Tonight's the night. Win and in. Tie and maybe in. But it looks good for the fellas to make the WC again.
Here's the breakdown.
If the U.S. beats Trinidad and Tobago
It qualifies for the 2018 World Cup by finishing in third place in the CONCACAF region.
If the U.S. ties Trinidad and Tobago -
The U.S. will almost certainly still qualify for the World Cup. The only way the U.S. could drop out of third place would be if Panama beats Costa Rica by eight goals or Honduras beats Mexico by 12 goals. In the unthinkable event that both those happened, a tie would eliminate the U.S. If one of them happened, a tie would put the U.S. into a playoff against either Australia or Syria in November.
If the U.S. loses to Trinidad and Tobago - then if Panama beats Costa Rica and Honduras beats Mexico, then the U.S. would be eliminated and miss out on the World Cup for the first time since 1986. If Panama and Honduras lose, the U.S. would still qualify in third place. And if Panama or Honduras win but the other ties or loses, then the U.S. would finish fourth and go into that Syria/Australia playoff.
Apparently the field in TnT was completely under water and the playing conditions will be awful tonight. The field is now surrounded by a huge moat if water. Big surprise there.
I swear the mental patients have really come out of the woodwork lately. This place is crazy.
But as context for anybody complaining about Bruce Arena, he is 10 times the manager that the idiot Greece has - he's cost them a bunch of points in qualifying with lineups and subs.
The only wild card here is that T&T conditions usually leave less than to be desired, but we have a massive talent advantage.
FIFA needs to get control of CONCACAF, between shitty unkempt fields to the cheap, nasty fouls this conference needs to grow up. I understand many of the countries are impoverished, but this is big time football and if there are standards for field size and natural turf, then the fields should have grass on them and not dirt patches and moats.
The only wild card here is that T&T conditions usually leave less than to be desired, but we have a massive talent advantage.
We're never spared the ramblings of the mentally defective. It's a cross to bear for sure.
US need an early score in this game as the longer it goes without a goal the more they leave to chance.
France is in OK shape but the Dutch are finished.
Think they should open with the same squad as vs. Panama, then (hopefully) when they score go to a more defensive set.
2. With Russia not needing to qualify as host of the World Cup, how do they prepare for it? Friendlies? All of the other European countries in a bid to qualify get at least 10 competitive matches to figure out their squad.
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interesting qualifiers today. Many big-time countries (France, Netherlands, Argentina, Portugal), still have some work to do.
France is in OK shape but the Dutch are finished.
I just noticed the goal differential the Dutch have to make up. Yeah, I'd say they're done.
2. With Russia not needing to qualify as host of the World Cup, how do they prepare for it? Friendlies? All of the other European countries in a bid to qualify get at least 10 competitive matches to figure out their squad.
1. Yes, it's the top 8 second place finishers.
2. It is definitely a disadvantage IMO. They can schedule friendlys and hosted the Confederations Cup this Summer (sort of a World Cup lite that serves as a dress rehearsal for the host country and includes cup winners from each confederation.) But in the case of Russia, they are no lock to make the World Cup every time so I think they will take the automatic bid.
Yes it is available on FIOS, right before CNN
Pot 2: Sweden, Greece, Rep. of Ireland, Denmark
Ireland vs N. Ireland would be a fun matchup.
There were 5 Costa Ricans in the snow
There were 5 Costa Ricans in the snow
There were 5 Costa Ricans
5 Costa ricans
5 Costa Ricans
5 Costa Ricans in the snow...
And Clint Fucking Dempsey sent them home
Yea Clint Fucking Dempsey sent them home
And Clint fucking Dempsey
Clint fucking Dempsey
Clint fucking Dempsey sent them home ...
There were 4 Costa Ricans in the snow....
Oh yeah. Haha.
What a joke! - ( New Window )
At least Mexico is winning.
Horrific atrocious embarrassing passing.
And the US looks like a circus squad.
it really does.
