Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
That was the best I can remember us playing. Lots of quick passing in tight spaces. Historically that was not our MO or our skill set.
2026 FIFA World Cup Thread
Agreed, passing, flow, crosses, control. A complete match. Paraguay never got over the own goal and Pulisic made great pass after great pass. Balogun was a man among boys tonight. Best player on the field. Most goals in a WC match in US history.
Couple of brilliant goals. Dominant offensively. Great start to the WC
TentakilRex
- Land O Insects between Quincy-Macomb-Jacksonville
Maybe I am overhyping the US, but this is what teams like Germany do to teams like Paraguay... Heck if England did this, social media would be filled with :Football is Coming Home" memes lol.
Pulisic said after the match that he was taken off at half after being kicked in the left calf and that he didn't think it was anything serious. Poch said that it was just a precaution and that Pulisic had already been kicked in the calf during a training session a couple days before the match.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
I think the rest of the world is going to get quite a surprise when it comes to a soccer environment in the US next Saturday. The US-Australia game is in Seattle. I’d say Seattle is this nation’s best soccer city (apologies to Portland and St. Louis). In that stadium after last night’s performance, it may be the closest thing we’ll ever see to a college football atmosphere at a soccer game. I cannot wait.
Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
I went to sounders soccer games when I lived there and watched a gold cup or some tourney game there. It compares to a premier league crowd when it gets going.
I just came back from San Diego and the New Zealand team was training in the hotel gym the same time I was. nice chaps.
Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
At one point I said to my son we actually look like Argentina-Germany-France, etc. I’ve never felt that way. Hardly any kick and run, which has always been the American soccer way from youth up. I haven’t watched any games leading up to the cup. I assume pochetta (sp) has got them playing this way?
I know FIFA has rules about stadium sponsorships during the tournament but I just had to lol at there being a white sheet over the Levi's part of the Levi's Stadium signage at the top of the stadium.
Just noticed that former Wolves and West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui is the manager of the Qatar team.