We played counter attack bunker ball (2nd half) against the 79th ranked FIFA team like we would against Spain. That was embarrassing. Worst 2nd half coaching against a inferior team I have seen in a long time. They were giving Curacao every chance to tie that game. Not using 2nd sub until injury time and never using your 3rd? Just really bad coaching.
I wouldn't say unlucky. Curacao fought hard and stymied the U.S. but that one Steffen save was the only time they really threatened. As bad as the U.S. was I don't think they deserved to lose.
Well, I guess I mean unlucky in the sense of an absence of good luck. They were more than threatening enough to have benefited from a lucky bounce, a dumb US penalty, a bad call for a penalty, or something over the course of 90 minutes.
2019 Gold Cup Semifinals Times are ET Tuesday, July 2 Groups A/B (Glendale, AZ) Mexico v. Haiti 10:30 pm FS1/Univision Wednesday, July 3 Groups C/D (Nashville, TN) USA v. Jamaica 9:30 pm FS1/Univision . The Final is July 7.
It goes without saying that the 4 teams in Houston looked like they were playing to win. The 4 teams in Philadelphia looked like they were playing not to lose. How will this play out in the semifinals? If the U.S. tried to play against a first or second-tier European team the way it did against Curacao, I think our boys would have been bludgeoned.
Well the problem seemed to be that they played a conservative style they'd use against a first tier team against a Carib minnow and were content to have them challenge Steffen from 22 yards away. Not entirely sure what to draw from that game.
You're right about what Curacao had on offer. There were very few shots on goal, and most of the saves Steffen made could have been handled by a 12-year old kid.
I draw that our coach doesn't know what he is going. Sitting back with a 1 goal lead and allowing an inferior team to possibly sneak in a goal is just all kinds of stupid. Not using subs...there was just a lot of stupid going around. It was as if he really didn't want to win.
Game on between Haiti and Mexico. Placide confidently dives to claim a low cross early. He's gotten better and better in goal as the tournament has gone on. He looked shaky at the beginning, possibly because he's been without a club for a while.