The Official US Soccer thread

[Russ Smith]

I guess Norway and Morocco are my top 2 out of the teams left. Either one would be absolutely profound champs. Argentina, France or Spain..... Blech. Same old same old.

My mom was British so I'm cheering for England now even though I cheered for Mexico against them in he last game.

But yeah Norway or Morocco would be cool

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Never England

Norway would be fun

As for the positioning of the team - it's still where it is, which is disappointing as there are some players of quality

They are definitely a top 20 team, but definitely not a top 10. Then as mentioned above, even within the top 10 you really only have 3-4 serious contenders.

Occasionally there is a nice story or a good run, but generally the top are the top.

They all have something that is world class.

The US doesn't have that difference making component and they have a couple areas that are below grade - that keeps them stuck where they are

 

[Stout]

This team couldn't carry the '02 team's jock straps. Anyone want to argue that truth?

What a bunch of little *******. What a bunch of freaking embarrassments. Dest? I don't ever want to see you on the field again. Freese? I don't want to see you in a squad again. Old Man Ream finally, unfortunately, proving me right and showing why he never belonged. Pulisic? Your U.S. career is over. You come out of THIS game? You punk out that bad and then cry on the sidelines? Oh fudge no. Unless your freaking leg is freaking falling off, you gut it out and turn the tide. Poch? Gone. fudge this whole team. U.S. Soccer right back in the dumper where it belongs, I guess.

The only, the freaking ONLY unacceptable result was to get shellacked.

 

[Stout]

Yeah I’ll be pulling for Harry Kane. He’s one of my favorite players because I’m a spurs fan. But it’s still hard to root for England. I think I’ll be rooting for Morocco or anyone aside from Argentina and France. I actually like Belgium but I’ve always felt like their time has passed. Hope they beat Spain.

Harry Kane can go to hell. He's a dirty as hell player and he gets away with it with the refs barely ever calling a foul, let alone issuing a card. Can't stand the guy for this reason, and his incessant whining.

 

[Stout]

Well it’s a bummer of a sport sadly. Every kid here grows up playing soccer and most of them choose a different sport for a reason. Kids want to do more than 90 minutes of cardio.

You can stand in left field for 2 hours and still gets 4 cracks to do something special at the dish.

Clown take.

 

[Russ Smith]

This team couldn't carry the '02 team's jock straps. Anyone want to argue that truth?

What a bunch of little *******. What a bunch of freaking embarrassments. Dest? I don't ever want to see you on the field again. Freese? I don't want to see you in a squad again. Old Man Ream finally, unfortunately, proving me right and showing why he never belonged. Pulisic? Your U.S. career is over. You come out of THIS game? You punk out that bad and then cry on the sidelines? Oh fudge no. Unless your freaking leg is freaking falling off, you gut it out and turn the tide. Poch? Gone. fudge this whole team. U.S. Soccer right back in the dumper where it belongs, I guess.

The only, the freaking ONLY unacceptable result was to get shellacked.

FWIW there's a rumor he has some calf muscle tear and shouldn't have played at all after it happened. He sat out the Australia game and then came off the bench the next one. You could see he wasn't 100% but man he was pretty bad, I read he lost the ball 16 times or something like that which was the most of any player on either team. Had one impact play the whole game his pass to Balogun that drew the foul and the free kick we scored on.

He'll be 31 by the next WC so not too old but he hasn't aged well seems to have already lost a step at 27.

 

[Yuma]

Exactly. We’re still a million miles away from winning a men’s World Cup.

It’s so gross we can’t even field a top 20 world team.

I was listening to a podcast, and they were reminiscing about previous USMNTs of the past. They were making the point that mostly we competed back then because we had good goalies, and not much else. It's taken DECADES, but now we have better players in more than just the goalie spot.

I am with you. As many athletes as the USA generates, just look at how many Olympic squads worldwide have US citizens on their squads, where are our phenoms? Where's our Messi, Ronaldo, Haaland, Kane, Yamal, etc? Most of the really good squads have one really great player. The USA has never had that. We should be producing a top generational talent at least once in all these decades.

