WC 2022

[Domino1195]

World Cup just started for real.
David 2 Goliath 1

Wow. That point against Wales looking pretty good now . . .

[Another Mom]

@enmorecat must be happy! It's a closer game than anyone expected, I would think. 24 minutes left in the 1st half . . .

ETA: Ugh, @enmorecat, huge apologies for jinxing your team.

[EnmoreCat]

@enmorecat must be happy! It's a closer game than anyone expected, I would think. 24 minutes left in the 1st half . . .

ETA: Ugh, @enmorecat, huge apologies for jinxing your team.

It's okay Another Mom, we had our moment of glory.  Mbappe is sooo fast.. 

[Hopkins92]

France and England are the best I've seen so far. Technical, physical... FAST and very deep.

[northman]

Which, of course, guarantees nothing in the World Cup... 

[Hopkins92]

We saw a preview of this Japanese team during the latest round of friendlies... Not going to say we could've called this result, but it's also not all that shocking. This team is supremely organized and just lethal on the counter. VERY fun to watch.

[Saint of Old]

We saw a preview of this Japanese team during the latest round of friendlies... Not going to say we could've called this result, but it's also not all that shocking. This team is supremely organized and just lethal on the counter. VERY fun to watch.

We saw a preview of this in 1904 Russo-Japanese war.
Don't underestimate Japan.

[SimpleCoach]

We saw a preview of this Japanese team during the latest round of friendlies... Not going to say we could've called this result, but it's also not all that shocking. This team is supremely organized and just lethal on the counter. VERY fun to watch.

We saw a preview of this in 1904 Russo-Japanese war.
Don't underestimate Japan.

@Saint of Old ... Anyone who references the Ruso-Japanese War of 1904 ... deserves the Turkey Leg at my dinner table.

SC.

[Kuiper]

We saw a preview of this Japanese team during the latest round of friendlies... Not going to say we could've called this result, but it's also not all that shocking. This team is supremely organized and just lethal on the counter. VERY fun to watch.

We saw a preview of this in 1904 Russo-Japanese war.
Don't underestimate Japan.

@Saint of Old ... Anyone who references the Ruso-Japanese War of 1904 ... deserves the Turkey Leg at my dinner table.

SC.

Actually, after reading him write that "we" saw a preview of this in the 1904 Russo-Japanese war, my first thought was "just how Old is @Saint of Old?"

[EnmoreCat]

I know that for a fair few in here, draws are not something that are easily embraced, but having watched USA draw with England this morning, if I were American, I would be feeling pretty proud of what was achieved.  Certainly some of the stuff I read/listened to after the Wales games suggested that the US had been a little fortunate and that England would be too powerful, but the reality was that the US played a mature game today, often at high pace and gave England genuine headaches.  In truth, the times England looked most dangerous was when a pass out of defence was misplaced and they could counter.  As a neutral, it didn't feel like they were really threatening.  As an Australian supporter, I felt pretty jealous, we are light years away from that...

[NEsoccerfan]

As far as morale goes, a draw goes a long way toward giving the men confidence that they can compete at the highest level. As far as tactics go, playing for a draw toward the end of the game was mind-boggling. A draw for the US was equal to a 2-0 loss. Once they realized that there was NO way they were going to lose 3-0 (let's say around the 80th minute or so), they absolutely should have pushed everyone forward as if they were losing 10-0. If they score, they can then sit back. If they get scored on, they can also then sit back. To see them play the ball into the corner on the final free kick instead of sending every single player forward into the box showed an absolute lack of basic math understanding on the part of the coaches. So. Dumb.

[jfreddys]

Different take on the last play but agree with the math...but their set pieces, particularly the corner kicks, were underwhelming even when Pulisic finally sent some better balls.  So why not try something different and give it to Reyna and see if he could do a little magic real quick from the wing.  Unfortunately, time ran out and it didn't look good but certainly don't think they wanted to sit on a tie.   

[NEsoccerfan]

Different take on the last play but agree with the math...but their set pieces, particularly the corner kicks, were underwhelming even when Pulisic finally sent some better balls.  So why not try something different and give it to Reyna and see if he could do a little magic real quick from the wing.  Unfortunately, time ran out and it didn't look good but certainly don't think they wanted to sit on a tie.

Couldn't agree more. Set-plays have been terrible so far through two games. I did notice that around the 5th or 6th corner they put Mckennie right behind Maguire and tried to serve it deep so he couldn't back up and head it out. That's the sort of adjustments they need to make. Or, just play it short as you said. We lack the height to be lethal serving it in; play to our strengths and fight for goals via the run of play.

[jfreddys]

Different take on the last play but agree with the math...but their set pieces, particularly the corner kicks, were underwhelming even when Pulisic finally sent some better balls.  So why not try something different and give it to Reyna and see if he could do a little magic real quick from the wing.  Unfortunately, time ran out and it didn't look good but certainly don't think they wanted to sit on a tie.

Couldn't agree more. Set-plays have been terrible so far through two games. I did notice that around the 5th or 6th corner they put Mckennie right behind Maguire and tried to serve it deep so he couldn't back up and head it out. That's the sort of adjustments they need to make. Or, just play it short as you said. We lack the height to be lethal serving it in; play to our strengths and fight for goals via the run of play.

And don't think it will get any easier against Iran as far as set pieces.   As you say, expect our goals to come via the run of play and reason why I'd like to see Reyna and Aaronson get the starts Tuesday.

[Ejay]

I don't think the casual observer realizes just how outrageous Messi's touch was and how absolutely perfect that shot was. Simply incredible but because it wasn't a side scissor it won't get the attention it deserves. Wow! Goal of the tournament thus far.