Premier League: We All Hate Leeds Scum

Manchester United travelled to Yorkshire in the northeast of England for the second match in a back-to-back with Leeds United. Leeds surprised United a bit in the first match and earned themselves a draw at Old Trafford, and they would be looking to do the same at Elland Road. It’s likely that the United players were looking for a bit of revenge as well in War of the Roses II. They did well to earn a draw for sure, but this is a match United should be winning outright given the two clubs respective table positions. Leeds are still in a relegation battle while United are looking strong to finish in the top 4. Manager Erik ten Hag was still without star midfielders Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, so midfielders Fred and new signing Marcel Sabitzer were tasked with patrolling the middle of the pitch.

Much like the first match though, Leeds were the stronger side for the first ten minutes. They did not score right away like last match, but winger Crysencio Summerville probably should have put them ahead just 4 minutes into the match when a deflected save by United keeper David De Gea fell right to him in the box. He blazed over though and United survived. The Red Devils started waking up around 20 minutes or so, forging a half chance for midfielder Bruno Fernandes that he hit wide. Bruno was involved in half chances several times in the first half, with the next one being on 38 minutes when he hit a shot that deflected slightly and ended up too close to Leeds keeper Illan Meslier, who saved easily. Summervile then had another excellent chance to put the home side ahead on 44 minutes, after left back Tyrell Malacia sold his backwards header towards De Gea very short. Summerville pounced, but his shot popped up in the air with little power. De Gea got a hand to it, and after a mad goal-mouth scramble it was eventually cleared by Malacia and center back Harry Maguire.

United’s best two chances of the first half came in stoppage time, with Bruno once again involved. He stole the ball off a Leeds defender high up the pitch, but despite being through on goal on his own he couldn’t stick it in the onion bag. Meslier saved the low shot from Bruno and the gilt-edged chance went begging. United did win a corner for their efforts, and the resulting cross in from left back Luke Shaw caused some chaos in the box. It bounced around and eventually came off Leeds defender (and top class shithouser) Luke Ayling before going an inch or two wide of the post. At halftime it was still 0-0, but both teams had gone close to going ahead.

Leeds were off on the front foot yet again in the second half, with Summerville also involved yet again. He forced a save out of De Gea from distance that resulted in a corner, which resulted in midfielder (and USMNT star) Weston McKennie heading over the bar from close range. Leeds really had United under pressure for the opening 10 minutes or so of the second half. They were doing all the running, progressing the ball through the levels of their formation easily, and looked much more likely to score. It wasn’t until 63 minutes that United got their first substantial opportunity, with right back Diogo Dalot pinging the crossbar from 18 yards out. Dalot had a subpar day defensively, but he usually proves his worth in attack. Leeds then took the opportunity to create some good chances at their own end, forcing saves from De Gea. Summerville was again the one causing all the problems.

United were having to hold on at the back, but they were aided by the substitutions and tactical changes of ETH. Around the hour mark he brought winger Alejandro Garnacho and center back Lisandro Martinez, with right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka replacing Dalot on 73 minutes. He also made the intriguing decision to move striker Wout Weghorst into attacking midfield, which worked wonders for United’s ability to maintain possession the ball high up the pitch. These changes shaped the outcome of the game. On 80 minutes, Sabitzer played a lovely cross-field ball to Shaw in space on the left wing. Shaw did well to hold off his marker as he dribbled forward, and then he played a peach of a cross into the box. Striker Marcus Rashford was on hand to rise high and plant a header into the corner of the net, with Meslier unable to do anything about it. A fantastic move, poor marking from the Leeds back line, and a thumping finish from United’s star striker this season. 1-0, and 21 goals for Rashford this season!

United took advantage of a bit of Leeds shell-shock and sealed the points on 85 minutes when Garnacho found the back of the net. The ball was won in midfield by a combination of Fred and Weghorst, with the latter eventually finding the run of Garnacho ahead of him on the left wing. He had ran in behind the Leeds right back, and was through on goal. He took a touch before powering home a shot past Meslier at his near post from about 15 yards out on the left side of the box. Meslier maybe should have done better to seal off his near post and force Garnacho to go wide, but there was just a little too much power on the shot. ETH was especially pleased with the goal, as Garnacho has taken some flack in recent weeks for a dip in form. There’s no better way to silence idiots on social media than by scoring, and he showed great poise with his finish.

Leeds were shattered for the rest of the match, and it was United that came closer to getting a third than Leeds did to getting their first. If not for some questionable offside calls and VAR checks, United could have had 1-2 more goals in the final minutes. The match ended 2-0 and United took all three points!

This was a difficult match for long spells in the both the first and second half. Leeds were highly motivated to play well again today, but they just didn’t know how to handle the subs and tactical changes made by ETH. Playing Weghorst at the number 10 (attacking mid) was a stroke of genius, as was the bringing on of AWB, Martinez, and Garnacho. Without his changes to the team, the result is likely different. Always great to win at the home of a bitter rival! United now have a strong grip on 3rd place in the Premier League table, but they have played one more match than their nearest rivals Manchester City (2nd) and Newcastle (4th). United still technically have a shot at the title due to Arsenal dropping points against Brentford, but it is an outside one at best.

European play resumes on Thursday, and United have a massive test in the Europa League playoff: the first of a two leg tie against Catalan giants and current La Liga leaders Barcelona. Fortunately United will have midfielder Casemiro back for this match as his domestic suspension doesn’t apply to European matches, but Barcelona are in sensational form right now. The trip to the Camp Nou is always a daunting one.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Premier League: United Fight Back to Earn a Draw Against Leeds

Manchester United hosted fierce rivals Leeds United today at Old Trafford in the Premier League. The Red Devils came into the match in scintillating form at home, having won 13 games in a row in all competitions. Leeds were on the other end of the spectrum in terms of form, sat near the relegation zone and having just fired their manager Jesse Marsch. Coaches Anthony Hudson, Michael Skubala, and Chris Armas were managing as an interim trio today. I was wary of a “new manager bounce” happening today. Whenever a manager is fired, there is a tendency for players to to up their level of intensity in the next game so as to impress the new man in charge. Their form has been bad this season, but a change in manager can sometimes be just the thing a team needs to rejuvenate themselves. In a scheduling oddity, this is the first of back-to-back Premier League matches against the Yorkshire side. It’s not often you get a War of the Roses in consecutive matches!

