* Official World Cup 2022 Thread *

189,417 Views | 2611 Replies | Last: 3 mo ago by TRM
akm91
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I think with Scotland, you pretty much know what you're facing. With Ukraine, you'd be facing a team riding emotion of national pride which can lead to extraordinary achievements. With Wales, you have the possibility of Bale going off like he did against Austria.

Out of the three, I'd rather face Scotland.
"And liberals, being liberals, will double down on failure." - dedgod
Aston94
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Looking at our team and what it does well, I think we would likely play the best against Ukraine. I know you have the "whole world rooting for them" angle, but their style and talent level are best for us. Scotland only concerns me because you know they will sit in a low block and look to counter. Opening up teams in a low block has not been our strength (see Canada). Wales is like Ukraine, will play open, but they have a bit more talent than the Ukrainians.

All 3 have their pluses and minuses, just going to enjoy their 3 team playoff and then look forward to kicking the winner's ass in November.
Aston94
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Here is the full schedule for the play in games remaining, will be some fun summer soccer since we don't have WC summer soccer (As a quick aside, why is it that we are playing these qualifiers games in Qatar, in the summer, when we couldn't play the World Cup in Qatar, in the summer?)

Wed. June 1---Scotland v. Ukraine (Glasgow, Scotland)

Sunday, June 5---Wales v. Winner Scotland/Ukraine (Cardiff, Wales)----Winner qualifies for WC

Tuesday, June 7---UAE v. Australia (Qatar)

Monday, June 13---Peru v. Winner UAE/Australia (Qatar)----Winner qualifies for WC

Tuesday June 14---Costa Rica v. New Zealand (Qatar)----Winner qualifies for WC
jeffk
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Thanks for this! I was just wondering when the other play-in matches were scheduled.
PatAg
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Dre_00 said:

Is the difference between Scotland, Wales, and Ukraine significant enough to warrant an opinion based on footballing skill? This desire to thread the needle in order to get the absolutely easiest group possible as opposed to a group that's like 5% more difficult is weird to me. I'm going to be disappointed if the US doesn't qualify out of the group no matter who gets that final spot. And if they don't qualify because Ukraine made it I'm certainly not going to say "If only we got Scotland!".

Anyway, go Ukraine, Scotland, and Wales. I hope you produce some fun to watch qualification games in June. And whichever one of you wins, I hope we beat you in November as we are more than capable of doing.

I think disappointed is the right word too. It wouldn't be a failure to not advance, but I think we should if we want to show we are back on the upward trend. I think people are overlooking the non euro teams from coverage I have read
akm91
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Don't know if you guys watch/listen to In Soccer We Trust and they've gone into some details about Wales, Scotland and Ukraine in the last episode.

The show is hosted by Jimmy Conrad, Heath Pearce and Charlie Davies (all former USMNT players) so they offer slightly different perspective than most of the pundits out there.
"And liberals, being liberals, will double down on failure." - dedgod
oh no
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Steffen just conceded in the FA semi final due to being nonchalant/ casual when the ball was played back to him. He's really gotta get that overconfidence out of his system.
ChipFTAC01
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oh no said:

Steffen just conceded in the FA semi final due to being nonchalant/ casual when the ball was played back to him. He's really gotta get that overconfidence out of his system.


Hopefully he waits about 65 minutes before he starts working on it.
jeffk
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If Turner is healthy, he should start. Zach "Good with his Feet" Steffen is too casual on the ball.
JW
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That should be it for Steffen. Seen enough.
Thunder18
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Steffen has never impressed me
oh no
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Thunder18 said:

Steffen has never impressed me
same. He's relatively young and not getting enough meaningful minutes at City, so I don't want to write him off for the future, but I don't know how Greggg could think he can trust him going into Qatar in November.., then again, Sean Johnson has never overly impressed, Horvath isn't getting enough meaningful minutes either, not sure who the other options are after Turner- not enough time before Qatar.
jeffk
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Queue up your PTSD.

akm91
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Wonder if Berhalter will call in Brooks for that friendly? Afterall, Brooks was the one that exorcised the Ghana demon back in 2014.
"And liberals, being liberals, will double down on failure." - dedgod
wangus12
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jeffk said:

Queue up your PTSD.


Lol we finally avoid them in a WC year and we schedule them anyways
akm91
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Well technically, we avoided them in 2018 as well
"And liberals, being liberals, will double down on failure." - dedgod
deadbq03
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We could also theoretically meet in the finals (or 3rd place match) this year.
fig96
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jeffk said:

Queue up your PTSD.


Not a bad tuneup match though.
aggiebird02
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akm91 said:

Well technically, we avoided them in 2018 as well
Shut your mouth! Bite your tongue!
aggiebird02
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fig96 said:

jeffk said:

Queue up your PTSD.


Not a bad tuneup match though.
This is a great tune up match…
Aston94
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Uruguay and Ghana are two great matches for this summer window, really happy with USMNT selections. I fully expect our Fall window to be two matches played in Europe.
aggiebird02
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That would be ideal…
TXCityAggie
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oragator said:

All three of our games are at 2p est it appears.

https://mcusercontent.com/4ef9e48118d62394ba5b65ae9/files/a37b840e-1f90-d20d-64ee-ca85ba75b7e1/FIFA_World_Cup_Qatar_2022.pdf
It seems odd that Qatar is not playing in the opening game. Unless I am reading it wrong, it appears that Senegal/Netherlands with kick off the tournament.
DeangeloVickers
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Yes, third game of the day...maybe wanting prime time?!?!

I just don't ever remember a host not playing first game.
jeffk
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Aston94
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Morocco instead of Ghana, interesting. Morocco and Uruguay make for really good summer competition as well.
akm91
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Hakimi vs Jedi will be a good battle.
"And liberals, being liberals, will double down on failure." - dedgod
Bryan98
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TXCityAggie said:

oragator said:

All three of our games are at 2p est it appears.

https://mcusercontent.com/4ef9e48118d62394ba5b65ae9/files/a37b840e-1f90-d20d-64ee-ca85ba75b7e1/FIFA_World_Cup_Qatar_2022.pdf
It seems odd that Qatar is not playing in the opening game. Unless I am reading it wrong, it appears that Senegal/Netherlands with kick off the tournament.
That is correct, but I don't know the reason.
akm91
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Probably because 11am ET has much more viewers than 5am ET.
"And liberals, being liberals, will double down on failure." - dedgod
deadbq03
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akm91 said:

Probably because 11am ET has much more viewers than 5am ET.
No doubt. Especially viewers in Ecuador… but the opening game is also an entire day earlier than the rest, so they could've just had Qatar play on 11/20 at 11AM as the only game that day.
deadbq03
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Random Friday story: a friend of mine is traveling around Germany and somehow ended up in a Brazilian restaurant in Hamburg… he just texted me a pic from the menu: they have a dessert called "Um a Sete" (Portuguese for "One to Seven") with the description "Brazilian soccer upset in the form of a dessert creation."
ChipFTAC01
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deadbq03 said:

Random Friday story: a friend of mine is traveling around Germany and somehow ended up in a Brazilian restaurant in Hamburg… he just texted me a pic from the menu: they have a dessert called "Um a Sete" (Portuguese for "One to Seven") with the description "Brazilian soccer upset in the form of a dessert creation."


That is elite ****housery
jeffk
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Good news for Austin peeps.

deadbq03
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Wife is gonna be at a conference. Kids will be at my folks.

I'm gonna be really tempted to take a half day and road trip.
akm91
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"And liberals, being liberals, will double down on failure." - dedgod
 
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