Absolute chaos in the box.
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Absolute chaos in the box.
Two "lets" by our lousy GK...
CRC played their B team, no, it was a rookie team, and they dominated the 2nd half and clobbered us.
Celebrate? Really?
This US team will be lucky to go 0-3 in Qatar! (think about that)
Cheap wine would be more appropriate to celebrate with than champagne after that performance.
I'll take it but I've got a bad taste in my mouth after that one.
Stephan sucks...we have better keepers
We are a really young team. A lot more of our guys may play in the best leagues but there is nothing like playing Central and South American teams at their places. Crappy pitches, fouls that will get called in any other regional conference in the world are applauded by a lot of the fans and teams in Concacaf and Conmebol. We are currently the most talented team in Concacaf, and probably the softest team in Concacaf and the older more experienced teams used that to their advantage. I think our guys were content from the start to win by simply holding them to a draw or a small lose. That is not the mentality you want on a team.
The US teams from 90-2018 were never the most talented in our region but they had hard nosed players that never settled, mixed with talent as our pools strength grew (even though that got ass whippings from time to time). i.e. Brian McBride playing with his head bandaged. They scrapped and grinded. These kids and they are kids have largely been told they are the best thing on every team they have been on. They need some whippings like this that hopefully they learn from.
Last night was also a case of some tired legs and minds, again something they need to learn to deal with and rise above. When the subs came on with the likes of Reyna and Ferreira the game settled back down but the damage was done.
Depending on the draw they will advance out of their pool more than likely, but an ass whipping in there wouldn't hurt this groups development at all. They all have physical, mental, and skill growth still to come and it has to happen in this window, because they would have the qualifying gamut to run in '26 to prepare.
As someone who was a keeper, has coached them at the HS, club, and private levels. I think Turner should be given the keys at keeper. I know he wasn't available in this 3 game window, but I have seen enough of Steffan to know that while he is a good keeper, he isn't our best/biggest upside keeper in our ranks.
The first goal was an unusually poor timed jump from Zimmerman, and a good run by the Costa Rican, but that is still a save the U.S. keepers will save 99% of the time. He didn't.
The second goal was directly on him for either of the following reasons. Once he left his line like he did, every player in the U.S. squad should have been clearing this path, because that a ball that was catchable, but at the least should have been punched clear with authority. He left his line and makes contact with a U.S. player that complicates the catch/punch. He made contact at about the 7 to 8 yard spot and the ball barely made it to the penalty spot 12 feet away. At that point he made himself big and blocked the shot from about the penalty spot, but it went lateral and while wider was still about even with the spot. At that point he made the correct recovery run towards the near post but the rest of the team had lost shape and allowed the CR player behind them.
On the second goal one of our defenders, #12 I think it was, ducked out of the way of the ball. No words...
We will be in the bottom 1/4 quality-wise in Qatar. That places us somewhere between 23rd and 32nd. With luck we'll get a good draw and have at least one winnable game in pool play. I'll be pleasantly SHOCKED if we see the Round of 16.
Canada is likely to advance out of group play but won't last long in the knock-out round(s). Mexico and Costa Rica may also make it out of group play, and of the two, I give CRC the better chance.
England, Iran, USA, Winner of Wales/Scotland/Ukraine
Couldn't have gotten a much better draw than that. Not easy, but to me it's not the group of death no matter what FIFA rankings may say. If Wales advances, all 4 teams are in the top 21.
Yeah Wales is a better team than most of the world realizes. I think Iran is a little over inflated. Would love for it to be Scotland. I think if we are playing like we are capable of, defeating Iran and Scotland would be very likely. Anything beyond the group stage is gravy for me and just experience building when the core of this group should be hitting prime years in '26.
The USA team that played Wednesday night would be hard-pressed to get any results from this group. The USA team that played at other points in qualifying could get 4-6 points from this group.
They will be playing better by the time this bastard step child winter World Cup rolls around, barring injuries. The starting XI would be stronger because Reyna should be completely match fit, McKinnie, Dest, and Aaronson will all be back as well. The revolving door of players in every camp will be reduced as well. Berhalter has plowed through over 100 players since taking over and given over 40 their first cap. He has a pool of around 35-40 that he will be looking at and bringing into training/friendlies to get that (23-26 FIFA is considering the expansion like UEFA used recently). Which mean they will be a lot more familiar with each other and how they fit together. Something that hasn't happened very much under Gregg so far because of his plan and injuries.
That addition of top talent back and fit, plus cohesive training, tighter calls by the refs, better pitches, will all play into a team like ours out put increasing. We aren't winning this group, but if we don't advance out of the group that is a failure. Its fine to have a sour taste after Costa Rica of course, but they are better than that, and they should have been learning through that last Octagonal.
I can't stress how much these players getting reps with each other will help after the rotating lineups for matches, hell even just switching whole teams like we did last summer Lol..
Here is who I think ends up in the final 23-26.
Locked In
Gio Reyna
Christian Pulisic
Tyler Adams
Yunus Musah
Weston McKennie
Sergiņo Dest
Antonee Robinson
Walker Zimmerman
Kellyn Acosta
Tim Weah
Brenden Aaronson
Zack Steffen
Matt Turner
Almost Locks
Miles Robinson
Luca De La Torre
Paul Arriola
Gianluca Busio
Reggie Cannon
Ethan Horvath
Almost Locks Pt II
Ricardo Pepi
Jesus Ferreria
Cristian Roldan
A few of the almost locks I think deserve it based off their play and some are in those groups because of Berhalter's demonstrated preferences in calling them into camp and games. You could make arguments to move a couple up and probably several down. I think that list puts me at 22. I feel pretty solid about them, but I am sure there are another 10 or so players on his radar with a chance.
I would feel better with Turner starting in goal.
Matt Turner is our best keeper. In decades past we never had to worry about who was tending the goal, the US always had one of the best in the world. I don't have the "warm fuzzies" with Steffen in there. He scares me. Both of CRC's goals should have been relatively easy stops.
Whoa! the odds-makers and pundits have crushed CONCACAF.
The US and Mexico picked to finish 3rd and Canada 4th (dead last!) in group play. Nothing on CRC's chances yet, they have to qualify still. Little surprised by the dissing of Canada, but not surprised at all that our association is being dismissed.
Costa Rica plays New Zealand June 14th.