Pre-match: USA vs. Argentina - Copa Semi - 6/21/16

This game has huge implications for some individuals in our side. A great showing from Guzan will help him relocate. Yedlin is most likely going to be loaned out for another year and a great showing against top class wingers on the big stage could help him find a better situation than Sunderland. Brooks puts in another master class appearance and Herta will have a very hard time keeping him.

 

I'm excited to see how this game turns out. We typically play Argentina fairly close, so if we show discipline and can hold it down, we can keep this close and give us a chance.

Not having Bobby, Jermain and Bedoya obviously hurts. In my opinion Bobby hurts the most.

If we win, it's going to be epic and we're in the final. If we lose, I hope we get a chance for Colombia revenge in the third place game...

 

Maybe...but club teams don't put as much stock in NT matches as you may think. They're far more likely to pull tape of Brooks' season at Hertha last year. Not saying it can't help a bit, but you didn't see Costa Rica's impressive WC run land them all on Champion's League clubs, right? It might help a young unknown player more than someone with a past.

 

It saw Real Madrid go out and buy Keylor Navas

 

It also saw a few of them move to bigger leagues. One defender went from Columbus to Serie A, if I recall.

 

On repeat until Tuesday:

 

We will lose.

 

The US is 1-0-4 in non-Gold Cup tournament semifinals. That includes the win against Spain in 2009, the heartbreaking losses to Brazil in 1995 and Mexico in 1999, and losses to Saudi Arabia in the 1992 mini-Confederations Cup and Argentina in the 1930 World Cup.

 

This is a gravy game, get a result and we are in dream land.

Lose, well its what everyone would expect. Just dont let it get crazy or give up.

Third place games are garbage, half full stadium in Phoenix with teams playing half ass.

 

Playing with house money.

Go big....

 

I know a lot of people don't agree with this but I'm glad we're playing Argentina instead of Venezuela in this game. We came into this tournament to see how we stood up against the best, we can play teams like Venezuela in the Gold Cup.

 

I'm thinking we go after them (with appropriate defensive shape). Bunker ball is an invitation to get carved up. Might as well play positive. I just hope we keep the scoreline respectable.

 

We are not Mexico.

 

I've hated Argentina even before Maradona's Hand of God.


Just kick ass and take some names!!!

 

I agree - go with Nagbe instead of Beckerman. Play Pulsic instead of Zusi. Play to attack, not defend for 90 minutes

 

Hell yes I'm glad! This is our consolation for not making the Confed Cup. I was resigned to just having to track us through qualifying, and not getting any meaninful matches against high-level opponents until Russia. We are guaranteed to play at least Argentina and one of Chile or Colombia now. What better preparation (not to mention showcasing for the young guys) could you ask for our team?

And that's the worst case scenario! But, what if we get a little lucky? Maybe Pulisic shines... Brooks takes it another level... Dempsey does his thing... Argentina is caught napping... and pure bliss

But seriously, even losing respectably to Argentina, and getting to play Chile (for some comparison to Mexico), or a rematch against Colombia should make for 2 enjoyable soccer games.

I'm happy.

 

So long as we don't come out like a disorganized mess we have a punchers chance, but Clint is going to have to play as well as he did against Ecuador, and Michael Bradley is going to have to have a game better than he's had in about 4 years.

And even then we need to find a way to get behind their defense to open up those spaces for Clint to work, and without Wood that's going to fall entirely on Zardes.

Basically take the 2009 Spain game plan and recreate it

 

I always thought that Beckerman was held out of the Belgium game to dance with messi for 90 minutes but it was not to happen. Now two years later Becks will be given the same responsibility. Becks has not been used much and is ready for the task. If Becks can cover messi like a glove. The game will be left to others.

The qfs and sfs and finals versus vs Belgium, Holland, and Germany were examples of lack of creativity in the final third for Argentina when up against a European back 4. But why? Looking at the tape i noticed a lack of connection between the middies and the forwards. If the US plays with their back 4 they technically are European trained.

 

Beckerman is far too slow to play in this game.

 

Cannot think of a better matchup to get joe public, who is coming off the nba finals, to watch the usmnt on tv.