World Cup 2018 Qualification

Post by **brian** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 11:13 am

Been saying for as long as the Swamp has existed that if the US ever doesn't qualify for the World Cup again, it'll be during this semifinal round that they get tripped up. And they're not out of the woods yet, but like I said earlier. If they can't get 6 points from St. Vincent away and TnT at home they don't deserve to make the World Cup. (TnT taking care of Guatemala at home while we're nuking St. Vincent would be nice and not make that home game against Trinidad not so nervy.)

September seems such a long ways away so hopefully the team gels a little during the Copa America and short of a rash of injuries most of the MLS guys should hopefully be in peak form. I know you all hate Jurgen, but I'm still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. This team should make the World Cup and how they perform in Russia is ultimately how he'll be judged. He's not going to be national team coach after WC2018 one way or another anyway even if we somehow win the damn thing.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 1:20 pm

mister d wrote:I feel like this one is a lot more fun than last one.

You really are learning the game! Hard to believe these were the same two teams that played on Friday. The US fielded a much better lineup and game plan to play against Guatemala. They really needed to stretch the field and play wider on Friday. The intensity out of the gate was great to see after looking completely flat on Friday. They kept the intensity the entire throughout the game, it's just a shame Bradley picked up that yellow and will miss the T&T match. Hopefully they won't need him.

Other notes:
-Ethan Finlay is fucking fast! Suck his goal was disallowed, he wasn't even close to offsides. Felt so bad watching him celebrate.
-Psyched the US had a big enough lead they could throw on Pulisic to make him cap tied. He claimed he had no intentions of playing for Croatia, but it's better to lock him up.
-Zardes looks dangerous at times, but he misses so many opportunities and has too many terrible touches, like his assist on Zusi's goal.
-The U-23s were so completely outclassed it was embarrassing.
-Hopefully at least one of the young prospects will reach potential. Between Julian Green, Pulisic, Zelalem, Jordan Morris, Hyndman, and Rubin, at least 2 of those guys have to reach potential, right? I really like Paul Arriola, too.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 2:25 pm

USA plays in 5 minutes. Anyone got a good BEin sports feed TV feed or wants to PM me a login to a legit service?

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 2:40 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:USA plays in 5 minutes. Anyone got a good BEin sports feed TV feed or wants to PM me a login to a legit service?

You're not missing much. Pitch is crap. Wood missed a gimme in the second minute. Beckerman is in the lineup. The US will win, but they're going to look shitty doing so. Just root for TnT against Guatemala so we don't have to sweat the home game on Tuesday vs. TnT.

howard · Post by **howard** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 2:46 pm

What sport is that 'stadium' set up for? Is it a cricket ground?

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 2:50 pm

howard wrote:What sport is that 'stadium' set up for? Is it a cricket ground?

Yeah, 95 percent of any stadia in the Caribbean will be.

howard · Post by **howard** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 2:52 pm

Guess British colonialism in the Caribbean was not time-intensive.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 2:58 pm

There's like 5 people in the stands for every player + official.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 2:59 pm

This is like me playing against my kid. I'm clearly better but I'm also pretty clearly not very good.

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:02 pm

Nice goal by Bobby Wood. Whiffs on a sitter and fires a far post bullet for a goal. USA in a nutshell. 1-0 in the 27th.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:05 pm

This commentator sounds like the drunk guy at the bar trying to chew your ear off.

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:06 pm

Besler in the 31st after a pretty dreadful defensive effort on a free kick. 2-0 USA. Rout on.

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:07 pm

P.D.X. wrote:This commentator sounds like the drunk guy at the bar trying to chew your ear off.

He's brutal. If I wasn't working and need the sound because I can't watch the TV alone I would mute it.

howard · Post by **howard** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:14 pm

He just said Klinsmann's job is to win games, not to develop players. I thought his job was both.

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:15 pm

howard wrote:He just said Klinsmann's job is to win games, not to develop players. I thought his job was both.

"Technical Director" is just an honorary title.

(Yeah I don't know what the fuck he was talking about either. I got the overall point, but completely disregarding player development is a pretty stupid take.)

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:18 pm

Altidore with a penalty in the 42nd after a pretty bad tackle on Wood. Dude should have been sent off really. 3-0 USA

howard · Post by **howard** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:19 pm

The announcer did call that 'an Island tackle', so I'll give him that. Clear red.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:28 pm

We may be winning this game, but St. Vincent has got us beat when it comes to exports:

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:31 pm

They won't be laughing at us when we have a taco truck on every corner.

