US v England

The 3 Lions made mincemeat of
Iran (we desperately need them to draw w/Wales), and have to be considered heavy favorites to win by multiple goals Friday. Hoping we rise to the challenge and can at least make a game of it..but not counting on it.

EDIT: McKennie should’ve been held out of the Wales game, specifically for this match and word is he might not be able to go Friday.

 

I’m not as convinced England is that much better than we are. We’ll certainly give them a sterner test than the Iranians. I like our chances for a draw, but we’ve got to make better adjustments at halftime than we did against Wales. The odds are someone will make a critical mistake late in the match like Zimmerman’s on Bale that will cost us a result.
However, if we can keep it close, it might just be them that make it. I smell either a 1-1 draw, or a 2-nil England win. But I won’t be surprised if we surprise everybody and get a 1-nil win ourselves. Our kids have grown up a lot since the beginning of the year. They make fewer and fewer mistakes or poor decisions every match. They’ve learned how to do the best thing at any given moment in a big match. Just ask the Mexicans. If we can handle Kane (maybe) and button up Sterling (possibly) I like our chances. Lane’s strengths play well with our historic weaknesses, so I think mitigating his effectiveness is the key to the match. I’m afraid we’ll get to the end in a position to get a result and get super unlucky somehow at the death. And I hope I’m wrong as hell and we show those arrogant limeys how far we’ve come since 2018.

 

Pretty same good performance, totally deserving of the point. In our hands now, win and we move on (we can’t beat Iran we don’t deserve it).

Aaronson and Reyna have to find more time on the pitch.

 

I thought it was an excellent performance by the US. If McKennie had been a bit calmer when he had that (complicated) tap in, we would have won.

I hate how dogmatic Berhalter usually is, but he surprised me and England but coming out in a 442. It was a great tactical move.

Bring on Iran on Tuesday.

 

That might have been one of the best defensive performances by a USMNT side ever. To shut out one of the game’s historic superpowers after they hung six on hapless Iran (who didn’t look so hapless today against the Welsh) is quite remarkable. On the balance, we deserved more, just like against Wales. I understand the necessity of playing it close to the vest in the group stage, but I still don’t like it. These kids are really good, and the rest of the planet has been served notice: we ain’t an automatic out at the World Cup anymore. I still believe in my heart of hearts that fortune favors the brave. We’ve reached a point in our development where we should “try shit.” Take more offensive chances. Try a few more outrageous plays. Take a few more audacious shots on goal. Nutmeg more of those arrogant European S.O.B.’s. Cut ‘em loose Gregg. Let the lads terrorize the beejesus out of those old farts. We’re young, we’re good lookin,’ and we’ll BE there!

 

I was a little disappointed in the performance. I didn't articulate my concerns very well over in the WC thread, but with Iran's win against Wales, they now only need a draw against the US. It was always likely to be a must-win match for the US, but after the opener I would have thought it would be against an Iranian team that was already out or also needed a win. Now Iran is in the driver's seat. With that knowledge going into the England match I expected the US to push harder for the win. Instead we saw two teams that seemed fine getting a draw. The US defense made it clear England would have to work hard to get a goal and they seemed fine not working hard and coming out with a point that essentially ensures they go through. For the US, having 1 point or 2 points going into the match against Iran likely won't make much difference in the final results, but if the US were to have gotten a win against England that would have changed everything.

I was most frustrated on the last play of the match. I wanted Turner to take the free kick, place Pulisic just outside the box to collect any short clearances, and then put the ball into the box and see what happens - maybe get a late winner! Instead Pulisic delivers a harmless ball toward the corner flag and the game ends with no heart in your throat moment. The US also shown an inability to put together good passes in the England half. Too often a US player got the ball and just ran it into a dead end. England gave US players off the ball lots of space that they rarely took advantage of. They will have to play a lot smarter against Iran.

I was glad to see Reyna make an appearance. My guess is that Berhalter always saw the Iran match as the must-win game so he's saving Reyna for that match.