OT: Copa America Centenario - USA vs. Colombia 8:30pm CDT, FS1

Submitted by Wolverine In Iowa on

And here come the lads!  USA (ranked 31st in the FIFA rankings) versus a strong Colombia team (ranked third) in the opening match of the Copa America.  The game is at the 49ers' stadium in Santa Clara, California.  I don't think the line-up is out yet, but I see (on Bigsoccer.com):

G - Guzan

D - Johnson, Cameron, Brooks, Yedlin

M - Bradley, Jones, Bedoya

A - Wood, Dempsey, Zardes

GO USA!!

MichiganTeacher

June 4th, 2016 at 9:14 AM ^

I don't understand your comment. USMNT has 5 starters in Bundesliga/EPL plus another in Ligue 1. With the 11 players on the field including those guys, it's impossible to be 'mostly MLS.'

Colombia's one of the better teams in the world right now. But if you look at their roster, outside of the big 4 or 5, their players aren't on club teams that are a whole heck of a lot better than ours.

If you do look at the top 4 or 5, yes, there's a talent gap between them and us - they're one of the top world sides right now, no doubt. But it's nowhere near as big a gap as you imply. Certainly not big enough to translate to what we saw on the field last night. Fergodsakes, they were up 2 goals, without their best player, and they were still dominating. Contrast that to the two squads' 1994 WC match, when the talent gap was actually enormous. Teamwork can trump technical skill in soccer. The reverse can be true, too, but my point is that the talent and skill gap between the two teams is nowhere near being too large to prevent competitive play.

superstringer

June 4th, 2016 at 7:17 AM ^

When our starting strikers are a guy from second division Germany and two MLS guys -- WTF do you expect? Talent is one thing; training and experience is another. We are so far behind the top 10-15 teams its a joke. No crrativity, the entry passes missed long usually, cant dribble thru defenders. Plying your trade against MLS defenders will not create a world-class offense.

This isnt JK's fault. No coach on this planet can make up for the talent and experience gap.




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MichiganTeacher

June 4th, 2016 at 9:13 AM ^

It is JK's fault.

Wood is in the Bundesliga now, for one. Johannson was injured but was also in the Bundesliga last year. It's JK's job to deal with injuries and find a way. The talent is there to be competitive. Last night, and the last year plus, have not been competitive.

superstringer

June 4th, 2016 at 12:16 PM ^

Wood has a CONTRACT for the top level. He hasnt gotten one drop of experience from playing in it. That was my point.

And like some Icelander would have made any difference last night.

Is it Harbaugh's fault our DL was a sieve against OSU last yr bc we had no NT? So why is it JK's fault we have no top-level players in the top leagues? It has even leas to do thN with injuries




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