2016 FIFA U-20's WWC - Quarter-Final # 3 - USA vs Mexico (pre/pbp/post)

At this point you can't try and change your game. I'd put in your best performing players right from the get go. Watt has offered much more than I have seen from Scarpa (?) this whole tournament.

 

Is it the coaching or just the general poor soccer intelligence from the players?

 

Mostly on the coaching. I have no idea what the hell they're doing in practice, but even Pugh, who is a fantastic player (even for the full USWNT) has looked all out of sorts this tournament. Have to put it mostly on the coaching and lack of preparation. The players look like they have no idea what tactical approach to employ.

 

Maybe but if Scarpa can't hold up the ball to be able to pass it, she isn't much use. The Mexican center forward looked a heck of a lot better in that role.

 

They played against each other in the 2010 WC...only time its ever happened in a WC, AFAIK.

 

French is thinking: I subbed in Hedge. I subbed in Watt. I'm a genius.

 

I've seen Pugh play for Real National here in Colorado. Very good player I agree, however, I tend to think it was in spite of the coaching there. Let's just say that as a club, they play very direct and certainly don't teach a sophisticated style of play.

 

Yes, this GIF actually made me tear up. (I have two sisters and we all grew up playing soccer together and played against each other a few times at the club level, so I can sort of imagine what it would be like...not that any of us were ever going to play in a WC).

Sabrina Flores (USA) comforts heartbroken twin sister Monica (Mexico). 💔😭 #USAMEX #U20wwc pic.twitter.com/LGVi7daGoC

— Ann Odong 🐨🇺🇬 (@AnnOdong) November 25, 2016

 

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Thanks for your play by play. It was refreshing compared to what we had to hear on tv.

 

I had to mute it. Especially the female commentator, she called the game like everyone watching was 6 years old.

 

I'm watching the FS2Go stream, where the pbp is a lone Brit guy. He's quite sharp, and gets appropriately excited at the proper times. For both teams

Even so, I actually had him turned way down.

 

Sorry, don't remember the name. Though it's probably for the best

 

Wwwwwwwwwell thanks for the heads-up.

 

I think the difference was in French's pulling Pugh back into the midfield. She was winning challenges and organizing the attacks. That change made it even more evident how woefully poor the USA midfield was performing. I totally don't understand all the hype around Ogle. She's been poor to nonexistent all tournament.

 

I think Ogle was playing holding mid and Flores was attacking.
My opinion Ogles good decisions are in playing negatively 90% of the time because she has no hope of creating something going forward. She does make an occasional interception because the attackers forget about her. They missed cousins. But Pugh was better than the rest in the midfield. Sanchez created the goals and Pugh's dummy was great.
Agree would like to get some flair and combinations going in the youth ranks. The kids are out there who can play intelligent and entertaining soccer, but they are often overlooked.

 

I may be in the minority, but I didn't think the game was nearly as one-sided as the announcers made it out to be. Mexico played skillfully and well. The US didn't. But at the same time, I don't think Mexico really had that many great chances. It was a lot of not all that dangerous half-chances. And they only scored on a fluky handball and a keeper misplay. The two US goals, plus some other moments, were more dangerous than anything that Mexico really had (other than the Murphy misplay on the long ball into the box.

I would agree that tactically we were lacking.