⚽⚽⚽Official 2026 World Cup Thread⚽⚽⚽
- Thread starter QChawks
- Start date
I can see Trump getting involved. (Only half-joking)
I've watched most of the Knockout Round. We're probably the most live by the sword team of those that have won so far, and we're not even close to the most technically sound.
That said, the one thing we do have going for us is the fact that opponents will not be used to the unpredictability and creativity of this particular U.S. team.
What happens though when we run into a more fundamentally and tactically sound opponent that can counter and create for themselves on the other end? That's where the high risk, high reward can get us in trouble.
That and we've been able to skate by (albeit give some credit to the defense and goal keeping) on the limited chances our opponents have had (Turkey game aside).
Again what happens against a better attacking team that puts pressure on Freese and the back end?
Doesn't mean we can't compete with most teams in this tournament, however, which is definitely saying something given well basically almost the entire previous history of U.S. soccer.
I'll add that this World Cup is proving that outside of the few elite teams that will probably be in the semies/finals, the gap in talent worldwide is noticeably closing.
Time for Pulisic to finally have his moment, even though he'll have an even bigger target on his back without Balogun.
You just know that the dumb effer is going to tweet or say something.
My worthless rankings:
Freese 6 - I think I'm being generous giving him a 6 today because he kept the clean sheet. He was a total spaz today and was saved by some work particularly from the center backs. He must be better next game. Some credit to Bosnia for the pressure they put him under and make him think because it gave Belgium a blueprint for set pieces.
Ream 7 - I thought this was his best game of the tournament. Won tackles, intercepted passes, blocked a shot in a crucial situation when up 1-0.
Richards 7.5 - I thought he did all the same as Ream and was even better in the air. Blocked a shot on Freese's spaz.
Freeman 6.5- nothing to negative. Defended well and kept attacks outside. Solid overall game but nothing super impressive either.
Adams 7.5 - he was all over the mid. Did a great job of distributing and played well as a pivot but also won tackles and 50-50s. Forced Bosnia into bad decisions.
McKennie 7.5- how he was able to keep going at the end of the game is nuts. He made so many things happen and has matured a ton. He will be the X factor vs Belgium.
Dest 6.5 - almost a fantastic assist and honestly saw a ton of the ball in the first half. Kind of got lost in the 2nd and really had no place after the red.
Robinson 6 - I love Robinson. He is one of my top players but this tournament continues to be rough for him on the ball. I think it is awesome he is so versatile and was able to play in his normal role as an outside back when needed.
Pulisic 6.5 - magical, creative, daring... covered all that but didn't get on the ball enough to make a major impact. Limited by fitness and the red card making him play up top.
Tillman 8.5 - my MOTM for sure. That free kick was so good. Top class to get it up and down from so close. It wasn't just that though. He was winning balls well out of the air and on the ground. Helped a ton in the pressure up top.
Balogun 7.5 - Goal was class and could have (maybe should have) had one more. I'm so mad about the red card. That hasn't been called that way ALL TOURNAMENT. To lose him against Belgium sucks bad.
Subs
Pepi 5.5 - he won a ball up top once and ran hard. He also lost the ball on his only chance to keep it in the box. This is going to be like having your high school sweetheart get sick the day before prom and having to go with her boring cousin who can't score goals either. I'm always rooting for Pepi but I never see it. I will keep pounding the drum for Hadji Wright. (Maybe we go 2 up top?)
Berlhalter 6 - a little shaky on defense in the box but did his job for the most part. He has played in all 4 games now. I would not have guessed that.
Gio NR - no real impact, came in the 90th.
Poch 7 - okay... you got us where we should be. We have proven again that we are a top 16 team. Now what? Can we get over the hump that we have only done once before in modern history? I thought he managed the game well under tough circumstances today.
Freese 6 - I think I'm being generous giving him a 6 today because he kept the clean sheet. He was a total spaz today and was saved by some work particularly from the center backs. He must be better next game. Some credit to Bosnia for the pressure they put him under and make him think because it gave Belgium a blueprint for set pieces.
Ream 7 - I thought this was his best game of the tournament. Won tackles, intercepted passes, blocked a shot in a crucial situation when up 1-0.
Richards 7.5 - I thought he did all the same as Ream and was even better in the air. Blocked a shot on Freese's spaz.
Freeman 6.5- nothing to negative. Defended well and kept attacks outside. Solid overall game but nothing super impressive either.
Adams 7.5 - he was all over the mid. Did a great job of distributing and played well as a pivot but also won tackles and 50-50s. Forced Bosnia into bad decisions.
McKennie 7.5- how he was able to keep going at the end of the game is nuts. He made so many things happen and has matured a ton. He will be the X factor vs Belgium.
