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cernjSHU

Senior
Jul 17, 2001
154
438
63
The greatest World spectacle begins today. Should be a great tournament. I expect the US to advance to the knockout stage and maybe even win one game at that stage. Spain and France are the clear favorites for this year. But beware of Portugal and the Netherlands. Both can surprise and make a deep run.

personally, I am doing a bucket list thing. I will be travelling around watching Spain for the first four games at the World Cup
 
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NYShoreGuy

All-Conference
Jan 7, 2006
2,184
1,006
113
FIFA not dictating who is allowed to come and watch. They did so in Russia 2018. What changed. #notpoliticaljustfacts
 
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Hall-O-Daze

Sophomore
Jan 8, 2020
96
149
33
Croatia, as always, gets no respect. Always being slept on while they continually advance to the final matches. When are people gonna wake up and realize these Croatians know how to play?
 
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SHUSource

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
41,981
4,236
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cernjSHU said:
The greatest World spectacle begins today. Should be a great tournament. I expect the US to advance to the knockout stage and maybe even win one game at that stage. Spain and France are the clear favorites for this year. But beware of Portugal and the Netherlands. Both can surprise and make a deep run.

personally, I am doing a bucket list thing. I will be travelling around watching Spain for the first four games at the World Cup
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I put a very modest wager on Spain to win the whole thing, the extent of my World Cup wagering.
 
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lokiSHU

Redshirt
Jun 12, 2001
13
15
3
cernjSHU said:
The greatest World spectacle begins today. Should be a great tournament. I expect the US to advance to the knockout stage and maybe even win one game at that stage. Spain and France are the clear favorites for this year. But beware of Portugal and the Netherlands. Both can surprise and make a deep run.

personally, I am doing a bucket list thing. I will be travelling around watching Spain for the first four games at the World Cup
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Hope Spain wins. Belgium my dark horse for a deep run.
 
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Fishjam

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2016
886
3,135
93
Would like to see USA finally have some success. They have a very young team but they've worked together for a while now. Would be a nice boost with the games in North America. They are the favorite in their group, we shall see.
 
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Seton75

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
36,724
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I am kinda enbarassed cause I have to admit, its very close to my wgas file Have never gotten into soccer. I will watch a US game if they advance a few rounds. If the coverage inspires me I may watch a few team as it gets close to the end. If I was asked to name one player on any team, I would be blank.
 
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SHUSource

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
41,981
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Seton75 said:
I am kinda enbarassed cause I have to admit, its very close to my wgas file Have never gotten into soccer. I will watch a US game if they advance a few rounds. If the coverage inspires me I may watch a few team as it gets close to the end. If I was asked to name one player on any team, I would be blank.
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I don't pay a ton of attention to it between World Cups, but I do enjoy this event. I'm not rabid and I never have much hopes for the U.S., but I'll watch games, and the semis and final are appointment viewing, especially if I can drum up some rooting interest (such as my $20 on Spain). I did look at the U.S. roster this morning and was surprised how few of the guys I knew by name. A handful, maybe five? And none well other than Pulisic and Brendan Aaronson.
 
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HallLine69

Heisman
Aug 24, 2001
10,500
10,743
112
I love wtaching World Cup soccer. My dark horse is also Germany, but it looks like Spain or France. At the risk of being criticized, I am completely objective...to me the US is just one of many teams in the Tournament. Of course I'd celebrate if they won it, but I am just enjoying each game on its own merit. (My son finds my approach outrageous, but it is what it is.)
 
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cernjSHU

Senior
Jul 17, 2001
154
438
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HallLine69 said:
I love wtaching World Cup soccer. My dark horse is also Germany, but it looks like Spain or France. At the risk of being criticized, I am completely objective...to me the US is just one of many teams in the Tournament. Of course I'd celebrate if they won it, but I am just enjoying each game on its own merit. (My son finds my approach outrageous, but it is what it is.)
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I root for the US but I am not a fan of their style of play. When I watch the US play against good teams I just get frustrated. So I get what you mean. I’d rather watch the top tier teams play beautiful soccer. To me, when it is played the right way, it’s just a phenomenal game.
 
