World Cup Qualifiers

Fleckoff

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For all the soccer fans out there Concacaf starts tonight and there's a lot of optimism with the U.S squad after winning the Nations League and the Gold Cup, Mexico still a top team in the region and our maple syrup chugging neighbors to the North seem to have figure things out on the pitch. Be interesting to see how our young lads handle their first test in a central American environment. I think when it's all said and done the U.S, Mexico and Canada will qualify for Qatar and Jamaica will have the opportunity to get there through an intercontinental playoff with New Zealand
 

Bunch of draws last night. Didn't get to watch the U.S game last night, obviously it's good to get results on the road, but ideally you want the three points against a team like El Salvador.
U.S vs El Salvador 0-0
Jamaica vs Mexico 1-2
Honduras vs Canada 1-1
Costa Rica vs Panama 0-0
 

We lost a big opportunity to get 3 points. We had chances early and didn't convert. Having Pulisic for the Canada game will make a big difference, and that game is somewhat of a "must-win" now. Costa Rica and Panama tying and Jamacia losing helps as it's the minimum points those three teams could get in the first day.
 

McKinnie missed on a header that was a guaranteed goal.

We still don't have a top notch finisher. We don't need a Ronaldo type forward, but someone on par with Kane or Cavani would make us a seriously competitive team on the world stage.
 

Bunch of draws last night. Didn't get to watch the U.S game last night, obviously it's good to get results on the road, but ideally you want the three points against a team like El Salvador.
U.S vs El Salvador 0-0
Jamaica vs Mexico 1-2
Honduras vs Canada 1-1
Costa Rica vs Panama 0-0
Obviously I'm not a soccer guy and there are many, many factors.


But it still seems unbelievable to me that countries like .... El Salvador and Hondurus .... dirt poor, where people are fleeing to get away from poverty and drug gang violence, small populations ... can be more competitive at men's soccer than leading, first world nations like the US and Canada.
 


Obviously I'm not a soccer guy and there are many, many factors.


But it still seems unbelievable to me that countries like .... El Salvador and Hondurus .... dirt poor, where people are fleeing to get away from poverty and drug gang violence, small populations ... can be more competitive at men's soccer than leading, first world nations like the US and Canada.
We have a young team, on the road, without it's top player. A tie under those circumstances are a fair result.

We just don't have a quality forward. One quality forward would change everything.
 

We have a young team, on the road, without it's top player. A tie under those circumstances are a fair result.

We just don't have a quality forward. One quality forward would change everything.
My comments are much, much more general than about this specific team.
 

I'd like to see a 3-4-2-1 lineup against Canada, or maybe a 3-5-2. Seems like that's what the roster selection is set for us to do. Let Dest go on offense more, and where Reyna is still a wing, but he's operating in that half-space where he can move to the middle (which he does anyway). Dest is occupying the outside area on his right, but with 3 defenders behind him so we aren't as exposed to the counters and Davies runs (Adams and McKennie will be key to marking Davies, with Acosta as a late 2nd half sub to do the same). Pulisic draws his typical onslaught of defenders, leaving the right side more open for Dest and Reyna to move. Sargent gets the nod as I think he compliments the runs that'll be made by Pulisic and Reyna better than our other options.

Sargent
Pulisic, Reyna
Lietget, McKennie, Adams, Dest
Antonee, Brooks, Miles
Turner
 

I'd like to see a 3-4-2-1 lineup against Canada, or maybe a 3-5-2. Seems like that's what the roster selection is set for us to do. Let Dest go on offense more, and where Reyna is still a wing, but he's operating in that half-space where he can move to the middle (which he does anyway). Dest is occupying the outside area on his right, but with 3 defenders behind him so we aren't as exposed to the counters and Davies runs (Adams and McKennie will be key to marking Davies, with Acosta as a late 2nd half sub to do the same). Pulisic draws his typical onslaught of defenders, leaving the right side more open for Dest and Reyna to move. Sargent gets the nod as I think he compliments the runs that'll be made by Pulisic and Reyna better than our other options.

Sargent
Pulisic, Reyna
Lietget, McKennie, Adams, Dest
Antonee, Brooks, Miles
Turner
Is steffen supposed to be available? Pulisic should be ready, but I haven’t heard anything about steffen. Not a huge issue as Turner has been looking good.
 



