The Soccer/Football Thread

[Rich]

Fwiw very few people in the world win the ball in the air against Virgil.

But this feels like England when Harry Macguire won what felt like literally every ball in the air.

 

[bob2the2nd]

I thought they played pretty well.

They got a bit of a lesson going against a team with world class defensivemen and a great counter attack.

They were in this game though. Way closer than when they played Belgium.

They've got to find someone who can go win the ball in the air in the box. And they should absolutely be thinking they can win the gold cup.

Q already said it but this team in 4 years is going to be very good. It's just the opening of the window, versus I felt like other US teams it was their peak.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

And they should absolutely be thinking they can win the gold cup.

It's expected at this point. Anything less is a disappointment.

Mexico is good, but we're better, younger and more talented. It's not even particularly close anymore.

 

[Triplethreat]

We just don’t have dudes who are going to get the ball in the net…

One lucky ass goal.

Defense was shit as well, we aren’t this level of good.

 

[Rich]

I really like that Dutch team. They know who they are and what their strengths are.

I think they beat Argentina (assuming) next round.

Not sure they can beat a Brazil or France getting dominated in the midfield like they did today.

But I think they'll be a top 4 team.

EDIT: Final thing. Never take for granted getting out of the group stages. Think about this. Germany, probably the 3rd best soccer nation of all time, has been eliminated in the group stages two straight world cups.

Even worse than that, Italy, the 2nd greatest soccer nation of all time. hasn't even made the world cup the last two times.

 

[Rich]

So I'll be rooting for Japan from here on out. Love the way they play and how hard they work.

Do they suffer some of the same problems of the US? Yea. They can't win a ball in the air and they largely have to run their midfielders ragged to make a game of it, opening themselves up on the counter late in games.


But they play every game like it's their last.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I really like that Dutch team. They know who they are and what their strengths are.

I think they beat Argentina (assuming) next round.

Not sure they can beat a Brazil or France getting dominated in the midfield like they did today.

But I think they'll be a top 4 team.

EDIT: Final thing. Never take for granted getting out of the group stages. Think about this. Germany, probably the 3rd best soccer nation of all time, has been eliminated in the group stages two straight world cups.

Even worse than that, Italy, the 2nd greatest soccer nation of all time. hasn't even made the world cup the last two times.

To add on to your last point, Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups sandwich a 2020 Euro Championship

 

[Rich]

I do wonder if the US should have played a game more like they did against England and conceded more possession.

They seemed to think the Dutch were a less talented team and couldn't kill them on a counter if they were out of position.

They were very wrong in that regard.

It's an extremely rare day, though, where a top team like the Netherlands are actually willing to concede possession to the U.S. That's basically never happened as far as I can recall. Never has a team like that just said "we can't run with them in the midfield, so we'll sit back and give them the ball." That's never a spot the US is in against a team like that, which tells us things are on the way up imo.

 

[2 For The Brew]

European qualification is tough. They only get 13 slots and they definitely have far more than 13 of the top 32 teams in the world. They have ten groups that play a double round robin; winners qualify, runners up plus two other teams go into one of three mini playoffs of four teams. Italy was taken down by North Macedonia which is even more humiliating than the USA failing to qualify in 2018 by losing to Trinidad & Tobago.

 

[Rich]

Imagine if that Pulisic goal goes in and the US wins that game.

Van Gaal would have been absolutely destroyed back at home for playing a style that conceded possession to the United States, as if they were the more athletic, faster team.

It's not like he's playing counter attacking football against Brazil here. It's the U.S. that they're giving the ball to.

The game went exactly as he envisioned it going so he's vindicated but man oh man, if they lose that game to the US playing THAT style...that would have been a shitshow. Riots in the streets I'd imagine

 

[Rich]

That England goal looked just like the first one from The Netherlands yesterday.

They're giving Senegal the possession, not gonna run around with them, figuring Senegal isn't good enough to break down the defense and they'll catch them on the counter, knowing they dont need the ball as much to score.

And they did just that, right down the flank, cut back to the top of the box, goal.

 

[Rich]

Argentina/Netherlands

England/France.

Pretty spicy Quarter Finals games already lined up.

Leaning towards Netherlands and England.

I know I said France looked like the best team but...just kinda feels like maybe it's Englands year? Also, they're very stout defensively. French have had a habit here of getting out of shape while attacking. A lot will be on Kyle Walker and how well he can stay with M'Bappe.

 

[jmuxl]

This would really help resolve our striker woes. Balogun has a ton of potential and would immediately walk on as the #1 striker option.

Balogun considers USMNT switch as Arsenal loanee outscores Messi in Ligue 1

Arsenal transfer news: Gunners loanee Folarin Balogun has opened up on his future at club and international level after taking Ligue 1 by storm so far this season

www.football.london

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

This would really help resolve our striker woes. Balogun has a ton of potential and would immediately walk on as the #1 striker option.

Balogun considers USMNT switch as Arsenal loanee outscores Messi in Ligue 1

Arsenal transfer news: Gunners loanee Folarin Balogun has opened up on his future at club and international level after taking Ligue 1 by storm so far this season

www.football.london

He's not that massive target in the center of the box for headers, but boy would that make our front line incredible.

Imagine Pulisic/Balogun/Reyna across the front 3, with guys like and Weah and Aaronson coming off the bench... not to mention the offense generated from Musah, LDLT, and Weston growing (and getting healthy) in the midfield, and Dest (and hopefully Antonee Robinson improving) from the defensive wing.

We could legitimately be one of the better offensive teams in the world.

 

[Wulfgar1224]

Croatia Japan is turning into an exciting match.