OT: We may win the World Cup in 2026
- Thread starter brad1218
- Start date
I thought once you played for the "parent" team that was it. You could play for an U17 team or something like that and still switch but not in this case, unless something changed.
The Gold Cup final was a great win for the US. But from what I observed, it was... not pretty. It didn't give me a lot of hope for advancing very far in the WC unless we got a very, very soft group stage.
But I didn't see the whole game, just the last 40 minutes, including OT. And I haven't been watching USMNT games much over the past couple years.
So I have a question for those of you who watched more of the USMNT play in recent years. Was the US level of play, at the end of regulation and the full OT, of that Gold Cup final a decent representation of where the US is at right now?
I get that, as with most Gold Cup tournaments, we didn't have our full "A" team on the field. But taking that into account, was that just an off game, or a decent representation?
I'll be tuned in more as we enter the WCQ. But I'm curious what folks who've been watching all along think.
But I didn't see the whole game, just the last 40 minutes, including OT. And I haven't been watching USMNT games much over the past couple years.
So I have a question for those of you who watched more of the USMNT play in recent years. Was the US level of play, at the end of regulation and the full OT, of that Gold Cup final a decent representation of where the US is at right now?
I get that, as with most Gold Cup tournaments, we didn't have our full "A" team on the field. But taking that into account, was that just an off game, or a decent representation?
I'll be tuned in more as we enter the WCQ. But I'm curious what folks who've been watching all along think.
Zardes, Musah and Dike are all unavailable due to injury.
I would say that the Nations Cup final earlier in the summer was more representative. None of the European based players, who are arguably some of our best players, played in the Gold Cup.
The Gold Cup was a squad of players auditioning for the main squad is how I would explain it. I saw a poster say the nations league was a better representation and I agree. Our best players were in preseason with their club teams in Europe.
Do you two think that, with the named WC roster, we will be able to hold possession and play out of pressure a lot better against the elite soccer nations (who are at least as good, and usually better than Mexico) than our Gold Cup roster did against Mexico?
This has traditionally been something prior US teams did okay against equal or weaker competition, but struggled to do against elite competition. And for me, it's a key element of any world class team. It's really hard to get past the first elimination round without being good at it.
I tend to measure how well our national team is doing by how well it does at maintaining possession under fierce pressure. If we can't do it, we become too reliant on set pieces and the individual heroism of the first attacker or first defender.
We can win that way (like we did against Mexico). But it's a lower probability of success than being able to control the ball at least half the time in the game, thus limiting the opponent's attacking opportunities.
Playing out of the back has been GGG's Achilles heel. Until the Gold Cup final versus Mexico. The team realized they couldn't play out of the back and went to a more Route 1 over the top style that was really effective. Granted, this wasn't the USA A Team, but it finally showed (to me, at least) GGG is capable of tactical flexibility to suit the competition.
But to respond to your initial question, no I don't think that even the USA A Team is capable of consistently playing from the back against the world's top teams. Let's see what happens during the WCQ against Mexico and the away Costa Rica match.
Not right now. We have some very good young players but not the level of the world's elite. I may be too optimistic but my prediction is by 2026 we will be top 5 in the world with our best players entering their primes. If you look over our talent pool now there is no reason by 2026 we can have a squad full of players that play across Europe's best leagues and teams.
Our midfield has a very bright future, and our attack will be very good too. Only wrinkles we have to iron out is find a main striker and have him grab the #9 as his own. And finding a 2nd CB. We have some young options but let's see how they develop in the next few years.
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We already have 13 players on Champs league rosters this year!!
I don't watch much soccer other than the men's national team but this was my take on it. We knew that we couldn't match up man for man with Mexico (who was playing with most but not all there A players) so we played smart. We sat back absorbed pressure and waited for our chances. It was closer to way we played back in the 90's trying to win ever game 1-0 then getting out there and attacking like we are doing more now.
As for our full A team IMO we're still not at the level of the top countries in the world like France, Brazil etc. we we're getting better. The most important thing for us to do in regards to the world cup is to stay ranked in the top 16 in the world so we stay out of the group of death which seems to happen to us a lot.
But we have a young #9. Who plays for a UCL club. But our HC, in all his genius, doesn't think he's a #9.
I'm starting to wrap my head around Pepi potentially switching sides, but the rule is kinda complex.
Nice doubleheader Thursday. Rutgers then first WCQ!!
Hoppe just transferred to Mallorca from Schalke.
Hoppe just transferred to Mallorca from Schalke.
Good for Hoppe…I really like his potential…my friend is driving us to the RU vs Temple football game Thursday and I will watch the first half of US vs El Salvador on my IPad…and then Saturday afternoon I fly to Nashville for the American Outlaws night before party at Tailgators Brewing in the Music row neighborhood….Sunday the tailgate and the really important home match vs Canada…should be a blast but I will be one anxious fan…
Still good team. Turner is playing and in form. Puli out means next man up. He’s recovering from COVID so maybe he needed a few extra days.
These guys still haven't played with each other all that much so I do expect some growing pains. Still don't love Berhalter either so let's take it one game a time. With that said the talent is there in spades.
Also no Puli so not our best squad tonight.
Interesting back & forth between Gooch & Davies in the post game. Tend to agree with Gooch, who was a bit disappointed.
Not an awful result, but the three points were there for the taking...need to play better in the final third, as we missed some clear chances and were too sloppy.
One thing that I only realized about an hour ago - this was the first meaningful away match for the USA in quite a while. This match really sucked to watch, but an away point is a point. So, let's move on to Nashville where hopefully we stomp Canada by at least two goals.
More like 90-10 or 95-5.
