Post-match: USA v. Japan - September 9, 2025 - International Friendly

Who is writing off Freeman? I haven’t seen any of that. That would be foolish. I think he is a very good prospect. I don’t think he should be, based on current ability, part of our World Cup squad, though. That could change in the next nine months (and certainly in the next four years).

 

My thoughts from this game:

If we go the 3-4-3 formation (defend as a 3-2-5), apparently the two up spots — center as Balo and left as Puli are very clear. So who is going to take the left one?
If we look into the combo of left wing / left wing back and right wing / right wing back, there are two options of attack:

1. Isolated in an 1 vs 1, left wing/wingback do a move to end line and give a good cross for the finishing.
2. With partner stretch outside or without the partner, do a cut in move, then do a curve shot to hit the far net.

Puli can do both, so Aftsten (in a less level manner). Jedi can do task 1 and at least his club he did tons of assists. Dest can do task 2 and maybe some task 1. Weah can do task 2, but not really much task 1 (because he is right foot). Heck even Cowell can do the task 2.

Same thing for the right side. Dest can do both in right side. Freeman so far not able to show both. Weah with his right foot can do the task 1 but not task 2. All goals he scored in the side, is with his right foot. But Zendejas can do the task 2, and McGlynn can do the task 2.

So the startup role looks would be Tillsman. Is Tillsman/Dest combo good or Tillsman/Weah combo (make Weah a right wingback) good? We need to find out.
As back up, people think Haji would be Pauli’s backup, but maybe Luna will become this backup role. On the right wing side, we have Zendejas, McKennie, Musah, McGlynn, Weah, maybe even Reyna fight for this backup role.
In the center holding, I am not sure if Adams + 1 is the way to go, maybe Johnny (more deeper) and Tessman (more advance) are better combo. Anyway, people get mad at Roldan, kind of like people get mad at Ream until he showed he was the best EPL center defender in 2022. Defensive players got better with age, I am not sure a EFL mid level club player like A Morris is much better than a good MLS club player. People always ditch the older players for teenage phenon, and disregard the experience, the maturity and leadership.

 

Brazil Japan final

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Japan won 3-2.

The system we’ve been playing since then is going for a third straight good performance. 3 in a row means it’s real, not luck or random. Big game tonight.

 

Ipso Facto, The USA is a better team and a better footballing nation than Brazil. It's science