NewlyRetired
Footballguy
here is the Pepi assist. I think he meant this and it was not a wayward shot
nice! Dike earned a PK and then converted it. That has to feel goodDike returns to his first action, in a long long time, today for WBA's reserve team.
Could be an interesting time after the WC. If the USMNT makes a decent run, then we may quickly extend GGG. Marsch could also be available in the next few weeks, meaning he could also be hired immediately after the WC.
I'm not sure which I would prefer. We love to pick nits with GGG, but if he makes a deep run (and how do we define that? win the group? Final 8?) it will be hard to ignore the results.
I also am very intrigued by Marsch as the USMNT coach for the 2026 cycle, given I enjoy the style of his teams and he has familiarity with two of our key players.
I have seen some people on twitter saying the US roster will be released on Wednesday. Is this official?
Could be an interesting time after the WC. If the USMNT makes a decent run, then we may quickly extend GGG. Marsch could also be available in the next few weeks, meaning he could also be hired immediately after the WC.
I'm not sure which I would prefer. We love to pick nits with GGG, but if he makes a deep run (and how do we define that? win the group? Final 8?) it will be hard to ignore the results.
I also am very intrigued by Marsch as the USMNT coach for the 2026 cycle, given I enjoy the style of his teams and he has familiarity with two of our key players.
I was going to ask the thread what they consider to be the ceiling for the team. Obviously, the floor is finishing last in the group and getting bounced - that's the floor for probably 20-24 of the teams so we aren't an outlier. But I'm curious what folks think the ceiling is.
Assuming we advance we would get Netherlands/Senegal/Ecuador/Qatar in Round of 16 - not impossible to see us winning that game.
Permutations get crazy but quarterfinals would most likely be Argentina (if we finish 2nd in group and they win their group and R16) or France (if we win the group and then advance). It's hard given our form to think we realistically match up with either of those 2.
So, your Final 8 being a deep run sounds right to me. Maybe you get lucky and don't face one of those 2 or something happens (red card/dodgy PK), and you manage to win. But I think to say we could beat either of them suggests we could win the whole thing and that's a pipe dream.
I agree, a round of 16 wins seems to be the ceiling before the tourney starts. Oh, I also put some value in winning the group. Beating England and winning the group would be sweet. Doing that and losing the first knockout would suck, but I love the idea of spanking the 3 Lions. Even better if it means England finishes 3rd or 4th in the group.So, your Final 8 being a deep run sounds right to me. Maybe you get lucky and don't face one of those 2 or something happens (red card/dodgy PK), and you manage to win. But I think to say we could beat either of them suggests we could win the whole thing and that's a pipe dream.
I'm thinking he has a real shot given how things have played out. Especially if Richards isn't fit.To me, the only potential surprise would be ream.
I agree, a round of 16 wins seems to be the ceiling before the tourney starts. Oh, I also put some value in winning the group. Beating England and winning the group would be sweet. Doing that and losing the first knockout would suck, but I love the idea of spanking the 3 Lions. Even better if it means England finishes 3rd or 4th in the group.So, your Final 8 being a deep run sounds right to me. Maybe you get lucky and don't face one of those 2 or something happens (red card/dodgy PK), and you manage to win. But I think to say we could beat either of them suggests we could win the whole thing and that's a pipe dream.
If somehow that second knockout game becomes a winnable game like you note above then my red, white, and blue sunglasses may want even more.
Could be an interesting time after the WC. If the USMNT makes a decent run, then we may quickly extend GGG. Marsch could also be available in the next few weeks, meaning he could also be hired immediately after the WC.
I'm not sure which I would prefer. We love to pick nits with GGG, but if he makes a deep run (and how do we define that? win the group? Final 8?) it will be hard to ignore the results.
I also am very intrigued by Marsch as the USMNT coach for the 2026 cycle, given I enjoy the style of his teams and he has familiarity with two of our key players.
I was going to ask the thread what they consider to be the ceiling for the team. Obviously, the floor is finishing last in the group and getting bounced - that's the floor for probably 20-24 of the teams so we aren't an outlier. But I'm curious what folks think the ceiling is.
Assuming we advance we would get Netherlands/Senegal/Ecuador/Qatar in Round of 16 - not impossible to see us winning that game.
Permutations get crazy but quarterfinals would most likely be Argentina (if we finish 2nd in group and they win their group and R16) or France (if we win the group and then advance). It's hard given our form to think we realistically match up with either of those 2.
