The Official 2022 FIFA World Cup Thread

[TripleThreat]

YOUNG AMERICANS
The USMNT was by far the youngest team to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, garnering valuable experience going through the rigors of World Cup qualifying. Through 14 qualifiers, the USA Starting XI came in at an average of 23.82, almost two years younger than the next closest team, Ghana at 25.67. Together, the other 31 participating teams averaged a Starting XI age of 27.5 through qualifying, nearly four full years older than the U.S. Sources say this is one of the youngest, but most talented teams the U.S. has ever fielded. While they may not win the world cup this year, they may garner the experience needed to make a serious run on home soil in the year 2026 when the World Cup comes back to North America.

2022 USA World Cup Roster

FORWARDS
Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas)
Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders)
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea)
Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund)
Josh Sargent (Norwich City)
Timothy Weah (Lille)
Haji Wright (Antalyaspor)

MIDFIELDERS
Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United)
Kellyn Acosta (LAFC)
Tyler Adams (Leeds United)
Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo)
Weston McKennie (Juventus)
Yunus Musah (Valencia)
Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)

DEFENDERS
Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic)
Sergiño Dest (AC Milan)
Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls)
Shaq Moore (Nashville SC)
Tim Ream (Fulham)
Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach)
DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami)
Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

GOALKEEPERS
Ethan Horvath (Luton Town)
Sean Johnson (NYCFC)
Matt Turner (Arsenal)

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Been reading a lot of the USMNT reddit fan page. Some things that have been brought up that I also think we are seeing:

1. Where the hell is Giovanni Reyna / Some people think he may not fit what our squad does as an entire team, but are still curious for answers.

2. Zimmerman being taken off the starting 11 was a welcome site despite being our #1CB headed into the tournament.

3. We are lacking a true #9.

4. People are not happy with Greg's substitutions in the second half of our games.

5. People are alarmed at our 2nd half performances in both Wales and the Iran game.

6. We aren't finishing our chances when we have them.

7. Referring to particular subs, people are not happy with Haji Wright, Kellyn Acosta, and Shaquell Moore. People want to see more of Joe Scally.

Renya is very young and has had injury problems. My guess is they wanted to play him as little as possible during group and we will see him more this saturday.

[TambaBerry]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Been reading a lot of the USMNT reddit fan page. Some things that have been brought up that I also think we are seeing:

1. Where the hell is Giovanni Reyna / Some people think he may not fit what our squad does as an entire team, but are still curious for answers.

2. Zimmerman being taken off the starting 11 was a welcome site despite being our #1CB headed into the tournament.

3. We are lacking a true #9.

4. People are not happy with Greg's substitutions in the second half of our games.

5. People are alarmed at our 2nd half performances in both Wales and the Iran game.

6. We aren't finishing our chances when we have them.

7. Referring to particular subs, people are not happy with Haji Wright, Kellyn Acosta, and Shaquell Moore. People want to see more of Joe Scally.

Reyna not getting 30 minutes as a sub is just ridiculous. He is probably our most talented player, we should have given him experience for 2026

[POND_OF_RED]

Football gods never lie. That was obviously a bullshit penalty. It’s why it didn’t go in the back of the net. This game deserves a real outcome.

[Baby Lee]

This is FROTHING!!!

[Hark Clunt]

Originally Posted by penguinz

It was an obvious PK.

no. i don't care what the letter of the law says. that was BS.

[Dante84]

So, if we win vs Netherlands, then we play the winner of Australia vs (Argentina/Poland) in the Quarterfinals.

Man - if Poland wins this game, we could legitimately find ourselves in the Semis. Obviously anything can happen, but that's an easier path than most, I'd imagine.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

6. We aren't finishing our chances when we have them.

There have been a bajillion remarks that we need a true striker, and that's another way of saying this.

We have great creativity in the build, but we need something in the finish.

[Gary Cooper]

That shouldn't be a penalty. Messi already shot the ball and the foul didn't affect anything. He had no other chance to get the ball as it was sailing out of bounds.

[blake5676]

For those more in the know than a casual watcher like myself every 4 years.....how good is Netherlands? Give me an NFL comparison of the quality of team we're playing.

Ie...the US is the Chargers and Netherlands are the Chiefs

[Gary Cooper]

Originally Posted by blake5676

For those more in the know than a casual watcher like myself every 4 years.....how good is Netherlands? Give me an NFL comparison of the quality of team we're playing.

Ie...the US is the Chargers and Netherlands are the Chiefs

Titans maybe.

[TripleThreat]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

There have been a bajillion remarks that we need a true striker, and that's another way of saying this.

We have great creativity in the build, but we need something in the finish.

It makes me wonder what is our plan for 2026 if that is truly our golden year?

Are we putting all our eggs into Sargent? He is young at 22, so at 26 he would be more in his prime.

Personally I was expecting a better tournament from Sargent thus far. I still like him but I'd be lying if I said his performance has been impressive.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by blake5676

For those more in the know than a casual watcher like myself every 4 years.....how good is Netherlands? Give me an NFL comparison of the quality of team we're playing.

Ie...the US is the Chargers and Netherlands are the Chiefs

They're in a transition. They were near the top with Van Persie and Robben in the 20-teens, but now they're younger.

So,in the parlance you requested, we're yet to see if they're the Pats post-Brady or the Eagles post-Foles.

[Dante84]

Originally Posted by blake5676

For those more in the know than a casual watcher like myself every 4 years.....how good is Netherlands? Give me an NFL comparison of the quality of team we're playing.

Ie...the US is the Chargers and Netherlands are the Chiefs

Not an NFL comparison, but here's the FIFA Mens rankings: https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-rank...dateId=id13792

Netherlands is #8, we are #16. If we win, we would play the winner of Australia (#38) vs. Poland (#26) OR Argentina (#3).

We should be rooting for Poland here.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Gary Cooper

That shouldn't be a penalty. Messi already shot the ball and the foul didn't affect anything. He had no other chance to get the ball as it was sailing out of bounds.

That would be the same as saying if PMII gets destroyed after he already released his pass it is not a penalty.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Dante84

Not an NFL comparison, but here's the FIFA Mens rankings: https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-rank...dateId=id13792

Netherlands is #8, we are #16. If we win, we would play the winner of Australia (#38) vs. Poland (#26) OR Argentina (#3).

We should be rooting for Poland here.

We do not want to play Poland. We can't score agains avg keepers.