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BrklynGrad

Sophomore
Feb 1, 2026
205
128
43
Not a huge soccer fan, but admit I have pencilled in the Hall men at Yale on Sept. 13.
My dark horse is Portugal.
By the way, hats off to Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum for having the....chops ..... to protest the increidbly high cost of tickets by refusing to attend and raffling her ticket(s) to average fans.

Does the U.S. get by Paraguay tonight?
 
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BrklynGrad

Sophomore
Feb 1, 2026
205
128
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cernjSHU said:
I root for the US but I am not a fan of their style of play. When I watch the US play against good teams I just get frustrated. So I get what you mean. I’d rather watch the top tier teams play beautiful soccer. To me, when it is played the right way, it’s just a phenomenal game.
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Mexico looked good yesterday against a sluggish S. Africa squad. (Have never seen a more chill coach than S. Africa's.) Thought Mexico should have scored more than two goals.
 
shupat08

shupat08

Senior
Mar 28, 2006
348
545
93
cernjSHU said:
I root for the US but I am not a fan of their style of play. When I watch the US play against good teams I just get frustrated. So I get what you mean. I’d rather watch the top tier teams play beautiful soccer. To me, when it is played the right way, it’s just a phenomenal game.
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The US just isn't talented or technical enough to play "beautiful" soccer with the likes of Germany, Portugal, Spain, England, France, Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, etc

They have to rely on strength and athleticism which dictates their style of play.

I would love to see one of Colombia or Ecuador - preferably Ecuador - advance deep. Love Angulo, Caicedo, Hincapie, Pacho, and the GOAT Enner Valencia.
 
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HallB

Sophomore
Jun 7, 2001
98
135
33
shupat08 said:
The US just isn't talented or technical enough to play "beautiful" soccer with the likes of Germany, Portugal, Spain, England, France, Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, etc

They have to rely on strength and athleticism which dictates their style of play.

I would love to see one of Colombia or Ecuador - preferably Ecuador - advance deep. Love Angulo, Caicedo, Hincapie, Pacho, and the GOAT Enner Valencia.
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It was a friendly, but did you see USA play vs. Germany? The first half (with the starting 11 except Richards) may have been the best I've seen them play "beautiful" soccer as compared the teams you mentioned.
 
shupat08

shupat08

Senior
Mar 28, 2006
348
545
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HallB said:
It was a friendly, but did you see USA play vs. Germany? The first half (with the starting 11 except Richards) may have been the best I've seen them play "beautiful" soccer as compared the teams you mentioned.
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First 15 minutes was horrendous. The other 35 was real impressive. When they play that way, they can never string together 90 minutes. Maybe this WC!

Poch has done a good job to date rebuilding after the Copa disaster.
 
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HallB

Sophomore
Jun 7, 2001
98
135
33
shupat08 said:
First 15 minutes was horrendous. The other 35 was real impressive. When they play that way, they can never string together 90 minutes. Maybe this WC!

Poch has done a good job to date rebuilding after the Copa disaster.
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I am concerned about backline and goalie though.
 
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shupat08

shupat08

Senior
Mar 28, 2006
348
545
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HallB said:
Shupat how you feeling after that first half?
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That might be the best half of US soccer I have ever seen. Poch has them clicking on all cylinders right now.

Tillman make everything look so easy, Flo is a phenom at striker. Pulisic doing crazy stuff with the ball. Robinson, Reem, Richards, Freeman playing strong in the back. Like Dest as a change of pace and McKennie out wide.

How you feeling??
 
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HallB

Sophomore
Jun 7, 2001
98
135
33
Same best half of soccer I’ve ever seen USA play! Hope pulisic is okay and no let down in second half. Paraguay getting chippy.
 
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Seton75

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
36,724
3,085
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I made myself a liar. I watched the last ten minutes of the USA win. Now, I had never heard of Renya, but I have heard of his Dad.
 
NittanyPirate

NittanyPirate

Senior
Feb 18, 2007
339
534
93
I’ve watched USA soccer since ‘94 and have never seen them look that well especially on this stage. I’m trying to contain my excitement by rationalizing it that Paraguay must be the worst of the 48 teams in the tournament.
 
