World Cup 2022

[owbc]

As soon as I complained we have turned the tables. So close to a second goal a few times here. 

[owbc]

And they blow it on one stupid play. Ugh. 

[Brewcrew82]

Ughhh Zimmerman. 

[Brewcrew82]

Gregg is so underwhelming. Wright, Acosta, Yedlin, and Morris as your subs???? Seriously...

[Brewcrew82]

Not a fatal result. But a disappointing one. 

[worm81]

Horrible penalty to give up in that situation where the guy is moving away from the goal.

[WV Brew]

You could Wales goal coming for 30 minutes.  Berhalter should have taken a forward off and put in an extra midfielder.  He is tactically stupid.  One setup and that's it.  Substitutions won't help if you just keep doing the same thing.  I don't see this team going through now.

[Brewcrew82]

1 hour ago, WV Brew said:

You could Wales goal coming for 30 minutes.  Berhalter should have taken a forward off and put in an extra midfielder.  He is tactically stupid.  One setup and that's it.  Substitutions won't help if you just keep doing the same thing.  I don't see this team going through now.

Yeah. Berhalter really limits what this young team can do with his questionable tactics and in-game decision making. Should have won the game though if Zimmerman doesn't commit a stupid foul for a penalty.

I still think we're the favorites to advance as this Wales team isn't that good and they could very easily lose or draw against Iran in their next game. But it's definitely closer to 50/50 than it would have been had they won. England is going to be such a different game. We're going to have to try to CONCACAF them. 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

50 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Yeah. Berhalter really limits what this young team can do with his questionable tactics and in-game decision making. Should have won the game though if Zimmerman doesn't commit a stupid foul for a penalty.

I still think we're the favorites to advance as this Wales team isn't that good and they could very easily lose or draw against Iran in their next game. But it's definitely closer to 50/50 than it would have been had they won. England is going to be such a different game. We're going to have to try to CONCACAF them. 

538 has US slight favorites to advance (45 to 37 with Iran at 25 percent). I think the US is better, but Wales seems more emotionally resilient, and that matters in World Cups.

My big takeaway is that England isn't as good as they looked and Iran isn't as bad as they looked. There is a long way to go in this group, and I could see everyone having it all to play for on the last match day. 

I'm weirdly less intimidated by England than Iran, maybe because I put too much stock in emotional resonance in this kind of event.

As for today: not much more to say. Take of two halves, yada yada yada. We're still alive and in control of our destiny, and that's an alright place to be.

If we go out, the consolation prize is that Gregg is out too, and I am pretty convinced he's not the guy to bring this team deep into a tournament, even given four more years of seasoning. I just don't think he gets international football. Leaving out Gio, opening yourself up to Acosta and Yedlin for 20 minutes of a 1-1 game...can't manage your bench like that in moments of this magnitude.

[worm81]

Saudi Arabia putting up one heck of a fight against Argentina. 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Feel for Messi and Argentina. So much emotion and weight wrapped up in these games. It's like watching someone slowly unravel. If they can bounce back, it'll be a hell of a story.

[kalle8]

23 minutes ago, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

Feel for Messi and Argentina. So much emotion and weight wrapped up in these games. It's like watching someone slowly unravel. If they can bounce back, it'll be a hell of a story.

what about Italy? The four time world champions and reigning Europe champions are at home. Feel for Kalle and Italy too? ?

[Brewcrew82]

France going gangbusters after conceding the opening goal. Man they are so good. Missing Benzema, Kante, and Pogba, too. 

[Brewcrew82]

This might turn out to be Mbappe's tournament. 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

8 hours ago, kalle8 said:

what about Italy? The four time world champions and reigning Europe champions are at home. Feel for Kalle and Italy too? ?

Completely, Kalle.

World Cup is better with the Italians in it. I don't think, in my sports-viewing life, I've ever been more stunned than watching the last ten minutes of that North Macedonia match. As much as I'm enjoying Napoli's wonder season, I hope we see Italy marching deep into the American tournament in 2026.

[Brewcrew82]

Canada is a fun team. They outplayed Belgium today despite the loss. Should be a heck of a rivalry in CONCACAF between our two "golden generations". 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Very much looking forward to tomorrow.

I don't much buy the "popularize the game" narrative (soccer seems like the NHL to me, a sport that's going to draw in a smaller group of very dedicated fans, and I think that's one of it's charms). After the World Cup, this match will not be able to do much to either accelerate or impede the growth of the sport. That said, it's a great test of this promising young team. I think they're up to the challenge.

I might start Pulisic up top so Weah and Aaronson can go out wide. Might be tactically too much on three days prep, but those look like your three best up front. Fully expect to see Gio for at least a half hour.

 

[worm81]

Wow this group just got interesting with Iran beating Wales. 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

1 hour ago, worm81 said:

Wow this group just got interesting with Iran beating Wales. 

Very interesting. Every team will be alive going into the last day. England can clinch advancement (and essentially the group) with a win.

I love it. I know the scoreless draw was the prefered US result, but this is way more fun.

 

 

[Jimbo]

Side note, been alive 56 years and this will be my first viewing of "God Save the King".

 

[adambr2]

Iran beating Wales is a good result for USMNT. Regardless of the result today it gives us an excellent chance of advancing with a win on Tuesday over Iran.

[adambr2]

Way too much action going on in front of the US goal for this to remain scoreless for long. 

[adambr2]

US with some nice challenges too. Much closer match so far in terms of possession and chances than I would have expected, so far. 

[adambr2]

Very hard earned point. This tie definitely feels different than the one against Wales. 

 

Formula is simple now, beat Iran or go home, no complicated tiebreaker needed. 

[Fear The Chorizo]

Match generally had the feel of England knowing they just had to draw in order to advance out of the group with Iran's victory over Wales earlier, and the US just not wanting to lose either knowing it will all come down to their Iran game...

Guessing both sides would've been just fine with taking a draw on the scorecard and not even playing the match - really wish the group format included extra time and penalty kicks to settle draws, because I think that would make teams much more aggressive in regulation time to actually try and win matches rather than both teams playing not to lose and avoid extra time fatigue for a squad.  Something along the lines of awarding 1 point to each team for a regulation draw, then 2 points to a team who wins a match in extra time or penalty kicks.