Can't wait for the US to host the World Cup in a few years. There will almost certainly be games at State Farm Stadium in PHX and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The CONCACAF Gold Cup champ game at Allegiant last month was just fantastic (even though it was probably 90%+ Mexico fans!)
 

Is steffen supposed to be available? Pulisic should be ready, but I haven’t heard anything about steffen. Not a huge issue as Turner has been looking good.
Turner might be better than Steffen. Turner just doesn't have the big club name behind him.
 

Is steffen supposed to be available? Pulisic should be ready, but I haven’t heard anything about steffen. Not a huge issue as Turner has been looking good.
The one position I wouldn't change is keeper. They don't get the physical work out of the field players (so they can do another 90) and it gives continuity to the backline.
 

Obviously I'm not a soccer guy and there are many, many factors.


But it still seems unbelievable to me that countries like .... El Salvador and Hondurus .... dirt poor, where people are fleeing to get away from poverty and drug gang violence, small populations ... can be more competitive at men's soccer than leading, first world nations like the US and Canada.
These smaller countries aren’t splitting up their best athletes among other sports like American football, basketball, hockey etc…I wouldn’t even say they are more competitive. The USMNT won both trophies they competed for so far this year. That said it’s not that uncommon for any CONCACAF team to get a favorable result at home.
 



Yedlin is too slow and we made our subs too late and it cost us the win. On the upside, lots of ties throughout the matches so only Mexico and Panama have more points than we do. We've gotta start winning some games though to qualify. Travelling to Honduras is going to be a really difficult game...
 

Yedlin is too slow and we made our subs too late and it cost us the win. On the upside, lots of ties throughout the matches so only Mexico and Panama have more points than we do. We've gotta start winning some games though to qualify. Travelling to Honduras is going to be a really difficult game...
Team USA looks inept.
 

I'm not too optimistic about tonight's game. Berhalter played our starters way too long against Canada, whereas Honduras comes in with a well-rested 11. I'm not seeing how Adams can go yet another full 90, and without Weston, we really need him on the field. Acosta may be the key player to tonight's game, and that means we're defensively not in a good spot.
 

I'm not too optimistic about tonight's game. Berhalter played our starters way too long against Canada, whereas Honduras comes in with a well-rested 11. I'm not seeing how Adams can go yet another full 90, and without Weston, we really need him on the field. Acosta may be the key player to tonight's game, and that means we're defensively not in a good spot.
I'm expecting a loss, and the team will likely miss out on the World Cup.
 

Ricardo Pepi looked great last night. Definitely a much needed win.
 

McKinnie missed on a header that was a guaranteed goal.

We still don't have a top notch finisher. We don't need a Ronaldo type forward, but someone on par with Kane or Cavani would make us a seriously competitive team on the world stage.
I think Pepi might be that guy who can finish, only 18, but played a great game last night
 

After last nights results the table looks like
GP GD Pts
Mexico 3 +2 7
Canada 3 +3 5
USA 3 +3 5
Panama 3 +3 5
Costa Rica 3 -1 2
Honduras 3 -3 2
El Salvador 3 -3 2
Jamaica 3 -4 1

Big win in Honduras last night. It's a young group and now that they've came together and won one on the road, that should be a big jump in the mental psyche. Think it's our first road win in qualifiers since Panama in 2013, the game where we scored three goals in stoppage time where I wish we had taken dive so Panama could have qualified instead of Mexico. My hatred for El Tri is so high that I would be willing to tank a game to make sure they stay home, but I digress. Anyways Mexico, Canada and the U.S in the top four is about what I expected. Tough to judge based on the Gold Cup because you never know who has their A squad, but I thought Jamaica would be better, Panama looks better than i thought. Costa Rica looks old and Honduras was about I expected. Next three games for the U.S, home games with Costa Rica and Jamaica, road game at Panama. Win the two home games get a draw on the road and that will set up a showdown with Mexico for first place in November.
 

