FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group Stage

[Cactus Jack]

I don't know anything about Soccer / Football. I watched the game and it seems like McKennie / Musah / Dest are super fast and agile and can get anywhere on the pitch.

So my question is why we don't have a huge 'striker' or whatever they are called that can play bully ball down in the pain essentially and get some freebies?

What is so good about Pulisic? He misses every shot and is awful at corners.

Pulisic is their best goal scoring threat. He plays for Chelsea but isn't really a 1st team option. They just don't have anyone that is a real threat to consistently score goals. That's why it's been a struggle for them to finish. They don't have a true Center Forward or Striker that people fear. Someone like Harry Kane or Robert Lewandowski.

[SkyHookFTW]

We have money , resources , stadiums etc. and we haven’t made any progress in the international stage. It’s really embarrassing . We don’t have any raw talent and the talent that does come (Freddy adu) flame out. The whole setup is a disgrace

Our talent goes into the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL before soccer. Our 10-year olds dreams of being the next Brady, Lebron, Trout, or Crosby. They dream of making $$$$$$$$$. There is no real soccer culture in the USA.

I thought soccer is popular in the youth age and then people leave it as they get older?

It is, and they do leave it, usually by high school. It is popular because just about everyone can play and is considered to be safe. It is also relatively inexpensive for townships and cities running youth leagues compared to other sports, perfect for budget conscious municipalities. The only equipment needed are the uniforms, footwear, a few balls, and a sizable field with goals. Outfitting a soccer player is simply inexpensive compared to football, baseball, and hockey. Basketball is just as low cost with equipment, but leagues need to find and often pay for facilities to use--even schools usually get some sort of financial incentive for allowing leagues to use gyms. Some places have purpose-built facilities for basketball, but the taxpayers foot the bill. Soccer can be played on football fields, easy to find. And truthfully, there aren't many good coaches at the youth level. You can't expect too many good players coming through the ranks when little Johnny's dad and his friend are reading books about soccer so they can be the coaches for the season.

[azcatz11]

I don't know anything about Soccer / Football. I watched the game and it seems like McKennie / Musah / Dest are super fast and agile and can get anywhere on the pitch.

So my question is why we don't have a huge 'striker' or whatever they are called that can play bully ball down in the pain essentially and get some freebies?

What is so good about Pulisic? He misses every shot and is awful at corners.

Pulisic is their best goal scoring threat. He plays for Chelsea but isn't really a 1st team option. They just don't have anyone that is a real threat to consistently score goals. That's why it's been a struggle for them to finish. They don't have a true Center Forward or Striker that people fear. Someone like Harry Kane or Robert Lewandowski.

Why don’t we run something unorthodox? I’m not sure what the comparison is but why aren’t we using our small, super fast guys differently and attacking more. Like how the NBA learned that 3s are more efficient than 2s…just seems like we’re running an offense that doesn’t maximize our talent

[Sedale Threatt]

Our talent goes into the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL before soccer. Our 10-year olds dreams of being the next Brady, Lebron, Trout, or Crosby. They dream of making $$$$$$$$$. There is no real soccer culture in the USA.

I thought soccer is popular in the youth age and then people leave it as they get older?

It is, and they do leave it, usually by high school. It is popular because just about everyone can play and is considered to be safe. It is also relatively inexpensive for townships and cities running youth leagues compared to other sports, perfect for budget conscious municipalities. The only equipment needed are the uniforms, footwear, a few balls, and a sizable field with goals. Outfitting a soccer player is simply inexpensive compared to football, baseball, and hockey. Basketball is just as low cost with equipment, but leagues need to find and often pay for facilities to use--even schools usually get some sort of financial incentive for allowing leagues to use gyms. Some places have purpose-built facilities for basketball, but the taxpayers foot the bill. Soccer can be played on football fields, easy to find. And truthfully, there aren't many good coaches at the youth level. You can't expect too many good players coming through the ranks when little Johnny's dad and his friend are reading books about soccer so they can be the coaches for the season.

lol, that's exactly what my dad did with my team when I was a kid back in the 70s. He wouldn't have known a corner kick from a PK.

[Cactus Jack]

I don't know anything about Soccer / Football. I watched the game and it seems like McKennie / Musah / Dest are super fast and agile and can get anywhere on the pitch.

