2022 USMNT Thread

[NineOneSeven]

Choosing Qatar for the WC is one of the stupidest sporting decisions ever made. Who ever could have seen this coming...

Uhh... literally everyone.

 

[upperdeck]

has the betting line moved at all on this game? I wonder why some random number 7.4 million? and how does bribing 4-5 guys control the game to 1-0? The goalie can allow goals be cant really control 1 being the only goal.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Choosing Qatar for the WC is one of the stupidest sporting decisions ever made. Who ever could have seen this coming...

Uhh... literally everyone.

On the one hand I’m very angry at Qatar for this last second reversal. On the other hand I’m thrilled at how stupid FIFA looks for being the frog deciding to hitch a ride on the back of a scorpion.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

I can't imagine how I'd feel if I spent $10K or so to go to the World Cup, and then there's no alcohol, except places far from the stadiums.

BYOB! That’s even better.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

has the betting line moved at all on this game? I wonder why some random number 7.4 million? and how does bribing 4-5 guys control the game to 1-0? The goalie can allow goals be cant really control 1 being the only goal.

I think the point is Ecuador isn’t likely to allow any goals to Qatar. 1-0 would be the most realistic winning score if you are Qatar. 7.4 million seems light though. Not if you got that Qatar money

 

[STEVEHOLT]

“Champagne, wine, whiskey and other alcohol is still expected to be served in the luxury hospitality areas of the stadiums. Outside of those places, beer is normally the only alcohol sold to regular ticket holders.”

Ok. What ? So it’s a ban for average schmo but the elite will still be getting the ETOH fix

 

[upperdeck]

“Champagne, wine, whiskey and other alcohol is still expected to be served in the luxury hospitality areas of the stadiums. Outside of those places, beer is normally the only alcohol sold to regular ticket holders.”

Ok. What ? So it’s a ban for average schmo but the elite will still be getting the ETOH fix

selling beer vs providing alcohol..

 

[STEVEHOLT]

selling beer vs providing alcohol..

Really. That’s supposed to make them feel good about themselves. They “provide” the alcohol because it’s factored into the sale of the suite use. Still selling

 

[orange79]

Are we doing a World Cup thread or just use this thread?

Qatar just banned all alcohol just 48 hours before kick. FIFA and the government of Qatar are a different level of awful

Fans rage as beer abruptly banned from World Cup

The sale of all beer with alcohol at the eight World Cup stadiums was banned Friday, only two days before the soccer tournament is set to start.

nypost.com

It would probably not weigh this thread down as much if there was a separate thread. Then people could decide whether to use this thread or that one for USMNT games.

Here's the thread I created.

 

[IthacaMatt]

BYOB! That’s even better.

You can't get it through customs.

 

[sutomcat]

Here is the schedule for the team:

DATE		MATCHUP		TIME (ET)	STADIUM	TV
Nov. 21	United States	vs.	Wales	2 p.m.	Al-Rayyan	Fox/Telemundo via fuboTV
Nov. 25	England	vs.	United States	2 p.m.	Al Bayt	Fox/Telemundo via fuboTV
Nov. 29	Iran	vs.	United States	2 p.m.	Al Bayt	Fox/Telemundo via fuboTV

 

[IthacaMatt]

has the betting line moved at all on this game? I wonder why some random number 7.4 million? and how does bribing 4-5 guys control the game to 1-0? The goalie can allow goals be cant really control 1 being the only goal.

It's not a random number. $7.4M equals 8 million Euros = 1 million Euros per man. The reporter said that 8 guys were bribed.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Leeds coach Jesse Marsch with an interview talking about the US's prospects, and noting similarities to how he coaches his team. (Future US MNT coach, IMO.)

Jesse Marsch talks up Leeds United and USA similarities ahead of England clash

Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch spoke out on his side ahead of the World Cup starting on Sunday evening

www.leeds-live.co.uk

 

[IthacaMatt]

Telegraph article on US Bracing for Bale:

https://www.macon.com/sports/article268973662.html

Berhalter rectifies the mistake made by Jurgen Klinsmann in 2014.

'We can beat anyone' at our best: USMNT's Berhalter talks World Cup hopes

USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter discusses his prep and planning for any situation he might experience during the World Cup.

www.espn.co.uk

Nice tactical analysis from The Analyst:

USA vs. Wales: Prediction and Preview | Opta Analyst

We look ahead to this Group B match at 2022 World Cup with our USA vs Wales prediction and preview. Who will win?

theanalyst.com

 

[Forza Azzurri]

Telegraph article on US Bracing for Bale:

https://www.macon.com/sports/article268973662.html

Berhalter rectifies the mistake made by Jurgen Klinsmann in 2014.

'We can beat anyone' at our best: USMNT's Berhalter talks World Cup hopes

USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter discusses his prep and planning for any situation he might experience during the World Cup.

www.espn.co.uk

Nice tactical analysis from The Analyst:

USA vs. Wales: Prediction and Preview | Opta Analyst

We look ahead to this Group B match at 2022 World Cup with our USA vs Wales prediction and preview. Who will win?

theanalyst.com

With the news that we are fully healthy, we should be able to advance out of the group.

Hopefully we stay healthy, avoid card-related suspensions and Berhalter does not try to outsmart himself tactically.

We should be able to beat both Wales and Iran.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Personal profiles of the members of the USMNT, along with select clips.

