2021 Gold Cup: CONCACAF AF
- Thread starter DJnVa
- Start date
I’m not even close to in the loop on this stuff. I try to watch most USMNT games and I have rarely seen a team react like this in this type of game. There must be more to this.
Well, they probably felt like they let a huge opportunity slip through their fingers. Missed PK, missed some good chances early, dominated the first 65 minutes and lose 1-0.
I get that but the emotion seemed to not match what I’m used to seeing. I feel like I’m missing something as a casual here.
Maybe playing in a random tournament against the hosts with a shot at Mexico on deck? I'm not sure on the history of their team or how big of a win this would be.
Feel like they're desparate to be taken seriously internationally. Half their team was on Xavi's undefeateed Al-Sadd squad, etc.
Commercials between the anthem and kickoff is the Concacaf difference.
The Revs are looking at a big payday for Turner and Buchanan
The Revs are looking at a big payday for Turner and Buchanan
Someone please photoshop Gyasi's face onto this shot from the movie Zardoz.
Turner and Tajon will obviously both miss the Revs game tomorrow. I wonder if either will be available for the games on Wed. August 4th or Sunday August 8th?
And penalty saved!
Turner and Tajon will obviously both miss the Revs game tomorrow. I wonder if either will be available for the games on Wed. August 4th or Sunday August 8th?
And penalty saved!
Shouldn't these punishments (if that's what they are?) be asymmetrical against the team/fans instigating?
There's not too much to lose in a cup final when it's the USMNT C team against the El Tri A- team. It would be absolutely epic if these guys can somehow pull it off, and could well cost Tata Martino his job.
We were watching this in between indoor games last night and that became a question that no one could answer. Imagine taking goal off the board then missing the PK?
Just a little game today against Mexico. No big deal.
Just a few things I’m looking for:
1. Initial tactics. I think Gregg actually has made some nice in game adjustments the last few games. Problem being the starting tactics have been pretty crappy. I’ve said it a few times, but if the entire team looks like crap, that’s on the coach. And that first 45 against Qatar was pure crap
2. Starting Lineup. I would guess it’ll be the same starting 11 except Zardes for Dike and possibly Arriola out (Gioacchini hopefully??) and/or Busio (Williamson). I did hear someone mention they’d like a 4-4-2 with a diamond MF (Acosta, Busio/Williamson, Lletget) as something they’d like to see. I’m down with that.
3. Defense. Still 0 goals allowed from open play. Robinson has been great since the Zim injury. I imagine Sands rebounds, not that he was awful but he made a few terrible plays which get amplified because of position. How do Moore/Cannon and Vines do under likely constant pressure. Canada seemed to go after Vines by switching Buchanon to his side, though that could have been more a result of circumstances after the Akinola injury. Either way, RB and LB will be under intense pressure.
4. Hoppe. First, does he play? GGG seemed unhappy with the way he came off the field. I hope he didn’t cross a line. I’m cool with a player not wanting to come off, but there are some things that can’t be said. Not sure if he went there. Whatever the case, I want to see him for the full 90, or 120, against Mexico. He’s still my Dempsey 2.0 in terms of attitude and creativity. Let the man do what he do!
5. Can the US actually win? That would be epic. Everyone is aware that Mexico has a good portion of their A squad and the US does not, especially Mexican fans. A loss to the US and I imagine Martino is fired before his team gets off the field. It’s not a likely result, but this US team plays tough, they play for one another. Despite all my criticisms of Gregg, building a team chemistry is a strong suit of his. So I’d say the US has a punchers chance.
Just a few things I’m looking for:
1. Initial tactics. I think Gregg actually has made some nice in game adjustments the last few games. Problem being the starting tactics have been pretty crappy. I’ve said it a few times, but if the entire team looks like crap, that’s on the coach. And that first 45 against Qatar was pure crap
2. Starting Lineup. I would guess it’ll be the same starting 11 except Zardes for Dike and possibly Arriola out (Gioacchini hopefully??) and/or Busio (Williamson). I did hear someone mention they’d like a 4-4-2 with a diamond MF (Acosta, Busio/Williamson, Lletget) as something they’d like to see. I’m down with that.
3. Defense. Still 0 goals allowed from open play. Robinson has been great since the Zim injury. I imagine Sands rebounds, not that he was awful but he made a few terrible plays which get amplified because of position. How do Moore/Cannon and Vines do under likely constant pressure. Canada seemed to go after Vines by switching Buchanon to his side, though that could have been more a result of circumstances after the Akinola injury. Either way, RB and LB will be under intense pressure.
4. Hoppe. First, does he play? GGG seemed unhappy with the way he came off the field. I hope he didn’t cross a line. I’m cool with a player not wanting to come off, but there are some things that can’t be said. Not sure if he went there. Whatever the case, I want to see him for the full 90, or 120, against Mexico. He’s still my Dempsey 2.0 in terms of attitude and creativity. Let the man do what he do!
5. Can the US actually win? That would be epic. Everyone is aware that Mexico has a good portion of their A squad and the US does not, especially Mexican fans. A loss to the US and I imagine Martino is fired before his team gets off the field. It’s not a likely result, but this US team plays tough, they play for one another. Despite all my criticisms of Gregg, building a team chemistry is a strong suit of his. So I’d say the US has a punchers chance.