 

[Stout]

I was listening to a podcast, and they were reminiscing about previous USMNTs of the past. They were making the point that mostly we competed back then because we had good goalies, and not much else. It's taken DECADES, but now we have better players in more than just the goalie spot.

I am with you. As many athletes as the USA generates, just look at how many Olympic squads worldwide have US citizens on their squads, where are our phenoms? Where's our Messi, Ronaldo, Haaland, Kane, Yamal, etc? Most of the really good squads have one really great player. The USA has never had that. We should be producing a top generational talent at least once in all these decades.

Unfortunately, we don't have a top keeper now. Or even just a good one.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

futbol/soccer is a possession sport - someone always wants the ball more - belgium came out more aggressive from the gate

futbol isn't life futbol is war - literal invasions taking place at all times - this ish is serious and not for the faint of heart

motivation becomes everything - and belgium was more than motivated with balogun being reinstated - they came out pissed off

they came out playing like we were trying to cheat them - like they had been done wrong - the greats do this in everything - not just in futbol or sports

we had no motivation - only drama

if trump had kept hus trap shut we could have used the unjustified redcard as our motivation - as our injustice - our reason to come out pissed off

but then again - with that goalie we never had a chance

 

[SeattleCardinal]

futbol/soccer is a possession sport - someone always wants the ball more - belgium came out more aggressive from the gate

futbol isn't life futbol is war - literal invasions taking place at all times - this ish is serious and not for the faint of heart

motivation becomes everything - and belgium was more than motivated with balogun being reinstated - they came out pissed off

they came out playing like we were trying to cheat them - like they had been done wrong - the greats do this in everything - not just in futbol or sports

we had no motivation - only drama

if trump had kept hus trap shut we could have used the unjustified redcard as our motivation - as our injustice - our reason to come out pissed off

but then again - with that goalie we never had a chance

Yeah, the Belgians were definitely a step up in class for USMNT this round, with more world class players, but it was clear that they were also motivated (angered) by the reinstatement and the involvement by POTUS. The Red Devils were flying around from the outset. It was a fun run, nonetheless. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for US futbol.

 

[Zeno]

Like Freddy Adu?

Anyone else remember the hype around Freddy Adu?

That wasn’t his fault, he was 14 and playing at the level of the U20’s, the problem was didn’t progress much beyond that, he was just physically ahead and dominated but then everyone else continued to grow and he didn’t. I think the US learned their lesson about overhyping a kid like that again.

 

[QuebecCard]

Yeah I said as much in the other thread QC.

This was a litmus test and we failed miserably.

Lorenzo hit the nail right on the head.

We need a superstar to carry the team in big games like this, and that sure as hell isn’t Pulisic.

The USMNT needs a real golden child.

P.S. Les Rouges is sitting home watching now too, so don’t come in here too hot okay?

Well, we did better than expected without our best player.

The U.S. team I watched wouldn't have fared any better against Morocco. IMO.

 

[Lorenzo]

Harry Kane can go to hell. He's a dirty as hell player and he gets away with it with the refs barely ever calling a foul, let alone issuing a card. Can't stand the guy for this reason, and his incessant whining.

I see you haven’t gotten over that tackle from 6 years ago.

 

[Lorenzo]

Yeah I said as much in the other thread QC.

This was a litmus test and we failed miserably.

Lorenzo hit the nail right on the head.

We need a superstar to carry the team in big games like this, and that sure as hell isn’t Pulisic.

The USMNT needs a real golden child.

P.S. Les Rouges is sitting home watching now too, so don’t come in here too hot okay?

Some World Cup winners have multiple. Look at 02 Brazil, 06 Italy and France. 2014 Germany is probably all around one of the best teams. Then you have Messi and Argentina.

In fact Belgium had 2 all world superstars and one of the greatest goalkeepers all surrounded by really good players. and still didn’t win a cup. I think Belgium may have missed their window in 2018. They should have beaten France but could not handle mbappe.

