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NFT: Gold Cup part II

Del Shofner : 7/24/2021 11:03 pm
Qatar over El Salvador 3-2. Only watched the first half before marital movie-watching intervened but entertaining soccer as before from Qatar, and ES is pretty good as they proved against Mexico. Why Qatar is in this tournament at all, more below, but their coach is a former Barcelona youth coach who runs the #1 academy in Qatar and has all the money in the world behind him. Qatar doesn't play like Barca - who does - but they are no joke.

Watching Mexico - Honduras now from Glendale AZ which is basically a Mexico home game - great crowd. Mexico up 2-0 and they'll win without question in my mind - nothing against Honduras but not close in talent.ht

US v. Jamaica at 9:30 ET tomorrow night I believe. If USA wins we will face Qatar, again if I'm reading the bracket right. No way we should underestimate Qatar - they can certainly attack and score.

Oh - and why is Qatar in the CONCACAF Gold Cup?
I'm sure money has nothing to do with it - ( New Window )
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Seems like Qatar was invited for 2021 and 2023  
UConn4523 : 7/25/2021 8:19 am : link
to help “expand the game”.
Qatar Just the Latest Guest to Gold Cup  
Jeffrey : 7/25/2021 8:28 am : link
Previous invitees include Brazil. Given the lack of quality in the region I think it is great and wish they could add 2-3 teams each time.
Qatar is also  
Pete in MD : 7/25/2021 9:11 am : link
the "shadow team" for UEFA WC Qualifying Group A. Group A (and C-D) only having 5 teams, Qatar plays the team with the open fixture date.
If the USMNT  
Pete in MD : 7/25/2021 9:23 am : link
doesn't have to go through qualification for 2026, I hope they look at doing something similar.
RE: Qatar is also  
Pete in MD : 7/25/2021 9:24 am : link
In comment 15312575 Pete in MD said:
Quote:
the "shadow team" for UEFA WC Qualifying Group A. Group A (and C-D) only having 5 teams, Qatar plays the team with the open fixture date.

*B-D
...  
ColHowPepper : 7/25/2021 9:51 am : link
The wife should have permanent eminent domain over all domestic decisions after your SWE women's team comment smh (:
Quote:
Only watched the first half before marital movie-watching intervened...


Middle Eastern/Arab football: one of the last, 'great' moments for USMNT was Landon Donovan's stoppage time goal vs Algeria that put US through to knock-out stage 2010 WC. After advancing four years later, it has ben pretty much a remorseless desert of good news since then.
RE: ...  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/25/2021 10:03 am : link
In comment 15312593 ColHowPepper said:
Quote:
The wife should have permanent eminent domain over all domestic decisions after your SWE women's team comment smh (:

Quote:


Only watched the first half before marital movie-watching intervened...



Middle Eastern/Arab football: one of the last, 'great' moments for USMNT was Landon Donovan's stoppage time goal vs Algeria that put US through to knock-out stage 2010 WC. After advancing four years later, it has ben pretty much a remorseless desert of good news since then.


While that was probably my favorite USMNT moment of all time, advancing in 2014 in a brutal group and then Tim Howard standing on his head with Ream missing the sitter to level late is hardly remorseless desert of good news.
Sorry too early, misread that.  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/25/2021 10:16 am : link
.
Costa Rica - Canada on now for anyone interested -  
Del Shofner : 7/25/2021 7:16 pm : link
USA - Jamaica at 9:30 ET. Both on FS1.
Canada 2 Costa Rica 0  
Del Shofner : 7/25/2021 10:52 pm : link
0-0 USA-Jamaica at the half. Pretty even but JAM slightly the better of it in my view. Real CONCACAF soccer (not meant as a compliment to either team). Taking off my homer glasses, Qatar-ES easier on the eyes.
ugly win but 1-0 in the 83rd minute is a win -  
Del Shofner : 7/25/2021 11:57 pm : link
this kid Hoppe is a player

Qatar up next

thanks for your enthusiasm!
Hoppe was feeling it  
Bricktop : 7/26/2021 12:06 am : link
Made some mistakes but he was trying to ball. And his confidence was rewarded. Nice to see a young confident American score a major goal.

And my boy from Syracuse has been an absolute rock on the back line. He's been their best and most consistent player, imo.
RE: ugly win but 1-0 in the 83rd minute is a win -  
section125 : 7/26/2021 12:12 am : link
In comment 15313076 Del Shofner said:
Quote:
this kid Hoppe is a player

Qatar up next

thanks for your enthusiasm!


Thought it was their best game of the tourney even with the lack of scoring. Yep Hoppe was VG tonight, very aggressive. Thought Robinson was the best player for the US tonight - very steady back there. Lletget played well as did Busio even if very young. Sands and Vines, meh - to many poor passes and give aways.

