USMNT: Hold My Beer

coremiller

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Jul 14, 2005
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I don’t think the USA gets to wear the crown of the King in Concacaf. Not until they do something they have yet to accomplish. Go into Azteca and get 3 points. They were awesome last night and buried El Tri in the last 45. However winning at home is expected. The US has yet to go into Azteca and bear their main rival on their turf. They pull that off and this is their region.
Agree that we shouldn't be getting over our skis. Just because El Tri couldn't do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke Cincinnati doesn't mean we're that much better than them. Let's see how the return fixture goes in Azteca.
 

rguilmar

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Jul 16, 2005
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I had to rewatch the game since I caught it initially at a bar. Just a couple of things that stood out.

1. Am I alone in thinking that the US controlled the game throughout? The announcers seemed to think Mexico had control of the game in the first half, but that's not how I saw it. I saw self inflicted wounds by the US that Mexico almost capitalized on. Mexico definitely had the better first half chances, but they created very little on their own without a mistake by the US that created the chance. On the other hand, the US just seemed to be missing that final ball. In essence, it seemed like a role reversal from most US-Mexico games with Mexico forced to react to the USMNT. Usually there is multiple stretches of the game where Mexico has wave after wave of chances, but this time it was the US doing so.
2. That high press was a thing of beauty. It looked like Gregg made some small adjustments to it in the second half to get Edson Alvarez under constant pressure because he seemed to be the one to have the ability to pick the US lock. I wonder if this is something to stay or if this was something that the US used this game because they saw a weak Mexico D and slow MF. I loved it and hopes this becomes part of the US soccer identity going forward. It's just a different way to utilize the speed and grit that the US always seems to have. There is some risk involved, but I like Gregg channeling his inner Jesse Marsch.
3. Mexico has some issues. Obviously they didn't have either of their CBs available, but their fullbacks are pretty poor, and in general the team is old. They looked slower and just unable to keep up with the US. I know some want to pump the brakes on this performance, but I am all in. I can't recall a qualifier where the US bossed Mexico like that. A lot of that had to do with older legs versus younger legs, and that is something that El Tri cannot fix. That front 3 can be scary, but Tecatito can be hot and cold, and Raul Jimenez is 30 (I know he missed nearly two years, but age isn't kind in international soccer). Put another way, besides Jimenez over Pepi, which of the Mexican starting XI would you replace if both teams are full stacked with no injuries? Chucky over Pulisic? Eh, not me. Alvarez over Adams? They're different types of 6s but give me Adams. None of the CBs are anything special. Of course, Mexico is still going to be very talented and will even beat the US at times. The USMNT bested Mexico several times when El Tri were the Kings of Concacaf.
 

Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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I don’t think the USA gets to wear the crown of the King in Concacaf. Not until they do something they have yet to accomplish. Go into Azteca and get 3 points. They were awesome last night and buried El Tri in the last 45. However winning at home is expected. The US has yet to go into Azteca and bear their main rival on their turf. They pull that off and this is their region.
USA hasn’t won in Canada in recent memory either
 

Jimy Hendrix

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Jun 15, 2002
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The only surprising thing is how unsurprising this lineup is.
You could argue it's surprising that Berhalter went with Busio over Lletget/Acosta, but even that's only surprising if you didn't listen to his actual press conference where he called Busio out as competing for a starting job.

I'm very interested in how that goes. I was unimpressed with Gold Cup Busio at the 8, but have been quite impressed with Venezia Busio playing the 8.
 

JOBU

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Sep 22, 2021
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Well I signed up for the paramount app. 7 free days. Had to use a new email. Bastards got me.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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The "every fan must be blowing a Vuvuzela at all times" mandate likely also hurt the crowd size.
 

Kliq

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The power running with the ball and super finish was incredible. Beast.
 

cromulence

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Aug 25, 2009
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On the vuvuzelas - are they higher pitched than the ones from the South Africa World Cup? I didn't mind those that much, but this really sucks. Maybe it's the difference between the hum of an entire stadium blowing them versus a few dudes in a mostly empty stadium?
 

SoxFanInCali

has the rich, deep voice of a god
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Jun 3, 2005
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California. Duh.
Good to see the US come out on the front foot. The best way to protect a center back pairing that hasn't played together much is to make sure the other team doesn't have the ball.