Pot 2: Sweden, Greece, Rep. of Ireland, Denmark
Ireland vs N. Ireland would be a fun matchup.
Pete, fwiw, all the Greeks are saying Denmark Pot 1.
Panama just tied it.
US is in trouble.
This is insane.
If Panama goes up as well, we need a tie at the minimum or we are eliminated.
Holy ass hairs. We're fucked.
Send everyone forward.
Send everyone forward.
That is basically correct.
THIS. THEY NEED US $.
Throw in US. Don't give up possession.
If we don't score, we are going to play Australia or be eliminated depending on if Panama can pull it out.
Awful.
Jesus this is bad.
What a disgrace.
Roman Torres of all fucking people.
You cannot lose WC at home and expect to qualify.
Who knew?
No question.
He gives Bucknell grads a bad name!!!
Yup.
Yes, because only those who root for the USMNT will watch.
SMH
Awesome.
Absolute garbage.
Complete embarrassment.
Netherlands is out. US is out.
Is Argentina out?
Netherlands is out. US is out.
Is Argentina out?
Argentina in Chile out
Im so tired of this team having marginal midfield talent, and the center backs are terrible.
Lmao.
This is an absolute nightmare, but greatteams in the past have been born from this kind of thing.
But this is absolutely horrific.
Well, they literally stopped trying altogether under him. But the backline is dogshit regardless of who's in charge.
FIFA did fine before the US cared about soccer. I'll bet they're laughing their asses off
And that's on Gulati. Star struck asshole.
Netherlands is out. US is out.
Is Argentina out?
Messi saved Argentina. Chile is out so no Alexis Sanchez in the WC either
spent the next 4 years figuring out how to put a respectable defense on the field.
just pathetic, awful, every bad word to describe it.
Klinnsman = Coughlin
Pulisic = OBJ
Bradley = JT Thomas
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US WC ratings are going to be a shitshow
FIFA did fine before the US cared about soccer. I'll bet they're laughing their asses off
US have all kinds of foreigners that will watch their home teams.
When you do that, you basically pin your hopes on having to win on a near unplayable field where I might be as fast as some of the guys out there.
Like Terps said - pin a lot of this on Gulati. He wanted JK so bad, got him, and then stuck with him far too long.
Not qualifying is just the fruit of those seeds that were sown.
Exactly. We couldn't beat T&T in a game to go to the WC, can't say the results would have been all that different in the 2 games that Arenas didnt coach.
I disagree because those last few games with JK actually counted. They waited entirely too long to drop the ax on him.
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we lost to fcking trinidad. its on arena and the 14 players that laced it up tonight.... plain and simple.
Exactly. We couldn't beat T&T in a game to go to the WC, can't say the results would have been all that different in the 2 games that Arenas didnt coach.
we had to tie... not even win... gutless... this game wasnt tactics it was effort --- if you cant get up for this game then take a fcking lap and dont come back in four years.
And that's on Gulati. Star struck asshole.
He was a problem, a big one. But not the only one. That is beyond evident now
Midfield has not been able to connect with forwards on a consistent basis.
Bradley's play has been a huge disappointment the last 18 months. Pulisic is the future of USA soccer.. He was the one shining player during WC qualifying.
Team needs to be totally rebuilt over the next couple of years.
Yes, the conditions were the same for both teams, but when you can't lean on your skill advantage because the field renders that moot, it isn't as easy as it sounds to just go out there and win.
Players were literally falling down on just basic changes of direction.
That's CONCACAF.
It's like a nightmare.
Hope that asshole Gulati and these prima donnas have a great charter flight home tonight.
Can't beat Guatemala. Can't beat Trinidad and Tobago. Can't beat Honduras.
Billions of dollars spent on development, MLS, etc.
Fucking. Garbage.
Bingo. This was "Beat Trinidad and Tobago, go to the World Cup." And they utterly failed. Zero to do with Klinsmann. Can't blame him forever.
