Everything Soccer

[Rogue219]

Three best teams left in Europe are City, Liverpool and Chelsea. That said, I somehow feel like Real Madrid is going to get to the Final and that the pundits will absolutely favor Bayern if they face Liverpool in the semifinals.

Everyone is good at this point. You can't just show up and move on.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Three best teams left in Europe are City, Liverpool and Chelsea. That said, I somehow feel like Real Madrid is going to get to the Final and that the pundits will absolutely favor Bayern if they face Liverpool in the semifinals.

Everyone is good at this point. You can't just show up and move on.

 

[Rogue219]

Oh, I was supposed to include Bayern, right?

Forgive me, but they're kind of like a Purdue basketball player walking around a room full of 17 midgets.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Good vs bad tonight. We doing this?

 

[phillyirish]

Good vs bad tonight. We doing this?

First half impression on USMNT: Haven’t seen a worse collection of shots since dollar drink night at my college bar.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Oh shit.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Berhalter playing for the tie with his subs is the most Berhalter thing he could have done. Mexico was not good tonight but the US couldn't capitalize because of their coaching.

 

[notredomer23]

They missed McKennie tonight. Need a competent striker and this was a 2-0 match.

Nice to see Gio back. Most talented player in the pool and it’s not close

 

[phillyirish]

I’m done on all USMNT 9’s. Don’t think Reyna was even trying to be fancy on that beautiful run, just was done passing the ball to any teammates after Pefok shanked that gimme.

 

[sportallyr]

I’m done on all USMNT 9’s. Don’t think Reyna was even trying to be fancy on that beautiful run, just was done passing the ball to any teammates after Pefok shanked that gimme.

That run by Reyna was brilliant. I need to see it again, but I think he juked about 7 players on that one play. That could have been a goal of the year candidate had they been able to finish it with a ball in the back of the net! All things considered, I'll take a draw at Azteca anyday.

Costa Rica beating Canada does make things very interesting. US absolutely has to beat Panama this weekend. I really don't want to have to face Costa Rica on the road in a must-win game!

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

The US central striker position is cursed. Has to be. Essentially playing with 9 outfield players.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I think they would play better without a traditional striker. With everyone healthy they have to try to get the best attacking players on the field together including Weah, Mckennie, Reyna, Pulisic, Aaronson. I'd like to see some combination of all the above plus Adams and Musah on the field together.

 

[Rogue219]

Italy has lost 2 matches in their last 42 and they're missing another World Cup. Draws absolutely suck. Winning is better than not losing.

USMNT have shown they can knuckle up and fight. I want to see what's next. You're resilient. Cool. Give us more.

 

[Rogue219]

Really good thread here.

 

[phillyirish]

Really good thread here.

But it makes no sense, and seems as more of a reactionary, sky is falling mentality. So you need young talent to qualify for the World cup, but not to win the Euro? They just ended their 37 game undefeated streak this past summer. They are still a soccer power, just have been underwhelming in World Cup qualifications.

 

[Rogue219]

But it makes no sense, and seems as more of a reactionary, sky is falling mentality. So you need young talent to qualify for the World cup, but not to win the Euro? They just ended their 37 game undefeated streak this past summer. They are still a soccer power, just have been underwhelming in World Cup qualifications.

They were underwhelming in the Euros, too. The results papered over the cracks. They had to beat Spain and England in penalties. They've won one match in nine without Spinazzolla since he was injured against Belgium. One.

It isn't reactionary. You're seeing the people in power at the Calcio not relinquish it but they are not adapting either. Putting young players in Serie C has been happening for years. Serie A is weak, the top clubs are not advancing far into Champions League. These are symptoms that have plagued Italian Football for a long time now, which is what Carlo is pointing out. Winning the Euros sandwiched between missing two World Cups just shows the job Mancini has done. He's not the issue. He could be looking at getting another PL gig or a top flight club job again now.

Draws will kill you. If you play not to lose, you'll get plenty of them. The game, globally, has turned to a focus on attacking players and scoring goals. They don't have that right now and there isn't much coming up the pipeline either.

 

[Rogue219]

2006 World Cup Champions
2010 knocked out in group stage
2014 knocked out in group stage
2018 DNQ
2022 DNQ

Italy has a problem.

