***Official 2026 World Cup Thread***
- Thread starter ISU3PtLand
- Start date
Australia's play is reminding me of how we've historically played - collapse back on defense, make the play in the box as ugly as possible, wait for the opponent to make a mistake, counter, and score.
If Australia decides to pack it in and defend a 1 goal lead for the remainder of the match, their fans are in for a nervy watch. Turkiye could turn this into a shooting gallery.
Hopefully, they'll get to half and decide not to play like the US has the past 16 years
Hopefully, they'll get to half and decide not to play like the US has the past 16 years
It might also be their only way to at least pull a point, if not outright win. They have individual talented players, but as a team I don't think they're talented enough to hold long possessions against Turkiye, especially when they'll be ratcheting up pressure in the second half to try to get that goal back.
There's a reason why teams play a defensive-minded style like that: it's not going to make any team competitive for a cup, but it's how a team can stay in games against teams that are clearly better than them. That said, it's also how you end up in trouble against teams you should be clearly better than, which has happened all to often to us when we've played that way.
Give Australia credit - they've been forcing Turkiye into mistakes, so they haven't had to play all half in front of their own goal.
If this holds, if USA wins on Friday the group is almost on lockdown.
Australia is holding a clinic on how to pull off an upset. They have made the most of their limited opportunities while playing stout defense. Possession only matters if you can capitalize off it.
Anyone STILL think we shouldn't go all out against Australia on Friday? We win that game and we're in full control of the group.
I was wrong. I really thought Türkiye was close to us. They looked completely unprepared for this match. Now, the next game is the important one.
But..that also means Türkiye will be desperate for a win in the third match. And they will need to probably push for multiple goals to qualify. So we’ll see how they match up with Panama.
