NewlyRetired
Footballguy
correct, it is only for the men.
FIFA wants to protect its golden goose of the WC for as long as possible.
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US Men's National Team (17 Viewers)
- Thread starter Premier
- Start date
FIFA wants to protect its golden goose of the WC for as long as possible.
prefontaine
Footballguy
correct. Women's soccer is senior teams. FIFA doesn't like the idea of competing with the World Cup (the WWC really wasn't a thing when soccer became an Olympic sport)
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Schulte's distribution has been just terrible all game. Give away after give away
prefontaine
Footballguy
he's practicing to play on the Senior team
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Terrible first half followed by a slightly less terrible second half. No energy, no creativity, nothing to hang your hat on. I figured at least players would be busting their butts in the hopes to get on the plane.
The coach has a lot of decisions to make for a tiny roster.
The coach has a lot of decisions to make for a tiny roster.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
She's a good interviewer.
Wynalda's a complicated dude.
And Steve Sampson keeping that under his hat for so long and taking the heat even after the debacle of 1998 is heroic.
Wynalda's a complicated dude.
And Steve Sampson keeping that under his hat for so long and taking the heat even after the debacle of 1998 is heroic.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Quarterfinals is my expectation. Anything less is a disappointment. Anything more is good progress.
Knockout stages we should look to impress our will on any teams ranked lower than us (Bolivia, Panama) and put up a good fight hoping for a draw at a minimum against Uruguay.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Yeah, this.
I want.. and always want.. the team to impose themselves, have a clear approach to the game and creating and finishing opportunities.
They did part of that vs COL- play it out of the back, working it side to side to find openings vertically. They were just... Awful and complete ****e doing it, and came up with very little answer for the high press, so "imposing" and "approach" went out the window.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
The thing that gets me in their tactics is that they should be switching field more often than they do. Long, high diagonal or lateral balls to Weah / Dest or Jedi / Puli would do wonders to unlocking a tight defense. But the only one that seems capable or willing to hit that pass is Weston and I think he is instructed not to do so. But linear up the flank + movement outside the 18 isn't gonna cut it. The USMNT has enough speed on the edge to get on the end of a diagonal pass, and those aren't super dangerous passes that can result in a counter if intercepted. I just don't get the lack of switching field. We see MEX do it to us time and again, and it creates dangerous situations with the defense unbalanced / out of position.
But what do I know?
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
It is exactly two years away from the US's first game in World Cup 2026.
prefontaine
Footballguy
Quarterfinals in Copa is the same as advancing from group, which given our draw, would be catastrophic if we don't achieve that.
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
I was thinking about the WC this morning and I realized it will be the 5th one I've paid attention to (I remember Zidane's head butt when it happened but hadn't been following the tournament at all) and at least the 3rd one I've followed the run-up to it in this thread.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
What do you all remember about your earliest World Cups? Like where were you, what highlights stick in your mind, etc? Not once you were a fan, but when you were just soccer curious or just getting into it?
In 1986 I'd been out the night before and was sick as a dog the next day. I fell asleep in front of the final at 2-0 Argentina -- I don't even remember why I had it on, I wasn't a soccer fan at the time -- and woke up to find that Germany had scored twice to level. I remember Voeller (or maybe Klinsmann?) flying up and down the field on breakouts repeatedly. Despite the epic, it didn't really make much of an impression.
1990 I'm not sure I really remember much. I saw the Caligiuri shot live at T&T to qualify the US, thru dumb luck -- not sure why we had that on the TV -- and I recall seeing the Italy 1-0 score at the World Cup and watching a highlight that had a US shot scooting past the post in the same game, but that's it.
1994 is when I got interested. The Saudi goal on the 70 yard run vs the Netherlands(?) was in DC and replayed endlessly. I watched games at lunch in our work cafeteria. And I took a date to a bar in Georgetown to watch USA 2-1 Colombia, which was absolutely incredible. Also remember the Brazil 3-2 Netherlands game -- 2-0 Brazil to 2-2, then Branco's(?) free kick to win it. Those WC matches, and the US run in general (losing to Brazil 0-1 on July 4th when Ramos got his face shattered by Leonardo), along with an Ajax quarterfinal match in the Champion's League in 1995(?) and the start of MLS are what hooked me into soccer in the first place.
In 1986 I'd been out the night before and was sick as a dog the next day. I fell asleep in front of the final at 2-0 Argentina -- I don't even remember why I had it on, I wasn't a soccer fan at the time -- and woke up to find that Germany had scored twice to level. I remember Voeller (or maybe Klinsmann?) flying up and down the field on breakouts repeatedly. Despite the epic, it didn't really make much of an impression.