Yes, the conditions were the same for both teams, but when you can't lean on your skill advantage because the field renders that moot, it isn't as easy as it sounds to just go out there and win.
Players were literally falling down on just basic changes of direction.
Sorry man. But I call bullshit.
They were listless, lazy, had no energy or urgency. The balls from Bradley and Acosta were horrific. Bradley ballooned multiple free kicks offering no chance for his teammates to connect.
Gonzales lazily played the fluke deflection in the first half. Like he didn't even try.
Yeah the field was shit.
But you can't lose that game with the WC on the line.
Absolutely pathetic, embarrassing and disgusting.
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we lost to fcking trinidad. its on arena and the 14 players that laced it up tonight.... plain and simple.
Bingo. This was "Beat Trinidad and Tobago, go to the World Cup." And they utterly failed. Zero to do with Klinsmann. Can't blame him forever.
Wrong. This was TIE Trinidad and Tobago and you're in. Fuck this team.
FUCK!!!
add in the choice of Omar who is AWFUL.
At least Dempsey came in with urgency... these other guys... fkkk. Enjoy the MLS playoffs.... woo hoo.... yipppeeeeee.... FKKK
TIE TRINIDAD AND YOU CAN QUALIFY--- and you dont!!!!!!
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In comment 13642210 hitdog42 said:
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we lost to fcking trinidad. its on arena and the 14 players that laced it up tonight.... plain and simple.
Bingo. This was "Beat Trinidad and Tobago, go to the World Cup." And they utterly failed. Zero to do with Klinsmann. Can't blame him forever.
Wrong. This was TIE Trinidad and Tobago and you're in. Fuck this team.
Well, I know that (as I said in my 10:01), but an aggressive, seize-the-moment attitude says, "Let's beat Trinidad!", not "Let's tie Trinidad!"
Kyle in NY : 10:25 pm : link : reply
But it's not good enough. Teams around the world have to play in garbage conditions all through qualifying. Not a good enough excuse
We shouldn't have been in the position that this was a must win in the first place. I'm not absolving them - when you don't beat T&T you don't deserve to go to the WC, but people need to understand that it will look a lot of times like guys aren't trying in conditions like that. The two T&T goals were results of Howard not being able to have footing to make strong dives. The balooned kicks were a result of slipping anytime force was used in an opposite direction.
And take soccer athletes who already are very finesse oriented and take their finesse away, and you will often see play like we did tonight.
It is easy to say they didn't have heart because you see guys running at half speed, but it wasn't lack of heart that was doing it.
As far as conditions go, these are professionals, they should know how to change their game, positioning and delivery to factor for the conditions.
Lastly, on the comment of Ramon Torres of all people scoring the winner for Panama, as a longtime Sounders fan its not surprising. I'd give a nut to have him as a CB over Gonzales.
A recipe for the disaster that unfolded.
Sad but true.
Link - ( New Window )
That's pitiful.
thanks for posting. he is spot on... enough with the excuse making... enough with the fluff and bullsh%t. call it like it is.... a total embarrassment... and i love his comments on the "tough conditions"...
this is completely and utterly inexcusable. i can fucking spit fire right now. CONCACAF has been set up for US/Mexico to go through every fucking time and somehow we couldn't get a result against a goddamn team that managed a -11 GD and 6 pts in the hex with EVERYTHING on the line? this entire outfit is systemically broken. i used to think it could get no worse than '98...i was brutally wrong.
a shit Giants season and we regain at least some semblance of hope again 9-10 months later. here? we are waiting 4 years just to get back to this point and ultimately at least 8 years between US world cup matches.
Gulati - OUT
Arena - OUT
gut the fucking system. this is pathetic beyond words.
Have been watching quite a bit of that and thank god those kids have a clue. its real soccer, not the sh%t these guys put out there.
@JeffreyCarlisle
Gulati: You dont make wholesale changes on a ball being two inches wide or two inches in...Well look at everything. #usmnt
There's a clear failure point here..
