World Cup and European leagues

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Almost game time. So big for Panama that the president of the country is in Orlando for the game.

[Gray Fox]

I know our National Anthem is hard to sing, but every foreign team can't sing a lick.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Pulisic looking fantastic out there. 2-0 lead just 20 minutes in. Defense has looked a bit shaky though

[Goldenrj]

The game against Panama is the one that I have been waiting to see.  Scoring 4 goals against a team that had only given up 5 in all the previous Hex games COMBINED, is fantastic.  Let's see that dynamic attacking play more often please.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

The game against Panama is the one that I have been waiting to see.  Scoring 4 goals against a team that had only given up 5 in all the previous Hex games COMBINED, is fantastic.  Let's see that dynamic attacking play more often please.

We'd all like to see that dynamic attacking play every game, but it is not that easy.  First, at this stage, the result is the most important thing, so Arena is going to set up the team to best achieve the result (e.g., they only need a tie Tuesday to qualify, which probably means they will be more defensive).  Second, much depends on how the opponent sets up.  As Twellman correctly observed, Panama naively set up with two forwards, which allowed the U.S. to get at their back line.  T&T presents different challenges with their size and athleticism, which will surely result in different U.S. tactics on Tuesday.  The U.S. is not yet good enough to impose their will on every opponent.  Hopefully that will come sooner rather than later if the U.S. can consistently be dangerous in the final third.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Have you seen the stadium in T&T where they're supposed to play? There's a moat around the field because of all the rain they've had. US team is practicing behind the goals so they don't tear the field up.

[Goldenrj]

I saw that, they had the staff carry the players across piggy-back style so they wouldn't ruin the tape jobs on their ankles by getting them soaked.  :-)

[Goldenrj]

The game against Panama is the one that I have been waiting to see.  Scoring 4 goals against a team that had only given up 5 in all the previous Hex games COMBINED, is fantastic.  Let's see that dynamic attacking play more often please.

We'd all like to see that dynamic attacking play every game, but it is not that easy.  First, at this stage, the result is the most important thing, so Arena is going to set up the team to best achieve the result (e.g., they only need a tie Tuesday to qualify, which probably means they will be more defensive).  Second, much depends on how the opponent sets up.  As Twellman correctly observed, Panama naively set up with two forwards, which allowed the U.S. to get at their back line.  T&T presents different challenges with their size and athleticism, which will surely result in different U.S. tactics on Tuesday.  The U.S. is not yet good enough to impose their will on every opponent.  Hopefully that will come sooner rather than later if the U.S. can consistently be dangerous in the final third.

Wait, so you are saying that we have to utilize different tactical approaches against different teams depending on the result we are trying to achieve? *sarcasm alert

I get that playing a wide-diamond with Bradley holding solo means that we will get run over in the midfield against stronger opponents.  I was just stating that against the supposedly weaker CONCACAF opponents that we face, I would like to see us take some risks, play on the front foot, and take the game to them.  Analysis aside, as a fan, it was a joy to watch.  I was watching in a group with some die-hard soccer fans who would have taken any result against Panama in that situation.  We also had a few that were "tell me when there is a World Cup or Olympics" soccer fans, and even they got into the exciting fast pace of the game.  I'm greedy, I want more of that!

[jknezek]

It really was an end to end game. Could have easily have been 7 or 8 to 2 or 3 as 4-0. The Panamanian coach really screwed up. He set his team up wrong, tried to fix it in the 20th, but just couldn't. I don't know if he thought we would crumble if they could get out to a fast start or what, but it backfired horribly. And it's a shame, because that is a good team for Panama and I hope they pull the 4th spot. I like them much better than Honduras, who has always been more brutal and direct and very little fun to watch with almost no hope of earning points at a World Cup.

Anyway, the pitch at TnT looks awful. Really hoping we can get a quick start and then run out the clock for the win, because I think by the end of 90 minutes that's just going to be a mud hole where kick and run is the only option.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

It really was an end to end game. Could have easily have been 7 or 8 to 2 or 3 as 4-0. The Panamanian coach really screwed up. He set his team up wrong, tried to fix it in the 20th, but just couldn't. I don't know if he thought we would crumble if they could get out to a fast start or what, but it backfired horribly. And it's a shame, because that is a good team for Panama and I hope they pull the 4th spot. I like them much better than Honduras, who has always been more brutal and direct and very little fun to watch with almost no hope of earning points at a World Cup.

Anyway, the pitch at TnT looks awful. Really hoping we can get a quick start and then run out the clock for the win, because I think by the end of 90 minutes that's just going to be a mud hole where kick and run is the only option.

+1k to Goldenrj for the sarcasm alert!

I agree jk that, with that pitch in T&T, it could be disastrous for the U.S. to fall behind.

[jknezek]

How pathetic is this?

[Mr.Right]

What? CONCACAF compared to COMMEBOL...Agreed...Oh the game?  It's Bruce Arena...He is tactically outmatched at this level

[Mr.Right]

Ok was not expecting that but finally US Soccer can get rid of the highly overrated Sunil Gulati. Doesn't have a clue

[Gray Fox]

Clean house.

  You have four years to do so.

[bestfancle]

Bruce Arena is absolute trash. Most people with any soccer knowledge thought he was a terrible hire. Too bad that the consequences are even worse than ever expected.

A lot of career ends for some USA greats. Not even bittersweet, this team played with no heart. Pulisic gets a pass. Most of the other guys don't. Nightmare.