So, does the US have a prayer against either Chile or Colombia, given its horrendous showing against Argentina?
--------------------------Howard ---Yedlin-----Cameron-----Besler-----Castillo ---------Bedoya-------Nagbe-----Johnson ----------Zardes-------Wood-----Pulisic Dempsey has played enough minutes on old legs. Bradley sucks. Howard gets a game. Brooks placed in bubble wrap until there are games that matter. Johnson gets an opportunity to show what he can do in a more natural position. Castillo gets rewarded for answering the call.
---------zardes----wood--- ------------nagbe--------bedoya -----castillo------jones------ ---Besler--------------------------Yedlin---- ------------Brooks-----Cameron---- -------------------howard guzan, bradley, and especially johnson will be rested.
Colombia, yes. They'll probably treat the game as a friendly and might not be motivated to play us again after missing out on the final. I like our chances in that matchup. Chile, probably not. But we have a chance if they sit their star players. We wouldn't lose 7-0, that's for sure. I think we'll have much more motivation to win versus last year's Gold Cup debacle. For a NT of our stature, a 3rd place finish in this tournament is meaningful even if it's a participation ribbon to the likes of elite teams. I also think Howard gets the start for his time in camp. Wood, Bedoya, and Jones (assuming the suspension doesn't extend further) will get starts to leave the tournament on a high note. Mind as well start Pulisic and Nagbe and hold off on Bradley and Deuce until the latter two are necessary to win the game.
Would much rather play Chile for 2 reasons: 1. It would mean the only teams we lost to are the 2 teams who made the final. 2. We would keep it much closer and hopefully win, thus by transitive properties having superiority over Mexico.
Nagbe just isn't ready to start, guys. We need to continue to ease him in slowly, the right time to really blood him as a starter will be camp cupcake. Against Sweden's B team, or maybe Faroe Islands if they're available? Ideally San Marino if they don't have anything better to do. Then we'll know for certain if he's ready to start against good competition.
I would love to see a GCam/Nagbe center midfield. Everyone here knows we will see the original starting 11 as the first 3 games. JKs legacy is all that matters. Saying he got 3rd at Copa America is his goal.
I'm with you. For every goal less than 7 that we lose to Chile by, that's a goal by which we beat Mexico. So, 0-5 anyone?
I have no idea how seriously either Chile or Colombia would take this third place game. Generally I do not put much stock in who wins a 3rd place game, but enjoy watching them as there are usually two good teams playing without the pressure of a semi or final. If we play the same Chile that showed up for Mexico, I do not give us much of a chance. Mexico is relatively speaking pretty good at playing out of the back and just look what Chile did to them. Imagine that press against our backline and midfield.
Really hoping we end up playing Colombia in this one. Chance at redemption, and I think we beat them in what will end up being a surprisingly competitive game. James Rodriguez was crying after Colombia won their last game. I just don't think we stack up well against chile, if they bring the same game they brought to Mexico. Technically too good, and very very quick on the attack after high press, which would absolutely kill us. I'm also excited for this game because I've got tickets. Had a feeling from the start that we'd end up in this game. I want to end the tournament on a high note, because generally, this tournament has been for us. Some great wins and a lot of fun along the way. We're not perfect, but we sure keep things interesting. USA all the way
It's interesting that making the semis might actually hurt the US in world rankings if it loses the 3rd place game as well. They would have won 3 and lost 3. For comparison Mexico won 2, tied 1, and lost 1. Just an interesting note. Not like the rankings matter much anyways.
It would hurt seeing the opposition moving at half seed while our guys are playing like it's the game of their life. I hope the level we bring is equivalent to the level of enthusiasm of te competition. If they want to take it seriously, we take it seriously, if they don't care, it's just a friendly kickabout.
Never say die! Getting to the semifinals gave us not one, but two shots at a win that would guarantee our best-ever Copa América finish. We'd have preferred to win the first one, but failing that, let's get some players back from suspension and go win the third-place match!
Obviously you have to rotate the squad some for a third-place game, but it's tempting from a results standpoint to play Jones and to a lesser extent Dempsey if they are willing. It would be nice to see Wood, Nagbe, and Yedlin start, with Castillo in for Johnson and Kitchen for Bradley. I would rest Brooks; no strong opinion about Zardes and Bedoya.
I was just going to ask who everyone would rather play. Both teams are good imo. I was leaning toward wanting to play against Colombia because there's a mod floating around these forums that is having juuust a bit too much fun rubbing it in over our loss last night. So I kinda wanted to get a little revenge just for that reason. But thats a selfish reason, I know. Also I kind of like Colombia and (after we got knocked out) I sort of cheered for them in the World Cup. But that was then. This is now and I'm wishing Argentina to go all the way in this tournament. Another reason for my thinking was that , I don't know but it just seems like the Chilean players are..... arrogant? I don't know if that's the right description and no offense intended to their fans, and I cant cite specific examples but their players seem like a bunch of hotheads. Maybe thats a better reason to want to play them too. But I would like to say 'take that' to that 1 mod. Lol!
I was thinking about this during the beatdown last night. Pretty frustrating, but at the same time if you win a relatively meaningless third place game against an opponent like Chile or Colombia, you shoot right back up. Also, for those wondering, last night's loss took 24 points from our ELO rating and dropped us 4 spots to 22nd. Which is basically right where we were before the Ecuador game.
This game will show quite a bit about the resolve or our team. We have qualifiers coming up and last night's embarrassment probably damaged moral and coach/player relationships. The third place game is important in that we need to come out and fight, win or lose, for the team to prove to itself that the Argentina game was a bad day and not a pattern. JK and crew better take this game seriously. Not a big fan of Bradley dismissing it outright last night, hopefully it was due to frustration. The USMNT has to come out and fight for redemption. This is not just a third place "friendly" or consolation prize, it is going to set the tone for the hex and the next two years.
I say just go for it/experiment: -------------Horvath--------------- Yedlin-----GCAM------Brooks----Besler/Castillo ----------------Bradley------------ Johnson-----Nagbe--------------Pulisic---- ----Zardes-------------Wood Would have a lot of speed for a counter and might? be able to string some passes?
I think whoever plays the US will want to show the gulf between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL. It won't be a friendly.