USA v Mexico starting here in a couple minutes. It’s Olympic Qualifying (so the U23 team) and it’s the last game of the group stage where both teams have already advanced to the semis so it doesn’t really mean much. But it’s still Mexico.
***Official USMNT Thread***
- Thread starter ianoconnor
- Start date
We honestly looked pretty bad. That was like our D team for U23 but still not fun to lose to Mexico
That definitely wasn’t ideal. Soto basically gifted Mexico their goal on a horrible turnover right in front of our box. I’d like to see us both win in the semis and face off again in the final. Considering this game meant nothing as far as qualifying, both teams held back on playing our best 11 to get ready for the semis on Sunday.
It’s so crazy right now because you could easily argue that 75% of our best 11 for the senior team is 23 or under. I don’t think it would be too insane to say that our best 11 would include Dest, Cannon, Adams, Musah, McKennie, Reyna, Pulisic, and Sargent who are all in that under-23 range. You could even argue that Chris Richards might be our best option at CB next to John Brooks and he’s 20. Our best talent is insanely young right now.
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Oh for sure. Mexico fans are just so annoying though. But yeah our senior national team is basically all under 23 but they’ll never get released for the Olympics much less Olympic qualifying. I’m really excited for WC qualifying even if we don’t make it (which we still should) to just see what Berhalter has cooking for a full go 100% USA men’s national team. He’s been tinkering a lot and I’d just like to see a team all fans invision with all these young guys in Europe.
I just started watching USA vs. Jamaica and not really impressed so far. Seem to be controlling possession and Jam seems to be content with clustering the back middle and trying to stop a score. And now a free kick for Jam just outside the box. Ugh.
Sad state that we’ve gone back 30 years and are just hoping to get in to the WC. I like the group we have now and I like Berhalter, but we’re miles away from doing anything meaningful in the WC.
Well there’s so many problems with the US soccer system that have caused us to be not very good.
1. Soccer is like the 5th most popular sport in the USA
2. Pay to play
3. MLS is a bottom 10 league world wide and not a good league to pull players from.
But we’re finally going back to pulling dual nationals who have grown up playing soccer and only soccer they’re whole life. We are finally getting our young players to go to Europe and actually play and develop in the worlds best leagues.
And when the World Cup is every 4 years you have some time to build a good team. When we host the World Cup in 2026 we should be at least a round of 16 team. Our current senior team will all be around their mid 20s when 2026 rolls around and 5-6+ years of experience against the best competition the world has to offer.
There were a lot of *almost* chances there in the first half. I think this team is good and I'm excited for what's happening here.
As somebody growing up the DSM metro let me tell you: every sport is pay to play now.
Yeah it’s weird here in the US. Every where else, your best athletes play soccer and you get a contract to develop at their academies.
Ya. College soccer and MLS are the problems. We’re pushing kids in to those pathways when other countries are pushing in to overseas/professional pathways.
I will say, the MLS youth systems are getting better BUT we need to get those clubs aligned with some European clubs so the kids don’t just funnel up to the parent MLS clubs. Need to have the European clubs paying good money and taking care of all the work permits and travel requirements to get young kids over there as soon as they are identified as being exceptional. Gotta live it from a young age.
MLS has been a lot better lately at understanding their place. The young stars now are getting pushed to go overseas. And I don’t know when it happened but New York Red Bull became the first free academy like European ones
