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When people ask me why I’ve given up on the #USMNT, this is why.I was a rabid fan through the 90s & early aughts.But at some point the league became captured by a commitment to mediocrity, a jingoistic USA! mentality that ended the remarkable progress we were making in the sport.
Lack of accountability for catastrophic losses, recycling the same mediocre coaches, the lack of speed in our game, xenophobia, pretense that there is an “American style of play” to be preserved, & satisfaction w/mediocre performances. Having Lalas as a commentator & booster.
The rehiring of Berhalter is embarrassing. As was the repeated rehiring of Bob Bradley. Even the reporters (Goff) are “Team USA.” We had a promising, competitive program & we are going in reverse. If you’ve only been watching the last 10 yrs, you don’t know what’s been lost.
Un véritable scandale secoue depuis hier le monde du soccer 🇺🇸.
Une tentative de chantage contre le sélectionneur des USA, par le père d'un joueur, lui-même ancien international... et coéquipier du coach.
#Thread de l'histoire rocambolesque entre Berhalter et Reyna 🧵
Une tentative de chantage contre le sélectionneur des USA, par le père d'un joueur, lui-même ancien international... et coéquipier du coach.
#Thread de l'histoire rocambolesque entre Berhalter et Reyna 🧵
Tout débute pendant le Mondial au Qatar.
Le sélectionneur américain, Gregg Berhalter, possède très bons ailiers : Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, Brandon Aaronson et Gio Reyna, qui se disputent des précieuses minutes.
Sans surprise, Pulisic & Weah sont titulaires.
Le sélectionneur américain, Gregg Berhalter, possède très bons ailiers : Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, Brandon Aaronson et Gio Reyna, qui se disputent des précieuses minutes.
Sans surprise, Pulisic & Weah sont titulaires.
Contre le Pays de Galle, Berhalter ne fait pas entrer Reyna, lui préférant Jordan Morris, l'attaquant des Seattle Sounders.
Contre l'Angleterre, il joue 7 petites minutes.
Contre l'Iran (un match plutôt fermé), 0.
Contre l'Angleterre, il joue 7 petites minutes.
Contre l'Iran (un match plutôt fermé), 0.
US men's soccer is improving. But, why is it very unlikely that US men’s soccer #USMNT will win the #FIFAWorldCup any time soon?
Professors of politics Markovits & Hellerman analyze the lack of attention to soccer in the US in terms of critical junctures & path dependence.🧵
Professors of politics Markovits & Hellerman analyze the lack of attention to soccer in the US in terms of critical junctures & path dependence.🧵
The short answer is that “when sports culture developed in the late nineteenth and early 20th centuries, nativism and nationalism were shaping a distinctly American self-image that clashed with the non-American sport of soccer. Baseball and football crowded out the game.” 1/2
“Then poor leadership, among other factors, prevented soccer from competing with basketball and hockey as they grew. By the 1920s, the United States was contentedly isolated from what was fast becoming an international obsession.” 2/2
I wrote about the stats and trends I found from this World Cup, in which more teams dominated possession, fewer teams won games doing so, the ball remained in the wide areas, and teams continued to trade shot quantity for shot quality.
espn.com/soccer/fifa-wo…
espn.com/soccer/fifa-wo…
This was basically the companion piece to one of my faves -- my 1966-2018 trends piece I wrote (what feels like 17 years ago) in Nov. We've definitely seen the continuation of developments from 2014-18 (though suddenly no one's scoring from set pieces).
At the club level, where all the richest clubs play possession ball, the correlation between wins and poss% remains strong. (Because of the money, among other things.)
At the country level? That correlation is getting smaller at every World Cup.
At the country level? That correlation is getting smaller at every World Cup.
Oscar Tabárez could also go on this list from the recent past, even though he's at this World Cup.
And anyone out there (Henry aside, he already knows) is welcome to look up how much "major international experience" Lionel Scaloni had before getting the Argentin a job.
And anyone out there (Henry aside, he already knows) is welcome to look up how much "major international experience" Lionel Scaloni had before getting the Argentin a job.
A coach who can build chemistry on short notice, have a good tactical sense, and think fast on their feet when needed is probably going to be good at the job.