My concerns about a new manager bounce were well founded, as Leeds were ahead just 56 seconds into the match thanks to lively forward Wilfried Gnoto. Leeds had elected to press United high up the pitch in the opening minute, and it paid immediate dividends when midfielder Bruno Fernandes lost possession just inside his own half. After that Gnoto played a 1-2 with striker Patrick Bamford which created space for a shot. Gnoto took a touch before shooting, and the United back line were too far off of him to get a block in. Gnoto hit a well-placed and low shot from about 18 yards out that keeper David De Gea couldn’t get across to. A well-taken goal by Gnoto, but United were not mentally in the game at kick-off and were made to pay immediately. 0-1 to Leeds.

United responded fairly well however and began to grow into the game, having weathered the shock of going down so early. They were trying to get the ball out wide to wingers Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, as Leeds had clogged the midfield with players. Garnacho should have had an equalizer around 20 minutes or so when he won a long ball that Leeds keeper Illan Meslier failed to collect. Meslier had left his goal open, but the shot from Garnacho was blocked by the head of a Leeds defender standing in the goal. Garnacho really should have done better, and it was a the highlight of a frustrating day for him. There were a few other half-chances created by United, most notably when Meslier was forced into saves from midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, but Leeds held firm and it was 0-1 to the visitors at halftime.

United’s misery was compounded just after the re-start, when Leeds got a second goal via the boot of United center back Raphael Varane. It was the same tactics from Leeds as the opening moments first half – pressure high up the pitch to win the ball in a dangerous area. This goal should not have counted though, as there was a clear handball by Leeds in the build up to the goal. After the Leeds player controlled the bouncing ball with his hand, he played the ball forward and it eventually found winger Crysencio Summerville on a run towards the end line. He hit a cut-back cross to his right, and Varane accidentally turned it into his own net in an attempt to clear it. The defense looked a bit scattered again on this goal, but again it never should have stood. Referee Simon Hooper and his VAR official got this completely wrong, and there’s no two ways about it. Complete shocker that the goal was allowed to stand.

Manager Erik ten Hag knew that a change was needed, now that his team were 2-0 down and not really looking like scoring. He brought on winger/midfielder Jadon Sancho for ineffective striker Wout Weghorst, and United improved dramatically. Rashford was moved from the right wing to the central striker position, with Sancho slotted in on the left wing. Winger Facundo Pellistri was also brought on for more power in attack. These changes proved to be prescient, as United got their first goal of the evening from a Rashford header on 62 minutes. Pellistri was found on the right side of the area from a pass by midfielder Sabitzer, and Pellistri did well to play the ball towards to right back Diogo Dalot in the right channel. Dalot played a peach of a cross over the top with his first touch, and Rashford was able to power a header past Meslier for 2-1. Rashford now has himself a 20 goal season, and more importantly United were right back in it!

The home side were level just 8 minutes later, despite a clear foul on Rashford in the box that the referee failed to award in the interim. It was the substitute Sancho who got his goal after a 3 month absence from the score sheet. He played some lovely combination passes with left back Luke Shaw down the left wing, and ran into the box after laying off the final pass for Shaw at the end line. Shaw’s cutback was blocked by the heel of a Leeds defender, but the rebound fortunately fell straight to Sancho on the left side of the area. He hit a powerful shot towards the opposite corner of the goal from 10 yards out, and Meslier could not keep it out. It’s great to see Sancho on the score sheet again. He has struggled with his physical and mental health this season, but ETH has done well to guide him back into the team. He’s a sensational talent when he’s on form, and we are going to need him down the stretch. Meslier should have done better to keep it out as he got his hands to it, but the teams were level for the final 20 minutes. United kept their pressure on, and seemed the more likely of the two teams to find a winner. Midfielder Fred came closest, but Meslier was equal to every United attempt on goal. After five minutes of stoppage time, Hooper blew his whistle and the match ended 2-2.

United did well to fight back and earn the draw, but its clear that midfielders Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are deeply missed when not in the team (suspension and injury, respectively). United were not able to hold the ball in midfield for large portions of this match, which is a credit to the tactics of the Leeds interim coaching staff. They employed two banks of 3 players each to just sit in the center of the park, and United were stuck playing long passes out wide. American midfielders Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie were expertly making a nuisance of themselves in the center of the pitch. Fred also had one of his worst games in recent memory. He always seemed to play the wrong pass and was caught out of position several times. Most teams would struggle when missing two starting midfielders, but Fred should be more than capable of playing well against a team like Leeds. Neither he nor Sabitzer are true defensive midfielders, and it seems without a competent defensive midfielder, this team just doesn’t function properly. Credit to the Leeds coaches for frustrating United with their tactics, but credit as well to ETH for realizing his tactics weren’t working and adjusting accordingly. Not the best result today, but certainly not the worst one either.

United remain 3rd in the Premier League table after today’s result, and they are three points clear of 4th-placed Newcastle. Newcastle have a game in hand though, which could mean United drop into 4th if Newcastle win their match. As stated above, United next play Leeds away at Elland Road on February 12th in the Premier League. Fortunately, I don’t think they’ll be caught by surprise again like they were today. They’ll be expecting Leeds to press, and I have full confidence that ETH will have a plan for that. Hopefully he goes with a front three of Sancho-Rashford-Pellistri to start off, as they were very effective against the Leeds back line once they were all on the pitch.

We All Hate Leeds Scum! Glazers Out!

World Cup Round of 16 – Yanks Out, Argentina Hold On

FIFA is a corrupt institution and Qatar loves that about them. They’re both disgusting.

No more draws at this point! We have to have a winner in all matches, which means extra time and penalties if the score is level after 90 minutes.

USA vs. Netherlands

The Dutch were favored to win this match and they did so, 3-1. Today was a lesson for the Americans. A lesson in tactics, and a lesson on how to properly utilize talent.

That being said, the Americans probably should have scored the first goal today. It was only the third minute when attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic found himself 1-on-1 with Dutch keeper Andries Noppert, but Pulisic’s angled shot was saved by the keeper’s legs and then cleared by the Dutch defense. A lack of finishing has haunted the Yanks this whole tournament, and it came back to bite them again from the off.

