USMNT vs Paraguay Gameday Thread - World Cup 2026

[Clonehomer]

I’ve barely followed USMNT since 2022, but I was absolutely SHOCKED to read that Ream would captain the team and anchor the back line

I remember we’ve been complaining about Ream as a weakness on the back line since about 2010. Does a player like him really get better with age? I guess we are finding out

I guess the hope is that the team around him is much better and our defense will be asked to do less (seems to be true that we can play a much more aggressive style now, and don’t need to rely on packing it in and waiting for counter attack opportunities)

The reason I heard was just because of experience and having the veteran in the room that would keep everyone in line. After the last WC, we need to ensure that the team doesn’t fall apart. And it didn’t sound like some of the other guys were trusted to lead by example all the time.

But, it may be one of the few times that the captain isn’t getting all the playing time. Cause also hope that he isn’t in the lineup in the knockout stage.

 

[cycloneman003]

Disagree. Mostly as I expect Turkiya to be sitting on 6 points also headed into the last match. Winning the group is the important thing. With the expanded field, the difference between winning your group and not is bigger than it has been in the past. Win your group and the round of 32 sets up nicely with a 3rd place qualifier with Belgium in the round of 16. Get 2nd and it’s a 2nd place team (probably Egypt) with likely Argentina in the round of 16.

So if you can get a result against Australia without Adams, I think you do it. But, that also depends on what Turkiya does in their first two.

Yellows get wiped out after the group stage. So short of a guy getting a red, we’d be at full strength against Turkiya and the round of 32.

Beyond foolish to take anything for granted. If you rest guys against Australia and lose you’ll look stupid and be in a terrible spot.

You go all out next game. Win and hopefully you’ll be in a spot where a draw against Türkiye wins the group because of the goal difference you built up.

Also, the expectation should be a result against Türkiye for this squad. They are good and have a couple standout talents, but they aren’t a superpower.

 

[harimad]

But only one matters.

 

[Bigman38]

Hopefully the Pulisic caution was just a luxury since they were up so much. He was awesome last night.

Hesitate to even comment because it’s so ridiculous but if Poch is considering letting off the gas for Australia he should be fired.

 

[cyclonestunners]

Hopefully the Pulisic caution was just a luxury since they were up so much. He was awesome last night.

Hesitate to even comment because it’s so ridiculous but if Poch is considering letting off the gas for Australia he should be fired.

As a fan going to that game... i agree
I Think he might though... we dont hace much depth

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Beyond foolish to take anything for granted. If you rest guys against Australia and lose you’ll look stupid and be in a terrible spot.

You go all out next game. Win and hopefully you’ll be in a spot where a draw against Türkiye wins the group because of the goal difference you built up.

Also, the expectation should be a result against Türkiye for this squad. They are good and have a couple standout talents, but they aren’t a superpower.

It would be smart to split the difference and if they have a minor knock then not start them and put them in the second half or 60th min as need be. Shouldn’t need them against the Aussies and not worth making it worse.

I will say the vibes in the stadium totally shifted when Captain America went out. Mostly out of injury concern but also on the pitch the movement was sloppy for awhile and the attack didn’t have the same teeth.

 

[harimad]

That should have been a red card against Scotland.

 

[NATEizKING]

Glad we slowed it down a bit so I only had 4 shotguns

 

[Clonehomer]

It would be smart to split the difference and if they have a minor knock then not start them and put them in the second half or 60th min as need be. Shouldn’t need them against the Aussies and not worth making it worse.

I will say the vibes in the stadium totally shifted when Captain America went out. Mostly out of injury concern but also on the pitch the movement was sloppy for awhile and the attack didn’t have the same teeth.

I think sitting Adams is that perfect split. I know we don’t have much depth behind him, but all the more reason to avoid yellow card accumulation. Anyone else, base it on their fitness.

 

[cycloneman003]

I think sitting Adams is that perfect split. I know we don’t have much depth behind him, but all the more reason to avoid yellow card accumulation. Anyone else, base it on their fitness.

Don’t think that makes too much sense either. Australia is going to be a counter attacking team and he’s the best player on the team to break those up from midfield. If you win but he’s suspended for Turkey, that’s a lot better than risking not playing him again Australia and then getting a yellow against Turkey because you need the result and having him suspended for the first knockout game.

 

[Clonehomer]

Don’t think that makes too much sense either. Australia is going to be a counter attacking team and he’s the best player on the team to break those up from midfield. If you win but he’s suspended for Turkey, that’s a lot better than risking not playing him again Australia and then getting a yellow against Turkey because you need the result and having him suspended for the first knockout game.

I thought I heard yellows were wiped after the group stage?

 

[cycloneman003]

I thought I heard yellows were wiped after the group stage?

Single yellows are yes, but if he gets a second yellow in the group stage it’s one game suspension. So if you get a second yellow in the 3rd group stage game then you miss 1st knockout game.

Same goes for knockouts, single yellows are wiped after quarterfinals.