 

[ThePiombino]

Not that it's an excuse - they had plenty of chances yesterday, just didn't finish, but they were without quite a few significant players:

Chiesa
Belotti
Locatelli
Spinazzola
Bonucci
Di Lorenzo

If you include Chiellini who played despite being injured, that's the entire starting back line. Then couple that with Italy having maybe the most unproductive group of "9s" among all of Europe's elite, and a goalie who's currently on tilt because he chased the money in Paris instead of staying home. All you're left with is a midfield that's very good at moving the ball, but absolutely no one to service. No one in yesterday's squad has a scorer's touch, at least not on an international level. Berardi's miss on a wide open goal said it all - wasn't going to be Italy's night.

1st thing they need to do is figure out that striker position and who Chiellini and Bonucci's heir apparents are. Time for Immobile and Belotti to make way for Scamacca and Raspadori. Chiesa will be back, otherwise time for Berardi and Insigne to make way for Zaniolo. Also need to know who's next in MF other than Locatelli and Tonali.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[IrishLax]

I don't think Italy has issues, I think they got really unlucky with injuries and some other stuff not breaking their way. It really sucks for them that the world cup is only once every four years and has such a small pool of teams allowed in.

 

[ThePiombino]

I don't think Italy has issues, I think they got really unlucky with injuries and some other stuff not breaking their way. It really sucks for them that the world cup is only once every four years and has such a small pool of teams allowed in.

Injuries were huge (especially Chiesa IMO), but Italy very much has a problem. They have virtually no attack (supremely underperforming 9s) and the defense they were built on is on the verge of AARP eligibility. They don't have a very deep youth prospect pool either.

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[notredomer23]

US absolutely owning Panama tonight despite missing a bunch of key players or players playing with a stomach bug.

At this rate will have to lose by more than 6 in Costa Rica to not automatically qualify.

 

[Rogue219]

I don't think Italy has issues, I think they got really unlucky with injuries and some other stuff not breaking their way. It really sucks for them that the world cup is only once every four years and has such a small pool of teams allowed in.

They do. Winning the Euros papered over the cracks.

The issues catch up to the results. That's where they are.

 

[GowerND11]

US looked explosiva last night. It was a fun watch, even with letting in that consolation goal. All but qualified now. Want the win so we finish above Mexico.

 

[Rogue219]

It really was nice to see the USMNT come out and not jerk around.

Keep moving forward. Next, a result like last night against a relevant opponent in the future.

 

[Rogue219]

Manchester United: Erik ten Hag needs 'football club, not commercial club' - Louis van Gaal

Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal suggests Erik ten Hag should not move to the Red Devils because they are "a commercial club".

www.bbc.com

I realize his time there didn't end well, but regardless of that what he's saying isn't wrong as far as I'm concerned.

Whoever United hire next won't matter unless they have structure in the front office and start selling everyone off. They have a squad full of overpaid players with attitude problems that won't work hard.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Manchester United: Erik ten Hag needs 'football club, not commercial club' - Louis van Gaal

Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal suggests Erik ten Hag should not move to the Red Devils because they are "a commercial club".

www.bbc.com

I realize his time there didn't end well, but regardless of that what he's saying isn't wrong as far as I'm concerned.

Whoever United hire next won't matter unless they have structure in the front office and start selling everyone off. They have a squad full of overpaid players with attitude problems that won't work hard.

There is absolutey no right person to manage them unless the business people get out of the way and let the football people do the football. I don't think they should be making transfers based on business. If a guy doesn't fit the squad, what is the point? What was the point with Maguire, with Van de Beek, even Ronaldo? Who the hell knows (at least Ronaldo brings a professional attitude and has won something). Sancho is coming on lately, but that is mostly because there is no more Greenwood and the options are limited. I've read that the chopping block is rather large regardless of who comes in, but I think I'd rather have Ten Hag. Poch seems to have a bigger ego and I'm still hurting from Jose.

 

[Rogue219]

Where's the dance floor?

Senegal and Egypt both missed their first two kicks. Senegal won 3-1 in PK and are going to the World Cup.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

How the hell did they not stop the match while they figured that crap out? That's ridiculous.

 

[NorthDakota]

How the hell did they not stop the match while they figured that crap out? That's ridiculous.

Truly sad.

 

[GowerND11]

Appalling that the match wasn't stopped. Ref should have had the right to card Senegal, all of them, and if it continued, pause the game until fans are removed from the stadium.