The Dutch then opened the scoring on 10 minutes via forward Memphis Depay, who slotted home past keeper Matt Turner after an extremely slick 21-pass move from the Dutch. Wingback Denzel Dumfries got a cutback cross in for the final ball, and the Americans failed to pick up the late run of Depay. Naïve defending, really. Every attacker has to be accounted for when the opposition is running forward, and the Yanks simply didn’t account for Depay. The Americans then poured men forward to find an early-ish equalizer, but that unfortunately played right into the hands of the Dutch. They won a throw-in in their final third, and the Americans failed to recover the ball quickly enough and clear it. Dumfries crossed in from the right again, and fellow defender Daley Blind was quickest to the cross. He also slotted home past Turner relatively easily after beating his marker to the ball. It was 2-0 at halftime and the Dutch were very much in control.

That control continued into the second half. It was very much more of the same. The Dutch were happy to sit back and concede possession to the Americans, betting on the idea that the Americans couldn’t break them down. That strategy was effective until 76 minutes, when the USMNT got a goal back from striker Haji Wright. A low cross in from the right wing by Pulisic caught the heel of Wright and the ball deflected up into the air at an odd angle. Noppert couldn’t get near it as it flew in at the far post, and the Americans were right back in it! A fluke goal that needed more than a bit of luck, but as has been said many times both on this blog and other places, it doesn’t matter how the ball goes in – as long as it does.

Optimism for the USA was shattered just five minutes later though, as the Dutch got a third via Dumfries after more naïve defending. Dumfries was completely unmarked at the back post, and it was child’s play for Blind to cross it to him. Dumfries hit it first time on the half volley, with Turner having no chance at saving it. Again, very poor defending and the Dutch wingbacks got the Americans again. The Yanks kept trying and kept creating half-chances here and there, but the Dutch also came very close to a fourth late on as well. No more goals were scored though and the Americans found themselves going out.

Dutch manager Louis Van Gaal deserves a lot of credit for his tactical set-up in this match. He is a wizened warrior of football management, and he completely outplayed his USA counterpart Gregg Berhalter today. He told his team to sit back and be happy with letting the Americans have possession, but when they won the ball they were running forward immediately. It’s the same thing the Americans do to bigger teams, in the end. His players were also patient off the ball and clinical in finishing their chances, whereas the Americans were not. As has been stated by many in recent days, the Americans need a ruthless center-forward. Not only to finish off chances, but also to aid in hold-up play and defend aerial crosses into the box. Berhalter could not figure out what to do about the Dutch wingbacks today either. Dumfries and Blind were absolutely brilliant today, as was the Dutch defense overall. The Americans, somewhat mystifyingly, kept trying to aerially cross the ball into the box, which is a bad idea when the hulking figure of Virgil Van Dijk is in central defense.

While the Americans will of course be disappointed, there are some positives to take away. They got out of their group, and the core of this team is still in its early 20s. Players like Pulisic, Giovanni Reyna, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, and others will all be in the prime of their careers at the North American World Cup in 2026. I do think however its time to move on from Berhalter as the coach. I do not believe he is tactically astute enough to lead the Americans to success down the road. His tactics were all wrong today and he’s been more of a hindrance to this team than an asset in several matches now. The Americans still have a bit to go before they are world-beaters, but they’re on their way there.

Australia vs. Argentina

This matchup was similar to the first one today in the sense that it is a powerhouse of world football taking on a side that isn’t known for footballing prowess. But there was still a ton of pressure on Argentina to deliver, while the surprising Aussies were almost playing with house money. Argentina won 2-1 in an affair that was much closer than many would have expected it to be.

Argentina dominated the possession in the opening thirty minutes or so, but their possession lacked an overall purpose and they were usually passing it between their center backs at the halfway line. Australia set up to zealously defend their penalty area, and they were using their height and size to keep the smaller Argentines at bay for the most part.

The Albiceleste got their breakthrough on 35 minutes though, and it was once again That Man Lionel Messi who got the goal. The Argies won a free kick on the right wing, but the initial cross into the box from Messi was cleared. The ball eventually came back to him though, and this time he played the ball along the ground back out towards the edge of the area. A diagonal pass back into the box found center back Nicolas Otamendi, who deftly laid the ball off for Messi. He took a touch, and the Aussie defenders were too far off of him. They were only about a yard and a half away from him, but for a player like Messi that is more than enough room. He slotted home a low shot that keeper Matthew Ryan saw too late and couldn’t get to. Good build-up play from the Argentines, and Messi is still Messi.

The Socceroos managed to get to halftime only down one, and in the second half they came out with a little bit more pressure on the Argentine back line. They seemed to be trying to force an error from keeper Emiliano Martinez, and to be fair they almost got to him twice. Ironically, it was an error from their own keeper that allowed Argentina to get their second. Ryan received a back pass in his own area, but two Argentine forwards were closing on him rapidly. He took a touch to try and get himself out of trouble, but the loose ball was seized upon by striker Julian Alvarez, who then had a simple finish for 2-0. It was a bad goal to concede for the Aussies, just as they were starting to grow into the game.

It was a nervy finish for the South Americans though, as Australia got a goal back on 77 minutes when a wild shot from forward/winger Craig Goodwin took a massive deflection off center back Enzo Fernandez and flew into the back of the net. This was the bit of luck the Aussies desperately needed. Replays showed that Goodwin’s shot was probably going to go well wide, so it was credited as an own goal by Fernandez. Say it with me now – it doesn’t matter how they go in, as long as they do.

The Aussies kept pushing, although they were almost caught out by the Argies on more than one occasion. They came insanely close to finding an equalizer in the 7th minute of stoppage time, when keeper Emiliano Martinez made a game-winning save from substitute Australia forward Garang Kuol. The whistle went shortly after that though and the Argies got themselves over the line. Given their dominance in the match, it was much closer than it needed to be. Argentina will have to find more goals going forward, but anything is possible for them because they have put a decent squad of attackers together who can support Messi.

I don’t think Australia should be too down on themselves. They were beaten by arguably the greatest player of all time today, and it took him 35 minutes to get going. They also have a good crop of players coming through right now, and I would expect them to make noise in 2026 as well. Their tactics weren’t too bad, there is just a massive gulf in talent between them and the bigger sides. Talent doesn’t always win matches, but it did this time.

Quarterfinals: Argentina vs. Netherlands – Friday, December 9th 11 AM PST

World Cup Roundup – Groups A and B

FIFA is a criminal organization that sells a legal product, and Qatar have been more than happy to overpay for that product as it helps them sportswash their country.

