U20s vs. Italy, Oct. 9, 2025 (Pre-/PBP/Post-Match Thread)

he screwed up. Was already falling when that contact was made. Should a yellow imo...

 

This is why this system is going to be terrible -- the constant hail mary challenges at the end of games, just fishing. It's going to be like diving, for coaches.

 

i hate this bunkering strategy.....

 

That's why they run experiments at "lesser" tournaments. This one feels like a pretty obvious "pass" unless you invent some kind of punishment for idk... "bad faith" challenges.

 

Cremaschiiii!!! 3-0

Running away with the scoring title!

 

And there's the insurance. Well worked with a fun finish.

 

This is a really solid squad of players.

 

There’s the run of play goal. Sweet.

 

I'm imagining the Italy coach smashing the "request review" button, then inventing something to check for after the fact.

 

like the killer instinct at the end of games here. Indicates good fitness level and hunger to keep going. Will serve us well if we are in a tight one late.

 

as the us scores in transition

us needs to push it because transition goals are the easiest to score......yeah they could be better on transition but i disagree a lot about playing slow and just trying to let midfielders arrive....they arent scoring with that approach either

 

On to the QF...

 

when I watch him in MLS, I always forget that Baker-Whitting is built like a freakin' tank.

 

MLS 6, Ligue Un and Serie A 0

Cremaschi was really good the first 39 or so then seems mentally or physically fatigued.

Nice composure in that finish.

 

Kind of tried to remember when we have actually had really effective strikers and all I could think of was '19, '17, '07 and '03 over the past 11 cycles. Most of the time we just don't have one worth a damn. We had GAM in '03, Altidore in '07 (I think he might have played in '05 along with U17s but I can't remember), '17 with Sargent, and '19 with Soto (Pepi was promoted to the senior team). We just haven't had strikers, period, I was really hopeful with Figueroa, but he went sideways the past two years, I think he still should've been called up, but he wasn't, so we're making do without a striker for the second U20 WC in a row.

 

Every game thread ever has a huge percentage of doomers and negative nancies, over and over. Everyone sucks, the coach sucks, etc., etc.

They tend to drive away the more reasonable folks, which makes it even worse.

There isn't a senior team in the world that scores at the rates these folks expect -- or doesn't make mistakes, but then factor in that it's a youth tournament, and it's a bit weird how people expect the team to play.

We've now dominated and beaten France and Italy. And while neither likely is sending their very best, the complaints seem to be around that we don't convert at a high rate in the final third.

Guess what, folks? No one does, and the only cheat code for that tends to be elite players, which generally don't exist at youth tournaments but also only come around every once in a while even for the best countries.

 

And he likes to wear his shorts at least one size too small.

 

Italia has wilted and cracked at the end.

These MLS kids are pretty good

that stadium setting is spectacular

 

I was right.

 

No one does. Strikers develop later. Great striker skillsets are far more mental and the physical aspects tend to be as much around size and strength as quickness and speed (though those help).

How many goals did the Italian and French strikers get against us?

 

I was wrong… I thought it was a toss up!

 

Reminds me of a mini Wes Unseld.

 

Ooh! Ooh! I know! I know!

 

Quit hating on Campbell. He's just having a bad tournament.