Doesn't mean I think Berhalter should get a second term. (I don't).
But nor is it good to insist on too much principle.
Doesn't mean I think Berhalter should get a second term. (I don't).
But nor is it good to insist on too much principle.
I pondered this recently with @soccercanales and @gpelvin.
The #USMNT doesn't need someone to impose a whole new way of doing things just because he's got a big name.
It needs someone to take the good already done and improve on it.
inquirer.com/sports/usmnt-w…
The #USMNT doesn't need someone to impose a whole new way of doing things just because he's got a big name.
It needs someone to take the good already done and improve on it.
inquirer.com/sports/usmnt-w…
Now that we're all looking forward to 2026, here are some guys to watch over the next 3.5 years.
(Not really any particular order, btw. Just posted as they came to me)
#USMNT #OnlyForward #WC2026
(Not really any particular order, btw. Just posted as they came to me)
#USMNT #OnlyForward #WC2026
Chris Richards
Center Back
Age: 22
Missed the 2022 World Cup to injury.
Athletic. Good with feet. High soccer IQ.
Playing at high level with Crystal Palace in the Premier league.
Can he stay consistently healthy?
Potentially the best CB we'll have in 2026.
Center Back
Age: 22
Missed the 2022 World Cup to injury.
Athletic. Good with feet. High soccer IQ.
Playing at high level with Crystal Palace in the Premier league.
Can he stay consistently healthy?
Potentially the best CB we'll have in 2026.
Ricardo Pepi
Striker
Age: 19
Highly recruited dual-nat chose the US over Mexico.
Played a large roll in '22 WCQ, but was controversially left off the final roster.
Will chase '26 with major chip on shoulder.
Striker
Age: 19
Highly recruited dual-nat chose the US over Mexico.
Played a large roll in '22 WCQ, but was controversially left off the final roster.
Will chase '26 with major chip on shoulder.
The #USMNT had the second-youngest team in Qatar and had just one player on its roster who'd worn a uniform to a #FIFAWorldCup game before. latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
Yet it finished the group stage unbeaten, playing fifth-ranked England and No. 19 Wales to draws before beating Iran to advance out of group play for the fourth time in five World Cups. latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
The energy and enthusiasm that had carried the young Americans through the first two games were missing Saturday, with the early Dutch goal draining the magic out of the U.S. team. latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
#USAvNED live updates:
The #USMNT has fallen behind in a game for the first time in the #FIFAWorldCup.
After 10 minutes of dominating play by the Americans, the Netherlands struck first.
latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
The #USMNT has fallen behind in a game for the first time in the #FIFAWorldCup.
After 10 minutes of dominating play by the Americans, the Netherlands struck first.
latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
#USMNT-Netherlands live updates:
After turning away a surge of chances from the Americans, the Netherlands capitalized. The U.S. must somehow regroup and consider subsitute options at the break. #FIFAWorldCup
latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
After turning away a surge of chances from the Americans, the Netherlands capitalized. The U.S. must somehow regroup and consider subsitute options at the break. #FIFAWorldCup
latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
There will be a lot of studying of @mtaibbi files next week. Have to enjoy #USMNT this AM and CFB rankings tomorrow. Christmas parties, parades, concerts and pageants plus all the football. Give even Legacy Media a weekend off. #GoBucks #GoBrowns
If “shadow-banning” is a real thing that will be a remarkable moment for recognizing the depth of social media corruption, whether or not in league with legacy media. I think the best move might be to go full document dump into the public view so that various expertise is applied
It was #Rathergate and @powerlineUS that demonstrated the impact of many eyes on a single set of documents. If @ElonMusk wants to turn the world upside down, he posts everything that is remotely in the public interest to see and does so without filters so that a million eyes look
It would be good and valuable for a certain segment of #USMNT twitter to get out of their bubble and get some outside perspective on what this team has accomplished & what they've become under Berhalter.
that lede from @Walid_4 captures so much of what I've been trying to say about this team, and so much of what a certain segment of sickos just doesn't want to hear or believe.
They'd rather be miserable I guess.