Group A

Winners – Netherlands

Runners Up – Senegal

Eliminated – Ecuador and Qatar

The Dutch went for a stroll today and beat Qatar 3-0 without ever getting into full gear. Qatar are a flat-out bad team that should never have been at this tournament. They only qualified because they are the host nation and did not bring a competitive edge to this group. Well done to the Dutch for winning, but let’s not pretend that it was a challenging match for them today. Dutch striker (and rumored Manchester United transfer target) Cody Gakpo is one to watch in the race for the Golden Boot, given out to the tournament’s top striker.

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Senegal vs. Ecuador was a much different affair. The way the the group shook out, the winner of this match would join Netherlands in the next round. Ecuador only needed a draw technically, but The African side won 2-1 and it was not an easy match for either side. Winger Ismaïla Sarr put the Senegalese ahead 1-0 from the penalty spot on 44 minutes after winning the penalty himself via a foul, but Ecuador persevered and got an equalizer on 67 minutes from midfielder Moisés Caicedo. It was a tap-in from close range for Caicedo, after the ball was flicked on from a corner. Poor marking from Senegal, but well done to Caicedo for being in the right place at the right time.

Ecuador’s jubilance was perhaps a tad strong though, as the Ecuadorians conceded again just three minutes later when center back Kalidou Koulibaly powered it home from about 8 yards out. Senegal had won a free kick in the right channel, and the clearance from Ecuador unluckily fell straight to Koulibaly. Center backs aren’t always the best finishers, but there was no mistake from the big man on this occasion. Ecuador pushed and pushed in the final 20+ minutes to find the miracle goal to send them through, but the west Africans held firm. It was tense, but it was clear that Ecuador’s main goal-scoring threat Enner Valencia was not 100% fit this match. It will be disappointing from their point of view to go out like this, especially after the good results against Qatar and the Dutch.

Some of my more observant readers will note that I predicted Netherlands and Senegal to get out of this group before the tournament started! Happy to be right with a prediction for once!

Group B

Winners – England

Runners up – USA

Eliminated – Iran, Wales

England needed only a draw to advance today, and they even could have done so with a loss as long as it wasn’t by four goals or more. But as the England match kicked off and got underway, it was very apparent that Wales would not be scoring four goals against them. The first half was goal-less but much better for England than their previous match against the USA. Striker Marcus Rashford went close after being through on goal early on, only for his effort to be snuffed out by a very alert Welsh keeper in Danny Ward. Wales maybe had a half chance or two towards the end of the half, but England keeper Jordan Pickford was never seriously tested. England were doing a much better job of running the counter-press and looked to be worthy of a goal.

England finally turned all their positive possession and attacking intent into a goal on 50 minutes when forward Phil Foden won a free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the left of center of the goal roughly 20 yards out. After a discussion among some of the players, Rashford stepped up and hit the ball very sweetly with his right foot. It flew over/through the Welsh wall and flew into the right corner of Ward’s net. A great strike from a great player!

England got their second roughly a minute and a half later, when Rashford won the ball high up the pitch on the right wing. He played the ball forward to striker Harry Kane, who was on the edge of the right side of the penalty area. Without even looking up, Kane hit a low cross that was met at the far post by Foden, who slotted home with his first touch from a tight angle. Another great goal, but for a different reason. The first goal was a marvel of technical skill. The second goal was the result of aggressive pressing and a sublime final ball from Kane.

At 2-0 the match was mostly done and dusted, but Wales responded with their best chance of the match when a deflected strike from distance nearly wrong-footed Pickford, but he recovered enough to push the ball away. England got their 3rd on 68 minutes when Rashford was allowed to run into the box and cut inside substitute left back Connor Roberts. He lashed a fierce shot straight at Ward, who made a colossal error by allowing the shot to slip between his legs. It was poor from Ward, but take nothing away from Rashford. Goalkeeping errors only happen as a result of aggressive play, and England were very aggressive today. Rashford now suddenly finds himself in the race for the Golden Boot!

The Welsh looked finished, and truthfully England looked much more likely to score a fourth than Wales did to get their first. The substitutes were running wild for a bit there. England will be very happy with this result after the rather tepid display against the Americans, and it proves that England are at their best when they play aggressively and press high up the pitch. Sitting back and defending, simply put, does not suit this group of players. We need to carry this aggressive form forward as the tournament progresses.

Wales will of course be disappointed to not have done better at this tournament. They only scored one goal and earned only one point as a result of it. They have quality in this team, but they could never put it together for 90 minutes. Their best half of play was the second one against the Americans in the opening group match, but one half of good play out of six is usually not enough to secure progression. It will be interesting to see how star players Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale handle this loss. Bale says he isn’t retiring from Wales, but we will see if his mind changes about that once he’s back on his beloved golf courses. One thing that’s for sure is that he looked like a passenger today, and had to go off at half time due to apparent injury.

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The match between USA and Iran was much more closely-contested. The Americans were the better team by far in the opening 45 minutes. They were running at Iran and controlling possession effectively. While they squandered numerous chances and were caught offside one or twice, they got their breakthrough via attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic, who bundled the ball home from close range after a good cross from right back Sergiño Dest. Pulisic hurt himself while scoring and had to come off, but the Americans were good value for their lead. Iran was struggling to put passes together and to hold on to the ball. Iran did not have a shot on goal in the opening half.

The Iranians did grow into the game a little more as the second half started and wore on, but they struggled to seriously test USA keeper Matt Turner. Iran’s final ball was lacking all match, and despite 9 minutes of extra time, they could not find the equalizer that would have sent the Americans home. After a solid defensive effort, USA held on to win 1-0.

While the Iranians were disappointing, I can’t really blame them for playing as poorly as they did today. It’s very clear the players and their families are under a heavy degree of scrutiny by the Iranian government, and there were rumors pre-match that any sort of protest by the players against the regime would result in harm happening to the players’ families. I can’t imagine having to play under those conditions. Not taking anything away from the USMNT today, but I have to question just how much those negative emotions impacted their play. #standwithwomen #iranianwomen #mahsaamini

For the Americans, this was more of the same. They are young, fast, and athletic; but it’s very clear they lack a strong center-forward. They would be a much more dangerous team with a Kane or Olivier Giroud of their own. They need a big, strong forward who can hold off a challenge in the box and finish with aplomb. The defense has played well so far, and I have been especially impressed with midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, but the Round of 16 will be a much tougher test than Iran was today.

