Strange and a bit depressing, but the most entertaining team to watch in the Gold Cup isn't even in CONCACAF. Yes, Qatar, the guest team and reigning Asian champs have been the revelation of this tournament. Their defense isn't the greatest, but they know how to put the ball in the back of the net.
Another 1-0. Not great, but then again I really like only one conceded thus far (and a penalty at that). Will be interesting having a semifinal against a guest nation.
It was put in that spot where he was tempted to go for it but where it was always going to be tough for him to get to it. Credit to Roldan for the cross.
I'm reliably informed that Qatar is the best team in Asia, despite them slipping to 5th in the FIFA AFC rankings. The poster got quite upset when someone suggested otherwise. It's true that Qatar didn't play a competitive match between their AFC Cup victory in 2019 and the Gold Cup group stage, while Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia were chalking up double figure scores against Federation minnows in the WCQs. So beware.
I've been catching up on the Men's Olympic Soccer tournament in the off days of the Gold Cup etc. I watch the archived replays on the Telemundo Deportes App so I don't have to be up live at 3 am etc.The level of soccer on display has not exactly wowed me, but the games have been competitive and there have been a few notable surprises (spain drawing 0-0 , argentina losing, mexico giving france a beatdown etc.) Between Euro, Copa America, Gold Cup, Olympics--i have fallen drastically behind on my MLS watching which in a normal year would be taking up all of my sports time during the summer. Between the Red Bulls games and the NYC FC games i have about a month and a half worth of games recorded on my dvr that I have to watch. Too much soccer this summer!! I'm really looking forward to MLS All Stars vs Liga MX All Stars in just a few weeks, although I fear MLS may get their butts handed to them....
1-1-1 is exactly what I expected out of the US in the Olympic Group Stage. From the men, had they qualified. The women look like hot garbage through three.
They need to kick it to a higher gear in the knockout rounds...problem is, I don't think this version of the USWNT has a higher gear.
Interesting spread of teams advancing in the Men's Soccer tournament. Africa - 2 (Egypt, Ivory Coast) out of three entrants Asia - 2 (Japan, South Korea) out of four entrants Concacaf - 1 (Mexico) out of two entrants CONMEBOL - 1 (Brazil) out of two entrants Europe - 1 (Spain) out of four entrants Oceania - (New Zealand) out of one entrant
They do. They're best when they high pressure and play fast. That last game was just resting legs. Yes, they were denying the midfield and Kerr any possibility to do anything, but they were not even beginning a press until the ball was at midfield. They didn't need to win. They didn't play to.
The question is if they can maintain it. I don't really know if they can. If the Netherlands play fast to start the game an do not concede, they have a real chance.
This is something that can't be stated enough. International Tourney's are very difficult to win. Teams are playing at the highest intensity, and the games come on short rest as well. Bruce Arena once said that the World Cup is a young man's game due to the intensity level and short turn around time between games. The same can be said of the Olympic Tournament as well. It'll be interesting to see if the aging USWNT can maintain the high intensity level needed each game going forward. The Netherlands will push them. If/When they survive that tilt, then Canada or Brazil await. I'm sure Sinclair and Marta would love to get one over on the players holding their NWSL salaries down....
Anyone else think about @jade1mls while watching Suni Lee in gymnastics and how important this is for the Hmong community?
If they had those invisible tarps at the Olympics they could have covered the empty seats with views from outside the arena....
I hope our European-based players are as threatening on offense as Qatar seem to be now. This batch of USA players isn't doing much for scoring confidence or ability.
The question I ask myself as we turn to the second half is, do I want to watch this team play again this Gold Cup or not? And it's a close thing.
It’s the fifteenth, no the sixteenth time that John Strong mentioned the “winner going to Las Vegas” that tipped me over the edge. Or maybe hammered the fact home finally, not sure. But thats his MO: mention that fact until he’s blue in the face.