Pre-match: 2022 FIFA World Cup: USA vs Wales - Nov 21. 2PM EST

https://www.espn.com/soccer/wales-w...is-winnable-world-cup-game-for-wales-rob-page

Both USA and Wales believe that they can win the game, with a draw the most likely outcome. If you're a USMNT fan, a draw is not enough. We want the 3, baby!

 

Agreed. However, does that mean one team will press a little too much and make a mistake? Who will be the more composed team? Which team has more wild cards (Pulisic vs Bale being a wash; could be use with a healthy Reyna or in-form Weah)?

 

I think the USA is more tactical under Berhalter than Wales under Giggs/Page. Wales will get a goal, but so will we. Can we get the second goal?

Prediction: USA 2 x 1 Wales

 

A point is not good shape. Most teams that get 4 points do not advance.

 

The team that showed up against Morocco beats Iran and Wales. But who knows?

 

There will always be a Spanish-language option, which is bound to be better than the domestic English-language options.

 

Most teams w/ 4 points actually do, but just barely. It's almost 50/50.

 

But, there’s this scenario if we open with a draw and England beats Iran:
Game 2, Wales beats Iran, England beats US
Game 3. At this point England is guaranteed to advance. They can rest tired/injured/yellow card players. Wales picks up at least a point in and the US is out, no matter what they do against Iran. Four points won’t cut it in that scenario.

 

I like this match up.

 

But will other teams play defense the way Morocco did against us in the WC? I doubt Morocco would play that way when it really counts. Teams start getting very safe and defensive until they become desperate.

 

Distribution of US goals during qualifying:

x
x
x x x
x x x
x x x x x x
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0 1 2 3 4 5

Gregg's offense was pretty anemic in most games, it was easy enough for lesser-quality teams to choke the wing play and often nothing was created in the middle. The US broke out a few times, but against better competition, it seems likely that the Uruguay game is more indicative of the US's offense than Morocco.

Gregg better spend a lot of his time on defending and taking advantage of set pieces. And on not giving up cheap fouls near the box.

 

Hearing that makes me glad it's not the Welsh Rugby team the USMNT is playing against...

Anyway, since Wales is a counterattacking team, stopping Bale is going to be critical to the US's chances of winning. I have no doubt that Wales is gonna sit back and wait for the US to make a mistake and pounce.

 

Yes the order looks favorable to them in that they play England last, if things work out in that way. (We had that advantage in 14 w/ Germany.)

 

Out of the 3 teams we could have faced they’re the worst for us. They will be organized and dangerous on the counter. This team struggles to break down defenses and struggles when countered. They also have the best player in Bale who is lethal for wales. We can win this game but they can as well. 3 points and we’re likely thru. A draw and it’s down to the last day. That’s a lot of pressure for game 1.

 

Conversely, if we happen to score first and they have to come out to play, that could be disastrous for them. Think the Denmark Wales match last year.

 

To expand, since 32 in 1998, I counted 33 teams on 4 points: 17 advanced, 16 didn't.

1998: 1 of 3
2002: 4 of 8 (including USA)
2006: 2 of 3
2010: 4 of 8
2014: 4 of 6 (including USA)
2018: 2 of 4

USA have been 2-0 advancing on 4 points, both times at Portugal's expense. One time we were clear 8n 2bd in 4 pts (2002), in 2014 we advanced (comfortably) on GD.

In 2018 Iran failed to advance from group on 4 pts. Spain & Portugal advanced with 5, Iran 4, Morocco 1 (despite playing really well).

Morocco dominated play but lost 1-0 to Iran. Lost 1-0 to Porrugal, and had a come from ahead draw to Spain, giving up the equalizer in stoppage time.

Iran beat Morocco, lost 0-1 to Spain, and got a stoppage time penalty to draw Portugal 1-1.

Anyone who thinks Iran will be easy is delusional.

 

I suspect there will be a a lot of Welsh fans making the trip. This is the first time they have qualified in most supporters lifetimes. They brought huge numbers to France for the 2016 Euro's and have a history of following their side around Europe (like the other home nations). Plus they aren't that far and going to sunny Qatar from rainy Cymru has got to be awfully appealing.

 

With the current projected roster/formations of both teams, I’d predict Wales 2:0

 

For Iran, beating "The Great Satan", in the Middle East no less, would also be a big symbolic victory.

 

I'm so glad to be playing Wales, if nothing else because we suck against Eastern Europe in the World Cup.

In matches against Austria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovenia, we have amassed a grand total of 1 point.

 

Wales has trouble scoring goals from open play, and the USA has too many talented attacking midfielders.

Wales was lucky to even qualify, getting drawn in the weakest UEFA playoff quad with both matches at home.

And then their only goal against Ukraine was a horrible (and unnecessary) own goal....

The US has shown an ability to get the results they need to, so I would be shocked and disappointed if the US does not win this match.

 

Wales is likely to have a case of just happy to be here going on. Whereas the usmnt comes in with expectations. Don't know how that will work out.

 

We beat Slovenia, Coulibaly beat us/tied us in that game.

 

They look terrible. They qualified due to avoiding the big dogs other than Belgium who rested guys after already being qualified on that last group match day. We could still lose if Steffens in goal and/or if we’re not healthy, but all things being equal we should stomp them especially considering how open they play w/o a lead.Denmark put four past them, Ukraine should’ve won by 2.

I’m not impressed at all. Other than Steffen starting (wtf?!?! If that happens) and going full chicken head off again, or us having a ton of injuries, we absolutely should win and a loss would rank amongst our worst ever WC performances (Iran ‘98, ref assisted loss to Ghana in ‘06, 1-8 aggregate against Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic in ‘90/‘06 etc).

 

On your list, only Poland, Romania and Czechia are considered to be Eastern Europe according to the UN. And we were robbed against Slovenia. But the truth is that we have struggled in the World Cup against nearly everyone. But that's true for a lot of countries.