World Cup 2022

I would prefer to get the 2026 WC, and let someone else host 2022 if it gets yanked. The UK deserved to get the 2018 tourney and they could easily host. Australia I would imagine could put on a very successful WC as well.

Closer to home, is the Copa in 2016 actually gone to be played here?

 

Good points, and yes, Copa America is scheduled to be in the U.S. for the centennial celebration. That will be an @$$ kicker of a tournament...if the FIFA scandal doesn't bring it down.

 

I would be very happy and proud for the U.S to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

 

Pulled this 6 year old thread out of mothballs to say that Mitrovic scored twice tonight vs. Ireland in World Cup 2022 qualifying. It is just about impossible to find highlights of it, but if we're lucky this sketchy source won't be blocked by YouTube:

 

Here’s another link to the two against Ireland...



...and the one against the Ronaldos.



If he really was in some sort of funk before the break, it’s fair to say he’s out of it, correct? And if he’s out of it, how does he not start for our goal starved club upon resumption of league play? Only one reason I can think of: his particular skill set doesn’t work as well in Scott’s system. And I don’t think Scott’s system generates enough scoring chances, certainly not enough quality scoring chances, chances of the type that suit Mitro’s scoring strengths. Crosses that give him a chance to win a header in the air, or low ones that he can attack with his feet.

 

The draw for Group B is complete and the US will face England, Iran, and Wales OR Scotland OR Ukraine

At first glance, not the worst draw, but I think Wales could be pretty stiff competition to come out of the fourth pot of the draw.

 

Not exactly the "Group Of Death," eh? Tha' Anglish don't scare me anymore, and no one amongst Iran, Wales, Scotland or Ukraine are exactly world beaters. On paper, we should advance to the knockout stage. But, with as young a team as we're sending, anything can happen. I like our chances of getting out of the group. There's only one tidbit here that gives me pause: Gareth Bale still plays for Wales. He's an "X" factor player. Even though he's now 32 and buried deep on the Real Madrid bench with Eden Hazard, he can still change the tenor and outcome of a football match with one or two obscenely superhuman plays. And this, while being a ghost for 89 minutes.

 

For better or worse Berhalter had his pool of CB’s for qualifying and in the call in he got before qualifying started he did not stand out. Now that qualifiers are over it will be interesting to see if CCV and Eric Palmer-Brown get fresh looks.

 

I certainly thought this when the roster for the final qualifiers was announced. I thought surely his form and fitness (i.e. playing time) was better than Aaron Long or Erik Palmer-Brown. But therein lies the enigma of Berhalter. He’ll argue that form and fitness are essential for inclusion in the squad but then completely ignore certain players who are consistently playing with good form while bringing in players who are in between seasons.

 

I get what your saying about Aaron Long Evan but I‘m pretty sure the EPB has been playing regularly in the French top division.

 

Thought Dempsey’s idea of trying Weah at the #9, is certainly worth a try in the friendlies. This has to be the strangest US team in the modern era. It’s the deepest collection of defenders & midfielders we’ve ever produced. Unfortunately it’s the worst GK &CF’s situations in the last 30 years. Zach Steffen has to leave Citeh, he has no clue where the goal is behind him and his lack of playing time makes his reactions slow. Matt Turner is a great story, except he won’t play at Arsenal unless Ramsdale gets hurt. That’s the one position I thought would never be an issue, but it’s dreadful at the moment.

 

You're right Barry. EPB has appeared in all 12 of Troyes matches since the new year. I kind of stopped checking on him when he only appeared in 2 (and was an unused sub for another 5) of the first 19 matches of the season.

 

Of more immediate concern to me is the gaffer’s continued faith in Zack Steffen as our No. 1. He didn’t exactly cover himself in glory at Wembley today. Suffice to say, I don’t think Ederson has too much to worry about. But Berhalter should. I don’t know how you continue to use a keeper who’s not playing regularly. We saw a prime example today of what can happen…and what you risk happening on the game’s biggest stage.

 

It may be too early, but I’m gonna go there anyway. Barring injury, who’s on the American plane to Doha? Although there was talk of allowing 26 on the WC rosters, FIFA chose to return to only 23. I’ll start with my locks.
Pulisic, McKennie, Weah, Steffen, Zimmerman, Jedi, Miles Robinson, Horvath, Turner, Yedlin, Adams, Roldan, Acosta, Reyna and Morris. That leaves eight more spots. Three keepers is probably the max, so no more of them. Probables are Pepi, Reyna, Musah, Ferreira, Long, Dike, Sargent, Lletget. That’s 23. Long shots to displace any of these are Brooks, Ream, Dest, Green, Bello, Sands, Palmer-Brown, de La Torre, Arriola, Yueill, Aaronson, Zardes and Pefok. It seems like a long way off, but it’ll be here before you know it.

 

Solid list, would switch Musah, Aaronson, & Dest to locks. Roldan & Morris have to work their way on. The GKs to me are a mystery and will be subject to playing time (could we possibly take 3 backups???). I’m sure I’m forgetting a player or 3, but Joe Scally can play either right/left back and starts at Mongengladbach, and I think is a better player then Bello and needs to be given a long look.

 

Berhalter’s locks today ignoring injury

GK: Stefan, Turner, Horvath
RB: Dest
CB: Zimmerman, M Robinson, Richards
LB: A Robinson
Mids: Adams, Acosta, McKinnie, Musah
Wings: Pulisic, Reyna, Weah, Aaronson
F:?

Probable
CB: Long, Mid: De la Torre, F: Ferreira

Flip a coin
RB: Yedlin/Cannon
LB: Bello/a third RB
Mid: Busio/Roldan
F: Pepi vs the crowd

Next in line
GK: Slonnina for the exposure or Sean Johnson for his experience
RB: Moore
LB: Vines
CB: there is a crowd but it probably should be Brooks
Wings: Arriola and Morris
Forward: who knows?

I agree with @SoCalJoe about Scally needing to be considered but he has played primarily as a wingback and I don’t know how his defensive skills transfer to a back four.