Pre-match: USA @ Costa Rica 3/30 9:05 pm ET

I want to finish ahead of Mexico and they get El Salvador at home, so let's get 3 points

 

Time to unleash the Roldan!

 

The moment has arrived.

 

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Costa Rica will be motivated at home with CONCACAF refs. We still have a game to play.

 

So the scenario is, the USA cannot lose to CR by more than 5 goals, right?

 

Obviously we should try to win by 5 and win the Ocho.

 

Stylistically it's going to be a similar match to today's....except CR will be at home in front of their fans.

Knowing that they need to win by six goals, they'll attack relentlessly and will therefore have to leave themselves open at the back.

If I'm Berhalter, I tell at least two of the attacking four to stay around the halfway line no matter what so that they are ready to latch on to long ball clearances.

Our problem today was that we tried to play out through the midfield too often and lost possession due to Panama pushing more players forward and pressing higher.

We just need to clear the ball over everyone's heads and let Ferreria/Pulisic/Reyna/Weah run on to the long balls.

 

May 2, 1979 is the last time the USA gave up 6 goals.

 

lost to France?

 

Before that, USA lost to Belgium 10-0 lol
https://www.ussoccerhistory.org/usnt-results/usmnt-results/usmnt-results-1970-1979/

 

Starting lineup Wednesday:

GK: Freidel
D: Ditka, Ditka, Ditka, and Ditka
MF: Ditka, Ditka, and Ditka
F: Ditka, Ditka, and Ditka

 

If we lose to CR by 6 goals, there's always playoff games with New Zealand...But it's painful to think about it...

 

Just the one playoff game in Qatar. Not a home and home this time round.

 

So, yeah. CR need to score 6 goals because 5 only equals GD and the second tiebreaker is total goals scored.

 

Imagine that we play a B team, we are down 2-0 at 36', and Roldan gets a yellow card at 7' and 43'. Now we play the second half with 10 men. We get rolled 6-0 and move to 4th place. We play Australia in the playoff. MRobinson makes a rash tackle and is sent off. Yeah, it could happen.

 

Berhalter noted that the team views Wednesday as a challenge to be the first #USMNT to win in San Jose and he will be fielding a lineup to win.

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) March 28, 2022

 

Have we ever lost by 6 goals?

Anyway, I wouldn't start either Puli or Reyna. Save them for if we need them.

I'd start Weah/Morris/Arriola across the front 3.

Adams/Acosta/Luca midfield.

 

The #USMNT last lost a game by 6+ goals in 1979, 6-0 in a home friendly vs France. 🇺🇸

— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) March 28, 2022

 

The most interesting part of this game is that both teams are safe from elimination. CR can go try win by 6 with no fear of losing.

 

I'm a life long Browns fan. Any self defeat is possible.

 

Oh, and finally I need to apologize to Berhalter. I was displeased that he put the full team out in Mexico. In retrospect we arrive with this much cushion because of that point in Mexico.

 

If Costa Rica do push forward heavily (which is not in their current DNA) they’ll get countered heavily and probably give up as many as they score

 

This is true, but I also think it takes a little motivation away from them.

looking at their situation, they finished qualifying strong after such an ugly start, and their squad is pretty old. I imagine they’re pretty spent emotionally and physically.

I’m sure they’ll give it a go, but I expect them to try more of a shithouse route (flopping and trying to bait our players into cards) more so than really opening things up.

losing won’t really hurt them, but I think they don’t want to lose like Panama tonight, which could happen if they’re too open.

if I’m berhalter, I sub the tired/injured guys, but otherwise start my best players.

something like

Reyna Pepi Weah
Luca Acosta Busio
Bello Zim MR Yedlin
Horvath

would make sense. Set up somewhat conservatively, and if we can get to halftime within 1 goal, and with no red cards, then I expect Costa Rica’s energy to drop a bit.

 

I know we've been historically awful at Costa Rica, but the circumstances here seem so unusual (with Costa Rica through to the playoffs no matter what, but needing 6 goals to pass us) that I wonder if this might look completely different from any game we've played there in the past.