World Cup

Yeah, sucks because we weren’t outplayed today outside of their clinical finishing, but great learning lesson in what it takes.
We need a finisher for ‘26, if we get that, look out.

 

Yes indeed. Another post mentioned how in previous world cups, the US struggled to even possess the ball enough to cross midfield, and always settled for chances that came from fast break counters. I saw the same, and this team is definitely not that anymore. I am definitely keen to see the development over the next four years.

 

100%. The skill level has jumped leaps and bounds. In previous cups pulisic would be by far the best player on the team, this team is pretty loaded with talent that is comparable.

But, as we know, talent isn't enough or else Belgium and the Netherlands would already have a Cup to their name.

 

It also should be noted that the US Coach (as well as one of the senior US execs, Ernie Stewart) played a big chunk of his career in the Dutch League and seems to model his tactics heavily on what is known as "Total Football," which is how the Dutch have always played. Building out of the back and interchanging positions constantly based upon the needs of the opposing tactics and the particular situation/context.

The nice part of this is that they got to see where they need to get to in the next 3 1/2 years.

 

Messi is on a mission. Unreal skill level still. I hope he signs with MLS Inter Miami

 

BTW, looking into it a bit, I would say that the next task might be a matter of recruiting a dual national striker.

Folarin Balogun was born in the US, raised in England, and has family originally from Nigeria. And he is currently on the books at Arsenal, but is on loan in France, where he is scoring a bunch of goals. He looks like one of the missing pieces. Plays mostly for England's youth teams, but he did appear for the US a couple of times and has stated he is open to all of his options.

 

Read up on him a little. There was a rumor back at the start of the year he was gonna announce for the USMNT. As of a month he said he was open to either England or USA. He does seem like a major upgrade at the 9

 

Who are you referring to?

 

Gotta hit that transfer portal for missing pieces.

 

The speed on this French team is ridiculous. They remind me of the 2008 gators.

 

Captain Obvious statements from teh past few days:

* France is good. Even with some of their star players being out.
* Brazil is fun to watch. Remind me of their 2002 team with all the flair.
* Japan has the worst luck in knock-out games.
* Moroccan fans are loud as hell. This game against Spain is some of the loudest I have heard from any WC match ever.

 

Brazil may be the most talented top to bottom
But the French team is the most fun to watch.. at least for me.

 

Turned on Spain Morocco in extra time. Holy crap

 

Spain goes out on penalties!! The Moroccan goalkeeper was brilliant!

 

Morocco. What a performance. Their goalie will get paid. Also, the backstory of Hakimi taking that final shot is incredible

 

Great game by Morocco. Bottled up Spain and made their penalties. The Spaniards let the pressure get to them. Terrible execution during penalties. The GK will have his face on a bill soon.

 

So I went to look up their GK on Wikipedia to find out where he is playing now (interestingly, it is, Sevilla in Spain). Somebody added "He did the re reconquista of Spain and now it's al andalus" to his bio. Ouch, lol.

Yassine Bounou - Wikipedia

 

hah, the crazy thing is like 7 or 8 of their players make their living playing in the Spanish league. A few of the others play in some other top leagues around Europe but most of them are low-tier players, which makes their run even more amazing.

 

Yeah, the player who won it was born in Spain. I wonder if they have a lot of Spanish born or raised players, as that is the entry point for Morrocans into Europe (much like how a huge chunk of the Algerian team was born and/or raised in France).

 

Wow, Portugal looking very impressive without Ronaldo.