Top Stories

Green, Mbappe score as USMNT holds on for draw with France

1 Shares

The U.S. Men’s National Team was set up to provide France with one final test before Les Bleus take off for Russia. When all was said and done, though, the USMNT put together a performance that few could have foreseen.

A first half goal from Julian Green was cancelled out by a late goal from Kylian Mbappe as the U.S. earned a 1-1 draw with France. Facing off with a World Cup contender, the U.S. held on to seal an impressive draw despite boasting a roster with an average age of just 23.

At the tail end of what was largely a lopsided first half, the U.S. poached a goal through Green, who scored his third goal in his fourth USMNT start. A cross in from Shaq Moore was misplayed by France’s Djibril Sidibe, leaving a loose ball for Green to pounce onto and fire past Hugo Lloris just before halftime.

The U.S. nearly held onto that lead for the duration of the match before finally conceding in the 78th minute. Mbappe, one of the final few French starters on the field at the time, tapped home a shot first-time to push the scoreline to 1-1.

Through the first 45 minutes, the U.S. could do little more than hang on for dear life as the frontline of Mbappe, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann dictated much of the play. Paul Pogba had an active first half, hitting a shot off the post, as France had nearly all of the ball and created a bulk of the chances.

The U.S. did have a few moments, though, as the half wore on, and those small moments culminated in Green’s goal just before halftime.

Early into the second half, it appeared the U.S. had pushed the lead 2-0 only to see Bobby Wood’s goal ruled out for an offside call. After that, though, France got back on the front foot even as substitutions came into the match throughout the second half.

The second half did provide a scary moment for both teams, though as a clash of heads created a stoppage in play. Matt Miazga and Giroud were both left bloodied by the incident, and the two were taken out of the match shortly after. Erik Palmer-Brown replaced Miazga in the USMNT’s back five.

Eventually, though, France broke through as Mbappe finished off a driven cross from Benjamin Pavard. When all was said and done, France outshot the USMNT, 20-2, in the draw.

The USMNT will return to action this September with their first post-World Cup matches.

Comments

  1. Last 20 the USNT just fell apart but did well first 70 min.
    Robinson should played 90 minutes & Villafana was out muscle & pace against the “frogs”.

    Reply
  2. i hope it’s true that ernie stewart will choose our team’s style of play. then our style of play can be consistent across the tenures of many coaches. it’s better for us. ernie himself answers to the ussoccer board ceo dan flynn who answers to the board members. (ernie is not on an island by himself, do we all agree?) it’s better if the style of our play comes down from ussoccer, which has a lot of smart people in it. we want to institutionalize our style of play and our culture. we don’t want one person to dictate these things on his/her whim. we want to BIND THE COACH IN CHAINS. unbreakable chains. the coach must answer to someone. it’s not the coach’s team. IT’S OUR TEAM. the coach is just a functionary, doing a job in a specific way. and ernie will tell him what that way is. I LOVE IT. MORE OF THIS, PLEASE.

    Reply
    • imagine some of the same smart people who thought up “single entity”, “the world leagues forum”, “TAM” and “VAR” (video assited referees) putting their heads together and deciding on a winning style of play for the usmnt. what will it be? it’s fascinating to think about, isn’t it? we must wait and see. i predict it will be something cutting-edge and purely american. i’m sitting on pins and needles waiting for this announcement…

      Reply
      • https://www.worldleaguesforum.com/en – created by the same smart people who created mls, i think, it for the first time gives mls a “seat at the table” when world soccer leagues discuss matters of football. (it also bypasses fifa :-P) our soccer leaders are SMART PEOPLE, yes?

    • FYI, Klinsmann tried to establish a style of play common to all levels of US soccer from youth academies to youth international teams and including the full national team. This is not a new concept, as your post seems to indicate that you think it is. The issue is if the style is being changed and, if so, how. Klinsmann said early on that he wanted to establish a style that reflected the culture and mindset of the US, and that was an attacking brand of soccer

      Reply
  3. Adams is a quality player who will improve as he gets older, and manages his next move well. Another Red Bull franchise is likely. Trapp and Parker were two players who performed better than expected today. They are under MLS contracts, but wouldn’t be surprised if there is interest overseas. Steffan will also likely garner interest overseas.

    For a player like Miazga who wouldn’t benefit from a loan back to the same team, hopefully his solid performance woks to his benefit.

