A ways to go yet, but potentially you could have England winning it. Their possible route: - Final over a devastating France team. - SF over the defending Champions. - QF over the team that broke the record for Goals Scored in Qualifiers. - R16 over the host at their national stadium at altitude, that hadn't conceded up until that point. While down to 10, - Over 8 matches instead if the usual 7 because of expanded format. If they win these next 3 matches over 90 minutes or even an extra time without going PK's... England 2026 can go down as potentially one of the best champions ever. But they do concede a fair bit and there are other champions that have their own arguments to be made.
The problem with England is that they just aren't that good. As usual they lack the ability to dictate the midfield against good teams. Mexico's transition defense was horrific. I could see them beating Norway though if they pack it in and hit them on the counter. Norway's D can be exposed if you hit them with speed. (Something we simply didn't understand for some reason.)
In looking at the way the USMNT lost 4-1 to Belgium, in my opinion, the sport of soccer in the US is bulletproof, but the USMNT is broken. We have an explosive growth of the game vs, the complete stagnation of the national team and it doesn’t look like much will change in the next decade. I don't think the game will suffer, and stadium crowds across MLS or USL will continue to break records and thrive but I think the USMNT is trapped in mediocrity. Honestly, I don't think the USSF is doing anything to help the sport grow. We have youth soccer which is a huge money maker for most academies and but it is a pay to play entity. Some academies are costing $3k & $4k just to play. Zlatan Ibrahimović, when he was with the LA Galaxy stated he had to pay $3,500 per kid just to have them play in the academy. He said he had money to afford it but what about everyone else? If a parent has 2-3 kids, that could be quite a lot of money in the end. The watch parties and packed NFL stadiums for international matches prove that American soccer fans are passionate but they are highly educated consumers. The reality is, if the USMNT continues to stall or keeps getting blown out in a Round of 16 match, I don't think fans will stop watching soccer but they are going to stick to caring about their EPL, UEFA Champions League, Mexican Liga MX games and in my case the Serie A. MLS fans will also watch their clubs but maybe on a lesser level or scale. This brings us right back to the end result which is since 1994, the USMNT has not improved. In 1994, without a domestic league and a roster of largely unemployed players training on a beach, the U.S. only lost 1-0 to Brazil in the Round of 16 at Stanford. After 32 years, we now have a 30-team MLS league and fully a funded academy network later, the U.S. still only exists in the Round of 16, getting thoroughly dismantled and humiliated 4-1 by Belgium. I honestly see no improvement within the national team program. The infrastructure of the sport has completely transformed, but the actual level of the national team has remained dormant. I read now that the USSF's net worth after this 2026 World Cup will only be around $559 million. The federation actually want to remain in this IRS tax loophole shell so they won't lose their nonprofit status. In my opinion, the sport of soccer in America will continue to boom, stadiums will remain packed, money and sponsors will keep pouring in but there is something still fundamentally wrong. The game is too big to suffer now but until the USSF uses its legal monopoly to completely blow up the "pay-to-play" youth model and builds a national culture, the USMNT will continue to be a second-rate national team which is stuck watching the true global elites win trophies.
I wonder if Marcus Thuram ( Unlike his father Lilian ...btw...Lilian?...lol ) should they win allow the two " White French " players to come in on the team photo this time ? Or will they still be excluded like poor Frank Lebeouf was back in 1998 ? Even though this time they would be in the heavy minority section as in the White French guys that is ? Thinking back the general team make up in 1998 did not have any one single overwhelming majority nonetheless, but I guess that didnt matter to ...Lilian...lol...Lilian ? Or it doesn't matter this time, even if there are only two of them, because they should just consider themselves lucky they can even play on team Africa France....eh?
I tried to clown Rudi, but he has won me over. He has coached his a$$ off in this tournament. Respect. They cannot truly be expected to beat Spain, and imo the WC is a success for Belgium
The US will continue to suck until they fundamentally rethink their youth program (much like Italia has to). They have to prioritize skill above all else and change their culture. Youth teams have to be allowed to lose in order to let the kids get better at possession and skill. The US has to focus on small-sided games. They should keep smaller fields and 9 v 9 for longer than they do so that kids have to figure out how to play the ball. The kick and run soccer will get the US killed every time.
Have tuned in for only the last 10 Minutes. Courtois out of the match. Could have PK's. Sometimes football can be romantic. Would love to see a situation the where the replacement GK steals the show in the PK's.
Would be hilarious if Belgium win it all. Trump hands over the trophy to my guy Rom and the both of them dance to YMCA.
I think Lukaku turned into Lakaka again. Looks like he mis-head it. A shame. Wanted Belgium to win. France vs Spain. Oh boy.
https://www.facebook.com/BussinWTB/videos/belgiums-run-after-shit-talking-the-us/1762754818233034/ USA fans already clowning on Belgium like I predicted.
No way. The USMNT has made little progress but Belgium was and is still a much better team overall. They are levels above in skill.