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)

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by penguinz

Tunisia might steal this game.

France obviously not playing their A team with 1st place pretty much wrapped up. Would be crazy to see Tunisia steal the win and sneak past Australia if the Aussies hold on for the draw. Lots of colonialism ties in that match. Pretty much the whole Tunisia team was born in France.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHammersticks

Could someone explain offsides to me like I was 5? Is it like hockey, where the guy with the ball has to be first in some type of zone?

Basically you cannot be involved in the play if you are closer to the goal line than the second to last defender, or the ball if the ball is beyond the defender, when the ball is played by your teammate. Exceptions are receiving the ball directly from a throw-in, corner-kick or goal kick.

[JohnnyHammersticks]

Originally Posted by penguinz

Basically you cannot be involved in the play if you are closer to the goal line than the second to last defender, or the ball if the ball is beyond the defender, when the ball is played by your teammate. Exceptions are receiving the ball directly from a throw-in, corner-kick or goal kick.

So there has to be at least two defenders closer to the goal line than an offensive player receiving a pass?

[POND_OF_RED]

I just realized we’re shaping up for an Argentina vs France matchup right out of the gate if these results hold and and Argentina can’t break through Polands defense today. That would be an insane Round of 16 elimination match. That’s what a lot of people predicted the final would be. Brazil in the mix as well, but those are the 3 clear favorites.

[ultimate175]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHammersticks

So there has to be at least two defenders closer to the goal line than an offensive player receiving a pass?

Yes but one of them is the goal keeper. There are many nuances to the rule, but basically (5 year old explanation) the player can't be behind the last defender (assuming goalie is present) when the ball is passed.

[POND_OF_RED]

Tunisia scores and shakes it all up!

[kstater]

The afternoon games are gonna be wild today.

Sent from my SM-S906U1 using Tapatalk

[POND_OF_RED]

Australia takes it right back. The final 30 in these matches should be fun! AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!!

[JohnnyHammersticks]

Originally Posted by ultimate175

Yes but one of them is the goal keeper. There are many nuances to the rule, but basically (5 year old explanation) the player can't be behind the last defender (assuming goalie is present) when the ball is passed.

Oh, so the goalie counts. That makes a lot more sense, thanks.

[TripleThreat]

Australia wins, Tunisia Wins.

World cup of upsets.

[GloryDayz]

Tunisia came down to the wire. But yes, France was offsides.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHammersticks

So there has to be at least two defenders closer to the goal line than an offensive player receiving a pass?

That is the very basic definition of the law. There are many nuances to it that most players and coaches at even the pro levels struggle to understand completely.

Over the past several years they have been cleaning up the interpretation of what is truly Offside but some of that has made it more confusing for those who do not study how it is meant to be enforced.

[TripleThreat]

TBH this is huge for us with Australia. Imagine if we beat Netherlands and Australia manages to hold out and beat whoever they face, whether it be 1-0, or in PK's?

We'd be playing Australia in the final 8 lol

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHammersticks

Oh, so the goalie counts. That makes a lot more sense, thanks.

99% of the time the goal keeper is the last defender. There are occasions when the keep comes further off his line and is not the last defender or also set pieces where the keeper is off his line a bit and there are defenders positioned on the posts behind him.

[TripleThreat]

Not sure Mexico will be able to advance tbh.

Mexico needs Poland to win, and then with a Mexico win they are in.

If Argentina win, Mexico's gonna need to score at least 4-5 goals depending what Argentina drops on Poland.