U20s vs. RSA, Oct. 5, 2025 (Pre-/PBP/Post-Match Thread)

God, Beaudry is so freaking bad. 2-1 South Africa on a ball Beaudry should've come for and snagged.

 

I can’t really tell how I feel about this match.

 

Kind of playing without a keeper.

 

Complete US domination. RSA 2 shots, 2 goals.

Actually 1 shot 2 goals.

 

Pretty poor football from US. Get wide, cross, rinse and repeat.

 

The biggest difference is Soma for Reyes.

 

When will the U.S. finally be a superior footballing nation?

 

2nd could arguably give us a kinder bracket, but we're still holding 1st unless South Africa scores 2 more I believe

 

We should care about winning every game, Weston McKennie.

 

Sorry if this comment has been made before.

I’m in my early 50’s. #2 just needs old school copas and he’d fit right in with any team I played on with those shorts. Love it.

 

Seen enough. Campbell has been really poor so far.

 

Italy and Morocco (probably) is a pretty brutal path to getting that quarterfinal monkey off our back, oh well

 

I shouldn't be as annoyed at this but I am. Hopefully the end result of it is they get their ---- together in terms of goalkeeping (amazing saves mixed with some really disappointing defensive work and keeping) defending, and turning that endless possession into something more then crosses to nowhere.

I should relax, we basically were playing what, 70% backups, but it's still hugely annoying.

 

So friggin typical to lay an egg after coming up w/ what might have been the best U20 result in a major comp this century.

GK is an issue at the senior level and it is clearly a problem here as well. Beaudry was awful.

Striker is a complete void on this roster and I am not sure we could have invited anyone else that would move the needle.

Gozo has had some big moments but other than that... winger also looks shallow/weak. Just like at the senior level. Campbell takes the cake as the biggest bust of the tourney so far IMO.

What a difference a few days makes...

 

Annoyed that I went from thinking this team could get to a final, to tempering my expectations to a R16 exit for losing to South Africa.

 

Was he?

Would not start Campbell against Italy.

 

Football was the same in second half. Really no desire to play through midfield. Reminded me of League 1 English football with nothing but deliveries in the box.

 

Very consistent.

 

No matter what there are two types of matches that are very hard to win.
1, The match where you really believe you cannot win.
2. The match where pretty much no matter what happens the next match does not really change.

This was a type 2 and the lads did not win and I do not think it would have been much different if we had started our best. This match was one that I do not believe any of our regular starters should have played at all.

But the good news is we will have plenty of rest before our next match on Thursday.

This match was one of the most meaningless matches any USA team will ever play at a WC of any level.
We advanced and we won the group and wanting more is just greed. Would I have liked another win, yes. But we knew that we were playing on Thursday no matter the result.
I also enjoyed watching the match and I feel that we will win at least one more match in this WC.
Remember that we were in no real danger of even dropping position no matter how bad the loss, within reason, as the first tie breaker is NOT goal difference but head to head and since there are three teams tied for first with 6 points and head to head is one win for each against the other two and we tie on that and the tie breaker does become GD and we win that easily. That is the conditions where we don't advance were non-existent and the conditions where we do not win the group were nearly non-existent as well.

 

Yes. 4 shots on target, 2 goals allowed. One legit save.... but his footwork and his judgement coming out of the box is even more troubling.

I wouldn't start Campbell either. Heck, at this point I might not even play him. He is just lost out there. Right now he appears to be an inverted winger w/ one move... so all the defender has to do is push him to the end line and keep him on his right foot and the danger is averted.

Nothing we can really do about GK... but I would probably start Miller on the left and move Gozo to the right wing.

 

Why Rick isn't on the roster?

 

I had high hopes from this kid. It was very frustrating to watch him. He reminds me of De La Fuente, great skills but lacks game awareness.

 

Today poses bigger issues than just a few individuals. The tactics were terrible. You had both Corcoran and Soma in the team and both have the ability to dictate the game and keep the US on the front foot. The lack of desire to play through the middle was mind boggling. Maybe this is why we see Raines as favorite. It seems Mitrovic might not have a desire to play on his terms but more in an open game.

 

I can't believe Fox Soccer.

How many years have they been telecasting soccer in this country?

I miss the games, so I was watching the replay tonight, without knowing the score.

I was enjoying the game, until Fox Soccer put the final score on the bottom scroll.

Are you kidding me?

How incredibly Bush league

Of course, I just shut it off.