I'm also expecting Zardes to start at FW, but I think we are more likely to see Roldan starting than either of Gioacchini or Williamson.
I'd be tempted to start Roldan over Arriola and Williamson over Busio. I think we'll see Arriola on the wing and Roldan over Busio in CM. Arriola's game is slanted toward defensive effort and the dirty work, so I think Berhalter will stick with him. The trouble is that Arriola is still in relatively poor form coming off an injury layoff and that makes his inclusion a dicier call.
I'd be tempted to start Roldan over Arriola and Williamson over Busio. I think we'll see Arriola on the wing and Roldan over Busio in CM. Arriola's game is slanted toward defensive effort and the dirty work, so I think Berhalter will stick with him. The trouble is that Arriola is still in relatively poor form coming off an injury layoff and that makes his inclusion a dicier call.
It’s going to be Arriola. Berhalter clearly prefers the conservative and defensively solid play for that wing to give Moore greater freedom. Personally, I think Roldan is veteran who can balance attack & defend responsibilities, but Gregg has settled Roldan into a super sub role. I’ll surprised if that changes.
I’ll also note that Cannon was awesome in the 2019 lose to Mexico. Mexico didn’t break through until they switched Pizarro to the opposite flank away from Cannon and focused their entire attack to the US left. Not that Shaq Moore has done anything to give up his spot, but I’d be very likely to start Cannon.
I’ll also note that Cannon was awesome in the 2019 lose to Mexico. Mexico didn’t break through until they switched Pizarro to the opposite flank away from Cannon and focused their entire attack to the US left. Not that Shaq Moore has done anything to give up his spot, but I’d be very likely to start Cannon.
Maybe. Those subs were more “Ryan’s Hope” than anything else. I don’t think Roldan replaces Arriola as it would force Moore or Cannon to do too much. Maybe in place of Busio? Still would rather see a creator like Williamson but that’s more what I want to see than what I think Gregg will do. I agree with 67Yaz that Roldan, as well as Gioacchini, is that 60-70 minute sub to energize the team and take advantage of tired legs.
I could see this. I want to see what we have in Moore against very good opposition as I don’t think he’s been tested much defensively, but Gregg will do whatever he thinks is best to win this game. If he sees that as Cannon, that’s the way he will go. I can see the argument for either guy really.
I think Berhalter has given Dike and Busio extended chances to seize a starting role in the context of this team, but neither have made an especially strong case. I have optimism about both of them in the medium/long term, but they have struggled in the knockouts. Now we're in the final against Mexico and I think he's going to move away from experiments and trials and start his best team, which is why my guess is that Zardes and Roldan will start over them.
Moore/Cannon is an interesting one. I'm not entirely sure whether Cannon is as fit as you'd want in such a big match, having been a bit banged up earlier in the tournament. Moore has done well for himself at this tournament, but I think he was quietly defensively shaky against Qatar. I'll guess that Moore will start but it feels like a tossup.
Moore/Cannon is an interesting one. I'm not entirely sure whether Cannon is as fit as you'd want in such a big match, having been a bit banged up earlier in the tournament. Moore has done well for himself at this tournament, but I think he was quietly defensively shaky against Qatar. I'll guess that Moore will start but it feels like a tossup.
Yeah that's a BIG surprise for me. I wonder if Vines has a knock or if this is just Berhalter's decision.
Williamson is a surprise, too. I'm down with it, I just didn't expect Berhalter to do it because it felt like Williamson was a bit down the pecking order in his eyes.
Williamson is a surprise, too. I'm down with it, I just didn't expect Berhalter to do it because it felt like Williamson was a bit down the pecking order in his eyes.
Is this 830p est or 9?
also, will they really halt / abandon the game when the homophobic chants come out?
also, will they really halt / abandon the game when the homophobic chants come out?
9 pm kickoff.
They’ve shown a willingness to halt the game in the past, but not send players to the locker room. With the recent punishment for Mexico, it does seem like this is something that is taken more seriously.
They halted the USMNT-Mexico Nations League final.
And they halted the Canada-Mexico SF...creating just enough stoppage time for Mexico to snag the winner!
But as others have said, nothing substantial will happen to Mexico tonight on that front.
I can’t wait for the day that the US can maybe get a pro home crowd against Mexico - seems like every f’n game it’s overwhelmingly pro Mexico.
Yup. Feels like the best we can do is maybe get to 50/50 for WCQ.
When it does happen, it will not be in Las Vegas!
That's why the qualifiers were held in Columbus for years, preferably in cooler weather.
But the Gold Cup wants 65,000-70,000 people at the final, and there's nowhere you're getting that many pro-US fans without Mexico fans into a stadium that large.
Totally get it - and it wasn’t even a guarantee that these 2 teams made it to the final. For qualifiers, I would agree, stick it somewhere else where you can hope to get more of the crowd on your side.
I remember going to the 2017 final at the 49ers stadium, which was supposed to be US-Mexico until El Tri choked away the semifinal to Jamaica. The crowd was a mix of no-shows and Mexico fans that came out to boo the US anyways.
Honestly, Boston would be a good spot if only we had a suitable stadium (no FieldTurf, so Gillette is out).
But Mexico fans will travel for their team, and El Tri is the most popular soccer team (club or country) in the US, so there's only so much that can be done.