FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 (soccer)

Good news for USMNT fans - tonight's game against Costa Rica is being broadcast by CBS Sports Network.

Kickoff at 9:05pm Eastern Time - The long wait will finally be over.....

 

I don't think those are the tears Montegriffo was looking for.

 

I stopped making comments here; I was too crushed and devastated that Italy failed to qualify.
But today I'm very happy, my other country did qualify!
It wasn't pretty but these are young players and they will only grow and grow from this point on.
I don't expect a stellar participation in 2022 for the USMNT, but I do expect that this group will earn experience there in Qatar, and be competitive at home in 2026.

 

Cheers, CF!

It's been a long 8 years, but the wait is finally over.

Here's hoping our kids don't wind up in a Group of Death...

 

Nice to hear from @CenterField

 

That's the way I see it, and unlike yesterday when they mailed it in against a plucky Costa Rica, our boys seem to play better when they're under pressure.

Final draw is tomorrow, and then we all get to wait till November 21st for play to begin (ugh)....

 

Lets be honest about yesterdays game. The US was horrible and got its ars handed by Costa Rica.
The excuse that they are young does not fly with me. Those are professionals and they have had how many internationals ?
If that were their first I would say ok.
Something is wrong, they beat Panama 5:1 and 3 days later they get their arses kicked by Costa Rica
Young does not cut it with me.
19 year old Jamal Musaila, nick name Bambi, because of his built, had to play #6 against the Netherland, replacing Kimmich.
Kimmich is one of the worlds best #6. Netherland vs Germany, even a friendly, is serious business, not a friendly.
What did he do cause a problem for Flick, because Bambi put up a world class show, dazzling.
Same for the other 20 to 22 years old Germany had on the field, because the old hands are injured, they performed in a away game.
Nmecha, he had only 10 minutes, 20, and nearly scored the winning goal, replacing Werner.
Other countries do the same, give young players huge responsibilities and they get the job done.

What is wrong with the US team?

 

I agree that our boys did not perform well Wednesday, but I don't think they got their butts kicked. I'll give Costa Rica credit for the first goal but Zach Steffen was way out of position on the second, and I'm still not convinced he's a better goaltender than Matt Turner. The one thing I've always liked about Matt is that I've never seen him put himself out of position. I'll also say we had a few good opportunities early in the game and unfortunately they didn't wind up in the back in the net. Obviously, that needs to change during the WC or they're not going to get out of Group play.

Another problem was that we were missing some players and their subs did not do enough in their absence, which was frustrating. The sad fact of the matter is that we're not a deep team, and we've been struggling with that lack of depth for the past year.

I'm also wondering why Greg Berhalter isn't letting Kellyn Acosta handle set pieces after he did so well earlier in the WCQ's??? Certainly, Pulisic and Weah are two of our best players, but they haven't been as good on corners and free kicks as Acosta has been (Pulisic is obviously fine on PKs). I think Berhalter has done a great job with this team, but it's stuff like that and the constant tinkering with the lineup that mystifies me in all the wrong ways. Maybe I put too much value on continuity and chemistry, but I think this young team can't develop the latter until it gets the former. I played on all star teams like this when I was young and a lot of guys are going to be playing out of position, they're not used to playing with their teammates, they don't know what to expect from each other, etc., and from personal experience I've observed that constantly shuffling the lineup around seldom if ever works.

I'll be the first to admit that I was disappointed with their play a couple nights ago - clearly, they played like a team that knew it only had to lose by 5 goals to qualify and they mailed it in. It was the closest thing to sandbagging I've ever seen out of that squad and I don't like seeing that out of anyone, much less the USMNT. All I can hope is that they'll learn from this loss and they'll play better in the future because of it. There's no question the effort and attitude they showed Wednesday isn't going to cut it against the better teams in the World Cup.

I'm also praying that our best players will be healthy in November. Injuries have been a constant problem since the Nations League competition last June, and that has certainly contributed to Berhalter's inability to settle on a lineup. If I had to put my finger on one thing and say this is what's wrong with the US team, I would say that is it - an unsettled lineup and the lack of continuity & chemistry that comes with it - but that doesn't explain things like the luxurious effort we've seen out of them on occasion.

 

So, England in group B with Iran, the USA and either Scotland, Wales or Ukraine.

 

Jeez, I forgot all about the Draw:

 

It's coming home.

 

I like Germany's group, first or second should be possible.
US has a tough one, Canada, too.
Portugal has it probably fairly easy

 

No real group of death.
Top two teams are fairly predictable in every group.
Not to say upsets can't happen...

 

Brazil and the Netherlands have it pretty easy too.

 

Y'all got a good draw. I hate to say it but England is clearly the best team in Group B.

I don't see a Group of Death anywhere, either.

For me, France is the big question mark in this year's Cup.

 

The top 15 are fairly well distributed and they all should be able to make 1 or 2 in their group.

At the present I would give the European teams a slight advantage, because of the Nations Cup. That is a very nice opportunity to fine tune under real competitive conditions.
I like that Germany has Spain in its group. Spain is equal or even better and will be a nice measuring stick. But then this about football, throw the dices.

 

I think you put the thump on the sore spot, coach. At one point they have to decide this line up is my A and then run with it. Fine tune it during the game with subs.
Pepe, Nagelsman love to do those adjustments for every game, be very smart and then they outsmart themselves, constantly.
One day they win big and next day they loose big.
Never liked those coaches.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the European teams dominated this WC. Outside of Europe, I think Brazil is the only team that has the all around quality to go deep, but they got beat in the Copa America by an Argentine squad that really struggled to score.

Here are the early odds/predictions I saw today - Brazil is the slim favorite with France and England a close second:

1 - Brazil +500
2 - (Tie) France & England +550
4 - Spain +800
5 - Argentina +900
6 - Germany +1000

7 - (Tie) Belgium & Netherlands +1100
9 - Portugal +1200
(I saw one line where Belgium, Netherlands & Portugal were all tied at +1200)

Everyone else, long shots +2200 and up (USA has been around #14-15 at +8000 to +10000)

So many question marks surrounding all the top teams.....

 

Nor were the tears from his recent family tragedy.
I shall leave him alone now.
Poor bugger.

 

Scotland and Ukraine are playing right now in their long-delayed playoff. Winner plays Wales Sunday to qualify for the WC.
Game tied at 0-0.

Tonight, the USMNT plays a friendly against Morocco in Cincinnati.
Kick-off at 7:30pm ET, ESPN2 has the broadcast.

I think we'll get a better look at the team on Sunday when it takes on Uruguay in Kansas City.
Kick-off is at 5pm ET, Fox has the broadcast

 

Ukraine 1-0 up at the beginning of the 2nd half.

 

Looks like they'll be playing Bale & Co. on Sunday. 2-0....

 

Heartbreak for the Jocks. 3-1
Slava Ukraini.