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OT: We may win the World Cup in 2026

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ru109

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Sep 18, 2011
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we've just been outplayed. No idea what the heck we've been doing. lots of standing around instead of going after the ball.

Of course we know that if this was Rutgers football everyone would be blaming Schiano saying he was outcoached rather than just blaming the players.
 
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T2Kplus20

T2Kplus20

Heisman
May 1, 2007
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RUPete90 said:
It’s just his hobby - it’s what he does. If the Yankees ever fire Cashman, I’m not sure what he’ll do. 😂
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Erial_Lion

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2021
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Three Achilles heels that worried me heading in…Goalkeeping, our back line, and Pulisic’s durability. All three were exposed tonight.

We pretty much met my expectations for the tournament…round of 16, and lost to a better team. There was a time when I worried if we’d even do that, but disappointing now that we made it here that we didn’t go further.

Looking ahead…A few guys will age out, but most of the core is back (though it’ll be one final run in 2030). Need to find a an upgrade at goalkeeper, need to lock down Banks, need a Ream replacement (see Banks comment), need Luna to keep developing, would be great if Musah finds it again, etc.

We play Belgium in Seattle 10 times and we likely beat them 4-5 of them…but Belgium really upped their game from what we’ve seen, and we didn’t match it. Tillman played really well, but we needed more to match that level.

Will be interested to see who is coaching us in 2027, but Gold Cup only 11 months away.
 
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Anon1753410373

Freshman
Jul 24, 2025
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Such a contrast from the Mex-England game last night that was balls to the wall.

US played timid/tight and not to lose.

Belgium was physical and there was contact with every American touch whereas the US players were too cute. Not a good night at all.
 
e5fdny

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
114,788
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ru109 said:
we've just been outplayed. No idea what the heck we've been doing. lots of standing around instead of going after the ball.

Of course we know that if this was Rutgers football everyone would be blaming Schiano saying he was outcoached rather than just blaming the players.
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Which I never understood.

When it pertains to Rutgers football, it’s the helmets AND the headsets who share the blame.
 
RUnTeX

RUnTeX

All-Conference
Dec 21, 2001
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There's always the Rugby World Cup next year being held down under.

Will be tough for the American side but hope springs eternal.
 
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Erial_Lion

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Nov 1, 2021
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My 2030 World Cup opener lineup…

———————-Kochen———————————
Freeman—-Banks—-Richards—Robinson
———-Tessman——Cardoso———————
Tillman————-Luna———————-Pulisic
———————-Balogun——————————

Reyna, Sullivan, Weah, Adams, Brady(GK) right there too
 
E

Erial_Lion

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Although should someone start the “we might win it in 2038” thread for the next time we host?

Also sounds like South America might come back to the money tree and bring another Copa America here in 2028.
 
T2Kplus20

T2Kplus20

Heisman
May 1, 2007
32,155
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Erial_Lion said:
My 2030 World Cup opener lineup…

———————-Kochen———————————
Freeman—-Banks—-Richards—Robinson
———-Tessman——Cardoso———————
Tillman————-Luna———————-Pulisic
———————-Balogun——————————

Reyna, Sullivan, Weah, Adams, Brady(GK) right there too
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Gotta lose in the Round of 16.....again.
 
R

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
65,346
44,390
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Erial_Lion said:
Three Achilles heels that worried me heading in…Goalkeeping, our back line, and Pulisic’s durability. All three were exposed tonight.

We pretty much met my expectations for the tournament…round of 16, and lost to a better team. There was a time when I worried if we’d even do that, but disappointing now that we made it here that we didn’t go further.

Looking ahead…A few guys will age out, but most of the core is back (though it’ll be one final run in 2030). Need to find a an upgrade at goalkeeper, need to lock down Banks, need a Ream replacement (see Banks comment), need Luna to keep developing, would be great if Musah finds it again, etc.

We play Belgium in Seattle 10 times and we likely beat them 4-5 of them…but Belgium really upped their game from what we’ve seen, and we didn’t match it. Tillman played really well, but we needed more to match that level.

Will be interested to see who is coaching us in 2027, but Gold Cup only 11 months away.
Click to expand...
Good points. Turner is a better keeper from the perspective of making saves, but Freese is better coming out of the box and with his feet...until the debacle tonight, which is unacceptable. But yes, keeper was always a question mark.

The back line was everyone's Achilles Heel concern and that seriously reared its head tonight - have to somehow get much better there. As mildone (who knows more about soccer than anyone I know - watched the match with him tonight) has been saying for a few years, Miles Robinson was our best defender and distributor of the ball from the back until he tore his Achilles and unfortunately, he's never been quite the same. We'll struggle to beat very good teams without a much better back line and keeper.

And while Reyna had his moment in the first game, I still don't know why Luna didn't make the team - love his game and we needed players with better ball skills all over the field tonight and that's what he excels at. Our midfield just didn't play well and that had been a strength. As Poch said, sometimes you just have a bad day - we made more unforced errors/giveaways today than in the first 3 games - yes some of that is Belgium being very good, but some of it was just inexplicably bad play. And unfortunately, Belgium who are very good, had a very good day (especially going with the younger, high energy guys). Oh well. Still lots of great matches to go.
 
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Erial_Lion

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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.
 
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Kbe4

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Nov 25, 2025
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RU848789 said:
Good points. Turner is a better keeper from the perspective of making saves, but Freese is better coming out of the box and with his feet...until the debacle tonight, which is unacceptable. But yes, keeper was always a question mark.

The back line was everyone's Achilles Heel concern and that seriously reared its head tonight - have to somehow get much better there. As mildone (who knows more about soccer than anyone I know - watched the match with him tonight) has been saying for a few years, Miles Robinson was our best defender and distributor of the ball from the back until he tore his Achilles and unfortunately, he's never been quite the same. We'll struggle to beat very good teams without a much better back line and keeper.

And while Reyna had his moment in the first game, I still don't know why Luna didn't make the team - love his game and we needed players with better ball skills all over the field tonight and that's what he excels at. Our midfield just didn't play well and that had been a strength. As Poch said, sometimes you just have a bad day - we made more unforced errors/giveaways today than in the first 3 games - yes some of that is Belgium being very good, but some of it was just inexplicably bad play. And unfortunately, Belgium who are very good, had a very good day (especially going with the younger, high energy guys). Oh well. Still lots of great matches to go.
Click to expand...
Mildone was the most knowledgeable poster on soccer that this board has ever seen IMO. It would have been interesting to hear his perspective on the Balogun suspension/non-suspension. And lots of other stuff.
He's just one of many posters that never made the jump to this new version of the board.
Sad.
 
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RAC93

All-American
Aug 11, 2023
3,220
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US played with no grit, toughness against Belgium. A great example of perseverance and grit was Cape Verde against Argentina, Mexico as well showed great fight against England. US played as if it had vacation plans already made and needed to get to SeaTac to catch flights. Belgium could have had 5-6 goals, we generated little to no offense and scored off a deflection from a set piece. I was impressed by Cape Verde and said that was a win for them after the game even in a loss on the scoreboard. The US output tonight was like a fart in the wind 💨, poof and it’s gone.
 
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Postman_1

Postman_1

Heisman
Mar 12, 2017
8,301
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USA was way overrated and it showed. It’s hard for me to get into the sport but the World Cup is exciting. I do not like the offsides rule at all. I think that should be changed to something similar to hockey. I’m not the only one saying that either. The players diving and a game that gets decided on penalty kicks also turn me off.
In 4 years it will be the same thing all over again I fear. It’s just not our sport. It was still fun while it lasted for USA.
 
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