US looked pretty bad vs Canada but came away with a win.
Next up Jamaica. They’ve beaten us before, I wouldn’t want to bet on this game. Winner plays the winner of El Salvador and Qatar
Qatar winning the Gold Cup is going to be the most Concacaffy thing ever.
Also really like Hoppe. He seems to have that Dempsey “do not give a F” gene.
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How is Qatar buying its team? Are they scouting the age-limit teams, and having them live and train in Qatar, then making them citizens?
They do look pretty good
Qatar are Asian champions. Been prepping this cohort since they got the Wrold Cup rights. That said they still aren’t great and it should be a good game with our B team
OK, but since they never were all that great, even relative to the rest of Asia, what else, besides dual-citizenship, did they do?
Because I do not accept that they are genetically superior now, when they never were before.
How much money (all they really have in terms of advantage) into training, for example? And, what kind and is it learnable for our dysfunctional pay-to-play system?
The head coach and almost all the assistants are from Spain. I think only a few of the current players are naturalized from elsewhere, but in the past a good chunk of the players had been. Yeah, it raised questions and other countries raised a stink - but, in typical FIFA fashion it did a “we don’t see anything wrong” “investigation.”
Decent article on the rise of the national team, albeit still missing details you’re looking for: https://www.theringer.com/soccer/2019/2/1/18206723/qatar-asian-cup-2019-japan-2022-world-cup-fifa-political-issues
How much money? It’s Qatar, as much as it wants. They spend a lot of time beating up on the lower levels of Asian and African football, they seem more or less opportunistic about games (i.e., they beat Croatia in June, but it was Croatia’s B team so … not as impressive as it seems). But, that’s good enough to be competitive in CONCACAF and we’re basically playing a ‘B’ team, so …
OK, so looking ahead, venues for the WCQ 2022 are getting finalized, at least the Fall dates.
Big one is v MEX in Cincinnati. “Find the cities with the fewest Mexicans.” And go from there. Surprised they’re not playing in Helena.
So, no more matches in NY/NJ, L.A. (has been for a while now), AZ, … They’re in Austin for Jamaica, CRC in The C’bus.
The rumor was the Minny was getting either MEX or CRC, so surprised they got shutout of those games.
Waiting for March, when the weather is more to our advantage, allegedly.
Well, Qatar are better than us. Well our B team at least. 0-0 at half but Qatar were far and away more dangerous.
Welp, great last 20-30 minutes after the missed penalty by Qatar. That moment + the subs completely changed everything. Nice 1-0 win in the end.
Qatar got the full Concacaf experience last night.
Acosta cranked the shithousery to an 11 before the PK. And it worked!
I’m onboard for Turner to be starting between the posts for WCQ in September.
It was good to see Canada not give in to Mexico. Canada is going to be a tough out in the Ocho, Are they favored to get the 3rd spot? Will be interesting to see how to perform at CRC, HON, etc.
Mexican fans get the game stopped due to “the chant” late in the 2nd half. Then Mexico capitalizes in the 100th minute with the winner. :headshake:
Turner was great. I’m not sold on his communication in the box, I think there have been a couple moments this tournament where he should have been more commanding. I think I’m team Horvath right now. Though honestly we are miles ahead of where I thought we were with keepers a year or so ago. All 3 I’d be okay with playing right now.
Turner sold me when he prevented the own goal in the first half. Picking it off a deflection like that is legit. Don’t dislike Horvath for any reason at this point, but Turner’s been hot if nothing else.
Those guys are great, for the B team.
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Goes without saying, we really do not have finishers on the field tonight.
We literally just fell down in front of net.
What a goal! Great free kick.