US SOCCER

[89Hen]

So we're looking forward to 2022 WC now? Jamaica. Jamaica. That's like losing to the state of New Mexico.

[tribe_pride]

The 2010 WC seemed less talented than the 2014 WC team, but the 2010 team played better as a group…they were a team. The 2014 WC team and this Gold Cup team just never seemed to get on the same page and at times just looked downright awful. So now USA soccer is back to square one trying to figure it out for the next WC. IMO we went from “maybe we can get past the first knockout round” to “will we even qualify?”

And agree with Jelly. No one should put stock in friendlies; it’s like getting excited about your NFL team going 4-0 in preseason.

That's going a little extreme and that is a traditional overreaction type response. We are still very much favorites to qualify.

I assume you didn't watch the game and just saw that we lost based on that comment. We dominated but had 2 stupid things. First, was that throw in that was perfectly placed and went off far post to near post then finally in. Second, was a right call against Guzan but I have never seen ever called before that led to the 2nd goal. Yes, it was a loss and a bad loss but it doesn't mean we should go into ultra panic mode. If we were in South America or Europe, we'd be in trouble but in CONCACAF, we should still easily qualify.

You realize that 3 1/2 teams qualify out of CONCACAF and there is no knockout stage that we are involved in in WC qualifying, right? The 1/2 would go against the top team in Oceania, 5th team out of Asia or 5th out of South America. As long as it's not the 5th team out of South America, the CONCACAF 4th place team is a favorite big time. It would be a shock if we were not top 3 in qualifying.

Mexico getting past the QFs and SFs has been a complete joke. They must be paying someone off. Ref gave them a PK in the 120+ minute of QFs on a phantom foul to win the game. Should have been going to Penalties. In the semis, they were down 1 in the 89th minute and they were given a PK again on a phantom hand ball. Scored in extra time on a probably good PK call but never should have gotten there. Don't see how anyone can root for Mexico with the crap they have been handed in this tourney.

[bandl]

Don't see how anyone can root for Mexico with the crap they have been handed in this tourney.

You don't see how Mexicans can root for their own fucking team?

[SDHornet]

You assume wrong, saw the 2nd half (left work early but the 3 PM Pac time start meant I missed the 1st half). Being down 2 zip at half means we were dominated in the 1st half. Jamaica played us like they played the whole tournament: opportunistic. USA made mistakes and Jamaica capitalized. They worked their game plan to a “T”, i.e. they dominated.

Across the whole tournament the US gave up plenty of chances, we just got lucky and very few of them connected. We should have lost to Haiti…yes Haiti, that place still reeling from an earthquake 5 years ago. Either the other teams in CONCACAF got better, or USA took a step back (or a combination of both). Either way we shouldn’t struggle to beat Haiti and lose to Jamaica. Anything short of a finals appearance in the Gold Cup is a failure, and a loss to Jamaica is just embarrassing. No other way to put it, if you want to call that panic then so be it but this program is not as good as people want to think.

Agree about Mexico, total horse shit calls and they get them because all they fucking do is dive all fucking game long. It’s unbearable to watch. It should be a Panama – Jamaica final…which would set up a US – Mexico 3rd place game. Now there is zero reason to watch the last 2 games.

[SDHornet]

Don't see how anyone can root for Mexico with the crap they have been handed in this tourney.

You don't see how Mexicans can root for their own fucking team?

Shut up bandl! No room for that type of common sense on a soccer thread.

[Skjellyfetti]

Now there is zero reason to watch the last 2 games.

Well, despite all the shittiness of the last few games - it has given a reason to watch the Final and pull for Jamaica.

[tribe_pride]

You assume wrong, saw the 2nd half (left work early but the 3 PM Pac time start meant I missed the 1st half). Being down 2 zip at half means we were dominated in the 1st half. Jamaica played us like they played the whole tournament: opportunistic. USA made mistakes and Jamaica capitalized. They worked their game plan to a “T”, i.e. they dominated.

We were better than them for all but about 10 minutes in the first half. If you look at both of their goals, they were not because of our normal crappy defense that we have shown all tournament. We definitely did not capitalize on our opportunities in the first half but controlled the action even before they scored. I agree they capitalized when they had the chance but they did not dominate the action (the scoreboard yes, but not the action) in the first half.

[SDHornet]

You assume wrong, saw the 2nd half (left work early but the 3 PM Pac time start meant I missed the 1st half). Being down 2 zip at half means we were dominated in the 1st half. Jamaica played us like they played the whole tournament: opportunistic. USA made mistakes and Jamaica capitalized. They worked their game plan to a “T”, i.e. they dominated.

We were better than them for all but about 10 minutes in the first half. If you look at both of their goals, they were not because of our normal crappy defense that we have shown all tournament. We definitely did not capitalize on our opportunities in the first half but controlled the action even before they scored. I agree they capitalized when they had the chance but they did not dominate the action (the scoreboard yes, but not the action) in the first half.

Huh? We gave up a header off of a throw in...a fucking throw in and it's not on the defense?!?

[SDHornet]

Now there is zero reason to watch the last 2 games.

Well, despite all the shittiness of the last few games - it has given a reason to watch the Final and pull for Jamaica.

Why bother, even if it's close Mexico will be gifted another phantom call in the box for a winning PK.

[Skjellyfetti]

Well, if you believe that then it doesn't matter that the US lost either. Because Mexico would just have won that game on a phantom PK as well.