I also thought England and USA would get out of this group before the tournament! 4 for 4 so far!

USA vs. Netherlands – Saturday December 3, 2022 at 7 am PST

England vs. Senegal – Sunday December 4, 2022 at 11 am PST

World Cup Roundup – England Remain Top of Group B, Qatar Eliminated

Qatar is a terrible country with terrible laws and FIFA are holding a World Cup on the backs of slave labor.

Qatar vs. Senegal

Senegal won 3-1 and never really looked like being seriously threatened. Qatar are simply not good enough to compete at this level, and they only qualified because they’re the host nation. I do not wish any ill will towards the individual players in the team, but its frankly a sham that they’re even here at the tournament. Very happy to see them go out. They are not only the first team eliminated this year, they are the first host nation to be eliminated after two matches.

Ecuador vs. Netherlands

The surprising Ecuadorians managed to get themselves a 1-1 draw with a much more talented Netherlands side thanks to a late goal from Enner Valencia, who is now top-scorer at this World Cup with 3 goals. Striker Cody Gakpo had put the Dutch ahead with a very good strike early on, but the Dutch could not find a second and Ecuador came away with a very important point.

Group A is now down to three teams – Ecuador, Netherlands, and Senegal. Given that the Dutch play Qatar in their last match, they’ll be fancied to go through. Second place (and maybe first, depending on the goal differential) is going to come down to the Ecuador vs. Senegal match. Ecuador’s hopes are pinned largely on the fitness of Valencia, who was stretchered off with injury in this match after scoring.

Wales vs. Iran

This was the minor upset of the day, with Iran winning 2-0 thanks to two late goals. The game was choppy and staccato for most of it’s duration, but it all really kicked off in the final 15 minutes of play. Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey was sent off on 86 minutes for a bad foul after he failed to get to the ball ahead of an onrushing Iranian forward. The collision was a tough one to watch and it’s hard to argue against the red card there. Wales were down a man and their starting keeper, which certainly had an effect on them.

Iran got their breakthrough goal towards the end of 9 minutes of stoppage time via substitute midfielder Roozbeh Chesmi. The Welsh defense only half-cleared a cross from the left, and it fell to Chesmi in acres of space just outside the box. He unleashed a finessed shot from the edge of the box into the right side of the goal past substitute keeper Danny Ward. A late winner is always sensational to witness, and this was no exception. All the Iranian fans in attendance were beside themselves, and rightly so.

Wales poured forward to find an equalizer, but were instead hit for a second in the 11th minute of stoppage time on the counter-attack by winger Ramin Rezaeian. Iran had an extra man over on the Welsh, and it was a simple pass and chipped finish that sealed a famous three points for them. Well done to those lads for going and getting a result like this. There is an awful lot of political turmoil in that country right now, and the emotions of winning a match like this might give their fellow countrymen (and women!) something to cheer for when it’s desperately needed.

Wales, for their part, were very poor. They were never really in this match. Their two best players – Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey – failed to make any significant impact. While Wales are not mathematically eliminated, they need a victory over England and for the other match to go their way in order to get out of this group. They currently sit bottom of the group on 1 point. Iran are 2nd with 3 points.

England vs. USA

Alright, here we go. This is the one I have been waiting on since the groups were announced. As an England fan living in America, this one was always going to be a special match. I was secretly expecting England to win, but mainly I really did not want the Three Lions to lose. American football fans online are insufferable when they win, and if they beat England the vitriol would be positively prolific. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one to forget for the neutral. A 0-0 draw is usually not a formula for an entertaining match.

The headline here is that England played poorly and the Americans played slightly better than most expected. Striker Harry Kane had the first half chance at the goal around the 10 minute mark, but his effort was blocked by a US defender. American midfielder Weston McKennie blazed over keeper Jordan Pickford’s bar from inside the box about 10 minutes after that, and then USA midfielder Christian Pulisic hit the crossbar from a tight angle on 33 minutes. England’s next good chance came just before half time, with midfielder Mason Mount’s effort parried away from distance by American keeper Matt Turner.

There were even fewer chances in the second half. England were defending well thanks to Harry Maguire and John Stones, but the attack was absolutely dismal. Maguire was on hand to clear a succession of corners around the hour mark, but again England could not find consistency going forward. Kane looked decidedly off the pace today, as did wingers Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka.

And once again, the main question about this England team is the manager. Gareth Southgate named an unchanged side today and also did not really change the tactics from the Iran match, which ultimately was to England’s detriment. But the much bigger issue is his repeated inability to make the substitution or tactical change that enables England to find a way through. Most would agree with bringing Jack Grealish on, but why also a defensive midfielder in Jordan Henderson when England need a goal? But why not start Grealish outright? Why wait so long to bring on winger/forward Marcus Rashford when Saka and Sterling are clearly struggling? Why keep starting Mason Mount when we have the likes of Phil Foden on the bench? Why not use Foden at all? These honest and fair questions surrounding his managerial skills will continue to be asked every time England doesn’t get a good result. Southgate clearly believes in the players that he likes and he believes heavily in his system. That’s fine and it’s produced some decent results for England, but once teams figure out that system he needs to be able to change it on the fly. England have plenty of talent, it just needs to be put to good use.

At the end of the day though, a draw is not the worst thing in this situation. England remain top Group B on 4 points, while the Americans are 3rd with 2. England are still in a good position to get out of the group, but they are far from guaranteed to be group winners. They will need to beat Wales outright in order to win the group. If they draw or lose, then all three of the other teams could find their way to the next round.

The Americans can take a fair amount of pride in this result, but it’s clear they lack a finisher. They frustrated England very effectively today, but I questioned the tactic of trying to beat England in the air when it came to their own attacking play. It was clear that Maguire was dominating the area in the air, and he struggles at times with smaller and quicker attackers. Americans would be fair in asking why Gio Reyna was not brought on until late. but they need a victory over Iran to progress. Another draw won’t be enough.

Group B Matchday 1 – Americans Held by Wales, England Steamroll Iran

First things first – FIFA and the government of Qatar are absolutely horrendous entities. This tournament should not have been held in this country.

