Pre-match: Japan-USA, Düsseldorf, Germany, 2022-09-23, Friendly

Typo in thread title - 09-23 not 08-23. Had me a bit confused at first as I didn't think there were any windows in August.

 

Besides Shinji Kagawa, who else is good on Japan's NT?

 

Gonna be in Munich at the time for Oktoberfest, and Friday was a day we're not going to the festival. Had kind of ruled this one out since it was likely to be far from Munich, and it is...but the mid-afternoon kickoff time actually makes it feasible, if I can convince the rest of my group.

 

Eff the group....just go.....lol

 

I was hoping for the standard European kickoff time, but oh well.

I guess watching soccer at 6:30 am will also make this a good World Cup prep match for me, and not just our team

 

Junya Ito is a baller and scored most their goals in qualifying. Scored 19 goals for Genk in 2 seasons

 

Idk partying with friends during Oktoberfest is more likely to be fun than a random friendly in a half empty stadium, even in Germany.

 

When should tickets be available?

 

Typically I would agree with this. But I don't think these are going to be any "random friendlies." These are the last time to play before Qatar. I think we'll see a bit more intensity than during a typical friendly. Besides this game is early afternoon German time. Got all night to party...lol

 

and ill disagree in turn- theres going to be more than a month between these matches and the world cup, and momentum doesnt carry that far. its a shit compromise of pseudo "send off" matches that did lead directly into the cup but theyre going to go back to their clubs for a while, somebodys gonna pull a hamstring...

i expect the friendliest of friendlies, a couple of glorified walkthroughs. .

 

Given that it's still two months before the WC, I don't think we'll see a higher "intensity," outside of the guys who are trying to make a case for themselves (ie. can someone grab the #9?). Otherwise, it'll be more about getting reps in, getting on the same page, etc.

And having "all night to party" ignores the fact that Dusseldorf is 5+ hours by train (or a 1 hour flight) from Munich, and I'd be going up and back the same day. So, dropping ~300 euros on flights or trains, w/o the rest of my traveling party, starts to sound a bit irrational.

There's also the Saudi game in Murcia a few days later, which logistically is much easier for me. But given that US Soccer hasn't said a peep about tix for either game, it may all be moot.

 

I just think ANY time you can go to a Nats game, especially in a foreign country is worth doing. However, I get y'all's thoughts.

 

Excellency's order of battle:

Need to get Dest in gear because he missed June window. I would play him 90' and splitting time between Weah and Malik at rw so he gets used to both. Need to get McKennie out of the way on that side like Berhalter played him v. Uruguay.

Another guy who needs to get up to speed is Richards as lcb. I would give him 90' (if he is getting p.t. and showing well with Crystal Palace) splitting time between Scally and AR at lb.

Adams and Musah need to continue building their relationship over close to 90'.

LDLT should get 2nd half sub minutes. I thought LDLT was super in sub minutes v. ES. I still think his lack of stat production for Heracles was down to poor front line at Heracles. I think it would make sense to insert Sands for Adams late, if Berhalter is bringing him.

I feel like Aaronson should come off early and give Morris time on the left wing. We don't need Aaronson pressing himself to death. When Aaronson comes off, put Malik on as CAM and let Morris take Pulisic's place. If Weah comes off later for LDLT we can move Malik to rw.

--------pulisic/brenden------ferreira-------weah
---------------------puli/brenden
------scally----------musah--------adams--------dest
----------------------richards----------ziim


-----------morris------ferreira/pefok------weah/malik
------------------------------------malik/ldlt
---AR------------musah-------------adams----------dest
-----------------------richards--------zim

 

To each their own. At no point in my life would I have agreed with your post.

 

If you're celebrating Oktoberfest for a few days, something like a game is a nice way to break the monotony. It's possible to enjoy both.

 

It depends on the friendly for me. Oktoberfest vs. a January camp friendly with a B team in preseason form and zero stakes (I know that's not possible due to timing)? I'd take Oktoberfest. But a last friendly before the WC, I'd take the friendly.

 

I've been watching this guy at BMG. He has been really good so far.
Ko Itakura - Player profile 22/23 | Transfermarkt

It looks like ManCIty bought him for 1.1 and sold him to BMG for 5.0? It says his contract at ManCity runs out next year. To me he seems better than Ginter whom he is replacing

 

I went to the last friendly against Azerbaijan in 2014. It was OK but not that great. That said it may have been the last game ever played at Candlestick Park.

This one will be weird played in Germany with little fan support or interest

 

I think he will have to travel across Germany in the middle of his trip? If a trainride away, not so bad. But if a flight required, nah.

 

Well obviously the other dude likes Octoberfest fibes, hence that's the purpose of the trip. I imagine you wouldn't take that trip. Assuming you are there to party with friends, I might avoid the travel. This is coming from someone who has traveled to see Dortmund on more than one occasion.

 

As I’ve aged my tolerance for obnoxious drunks has slipped from zero into negative territory. International soccer, on the other hand, only sucks when it’s part of Camp Cupcake.

 

Camp Cupcake doesn't suck. Its still soccer! LOL

 

Shh... USSF might hear you and continue to schedule high profile friendlies and NL and WCQ matches away from California.