"They've made a mockery of this World Cup. ... I don't know how [Gianni Infantino] can look at himself in the mirror and think, 'Yeah I did the right thing here, it's okay.' ... You can not change rules halfway through a tournament."
On the latest episode of The Gab & Juls Show, @Marcotti and @LaurensJulien discuss the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun's availability against Belgium.
I think this is totally wrong-headed.
The issue is not that our best athletes don't play soccer.
It's that we default to frame/size/athleticism at the youth elite level.
We need more good *soccer* players. And we need to stop dismissing youth players who aren't the "right" size.
In most cultures, people prefer to win by playing a tournament with the same rules as everyone else. In American culture if the rules get changed to give you a unique advantage you act sanctimonious and talk about how this makes you morally superior
If this loss hurts, don’t let your passion end.
Support your local soccer club. Fill the stands. Watch the games. Bring your friends. Help make soccer part of everyday sports culture in the United States.
The more people who care, the more the game grows. More investment. More coverage. More opportunities for young players to be discovered. More kids choosing soccer because they can see a future in it.
The next generation of World Cup stars won’t appear by accident. We have to build the environment that helps create them.
#USMNT #WorldCup #FIFAWorldCup #MLS #USL #MLSNEXTPRO
This generation of players still doesn’t have a signature win
🇵🇾 34th ranked team in the 🌎
🇦🇺 28th ranked team in the 🌎
🇧🇦 61st ranked team in the 🌎
🇹🇷 Lost to the 27th ranked team in the 🌎
🇧🇪 Lost to the 8th ranked team in the 🌎
Out in the R16 again
Failure again
Coming into the tournament the question was about defending and no doubt that was exposed tonight.
Possession at the highest level is still something the USMNT desperately need to improve upon. Sloppy mistakes and simple fundamentals at the highest level will be exposed.
Here we are.
Once knocked out I can’t wait for Americans to claim no one in their country actually cares about the World Cup after they spent 24 hours celebrating in bipartisan unison that their president actively interfered in the tournament.
"That was the first REAL test of the World Cup... and what did we get?!"
@TaylorTwellman sounds off on the USMNT's 4-1 loss to Belgium that eliminates them in the Round of 16.
(Via @SoccerCooligans)
No, the World Cup was not a success for USMNT.
They were eliminated in the Round of 16 just like their last 3 trips to the World Cup.
Pulisic removed himself from the superstar conversation.
They won a knockout game but it came with an expanded field.
Massive dissapointment.
1994: The future of America soccer is bright
1998: The future of America soccer is bright
2002: The future of America soccer is bright
2006: The future of America soccer is bright
2010: The future of America soccer is bright
2014: The future of America soccer is bright
2018: The future of America soccer is bright
2022: Tom Brady leaves his wife to go 8-9
2026: The future of America soccer is bright
People will think I'm crazy for this take, but I'm a big believer in the psychological impact of narratives on teams. Yes, Belgium looked so much better tonight and we looked lost. But this team had a boatload of good vibes behind them, and in the last 48 hours that vanished, and replacing it was a story of implicit political corruption that turned them into the bad guys, or at least the beneficiary of the corruption. You can't tell me that doesn't put pressure on the team, change the vibe, and take a psychological toll that impacted what happened on the field. American fans, serious and casual, should be pissed at this interference. We overturned a red card and our reward was losing what made this team so much fun until now.
Dear American friends. Yes, that's it. We're terrified because your very best player is the fourth best player on the seventh best team in the fourth best league. Has nothing to do with you thinking stepping on an opponent's leg is fine or that your president is a corrupt maniac.
A lot of disrespect for Indycar under this… Genuinely curious as to why? At least between drivers/teams there’s plenty of mutual respect between Indycar and F1. I just don’t understand where the fan feud comes from.