They'd rather be miserable I guess.
And here’s a take from a Canadian coach friend of mine who has zero rooting interest in the #USMNT
Iran is a win away from reaching the #FIFAWorldCup knockout stages for just the second time.
But Iranians are divided over what that would mean. Soccer is a symbol. But what exactly it symbolizes under the Islamic regime is complicated. #USMNT #IranvsUSA
latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
But Iranians are divided over what that would mean. Soccer is a symbol. But what exactly it symbolizes under the Islamic regime is complicated. #USMNT #IranvsUSA
latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
Protesters, who have seen hundreds killed and more than 18,000 arrested by authorities over the past two months, are demanding the players pick a side and make a statement for the #WorldCup2022 global TV audience, which is expected to reach 5 billion.
latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
Before their first game, players draped arms over one another’s shoulders but didn't sing the national anthem.
When players sang the anthem before Iran’s 2-0 win over Wales, riot police celebrated even as they engaged in street battles with protesters.
latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
When players sang the anthem before Iran’s 2-0 win over Wales, riot police celebrated even as they engaged in street battles with protesters.
latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
England starting XI passing sonars
USA starting XI passing sonars
America has a better king:
🇺🇸 > 🇬🇧
🇺🇸 > 🇬🇧
America has a better queen:
🇺🇸 > 🇬🇧
🇺🇸 > 🇬🇧
America has a better prince:
🇺🇸 > 🇬🇧
🇺🇸 > 🇬🇧
Wales starting XI passing sonars
As a follow-up to my article on the #WorldCup2022 for @PillarCatholic, a couple of notes on religious aspects of this tournament.
pillarcatholic.com/world-cup-feve…
pillarcatholic.com/world-cup-feve…
1. This is the first time the World Cup is being played in a Muslim country, and only the second outside of the traditionally Christian world. The first was South Korea & Japan in 2002.
2. 2002 also marked the furthest a traditionally Muslim country ever progressed in the World Cup, with #Turkey placing 3rd, after beating South Korea in a very exciting game.
Free bet on #DraftKings if @St1Station wants to get addicted to sports 🏈 betting.
sportsbook.draftkings.com/r/sb/DPinsen/U…
sportsbook.draftkings.com/r/sb/DPinsen/U…
Added a straight bet on the @chargers at +170.
🏆 #FIFAWorldCup
🇺🇸 USA: SLAYING THE DRAGONS 🇺🇸
How the #USMNT could emerge from Group B at #QatarWorldCup2022, where to look in #WorldCupFantasy, and why I'd argue that the Welsh have the upper hand {THREAD}
@USMNT @USMNTTAKES @USMNT_U
@USMNT_Thoughts @USMNTOtaku
🇺🇸 USA: SLAYING THE DRAGONS 🇺🇸
How the #USMNT could emerge from Group B at #QatarWorldCup2022, where to look in #WorldCupFantasy, and why I'd argue that the Welsh have the upper hand {THREAD}
@USMNT @USMNTTAKES @USMNT_U
@USMNT_Thoughts @USMNTOtaku
🗓️ World Cup Qualifying: the USA finished 3rd in the final CONCACAF group, boasting strong attacking statistics throughout: only Canada scoring more than their 21. Despite this, there is plenty of room for improvement as they often failed to step up vs. the other top sides
🗓️ Qualifying vs. Tough Opposition
🟡 Sep '21: 1-1D vs. Canada
🟢 Oct '21: 2-1W vs. Costa Rica
🟢 Nov '21: 2-0W vs. Mexico
🔴 Jan '22: 2-0L vs. Canada
🟡 Mar '22: 0-0D vs. Mexico
🔴 Mar '22: 2-0L vs. Costa Rica
Points Dropped
🟡 Draws vs. El Salvador & Jamaica
🔴 Loss vs. Panama
🟡 Sep '21: 1-1D vs. Canada
🟢 Oct '21: 2-1W vs. Costa Rica
🟢 Nov '21: 2-0W vs. Mexico
🔴 Jan '22: 2-0L vs. Canada
🟡 Mar '22: 0-0D vs. Mexico
🔴 Mar '22: 2-0L vs. Costa Rica
Points Dropped
🟡 Draws vs. El Salvador & Jamaica
🔴 Loss vs. Panama
There is no sports team I love more than #USMNT. And I’ve never been less excited for a World Cup, because of Gregg Berhalter’s arrogance & stubbornness. 3 years in & he’s still basing player selection around his system & not the other way around. Setting this team up to fail. 🇺🇸
Insistence on playing a “high line” w/o the players to do it. Even worse, an adherence to “playing out of the back” long after we assumed we were done with that. Long/ Zimmerman are not the CBs for that. If you insist on it, call up Brooks & Ream. What a disaster this close to WC
Jordan Pefok’s the most obvious case in point. For an entire qualifying cycle the narrative has been “we don’t have a 9 who can score.” Suddenly, an American is lighting up the Bundesliga but GB won’t call him. Doesn’t fit his “system.” All he does is score goals & assist on them
I can't decide if this means Liverpool's been let off the hook and a comeback is inevitable or if this means Liverpool's hanging on by their fingernails and it's only a matter of time until they get blown out.
