OT: We may win the World Cup in 2026

NickRU714

Heisman
Aug 18, 2009
14,204
12,989
113
Old man hot take: This isn't my kids 10U soccer game. Hydration breaks??

Getting Old Baby Boomer GIF by MOODMAN
 

Krup062

Sophomore
Jul 2, 2025
127
157
43
Smart move to rest Pulisic as he cannot get injured in a choppy 2nd half. I’d take out Adams too at this point.

Our attack is just not the same without Pulisic. He’s the engine behind our attack.
It sucks that Paraguay is rewarded for giving cheap shots by the US having to sub and give up control of the game.
 

ru109

All-American
Sep 18, 2011
6,948
5,489
113
Normally I'm not a fan of scoring with 30 seconds left but with goal differential being a tie breaker and Paraguay getting chippy I'm glad we scored at that point.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RUDiddy777

RUChet

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2023
1,933
2,511
113
16-6 advantage in shots
6-1 advantage in SOG

Excellent job vs a credible opponent who finished 4th in the difficult CONMEBAL qualifying
 

RAC93

All-American
Aug 11, 2023
3,185
5,191
113
Why are you not a fan of late goals? You play until the end of the game.
Exactly, goal differential actually matters in WC. Score as many as you can, especially when you are the US team. The 4 goals tonight is most we ever scored in WC, so it’s not like we’re typically a scoring machine of a team. Loved that shot from the outside of the foot from Reyna. We looked great, keep it up.
 

Anon1753410373

Redshirt
Jul 24, 2025
46
37
18
HUUUUGE to get the last goal, echoing what else was said. Big confidence boost for Reyna, too.

Paraguay is really up against it vs. Turkey now, especially with so many yellow cards tonight.

The yellows caught me. They will need as many players a possible the next 3 games.

maybe playing and getting physically beat up by Germany was a blessing in disguise.
 

Doctor Worm

Heisman
Feb 7, 2002
30,613
22,499
113
You don't seem to understand how important goal differential is. Score as many as you can in the WC group play.
For example... Assume that US beats Australia, Turkiye beats both Australia and Paraguay. You want to go into that third game with Turkiye with the superior goal difference, so that all you need to win the group is a draw. Winning the group is a big advantage. It means you play a third place team in the first knockout match.
 

RUPete90

Senior
Jul 3, 2025
604
856
93
You don't seem to understand how important goal differential is. Score as many as you can in the WC group play.
Yes. Things are falling different now. We didn’t make the rules. We just play by them. It’s on Paraguay to not suck in the last 30 seconds.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: -RUFAN4LIFE-

BigEastPhil

Heisman
Nov 25, 2007
19,258
13,484
66
For example... Assume that US beats Australia, Turkiye beats both Australia and Paraguay. You want to go into that third game with Turkiye with the superior goal difference, so that all you need to win the group is a draw. Winning the group is a big advantage. It means you play a third place team in the first knockout match.
I thought only top 2 squads from each group advance into knockout round?

Have things changed given increase to 48 countries in World Cup?
 

BigEastPhil

Heisman
Nov 25, 2007
19,258
13,484
66
For example... Assume that US beats Australia, Turkiye beats both Australia and Paraguay. You want to go into that third game with Turkiye with the superior goal difference, so that all you need to win the group is a draw. Winning the group is a big advantage. It means you play a third place team in the first knockout match.
I thought only top 2 teams from each group advance to knockout round?

Have the rules changed given increase to 48 teams in World Cup?

Thanks
 

Zak57

Heisman
Jul 5, 2011
11,212
11,316
113
I thought only top 2 teams from each group advance to knockout round?

Have the rules changed given increase to 48 teams in World Cup?

Thanks
Yes they have. Top 2 from each group and then the next best 8 3rd place finishers in which GD will play a part.
 

-RUFAN4LIFE-

Heisman
Feb 28, 2015
33,069
51,547
113
I thought only top 2 squads from each group advance into knockout round?

Have things changed given increase to 48 countries in World Cup?
8 of the 12 third place teams will also advance to a round of 32. In the past the first knockout round was a round of 16.