FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 (soccer)

Agree

 

The US has to show a convincing performs.
If it is again like the last 2, even with a win, they might not make it and deserve it

They have to let it hang out and show that they deserve to go, play tough, even rough, fight for it, show the desire to win.
That was what the US used to do, it was not the talent, but the will no matter what the odds were.

 

USMNT look good when they are playing a bad team like honduras

Pulisic was lucky tonight to score...

Canada made them look weak..

USA will go to Qatar but will be lucky to get through the group stage

if Pepe and Pulisic are Turner stay healthy and get in a groove they may get to the knockout round

but the south americans and europeans have much better players overall

 

OK, we did score at 7 minutes, a gorgeous header by McKennie who was by far the Man of the Match. I liked Acosta too. Comfortable victory, which is what was expected, at home versus the very last placed team. I don't think it proves a lot because Honduras sucks. They didn't do anything right. And even though we won 3-0, I don't think we played that well against such a weak team. Pepi for example did nothing. Missed an opportunity that he should have buried into the net. Several other players did not shine either. I'm worried for the last three games. Panama will be a lot tougher, and Costa Rica and Mexico on the road will be even tougher.

 

I think Weston's our best player (and my personal favorite). We would not be sitting in second place right now if it weren't for him. I'm sure Juventus is happy to have him, too.

It is difficult to read much into our performance against a team as poor as Honduras, but there was one good thing that really stood out last night and that was the scoring on set pieces. That's why my Man of the Match goes to Kellyn Acosta. We've struggled with set pieces all year, which has been troubling, but if last night is any indication I think Acosta has solved that problem. He was superb on both free kicks and corners, and if Berhalter sticks with him that will free Pulisic up to play in the box, which is a win-win.

The last three games are going to be real tough, but hopefully 1) we've finally solved our issues with set pieces and 2) we'll finally have Gio back in the lineup. He's supposed to be a go for Dortmund after this international break, so if all goes well he'll be playing in those three games in March.

 

And here we sit for the next month and a half:



Matchday 12 - Thursday, March 24, 2022

• Costa Rica vs. Canada
• Panama vs. Honduras
• Jamaica vs. El Salvador
• Mexico vs. United States

Matchday 13 - Sunday, March 27, 2022

• Canada vs. Jamaica
• Honduras vs. Mexico
• El Salvador vs. Costa Rica
• United States vs. Panama (Orlando, FL)

Matchday 14 - Wednesday, March 30, 2022

• Panama vs. Canada
• Jamaica vs. Honduras
• Mexico vs. El Salvador
• Costa Rica vs. United States

 

The set piece goals were just to easy. Honduras just let them happen.
What I think is a problem, the offense did not generate any goals against a team as weak as Honduras.
3:0 is good, 3 points are good, but the game showed again, that the US has a real offensive problem.

 

We're not catching Canada. We'll probably be behind Mexico too, given that we have three tough games ahead of us, and they play against us at home and have two easy additional games.

So we're basically competing with Panama and Costa Rica. It will be hard to beat Costa Rica away, we just haven't been good when playing away. So we need to beat Panama and root for Canada to continue its good form. If Canada beats Panama and Costa Rica then we're in good shape.

One problem with this scenario is that as soon as Canada clinches they may start resting players or experimenting with lesser players. The last game day for example Canada may have nothing to play for, while Panama will be playing for their lives.

Who would have thought that we'd be depending on the Canucks to qualify for the WC??? Shame!

 

Our guys might as well get it into their heads that the WC starts on March 24th.

 

It does, and I think some of those problems can be fixed. The question is will they get fixed?

I don't think our coach helped matters when he decided to fiddle around with the lineup again. It didn't work earlier and it didn't work this time around, and this young squad needs to develop some continuity. They're never going to learn to play together if Berhalter keeps tweaking the lineup.

 

I'm ecstatic, my AC Milan won the Derby della Madonnina, beating Inter 2-1 in a gorgeous, gorgeous come-from-behind second half!
Giroud scored both our goals. Maignan was a giant. Theo, Bennacer, Brahim coming in for Kessie who didn't work at all as trequartista (thus we had a terrible first half), Giroud, these players did very well.

 

Good for you @Center Field.
Bayern carved out a nother win. Was ugly, against Leipzig. The Everady Bunnies of Bayern scored. Mueller and Lew. Those two must have a super battery, they just keep on going and hardly ever are on the injury list.
Those 2 guys are very special, how long they have been in the job still at the top of their game. Or in Muellers case how he reinvented himself.
Rather amazing those two.