So, your Final 8 being a deep run sounds right to me. Maybe you get lucky and don't face one of those 2 or something happens (red card/dodgy PK), and you manage to win. But I think to say we could beat either of them suggests we could win the whole thing and that's a pipe dream.
Your ceiling sounds right but unless there is an upset in the other group, Senegal/Holland is going to be an extremely tough game. Both teams are better than any team in Concacaf and we barely survived qualifying.
I agree, a round of 16 wins seems to be the ceiling before the tourney starts. Oh, I also put some value in winning the group. Beating England and winning the group would be sweet. Doing that and losing the first knockout would suck, but I love the idea of spanking the 3 Lions. Even better if it means England finishes 3rd or 4th in the group.So, your Final 8 being a deep run sounds right to me. Maybe you get lucky and don't face one of those 2 or something happens (red card/dodgy PK), and you manage to win. But I think to say we could beat either of them suggests we could win the whole thing and that's a pipe dream.
If somehow that second knockout game becomes a winnable game like you note above then my red, white, and blue sunglasses may want even more.
Winning the group over England would be a great accomplishment. I'm not sure if you picked a combined best XI that any unbiased and knowledgeable person would take a single US player over their England counterpart. And I don't say that to crap on the US team - and I think we can compete with them but Kane > US #9; most will say Foden or Sterling or Mount > CP and Aaronson. Maybe Gio? Maybe Adams over a Rice or Philips? But our guys other than CP aren't names in England.
To me the likely scenario to win the group is to draw with them and then better their results against Wales and Iran.
GGG probably thinks that Ream will get another chance in 2026.I'm thinking he has a real shot given how things have played out. Especially if Richards isn't fit.To me, the only potential surprise would be ream.
GGG probably thinks that Ream will get another chance in 2026.I'm thinking he has a real shot given how things have played out. Especially if Richards isn't fit.To me, the only potential surprise would be ream.

Nico Cantor@Nicocantor1
@MicheleG3 dropped some interesting insight into the 26-man list on
@usfutbolpod
There will be FOUR centerbacks and TIM REAM is in the list. Alongside him: Walker Zimmerman, Cameron Carter Vickers, Aaron Long.
Sweet, now we just need to play him over Long.MLS Transfers
https://mobile.twitter.com/MLSTransfers
@MLSTransfers
Source: Tim Ream has made the #USMNT World Cup squad
x.com
mobile.twitter.com
Sweet, now we just need to play him over Long.MLS Transfers
https://mobile.twitter.com/MLSTransfers
@MLSTransfers
Source: Tim Ream has made the #USMNT World Cup squad
x.com
mobile.twitter.com
I still think GGG favors Long but this group of 4 is the best we could hope for given GGG's feelings towards Long. Normally I would say 1 bad game from Long and we will see Ream but if that bad games happens against Wales, we are in big trouble. I hope GGG looks at this logically and sees that Ream is handling better strikers almost every week than what Wales will put out (I am unsure whether Bale is a starter or a super sub at this point)
I feel like getting out of the group is still a good result for the US. A R16 win would be outstanding.
This guy usually posts a source but he did not this time so I don't know if this is conjecture or not. If true, it may indicate Luca is not going to get called
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@USMNTTAKES
Promising USMNT youngster Malik Tillman will be on the World Cup final roster this Wednesday.
5 will bs FBs but one of those is Cannon who Berhalter sees as a swing guy (and also to make sure we bring 4 right backs to keep his roster well balanced)4 cb's and almost certainly 3 gkers means 19 spots left up for grabs. I figure 4 will be used on the fb's, leaving 15 spots for midfielders and forwards.
pretty sure he was promised a spot if he committed (with basic qualifications like finding a loan where he plays)This guy usually posts a source but he did not this time so I don't know if this is conjecture or not. If true, it may indicate Luca is not going to get called
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@USMNTTAKES
Promising USMNT youngster Malik Tillman will be on the World Cup final roster this Wednesday.
Serious chatter Steffan isn't on the US roster.
I’m good with that.wow.....this is not just any twitter guy, he is one of the best USMNT full time reporters
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https://twitter.com/RGonzalezCBS
Roger Gonzalez
@RGonzalezCBS
Sources tell CBS Sports that Zack Steffen is NOT on the USMNT World Cup roster. Horvath, Turner, Johnson.