    Reply
  4. i just saw the extended 10 minute highlights of this game. and i read all of the above comments. my two cents:

    THE WORLD BEWARE

    the kids are alright. behold:
    – they walked into the lion’s den (france is favored by many to win the wc in russia)
    – they bunkered in (rarely have i ever seen the usa “pack ’em in” like we did against france. i mean we had 8, 9 or all 10 white jerseys packed into a narrow strip in front of goal nearly all game long)
    – and as ryan tolmich said, france outshot us 20-2.

    but did you notice…

    THE KIDS WERE NOT AFRAID.

    i really cannot emphasize this point enough. dave sarachan obviously told them to pack it in. (and i respect dave for this. this is not meant as a criticism of dave’s plan for this game.) and the kids obviously did what dave told them to do. credit to dave, credit to the kids, it was a good plan for this game. but i see that THE KIDS WERE NOT AFRAID of france. (and i don’t mean any disrespect against france. truly they are on a higher level than our team today.) what we saw today was something like mufasa versus simba. an adult lion against a lion cub. and we all know that lion cubs grow up to be adult lions.

    THE WORLD BEWARE.

    our time will come.

    start the clock…

    NOW.

    Reply
  5. I thought the US midifield trio of Trapp, Adams, and McKinnie did about as well as you could expect given the competition. I thought Greene was hiding for most of the game, I am not sure he was ever able to move to a position one of the 3 mids could find him with a pass; I really think it was Greene’s inability to show for the ball, not the mids (or backs) inability to hit him a pass.

    Reply
    • Its almost like he plays regularly in the Spanish 4th division. I think the Yedlin when he was with Seattle is a very apt comparison.

      Reply
  6. Steffan was a beast. Robinson should start for his club team his coach is a idiot. If Danny Williams was in form and C Pulisic and J Brooks USA could def give France a run for their money.

    Reply
  7. One thing I found interesting is that during halftime the conversation with Earnie Stewart wherein he said he would choose the style of play for the US. The Union is rarely on national TV so I mostly see Western Division teams and the two NY teams. Can someone tell me what Stewart’s preferred style of play is? We have seen today and in the past how effective bunker in and counter attack can be. I sure hope that is not his style of play, however. I would prefer a high pressing, ball control team that is constantly attacking and putting pressure on the opponent.

    Reply
    • I think Earnie is smart enough to know that what may work for the Union in MLS may not work for the U.S. at the international level.

      Reply
    • I hope Stewart is smart enough to recognize the difference between a preferred style of play and a style that will maximize the chances of winning given the talent pool available.

      Marsch at NY recognized early on that he was not going to be given a big budget to go out and find players who were recognized stars. But what NY has is a big pool of young hungry players in its youth teams and in RedBull II. He has doubled down on using high energy, high pressure tactics from those youngsters to put opponents under constant pressure. He has shed players as they get older (McCarty and Klejstian for example). .Of course, it helps that BWP who scores goals fits into the mold even though he is no longer young.

      I think if the US is going to have success in the next few years, it will be accomplished using tactics more like those of the Red Bull NY than Barcelona’s. Simply put, it fits the talent pool in the USA much better. BTW, that does not imply bunkering with 10 or 11 behind the ball, but by being brave enough to pressure up high and being willing to suffer the counter-attacks that will be surrendered by doing so.

      Reply
    • What might be more interesting is if you read the release by US Soccer, it doesn’t say “will determine the style of play”, it says will “ensure the style of play”. I’m still not sure what Earnie’s job is beside nominating the next manager to be approved by the board. It seems his job description is basically stopping all the crap JK did from happening, but not really helping the squad move forward.

      Reply
      • I am going off what Stewart said in the interview played during half time of the game. I might not have the exact words, but Taylor Twellman interpreted it the way that I did. He and Ian Darke talked about it briefly, wondering why the new manager wouldn’t be the one to decide that and then concluding that Stewart would pick a manager who would use a style that Stewart wanted.

      • Gary: I just thought it was interesting that Earnie said it a different way than USSF press release. Of course, Earnie is “finding” the manager so you would think he would choose someone that wants to implement a style he approves of so maybe the difference isn’t important.

  8. I remember when people made comments like:

    “you just can’t bring in new players to the national team and expect them to play well” (yet we change the WHOLE TEAM and tie France??….in France??)? or

    “he doesn’t have the INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE like veteran players needed to play on the National team as a starter so he’s a bench player at best”……like they would come in and have to learn something TOTALLY DIFFERENT on the pitch ??? or

    the anointment Michael?Bradley as the BEST midfielder for the USMNT? or better yet the comments like “nobody can cover the midfield like Bradley ??? or

    that Altidore is the #️⃣1️⃣ striker for the USMNT? (because of stats gathered from goals⚽ score on teams like Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ??) or

    How people tried to argue about the talent level of Julian Green, even though he came up the Bayern Munich ranks ? or

    that Weah / Miazga / CCV / Green / Robinson / Moore did not even play for their “first team “ so shouldn’t be on the National Team?……

    THANK GOODNESS those days are dead ??? and gone ?????