1990 I'm not sure I really remember much. I saw the Caligiuri shot live at T&T to qualify the US, thru dumb luck -- not sure why we had that on the TV -- and I recall seeing the Italy 1-0 score at the World Cup and watching a highlight that had a US shot scooting past the post in the same game, but that's it.
1994 is when I got interested. The Saudi goal on the 70 yard run vs the Netherlands(?) was in DC and replayed endlessly. I watched games at lunch in our work cafeteria. And I took a date to a bar in Georgetown to watch USA 2-1 Colombia, which was absolutely incredible. Also remember the Brazil 3-2 Netherlands game -- 2-0 Brazil to 2-2, then Branco's(?) free kick to win it. Those WC matches, and the US run in general (losing to Brazil 0-1 on July 4th when Ramos got his face shattered by Leonardo), along with an Ajax quarterfinal match in the Champion's League in 1995(?) and the start of MLS are what hooked me into soccer in the first place.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Oh wow. We just lost Obed Vargas. He has completed his one time switch to Mexico.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Fuuuuuck
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
You actually did not see it live. No one did unless you were in the stadium itself. The game was shown on tape delay on ESPN which was the only station who showed the game.
My first memories of the WC were 1982. But 1990 was the first WC I ever devoured. I watched every commercial interrupted minute on TNT. They even missed some goals cutting to commercials. Ooof.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
We can only hope he does not break the trend of players who chose Mexico and saw their international prospects dry up.
El Floppo
Footballguy
The switching is part of the tactics, at least around the back. But.. and I've beat this horse dead... It has to happen with quicker ball movement. When they're doing this- ream and Adams are both good at it- that's who they're unlocking defenses.
When I talked about the benefits of guys like CP beating guys off the dribble, that's the side by side plan that helps open up the other option. Like play action.
But if neither are working... Yeesh.
And yeah- swag is the guy for that long switch in the mf. Dest too. But not enough.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Was 86 maradonnas mf run vs England? That was my first. WC viewing.
I knew guys in that 90' team, so was locked into it even if I didn't even know about the shot heard round the world until later.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
prefontaine
Footballguy
I dunno. He's probably the 3rd or 4th best center mid in his year for us. Cremaschi and Buck clearly ahead of him. Debatable on Tsakiris or Raines.
As just a DM, the class behind him has Soma. In front of him Pukstas. He could very well turn out and never really be a USMNT player.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
It's possible that I never had any idea about that wasn't live. I wonder if we were waiting for a college football game to start after or something -- there was a big group of us watching and no reason at all any of us would have had the game on just to watch.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Thanks! good stuff.
I think there are also 3rd place pathways but those won't be known until the group stage completes
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Yes, that was 86. NBC showed 7 games that year and Hand of God was one of them.
Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
My earliest memory was '94, though all I remember was the hype about the US being in it again, and that a Colombian player was killed because he lost to the US. Lost interest until Zidane's head butt became a story in '06, and it was the years between '06 and '10 that my interest grew, but it was the 2010 WC that hooked me. When I turned on whatever the first match was that I saw, there was a crazy buzzing sound, which I thought was some massive insect swarm around the stadium, since the sound reminded me of the cicadas we had endured just a few years earlier. Turns out it was thousands of the now infamous vuvuzelas everyone at the stadium seemed to have. I know that sound isn't fondly remembered by most, but to me, it made the atmosphere electric. Since then, the USMNT is the only 'team' I've followed with anything more than a passing interest.
I've said this before in this and other threads: My knowledge and interest in the beautiful game has almost everything to do with my fellow FGBs who keep this and the other soccer threads going. In addition to the USMNT, I've delved here and there into the game's history; one example of such is that when England was eliminated from the last WC, to honor them I changed my avatar to Brian Clough holding a cup he won at Nottingham Forest after Leeds had fired him. I know this is supposed to just be about WC memories, but mine are tied to this place.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
1982 - Spain. I was living in New Zealand and watched a ton of games as the Kiwis had qualified, which is extremely rare. New Zealand were terrible and lost all three games. I knew nothing about soccer, but I'll always remember the name Paulo Rossi. The other memory is the infamous clash between German GK Toni Schumacher and the french player Patrick Battiston which overshadowed an otherwise fantastic game.
1986 - Mexico. I was living in Germany and had an Argentinian girlfriend so it was fun. I remember watching games in a bar in Berlin with a great mix of internationals. Saw the hand of god game at my girlfriend's house on my birthday, emotions were very high that day. Afterward her father, who was a military diplomat and had fought in the Falkland war, gave me an ashtray with a picture of the Falklands and the inscription, "Viva Las Malvinas, Viva Argentina" Everyone was crying and hugging. Maradona is forever my favorite player due to this tournament.
