USA 1-0 Saudi Arabia (Jun 19, 2025) Game Analysis - ESPN
Expert recap and game analysis of the United States vs. Saudi Arabia Concacaf Gold Cup game from June 19, 2025 on ESPN.
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I think the Saudis were playing from a more defensive posture with the idea of quick counters on offense when it presented itself. The box in front of the Saudi goal was pretty congested. We saw more direct attacks from the US this game than the last. Kudos to Pachettino for recognizing that could work against the Saudis. If Agyemang had better skills on the ball it may have been a multi goal game for the US. Agyemang is more of a bull in a china shop right now.
I echo the posts about the lack of interest in this USMNT. But I also know that they can win a very weak fielded gold cup with their top players and what does that prove? I think they deserve the critique that they are getting, but I'm not sure that people like Donovan and Alexi Lalas have much credibility. Lalas never was a top player IMO and is all media created stardom and IDK why because he's not even that great at it. Donovan burned himself out, playing in every US competition until he couldn't do it anymore and that ended his US career early (probably unfairly) when you consider Wondo should have not been on a World Cup roster. I think guys like Howard and Dempsey have more credibility to speak out on these topics.
Is it really that important though? I mean how many gold cups do we have to win before we actually do something in a tournament that has real competition in it. I get the pride and patriotic side of it. but I also think it's overblown by old guys that are board. I mean USA World Cup teams of the Alexi Lalas days had guys sleeping with other players wives. "but they played hard because they were patriots"Yeah, never again. I never again want to see or hear from this chump. "Oh, I want to play in the friendlies but screw the very important tourney?" And he doesn't understand why Poch is trying to have a unified roster in the run up to the GC? And he wants to skip the GC, leave his team in the lurch, and just slink back for the WC next year? No dude. You don't get to pick and choose. Players the world over go through the same difficulties and most of them would do anything to play for their team in these tournaments.
Just to make my opinion clear, eff that guy
USA has plenty of gold cups and it hasn't helped them. I stopped caring about the gold cup a long time ago. These players who are playing now need to gain experience and try to earn a World Cup roster spot. I don't think Pulisic and Weah have anything to prove. they will be in the starting 11 at the WC if they are healthy and I will watch.
Edit: I do think that Weah has something to prove with the idiotic red card that he took at Copa America.
Stout
Hold onto the ball, Murray!
It's the entitled "I'm too important for the Gold Cup and I'm entitled to just walk into the team for the World Cup without a lick of work" BS attitude I can't stand. From his interviews on it, he hasn't got a clue what he sounds like. It's cringe.
I get that. he is immature and I wonder if his sheltered upbringing maybe takes away from his social experience. I always thought that Landon had that same cocky attitude and I don't think he ever grew out of it.
USMNT completes perfect Gold Cup group stage with win over Haiti — and opportunities missed or seized
The USMNT beat Haiti 2-1 in a game that was, at times, surprisingly even. Malik Tillman and Patrick Agyemang scored the U.S. goals.
I turned it off after our goalie passed the ball to the wrong team in front of our own goal. Smh
ASUCHRIS
ONE HEART BEAT!!!
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Struggling vs. Haiti is just pitiful.
gmabel830
It's football season!!
Lyon in France, who qualified for Europa League, just got relegated to Ligue 2 after review of their financial situation. Tanner Tressman is there and Matt Turner signed there this offseason - so definitely a situation to keep an eye on.
Stout
Hold onto the ball, Murray!
Holy sheet, man!
gmabel830
It's football season!!
They are planning to appeal, which may drag the process out and not facilitate any short term changes, but will be interesting to keep an eye on!
Costa Rica should prove to be a challenge for the US on Sunday. It will be interesting to see how this edition of the US team fares against CR. I have not been impressed with Freese in net. We may see Turner on Sunday. I think the lineup for Sunday will be:
Matt Turner
Chris Richards
Tim Ream
John Tolkin
Max Arfsten
Tyler Adams
Diego Luna
Jack McGlynn
Malik Tillman
Sebastian Berhalter
Patrick Agyemang
Matt Turner
Chris Richards
Tim Ream
John Tolkin
Max Arfsten
Tyler Adams
Diego Luna
Jack McGlynn
Malik Tillman
Sebastian Berhalter
Patrick Agyemang
As U.S. battle without stars at Gold Cup, which fringe players are stepping up?
The U.S. has been without several stars at this summer's Gold Cup, so which fringe players have stepped up to fight for a place at next year's World Cup?
Alex Campbell previews USA-Costa Rica CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match
The U.S. Men's National Team is coming to Minneapolis on Sunday to play Costa Rica in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup which can be watched on FOX at 6 PM CT. Chicago-based soccer broadcaster Alex Campbell joined "The Afternoon Shift" to break down the tournament format and players to...
Matt Freese, having displaced Matt Turner as US goalkeeper, not yet looking toward World Cup
Having displaced Matt Turner as the starting U.S. goalkeeper for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Matt Freese isn’t contemplating starting in the Americans’ World Cup opener next June. Freese says ahead
'We could have been more unified ' - Clint Dempsey questions U.S. Soccer over handling of Christian Pulisic's Gold Cup absence, claims USMNT drama was avoidable | Goal.com US
Dempsey said that drama was avoidable had the federation communicated differently and the two parties had aligned messaging
www.goal.com
Former USMNT star warns of 'massive failure' scenario for US as host of World Cup
Team USA has a lot of pressure to succeed in the World Cup, which, in turn, could help improve the sport's popularity, a former player said.
US men's soccer team faces Costa Rica in quarterfinals
The US men's national team continues to fight for the Concacaf God Cup crown! FOX Sports lead soccer host Rob Stone joined Good Day to talk about what fans can expect from the big game.
It would be nice to have a GK that could play out of the back now that US have the talent to do it at other positions.
I think they still should compete well. that's not exactly a chopped liver roster. It's also good to see some of the depth getting opportunities in meaningful games that they otherwise would not be getting. regardless of the starting 11 at the World Cup, if you are going to make it anywhere beyond the first couple of games, you need depth. that was a massive problem in the last world cup.
SECTION 11
vibraslap
Freese is the man
I'm loving the grit of this team. Freese came up big in the PKs. Still not sure he's the answer in net. Hopefully the PK success pumps up his confidence. Luna just keeps making things happen. I'm really starting to buy into Pochettino and what he's trying to do. The more I watch and the more I read, I'm understanding what he's doing. It's a tear down and rebuild from the same old same old that has plagued this team for years. A new mentality. I like the high pressure, the use of the entire width of the field which creates space and the quicker ball movement and off ball runs we are seeing which seemed to be missing in prior years.
I'm in the 21st minute of this game and so far they look very positive. a poor penalty taken for sure, but other than that they have been very good.
To counter all the whining about the veteran players who aren't in this tournament: We already know that those guys can win a gold cup. we also know that the gold cup is basically their ceiling to this point. and if they come to the team and fall short in this tournament the sky would fall.
I really like the mentality of putting younger unproven players in a high leverage situation. and it's a good mix of other guys like Adams and Ream who are top 11 caliber, each with something to prove. Maybe some of these guys can push the other veterans for their spots in the lineup. and if anything else improve the quality behind them.
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