Cucho set up the golden chance that could have saved us from penalty drama. Overall he needs to learn to pass the ball in the most crucial of moments.
Cucho was very inconsequential in the first half. He found a lot more space playing almost as a winger in the second half, creating danger with his shots and also setting up a golden opportunity just before the end of regulation that Angulo just put on the keeper’s chest.
Glad for the lucky victory but that's about it. Boring game, we played bad and this is against New Zealand. I saw the game vs. Korea from 2013 when we went to PK. we have a huge chance to make it to the semi final but for some reason, the players don't want to get there. Potentially, no one will convince me that New Zealand, Panama or Ukraine are better than us, but today we didn't deserve to go through. That miss by Angulo in ET, man, just imagine if we wouldn't win the PK. We must learn how to kill the game with our chances. And we had chances before their equaliser. And today the defense wasn't good in my opinion, they had too many good chances, Mier saved us several times. The main problem is Cucho. Not only that he is not our best player, he actually destroy our chances with bad decisions. Maybe like @Azucarero said, it's time to let him be a super sub and to put Sandoval next to Sinisterra, because besides Tahiti (and Cucho will excuse me that I wasn't impressed), he didn't show up at all to this tournament.
Cucho wasn't good, he also isn't getting on the ball enough because most of the time we only play down the wings and try to beat a player or two and cross, and in the second half he drifted wide to get on the ball. Honestly there is no cohesion with this team, I feel like the front 3 are all selfish so each time they get on the ball they tend to not want to give it up. Cucho should be dropping deeper to get the ball and allow the wide forwards to attack that space, then come into the box late. This team has no real midfield general or creative presence in the middle so its an obvious tweak to get Cucho on the ball but it isn't being made. Good set up for a good chance but overall he's been disappointing. Cucho is the most experienced and is supposed to be the "star" so he has to take a lot of the blame for not taking his chances to change the game. I think the biggest problem with our teams at youth level is we are never really calm and we aren't producing intelligent midfielders who can control a match enough outside of James and Quintero who were superb at this age. We need more calm, creative players who can pass and orchestrate, this team definitely really lacks that.
I really do see him being in that role or a supporting striker to Duvan or Falcao. Would like to see him come off the bench this fall assuming he does well at his new club whichever it may be.
The whole team just looked weaker physically and even technically compared to the Kiwis. Them resting 9 starters against Uruguay helped them out in the fitness regard maybe. On a positive note we get some rest and time to regroup for Friday now and get a player like Alvarado back who is crucial to our midfield play.
take a chill pill fellas. These guys are 18-19 year olds with some barely having any minutes in their club teams, so let that sink for a minute. This is also a single elimination phase of the WC so everyone is going to make some horrible decisions. The biggest culprit from what I watched was our lack of controlling the tempo in the MF. Carvajal did a really poor job in settling the ball and giving clean passes. He was also constantly caught behind the ball and out of position. Alvarado will clean this up. Sinistierra on another level. And the CBs did a decent job. Arroyo was taking far too many touches but he kept that flank busy whereas Vera is looking worse every game. That NZ team was a very good team, well rested with some great skill on the ball and a striker up front who gave our boys constant problems. I'll watch some of Ukraine today but I don't think they'll play the same possession style futbol that we saw vs The Kiwis. Oh, and we won, Final 8! Our boys will have an extra rest day.
As I said, it will depend on how he does at his new club. I am not sure how Queiroz views him and his particular skills when it applies to his system but I do know generally speaking he does like giving young guys a chance and he is one of the best young talents we have. I don't think this tournament will be something that hinders his chances of training with the team come this fall.
Couple of things, I really did not want to rag on Vera but it is hard not to. He does not know how to cross and his shots go way into the stratosphere. It is crazy that he is the best player we have to take tiro libres because each time he steps up I already know it will be in row 7 or 8 in the stands. I have seen a lot of Ukraine since they are coming from the same group as USA. They will be pesky in their own ways. More physical than the Kiwis (and that is saying a lot) but not as technical and give up a lot of possession which could help us out big time. But they are deadly on set pieces and on quick counters when you least expect it so I would favor them against us because we still seem to be too inefficient in our shot chances. I think I will be rooting for Panama but they can give us problems too.
He's a prospect, I don't think 3 games in one week with a poor system should be the decider on a player but he's not had a good tournament so far and he's missing an opportunity to showcase himself for the upcoming season and for our NT. Nothing is going to be decided on him either way at 20, but he's not advanced whatsoever at this tournament competing against his own age.
Ukraine up 3-0 on Panama. Get prepared for another hard fought match in which we might need to do something brilliant to win or go to penalties and advance.
3-1 now. let's be honest, Panama also just barely made it to this phase. Not taking Ukraine lightly but besides the US they really havent faced any real tough competition.
I want to agree with you but they just have something about them within their organization that does make me favor them. We struggle against organized teams especially with our lack of midfield playmaker. I will try and be optimistic and say my hope is we find a way to wake up and have the best offensive game of the tournament. That would be welcomed with open arms.
Yes indeed. I think it is a shame that one of these two teams have to be eliminated but that blame goes on Ecuador for not being able to finish better than 3rd.
Memories of Falcao being trash when he’s played lone striker have disappeared? I don’t really blame Cucho for the system he’s being utilized in not the strategy. I’ve seen the kid play enough to see his quality. Our coach is so trash that nobody is really tonthe best of their ability.
Come now my friends, we shall rest and let the kids recover. Thankfully they dont need to travel for the next match and so have more time to prepare themselves. Now, let's focus on the senior squad facing Panama today~