    Reply
    • Bizzy – I usually appreciate your input, but the excessive use of emojis today is making my eyes bleed and totally distracting from the content…

      Reply
    • I predicted a loss like 3-0 or 4-0, so this result was surprising and satisfying. But let’s not kid ourselves. The US did not play all that well. I saw a bit of Tunisia vs. Spain earlier and you would think Spain would run them off the field, but they didn’t. And Tunisia, after weathering the early storm, started creating chances and making it a game (didn’t see the final score).From what I saw, we did not play as well as Tunisia. The point is that when a team bunkers in like we did and keeps their shape, it is hard even for a much better team to break them down and score. When the US did gain possession, too often they gave it away cheaply and rarely even tried to attack. So, while it was a surprising and pleasant result, it is more illustrative of how well that defensive style of play can work rather than the quality of the US. Maybe in 4 years we will be able to challenge the good teams, but we are certainly not there yet and struggled with Ireland, a middle of the road kind of team.

      Reply
    • Or maybe because he scored on Mexico, Germany, Poland, Colombia, Bosnia 3x, Chile, Denmark, Costa Rica, Turkey, and of course Spain.

      I don’t know how Jozy will come out of this latest injury given he’ll be 29 this fall, but let’s not act like any of the forwards that were there this month closed the door on Altidore. He did have 5 goals in 11 appearances this season including goals against Tigres, Chivas, and Club America before his injury.

      Reply
      • Johnnyrazor, I don’t know where you are trying to go with this but when was the last time (since 2016!!!) Altidore scored a relevant goal on a good team or when it counted (Clutch goal)?

        Jozy Altidore:

        Trin & Tob Oct 10, 2017 WCQ L 2-1 Started 0 Goals❌
        H – Panama Oct 6, 2017 WCQ W 4-0 Started 2 Goals ⚽⚽
        H – Costa Rica Sep 1, 2017 WCQ L 0-2 Started 0 Goals (7 WCQ matches 0 goals)❌
        Jamaica Jul 26, 2017 (Gold?Cup) W 2-1 Started 1 goal ⚽
        Costa Rica Jul 22, 2017 (Gold?Cup) W 0-2 Sub-Off 82 min 1 goal ⚽
        H – El Salvador Jul 19, 2017 (Gold?Cup) W 2-0 started 0 goals
        A – Mexico Jun 11, 2017 WCQ D 1-1 Sub-On 78 min 0 Goals❌
        H – Trin & Tob Jun 8, 2017 WCQ W 2-0 Sub-Off 82 min 0 Goals❌
        A – Panama Mar 28, 2017 WCQ D 1-1 Sub-Off 81 min 0 goals❌
        H – Honduras Mar 24, 2017 WCQ W 6-0 Started 0 Goals❌
        Jamaica Feb 3, 2017 Int W 1-0 Unused Substitute
        H – Serbia Jan 29, 2017 Int D 0-0 Sub-Off 73 min 0 Goals❌
        Costa Rica Nov 15, 2016 WCQ L 4-0 Started 0 goals❌
        H – Mexico Nov 11, 2016 WCQ L 1-2 Started 0 Goals❌
        New Zealand Oct 11, 2016 Int D 1-1 Sub-Off 87 min 0 Goals❌
        A – Cuba Oct 7, 2016 Int W 0-2 Sub-Off 68 min 0 Goals❌
        Trin & Tob Sep 6, 2016 WCQ W 4-0 Started 2 goals (Of Course) ⚽⚽
        A – St. Vincent Sep 2, 2016 WCQ W 0-6 Sub-Off 71 min 1 Goal (Of course)⚽
        Guatemala Mar 29, 2016 WCQ W 4-0 Substitute 1 Goal ⚽
        A – Guatemala Mar 25, 2016 WCQ L 2-0 Substitute 0 Goals❌
        Canada Feb 5, 2016 Int W 1-0 Sub-Off 90 min 1 Goal ⚽
        H – Iceland Jan 31, 2016 Int W 3-2 Sub-Off 74 min 1 Goal ⚽

        Please tell me the last time Altidore was actually relevant or scored a clutch goal…..especially since he STARTED in most of those games above hence preventing other players from having a look.

