2026 World Cup - USA team thread

Erial_Lion

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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

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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

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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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