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

Wahl definitely has his limitations, but he's a good writer.

 

Really is. Apparently he searches for his name on twitter and tweets at people who criticize him and stuff. Besides all that he is really gifted, his Messi SI feature was amazing this month or was it last

 

I disagree with Lalas here. Banshees are great offensively, but play horrible defense. They don't hold their shape and you can run right through them. Then they start shrieking at the ref.

 

Any chance the p

Also the current Arg plays a different style than that one. In 2011 they constantly circulated the ball around our penalty area probing for an opening. This Argentina is more of a pressing quick strike team than a suffocating possession team.

Anybody know the ref and how he tends to call games? Could really matter in terms or how physical we can be in defending.

The other day I saw betting odds for a US win at 8-1 and tie at 7-2. I do not think we are that long a shot and if I had the opportuning I would lay down some money at those odds. Especially considering big physical defense first, second, and maybe third teams, are the ones that typically cause them problems.

 

My girlfriends 12 year old little brother is a mega soccer fan. He loves Neymar, Messi, De Gea, etc. He wears #10 in soccer because of Messi. When i asked him who is favorite American was, he replied "Don't really have one. I guess Dempsey is alright though." He then asked me who I was rooting for to win Copa... I couldn't understand why he would ask that until he said he is a Brazil & Messi fan. So I made a bet with him:

If the US beats Argentina tomorrow night he has to get rid of the Messi & Brazil shirts and only wear USA jerseys from here on out. So in short.... I need a performance for the ages from the Yanks to help me save this country's youth

 

God, Howard has been absolutely lights out against Argentina the last two times we've played them. His performance in 2008 was just as good (though a 19 year old Messi only played the first half in that game).

If I'm Greg Ryan, I'm calling my veteran's together to decide it's a good time for a keeper change.

 

Anything Lalas says is less than the sum of its parts. What exactly does "Be American" mean in the context of a soccer match? Worthless sloganeering never won a war, an argument or a soccer game.

 

to be fair, he also will send a thank you to people who give him props...

 

I'll take that over "attacking mentality, etc" if we're going to talk soccer and bullshit buzzwords.

 

Kid sounds pretty lame

 

As an Argentino it makes me wanna barf. One or the other at least, not both!

 

Oh yeah! That was awesome! I can visualize the heat and taste the dust of the American Southwest in these classic tunes. Wish they'd make a video of our soccer team preparing itself mentally with one of these songs playing in the background. All in slow motion. Focus. Determination. Knowing that the odds are against you and to fights gonna be tough, but getting ready for battle anyway. Get the fans in the proper frame of mind.

Welcome to Texas Amigos.

(Of course this is all in fun. I have tons of respect and admiration of the people and teams from Latin America. Wish I spoke Spanish, knew about them and could talk with them more. )

 

What was the other side of the bet if Argentina wins?...

 

I liked the ESPN promos for our team before each game in 2014. Kinda had that vibe you're talking about.

 

I have to give the kid $20

 

Initially read this as "my 12 year old girlfriend" and freaked the eff out.

 

As much as we all want FJ in midfield- I just can't see Klinsi moving him forward against an offensive juggernaut like Argentina

 

Oh yeah! Texas blues! Yeah ESPN did some great promos. Makes the whole build up even more intense...and fun.

 

Your XI is the starting group I would would play, with it showing more like a 4-5-1 as you noted. I agree that the US needs to crowd the central midfield, but also have some counter-punching options on the wings. I like getting FJ's and Nagbe's ball skills into midfield. I'm willing to give Besler another game at LB.

However, I think JK is more likely to start Beckerman centrally with Bradley. And I have serious doubts JK will choose this game to give Nagbe his first start -- something that should have been tested months ago already.

The most interesting question for me based on trying to read Klinsi's patterns will be what to do with FJ -- LM, or LB, or RB??? I think JK would be initially inclined to return FJ to LB again and put Besler on the bench. However, with all of Jones, Bedoya, and Wood missing from the front 6, the squad is in a real bind. Zusi seems like a guaranteed starter for Bedoya's spot and, as I've written above, I think JK starts Beckerman for Jones, so that's 2 of the 3 holes filled. FJ seems so logical to fill Wood's missing spot, but I have my doubts, and I don't think Nagbe has earned a starting spot in Klinsi's mind. So who is the 11th starter? Besler or Nagbe? I bet JK goes with Besler at LB, FJ stays at RB, and Yedlin starts at RM. 4-4-2 with Zardes up top.

--------------------Zardes---------------------------
--------------------------Dempsey------------------
---Zusi-------------Bradley-------------Yedlin---
-------------------Beckerman--------------------
Besler--------Brooks----Cameron----Johnson
-----------------------Guzan------------------------

THAT is what I think JK will do. I don't like it, as I don't like Yedlin as a RM starter and I'm worried about Beckermann's lack of speed in that crucial DM role.

 

12 year old me wouldn't be friends with him.

 

probably employee the hack-a-messi technique. Might even throw the kitchen sink at him.

 

Alexi is an asshole. He retweets drudge and gangland crime stats from Chicago for no apparent reason other than being an asshole whether he is trying to highlight the consequences of the drug war or sincerely thinks we need to move to the right as a nation, his ambiguity leads one to wonder. If I wasn't a USA fan, people like him would make me root against the USA.

 

Ah. Well, the kid has put a lot more on the line than you did. You out-negotiated a 12 year old...

 

I know that a lot of you believe that making it to the semis was the real challenge, and that a win in this game would be gravy. I see it as a monumental challenge for JK. This is a game that will tell us and the world what type of strategist he is. All he he has to do is decide how to replace Jones, Bedoya, and Wood, but can he make the right choices? This along with the fact that his choices of who to call in originally will come back to bite him in the butt.

No matter what he does, Argentina is a hard team to beat. I think we have a chance if the players are hyped, playing in their best positions, and JK has a strategy to win. On with the game.

 

If it comes to it, Penny(s) are your friend.