Although - to be fair to Mexico - the last PK that put them up 2-1 wasn't a phantom PK.

[tribe_pride]

We were better than them for all but about 10 minutes in the first half. If you look at both of their goals, they were not because of our normal crappy defense that we have shown all tournament. We definitely did not capitalize on our opportunities in the first half but controlled the action even before they scored. I agree they capitalized when they had the chance but they did not dominate the action (the scoreboard yes, but not the action) in the first half.

Huh? We gave up a header off of a throw in...a **** throw in and it's not on the defense?!?

I was talking more about the other goal which the call before it was fluky in that normally not called and then perfectly placed over the wall.

UI agree that this was a horrible loss and should never happen. But to claim because of this that the sky is falling and there are questions of whether we will qualify is going extreme. Look at the other CONCACAF favorites - Mexico went 1-0-2 in group stage and came out with 2 wins in the knockout rounds in which at least Panama should have been a loss and 50/50 that the QF should have been a loss (should have gone to penalties so 50/50 there) but for referees; Costa Rica went 0-0-3 and lost immediately in the knockout rounds thanks to the 50/50 Mexico

[SDHornet]

Well, if you believe that then it doesn't matter that the US lost either. Because Mexico would just have won that game on a phantom PK as well.


Although - to be fair to Mexico - the last PK that put them up 2-1 wasn't a phantom PK.

But I actually care about US winning the Cup, so I would have tuned in. Going to be hard to care about a consolation “here’s your participation trophy” game against a Panama team who God only knows if they will even care to be there.

Agree, 2nd PK was legit...but would have never occurred had the ref not botched the handball call to begin with.

[SDHornet]

Huh? We gave up a header off of a throw in...a **** throw in and it's not on the defense?!?

I was talking more about the other goal which the call before it was fluky in that normally not called and then perfectly placed over the wall.

UI agree that this was a horrible loss and should never happen. But to claim because of this that the sky is falling and there are questions of whether we will qualify is going extreme. Look at the other CONCACAF favorites - Mexico went 1-0-2 in group stage and came out with 2 wins in the knockout rounds in which at least Panama should have been a loss and 50/50 that the QF should have been a loss (should have gone to penalties so 50/50 there) but for referees; Costa Rica went 0-0-3 and lost immediately in the knockout rounds thanks to the 50/50 Mexico

You mean a wall that didn't bother to jump on a free kick from the top of the box?
Yeah...not the defenses fault.

I'm not claiming the sky if falling, just saying this team played like crap all tournament long and didn't come close to living up to expectations. Time for a "come to Jeezus" moment for Klinsmann and team USA.

[SDHornet]

Here are the highlights of those "fluky" goals. Looks like shit defense to me...but what do I know, I missed the 1st half.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUzzbY0kgP8[/youtube]

[tribe_pride]

Here are the highlights of those "fluky" goals. Looks like **** defense to me...but what do I know, I missed the 1st half.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUzzbY0kgP8[/youtube]

Who called the first goal fluky?

Nobody is disagreeing with you that this was a horrible tournament for the US and that 3rd place game is unacceptable. What I am saying is that to think that I think it is more that in a round robin tournament where you just need to finish 3rd or 4th (which is what WC qualifying is), the Americans will do so.

[clenz]

They highlight called it a lucky goal on the first.

The second? Wall should have jumped.

The highlights of the second half showed 4 wide open/extremely good chances that seem like they'd normally go in.

It sucks but I'm not too worried about right now

[89Hen]

I'm not too worried about right now

Apathy has set in.

[Seahawks08]

Did the Gold Cup really even matter to the US? I mean, don't they play the winner anyway to advance to the Confederations Cup?

And the US came out of the group of death and only lost to Germany 1-0. On top of that, they should have beaten Belgium. Not too bad and not too worried.

Also, Haiti is not the 79th ranked team in the world. They played much better than that and should be moving up soon.

[Skjellyfetti]

Did the Gold Cup really even matter to the US? I mean, don't they play the winner anyway to advance to the Confederations Cup?

Winning the Gold Cup this year would have put us automatically in the Confederations Cup.

We won the Gold Cup in 2013 - so, a "playoff" would just be us.

[Skjellyfetti]

Down 1-0 to Panama.

edit: tied 1-1

Yidlin to Dempsey

[Skjellyfetti]

And, US only makes 2 of 5 penalty kicks.

I guess 4th place in CONCACAF isn't so bad.



Klinsmann will be squarely on the hot seat if we don't beat Mexico/Jamaica in the one game playoff.

[SDHornet]

And, US only makes 2 of 5 penalty kicks.

I guess 4th place in CONCACAF isn't so bad.



Klinsmann will be squarely on the hot seat if we don't beat Mexico/Jamaica in the one game playoff.

Que somebody to talk up Panama in 3...2....1...

I didn't see any of it, but here are the highlights. Looks like the US was completely outplayed yet again. Panama should have won this game in regular time, Guzan kept the US in it. The US defense was completely pwned.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXPsYrt ... NjA3MjAxNQ[/youtube]

[MSUDuo]

I'm done with the JK experiment. If you look at the teams he's managed, they have either over performed or under performed.

[Skjellyfetti]

Mexico cruising now.

Up 3-0.

[SDHornet]

Mexico cruising now.

Up 3-0.

But Jamaica is good...

Regardless of tribe trying to talk Mexico down, they played well for most of the tournament but just couldn't connect on a lot of their chances.