Open Thread: USA vs Costa Rica

Submitted by Brian Griese on
Starting right now on Bein or NBC Universo. Interesting side note, my DIRECTV package gives me Universo but not Bein, so I guess I'll brush up on my espanol tonight. Can the USA get back on track in the Hex?
MGoBoard
Other

Yeoman

November 15th, 2016 at 11:15 PM ^

That's what I thought but I wasn't sure and the qualifying regulations page at CONCACAF seems to be broken.

Europe uses H2H but I think they're the only continent that does. It makes sense for them, with San Marino and Gibraltar etc. out there in the final (and only) stage.

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21391

JClay

November 15th, 2016 at 10:49 PM ^

This is beautiful. To hell with soccer. To hell with USMNT. It would be so sweet if they miss the World Cup and I don't have to hear about these clowns for the next few years!!



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 09/14/2010

MGoPoints: 13753

truferblue22

November 15th, 2016 at 11:10 PM ^

I've never understood the fear of soccer that people have. if I said I liked tennis you would probably be like, "ok..I know nothing about tennis..have fun" and go on about your day. but if I say I like soccer all of a sudden you lose your fucking mind even though you could have easily clicked on by and minded your own business. I don't like baseball but if someone tells me they do I don't go apeshit on them and tell them I hate it and hope the Tigers never make the playoffs again. Chill.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 13364

M-Dog

November 16th, 2016 at 12:09 AM ^

It has nothing to do with soccer itself.  It's all political.

He doesn't like the people and countries that like soccer.  So he doesn't like soccer.

And to be fair, the people and countries that like soccer are often very quick to criticize "American" football.  They don't make it easy on themselves.

Can't we all just get along?

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257573

superstringer

November 15th, 2016 at 10:54 PM ^

This team is so bad its not even describable. And Im making up words, its that bad. Klinsman needs to be fired, but I have no hope that anyone can salvage this disaster. No defenders, no midfielders other than Pulisic. Jose needs to play with his back to the goal. Wood is ok. The rest of the lineup is total garbage.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 02/04/2009

MGoPoints: 18312

Yeoman

November 16th, 2016 at 10:02 AM ^

...because in Germany one of the criticisms was that he trotted the same lineup and tactics out there every single match without any consideration to what the opposition might be doing or any need of his own players for rest and rotation. It was a matter of principle for him, "imposing his will" as he said instead of allowing the opponent or the situation to dictate to him.

He's changed. Maybe even grown a bit, which isn't much consolation for US fans I'm sure.

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21391

drjaws

November 16th, 2016 at 12:46 AM ^

The US blows at soccer and will never be good at soccer. Our best athletes, some of the best in the universe, play other sports.

Also, because in other countries it's cool for little kids to go "academies" where they kinda play school but mostly play soccer for most of the year. They are groomed from a young age to be soccer player and we don't have that here, at least not for soccer.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 02/26/2014

MGoPoints: 47469

Humanity’s Mos…

November 16th, 2016 at 9:44 AM ^

Our nation's abundance of athleticism could overcome our lack of rich soccer culture, for sure. Problem is, our very best athletes aren't going to commit to the sport starting from a young age due to the lack of rich culture.

We've made great strides from top to bottom since I was a youth/HS player 30-40 years ago (the town I live in offers rec-level futsal in the winter now!). But progress has arrived at a snail's pace. It'd all move faster if the sport could steal more talent from football, baseball, basketball ...

 

Joined: 08/04/2016

MGoPoints: 155

Yeoman

November 16th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^

How many of the great soccer players of the world are great athletes in the US sense? Can you even imagine a Messi or Neymar playing American football? I can see them as really good high school basketball players but then "measurables" would come into play and that'd probably be the end of their athletic careers here.

Soccer is largely a game of technique and understanding, not athleticism. The problem isn't whether our "very best athletes" are playing the game, it's what the other 300 million people are doing.

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21391

uncle leo

November 16th, 2016 at 9:16 AM ^

Is one of the more talented teams that the US have had on paper in awhile. Pulisic, Green, Wood, Brooks (when he's not drinking before the game, see Copa America), Nagbe. Typically, the US teams of the past are filled with good role guys that played above their weight and lacked finishing touch.

