***Official 2022 World Cup Thread***
- Thread starter coolerifyoudid
- Start date
That cross Blinn hit to assist that goal is a ball no one on the American team can hit. Spot on pass to a wide open man. Our crosses are flat, barely high enough to clear any defenders.
So ironic. In group play the defense was solid and we were questioning the offensive play. Today the offensive play hasn't been great, but it's the defense that killed us.
I don't recall any. It feels like all defenders are a foot taller than our attackers. We don't even have a chance to get a good header on one. But then again, I haven't seen a whole lot of successful corners at all in this WC. For all the emphasis on set pieces in general, it's been runners and penalties off of runs that have scored goals.
There was the one in this game that the Dutch cleared with a foot on the goal line, but other than that, no. Our corners have been awful.
US was battling there until that third goal. That was an entertaining stretch.
Last time USA advanced in the knock out stage back in 2002 we had Landon Donovan playing at a forward position. Been lacking up front since then.
I will say one thing Aaronson Reyna and Pulisic can play like the Euros. Reyna criminally underutilized
That's the one thing that gives me hope going forward namely that we have so many players playing in high level European leagues now. Should help
Berhalter doesn’t want to bring Pepi and Pefok who are scoring in Eeredivisie and Bundesliga unfortunately
Pepi should be here not Jesus. That’s one change I would make. Also would have brought Cannon instead of Yedlin just for size and legs.
So what do we need to do in order to prepare for the next WC which will be (mostly) on our own home turf?
Berhalter needs to go. Yes - he accomplished everything he stated he was going to accomplish in this cycle, from qualifying to making it out of the group, and did it all with a very young team no less, but it is clear he doesn't have the mind for the game at this level of play.
We also need a goal scorer. Apparently we already have candidates for that who didn't play in this WC. They need to be playing in the next one.
Berhalter needs to go. Yes - he accomplished everything he stated he was going to accomplish in this cycle, from qualifying to making it out of the group, and did it all with a very young team no less, but it is clear he doesn't have the mind for the game at this level of play.
We also need a goal scorer. Apparently we already have candidates for that who didn't play in this WC. They need to be playing in the next one.
Biggest thing on the attack that I see is that all our cross attempts take too long to setup. When you see the Netherlands attempt passes into the box, it's immediate and sudden like it's second nature. For the US, it's like they're lining it up and trying make it perfect or they're thinking too much. That extra second let's the defense react. Just need to kick the ball.
I'd argue that Dempsey on this team would have been a god send