Who am I rooting for? — A newcomer’s guide to the USMNT

A look at the players representing the USA at this year’s World Cup.

www.starsandstripesfc.com

If you're an MLS fan, here are 3 players who you should keep an eye on.

3 MLS Players Watch For The United States In Qatar

USA Today says maybe this is our best ever team, at least on paper:

NewsNow: Loading story...

In this article, The Athletic talks about the US's approach - having multiple captains helps spread the responsibility and not place it all on just one guy.

The USMNT brotherhood of the traveling armband

The USMNT captain's armband isn't affixed to any one specific arm, creating a unique leadership structure for a World Cup team

theathletic.com

 

[kirbivore]

Need a new coach by 2026. This guy sucks.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Need a new coach by 2026. This guy sucks.

We only need a new coach if they pick someone better, not another MLS coach, but a European or South American coach who somehow is also familiar with MLS and Latin-speaking countries.

 

[OrangeFoo]

We only need a new coach if they pick someone better, not another MLS coach, but a European or South American coach who somehow is also familiar with MLS and Latin-speaking countries.

The main concern with not picking a new coach is that we need to ensure the entire talent pool is evaluated objectively without any previous biases.This is cycle of 4 years poses a unique issue in soccer specifically because players can come in and out of form so easily from year to year. Also specific to the US... we are still maturing as a soccer nation so there is a high chance that there is someone worth looking at who is up and coming. It's really hard for one coach to do a full reset and truly reevaluate the talent pool.

This has nothing to do with Berhalter specifically... any coach is at risk for this issue. It's human nature.

 

[PoppyHart]

Do the US, Canada & Mexico all get auto-bids in 2026? How many other bids will CONCACAF get?

 

[cusefan88]

We only need a new coach if they pick someone better, not another MLS coach, but a European or South American coach who somehow is also familiar with MLS and Latin-speaking countries.

I don't think the forces at the top of USSF want a foreign coach. Sunil Gulati loved Klinsmann. I just don't see it. The leaders probably want an American coach at the helm.

The thing is that Berhalter is not close to being the best American manager nor was he the best manager in MLS.

Jim Curtin (Philadelphia Union) I think is significantly better than Berhalter.

 

[sutomcat]

Do the US, Canada & Mexico all get auto-bids in 2026? How many other bids will CONCACAF get?

I don't think it has officially been announced but it is assumed by many that this will happen (all three will get auto-bids).

As to how many other bids CONCACAF will get, it appears that has also not been decided yet. But this site says 6 all told.

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

On 31 August 2022, during a visit to Guatemala, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that six CONCACAF teams will qualify for the World Cup, including Canada, Mexico, and the United States as hosts. Also, two CONCACAF teams will go to the inter-confederation play-offs.[4][5]

Do USMNT, Canada have to qualify for 2026 World Cup? Rules, format for FIFA tournament in USA and North America | Sporting News

With the 2026 World Cup set to be the largest in history, FIFA has officially determined how qualification will be structured with regards to the three joint hosts.

www.sportingnews.com

 

[IthacaMatt]

I think the next step for the US National Team is to hire a South American coach.

MLS has become a great intermediate stepping stone for young players from Argentina, Brazil and Columbia who are maybe not ready for the Big 5 leagues in Europe. Players are more likely to get playing time to develop their quality, and put themselves in the shop window for European clubs. The league is financially stable and they can make a nice living for a young player in the US.

There are a handful of South American managers in MLS right now, and there have been others in the last 5-10 years who have maybe gone on to bigger things, like Tata Martinez (Argentina, Barcelona, Mexico). I think he's kind of stale and used up, but if we could find a younger version of him, I think it would really improve our tactics as a team.

Gonzalo Pineda is a young 40 year old coach for Atlanta United. In a season and a half, his team has performed like a mid-table team, at a little less than a point-and-a-half a game. He was a good player for Mexico and won some trophies as a defensive midfielder in MLS. Changed to US Citizenship. I see a couple guys from Spain coaching in MLS, too (the Dallas Coach, Nico Estavez, only 42).

Do you guys who follow MLS closer than me have an ideas about up-and-comers that we should be thinking about, as a more offensively sophisticated alternative to Berhalter and MLS American-raised coaches?

Hernan Losada at DC United, Oscar Pareja at Orlando City, Matias Almeyda, San Jose Earthquakes, Giovanni Savarese of Portland. Could any of these guys be the next USMNT Coach? Would any of them be improvements over Berhalter?

 

[OrangeFoo]

I was listening to the football show this morning and they mentioned that the three hosts in 26 will join Copa America and they speculate it will get moved to the United States. If true, that’s huge for squad developmen.

Report: United States to Host, Play in 2024 Copa América

Mexico and Canada are also expected to play as guest participants. The U.S. hosted the centennial celebration of the tournament in 2016.

frontofficesports.com

 

[IthacaMatt]

I was listening to the football show this morning and they mentioned that the three hosts in 26 will join Copa America and they speculate it will get moved to the United States. If true, that’s huge for squad developmen.

Report: United States to Host, Play in 2024 Copa América

Mexico and Canada are also expected to play as guest participants. The U.S. hosted the centennial celebration of the tournament in 2016.

frontofficesports.com

That is wonderful news! Gives us a competitive tournament to play in.