Are we not counting Hungary or Czechoslovakia as Eastern European? I mean, both are north of the former Yugoslavia. If one is eastern, then all 3 are. Both got to two WC Finals. Both had the lead in one, and I think the Czech's led in both.
Yugoslavia led at the half against host West Germany. There are conspiracies that Tito sold the 2nd half for allowing more guest workers to go to Germany and Germany avoided losing on home soil. Yugoslavia always had enough talent but there were chemistry issues and politics with player selection. But you can take any tournament from 1994 onwards and make a five-star team with the players from the countries that made up Yugoslavia. Imagine adding Oblak in goal, Savic and Milenkovic at CB, SMS and Pjanic as midfield options, Tadic, Kostic, Dzeko up front to the Croatia team that got second in Russia. Could even add dual nats Zlatan and Marko Arnautovic to the mix. Similar story in basketball if you put Jokic, Doncic, Dragic, Bojan and Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nurkic together on the same team. Would be consensus #2 in the world behind US Basketball. Alas, these generations have only played together on Fifa/Pes and 2K.
Forgot about Hungary, great point. Before I was born heh heh, but I certainly remember the history now that you prompted me. Well done!
More like Rome saw that Soccer is rapidly increasing in popularity so he changed with the wind. Rome's a shock jock, after all.
Over the last decade or two he's slowly, lol, walked back stuff. The left hand turn circuit used to be nascar until he loved the guests. Horse Racing used to be a bet until he owned horses. Other sports, the Rat Faced guys, now soccer etc. Some guys mature over eons, others just take a decade or two, seems like Rome was the former. The reference to UCSB is relevant though. I had totally forgotten about that. He's still a hardcore Gaucho.
Amazing video: heartfelt expression by (thought I’d never say this) “our coach” and the players. In my 20 years of posting under two different monikers, I’ve never been so inspired. I just hope Berhalter continues to win big-time and motivate our players. Go USA!
The moment that jumped out to me was Pulisic risking more injury by hopping over to join the dogpile after the 2nd goal.
Many have been critical of Gregg’s lack of offense. We need to hand it to him, though. The team continues to win.
I caught that too. Work ethic seems to be drilled into Pepi. Couldn’t be happier for him. Couldn’t be prouder he chose the USA.
I'm one of the critics. He's shy to play his more agressive ball players in midfield. Roldan always enters hitting balls we haven't seen all game.
I'm happy with the results and mostly ecstatic about all the clean sheets but he's gotta get more goal dangerous.
I know Musah isn’t a goal scorer, but I suspect simply getting him on the field as a shuttler will improve our offense. He’s such an explosive player, and great ball handler, that his presence alone can destabilize opponents. I’m hopeful he plays in October.
Would be tough to give him his first cap in WCQ off an injury. I like his game but maybe he’d be a sub vs Jamaica to start and go from there[emoji1110]
It is strange that Gregg didn't play him during the NL because he wasn't "conditioned for Concacaf"; but then threw out Sands, Bello, Pepi at Honduras. Musah is a top talent and is kind of being wasted at Valencia. He has unique qualities on the ball nobody in our pool is close to having consistently. In midfield, he combines the best qualities of Nagbe and Donovan. Gregg should be trying to get him into the set up as soon as possible.
Musah hadn't been training a lot at Valencia due to recovery from a minor injury. He's only now really getting back, and didn't look particularly match-fit this past week against Real Madrid. It really was no surprise he was left out in the August window. He's still only 18. We've only capped one player younger than Musah. He's only days older than a guy like Joe Scally. I think Musah has a huge future with the USMNT, but I'm also not surprised he isn't playing a major role yet for the USMNT in games that matter. I think he'll be called up in this next window, but won't start.