This team has a ton of skill, but there is no fire or consistency from the players.

I stuck up for Klinsmann forever. I was one of the last owners of the flip phone. It's time for him to go. 

Joined: 07/29/2012

MGoPoints: 34636

MGlobules

November 16th, 2016 at 9:20 AM ^

in this regard. That's as much talent, even creative talent, as we've had up front in a long, long time. Yes, Klinsmann has been repeatedly unmasked as a poor tactitian, but the truth is we don't possess the talent to win on the world stage. The rest of the world is obsessed with soccer and getting better and better at it. Teams that play together a lot are going to be more cohesive, often, than our teams. Women's soccer has blown the doors off of the world because it became the number one sport for women in this country--filled a huge vaccum, propelled by Title IX. Nothing like it happening here.

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 48086

uncle leo

November 16th, 2016 at 9:33 AM ^

To be the best of the best, but they got enough to make a run. Look at what Costa Rica did last WC. They were a goal post away from beating Brazil and getting to the semis. I know they have talent on that team, but they are somewhat similar to USA's level. 

And I'll never accept the argument that there aren't enough players focused on soccer in the country. A soccer team fields 11 guys, and you have what, 10 on the bench? You mean to tell me that in a country with 320 million people (yes, I know there are old people, women, kids, etc...) you can't dig up a starting 11 with top-flight skill? 

The frustrating part is I think they do have it. They have Wood, Green, Pulisic, Brooks (yes, he is a talented player), Zelalem, etc... But there is no idea on how to use them. There's a constant need from JK to play guys like Wondo, Jermaine Jones, Kyle Beckerman, and not give the young guys a consistent look.

Joined: 07/29/2012

MGoPoints: 34636

Yeoman

November 16th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^

Is the goal to someday get lucky and "make a run," or is it to actually have a chance to win the trophy?

There is not a single player on the US team that would be considered for a spot in Germany's (or Brazil's, or Spain's, or any other country that's won a cup in the last half century) training camp. Outside of goalies, there has never been one. (Pulisic would play on their youth team, which is either a sign of real progress or a one-off great player.)

 

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21391

Yeoman

November 16th, 2016 at 9:46 AM ^

No national team plays together a lot. Games and practices have to be squeezed into international breaks; cohesiveness is a problem everywhere.

The US has played 19 matches this year; they played 20 in 2015. Germany played 16 this year, 10 last. If the Germans seem more cohesive it's not because they get more time together.

And I don't think it's simply that Löw is a better coach than Klinsmann (although I think he clearly is). It's easier to fit together players of that class.

 

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21391

uncle leo

November 16th, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^

Chemistry. Even though Argentina went far last cup, why is it that they can NEVER win a big tournament? It's because they are so heavily reliant on Messi that if he falters, the team drags down. Portugal has had the same problem until this year's Euro.

The USA has never had an issue with togetherness until now. They always seemed to punch above their weight on the big stage with their massive talent gap. Now, they actually have some players, a few of which can be considered top-flight. If the coach knew how to do formations and build the team correctly, they could be really good. 

Brazil probably has the most talent constructed in the world. And in 2014, they were dismantled by a team that while it has a lot of skill, they know each other up and down and know exactly where to go. 

Joined: 07/29/2012

MGoPoints: 34636

Yeoman

November 16th, 2016 at 10:17 AM ^

I'm including tactical understanding under "talent." That abiliity of the current German squad to "know each other up and down and know exactly where to go" isn't simply instilled during national team training; the players bring that understanding and adaptability with them into camp. It's a primary focus of their youth programs and they're better at it than anyone else except the Dutch, who pioneered that kind of training.

 

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21391

uncle leo

November 16th, 2016 at 9:37 AM ^

But there are rumors floating around about if the USMNT lost 2 in a row to open the Hex, they would give Bruce Arena a call and he'd accept in a second.

I'd love that as a short-term gap for this WC. He's not super old either (65) so he could possibly go through the next cycle.

Joined: 07/29/2012

MGoPoints: 34636