The Soccer/Football Thread

[Triplethreat]

OT but through the first set of games I felt that the French again looked like they had the best team here.

By beating Australia?

 

[N7RobBob]

No a draw absolutely does a ton.

It means a draw with Iran would put them through if England beats Wales, which is a fairly likely outcome.

Moreover if you lose this game, even if you win against Iran they aren't necessarily through.

Wales beating England would open up a 3 way tie where goal differential comes into play.

But if they draw this game and then beat Iran they're through no matter what happens in the other game.

Nope. Iran would have 4 points with a draw, since they beat Wales. USA would only be at 3 with 3 ties. If Wales beats England and USA beats Iran then it would be the 3 way tie based on GD...

Iran is win and you are in, 5 pts.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Nope. Iran would have 4 points with a draw, since they beat Wales. USA would only be at 3 with 3 ties. If Wales beats England and USA beats Iran then it would be the 3 way tie based on GD...

Iran is win and you are in, 5 pts.

I can attest to this.

4 is indeed more than 3.

 

[Lee]

I can attest to this.

4 is indeed more than 3.

I agree. And now we have come to the end of my knowledge of soccer.

 

[Mr. Orange]

A 0-0 tie is gonna do wonders for the sport here

 

[N7RobBob]

A 0-0 tie is gonna do wonders for the sport here

20 years of the browns sucking doesn't phase some people. Beating Iran and advancing will be nice.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

A 0-0 tie is gonna do wonders for the sport here

Drawing to England is good. Team showed up and proved why we can hang with anyone.

Of course, if the takeaway is "No big numbers, we don't care!" then we can just admit that Americans are as dumb and lazy as the global stereotype.

Of course, if your "here" is northeast Ohio, then you have nothing to worry about. Soccer is already insanely popular here. We're one of the hotbeds for soccer in the entire country and have recently won national championships at both the high school and collegiate level.

 

[2 For The Brew]

We’re severely limited by the absence of a legit center forward. We’ve never really had a top notch striker.

Our defending and midfield play are quite good and we’ve always had good goalkeeping but until we get a striker other teams fear in the Champions League then it will be very difficult to get anywhere in the knockout stage.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

We’re severely limited by the absence of a legit center forward. We’ve never really had a top notch striker.

Our defending and midfield play are quite good and we’ve always had good goalkeeping but until we get a striker other teams fear in the Champions League then it will be very difficult to get anywhere in the knockout stage.

Having a legit 9 like Kane would do wonders. It's definitely an area we're lacking.

But, I think we can manufacture goals without a true 9. Gio and CP on the wings are each capable of doing it. Weston has been creating goals from the midfield. There are recipes to win without a true 9--and Ferreira in that role seems to link up with the runs that our big 3 generate.

I was also impressed by Haji yesterday. I know it was wide of the net because of where he was on the pitch, but the way he got his head on that ball from Weston was fantastic.

I sort of hope we see more Weah and Aaronson early on. Run the opposing defense to death with your speed and hustle guys, then let Gio attack dead legs in the second half.

 

[Mr. Orange]

20 years of the browns sucking doesn't phase some people. Beating Iran and advancing will be nice.

Yeah but most people no longer care about the Browns. Same way with USMNT.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Yeah but most people no longer care about the Browns. Same way with USMNT.

Think you're wrong on both accounts.

But hey, you know this. You're just trying to say incendiary things to get a reaction.

 

[2 For The Brew]

Having a legit 9 like Kane would do wonders. It's definitely an area we're lacking.

But, I think we can manufacture goals without a true 9. Gio and CP on the wings are each capable of doing it. Weston has been creating goals from the midfield. There are recipes to win without a true 9--and Ferreira in that role seems to link up with the runs that our big 3 generate.

I was also impressed by Haji yesterday. I know it was wide of the net because of where he was on the pitch, but the way he got his head on that ball from Weston was fantastic.

I sort of hope we see more Weah and Aaronson early on. Run the opposing defense to death with your speed and hustle guys, then let Gio attack dead legs in the second half.

I'm not sure we have a false nine either.

I always use the Champions League as the standard. We have players that can play at that level but none are goalscorers that scare anybody. Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride and Landon Donovan were all good players but none of them were world class goalscorers.

 

[N7RobBob]

I think if Mbappe continues his performance in this world cup that he will take the torch from messi/Ronaldo as top player. He's straight up killing it.

 

[2 For The Brew]

I think if Mbappe continues his performance in this world cup that he will take the torch from messi/Ronaldo as top player. He's straight up killing it.

I'd rather have Mbappe than both Messi and CR right now.

 

[jmuxl]

How's everyone feeling today?

Two main subjects headed into the game are:

1. Geopolitical press conference, USMNT removing the crest from the Iranian flag in social media posts, and the overall relationship between Iran and the US.

2. Who plays the 9 spot, does Greg switch it up and play a false nine, which could spur creation against an Iran team that is likely to park the bus, or continue with one of Sargent, Haji, or Ferreira.