USA vs. Wales

Let’s start with this one since most of my readers are Americans. Classic game of two halves here. The Americans came out with tenacity and a high work-rate in the first half, and Wales really struggled to get a foot in the game. The Americans’ ability to press high up the pitch was causing Wales all kinds of problems. Even when they were on the ball, they couldn’t find space to hit long passes. The work rate and passing of Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah were particularly impressive. It seemed that the Welsh were tactically okay with letting the Americans have the ball while trying to hit the Americans on the counter-attack via speedy wingers Daniel James and Gareth Bale.

That tactical plan did not really work in the first half though, and the Americans cashed in on a golden opportunity on 36 minutes courtesy of winger Tim Weah (son of former Balon d’Or winner current President of Liberia, George Weah). Some neat passing in midfield led to Christian Pulisic being allowed to run towards the Welsh goal unchallenged, and Weah made an excellent diagonal run in behind the back-4. Pulisic spotted his run and played an excellent ball to him, and Weah then used the angle created by his run to re-direct the ball home past keeper Wayne Hennessey. It was nothing less than the Americans deserved for their tenacity, possession, and work-rate. Wales limped into half time after that, but they managed to keep the Americans from adding another.

Wales manager Rob Page brought on striker Kieffer Moore at half time, and his impact was felt almost immediately. In the first 45 minutes, Wales had no outlet. They had no one up front who could hold onto the ball and/or win fouls while supporting players ran up the pitch. Moore changed all that. His big frame was very useful for Wales, and all of a sudden they had a lot more possession in their attacking third. Moore had a header go over USA keeper Matt Turner’s crossbar around 66 minutes that he really should have better with. But as with the Americans in the first half, you sensed a goal was coming.

And indeed, the Welsh got their vital equalizer on 83 minutes from the penalty spot. While this referee can be rightly criticized for some of his decisions in this match, the penalty decision was spot-on. USMNT defender Tim Ream was marking Bale in the box when he elected to go through the back of Bale in an effort to win the ball. He did make some contact with the ball, but it is generally a very bad idea to go through the back of an attacking player in your box with a 1-0 lead. His knee came into contact with Bale and Bale went down like he’d been shot, as is to be expected at this level of the game. The referee pointed to the spot, and Bale stepped up to dispatch the penalty with power into the right hand corner. Turner did go the right way to make the save, but there was just too much power and height on the ball to keep it out. 1-1, and the first goal scored by a Welshman at the World Cup in 64 years!

As stoppage time approached, the already-physical game became even tougher, with challenges flying in from both sides. Neither team was really able to fashion a good chance. Substitute Wales winger Brennan Johnson tested Turner with a shot from a tight angle, but that was about it. The match ended 1-1, which was probably a fair result given how it played out. The Yanks were better in the first half, the Welsh better in the second. USA supporters will be disappointed with how the match ended, and the Welsh will be disappointed with how it began. Both teams will need to play better to make a deep run at this tournament.

If I’m a USA supporter, I am very concerned about the health and fitness of McKennie. He was the best player on the pitch in the opening 45 minutes, and the game really changed when he went off. I am also concerned about the 2nd half response by USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter, or perhaps the lack thereof. For some mysterious reason (and this may have partly been due to McKennie coming off), the Americans stopped attacking the Welsh through the middle of the pitch. They instead elected to get the ball wide and try and find headers from aerial crosses, but that seemed to be futile against a much taller Welsh back line. The Yanks are at their best when the ball is at Pulisic’s feet and he’s allowed to run at defenses, as made obvious by their goal today. They will need to re-establish that strategy going forward.

England vs. Iran

England were expected to win this match given the gulf in talent between the two sides, but very few expected a 6-2 result. Iran were ranked 20th in the world coming into this match, the highest-ranked Asian side at the tournament. They usually cause problems for more-talented opposition and only lose by the odd goal here and there, if they lose at all.

England were the dominant team throughout the match, but it must be noted that it took England 35 minutes to breach the Iranian goal. It was only then that a fine cross from left back Luke Shaw found midfielder Jude Bellingham’s head in the box, and he powered a thunderous header beyond substitute keeper Hossein Hosseini. Once the first one went in, the floodgates opened. Wingers Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling added their names to the scoresheet next, and it was 3-0 at halftime to England. Saka got another goal on 62 minutes as well, and England were well on their way to three points and the top of the group.

The Iranians did not stop trying however, and they were rewarded with a goal on 65 minutes from the talented Mehdi Taremi. England failed to clear a long throw-in from Iran, and when the ball was played to Taremi he smartly powered home the ball into the roof of the net. England keeper Jordan Pickford could do little about it. It was never anything more than a consolation goal, though.

England continued to attack, with striker Harry Kane finding substitute winger Marcus Rashford, who cut inside from the right wing and slotted home under Hosseini for England’s fifth. Rashford had only been on the pitch for 49 seconds when his shot found the back of the net, so he made sure his impact was felt. The action dulled a bit after that, but England were awarded a 6th goal on 90 minutes after striker Callum Wilson found midfielder Jack Grealish unmarked in the box. Grealish swept home the pass and England were essentially home and dry.

The referee had to have his say, however. First, he missed an obvious foul on center back Harry Maguire in the first half that would have given England a penalty. Secondly, he awarded a monumental 13 minutes of stoppage time today. That is well above the average, but I suppose it is acceptable given the long injury delays in the first and second half. He awarded a penalty to Iran very late on, and while it did not affect the outcome of the match, it was a good example of inconsistent application of the rules. If the penalty late on for a shirt pull was a penalty, then so was the shirt pull on Maguire in the first half. Again, it matters not for today, but in a closer match it could matter quite a bit.

England were by far the better side and deserved to win this match. For a team that has struggled to score goals recently, scoring six in the opening match of a World Cup is fantastic. Some questions remain defensively, but the ruthless finishing today more than made up for it. Credit to the Iranians for never stopping, even though it would have been understandable if they did.

Even more credit to the Iranians however for not singing along with their national anthem before the match. This was done on purpose in protest against their current governmental regime and its treatment of women within Iran. A very ballsy move indeed, and it’s significantly braver than any form of “protest” against Qatar planned by European nations. Iran is playing for something bigger than just their team, and I wish them nothing but the best of luck in this group.

All four teams resume play on Friday, November 25th. USA vs. England and Wales vs. Iran. England are in the driver’s seat after today, but nothing has been decided yet. Four massive matches tomorrow, including Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia, Mexico vs. Poland, Denmark vs. Tunisia, and France vs. Australia.

