2026 World Cup - USA team thread

Erial_Lion

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2021
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Something to consider…the margins get razor thin when you reach this point. I’ve read a few mention that we’ve gone backwards in the past 20 years since our 2002 team made the quarters…that team doesn’t get the break of South Korea scoring late against Portugal and we go home in the group stage. Would that have made the 02 team that much worse (obviously all would feel differently about them, even though we had zero control over that aspect)?

Senegal holds a 2-0 lead in the 85th minute and we’re playing them tonight. Suddenly, Belgium is a huge disappointment and we’ve got a very manageable game.
 

PSUForever

All-Conference
Feb 17, 2007
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Lloyd nails it. They weren’t ready at all. They got the proverbial punch in the mouth and folded. I’d feel so much better about our progress if we had just lost a competently played game like 2-0. We caned Paraguay, and handled Australia and Bosnia easily - playing with flair and intent - and then just pissed down our legs at the sight of Belgium. Belgium is quality and has our number, but they’re not a serious contender this year.
We made them look so much better than they are.

The dude who scored their first two goals looks to be 150 pounds and has never seen a free weight. Yet he is a soccer player with instincts, savviness and ball skills that our players don't have.

This game is a huge setback. At least look remotely competitive but instead it was a dumpster fire out there. Weak, weak effort and poor coaching to have them so ill prepared both mentally and physically.

Soccer purists, loyal fans whatever want us to get behind the USMNT? Well freaking show up and show some heart and grit in these biggest matches against top 15 teams. Don't fold like a cheap tent in the biggest moments.

All in all it was a fun ride and the team put forth a good/excellent effort up to this game. However, our overall progress on the global soccer stage is painfully slow, disjointed and inconsistent. This game showed me we are not close to the top global teams and I don't know how we will ever get to a point where we even can crack the quarterfinals in the WC.
 
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PSUForever

All-Conference
Feb 17, 2007
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I thought Lloyd did an amazing job--very honest, blunt. Many took a much softer approach.
Yep tell it the way it is. Totally not ready to play and compete. Scared, timid, no confidence to make a play. Pulisic needs to be called out. Unacceptable effort and performance by a supposed elite player and supposed super star.
 
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Tgar

Heisman
Nov 14, 2001
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One should hope most of the players she mentions get surpassed by players that are not yet part of the discussion. Luna will be 27 and Tgar maintains that the team needs a pit bull to complement the country club style they so prefer.

That team looked overwhelmed without a clue as to how to fight back until late in the game.
 

BobPSU92

Heisman
Aug 22, 2001
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One should hope most of the players she mentions get surpassed by players that are not yet part of the discussion. Luna will be 27 and Tgar maintains that the team needs a pit bull to complement the country club style they so prefer.

That team looked overwhelmed without a clue as to how to fight back until late in the game.

The U.S. looked timid all night. They looked like sh|t. Terrible way to end it.
 
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CyphaPSU

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2021
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How many of the current USMNT players play in a top professional league (i.e., Europe)?
If we broaden it out to guys who are in the player pool for the USMNT, we have about 21 playing in the top-5 leagues of Europe. There are additional guys I did not count who are technically eligible for the U.S. but not committed to the U.S., or are coming up through the ranks at top-5 league clubs.
 
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dcf4psu

All-Conference
Nov 7, 2003
963
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Was Pulisic healthy for this tournament? For advertising he was the face of the team, but in the games he was a non-factor from what I could tell (and I could be wrong since I'm not someone who follows the sport closely).
 

dcf4psu

All-Conference
Nov 7, 2003
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I thought the US defense was shaky at the end of the Australia match but AU couldn't take advantage. Belgium almost scored in the first minute and the US defense was shaky the entire match with the game Belgium played.
 
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