So my question is why we don't have a huge 'striker' or whatever they are called that can play bully ball down in the pain essentially and get some freebies?

What is so good about Pulisic? He misses every shot and is awful at corners.

Pulisic is their best goal scoring threat. He plays for Chelsea but isn't really a 1st team option. They just don't have anyone that is a real threat to consistently score goals. That's why it's been a struggle for them to finish. They don't have a true Center Forward or Striker that people fear. Someone like Harry Kane or Robert Lewandowski.

Why don’t we run something unorthodox? I’m not sure what the comparison is but why aren’t we using our small, super fast guys differently and attacking more. Like how the NBA learned that 3s are more efficient than 2s…just seems like we’re running an offense that doesn’t maximize our talent

That's certainly an option. But by being more aggressive & pressing the opponent, you also become more vulnerable to conceding goals. That's often why you will see teams with less firepower like the U.S. try & play it safe. The goal is to make it hard for the opponent to outscore you. Chances are you can't keep pace playing that style. So instead, win ugly.

[azcatz11]

Pulisic is their best goal scoring threat. He plays for Chelsea but isn't really a 1st team option. They just don't have anyone that is a real threat to consistently score goals. That's why it's been a struggle for them to finish. They don't have a true Center Forward or Striker that people fear. Someone like Harry Kane or Robert Lewandowski.

Why don’t we run something unorthodox? I’m not sure what the comparison is but why aren’t we using our small, super fast guys differently and attacking more. Like how the NBA learned that 3s are more efficient than 2s…just seems like we’re running an offense that doesn’t maximize our talent

That's certainly an option. But by being more aggressive & pressing the opponent, you also become more vulnerable to conceding goals. That's often why you will see teams with less firepower like the U.S. try & play it safe. The goal is to make it hard for the opponent to outscore you. Chances are you can't keep pace playing that style. So instead, win ugly.

What did Leicester do? No guts no glory. If we lose to Iran this will set us back 50 years imo

[Hellcrooner]

It's quite simple.

The US need to beat Iran.



England virtually through. For some odd reason, at the World Cups, goal difference trumps results between the teams, so Wales would have to beat England by like 4 goals to overtake them.

This explains the reason why England were perfectly fine with this result.

It's called the rules. Probably been around longer than the US.

still a very stupid rule , you would have to agree.

three team draws is one thing, but direct draws should be decided by the game resutl.


take note that im SPANISH, so after the 7-0 it greatly benefits my team to follow the actual rules because with a draw tomorrow to germany were basically qualified and even if we lose to germany it would favour us in a 6 point tie with japan.

but i still think its unfair.

[ejftw]

its not looking good for US

It's not? If they win their last game they're in. That's about all you can really ask for for most teams.

Who it's not looking good for is Wales. They have to hope that the US beats Iran and they beat England by 4 goals. That's the definition of "not looking good."



Or Qatar, who has already been eliminated.

Its not looking good for US to go to next round because
1) they have to beat Iran while Iran only needs to draw
2) US has not shown scoring power; they have scored only 1 goal while Iran has scored 4 goals against the same opponents

One thing which goes in favor of US is that Iran's defense is quite porous and they have given up most goals in the group.

I agree, it isn't as huge of an advantage as some may think, when it comes to beating Iran. Before it began, I told a friend that Iran is my dark horse of projected dead in the group stage to make it through to knock out, so I'm well versed in their talent, along with all my Persian friends who won't shut up (god, why can't we be in AFC instead of uefa as well).

But, knowing the situation, I expect the US to be more focused on getting a goal. My biggest concern is that they get one early, and then sit back, allowing Iran to equalize late, ultimately eliminating them.

Edit: Basically, I don't see any iota of fire from this USMNT that I saw from the squads led by Landon and Dempsey, despite these squads being a lot more talented. The grit that made the US team so much fun to watch is....gone.

I don't know anything about Soccer / Football. I watched the game and it seems like McKennie / Musah / Dest are super fast and agile and can get anywhere on the pitch.

So my question is why we don't have a huge 'striker' or whatever they are called that can play bully ball down in the pain essentially and get some freebies?

What is so good about Pulisic? He misses every shot and is awful at corners.

Pulisic, at least to me and many disagree, is more of a poacher/opportunistic finisher, not one that you should rely upon being your main target up front.