Sadly Alfonso Davies is still out.
They are tacking it very easy and carefully with him. Luckily. He had inflammation of the heart muscles from Covid. Bayern has a top medical team and access to any top medical advisor/doctor and follow their advice.
Good for them and him. Shows some moral values, which are hard to come by in professional sports.
In other news, just 1 US player, who transferred, got some play time in a 1:1 draw. Bielefeld I forgot his name. He got 20 minutes and was introduced to the rough midfield of the Bundesliga. Got fouled rather harsh, which drew a yellow.
.
The other young lads were not on the bench.

 

Today in Champions League, Villareal 1-1 Juventus, Weston McKinnie suffered fractures to the second and third metatarsals in his left foot, which will leave him sidelined for 8-12 weeks. That's very bad news for the USMNT.

Pulisic played great for Chelsea against Lilly, and scored one of their two goals (2-0).

 

Pulisic and Havertz were the best players, both had nice goals and were very active and all ways a danger..
McK sucks.

 

So sorry Italy failed to qualify CF.
Fingers crossed that the US succeeds.

 

I was shocked to read Italy failed to qualify. They looked great in the Euros, but then the wheels fell off the wagon....

 

Too many injuries to top players.
It's a shame and it means Portugal now have a better chance of qualifying which is a tragedy. I want to see Ronaldo cry.

 

I didn't see the game but it sounded like a horrible watch for CF.
Italy dominating for most of the 90 mins only to lose to an injury time goal.
Heart-breaking way to get knocked out.

 

Bummer. What a lousy time to get bit by the injury bug. Fortunately for CF he'll have the USMNT to root for - we all but locked up a spot on Sunday when we beat Panama 5-1 (sweet revenge).

LOL

Somehow I think they'll get past North Macedonia. They've got a pretty solid squad.

 

Brutal.

So I take it the European WCQs are wrapping up? I haven't been following the action outside CONCACAF....

 

No the European aint over, because of the war the plays of the Ukraine team have been postponed till June.
Italy was a shocker. But you have to give it to NM, they beat Germany in Germany and now Italy in Italy.
I would not count on a Portugal victory, even considering how much they improved.
The US played rather well against Panama, 3 field goals, besides the 2 penalties.
Canada is in, first time since 86. The Road Runner is still working on his Covid recovery, 3 month now.

Interesting friendly today, Netherland vs Germany. The first real test for the Flick team, Suehle injured, Goretzka injured and Kimmich is with his wife, she is expecting the birth of their 3. child.
I think Musaila will play as a loose 6, quiet a load on his shoulders.

 

With one game remaining here's where we stand in CONCACAF:



Everything's pretty much set with the last round of games being played tomorrow.
The top 3 teams automatically qualify and the fourth place team will have to win a playoff game against either New Zealand or the Solomon Islands to qualify.

Canada has already clinched, qualifying for their first WC since 1986.

The USA is pretty much a lock after beating Panama 5-1 and amassing a +13 GD. The USMNT put in their best first half in memory without many of their best players on the field, but "Captain America" Christian Pulisic got a hat trick in this game. Nice to see Paul Arriola score on a beautiful header, too (and Gio Reyna is finally back!).

Mexico is pretty much a lock, too, but if they lose badly to El Salvador (unlikely) and Costa Rica wins big over the U.S. (unlikely again) they could fall into 4th and have to play NZ/SI to qualify. If Mexico and Costa Rica tie in the standings, Mexico qualifies.

Costa Rica is likely to finish 4th and will have to beat NZ/SI to qualify.

 

One can only wonder if Ukraine will be able to play Scotland in June - six of their players left the team to serve in the military:

Ukraine football coach casts doubt over 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff against Scotland
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/28/...ukraine-scotland-football-spt-intl/index.html

 

In the meanwhile the World Cup won't have to renounce to an other continental champion after Italy: Senegal has won.

 

Poland vs Sweden, 2:0 Poland in the World Cup
Portugal vs North Macedonia 2:0 Portugal in the World Cup. Tears of joy from CR7

Friendly Netherland VS Germany 1:1.

Germanies first real test with Flick at the helm. Not bad, missing 4 of its key players. That Musaila is coming along nicely, best player on the pitch for Germany. Mueller scored.