soccer soccer soccer

[stitchface]

Man when Ronaldo, Felix, Fernandes and Leao are out there at the same time that’s a lot of attacking power. More maybe than any other nation? What if Ronaldo wins Messi’s last World Cup, that would be pretty fitting

 

What a weird comment - you realize it's also Ronaldo's last world cup, right?

 

Messi’s been getting way more attention than Ronaldo for a number of reasons in this World Cup which is where the comment came from.

 

 

Has anyone had more attention than Cristiano Ronaldo?

 

Still makes no sense why it would be "fitting" if Portugal were to win.

[soccer10k]

98% of the attention Ronaldo is getting is over his temper tantrum and quitting ManU. Almost nobody is talking about Portugal winning the tournament or making the finals. It’s all Messi in that aspect.

 

I can’t speak for her it would be fitting comment though.

[imb]

This is a pretty easy one to figure out fellas.

 

I was just saying that because Ronaldo has so many people who believe hes been better than Messi despite all the evidence to the contrary. This cup started with talks of Messi and Argentina facing Brazil in the finals and Ronaldo getting forced out of United and his career being over. I’m just saying it would be funny, I guess in a sad way, if Portugal and Ronaldo won his last cup when everyone was as prepping for Messi to be in the finals

[TruffleShuffle]

well deserved win for Iran, they actually outplayed Wales pretty badly the whole match.

[squally1313]

well deserved win for Iran, they actually outplayed Wales pretty badly the whole match.

This is good right? Just don’t get smoked today and hope englands second team is still good enough to grab 3 points against wales and we just need to beat Iran.

[Rex Buckingham]

well deserved win for Iran, they actually outplayed Wales pretty badly the whole match.

This is good right? Just don’t get smoked today and hope englands second team is still good enough to grab 3 points against wales and we just need to beat Iran.

 

If we win today, we go through of we don't lose to Iran.

 

If we draw, we can go through If England win or draw v Wales and we draw or win v Iran.

 

If we lose, we can still go through by beating Iran as long we still beat them and Wales on GD, which would obviously be very likely as long as we don't get curb stomped by England.

[Thurman Merman]

well deserved win for Iran, they actually outplayed Wales pretty badly the whole match.

This is good right? Just don’t get smoked today and hope englands second team is still good enough to grab 3 points against wales and we just need to beat Iran.

Yeah but now Iran is gonna bunker hardcore.

[TruffleShuffle]

well deserved win for Iran, they actually outplayed Wales pretty badly the whole match.

This is good right? Just don’t get smoked today and hope englands second team is still good enough to grab 3 points against wales and we just need to beat Iran.

 

If we win today, we go through of we don't lose to Iran.

 

If we draw, we can go through If England win or draw v Wales and we draw or win v Iran.

 

If we lose, we can still go through by beating Iran as long we still beat them and Wales on GD, which would obviously be very likely as long as we don't get curb stomped by England.

 

wales is on one point so they have to beat England next round to advance. Assuming that doesn’t happen, then the result against England doesn’t matter for the US. They could lose by 100 goals but as long as they beat Iran, they are through.

 

Iran will probably play for a draw if the US don’t beat England, but to that I would say that if you can’t beat wales or Iran then you don’t really deserve to advance.

[WrigleyField 22]

This is good right? Just don’t get smoked today and hope englands second team is still good enough to grab 3 points against wales and we just need to beat Iran.

 

If we win today, we go through of we don't lose to Iran.

 

If we draw, we can go through If England win or draw v Wales and we draw or win v Iran.

 

If we lose, we can still go through by beating Iran as long we still beat them and Wales on GD, which would obviously be very likely as long as we don't get curb stomped by England.

 

wales is on one point so they have to beat England next round to advance. Assuming that doesn’t happen, then the result against England doesn’t matter for the US. They could lose by 100 goals but as long as they beat Iran, they are through.

 

Iran will probably play for a draw if the US don’t beat England, but to that I would say that if you can’t beat wales or Iran then you don’t really deserve to advance.

Hard go say a point or 3 wouldn't matter, but I see what you mean. They can get creamed and still be in play with a W against Iran.

 

So is an agressive gameplan the right approach? A loss by however much, you still need to win against Iran. But a win opens up a path where an Iran draw also gets you in.

 

Edit- or a path where England shits the bed against Wales too

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The discourse is extremely similar to the convo before the last qualifying window. In hindsight, playing for keeps @ Mexico made things easier, and the quotes from Berhalter on the topic this week are that he's not thinking hard about rotation, so outside of maybe being a little quicker with a Dest/McKennie sub(who may need it for fitness anyway), I don't expect much rotation. Maybe one exception might be Ream? It's weird to say after he was borderline MOTM against Wales, but England are gonna have a ton of the ball and will be able to isolate him far better, and Ream's passing will be much higher leverage against Iran's bunker.

[WrigleyField 22]

Wait draw-draw leaves them no chance right? That puts them at 3 points and Iran and England would have 4 each regardless of Wales-England result.

 

Lose and England likely coasts against Wales which makes GD important even if the US beats Iran. Iran plays for tie

 

Tie and England also can coast against Wales, but GD isn't a factor anymore if US wins. Iran plays for tie.

 

Win and England has to try against Wales for at least a tie. But US would still need to at least draw against Iran. But they'd be in with a W. Iran has to play to W.

 

Am in trying to talk myself into a draw/close loss is the best bet? Damn soccer is dumb.

[imb]

I’m scared

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Also of note, Iran's right midfielder will be out with yellow card accumulation and apparently 3 others had some type of injury leaving the field today, so there's a chance they'll be not at full strength.

[Derwood]

I'm always rooting for the Netherlands. Hopefully they don't disappoint this year

[stitchface]

I’m scared

 

Beat Iran and US goes through. Today is irrelevant at this point.

[WrigleyField 22]

I’m scared

 

Beat Iran and US goes through. Today is irrelevant at this point.

Unless GD comes into play if England sails it in against Wales.

 

But I guess the goal is mainly to play it safe, stay fresh for Iran and a 2 goal loss is no big deal.

[wolf stansson]

 

 

F off gregg. Honestly. Haji Wright?!?!

[stitchface]

 

 

F off gregg. Honestly. Haji Wright?!?!

 

Pep can run his system because he gets the players that fit it. Gregg is running his system despite his players - which doesn't work for internationals.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't really rate Haji, but him starting is the opposite of being dogmatic to Berhalter's preferred tactical setup.

 

[wolf stansson]

I would put Weah at striker and Reyna on the wing. Bring in Aaronson to sprint at the them relentlessly at 60 min. But this is also what I’ve always wanted them to do when all the wingers are fit going back like 3-4 years. Gregg never even experimented with it.

[wolf stansson]

I think the funniest result would be a Sergino Dest banger and a 1-0. Just the least engaged dude on the pitch all of a sudden putting his defender in the spin cycle and letting it rip and then Matt Turner does the rest.

[soccer10k]

Eff it let's go win this MFer.

[wolf stansson]

Harry Maguire dribbling lmao

[wolf stansson]

I would like Yunus to be more aggressive vertical. I don’t want him back passing when there’s a dribbling lane. I certainly don’t want him back passing to Jude Bellingham.

[imb]

I would like Yunus to be more aggressive vertical. I don’t want him back passing when there’s a dribbling lane. I certainly don’t want him back passing to Jude Bellingham.

 

Yeah that was mind boggling