When the roster was announced, it was a glaring hole that, despite having these talented wingers, there wasn't that true target up front, and it doesn't even have to be a Lewa/Kane level, not even a damn Brian Ching level, who, would have lifted this squad. I thought Zardes, for the flack he gets, should've got the nod over Morris, as he can play that CF/ST role.

[Hellcrooner]

for usa to grow up in soccer they have to abandon AMERICAN WAY of sports
no ncaa
no closed league.
no draft
no salry cap

no ****.

Do like the rest of the world.

vertical divisions
thousends of clubs
every town has 1 ( or more) no matter how little the town.
clubs have their OWN lower affiliates to develop kids since they are 5 or 6.
PAY REAL MONEY to get REAL STARS on their PRIME ( i know this is tricky because usa league would not be " atractive" no champions league etc so players owuld need to win ASTRONOMIC numbers to sing, but whatever).

make the parets at home see that since there are thousends of temas that PAY money ( in spains 3rd and fourth division there are players doing 100.000 euros a year) so it will be easier to get a living fee on this sport as opossed to how difficutl is to make it into basket, baseball, nfl, and thus promote their kids to play the sport.

and of course
NO PAY TO PLAY.
that is both absurd and nauseating.

[Cactus Jack]

Why don’t we run something unorthodox? I’m not sure what the comparison is but why aren’t we using our small, super fast guys differently and attacking more. Like how the NBA learned that 3s are more efficient than 2s…just seems like we’re running an offense that doesn’t maximize our talent

That's certainly an option. But by being more aggressive & pressing the opponent, you also become more vulnerable to conceding goals. That's often why you will see teams with less firepower like the U.S. try & play it safe. The goal is to make it hard for the opponent to outscore you. Chances are you can't keep pace playing that style. So instead, win ugly.

What did Leicester do? No guts no glory. If we lose to Iran this will set us back 50 years imo

Not qualifying for Russia in 2018 set us back. No one really expected the U.S. to make it out of the group stage.

Leicester had a good team that got a good amount of luck on their side the year they won. The Premier League also had a down year. It was before Guardiola came to Man City. Before Liverpool became title contenders.

[Nate505]

Why don’t we run something unorthodox? I’m not sure what the comparison is but why aren’t we using our small, super fast guys differently and attacking more. Like how the NBA learned that 3s are more efficient than 2s…just seems like we’re running an offense that doesn’t maximize our talent

That's certainly an option. But by being more aggressive & pressing the opponent, you also become more vulnerable to conceding goals. That's often why you will see teams with less firepower like the U.S. try & play it safe. The goal is to make it hard for the opponent to outscore you. Chances are you can't keep pace playing that style. So instead, win ugly.

What did Leicester do? No guts no glory. If we lose to Iran this will set us back 50 years imo

I doubt it. For one, this US team is really young. At the very least they are getting experience on a big stage. For two, if WC Qualifying goes to 48 teams for the foreseeable future, they'll pretty much always make it to the World Cup out of Concacaf. Personally I think that many teams is stupid, but that's how it's going to go at least for the next one (which wouldn't matter anyway since the US is one of the hosts).

The 70s and 80s were the true dark days of US soccer, and that will never happen again.

[ejftw]

That's certainly an option. But by being more aggressive & pressing the opponent, you also become more vulnerable to conceding goals. That's often why you will see teams with less firepower like the U.S. try & play it safe. The goal is to make it hard for the opponent to outscore you. Chances are you can't keep pace playing that style. So instead, win ugly.

What did Leicester do? No guts no glory. If we lose to Iran this will set us back 50 years imo

I doubt it. For one, this US team is really young. At the very least they are getting experience on a big stage. For two, if WC Qualifying goes to 48 teams for the foreseeable future, they'll pretty much always make it to the World Cup out of Concacaf. Personally I think that many teams is stupid, but that's how it's going to go at least for the next one (which wouldn't matter anyway since the US is one of the hosts).

The 70s and 80s were the true dark days of US soccer, and that will never happen again.

God, I hate that extension to 48.... especially the groups of three...what makes the World Cup (and other events) so interesting is that final match day, games going on at the same time....now, a group of three means we might see two sides, on the final match day, pass it back and forth as a draw means both move on.

