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We got an email from fuboTV apologizing for not being able to access the World Cup Final. Apparently, they claim some kind of hacking into their systems. The channel was blacked out for the entirety of the match before being restored. If accurate, why would anyone target a streaming service?
Tuning in to watch the Fox NFL pregame show, I, instead caught the extra period and shootout.Originally Posted by dawg80
Yes . . . Beautiful!
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
Soccer legend, Pele', has passed away. He was 82.
Berhalter is out! The excuse is some domestic abuse allegations, but I suspect they (US Soccer) have known about those for some time. But, since he is not working out they are using this as an excuse to fire him. Well, his contract expired and will not be renewed. These allegations came out due to a threatened blackmail attempt by the Reynas, upset their son saw limited PT at the WC. Petty. The Reynas deny they made any "threats" but did make a big deal out of it and a point to alert Ernie Stewart and other officials in US Soccer.
The USMNT is already in a state of turmoil and doesn't need crap like this. Good thing we are still 4 years away from the next WC Finals. Get us a good coach and let's move forward.
US 1 Serbia 2
US 0 Columbia 0
Very young US squad showed some brief flashes of promise but fell into the same morass that has plagued the USMNT for, well, forever! No quality in the attacking 1/3. Cade Cowell looked good vs. Serbia...two shots off the posts, unlucky. I like Hoppe's aggressive, high-pressure play up top, but he too needs to mix in finesse and possession to allow teammates to get into position.
Just a January camp with youngsters getting their feet wet in international futbol. It's a long time to WC 2026...good thing.
Boston Scott scored in football today. Skip made a great call.
US 7 Grenada 1
CONCACAF Nation's League play.
"defense is optional" is what the TV analyst said of Grenada. They didn't play very tight...
US 1 El Salvador 0
US advances to the semifinals vs. Mexico
Pepi has distinguished himself as the clear favorite to be the go-to, #1 guy for center forward. Meanwhile Geo Reyna continues to disappoint.
I agree, that he should get the nod going forward in the immediate future. I watched him up close at FC Dallas and North Texas FC, what I would like to see is his continued development and the goals to start coming against better competition. I would like to see him start doing it against Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, and the South American/European teams we play.
He scored 13 goals in his only full season in MLS, but Jesus Ferreira has had better seasons. Now he is in the Dutch league and that is a soft league where a lot of goals are scored. I am not saying Jesus is any more ready then Pepi, I just think we have a big group of "kids" (Jesus, Ricardo, Dike, Pefok etc.) all vying for that spot and no real seasoned option.
I honestly felt going into the World Cup that Pefok should have gone, because he had the most consistent form at that time.
Reyna is a talented, but the mental game or lack of one (maturity) is his problem for sure.
Midfield...
the US has always been too weak, overall, in the midfield and simply cannot compete at the highest elite level consistently in terms of possession vs. the world's better sides. No matter how good we are at keeper, which we usually are very good, and no matter how "good" we are at some positions, with players like Landon Donovan and others like him, including Geo's dad, the US has NEVER been able to field a solid, 4-man (plus quality subs) midfield. And, our style of play has not emphasized midfield/possession enough to develop kids from youngsters into world-class midfielders.
This is not a affliction that affects only the US, but any nation's programs who fall short in the midfield. Brazil is known as one of the elite nations in soccer, of course. But in those cycles where they fall short of winning the WC or even advancing to the final four with a realistic shot at winning it all, it's due to a subpar midfield, one not as good as Germany, Spain, France, etc...and that is where Brazil gets beat by those sides. Point is, even with all their talent, flash, and style Brazil cannot overcome a weak midfield either.
If the USMNT ever hopes to pull a FAU and surprise the world by reaching the Final Four in the World Cup, we will have to develop a strong midfield. But there doesn't appear to be any sense of urgency in the Olympic development youth programs sponsored by US Soccer Federation. You don't see it enough in other development programs, and some of that is due to a lack of understanding of its importance.
When I was coaching in "rec" soccer, especially U14 and up, and I first assembled my players, the very first practice, usually two weeks from our first match, I emphasized conditioning, and spent most of those two weeks developing my midfield. In years when I was very successful, such as reaching the semifinals of the Pelican Cup (the state championship tournament for Louisiana "rec" soccer), I was able to develop a strong midfield. In years when I fell short, I simply did not have the kids who could master all the skills necessary to elevate the team to that level, or we ran into a team who was just better than us in the midfield. It's not a great secret or rocket science.
In the world's best associations, like the English Premier League, all the sides have strong midfields, or VERY GOOD midfields, and at that elite level that usually is a wash, such that it is often a world class striker who makes a difference. It is always a very close thing, and the separation from the best from the worst side in the league is a razor thin matter. In the MLS, well, you just don't see the same attention to such details...like having a strong midfield.
USWNT 2 Ireland 0
Getting players back off of injuries, and then lost Mallory Pugh Swanson to an apparent knee injury. WC finals are only 3 months away, if that knee is messed up as it appeared to be, Swanson is out for the World Cup. Good to see Ertz back. Makes a huge difference for the midfield defense and possession.
US Men's soccer has regressed. It's like the US has never had men's soccer and we are just now building a program....with a LONG way to go. The cupboard is bare, and the coaching/managing/development is simply not there.
US 3 Mexico 0
Semi-final of CONCACAF Nations League. Pulisic looked good, scored twice, Pepe got the third. Really dominated the match, good mid-field play. Dirty Mexicans and their classless fans...both teams lost two players to red cards, finished 9 v. 9 but then the Mexican craphead fans started chanting "Faggot" at Turner, our GK. They were warned, did it again, thousands of Mexican fans escorted out. Those remaining did it again, ref called the match.
Canada 2 Panama 0
Canada looks strong.
US vs. Canada in the final.
Our federation is a joke.
rehiring Berhalter was a lame decision made by incompetent leadership.
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