After last nights results the table looks like
GP GD Pts
Mexico 3 +2 7
Canada 3 +3 5
USA 3 +3 5
Panama 3 +3 5
Costa Rica 3 -1 2
Honduras 3 -3 2
El Salvador 3 -3 2
Jamaica 3 -4 1

Big win in Honduras last night. It's a young group and now that they've came together and won one on the road, that should be a big jump in the mental psyche. Think it's our first road win in qualifiers since Panama in 2013, the game where we scored three goals in stoppage time where I wish we had taken dive so Panama could have qualified instead of Mexico. My hatred for El Tri is so high that I would be willing to tank a game to make sure they stay home, but I digress. Anyways Mexico, Canada and the U.S in the top four is about what I expected. Tough to judge based on the Gold Cup because you never know who has their A squad, but I thought Jamaica would be better, Panama looks better than i thought. Costa Rica looks old and Honduras was about I expected. Next three games for the U.S, home games with Costa Rica and Jamaica, road game at Panama. Win the two home games get a draw on the road and that will set up a showdown with Mexico for first place in November.
That should be 9 points. It won't be, but it should be.
 


That should be 9 points. It won't be, but it should be.
It could happen, definitely needs to seven, need to win the two home caps, I could live with a draw in Panama, Mexico wound up with a draw down there, it will be tough but it's doable if we come out and put 90 minutes together like that second half last night
 

Those four goals we scored could end up being a difference-maker in the final standings. Really nice to see. It took Berhalter 2 1/2 games to get it right, but on the upside at least he made the big adjustments in that last half (really, Adams at right back instead of midfield???). We were missing many of our key players for much of these games -- Pulisic, Weston, Reyna, Weah and I'll include Zardes in that mix. We'll be in much better shape come the next round. And the same plan holds -- win the home games and tie on the road and you'll qualify. We tied a home game but made up for it last night. We're still on schedule to qualify.
 
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Looks like per the UKs COVID rules, we won't have any of our UK based players available for our game against Panama...
 

Last Nights results
U.S gets three points with a 2-0 win over Jamaica. Looks like they've found their Striker in Pepi
Canada goes into Azteca and gets a 1-1 draw
Costa Rica and Honduras Scoreless draw
El Salvador with the home upset win over Panama 1-0

After last nights results the table looks like
GP GD Pts
USA 4 +5 8
Mexico 4 +2 8
Canada 4 +3 6
Panama 4 +2 5
El Salvador 4 -2 5
Costa Rica 4 -1 3
Honduras 4 -3 3
Jamaica 4 -6 1

It appears IMO to be a clear top three between Canada the U.S and Mexico. Down the road Canada getting results in the U.S and at Azteca will be beneficial, especially if they can beat one of those teams at home. Seems like there's a race for that fourth spot to take on most likely New Zealand in the two leg playoff to get into the World Cup El Salvador's playing better than I thought so far, while Jamaica I think has been the disappointment of the Group, based on the Gold Cup I thought they would play better. I think Panama will come through in fourth, but Costa Rica and Honduras will be in it to the end. Panama blew a chance to really solidify themselves in the top four last night, but thye get a shot at the U.S at home now where they got a draw vs Mexico.
 

Gregg Berhalter is doing a great job in recruiting the multi-internationals.

Pepi - US over Mexico
Dest - US over Netherlands
Musah - US over England (he played internationally at the youth level for them) & Ghana
Reyna - US over Portugal, England & Argentina (he was never going to play for anyone other than the US)

These are the type of players we have lost in the past.
 

Panama blew a chance to really solidify themselves in the top four last night, but thye get a shot at the U.S at home now where they got a draw vs Mexico.
  • The USA is playing much better as the tournament progresses, Mexico is getting worse.
  • Canada doesn't have enough depth -- they'll be running out of gas by the third game of this series.
  • We'll most likely be playing for a draw in the road game against Panama -- back to a more defensive lineup.
 

  • The USA is playing much better as the tournament progresses, Mexico is getting worse.
  • Canada doesn't have enough depth -- they'll be running out of gas by the third game of this series.
  • We'll most likely be playing for a draw in the road game against Panama -- back to a more defensive lineup.
As far as Canada goes, they've already played the U.S and Mexico, they go to Jamaica and host Panama, seems pretty doable for them. I think there solid as far as being a top three team in this group. I can't imagine they have issues at depth that countries like Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras aren't doing with as well. Compared to the Americans and Mexico I can agree with that, but they seem to have solidified themselves as the third best team in Concacaf. As far as Mexico goes I would think they should be able to get six points vs Honduras at home and at El Salvador. Guessing the Central American conditions aren't as shocking to the Mexicans as they were to the U.S team, but that's why they play the games and we will see what happens
 

Pepi is the man. He's our best striker, and he's young.

We have a lot of talented midfielders.

This should be a fun team to follow for the next 5 years.

It hasn't been fun to follow for the last 5 years.
 




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