The Official 2022 FIFA World Cup Thread

[TripleThreat]

YOUNG AMERICANS
The USMNT was by far the youngest team to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, garnering valuable experience going through the rigors of World Cup qualifying. Through 14 qualifiers, the USA Starting XI came in at an average of 23.82, almost two years younger than the next closest team, Ghana at 25.67. Together, the other 31 participating teams averaged a Starting XI age of 27.5 through qualifying, nearly four full years older than the U.S. Sources say this is one of the youngest, but most talented teams the U.S. has ever fielded. While they may not win the world cup this year, they may garner the experience needed to make a serious run on home soil in the year 2026 when the World Cup comes back to North America.

2022 USA World Cup Roster

FORWARDS
Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas)
Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders)
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea)
Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund)
Josh Sargent (Norwich City)
Timothy Weah (Lille)
Haji Wright (Antalyaspor)

MIDFIELDERS
Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United)
Kellyn Acosta (LAFC)
Tyler Adams (Leeds United)
Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo)
Weston McKennie (Juventus)
Yunus Musah (Valencia)
Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)

DEFENDERS
Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic)
Sergiño Dest (AC Milan)
Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls)
Shaq Moore (Nashville SC)
Tim Ream (Fulham)
Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach)
DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami)
Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

GOALKEEPERS
Ethan Horvath (Luton Town)
Sean Johnson (NYCFC)
Matt Turner (Arsenal)

[carlos3652]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Hold up, if you want to go into specifics such as “minutes” vs Ghana, I lost $200. Because 20 something old Ronaldo tied the game in the 90th+ minute. We should have finished 2 wins and 1 loss, but we didn’t, but we damn near should have if we are debating minute by minute garbage. I digress.

You’re right, the World Cup is hard, but us as fans, us as a nation, we have a level of accountability and expectation just like all these other countries do. If Brazil spent 50 years going to the R16 to get knocked out every time, they wouldn’t be very happy, that’s the bottom line. We as a nation are sick of being the weakest team that qualifies into the R16. We want to be a team that coming into the tournament is feared.

Think of it this way, would you rather spend 50 years qualifying every year to be knocked out in the R16, or would you rather spend 50 years winning 3 world cups while being eliminated time to time in the group stage? It doesn’t matter if Germany got eliminated in the group stage, if they had qualified, they would be feared by every team in the R16, whereas we qualified yet every team would prefe to play us over Germany. That’s what needs to change.

Those are all fair points. And I remember being super excited about the US in 2014 getting out of that group (a/ because I hate Ronaldo, b/ because I hate Germany who would go on to defeat Arg in the final) -

It is interesting to read about Germany's academies drying up in terms of talent pool and their struggles since 2018. 2 WC Group Exists and a R16 Euro exit would make anyone panic.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Hold up, if you want to go into specifics such as “minutes” vs Ghana, I lost $200. Because 20 something old Ronaldo tied the game in the 90th+ minute. We should have finished 2 wins and 1 loss, but we didn’t, but we damn near should have if we are debating minute by minute garbage. I digress.

You’re right, the World Cup is hard, but us as fans, us as a nation, we have a level of accountability and expectation just like all these other countries do. If Brazil spent 50 years going to the R16 to get knocked out every time, they wouldn’t be very happy, that’s the bottom line. We as a nation are sick of being the weakest team that qualifies into the R16. We want to be a team that coming into the tournament is feared.

Think of it this way, would you rather spend 50 years qualifying every year to be knocked out in the R16, or would you rather spend 50 years winning 3 world cups while being eliminated time to time in the group stage? It doesn’t matter if Germany got eliminated in the group stage, if they had qualified, they would be feared by every team in the R16, whereas we qualified yet every team would prefe to play us over Germany. That’s what needs to change.

Are you referring to USA vs Portugal in 2014? Silvestre Varela scored for Portugal in stoppage to tie not Ronaldo.

[penguinz]

Poland's keeper is earning himself a huge upcoming contract.

[penguinz]

If you're not watching France vs Poland you are missing out on one of the most exciting WC games in a long time.

[Baby Lee]

Good Lord, the quality of chances for both sides in this game are high level. This is elimination stage soccer.

[Baby Lee]

Outside netting getting its back blown out this game.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Good Lord, the quality of chances for both sides in this game are high level. This is elimination stage soccer.

It's a far cry from a Haji Wright stumbling into a goal

[louie aguiar]

Poland goalie should get an Oscar for that performance

[Skyy God]

Sick goal by Mbappe.

[Baby Lee]

Exhausted Poland and then a clinical strike. Brutal.

[TambaBerry]

Mbappe is insane

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by TambaBerry

Mbappe is insane

Beast.

[Baby Lee]

And Mbappe just clowning around, now.

[Gary Cooper]

Sporting KC should sign Mbappe.

[TripleThreat]

Originally Posted by penguinz

Are you referring to USA vs Portugal in 2014? Silvestre Varela scored for Portugal in stoppage to tie not Ronaldo.

You’re so annoying sometimes penguinz. My bad it was Ronaldo who made the assist, I just remember the name on the back right before the goal. In what way does it even matter? The goal was scored in the 95th minute, the point still stands.