Maybe if these corrupt Fifa scumbags put money into the game instead of their pockets, there would be goalline technology
https://twitter.com/JogaBonitoUSA/status/917927959687770112 - ( New Window )
That i'm aware of so far, Steven Gans and possibly Eric Wynalda. Google "Sunil Gulati election" and you'll see articles about this.
We talked a few months back about how this was a transition cycle for the US, but this was just a bad mix of players who never gelled with poor leadership (Bradley was subtly thrown under the bus on the beIN postgame).
But underlying that was a Reese-like arrogance that US Soccer seemed intent on telling us how great MLS was instead of fixing the back four and other problems in the team.
2. Is what is good for MLS = what is good for US Soccer?
I watched all but 3 games of the entire WC 2014. Guess I won't be doing it this time.
This may set back US Soccer for years. Signing Klinsmann was a disaster and holding him as long as they did doomed this team. Thought certain Arena would be able to hold court, but NOOOOO.
This is almost as disappointing as the Giants 0-5 start, maybe more.
I often wonder whether we are even fielding the best squad when you look all the way down to u17 and whether the current staff has the right approach in their selection criteria. I just can't see how this is our best squad we can put together.
Absolutely stunned.
I watched all but 3 games of the entire WC 2014. Guess I won't be doing it this time.
This may set back US Soccer for years. Signing Klinsmann was a disaster and holding him as long as they did doomed this team. Thought certain Arena would be able to hold court, but NOOOOO.
This is almost as disappointing as the Giants 0-5 start, maybe more.
worse...The World Cup is the greatest sporting event in the world, and the US is not going to be represented. That is embarrassing.
And the hometown team didn't make it. What a fucking disgrace.
"Nothing has to change. To make any kind of crazy changes I think would be foolish. We're building a good system in our professional league. We have players playing abroad of some quality.
"There's enough there. There's no excuses for us not qualifying for the World Cup."
These guys are fucking delusional.
The thing that bothers me most is the portion he is right about, on a skill level, I think the US team has come far over the last decade which makes it a mystery as to how those teams could qualify for the WC and this one was so inept.
We just missed out on an every 4-year event because of mismanagement of the team.
Clean house at the top and the new people will hopefully settle on what's needed at the bottom.
I'd be interested in some thoughts about how to eliminate the pay for play culture that has overtaken US soccer.
Nothing like scheduling a game in what became a neutral site b/c of all the Costa Rican fans. Your home turf should be an advantage.
F the USSF.
THe back line we trot out there is not World Cup worthy. Bad positioning, bad foot skills, bad service, bad everything
However, this narrative about disrespecting and not using the MLS players more has to stop. This team is filled with MLS players. Dempsey, Bradley, Altidore, Howard, Guzan, Nagbe,Gonzales (until recently), Besler, Morris, Zardes, Wondo, McCarty, Zusi,Rimando,Acosta,---17 out of 25 on the roster all MLS players. They were coached by an MLS coach.
The problem is not where they play but how they are used and in what combinations and with what strategy. Arena was as clueless as JK. In reality, two European based players, if fully fit would have helped last night in Fabian Johnson and Brooks. Yet, that would have been a stopgap measure that simply concealed the overall flaws in the US system, and its lack of consistency and direction. Time for lots of change as we become everyone else's "practice" game while they ready for the WC and American soccer has been set back decades.
Way to not call up Cameron or have Fabian on the roster for the last couple of matches. Fuck you for saying there's no problem. We just missed out on the world cup for the first time in 8 cycles. Asshole.
Like I said earlier CONCACAF is perfectly suited to allow Mexico and the US to being playing in the WC as regulars. Yet we lost to the fucking cupcake of the group with everything on the line. This is surreal.
Pay to play is immediately getting major attention and perhaps with this continued noise will be a thing of a past.
Arena is for sure a goner. Plenty of time to identify a replacement coach who will develop and field a time with some sort of identity.