1990 - Italia - I was in school in the US and remember a few things. First, the US television coverage would cut to commercials during live action. They had no idea how to broadcast a soccer game. In some instances goals were scored while the broadcast was in commercial. Second was the Rijkard incident with Rudi Voeller. I was well-familiar with Dutch-German soccer rivalry by then but still have never had anything but abject disgust with Rijkard.
1994 - US - went to a game in Chicago with my Dutch girlfriend. We were both deadass broke but scored great seats outside the stadium just before kickoff. Germany and Spain drew 1-1. I was familiar with the entire German team but didn't realize until years later that both Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique played for Spain that day. Klinsmann scored for Germany. I was pulling for Germany and of course my girlfriend was shouting for Spain the entire game. Our seats were in the midst of some fantastic Spanish fans with drums and hats, having a blast.
El Floppo
Footballguy
I thought he was a pure 6 Adams reolacement... Was I wrong? Are those other guys 6s?
El Floppo
Footballguy
It's funny... Live, I didn't even notice the hand of God. I was much more naive to that possibility then, and the replays didn't really even capture it adequately. So I wasn't even thinking it was anything other than a proper goal and didn't think much about it.
But that run and goal starting at MF... Holy hell. I'll never forget that. I had jumped off my chair when he received the ball and turned beating a couple guys in the move. That part very rarely even gets shown on the replay of the goal, but is still my favorite part and still my favorite goal.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Yes. In 1982 PBS and ESPN showed some of the games. Barely anyone had ESPN though at the time.
ABC aired the final
El Floppo
Footballguy
Googling it, it looks like PBS aired highlight versions of the games, not live, similar to soccer made in Germany... And Toby Charles announced. I must have watched those, as we didn't have cable. Definitely watched the final live.
TennesseeJed
Footballguy
Yeah - I am too old to remember that far back, but it must have been on somewhere - when I got to college in the mid-'80s, I wanted to wear #20 because of Rossi.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
1982 was my first World Cup I remember watching as well. I can still remember the advertising jingle. E span aaaaaa. I fell in love with Zico and Brazil. When Rossi and Italy knocked them out (because Brazil refused to even consider playing defense), it broke 10-year old me's heart.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I remember the '94 Cup (I was 14) as I grew up like 15 minutes from the Rose Bowl. I remember buying "Pogs" with the crests of the teams on them. I remember my buddy Riley stealing Pogs and the like all the time. Riley was a piece of work.
Lost interest despite playing soccer from age 5 until age 15. Picked it up again in '02 when I went to Europe after college for some backpacking. I remember the French cab driver screaming at me about "America! Portugal! Killed them! Good Good Good!". I hadn't really thought about soccer for like 7 years, but then being in Europe and drinking beers and watching games in the streets? That was pretty, pretty, pretty good.
Lost interest despite playing soccer from age 5 until age 15. Picked it up again in '02 when I went to Europe after college for some backpacking. I remember the French cab driver screaming at me about "America! Portugal! Killed them! Good Good Good!". I hadn't really thought about soccer for like 7 years, but then being in Europe and drinking beers and watching games in the streets? That was pretty, pretty, pretty good.
Those who can play soccer, play for the US. Those who can't join El Terrible.
El Floppo
Footballguy
This would be his 2nd time today...
B Maverick
Footballguy
I remember following Italia 90 in the paper to get the results, filling in the brackets and learning of Jurgen Klinsmann. Started wearing 18 after that when I played.
But USA 94 was when it became real. Tickets to 5 games at the Rose Bowl. The US National Anthem at the opening game between Sweden and Cameroon was one of the best I have experienced. The drums and the songs by those teams fans was amazing. Then on to USA v Columbia, USA v Romania, Columbia v Romania and Romania v Argentina.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Here is the starting lineup. Two changes from Colombia. Musah for Johnny and Pepi for Balogun
B Maverick
Footballguy
The Billion Dollar Goal - Paramount+
I'm sure some of you saw this about the Caligiuri goal and qualifying for 1990. If not, was pretty interesting.
I'm sure some of you saw this about the Caligiuri goal and qualifying for 1990. If not, was pretty interesting.
TennesseeJed
Footballguy
It will never happen in my lifetime, but I would love for US Soccer to schedule games to start on the hour.
This one is not bad - but do all the pregame earlier and when you say its a 7:00 game - kickoff at 7:00
This one is not bad - but do all the pregame earlier and when you say its a 7:00 game - kickoff at 7:00
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I don't know what will be more difficult. The team getting a result or the poor camera guy trying to find pockets of US fans in the stands...
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