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hallsoccer03

Sophomore
Feb 5, 2003
94
168
33
Get on the bandwagon, they are going to curb stomp Australia. Having ream back there and no clear cut quality GK is going to hurt the team come knockout rounds. Pochettino ran the squad the last year and a half or so like it was preseason for a club team. Using different lineups and calling in different players and using different tactics and seeing what works and what doesn’t. Problem with that is that sometimes you don’t get a result and sometimes you look plain bad. This was the first time I think since he took over as coach that you had what should be the top or close to it the top starting 11. I think Ream should not be back there, but he has experience and has done it in England but that time has passed. You have Weah who can step in and start, Gio Reyna can but he hasn’t gone a full 90 in years.

I haven’t seen this team play like this, this style and tactics at all since Poch took over. The right back on Paraguay was absolutely getting abused all over the right side of the field..
 
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hallsoccer03

Sophomore
Feb 5, 2003
94
168
33
NittanyPirate said:
I’ve watched USA soccer since ‘94 and have never seen them look that well especially on this stage. I’m trying to contain my excitement by rationalizing it that Paraguay must be the worst of the 48 teams in the tournament.
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I hate when people say this about Paraguay after we dominate them. Paraguay beat Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay in qualifying…. They only allowed 6 goals in total in qualifying. People were questioning if the USMNT would get a result from them last night and now that USA dominated the whole game it’s now Paraguay must not be that good. Paraguay is light years better than South Africa, and Mexico although controlled the game showed they were anywhere near what the UsMNT showed last night
 
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shupat08

shupat08

Senior
Mar 28, 2006
348
545
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hallsoccer03 said:
Get on the bandwagon, they are going to curb stomp Australia. Having ream back there and no clear cut quality GK is going to hurt the team come knockout rounds. Pochettino ran the squad the last year and a half or so like it was preseason for a club team. Using different lineups and calling in different players and using different tactics and seeing what works and what doesn’t. Problem with that is that sometimes you don’t get a result and sometimes you look plain bad. This was the first time I think since he took over as coach that you had what should be the top or close to it the top starting 11. I think Ream should not be back there, but he has experience and has done it in England but that time has passed. You have Weah who can step in and start, Gio Reyna can but he hasn’t gone a full 90 in years.

I haven’t seen this team play like this, this style and tactics at all since Poch took over. The right back on Paraguay was absolutely getting abused all over the right side of the field..
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I'm trying to think back to Fall Camp, one of the friendlies the absolutely dominated the ball and game. Was it Australia? I think so.

Last night was the closest they looked to that team on the pitch.

Poch was juggling a ton of different players over the past 2 years. I think it's coming together nicely.

Agreed. No reason to not dominate Australia on Friday.
 
shupat08

shupat08

Senior
Mar 28, 2006
348
545
93
hallsoccer03 said:
I hate when people say this about Paraguay after we dominate them. Paraguay beat Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay in qualifying…. They only allowed 6 goals in total in qualifying. People were questioning if the USMNT would get a result from them last night and now that USA dominated the whole game it’s now Paraguay must not be that good. Paraguay is light years better than South Africa, and Mexico although controlled the game showed they were anywhere near what the UsMNT showed last night
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Paraguay is def better than RSA. And nowhere near the worst team in the WC. There are probably 15ish teams worse than Paraguay in the field this year.
 
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hallsoccer03

Sophomore
Feb 5, 2003
94
168
33
shupat08 said:
I'm trying to think back to Fall Camp, one of the friendlies the absolutely dominated the ball and game. Was it Australia? I think so.

Last night was the closest they looked to that team on the pitch.

Poch was juggling a ton of different players over the past 2 years. I think it's coming together nicely.

Agreed. No reason to not dominate Australia on Friday.
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I really think Paraguay just wasn’t ready for the moment. All the players first World Cup against the tournament hosts in rough environment… I think they compose themselves and can beat Australia.
 
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lokiSHU

Redshirt
Jun 12, 2001
13
15
3
i don’t like the “Hydration Breaks” at this World Cup. Really about a money grab to show ads than player safety. Hurts the flow of the games.
 
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