[azcatz11]

That's certainly an option. But by being more aggressive & pressing the opponent, you also become more vulnerable to conceding goals. That's often why you will see teams with less firepower like the U.S. try & play it safe. The goal is to make it hard for the opponent to outscore you. Chances are you can't keep pace playing that style. So instead, win ugly.

What did Leicester do? No guts no glory. If we lose to Iran this will set us back 50 years imo

Not qualifying for Russia in 2018 set us back. No one really expected the U.S. to make it out of the group stage.

Leicester had a good team that got a good amount of luck on their side the year they won. The Premier League also had a down year. It was before Guardiola came to Man City. Before Liverpool became title contenders.

How is the woman’s team #1 every year?

[wco81]

I don't get "USA sucks" opinion.

Are the US a team that will vie to win the World Cup? No. There's only about 5-6 teams in the whole world who can probably say that. Maybe 10 if we are being super duper generous. Are they a team that can get out of the group stage? Yes. They actually have a very realistic chance to do so in this World Cup. They control their own destiny, and that's about as much as you can ask for in the 3rd game in the group stage.

To me, Costa Rica is a team that sucks. Qatar is a team that sucks. The US? They are what they are. A team that is usually a threat to get out of the group but not a real threat to win the whole thing. Which applies to probably half of the teams in the Cup.

We have money , resources , stadiums etc. and we haven’t made any progress in the international stage. It’s really embarrassing . We don’t have any raw talent and the talent that does come (Freddy adu) flame out. The whole setup is a disgrace

I just can't agree with that opinion. We have about the results one would expect from a country where there isn't a very strong soccer culture. The US is what it is. A country that's a top 15-20ish type country in the world. That just doesn't seem bad to me.

US soccer in the 70s and 80s was an absolute disgrace.

It's not just culture, it's lack of infrastructure.

The best players in other countries are already in academies and formal programs when they're under 15. Sometimes when they're under 10.

American parents are going to go through AYSO and then sending their kids to the normal schools, where there isn't anything like academies run by rich clubs using development and training methods which junior high schools and high schools wouldn't have.

Tons of American kids play soccer when they're under 10 but any kid who shows promise is going to go to the other sports when they reach high school.

[Cactus Jack]

How is the woman’s team #1 every year?

We invest more money into the women's team than most. We just don't pay the players.

[azcatz11]

How is the woman’s team #1 every year?

We invest more money into the women's team than most. We just don't pay the players.

I don’t know what the solution is. Nothing against Wales or Iran but we should be blowing them out with our C squad and competing for the Cup every year

[Sedale Threatt]

What did Leicester do? No guts no glory. If we lose to Iran this will set us back 50 years imo

Not qualifying for Russia in 2018 set us back. No one really expected the U.S. to make it out of the group stage.

Leicester had a good team that got a good amount of luck on their side the year they won. The Premier League also had a down year. It was before Guardiola came to Man City. Before Liverpool became title contenders.

How is the woman’s team #1 every year?

Because it's a much, much more level playing field. By the time anybody started to give a sht about women's soccer, most professional male leagues around the world had been around for 100-plus years and we were at a gross disadvantage. With stuff like Title IX and our obsession with sports, we actually had a head start on most nations in the women's realm, at which point we could bring our money and huge population to bear.

[Cactus Jack]

How is the woman’s team #1 every year?

We invest more money into the women's team than most. We just don't pay the players.

I don’t know what the solution is. Nothing against Wales or Iran but we should be blowing them out with our C squad and competing for the Cup every year

Well maybe if guys like Lebron, Steph, and our best athletes chose Soccer instead.

The solution? Outlaw the other sports in this country. Make everyone play Soccer. Give student athletes big NIL incentives for playing the sport. Get rid of a salary cap in MLS. Only then will we become more competitive with the rest of the world.

[wco81]

But American's won't watch soccer over NFL or NBA.

Especially the low scoring nature of the game.

Look at where MLB and NHL are.

[Cactus Jack]

But American's won't watch soccer over NFL or NBA.

Especially the low scoring nature of the game.

Look at where MLB and NHL are.

Americans won't watch MLS. You give them a better domestic league with world-class talent like the EPL & they'll watch.

The NFL has been around for 100 years. The NBA for 75. MLS has only been around since the 90's.

MLB & the NHL are more regional sports.