Didn't see a general PBP thread. Japan currently slowly strangulating the match against Mexico. I've said it before, you go to Japan and you watch the kids play and they are incredible. Organized, fast paced, always attacking, short passes. It looks as if their defenders have added a tough defending element to their game that was always missing. Mexico are not even in this match.
And it's game over. Don't know who Mexico's coach is but I suggest he wears his neck tie a little tighter and follow his team into a deep sleep. They were not even at this match. Ecuador v. Italy next. Let's see if Italy is any good or if Mexico are historically terrible.
Wanted to watch the Senegal match, but no streams working. Ecuador and Italy . Ecuador with the early pressure. Italy do what they always do, absorbed, sent a ball long, sent in a long cross, headed back and clinically finished by the striker top 90 of the net volley with a man on him.
Ecuador receives a bit of a soft red. It should have been a Pink card. stepped on an italian foot. Then Ecuador bottles a PK with some kind of low dribbling effort a 3 year old would have achieved.
Oh c'mon, not ONE of the senegal players is under 30. FIFA needs to run some carbon dating on these african teams. seriously.
https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/20...n-u-s-team-and-tournament-news.2091380/page-5 This is the general thread.
Yeah, I wanted a dedicated PBP, mixing news, favorite recipes, family photos and PBP is too much for me.
For what it’s worth, if US beats Nigeria and Qatar, while Nigeria beats Ukraine rankings come down to who puts the biggest beat down on Qatar Qatar has proven remarkably effective of late. They are Asian champions currently at the senior level
Ukraine another set piece goal. Keep a corner alive and cross back to the middle and headed home. 2nd half Ukraine has looked much better. Shots 10-6 Ukraine now. Will take something special to get through Ukraine they are in a 5-4-1 now defending.
Qatar now down a man and a goal as the captain is shown straight red. Ukraine should end on 6 points.
Qatar with a straight red. 84 mins. Qatar are not good, but Ukraine can't finish. Ukraine is organized and athletic, but not particularly good. Qatar would not score with 12, muchness 10 unless Ukraine does something really dumb.
US needed a draw against the Ukraine. Pretty sure they will get ambushed and run over by the mighty mighty men of Nigeria who look to be a boyz 2 men reunion tour.
All right we get Qatar without their captain. This is actually why I wish we'd gotten Ukraine last. If they we already qualified they may rest some regulars. Nigeria gets that so we really need to beat them or at least tie.
Most likely, but it will depend on goal differential and the results from other groups. For example, a draw in the New Zealand/Norway match would not be good as that'll give New Zealand 4 points and almost assuredly Norway will beat Honduras to get to 4 as well. If there's a loser from that game we can beat them out on goal differential if we both finish on 3 points
Argies holding a 1-0 lead over Portugal. France up 2-0 against the panamaniacs. I haven't seen the charts, but I think the US would meet France in the quarters. I'd be interested to see them line up against Argentina.
Looking forward to the Japan v. Italy match. Both are advancing, most likely. Japan will be intimidated and Italy will be arrogant. Early Japanese goal would be nice.