 

[ajcardfan]

This team couldn't carry the '02 team's jock straps. Anyone want to argue that truth?

What a bunch of little *******. What a bunch of freaking embarrassments. Dest? I don't ever want to see you on the field again. Freese? I don't want to see you in a squad again. Old Man Ream finally, unfortunately, proving me right and showing why he never belonged. Pulisic? Your U.S. career is over. You come out of THIS game? You punk out that bad and then cry on the sidelines? Oh fudge no. Unless your freaking leg is freaking falling off, you gut it out and turn the tide. Poch? Gone. fudge this whole team. U.S. Soccer right back in the dumper where it belongs, I guess.

The only, the freaking ONLY unacceptable result was to get shellacked.

You were absolutely correct. The Paraguay game was a major anamoly and made us look much better than we really were. I actually now don't understand what happened to make Paraguay play so poorly against us. They were the better team.

Nope, 02 is #1. This team did the best ever in the group stage but that was an illusion. Beating Mexico in 02 was better than beating Bosnia this year. and 02 did not take a beat down in the last game.

Yes, incredibly disappointing the way we lost. Not that we lost. If we fought like hell, went toe to toe, and lost 2-1 we would all feel much better.

 

[Stout]

I see you haven’t gotten over that tackle from 6 years ago.

Damn right. Meant to injure and no yellow even shown although that's a bang on red for the scissors kick from behind with VAR. I don't even remember if a foul was called.

He's a star. He's going to get away with stuff. Granted. Unfortunately, he uses that cover to just be dirty.

 

[Stout]

You were absolutely correct. The Paraguay game was a major anamoly and made us look much better than we really were. I actually now don't understand what happened to make Paraguay play so poorly against us. They were the better team.

Nope, 02 is #1. This team did the best ever in the group stage but that was an illusion. Beating Mexico in 02 was better than beating Bosnia this year. and 02 did not take a beat down in the last game.

Yes, incredibly disappointing the way we lost. Not that we lost. If we fought like hell, went toe to toe, and lost 2-1 we would all feel much better.

It's a sad state of affairs, to be sure. This team is way more talented (except at keeper) than any other U.S. team, and this is what we got? I mean, we saw the warning signs in the 2nd half of Australia and against Turkey, but we won the first and the latter didn't count. Sigh.

 

[GatorAZ]

Clown take

A counter attack on par with Team USA last night.

 

[Stout]

A counter attack on par with Team USA last night.

If you hate soccer, why TF are you here? Go be an ass somewhere else.

 

[jbjarko]

From a talent standpoint, this team is much better than teams of the past. But those teams had heart that this team severely lacks. Plus our keeper sucks.

 

[GatorAZ]

If you hate soccer, why TF are you here? Go be an ass somewhere else.

Sorry you’re in your feels. Nothing I said was wrong.

 

[Lorenzo]

Damn right. Meant to injure and no yellow even shown although that's a bang on red for the scissors kick from behind with VAR. I don't even remember if a foul was called.

He's a star. He's going to get away with stuff. Granted. Unfortunately, he uses that cover to just be dirty.

I think a regular foul was called. I remember Kane arguing that it wasn’t a foul and then the replay showed it definitely should have been a card. If Kane got tackled like that he’s alligator rolling and a player gets sent off.

 

[Lorenzo]

Unfortunately, we don't have a top keeper now. Or even just a good one.

Cortois even in his old age was launching one timers on target. That’s what you need to have a chance. They are basically playing with 10 men when your goal keeper can’t do anything with the ball. He can’t even kick it out of bounds to clear it.

 

[Lorenzo]

I counted at least 10 times in this WC when Freese grabs the ball early and then holds it long enough for the other team to recover and take their positions. Horrible.

 

[Chaplin]

Courtois after the game said that Senegal was better than us. We are ranked higher, but can't really argue with that after the performance yesterday.