Correct, 2002 was the last time the US has been to the quarterfinals.
And might well have made it to the semis if VAR had existed then.
Could have gone to the final, in fact. Had VAR existed, the United States gotten awarded a penalty for a handball and then beaten Germany in a shootout, they would have gone on to face a very beat-able South Korea in the semifinals.
They would get thrashed by Brazil no matter what, but it would have been the deepest-ever USA run.
Am I right that there is nothing comparable in worldwide soccer comparable to the World Championships held 2 years after the Olympics in some sports? I really get into the World Cup every 4 years, and not just to watch the US. OTOH, I would not be that interested in a tournament that did not have the US in it at all. I would like to follow this young team, what would the next big tournament be?
The next competition matches for the USMNT are for the CONCACAF Nations League in March. The first four match days were completed last summer, but there are two more match days and the finals to play in 2023.
France and Poland both coming hot out the gate
French are looking much, much stronger.
Poland having a better spell now and they always have a puncher’s chance with Lewandowski up front.
Poland are awful but at least have shown some fight.
Every team will look awful when they’re playing against France.
So many strong, fast, technically capable players.
I do not like to watch it but their tactics are undeniably effective.
I am very much in the ‘casual watcher’ camp, it seems to me both sides came out the beginning with a lot of energy. To the librarians point, yeah France seems to be able to keep their peddle to the metal for sure. Regardless of Polands technical ability , they seem to be fighting all the way (insert usual disclaimer of lack of knowledge here )
Though France dominates, Poland looks much better than in the Argentina game in which they almost had no offensive scenes.
And at this moment, Mbappé scores!
Rule one, you don’t give Mbappe that amount of space and time. Great finish though.
Bosh! as all the kids say.
Damnit, watching on peacock and it must be a couple of minutes behind this thread , had a WtF is he on about moment there
Inviting Poland to “attack”. Allowing them to run themselves ragged, result: Mbappe in possession on the edge of the box without a Polish player in sight.
My peacock stream was more or less in sync with posts here.
Well, there were two defenders, but they didn’t attack him so with his skills it was an easy shot.
On the replay you see one of the Polish defenders look over his shoulder and notice Mbappe, then proceeds to drift even further away from him, not sure why, the other French attacking options were already marked.
Same happened yesterday in the Argentina game , FiL was texting wife “GOOOOOOLL” a couple of minutes before we saw it . Not a big deal , just a moment of confusion for me , again.
I’ve had games on the same “platform” but distributed via internet, digital radio and aerial signal and had substantial differences between them (not Peacock though).
It is a pain when you hear exclamations from other parts of the house before you see the action. Even worse when England are playing and other houses in our quiet little street erupt with cheers before you know what is going on.