World Cup Group B Preview – Yes, the One With the Yanks In It

England. Wales. Iran. USA.

For the first time since 2010, England will play the Yanks in the group stage of a World Cup. I do think that England and the USA are probably the favorites in the group, as I already wrote in my Quick n’ Dirty World Cup picks post. However, let’s take a deeper dive into this group and figure out what’s going on. And remember – this tournament should not be happening in Qatar, and FIFA is the most corrupt organization on the planet.

USA

I normally let my Yank friends and colleagues discuss the USMNT (which of course stands for United States Mutant Ninja Turtles) for me as I don’t routinely follow them, but given that they are in England’s group this tournament I have been following them a little more closely. At World Cup 2010 in South Africa, the Americans drew with England 1-1 and then managed to later win the group! That would be a fantastic result for them again this time around, but this group is much different than the one in 2010.

This is the most talented USMNT I have seen assembled for a major tournament. They have some undeniably good players, mainly in attack. Giovanni Reyna, Joshua Sargent, and Tim Weah all play for big clubs across Europe, and Christian Pulisic is the most naturally-talented American player I have ever seen. Pulisic and Reyna also have Champions League experience, with Pulisic being the owner of a winners’ medal. I do not think the Americans will struggle to score goals, provided manager Greg Berhalter allows them to run at defenses.

Where the concerns come in are with the rest of the team. The midfield might be ok as long as Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams are able to find the attacking players with key passes. However, the defense looks extremely thin outside of Sergiño Dest. Most of the defenders in this team do not play in Europe, and I am concerned about them having to rely on the aging legs of DeAndre Yedlin at fullback. The goalkeepers, at least two of them, aren’t regular starters at their clubs and the current No. 1 Ethan Horvath plays in the second division in England. There just isn’t a ton of top-level experience in this side apart from the forwards and McKennie.

A further concern is the form of the Americans coming into this tournament. To say the least, it hasn’t been convincing. They failed to win their CONCACAF qualifying group, and in their recent friendlies against Japan and Saudi Arabia they failed to score a single goal. Most Americans will tell you that Berhalter is largely responsible for those failures. From my limited perspective, Berhalter needs to shape his tactics and team selection around scoring goals and defending from the front. I do not think the Americans are good enough in defense to hold out against quality opposition for 90 minutes. The best strategy for the USMNT is to get out on the front foot first though and make the opposition work. They must press high and win the ball in forward areas.

The team spirit of the Americans at these tournaments is usually very good. To quote famous match commentator Martin Tyler, “Americans always believe they can do it.” There is no more apt a quote. Americans always believe they can win games, even when all logic and reason says they won’t. Self-belief is ingrained in American culture, and while it has its downsides it certainly can be helpful in football.

Overall though I think this current crop of American talent needs four years to mature. This tournament might have come just a bit too soon. They are of course not the pushovers they were 20 years ago, but I still think there is a gap in quality between the Yanks and the elites of the world.

Wales

The Welsh have not been to a World Cup since 1958, but that long absence has made them very hungry for some success. They qualified via an emotional playoff against Ukraine in which the entire football world was rooting against them, so there are no questions as to their mental toughness. It’s true they are small in terms of population of geography, but the talent and experience in this Wales team makes me think they are one of the biggest sleepers going into this tournament.

They are of course led by talismanic forward Gareth Bale, who is the most talented player Wales has ever produced and he just won the MLS Cup with Los Angeles FC. He will lead the forward line, probably supported by Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson and Fulham winger Daniel James. In midfield they have the aging but still reliable Aaron Ramsey, along with Joe Allen and Harry Wilson. There is also a lot of experience in defense via Neco Williams, Chris Gunter, and Ben Davies. Wayne Hennessey is also a massively experienced keeper and had a fantastic outing in the playoff against Ukraine. This is both the first and last World Cup for Bale and probably Ramsey as well, so they will be giving their all.

The big question for Wales is their depth. Aside from the starters I named and maybe one or two more players, the Welsh do not have the depth of some of the bigger teams. They will have to rely on their starters in order to do well at this tournament. That might work during the group stage to a degree, but I do not feel they have the depth for a long run. However, anyone who disregards the Welsh in this group will do so at their own peril. They have talent, experience, and are in good form coming into the tournament.

The Americans play Wales in their first group match on November 21st.

Iran

So as a non-Iranian its easy to not pay attention to this team and not take them seriously due to their lack of talent. And objectively, they are the least-talented team in this group. Most of their players play in the Iranian domestic league, although there are a few notable names who play in Greece, Turkey, and Croatia. Iran are probably strongest in attack similar to the Americans, with Karim Ansarifard, Mehdi Taremi, and Sardar Azmoun all looking to make a name for themselves at this tournament.

Also, when a team is lacking in talent, they can sometimes make up for it in tactical prowess and team spirit. There are many occasions both at the club and international level where a less-talented team has gotten a result against a better team simply because they had a better tactical plan. That will be Iran and manager Carlos Quieroz’s mantra going into this tournament. They’re not idiots, after all. They know they lack the talent that other teams in this group have. Still though, they are one of the best Asian teams in the world and have had a good run of form coming into this tournament. They won’t just roll over and concede that they’re just happy to be here.

Iran’s greatest strength however is not their talent, nor their coaching. Interestingly, it is the current political tension in their country and the team spirit that results from it. Many of these players support women’s rights in Iran and are critical of the current regime. They know that they are ambassadors for their culture and people, not necessarily their government. I think they will want to show the world what Iran is really about. The people of that nation are much more progressive than their government is generally speaking, and they have a chance to show support for the women of their country by playing well at this tournament. Ansarifard has already done a bit of that recently when he scored a goal for his club and then removed his team shirt to display a message of solidarity with women in Iran.

It would be beyond surprising for Iran to progress out of this group, but it is certainly not impossible. They are much more likely however to ruin another team’s chance of progression.

England

The Three Lions are my team of choice and I usually don’t like to make predictions about them due to superstition, but I can give some general previews about the expectations around this team. England fans expect this team to win the World Cup every time it comes around, no matter how delusional that may be. As has been said many times on this blog, England have only won the world Cup once, and it was a staggering 56 years ago.

