maybe i have a bias for european powerhouses, i just do not see us being able to beat the european powerhouses. Im quite impressed with the teams that are able to beat them this world cup. While we did make it into the top 16, the only opponent we actually beat was Iran lol.
On a more serious note, Dude was born in Leeds, England. https://classicfootballshirtscollection.com/how-long-did-erling-haaland-live-in-england/ https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...orway-dortmund-gareth-southgate-a9562321.html
Aside from the basic fundamentals of having a striker, having an actual game plan plus passing the ball accurately. The US stubborn mindset about soccer is one reason why we would never win it all. In basketball players intentionally foul to prevent an ez bucket. In soccer americans look down on flopping and intentional fouling. Casual in the US look at that playstyle as dirty U guys wondered why Ghana is still celebrating taking down Uruguay even though they got eliminated? lol the tears of Suarez was more delicious to Ghana folks more than anything. Suarez in 2010 broke a rule by using his hands to deny a ball from basically scoring. He got a red card, but his team was able to prevail and allow his country to go on to the final four. Man was legit celebrating breaking the rules in front of the African fans. I don't see anybody on this team is willing to do the same for our country. Doing whatever it takes within the rules of futbol. U figured someone on the dam team would have gotten a yellow card to deny those ez a$$ goals. Can't win anything if you don't embrace all of soccer.
My anger is tempered by the fact that I harbored no illusions of winning the World Cup. Is that we laid a f***ing egg. It’s that Berhalter even considered Zimmerman and Ferreira when he knew better options from the get go were available. It’s that he couldn’t install even one in game adjustment to slow them on the wings. It pisses me off that this game was there to be won and he played an f***ing knockout game to not lose. I’m sure getting to this point is enough to extend him but I sincerely hope US Soccer does a deep dive first. Why was qualifying so overly difficult? Why were more obvious choices at the 9 left out? Why play Zimmerman when CCV vastly outplayed him against Iran? I am happy that the team didn’t play like they did in every other Cup since 1990. Play in a shell and try to counter. They played football. The next few years are huge to improving on this run. Going to be tough with no scheduled meaningful games. But they’re going to have to find a 9 or develop a system that works better without one. I do not think GB is the man to take us to the next step. I don’t know if it’s Marsch or someone from Europe. I just know GB got this team exactly as far as he was capable.
The usmnt doesnt suck but they are also not much better than a whole bunch of other teams. Lets say the belong to the average to good tier. The problem is that it is almost impossible to leave this tier and join the upper level which includes the candidate teams. Really the only team i can think as having made that jump is Spain. There is a lot of upside for the usmnt but your still going against it because the sporting culture when it comes to soccer is not there. its that soccer culture that makes it possible for little countries like uruguay to compete against giants like brazil and argentina. going forward things will get better as more academies grow in places that have been neglected and more talent gets shipped abroad younger and younger. dual nationals will also always be a thing just simply because the nature of the country. you might win some and lose some but generally it will be a positive. next world cup will be the peak of this current generation + home advantage so maybe a semis run if things fall their way? This cycle has been a giant positive for the usmnt. lets not forget that you failed to qualify to the last world cup and Olympics
Damn thought the Aussies were going to get an equalizer there. Two very similar matches today. Plucky underdogs benefitting of mistakes of far superior teams but not enough.
zimmerman and ferreira didn’t cost us this game; mistakes by dest, Adams, and Robinson did. When some of your best players are making mental errors, you’re not going to win.
