely pulling for Canada but damn Croatia COOKED them.
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@BShark thats what Canada gets for announcing they were going to “f croatia” . Who’s f’d now?
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Canada need to get their players into big boy leagues, it would help.
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Belgium are out what a blessing. Great WC so far, UEFA down bad between Belgium, Wales, Serbia and Denmark. France, Spain and England are good after that blah.
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@BShark Who are your favorites to take the whole thing right now?
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@benshawks08 How many?
This would be in a rough order for me assuming guys like Neymar get healthy: Brazil, France, Spain, Argentina, England.
Morocco is an interesting dark horse they were very good in group play.
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England has put the ball in the net a lot. Spain too. If Portugal wins again they could get the full 9 points which is never a bad sign. That said, it may be Brazil’s to lose.
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I do not trust Portugal’s defense one bit against good teams.
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I hope Costa Rica get another goal to send Spain packing. Punish them for trying to coast.
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Whew boy. Japan counterattack is something! So fast.
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What a story for Japan WOW. If you would have told anyone that Japan would lose to Costa Rica and advance before the tournament they would have called you crazy.
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Anyone have two better wins?
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Japan punished us in our friendly in the last window as well. Deserve to be there. Good stuff.
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i haven’t watched Japan play this tourney. what are they doing well?
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@rockchalkjayhawk It seems like they are sitting back and letting the other team control the game, but then they strike in an instant and they’ve been good at finishing when they get the opportunity.
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@benshawks08 said in World Cup thread!:
@rockchalkjayhawk It seems like they are sitting back and letting the other team control the game, but then they strike in an instant and they’ve been good at finishing when they get the opportunity.
Wow. Great to have players who fill the back of the net.
