paraguay wont slow down one bit. they're gonna keep coming no matter the score. we saw that first hand in Barranquilla.
6 bookings..I think Paraguay may find it hard to survive group stage. First draw against turkey and hope for some Enciso magic vs Australia. Another goal. Can't rely on goal difference either.
I am gonna be starting my nWo arc against you guys... Though my only desire for the US is to have a deep respectable run; Colombia first most but I am genuinely gonna be supporting the US until they get eliminated.
Got to attend tonight in LA. Awesome atmosphere and terrific performance across everything for the US who just seemed freed by the early own goal from Paraguay. Flo is a class 9 and he put the ball in the net three times. Pulisic was aggressive and sharp and Tillman played the game of his life. They still gave up a silly goal and I worry about the defense but today went as well as you could hope for the US. I hope next Weds goes as well for Colombia!
Think it was both, the US haven't been convincing for years but when Poch was at his best he was a really really good coach and it seemed like a mess but he had the US playing really well yesterday and Paraguay just had no ability to do anything. The US pressed them into the ground and they couldn't get out and offensively they killed them from wide. USA and Canada both try to utilize this approach, Canada did it to us and their press and intensity gave us big problems and the USA looks like they've put it together, England is also going to set up this way, they left off some good footballers because they want to press front to back. I think these 3 teams are choosing a good strategy, especially with home crowds and a younger team it helps. This is how we were playing into the COPA and essentially games in the US will be home games for us because of our support, we should have stayed with it imo
USA looked like an experienced team at this level, inspired by the home crowd and they played with so much heart and soul. Paraguay looked like a team that has not been to a World Cup in 16 years. The stage was just too big for them and for Alfaro. And once that own goal went in it was basically over. They never really recovered after that.
Well Paraguay is the lowest ranked team in their group. I think that FIFA-ranking is not that bad actually. Hope they at least get a draw against the Turks. But they got a really difficult group that doesn't suit their style either.
Paraguay tieing us 2-2 at home was painful. Paraguay wasn't as bad as they looked and USA isn't as good as they looked, USA had alot of energy and you get months to prepare for your first game tactically and they set up really well. Another thing is Poch isn't a coward like many prior US coaches, he sent waves of attacks and counter pressed anytime they lost the ball, USA's defense is weak so it makes sense to try and win the ball higher up the pitch before it gets there and they implemented it really well. I hope Lorenzo is tactically planning for these first 2 games to be able to give us the best chance, but I haven't really seen him do anything differently tactically for a few years except for when he was making desperation adjustments to the lineup when things weren't working. It brings back nightmares of 94, Romania and USA prepared really well for how to exploit our over central and intricate style and we had no adjustments prepared for the World Cup, the group stages of a World Cup are a different dynamic because of the time and preparation afforded to tactically prepare a game plan, if you don't prepare at the same level the weaker sides can really make you suffer.
This is exactly what we struggle against.. intensity. With players like the GOAT J10, we are playing with 10.. I am expecting Uzbekistan to have the same intensity and physicality
Yeah and like 94 we have an exploitable style and formation when we play James as a false right wing and pushed the 9 out to that position where they aren't ideally suited. Since the COPA that is exactly what has happened to us, we got away with it before teams really had a chance to game plan and show how to punish that formation and Lorenzo just hasn't had anything else up his sleeve to adjust. Lots of critiques can be made about Pekerman, but for each World Cup he came in with a different look from qualifying that teams weren't able to fully maximize preparation for. Hopefully it doesn't matter for the 2 weaker teams, because Portugal is going to be a tough game, especially if they wise up and drop Ronaldo by the time we play them.
My big observation last night is that the hydration breaks change the game vs. prior WCs. Both teams got almost immediate goals coming out of the breaks in each half and teams with coaches who will make use of these moments to adjust tactics will have a genuine competitive advantage.
🇨🇴🎙️"A Julián Quiñones el técnico lo convocó. Inicialmente dijo que sí, pero después nos llamó y manifestó que prefería jugar para la selección de México. Fue una decisión personal y hay que respetarla. Lo mismo ocurrió con Cristhian Mosquera; el jugador expresó que su sueño era… pic.twitter.com/ADxwvJM3zN— Win Sports (@WinSportsTV) June 13, 2026
I flagged Quinones along with Cucho as the guy who we should have been calling to play striker in our system over guys like Borre and Cordoba because he would have been a perfect match for how we played with James and forcing our striker to play wide often to accommodate James. When Cucho and Quinones were playing in USA and Mexico their profile and how much they dominated jumped off the page but Lorenzo didn't give either one a chance early, now Cucho has forced him because of his results at Betis but I think Suarez/Cucho/Quinones would have been our 3 striker and Quinones is a good back up for Diaz so has optionality. Its really kind of annoying, we are not treated like Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay by teams and our guys have to go lesser traveled routes but then often our national team management isn't good enough scouting to pick off the gems if they are in weaker leagues abroad, the whole situation is stupid and we don't help ourselves either.
When James starts going toward the wings it leaves such a gap in our transition from offense to defense specially on Mojica’s side.. It leaves Mojica by himself and that is such a vulnerability
I remember that moment when Almirón got a free kick after he threw himself on the floor and then the ref minutes later looked at VAR and took it back. Made me think of James. With his lack of speed that's a typical James situation where he could do the same thing. If they are going to study every free kick like that they better be careful.
Guys quinones sucks and did shit versus us. If you wanted a better Saudi player bring Roger Martinez who sucks too but better than Borre