USMNT Vs. El Salvador Open Thread
0-0 in the 42nd minute. Looking decent so far, but not starting Pepe, even with his recent club struggles, is odd to me.
Also, as a Robinson fan, I don’t know if him and Dest are a good outside defender pair as both are handsy defenders and tend to get caught up in the attack.
January 27th, 2022 at 7:46 PM ^
On a brighter note… McKinnie has played his ass off in my opinion. He’s been in top shape tonight, just hasn’t amounted to anything.
January 28th, 2022 at 2:47 AM ^
Yeah, he was everywhere. Played great.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:04 PM ^
Lots of bitcoin is at stake here.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:11 PM ^
Still holding out for Bitcoin city myself
January 27th, 2022 at 8:04 PM ^
I hope they continue having strong 2nd halves.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:10 PM ^
THATS MY BOY, ROBINSON!
1-0 USA??
January 27th, 2022 at 8:11 PM ^
The front flip even better than the goal!
January 27th, 2022 at 8:11 PM ^
USA. ??
January 27th, 2022 at 8:22 PM ^
Robinson looking like a stud tonight… another great chance, but better save by the keeper.
Pulisic subbed off in the 64th(?) minute. Just an average game for him, nothing really noteworthy. Been struggling finding his footing at Chelsea.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:26 PM ^
El Salvador is the Panama of Hondurases. So chippy and grabby tonight, not that I expected anything less from a greatly overmatched team.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:28 PM ^
They are starting to play 3 men high, much more aggressive look. if we don’t get another goal it will be a problem.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:36 PM ^
Game feels completely different since we scored the goal. This team plays so tight when they don’t have the lead, like they are afraid of not qualifying.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:42 PM ^
I was hoping for a more dominant performance in the cold weather.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:54 PM ^
3 points is 3 points… on to Canada.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:58 PM ^
Pretty sad.
Like March Madness win and advance but still. Vs this type of team no reason to be playing in 18 degrees. Save that for the Mexicans.
January 27th, 2022 at 9:00 PM ^
Only going to get colder, Sunday in Hamilton and next week in Minnesota. Both outdoors.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:18 PM ^
Looking forward to seeing the Americans in Hamilton.
January 27th, 2022 at 9:06 PM ^
You have to take the most home field you can get. Look at how things played out last year, 3pts is never a given.
January 27th, 2022 at 9:52 PM ^
Was at the game. Should have been 3-0. lower.com field is really nice.
Man would I kill for a USMNT game with stakes (I’d even take a Gold Cup game) somewhere in Metro Detroit.
January 28th, 2022 at 2:50 AM ^
That would be cool, but there's nowhere to play something like that is there? I don't think they ever play indoors or on field turf do they?
January 28th, 2022 at 11:28 AM ^
You’re correct. No natural grass surfaces except Comerica and I don’t think it has the dimensions.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:12 PM ^
I am not in the locker room, but Berhalter needs to be asked about some of his decisions. No Pepi, not having Aaronson and CP in at the same time, subbing in zardes and Morris up front (not going to help you score) when we had a lead and fresh legs in D might have helped is just tactical blunders. Almost like he is saving some legs of our better O players for later in the window while giving Z and Morris some thank you charity time because the game was in hand. Only it wasn’t and we need those three points very badly. It worked out but that doesn’t make it right. Frustrated… we need to do better.
January 28th, 2022 at 2:53 AM ^
I think this was it: "Almost like he is saving some legs of our better O players for later in the window while giving Z and Morris some thank you charity time because the game was in hand."
Bit a gamble with only a one goal lead but they didn't have a shot on goal. He probably felt pretty comfortable (even though I agree, it only takes one mistake).
January 28th, 2022 at 7:19 AM ^
Almost like he saw something about how he could use a rested Pepi against Canada.
January 28th, 2022 at 9:45 AM ^
It’s overthinking to not do everything you can to secure the 3 points. I’d argue he did the same thing in game 1. Lost out on 2 points there. And it didn’t help him in game 2 v Canada. Get the points when they are there. Again, it worked out, but that does not make it sound logic. On to Hamilton, beat Canada!
January 28th, 2022 at 12:54 PM ^
I think Berhalter has been a good choice overall but I wish he'd stop overthinking things and making these little changes for what I assume is his own amusement. Like, why start Ferreira as a false 9 when you could have put Pulisic or Weah in that role and put Aaronson on the field as a winger? But I guess it's an improvement over when he started Lleget as a false 9.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:40 PM ^
As a fan of bitcoin adoption I’m pulling for El Salvador ??
January 27th, 2022 at 11:40 PM ^
0-0 45 mins into a game with 2 TOTAL shot attempts ..this is why soccer will never be thought of as a "real sport by the American people" i get it in Africa,England ,Germany etc they literally have nothing else to watch ..
Pele once said " you MIGHT see 3 minutes of action in a soccer match,but you dont want to miss those 3 minutes"
January 28th, 2022 at 7:18 AM ^
"ralphgoblue" can't see what all the fuss is about.
January 27th, 2022 at 11:41 PM ^
Too bad Jamaica couldn’t hold off Mexico, but the Panama loss is a great bonus as it puts the US 4 points ahead of 4th place. Panama has a road trip to Azteca next week, and close their qualifying schedule with the US and Canada back to back. That US-Panama game is going to be huge, because it will likely be a must-win for Panama, while the US might clinch qualifying that night.
January 28th, 2022 at 2:59 AM ^
Yep, that Panama loss was big.
USA is currently 11th in FIFA rankings. Is there a chance they can get to top 8 for a seed? Although I guess they probably need to get to top 7 if Qatar gets an auto seed. They're not super far behind Portugal for 8th but pretty big gap to 7th.
January 28th, 2022 at 11:36 AM ^
The host definitely gets the auto bid in but are they definitely given a spot in first pot during group draws (meaning they get a 1 seed). I know Top 8 qualifying teams get in there. Wasn’t sure if it’s top 7 plus the host.
with that in mind what do they do with that when we co-host with Canada and Mexico? That’s three of the eight top seeds
January 28th, 2022 at 8:39 PM ^
Qatar has already been slotted as "A1." They are a top seed. More than a few countries will want to be drawn into that group.