Dest 6.5 - almost a fantastic assist and honestly saw a ton of the ball in the first half. Kind of got lost in the 2nd and really had no place after the red.
Robinson 6 - I love Robinson. He is one of my top players but this tournament continues to be rough for him on the ball. I think it is awesome he is so versatile and was able to play in his normal role as an outside back when needed.
Pulisic 6.5 - magical, creative, daring... covered all that but didn't get on the ball enough to make a major impact. Limited by fitness and the red card making him play up top.
Tillman 8.5 - my MOTM for sure. That free kick was so good. Top class to get it up and down from so close. It wasn't just that though. He was winning balls well out of the air and on the ground. Helped a ton in the pressure up top.
Balogun 7.5 - Goal was class and could have (maybe should have) had one more. I'm so mad about the red card. That hasn't been called that way ALL TOURNAMENT. To lose him against Belgium sucks bad.
Subs
Pepi 5.5 - he won a ball up top once and ran hard. He also lost the ball on his only chance to keep it in the box. This is going to be like having your high school sweetheart get sick the day before prom and having to go with her boring cousin who can't score goals either. I'm always rooting for Pepi but I never see it. I will keep pounding the drum for Hadji Wright. (Maybe we go 2 up top?)
Berlhalter 6 - a little shaky on defense in the box but did his job for the most part. He has played in all 4 games now. I would not have guessed that.
Gio NR - no real impact, came in the 90th.
Poch 7 - okay... you got us where we should be. We have proven again that we are a top 16 team. Now what? Can we get over the hump that we have only done once before in modern history? I thought he managed the game well under tough circumstances today.
Just a reminder the golden child did this game 1 without one review
That is as stupid as stupid gets.
Not to turn this political, but I'll go full MAGA if Trump sends the refs to Gitmo for that red card
We are ****** against Belgium. Literally no one can score, outside Balogun. Pepi is absolute garbage. Have to go old school USA and muck up the **** out of the game and hope for PKs.
Stop being so negative! Balogun loss sucks, but it is possible Tillman, Pulisic, Pepi and others step up to fill the void. They will have to.
USA USA USA!!!!!!!
We have enough subs we can just get more red cards and injure all their best players so they have no chance of scoring. That could work!
We can. They are old and slow, US is young and spry.
Seattle will be an INSANE atmosphere. 12th Man level.
Ream played his agitator role late so well. Mucked things up, got salty, generally distracted Bosnia during critical late time. Doesn’t show up on a stat sheet but is
Useful.
I don't think it's that dire.
Belgium has struggled to score as well. They dropped 5 against one of, if not the, lowest ranked teams. They were getting whooped for 85 min today before they got two goals when Senegal mentally shut down thinking they won. Never turned it back on.
Belgium has aging legs and we have been waiting years to get back at these guys.
Plus, this is the world cup. Anything can happen.
Eff it. Win anyway.
Wake up pissed off. And use it as a rallying cry. Tighten the ranks and win anyway. This is America 250, man. Washington crossing the Delaware. I bet a few of those Hessians were Belgian. Sweet 16. Lets go!
Wake up pissed off. And use it as a rallying cry. Tighten the ranks and win anyway. This is America 250, man. Washington crossing the Delaware. I bet a few of those Hessians were Belgian. Sweet 16. Lets go!
I jumped up when he had that crucial save too! 100% Tim's best match of the cup. He's going out with a bang! ...loved the saltiness towards the end too. Glad you brought it up.
At some point Pulisic is going to need to be the player he has been billed as.
We need the guy who subbed in during the Turkey match, but we need him for at least 70 min!
I agree. I think you know my intent when I say great players show more than glimpses. He is a good player but with Balogun out CP is going to have to be the guy.
Not the guy who plays well, not the guy who passes the ball, not the "heart" or the "engine" or any other dumb word thst gets thrown around. Christian is going to have to put the ball in the back of the net.
"10c for a passer, 50c for a goal scorer"
I thought he was that player the first half against Paraguay. He created and was dangerous that entire first half.
my son and I were talking about this during the game
He’s so much more reliable. Used to be one of those players who could make a great play and then do something really, really stupid in the span of a few minutes. Always seemed like he was on the cusp of getting into some unnecessary extracurricular activities. Don’t feel that way now.
Dude…I love ya but you might be the most pessimistic person I’ve ever seen.
Dude…I love ya but you might be the most pessimistic person I’ve ever seen.
You should see him and qchawks in Iowa game threads.
Yep. Pulisic was dominant and the clear best player on the field during the first half of the Paraguay game. We need that version of Christian next Monday.