We're going to graduate some players and perhaps for the better. Howard, Guzan, and Rimando have been great players for us but their well past their prime. We need to move forward with the wealth of younger keepers and see what the cupboard holds. Players like Hamid, Jesse Gonzalez, and Horvath deserve a shot to show they can help us. Field players like Dempsey, Bedoya, Wondo, Zusi, Beasley, perhaps even Bradley need to be pushed out by a younger generation. The talent is there... We just need a coach to use it properly.
This may be the force to drive Gulati out at last... We need some fresh minds to look at the program and identify how we're going to improve it and what direction we want to take for the next 4 years. It cannot be more of the same...
I don't know how we remedy that shortcoming. The fault doesn't lie in the domestic league. It lies in the issues that exist in player development
I'd be interested in some thoughts about how to eliminate the pay for play culture that has overtaken US soccer.
I don't think there's a way to kill it, but you have to focus investment in inner-city programs. Free youth programs in key markets where you have franchises that serve as a breeding ground for academy players.
There are countless articles online as to how soccer is a wealthy suburban sport in the US while in most of the rest of the world it is played by people of all economic backgrounds - which is at the root of the USMNT's perennial underachieving status.
If we could funnel the kids from Spanish-speaking and other immigrant communities where soccer is king into our national team programs, instead of relying on children of well-to-do families who have paid thousands of dollars per year for a decade or more for expensive travel teams, we would be a perennial top-10 team in the world.
It's all sitting right there to be taken advantage of, and yet US Soccer bumbled its way into being embarrassed on the world stage.
What a week to be a fan of the Giants and the USMNT. It can only get better from here....right?!?!
I don't know how we remedy that shortcoming. The fault doesn't lie in the domestic league. It lies in the issues that exist in player development
Agree that "set back decades" could be an overstatement, but that depends upon what happens next. As much as people disliked JK, he was right in talking about the need to bring some uniformity and consistency to the national training program for kids.
We are losing the opportunity in American soccer to develop the 13-16 year old age group. Travel squads are very expensive and start to lose players in that age to high school sports that are free, local and easier for parents. The ODP system was a complete failure. The academies are still not numerous enough or available enough to reach the vast majority of kids or the families with limited means.
Unfortunately, it's devastating in the short-term and was an unnecessary evil. The US should have qualified with its eyes closed and also should have addressed its institutional problems.
I think these MLS academies are a step in the right direction-- it seems that the sheer number of young US players in European leagues as a result of MLS academies has gone up over the last decade.
The problem is that it's not nearly enough.
But there are a lot of young names getting bandied about that, while I admittedly only know them as names, seem to have more promise than when the current crop were youngsters (Sargent, Green, Brooks, Hyndman, Accosta, McKinnie, Carleton, Miazga, etc)
Klinsmann was an inept coach, but he wasn't wrong in spirit on the player development part. They need a well-rounded technical director who can build a system and style of play. Maybe it's Tab Ramos.
I think that 25-29 year old generation is out there... They've just been ignored...
But for right now, that's the only thing that's certain. I don't know who should take Gulati's place, and I don't have a firm opinion on who should be the next manager. A lot will depend on what the answers are to some very fundamental questions:
- What kind of soccer should USMNT be playing?
- What should the relationship be with MLS?
- What are the goals for the youth teams, and how will they be tied to the senior team?
The Conmebol and UEFA leagues are vastly superior (it is not even close) so i wouldn't take solace in Chile and the Dutch missing the WC.....
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Chile and the Netherlands are far superior teams to the US and they'll be golfing too. But still, there was no excuse to be in a possible elimination spot on decision day and to shit the bed on decision day is a completely due to lack of heart. The conditions were the same for both teams. The US squad has some big decisions coming up, not the least of which is WTF to do about keeper going forward.
The Conmebol and UEFA leagues are vastly superior (it is not even close) so i wouldn't take solace in Chile and the Dutch missing the WC.....
Not according to Bruce Arena. Oops...