That game was rough in more ways than one. I feel like both teams didn’t deserve to win that one.
Very good chance we get a Panama-Jamaica final after Wednesday’s games.
2 Likes
Both Canada and US were playing their B teams so I didn’t bother watching. I thought the US second string would be much better than Canada’s so was surprised it was close.
The US definitely looked like the better team, but it’s also a very young team compared to Canada’s roster last night and that definitely showed, they looked very flustered at times and could have easily given up another goal or two from miscues.
I think Panama will be very similar and they are coming off more rest and a much easier QF game, they won’t be an easy out.
USA still has their A-Team 'keeper, which came in pretty handy (literally!!).
Even Matt Turner couldn’t save the US team.
More importantly, only a week or so until the Women’s World Cup.
Poor b-team.
Yup, i have the TiVo set up, as i’ll be out that night, doing other soccer stuff.
At least the first two USA matches in the group stage are watchable in real time on the West Coast. Only Canada’s first match against Nigeria is.
The most interesting group stage match for Canada will be against Australia on July 31 at 3 am Vancouver time. Fortunately I will be in Toronto then so it will be a more humane 6 am start.
Panama played really well. Probably the least mad I’ve been about a US loss in a long time. Hoping they can take down Mexico in the final.
Pulisic takes a pay cut to play for AC Milan:
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37943676/usa-christian-pulisic-ac-milan-transfer-chelsea
ESPN reported on June 30 that Pulisic had agreed terms in principle with Milan and was willing to take a significant pay cut to help facilitate a move.
This is USMNT’s best player, allegedly. Oh, well.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38001550/christian-pulisic-wish-chelsea-gave-more-opportunity
You get opportunities when you are the best option. CHE decided to purchase more options after they signed you, which kind of sucked, but it also forced you to become the better option, which you failed. That is top-level soccer for you, not MLS retirement.
1 Like
Lots of excellent Americans and Canadians playing on good European clubs but none that I would classify as superstars: I think that may happen eventually. There are some really gifted teenagers playing for our national teams.
Agree. Wish Leeds stayed up and Adams, McKennie and Aronson were in EPL. Adams has to get off Leeds. Happy Pulisic will get more time and play CL and hope Dest plays better w Pulisic there. Need Balogun to play in meaningful games not just EFL and FA Cup.
US soccer is moving it’s HQ from Chicago. Rumor is that Atlanta is the frontrunner, but Cary NC is also reportedly in the mix
It would be an intruiging decision to move to an area with no men’s MLS team. Charlotte’s not that close to Cary.
A little young to be retiring. Such aspiring talk about this kid a couple of years ago.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38128561/usa-forward-hoppe-joins-san-jose-loan-middlesbrough
USAMNT were pretty meh. Don’t know how to play as a team. Defense got lucky several times.
Gonna play friendlies for four years. Some Gold Cups, Nations Leagues, Copa.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38368990/how-does-us-soccer-keep-winning-dual-nationals
Simple: They want to play a long time for a National Team. Can’t do that when other players are better than you.
- Those who could have played for better National Teams wouldn’t have played much for those National Teams (Balogun).
- Those that could play for lesser National Teams will get a legitimate shot (I mean, they are being actively recruited) at playing for a better one, (Boyd)
Interesting take of the 2018 failure:
There is, of course, a danger in upsetting the delicate chemistry of a locker room. The failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup can, at some level, be traced to a team broken into factions, faults caused partially due to place of birth.
“We felt like [recruiting dual nationals] might be a bit of a shortcut for us to get a lot better immediately,” Rongen said. “The talk internally was where do we draw the line because we want to be very conscious of the fact that we also promote and develop players who came through the American system.”
Hey, no one gets on “just because.” You are the best available player for the team at that time, according to the coaching staff. I hope Reyna realizes this.
No competitive matches until November. Lots of current duals keeping their options open.
It’s always tempting to discuss the national team with the World Cup as the primary objective, but a Copa America on home soil next year is the next best thing. This is a high-stakes competition – unlike the Gold Cup and Nations League – that has the potential resonate broadly in the United States and a strong performance would be a nice table-setter for when the world trains its eyes on America in 2026.
Simple question: Will they advance past the Group Stage?
Also, seems no one wanted to pay for Zack Steffen, so he’s back at City. Unusual non-news event.
Interesting note: two players on this columnist’s roster play in The MLS.
In 2016 we won our group, won in the knockouts and finished in 4th. That was with the team that failed to qualify for the WC a year later. It would be a huge disappointment not to advance out of the group.
Might be a case study on how riding the bench for a great team doesn’t help your career as much as getting regular playing time elsewhere for a lesser team/league. My theory is you want to be playing for the best team/league in which you can get regular minutes with. I haven’t done any analysis to support this, but my eyeball test supports it.
I would support your observation particularly for keepers. For field players, they can find minutes as subs and have a chance through training and limited appearances but keepers don’t. There is a clear choice on all top teams.