I'm not sure what to think about Dike. He seems to be clumsy seems to stumble with the ball at his feet. Zardes is still smoother and seems to be around the ball more often.

Are we ever going to see a US team that can make continuously well placed touch passes? Too many sloppy plays.

Qatar will be interesting.

Thoughts on Canada v Mexico?
Qatar is sneaky good  
Bricktop : 7/26/2021 12:23 am : link
very smart. Very gritty and finish their chances. They've got the most goals in the tournament. Defense is solid and goalkeeping is excellent. It'll be a very difficult test for the young Americans.

The US HAS to finish its chances if they come and cannot be sloppy at all bc the Qatari team is very opportunistic. Well coached, well disciplined and well organized.
Acosta was all over the field...played very well  
Rick in Dallas : 7/26/2021 5:33 am : link
Robinson has been a revelation on the backline. Busio was solid also and only 19.

Not sure about Dike who had trouble holding ball when played to him. Neeed to see him play more. Really like Hoppe who is super aggressive taking on defensive players.
The next game is also sneaky important  
bhill410 : 7/26/2021 5:58 am : link
For world fifa rankings. I think the gold cup may be even more weighted than qualifiers. So if they get to the final or even somehow win this thing they are a decent shot to be in top 15 ( haven’t seen analysis after euro and copa results). Still have qualifying to get through but being in that top 15 is huge for chances in world cup (if they can make it).
Robinson...  
FatMan in Charlotte : 7/26/2021 7:08 am : link
has been impressive in this tourney. Would like to see him get some significant action in the WC qualifying to see if he can continue to grow.
Robinson and Hoppe  
Jeffrey : 7/26/2021 2:17 pm : link
have all helped themselves in this competition. Dike has not. Busio, Sands and VInes still young and learning but have a future on USMNT I think. Overall it was not a great performance but Jamaica is a difficult opponent and had several veterans playing. USMNT had so much trouble with their passing last night. Hoping for a better showing against Qatar.
I hope...  
FatMan in Charlotte : 7/26/2021 2:32 pm : link
Hoppe continues to develop. We are really struggling at striker right now, and in big matches, it is really tough to consistently win if you don't have a clinical finisher. Pulisic is world-class but not a true striker and the options after him are lacking.
^^^^  
Del Shofner : 7/26/2021 2:56 pm : link
Hadn't seen Hoppe before last night but he's only 20 and is already the only American to have scored a hat trick in the Bundesliga (for Schalke 04, who unfortunately had a terrible season and were relegated at the end of the season). Had 6 goals in 22 appearances in the Bundesliga in his age 19-20 year. That's pretty impressive.
BTW, here's the info for the semis:  
Del Shofner : 7/26/2021 4:19 pm : link
Thursday, July 29
29 - Qatar vs. United States (Austin, Texas; 7:30 p.m. ET)
30 - Mexico vs. Canada (Houston; 10 p.m. ET)
RE: BTW, here's the info for the semis:  
Del Shofner : 7/29/2021 6:55 am : link
In comment 15313590 Del Shofner said:
Quote:
Thursday, July 29
29 - Qatar vs. United States (Austin, Texas; 7:30 p.m. ET)
30 - Mexico vs. Canada (Houston; 10 p.m. ET)


Reminder that we're on at 7:30 ET tonight. I have watched Qatar some during the tournament and they go forward very well - I actually think they've been the most entertaining team to watch in this Cup. But they also have a tendency to give the ball up in their own half. I expect some goals in this one - predict 3-2 for whoever wins.
Qatar is their biggest test so far in Gold Cup  
Rick in Dallas : 7/29/2021 8:29 am : link
They can score goals with 3 very good forwards
Wouldn't be surprised if they lost tonight. Qatar honestly isn't that  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/29/2021 1:57 pm : link
bad and have played a ton of games with this group. The US side just isn't the same sans Wes and Pulisic so I wouldn't get too stressed over it, outside of getting another US Mexico final. Would love to see Hoppe really step up here and score a brace. Haven't been too impressed by Dike, just seems like a poor mans Jozy.
This US..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 7/29/2021 2:28 pm : link
side isn't just missing a couple of players though. These are all players hoping to get a call up to the actual team that will qualify for the World Cup.

It is possible they will lose, but that really isn't an indication on the program's growth lately.
RE: This US..  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/29/2021 3:30 pm : link
In comment 15316580 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
side isn't just missing a couple of players though. These are all players hoping to get a call up to the actual team that will qualify for the World Cup.

It is possible they will lose, but that really isn't an indication on the program's growth lately.


