2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Group Stage USA vs Nigeria Monday, May 27th, 2019 2:30 PM (ET) Bielsko-Biala Stadium Bielsko-Biala, Poland Fox Sports 1 and NBC Universo Nigeria's Squad: Their path here: To qualify for The African Cup of Nations they needed to win a pair of 2 legged playoffs. In the first they had to face Guinea-Bissau. In the away leg they drew 2-2, and won the return game at home 1-0 thanks to a 60th minute penalty In the second they had to face Mauritania. They once again failed to win the away leg only earning a 1-1 draw, but they mauled them at home 5-0 to qualify for The African Cup of Nations. In the final tournament they were draw into a 4 team group with South Africa, Burundi and the hosts Niger. They beat Burundi and Niger, but only managed a scoreless draw against The South Africans. They finished 1st in the group, which punched their ticket to Poland. They did go on to play a semifinal against Mali where they lost in penalties. They once again fell short penalties in the 3rd place match against South Africa. I can't find any pre tournament friendlies, but they destroyed Qatar 4-0 in the opener
Nigeria has never been a walk in the park during youth tourneys. I’d say we squeak by with a 1-0 win or at worst a draw.
Thought I would take a peek at how the other half lives. Excellency's bird's eye view: Watched France - Saudi Arabia til the red card which came early. don't think we should be all worried about facing France. Also watched a little of Nigeria - Qatar. Qatar was bad. They've been better in previous iterations. I"m watching a little Panama - Mali (the "African Champions" they call them). Panama is handling them comfortably at the 26' mark. I'd be worried about Panama in the hex altho I don't see any finishers. (Edit: Fantastic solo assisted goal by Mali just before the half - used one Panamanian defender as a screen to beat a very good Panamanian goal keeper - get that GK to the MLS is he isn't gainfully employed in Europe). My overall impression is that we have made a mistake by insisting on a 433 set-up because we seem just as threatening as anybody in the attacking half but our defense isn't up to the par of other teams. It seems to me the solution has to include a 3cb set up and I don't see Tab doing that because he is the guy who decided that the default formation for our youth teams would be 433. If we had an ace dmid 6 it would be one thing because he would effectively be a 3rd cb but I don't see it in our present iteration. Durkin has some skills but not as Matic or Adams (20yr old version). Looking forward to Nigeria, it seems to me we are a team which builds on the right and finishes on the other side. The key guy is Dest. If he is told to worry about defense first he may be mentally hampered. Again. 3Cb's would fit this team. I'd like to see Mendez drop behind Pomykal and serve as the long shot outlet and I'd like to see Weah playing centrally and timing his moves to finish off Fuentes' cross.
Should be an entertaining match to watch while I grill up burgers and bratwursts. Hopefully we find a way to sneak out a positive result.
I don't know that the defense was THAT bad against Ukraine. How many chances did they have other than the goals? I remember the one shot off the bar? But I agree that the strength of this US team is in the attack. If Nigeria is not going to bunker, I'd be tempted to play the same way as the first game (with perhaps some personnel modifications) and take our chances at outscoring them. I have limited knowledge of all of these players (but when has that ever stopped a BS poster!), but ff we did want to go slightly more defensive, we could bring Cerrillo in for Durkin to solidify the center of the field. But we'd probably give up some passing ability with that. I would that I'd think about sitting Dest, but he seems so integral to building the attack that we might just have to live with the defensive gaffes.
I'd use this lineup Scott Dest-Richards-Keita-Gloster Konrad-Durkin-Cerrillo-Llanez Weah-Soto If Gloster can't play, slide Dest over to the left side and Araujo comes into the lineup. I wouldn't test out McKenzie's fitness in this game. Keita played well. He should keep his place.
I don't think this is the game you play the smaller, less direct attacking mids. I'd try to match Nigeria. We tried to outplay Ukraine with our style in the first game and it didn't work. We need some type of result in this game.
Bah. No chance. Tab teams are one step forward, two steps back. They generally have no idea who they are or what they want to accomplish. Hackworth is a terrible coach, but at least he's terrible in a very definite wishbone offense kind of way. His teams know they play cover-2 in the midfield and run fast as they can at goal and try to never dribble the ball.
Uhh, huh? The same Tab squad's that had lost 1 game in regulation in the past 2 U20 World Cups combined (10 total matches) and collected back to back confederation championships in this cycle and the last? I admit to being perplexed by his rosters and line up decisions, but it's hard to argue with his teams performance since 2015.
sure, now let's see him play some good teams. Then we can talk. Which is why I said, he seems to always be moving forward and winning, then when faced with good competition either more athletic or more technical, his teams fade. Why? I think because his teams have no identity to fall back on. They are some kind of quasi possession, counter, pressing team. Conversely, you look at the japan team and they want to move in 20m increments, they want to possess the ball, they want to make quick center > diagonal passes and runs to break the backline down.
I’m betting we see at least a few changes to try to keep people fresh, even though I wouldn’t be terribly shocked if Tab used basically the same lineup because he viewed this as a “must win.” Logic says you need fresh legs every game, and with the depth of this team, it makes sense. I seriously doubt Tab deviates from his beloved 4-3-3 regardless of how many goals it doesn’t produce. His mantra is “if it doesn’t work, get a way with it until you lose and the tournament is over.”
Anyone watched Nigeria's games? How is our chance to get a win or draw? And any thought on our tactical adjustment to play against them?
Don't expect the type of organized effort that we saw against Ukraine in this one. I think the US will show it's quality and beat Nigeria convincingly. Ukraine does not match up well Nigeria and might not be able to score a lot on Qatar. There is still a decent chance the US comes out on top of this group.
True he has a rocket of a shot but he gets manhandle in midfield. Against a physical African team, I would rather see someone with more ball control and bite.
I suggest you are undervaluing the excellent defensive concept and effort that the Ukrainians showed. Can/will the Nigerians play similarly? I feel that, no, they can't/won't. As such, I want fast-thinking movers of the ball and dangerous shooters. Keep Mendez (our best player last tournament) and find a way to get Ledezma out there.
If this game is 1-1 in the 80th minute, do you start playing for tie knowing that Qatar is looming and 4 points will be enough to advance, or do you go for the win?
Does anyone know where to find good live online feeds for these games? Youtube or whatever. I've been impressed by the quality of the highlights packages online but I don't have FS1 or NBC Universo.
If we lose is there any chance we can advance as the 3rd place team by beating Qatar? Haven’t looked into all the rules well enough.
If you ask me, you “play for the tie” by emphasizing defensive solidity the whole game. Trust individual talent to generate chances, disrupt Nigeria’s position and take advantage of chaotic game states, and focus on limiting Nigeria’s ability to create clean shots. I don’t think Nigeria is going to bunker and counter like Ukraine.
Yeah, pretty much need a result today it seems, so would agree with this. I was pretty surprised by how uncertain our defense looked against Ukraine, but I suppose both goals were kind of fluky, at least the first one. Hopefully the team will be more up for it today, as I had high expectations for them in the knockout stages. Seems many here have appropriately pointed out the games will be completely different based on how the teams match up, so looking forward with cautious optimism for today.
I expect Nigeria to play more open. Also expect them to be more technical than Ukraine's "bruisers". We were terrible in the final third against Ukraine. Maybe more chances today.
Just saw this, but thanks for the invite. I guess you should DM us your address, though, unless your want to risk some random guys you really don't know showing up without a proper invitation.