Pre-match: 6/12/26 9PM EST USA vs Paraguay: Game 1 of the big show

in our middle school you could add "tan, don't burn; may all your ups and downs be in bed; and, I bet I'm the first person to write in your crack*

*written in the crack between the cover and the first page of the yearbook"

Aside, anyone out there call it an "annual"?

 

@ifsteve - perfectly said. Yes, we can all get hyped and the media can make whatever circus they want around the match. Come kickoff, Poch and the players are right, it IS another match, one where they need complete focus and the will to win. Anything else is just a waste of energy and mental sharpness.

 

Never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by incompetence.

I don’t think there is any regular bias against the U.S. from CONCACAF refs. I think many CONCACAF refs outside the U.S. and Mexico just aren’t particularly good. They often don’t get enough experience doing higher level games and can struggle with the level of play. Weak reffing tends to favor the weaker team, as it is typically a weaker team that tries to mug a stronger team, and if the ref doesn’t clamp down on it, it gets worse. Too many CONCACAF refs can’t manage the dark arts well whether or not the U.S. is involved.

All that said, I was both hoping and expecting to see a solid UEFA ref on this game. I think we have a ref who should be able to manage the game well.

 

I think there's a healthy dose of incompetence.

And I think there's also a cultural element / home league element -- we never get American or Mexican refs when we play Mexico, for example, so we very often get refs from Guatemala or Honduras or something, and I strongly suspect those leagues are simply much more physical and allow a lot more, period.

That said, I do think there's, at minimum, a systematic bias to allow many of the smaller nations to compete. I don't even know if it is conscious, but much like in a basketball game where smaller players can hack a big man to death and have nothing called, but if a big man breaths on a guard, it's a foul ... I think there's a sort of "well, you're better, I have to allow this otherwise they'd get killed" feel to the refereeing.

I also think it's a little naive to think none of these referees ever have some unconscious bias sneak in -- and frankly, the US is not like by many in our hemisphere in the best of times, much less right now. I am sure many are perfectly professional, but I also imagine there's definitely a subconscious desire to see Hershey millionaire Christian Pulisic shut the hell up as he starts complaining three minutes in.

 

I hear you, but no. Look at the calls in any regional final we play. Choking, punching, shirts ripped off, handballs, etc.

As soon as I saw Barton on for the Copa Panama game I knew we were cooked one way or another.

 

Good tactical breakdown of the US. Key point; The job of Tim Ream is not to win the ball it is to slow down any counter attacks!

 

oh, but if a Dutch ref calls Paraguay for fouls, there will be people saying "Colonialism!" I'm not joking. Check the women's board for the post-Brazil match comments.

 

Is it?

"I'm going to push all these pieces up one by one and spend two minutes discussing the very basic idea that if you get numbers forward you might leave room for a counterattack."

Good lord. Maybe there's something better in the second half, but get to the point.

 

I keep hearing a rumor that Enciso will play. Any confirmation of that?

 

It's amazing how muscle injuries keep US players out for months and this guy is good to go in two weeks.

 

As of yesterday, Paraguay's manager didn't seem to give an indication one way or another:

Paraguay not at World Cup to make up the numbers, says coach | Reuters

"Julio is doing very well," Alfaro said, adding that he had followed the required steps in his recovery and would continue to be assessed before a decision is ⁠made on his availability.

Alfaro said the squad, and the country, wanted Enciso to be ready, and suggested he would start if fit.

At the very least, the deadline to name an injury replacement has passed and Paraguay haven't made any changes.

 

lol I know what you mean

I considered the yearbook quote aspect of it all and chose the romantic interpretation.

When I saw the episode I thought it was one of the most empathetic moments I've seen from a US coach. "I see you. Don't doubt yourself. Double down."

But yes, I did giggle *a little*

 

That game reminded me of how much I'm going to miss Ian Darke doing the US game tonight...

 

Deuce and Stu Holden talk about the game. I agree with Deuce's point about where to position Weston v Malik. See 3:54.

 

And why would he? It's not like the NBA that has mandatory injury disclosures. Why would he want the US to not have to prepare for both possibilities and have to choose its lineup without knowing if Enciso is playing or not?

 

Deuce really wanted to say Pepi should start. I agree…for the reason he alluded too. You get more out of Puli when Pepi is in.

Of course….Balo will start and have a brace now that I’ve dropped my marker.

 

Anyone on this message board is no longer a young man. Don't pass out before the game starts!

 

Deuce isn't ethnically Mexican but he grew up in that environment playing with guys like Pepi, you know he's gotta be pulling hard for him

 

someone needs to tell landon to ditch the muskrat on his head. he needs to go see william shatner's guy; that's a terrific hairpiece....i say this as a guy who started balding at 20, just like landon...

 

If he really wanted to say that he would have said it. Deuce does not pull punches.

 

No, but I also think he's conscious of all the media scum immediately racing to write "US LEGEND CALLS FOR BALOGUN TO BE BENCHED" takes

 

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame day.

Let's get it.

 

LMFG

https://static.klipy.com/ii/4e7bea9f7a3371424e6c16ebc93252fe/18/5e/X95GfImqu9KcG.gif

 

They should stop showing that Pulisic interview. It's harshing my vibe. "Just another game". GTFO.