The Swamp

It's about damn near impossible for the US to not advance with the hex setup. Not out of the woods this time but if we ever don't qualify again I still think it'll either be in the preliminary round or if CONCACAF changes the structure.

This is an aging, weak, soccer team. One bright young star, who is not really a world-class player yet and may never be, does not a strong squad make. Certainly not as their best players of recent years -- as mediocre as they have been -- fade into the sunset, without comparable replacements.

The dysfunctional, corrupt US youth soccer system fails equally at providing a good experience for serious players as well as a powerful developmental experience for the best. So it's going to be a very long time before a country that increasingly loves soccer, and has a massive population, can produce teams that are legitimately as competitive as a tiny country like, among many others, Belgium. Or even Iceland, the latest and most astonishing tiny soccer mecca.

One of the odd qualities of US men's soccer is the historic absence of strong central defenders. I thought this would be the first field position where the Americans would start producing quality. It's the position where weaker skills is less damaging, and physical prowess is the most beneficial. But I can't think of a single seriously good American central defender. The are certainly abysmal in this era. Am I missing someone?

I think JAB plus Miazga, when he's ready, is supposed to be the future back there, right?

Corrupt Ref causing a replay of a WC Qualifier.
http://www.espnfc.us/world-cup-qualifyi ... fficiating

If the U.S. goes into that game at T&T needing a win (as presumably they will regardless of the Panama result) I hope U.S. Soccer is smart enough to fly Paul Caligiuri down there as an honorary captain.

Forget skills they better bring a bunch of Americans ready to fight for that game.

Ok folks. I'm gonna need predictions for both games and qualifying place.

4 points. Third place. 3-1 at home. 1-1 away Wood with the away goal to qualify in third.

(sorry for Rovell-ing everyone)

https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status ... 9129946114

rass wrote:(sorry for Rovell-ing everyone)

https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status ... 9129946114

Yahoo Sports UK tweeted 3 of the same 4 photos yesterday.

Rovell with the scoop!

I love the Russian mindset of MacGyvering small issues like building World Cup venue stadiums. A little duct tape should hold it together for hosting a sporting event that will get 1 billion viewers.

Bale injured. That is all...

It's been mentioned here, if you can't draw Panama in Orlando you don't deserve to go.

If they lose 8-0 to Panama I won't give half a shit if they "deserve" to go, as long as they go. They will not fuck up our 40th birthday group trip.

Syria drew Australia in the first leg of their playoff. Advantage Australia but knowing their history in playoffs, the home leg on Tuesday will be very dicey.

As it stands Argentina will miss the World Cup after their 0-0 draw with Peru.. And thanks to Paraguay's shocking come from behind win at Colombia (with two goals in the last 3 minutes away), the final day of CONMEBOL is going to be insane. Colombia goes to Peru in a likely elimination game, Argentina probably needs to win at Ecuador to even make a playoff, Chile goes to Brazil likely needing only a draw, Paraguay can still qualify as well with a win and some help. Should be fun.

Iceland taking it to Turkey 3-0 in the 75th minute right now. A win on Tuesday against winless Kosovo in Reykjavik guarantees at least a playoff spot and could mean qualifying outright.

ETA: A stoppage time equalizer for Finland means if Iceland beats Kosovo at home, they would become the smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup.

Wales v Ireland for a play-off spot on Monday will be tasty

Worth noting that regardless of ISL result, if Ukraine and Croatia draw, Iceland goes through the World Cup regardless.

The Italy-Macedonia game literally put me to sleep. They are just that grim.

This is always Italy's problem. The don't play hard in games that don't matter and it hurts their coefficient and puts them in tough groups.

unseeded in 2014 world cup draw, 2016 euro cup draw and 2018 world cup qualifying draw.

Pancakes being chippy early.

African football is so weird. Algeria who took Germany to extra time in the 16s in 2014 will finish dead last in their qualifying group. Ghana are out as well.

Looks like Nigeria, Tunisia and Egypt are there, other 2 groups still up in the air. One group will be either Morocco or Ivory Coast, the last group (D) is a mess.

degenerasian wrote:African football is so weird. Algeria who took Germany to extra time in the 16s in 2014 will finish dead last in their qualifying group. Ghana are out as well.

Looks like the Refs had a few bucks against Ghana.

https://screengrabber.deadspin.com/ghan ... 1819248239

So unless I'm missing something, after the Honduras-CRC game, the US should just need a draw unless there's a fix in and Panama beats CRC by 8 goals.

Yup

Finally saw the Pulisic goal to open the Panama game. That was straight fire.

rass wrote:https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/917399734809251840

That's so CONCACAF.

The Sybian wrote:

rass wrote:https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/917399734809251840

That's so CONCACAF.

I was going to say pretty much the same thing. Say what you want about how "easy" it is to qualify out of CONCACAF, but you don't have to deal with shit like that in any UEFA stadium, even the minnows like Luxembourg and the Faeroes, etc.

brian wrote:

The Sybian wrote:

rass wrote:https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/917399734809251840

That's so CONCACAF.

I was going to say pretty much the same thing. Say what you want about how "easy" it is to qualify out of CONCACAF, but you don't have to deal with shit like that in any UEFA stadium, even the minnows like Luxembourg and the Faeroes, etc.

Yup. There was a great commercial years back, maybe Nike, with behind the scenes footage of the USMNT walking off the bus in a hostile Central American stadium. The stories of what it's like to play in the Azteca are just unfathomable. I wonder if players argue over who will have to take corner kicks, knowing they will be hit with bags of urine, coins, and batteries.

brian wrote:

The Sybian wrote:

rass wrote:https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/917399734809251840

That's so CONCACAF.

I was going to say pretty much the same thing. Say what you want about how "easy" it is to qualify out of CONCACAF, but you don't have to deal with shit like that in any UEFA stadium, even the minnows like Luxembourg and the Faeroes, etc.

You didn't see the pitches in Andorra, Bosnia or wherever Spurs played last week.

1-0 Iceland, halftime at Laugardalsvöllur.

It's a goal for Ireland! can they hold on for 30 minutes!

2-0 Island. By quite some margin will be the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup (population 330,000). Previous smallest was Trinidad & Tobago (pop. 1.2 million).

brian wrote:2-0 Island. By quite some margin will be the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup (population 330,000). Previous smallest was Trinidad & Tobago (pop. 1.2 million).

What an amazing story in how Iceland rebuilt their program. A lot of lessons for other countries and sports, for that matter.

The Sybian wrote:

brian wrote:2-0 Island. By quite some margin will be the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup (population 330,000). Previous smallest was Trinidad & Tobago (pop. 1.2 million).

What an amazing story in how Iceland rebuilt their program. A lot of lessons for other countries and sports, for that matter.

Seems like Canada should be stealing their template. The population of Iceland is about the size of Windsor, Ontario.

brian wrote:

The Sybian wrote:

brian wrote:2-0 Island. By quite some margin will be the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup (population 330,000). Previous smallest was Trinidad & Tobago (pop. 1.2 million).

What an amazing story in how Iceland rebuilt their program. A lot of lessons for other countries and sports, for that matter.

Seems like Canada should be stealing their template. The population of Iceland is about the size of Windsor, Ontario.

Soccer Canada is a mess. It's too big of a country with many regions, leagues and corrupt leaders.
I do see good signs with this Davies kid, we'll see how it goes.

I did some really quick math, I think Ireland vs N.Ireland in the playoffs is a possibility as N. Ireland will probably be seeded.