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 4:19 pm

By the way, if Canada can beat Honduras (playing right now) that would be huge since it would pretty much ensure Canada advancing and mean one less shitty trip to Central America for the Nats.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 4:24 pm

brian wrote:By the way, if Canada can beat Honduras (playing right now) that would be huge since it would pretty much ensure Canada advancing and mean one less shitty trip to Central America for the Nats.

we're just hoping not to give up 8 again.

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 4:41 pm

O Canada! Goal off a corner in the 34th minute in San Pedro Sula. Oh my!

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 4:53 pm

Ugh, fucking hate Honduras. Almost as much as Mexico these days. Which is saying something.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 5:07 pm

brian wrote:Ugh, fucking hate Honduras. Almost as much as Mexico these days. Which is saying something.

Fucking hate them. We kicked the ball out for our player to get treatment and they never gave it back. 4 corners later it's 1-1.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 5:21 pm

that was just sloppy defending..2-1 Honduras

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:18 pm

That +13 goal difference is looking pretty sweet if Trinidad and Guatamala tie tonight.

Post by **brian** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 8:20 pm

Does Guatemala have a 12 goal win over St Vincent in them? (If we somehow lose to TnT?)

Note: If we lose to TnT that's probably curtains for Klinsmann.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 9:11 pm

I'm glad I was watching when canada played in the World Cup in 82.

Because I may not live long enough to see it happen again.

(And I have Aunts and Uncles who lived into their late 90s in good shape.)

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sat Sep 03, 2016 8:16 pm

I know it was against a ragtag group of semi-pros, but how good did Klejstan and Pulisic look together?

ETA: Did I ever mention that Klejstan moved into my friend's neighborhood? His friend lives next door to Klejstan and has a 10 yo daughter who plays on the same travel team as my friend's daughter. Several times when the daughter is outside playing, Klejstan came out and kicked around with them. My friend texted me a pic a few weeks back with his daughter is a USA jersey with Klejstan. For her birthday, my friend took his daughter and a group of her friends to a Red Bulls. They made "Keep Calm, we have Klejstan" shirts for all the girls, and Klejstan signed them all. By all accounts, he is the friendliest guy, and hilarious.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Sat Sep 03, 2016 8:46 pm

The facial hair says he knows hilarious

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Sun Sep 04, 2016 7:05 pm

The blue balls Klinsman is going to give everyone with respect to Pulisic are gonna be epic.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Sep 05, 2016 8:11 pm

Which town is it?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:02 am

A Honduras businessman offered El Salvador players money to not lose by more than 1 goal against Canada.
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/world/world ... -1.3749324

The El Salvador captain not only rejects it but outs the businessman in a press conference by playing the tape. The El Salvadorians seem like straight up guys. Earlier in the campaign they went on strike against their own FA over wages. A game Canada DREW playing what turned out to be the El Salvadorian C team. That's why Canada are in the predicament they are in, not because of last week's loss.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:22 am

Some of the dirtiest shit I've ever seen has been carried out by ElSal players. They are neck and neck with Guatemala for teams I don't want the US to play away in a game that matters. Mexico was in the mix for a little bit when they started to realize the US could beat them on any given day... They lost their shit in Columbus for La Guerra Fria, Uno and they tried to kill Cobi Jones in the WC dos a cero waning minutes.

Most of that has stopped with Mex, I think because this younger generation doesn't have the same sense of entitlement when it comes to playing the US. That older crew lost their minds when we started consistently beating them. It was awesome to watch them melt down.

Anyways... Good for this guy. But, fuck El Salvador.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:32 am

mister d wrote:Which town is it?

Westfield.

And since I mentioned his wife, I should follow rules.

Kinda chesty for a model:

Holy fuck, she must have had a reduction after this shot:

I miss being single on Halloween

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 3:48 pm

That Hungary team everyone fell in love with this summer? 0-0 against the Faroe Islands today.

What do people think about the strategery around finishing first or second tonight? I have some agita about starting the hex with MEX/@CRC (the win scenario), but then again, we could get those games out of the way quickly, and neither of those teams is on killer form right now.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 4:37 pm

I would finish first and play Mexico in Columbus in November (Veterans Day).

Post by **brian** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 5:00 pm

Mexico opening in Columbus is definitely some serious butt-clenching opportunities for El Tri.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 6:21 pm

One scheduling oddity that Grant W. reported: the team that gets the first place schedule will play all of its home games on Fridays and all of its away games on Tuesdays. I don't know what the alternative schedule would look like, but that would be awfully nice for attendance and atmosphere.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Tue Sep 06, 2016 6:40 pm

Happy Pulusic night, all!