The Soccer/Football Thread

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

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.

I don't think #1 is as big as the media is making it out to be. The Iranian state care a lot more about this than the Iranian team, who was openly protesting against their country earlier in the tournament.

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.

I think Ferreira starts.

I think it should be Haji. He looked really good against England. Even though he wasn't in position to score it, that header off of the Weston McKennie ball in the first half was one of the best plays I've seen from a USMNT 9 over the past few years.

I'm more concerned about Greggggggg actually subbing. It's a travesty that we didn't sub for Haji and Weah until the 80th minute. Their legs were shot after 60 and we could've beaten England.

 

[Triplethreat]

This teams attack feels like junk

 

[Triplethreat]

Captain fucking America

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

This teams attack feels like junk

We dominated from the start and finally connected.

1-0.

We're obviously missing a 9, but our offense has been generated from our outside defensive backs, our wingers, and Weston McKennie for years now. Just gotta keep dancing with the girl you brought.

I'm hoping that Gio is just being saved for the big moments. He's still arguably the best player on this team (and the most talented prospect US soccer has ever produced) when he's healthy.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

2-0

(I still don't think he was off)

 

[Triplethreat]

2-0

(I still don't think he was off)

That was some fuckery

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I hate turtling at 1-0.

Called it 20 minutes ago that Greggggg was gonna bring on Acosta for Weston, and said then that I'd be furious.

Wales 2.0

 

[Randolphkeys]

Being a Browns fan is great training for USA Soccer. Lots of long stretches without scoring, lots of rolling around on the grass with minor injuries, nothing to do but order another day beer.

 

[Soar]

Playing not to lose is just a bad idea.

Maybe they hold on.

If they don’t…. Literally will have happened twice in 3 games

 

[Soar]

9 minutes of stoppage time ?

Goodness

 

[Triplethreat]

Thank god wow that was some stressful shit

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Berhalter and Shaq Moore need to be stripped of their citizenship. I never want to see either of them on the USMNT again.

 

[Rich]

Parking the bus is fine if it works.

For me Haji Wright needs to see not the field again.

He comes on in the 2nd half and provides zero energy. Zero holding play. Awful effort late to win the ball in the middle of the park and then his really poor ass shot attempt late.

I did think it was a mistake to not take Moussa off. He was clearly exhausted and he started to just becoming a foul machine, including his really silly foul that almost led to that goal from the header.

Dest was the man of the match for me. He was awesome all first half.

 

[Rich]

2-0

(I still don't think he was off)

I hate the technology stuff.

One, we are just supposed to blindly believe that it's infallible and that's just not how technology works.

But honestly it takes from the spirit of the rule imo. Offsides wasn't initially meant to be some inch perfect call. It was always supposed to favor the offensive player.

If you can't look at a camera and tell by the eye that he's off? Then it should be onside.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I hate the technology stuff.

One, we are just supposed to blindly that it's infallible and that's just not how technology works.

But honestly it takes from the spirit of the rule imo. Offsides wasn't initially meant to be some inch perfect call. It was always supposed to favor the offensive player.

If you can't look at a camera and tell by the eye that he's off? Then it should be onside.

Do you know how the technology works?

I thought that the sensor in the ball basically provides the exact time that it's kicked. The ref then looks at the image from the camera for that timestamp and determines if the player was offside or not.

I could very well be mistaken.