It's very clearly a B-Side, but most these guys are pretty interchangeable, except for those two. If you took the A squad minus those 2, and took the B squad with those two added to it. I think the team with Wes and Pulisic would definetly win. Those are really only 2 irreplaceable (and I guess you can throw Brooks and Adams just because we don't have viable replacements there)
I love Hoppe, put the ball ON goal and good things happen.  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/29/2021 7:42 pm : link
He needs to be in our starting 11. Just everything you want in your guy up top. Aggressive, short memory, good workrate, and scores.
Turner and Hoppe are really two big positives we can take away from  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/29/2021 7:50 pm : link
this Gold Cup.
And again!  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/29/2021 7:51 pm : link
.
Dike makes Zardes look like Messi.  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/29/2021 8:39 pm : link
.
I thought that was a penalty in real time  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/29/2021 8:43 pm : link
Pretty sick of the announcers making excuses for Dike sucking because of a damn shoulder injury. Sure it might be a little tougher to be physical, but he's loafing around, he has led feet, and now he's not even finishing opportontuies.
Dike hasn't played well, but he's  
D-Rod : 7/29/2021 8:56 pm : link
shown potential in England. I do like what Hoppe is showing.
RE: Dike makes Zardes look like Messi.  
Joey from GlenCove : 7/29/2021 8:57 pm : link
In comment 15316967 Zeke's Alibi said:
Quote:
.


I was saying to myself I can’t believe I’m fucking begging for zardes to come in. Dike was honestly horrible
What a gorgeous pass.  
shockeyisthebest8056 : 7/29/2021 9:16 pm : link
Really wonderful.
Suck on that  
TommytheElephant : 7/29/2021 9:16 pm : link
It looks like all that World Cup bud bribery funding made its way onto the field tonight with these refs
Qatar  
Joey from GlenCove : 7/29/2021 9:27 pm : link
Won’t embarrass themselves at the World Cup. They can play
That was a pretty tremendous finish by Zardes after finishing a couple  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/29/2021 9:27 pm : link
great runs on the same play.
This is a nice run  
Joey from GlenCove : 7/29/2021 9:31 pm : link
Not even exaggerating I can probably name 2k better US starting 11s than what they put out tonight.

Impressive.
so much for my 3-2 prediction  
Del Shofner : 7/29/2021 9:34 pm : link
but I'll take it.

US keeper - Turner? - he stood on his head on a couple.
RE: so much for my 3-2 prediction  
GF1080 : 7/29/2021 9:36 pm : link
In comment 15317070 Del Shofner said:
Quote:
but I'll take it.

US keeper - Turner? - he stood on his head on a couple.


Keeping the heat on Steffen at least with this tourney run. Don't forget Horvath did great in the USA/Mexico match last month as well when Steffen got injured.
Zardes has really made something of himself.  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/29/2021 9:36 pm : link
It's seems like every other goal he scores, he lucks into it, but he's been doing it for years now, so it's a lot more than luck. Love the idea of him coming off the bench with fresh legs.

Turner and Hoppe I think have found themselves spots in the starting lineup after this tournament. Hoppe has a helluva future ahead of him methinks. Haven't gotten a kit in a long time, but thinking about getting one in white of his.
Steffan has disaster written all over him if he's who we go with at  
Zeke's Alibi : 7/29/2021 9:38 pm : link
the world cup, just my two cents.
I don't think Hoppe is starting for a first choice  
D-Rod : 7/29/2021 9:59 pm : link
squad, but he certainly put himself in position to fight for a roster spot. Now Turner is definitely pushing for the starting spot. Robinson has done well this tournament too.
Buchanan - wow  
Del Shofner : 7/29/2021 11:37 pm : link
1-1 Canada Mexico
I would start Zardes and Cannon against Mexico  
Rick in Dallas : 7/30/2021 5:16 am : link
Acosta and Busio need to have big games in midfield to control Mexico.
Starting GK SPot  
Joey from GlenCove : 7/30/2021 8:03 am : link
Ive never seen turner play until this month. impressive

does he have a chance to play in europe? Steffan should push for a loan i think.
USA - MEX 8:30 pm  
Del Shofner : 8/1/2021 6:52 pm : link
.
RE: USA - MEX 8:30 pm  
Zeke's Alibi : 8/1/2021 6:55 pm : link
In comment 15319129 Del Shofner said:
Quote:
.


Good looks! Totally forgot about this today.
I like US in penalties  
Zeke's Alibi : 8/1/2021 6:58 pm : link
Both teams have looked pretty inconsistent. I think we have an edge with a super hot GK.
Not going to lie, hate the circumstances on how GB was hired  
Zeke's Alibi : 8/1/2021 8:15 pm : link
but he's starting to grow on me. I like the lineup tonight.

Wonder if some people will do an about-face on DG after this year? Lol yeah right.
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