Looks like it was the first one.
Napoli beating the brakes off 'em. I was supposed to be writing a #USMNT roster preview with @tombogert this afternoon but he's nowhere to be found. Gonna assume he's out playing in traffic.
Thread 🧵 on #Gladbach & #USMNT defender Joe Scally. Although just back from his summer holiday, the fact that Ramy Bensebaini & Luca Netz are out due to Corona, may mean Scally gets some game time against 1860 on Sunday on the left. He has been talking to Kicker. Quotes follow.
2/ Scally on his targets for the season: “With Borussia to end up higher up the table. Personally to get as many appearances as possible & to start as many games as I can.”
With #USMNT “I hope I can be at the World Cup.”
With #USMNT “I hope I can be at the World Cup.”
3/ Scally on last term: “I played more than I expected to. It was a really good season for me. I learned a lot & discovered I can compete at this level. I want to build on that.”
Antonee Robinson: “Some of the most competitive leagues are in Europe. So that’s why a lot of the young, talented, hungry players that we got want to evolve to the next stage of their career. They want to breakout from MLS to go over to Europe. That’s the dream.” #USMNT
Antonee Robinson: “Whether playing in the Premier League or the Champions League, that’s the sort of goals these lads are setting when they leave to Europe. That’s why we have such a talented squad that we do today. Hopefully the team just keeps getting stronger and stronger.”
Full quote from Antonee Robinson on why many young Americans are leaving MLS for Europe. #USMNT
🧵 Long BILD piece today on Wolfsburg & #USMNT defender John (Jay as he’s often referred to in Germany) Brooks.
The part in bold says Bild’s information is USA coach Gregg Berhalter was not happy with Brooks in his most recent appearances & that there was an attitude problem.
The part in bold says Bild’s information is USA coach Gregg Berhalter was not happy with Brooks in his most recent appearances & that there was an attitude problem.
2/ It points out that Brooks has become the “problem child” at Wolfsburg, subbed off at HT in the 0:3 “horror performance” (Bild’s words) in Mainz & not picked at all for the crucial CL MD6 showdown with Lille.
3/ Earning an estimated 4 mil Euro a year, per Bild, Brooks is one of the highest earners but his form crisis this term means Wolfsburg are unlikely to pay that for him again. Contract up in 2022. Brooks also said not as cooperative as his teammates re media interviews.
1/ 🧵 ahead of Bayern-Hoffenheim (my Sat commentary game) for the world feed. Kicker quotes from #USMNT defender Chris Richards as he prepares to face his parent club. Richards says he wasn’t disappointed when Julian Nagelsmann decided not to build his squad with him. #FCBTSG
2/ Richards: “I wanted to return to Hoffenheim. In the summer it emerged that there would continue to be a lot of competition in Munich & I wouldn’t play every game for a long time. I’m not afraid of competition but it was better for me to go to Hoffenheim & play regularly.”
3/ Richards on consistency: “That’s the most important area where I have to improve, and that has a lot to do with experience. So for exactly that reason I’m in Hoffenheim to get a lot of match practice.”
