Pre-match: USA vs. Argentina - Copa Semi - 6/21/16

Didn't you say that before the Ecuador game? You are posting JUST to be a negative Nancy. It's very juvenile, and that's harsh towards the young set. Give it a rest.

 

Agreed. A bunch of kids wearing Messi jerseys suddenly realize "US Soccer." this has the potential to be a historic day.

 

Beckermann against Messi? Almost as funny as 7 - 0. (If it didn't make me think about Bradley trying to mark him)

 

I like Zardes up top and Johnson in midfield as well. I really have no desire to see Zusi, but I'm sure we will. And if we were planning to play the same way (Bradley deep and Jones more free to attack), then I'd go with Nagbe as well.

 

Let's be realistic. We are missing key starters and JK is our coach. Oh, and we also happen to be playing the best team on the planet.

We will lose.

 

Maybe he is superstitious. After all, last time he said it we won .

 

Can't be any worse than Bedoya at DM vs. Brazil.

 

I know a couple of people have already said this, but I absolutely love the phrase. We are playing with house money.


------------Dempsey-------------
Pulisic----Nagbe-------Zusi
-------Bradley-----------------
--------KBecks---------------
FJ-BROOKS--CAM---Yedlin
GUUUUUUUUZAAANNNN

We can surprise here.

Can't believe I'm saying this but Lalas said it best:

Finish the chances that VEN didn’t. Don’t gift ARG chances like VEN did. Defend like banshees. Be American. #USMNT https://t.co/OOJhzLMnp5

— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) June 19, 2016

 

It should be a 433 with Dempsey, zardes, Johnson, zusi, nagbe, Bradley, besler, brooks, cam, and Yedlin

Pulsic a 60 min sub

• Argentina plays a 4231 which is bad match up with the 442 - the mid will get over run
• Argentina plays with a d mid that protects the space that Dempsey likes to find in the hole
• We played Columbia without giving up a goal via run of play
• Argentinas week spots are the flanks and a 433 is better suited to attack that
• The above line up provides the most in game tactical flexibility

 

Off topic, but damn. Respect.

 

Oh, I can't wait!! No one is talking about Bradley marking Messi. I would think that would be his role if the coaching staff thinks Beckerman is too slow. If Nagbe is NOT a wing midfielder and we want him on the field then we almost have to play a 4-5-1 that can morph into attack as a 4-3-3.

We have had the debate about moving Besler to the bench and keeping FJ at left d, but I think I like FJ moving forward on our left flank. We do need to keep the Argentine wing backs honest on defense, otherwise we are in serious trouble.

I do NOT want Zardes in a playmaker, central role. He needs space to operate.

GO USA --- we will need to play like banshees --- kind of like we did against Portugal in the WC except for the one brain fart late in the game.

 

I'll always remember one of the comments on an Argentine site after that game, because they said USA played a great game except for "ese pelado boludo" (that bald dumbass) making a mistake at the end. That's what I call Bradley ever since, lol.

 

Our best hope is that the 2014 version of Beckerman shows up. He's slow, and will get at least one yellow during the game, but his job when he does it well for the NT is to basically just sit in front of our centerbacks and try to be as much of a pain in the ass as he can until Bradley or one of our defenders can clean things up. If he's expected to play the same role as Jones, then we'll be in trouble, since he despite being the same age as Jones, he just doesn't cover as much of the field as efficiently.

Jones was really really good working the counterattack this tournament, so that may be as bigger loss than his role on defense. Zardes will need to have a monster game if we are going to have any offensive chances.

 

To those who want someone to "mark" Messi, please go watch the March 2011 1-1 friendly we played. Remember the "friendly" where Messi played 90 and Argentina made only 1 sub (and the US only 2)? One of the hardest-played friendlies I've ever watched, and the US played Messi perfectly- no one ever tried to take the ball away from him. No one ever left their shape. Every time he got the ball, he turned and there were two or three defenders in position. He had to pass. That's how you play him- make him pass back or sideways. No individual heroes on defense- just solid shape and tight discipline. Mexican commentators will hate it.

 

Grant Wahl had a great line about that game.

http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/201...pa-america-semifinals-messi-klinsmann-dempsey

"Juan Agudelo's equalizer forced a 1-1 draw at MetLife Stadium–the site of the Copa America Centenario final. One of them will return."

 

Holy crap this game is tomorrow.

...and we shouldn't lose sight that the game we play after this one will also hold great potential, regardless if it's for 3rd or the cup.

 

Argentina's gameplan should be simple, as it's the same plan that US opponents followed in 2015 to great success.

1. Keep two men glued to Dempsey near the 18.
2. Overcrowd Bradley on the US half of the field.
3. Dare another US player to step up.

When Argentina does these things, the question is who will step up?

 

Surely after seeing what Chile did to CONCACAF, Argentina will be very nonchalant about this game.

 

this is why I like FJ at outside mid - he can take space on the dribble better than anyone we have. That is the only way to release Demps.

 

Exactly!! We need everyone to step up -- kind of like the Portugal WC game. That is why our wings will be critical and why I like Fabian up a little bit higher. If Nagbe is the playmaker folks are saying putting him behind Dempsey with FJ on one side and Zarsi on the other should be a good thing.

The think about Beckerman is that he doesn't get rattled on the big stage. He still is not the best distributor and he may not be fast, but he reads the game well and is a great disruptor. He plays 'within himself' - i.e. he doesn't try to do what he can't do.

If we need a goal late, then bring in Pulisic, take out Besler and move FJ back to Left D.

 

They're way too motivated to end their drought to do that, IMO. Now if they get up 2-0, they might be nonchalant about that much as they were against Venezuela, though they might have learned their lesson.

 

This is better to get pumped:

 

Looking at the highlights of that one, we clearly got outchanced and Messi still got some dangerous touches that he couldn't finish. Howard had a big game as well. Our goal came off a set piece where the Argentine GK (Andujar, who isn't on the team now) just couldn't hold on to the ball. Also in 2011 Argentina was a team that was reeling after the disaster of Maradona's so-called coaching, and his replacement Batista was no better, squandering a home field Copa America just a few months later. Not sure how much we can take from that friendly given Argentina's current form.

 

Yep. That's why Jurgie will go with Rasta, I believe. He knows he will sit in the hole (Klinsi already said he's the guy to go to if we need to mark a "#10") You need a wall behind Messi et al.