OT: USMNT vs. Panama

Submitted by BlueInGreenville on March 27th, 2022 at 3:31 PM

A huge game for the USMNT team today at we face Panama at 7pm in Orlando.  If we win and Costa Rica ties or loses in their game at El Salvador at 5pm, then we've officially qualified for the World Cup.  And even if Costa Rica wins, a USMNT win against Panama makes it extremely likely that we'll qualify, because we hold a commanding lead in goal differential. 

Berhalter rolled the dice and played an 'A' squad against Mexico on Thursday and the gamble mostly paid off.  Some interesting line-up questions for the Panama game, including:

  • Can he really play Pefok at the 9 after that comical miss in Azteca?  Pepi hasn't scored for months and Ferreira isn't the kind of aerial threat you want against a bunkered Panama side.
  • Does he continue to roll with Robinson and Zimmeran at CB?  If so, it's pretty much an endorsement of those two as the 'A' pairing.
  • Does he finally slot Reyna into an attacking midfield (8) role, especially given that McKennie is out injured?
  • Can inexperienced guys like Shaq Moore and Luca de la Torre be counted on to step up on this big of a stage?

Could be the biggest win in a long time...

  

JMo

March 27th, 2022 at 7:35 PM ^

That right there, Ferreira tracking back on Godoy and fighting for that possession, is why Pefok isn't playing and Jesus is. Good for him man.

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 21188

Daleppard

March 27th, 2022 at 7:40 PM ^

I was just in Peru the last 10 days and Thursday night we were on a bus taking us to our hotel after our flight was cancelled and there was extra time in the Peru - Uruguay game and the driver pulled over and jumped out and ran into a bar. When the game was over he came back out and finished taking us to our hotel. Saw my first true passion of soccer outside of the US. 

Go Blue!!

Joined: 10/26/2008

MGoPoints: 1907

uncle leo

March 27th, 2022 at 7:49 PM ^

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Joined: 07/29/2012

MGoPoints: 34636

MGlobules

March 27th, 2022 at 8:27 PM ^

Boy does the pre-game chatter cast doubt on the soccer expertise of some of the posters! :) We're currently the number 11 ranked team in the world, and dripping with youthful talent--that looks about right to me! Berhalter has worked this thing beautifully, in retrospect. 

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 48086

mexwolv

March 27th, 2022 at 9:05 PM ^

Mexico wins 1-0.

USA and Mexico are most certainly in unless Costa Rica routs the US or el Salvador routs Mexico, which seems highly unlikely.

Joined: 09/06/2014

MGoPoints: 6128

Solecismic

March 27th, 2022 at 10:47 PM ^

That draw in Mexico City turned out as critical as anything this team accomplished. Now, Costa Rica enters Wednesday's match essentially down, 6-0. A lot can happen, especially in a hostile stadium, but I think they can come up with a game plan to prevent that kind of result.

One thing about the expansion to 48 for 2026 - it means a lot less tension at this stage, and probably we learn a lot less about the team.

Joined: 11/27/2016

MGoPoints: 7594

JMo

March 27th, 2022 at 11:36 PM ^

You mean 32 right?  Because 26 we're autoqualified. That means we won't be playing a meaningful qualifier for 7 more years. 

The playing time some of these kids got this year has been immeasurable. Now I'm not saying that playing in Guatemala is somehow any more stressful than El Bernabeu, but someone like Jordan Pefok will be 33 in the next time the US has to qualify out of CONCACAF. He's likely played his last qualifier. Others will hopefully just be rounding into form. This team is just SO young.

 

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 21188