But the past five years or so have provided some justification for those lofty expectations this time around. The past five years have been the most successful in England’s history, aside from 1966. In 2017 we reached the semifinals of the Nations League, in 2018 we reached the semifinals of the World Cup in Russia, and in 2021 we reached the final of the European Championships. No trophies were won at any of those tournaments sadly, but this is the most consistently good this team has been in my lifetime. Manager Gareth Southgate and this current generation of English talent are the primary reasons for this success.

There is no denying England’s star power in attack, and the defense should probably be pretty solid as well. The midfield is admittedly a little on the light side after the starters, but if England do poorly at this tournament a lack of talent will not be the reason why. With world-class players like Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Luke Shaw, and many others all currently in the form they’re in, we are capable of beating every team at this tournament. On paper, at least. There is also a lot of depth for England, particularly in attack and defense. We are chock full of first-team starters at their respective clubs. Indeed, our bench players are better than some other teams’ starters.

But England’s greatest issue at this tournament will be Southgate’s conservative approach and tactics. It’s true that the system implemented (3 at the back, with a slow buildup towards the goal) works fairly well, but on the off occasion it doesn’t, England struggle to adapt. Southgate has a ton of faith in the players he likes, and for whatever reason he is slow to respond to negative events in a given match. The best teams know how to win in more ways than one, and I am concerned that Southgate is either unwilling or unable to realize that. Will he roll the dice when needed? Will he make the correct adjustment that leads to a win? We will have to see. If England do not play well this tournament, it will be his job on the line. Failure to get out of the group would be unacceptable for a team of this caliber.

Personally, I want to see a ruthless England in this group stage. Nay; a positively villainous England. It’s no secret that most of the world won’t be cheering for us for a variety of reasons, so it’s time to embrace that villainy and use it to our advantage. Let’s go out and put 4 goals past each team. Let’s dive to the floor like Italians whenever a tackle comes in. Let’s go out there and commit some professional fouls in the first 10 minutes of matches so oppositions know we aren’t messing about. I don’t want us to just win, I want the opposition utterly demoralized. We already have the talent, but now we need to be nasty! If we have to go out, I want us to go out kicking and screaming every inch of the way.

England plays their first match against Iran on November 21.

History Beckons for Christian Pulisic in the Champions League Final

Europe’s Super Bowl kicks off at noon Pacific time tomorrow, May 29. For only the third time in the history of the competition, two English sides will play each other for the chance to be crowned champions of Europe. The UEFA Champions League final is a game that every footballer dreams of playing in as a kid, and is dwarfed in importance only by (probably) the World Cup final that happens every four years. The players of Manchester City and Chelsea will want to add their names to the annals of football history tomorrow in Porto, Portugal.

There are tons of storylines to analyze here just like with any massive matchup between two massive clubs, but all you really need to know is that City are vying for their first European Cup and Chelsea are trying to win their second one. The clubs finished 1st and 4th in the Premier League respectively, and most pundits are probably giving the edge to City given their excellent strength in depth. Manager Pep Guardiola has been trying to win another European Cup for the better part of a decade, having last won it with Barcelona in 2011. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was in the final last year with Paris St. Germain, but lost to German side Bayern Munich.

However, my readers are overwhelmingly American, so I’d like to focus on a more American storyline. For the first time ever, there is an American playing for each side in a CL final, and one of them has a very good chance of becoming the first American to ever score in a Champions League final. City have backup goalkeeper Zack Steffen, while Chelsea have attacking midfielder and wunderkind Christian Pulisic. Steffen likely will not get on the pitch barring an injury to starting City keeper Ederson, but Pulisic has a very legitimate chance of not only playing but also starting and scoring. He reaches milestones for Americans in European football every time he steps on the pitch, but it would be truly remarkable if he became the first American to score in a CL final. As I have written before, Pulisic is the most naturally-talented American player I have ever seen. There have been good American players before in England such as Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey, and of course Landon Donovan; but all of them pale in comparison to Pulisic. He is fast, has a ton of lateral quickness, and is a nightmare to deal with when dribbling. His passing and decision making are sometimes suspect, but there are few players better on the ball in the open field. He runs circles around guys until there’s an opening for a shot, and he’s usually on-target.

Of course it is entirely possible that neither of them gets on the pitch, given that Steffen is a backup and Pulisic has competition for his place in the starting XI from England midfielder Mason Mount, but having Americans even just on the bench is huge for the US Men’s National Team. The CL final is the pinnacle of club footballing competition on this planet, both in terms of physical talent and the tactical nous required to be successful. In any sport you want your players playing at the highest possible level, and having not only one but two Americans in this match is vital for their development and experience. If Pulisic can play well in a CL final, then all of a sudden a World Cup qualifier against Honduras or Nicaragua becomes a lot less daunting. Same for Steffen – if he can stop a shot on goal from world-class Man City players like Kevin de Bruyne or Sergio Aguero, then everything else he faces after that becomes a lot easier to handle because he would have a better idea of what to expect and prepare for.

Pulisic and Steffen are part of a crop of promising young American players, many of whom are playing for big clubs in Europe. In addition to those two, there is also Weston McKennie (Juventus), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona), Tim Weah (Lille), and Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig) to name a few. All of these Americans playing for these big clubs in Europe is fantastic for their development and experience. It may be a tad too soon for the USMNT to challenge at the 2022 World Cup, as all of these guys are still in their early 20s or younger and don’t have a ton of playing experience yet. However, all of these opportunities for Americans at big clubs is priming Team USA for a World Cup run in 2026. Conveniently, venues in North America will be hosting that tournament for a bit of home-field advantage. If the Americans can find themselves a manager with a tactical plan that serves the strengths of all these young and dynamic guys, the Americans will be among the favorites to win it. The will only get better over time, assuming they keep playing at very high-profile clubs such as City, Barcelona, and Juventus that routinely challenge in Europe. I know the Americans have struggled recently due to internal drama at the US Soccer Federation and coaching changes, but the talent appears to be coming together nicely.

So while tomorrow is not the be-all and end-all for Pulisic and Steffen, every American should tune in to watch and see how the two are developing. A big performance from Pulisic should encourage Americans to be enthusiastic and optimistic about the national team for the first time in awhile. Americans who don’t routinely follow the game often dream of beating Europeans at their own sport, and that just may happen in 2026 if the players keep developing as they are. History calls for both of them tomorrow though, and Pulisic may just be the one who answers.