      • So those 4 goals in his last 5 matches for the National team all in competition don’t count? Jozy’s future going forward will depend on the manager and his form after he returns from injury. Green’s goal against France doesn’t move him to the top of the charts, just as CP’s poor game against Bolivia doesn’t drop him.
        ————————————————————————————————————————
        The problem with playing all youth players as we did this month (which I am more than ok that we did, given who was available and fit) gives you just what we got, peaks and valleys. A dominating performance against Bolivia, a rather poor performance against Ireland, and shocking result against France. Take McKennie outstanding against Bolivia, good and bad in Ireland, and just ok against France. A manager has to weigh that if you can count on a veteran to play consistently across two or three matches, or get a young player who is going to be great one match and bad the other two, they are generally going to take the veteran because they know what they will get.
        ———————————————————————————————————————–
        If Pogba hits his shot an inch left after Green and McKennie missed on the pass early we are down 1-0, Griezeman who doesn’t generally miss from 20 yards out misses another wide open shot then we are down 2-0 and chasing the game. So the margins between most people celebrating (which I am) and this team is no better than the one in Trinidad is pretty small at this point. The sad part is we will not see the first team in a meaningful match until Fall of 2019 so what happens to these youngsters (most of whom are not in great spots for first team club minutes today) is huge.

      • “So those 4 goals in his last 5 matches for the National team all in competition don’t count? Jozy’s future going forward will depend on the manager and his form after he returns from injury”

        4 goals in 5 matches……goals scored in the goal cup? How about no goals in 8 world Cup Qualifying matches? Goals that would have taken us to Russia!!! How about having a striker on a team that didn’t make the world because he couldn’t score…..in 8 games!!!!

        We already know what we get with our veterans….?. So that ship better have sailed

        If Pogba hits his shot an inch left after Green and McKennie missed on the pass early we are down 1-0, Griezeman who doesn’t generally miss from 20 yards out misses another wide open shot then we are down 2-0 and chasing the game.

        Well I guest if Chris Wondolowski shoots to the right instead of up then we get Goal Against Belgium….or if Jones’ strike doesn’t hit Omar Gonzalez (at the exact spot) who generally handles balls like that, then we go to the world cup…….hmmmm?

      • johnnyrazor
        “Green’s goal against France doesn’t move him to the top of the charts”?
        Green should have ALREADY been on top of the chart?!!!
        “The sad part is we will not see the first team in a meaningful match until Fall of 2019 so what happens to these youngsters (most of whom are not in great spots for first team club minutes today) is huge”….I agree with that ?

      • In four years he’s been found not good enough by three separate Bundesliga clubs. Over 34 matches the last season and a half in 2.Bundesliga he’s scored 4 goals, Fafa Picault scored that many in 22 matches over a season and a half in 2.Bundesliga. Now Fafa has done ok with the Union 8 goals in 39 matches in MLS but he’s hardly an MLS All-Star. Terrence Boyd in 1000 less minutes in 2.Bundesliga scored one more goal this season. Green scored against Cuba and New Zealand in Oct. 2016. He scored two goals in all competitions over the next 12 months and five total over the 20-month time frame leading up to yesterday. Certainly, some of Green’s banishment was related to Arena’s (your savior and hero for eleven months) desire to settle scores with Klinsmann, but Julian did himself no favors with his own form. The only way Julian Green deserved to be the top striker for the US is through hype and hope, are you going to put Ben Lederman on your next call-up list, he is with Barca’s training academy?

      • “In four years he’s been found not good enough by three separate Bundesliga clubs”…….Jozy Altidore could not score more than 3 goals in 2 years in the EPL and made the “worst EPL strikers” list.
        At least green is STILL PLAYING in the Bundesliga 2

      • “some of Green’s banishment was related to Arena’s (your savior and hero for eleven months) desire to settle scores with Klinsmann”….I agree with you on that one but it is what it is. He couldn’t right the 5 attrocious years of Klinsmann in that short amount of time and he is no longer coach of the USMNT??.
        We are building a team from scratch, that can compete in a World Cup and the last thing we are looking for is a striker that couldn’t score a single goal in 7 STRAIGHT WCQ matches (9 TOTAL out of the last 13 WCQ games‼️) against the minnows of CONCACAF, and hence the team didn’t qualify for Russia?? 2018 because we couldn’t score against our opposition. If he sucks in his prime what makes you think he’ll be better 3-4 years down the line….playing in MLS?
        Altidore is a “has been”…along with the likes of Bradley, Dempsey, Howard, Beasley, Zusi, Besler, Orozco, etc. We thank them for their service but they had their shot and they blew it. NEXT ‼️

      • How many goals in a top league does Green have? Three less than Jozy (I’ll let you count JG’s cup goal against Augsburg but then Jozy’s against Stoke counts so still 3), by age 23 Jozy had already scored in the top division in Spain, Turkey, England, and the Netherlands. The only criteria that you use that benefits Green in comparison to Wood or Altidore is that he came through the Bayern system. We are never going to find common ground on Altidore, you horribly underrate him and I see him as the 4th best striker in national team history.
        ————————————————————————————————————————
        Just interesting facts don’t really think they mean much.

        US when Jozy score since Sept 4, 2015 10-0-0
        US when Jozy doesn’t score during that time 5-5-8 (in games Jozy dressed)

        25-4-3 all-time when Jozy scores (oddly the three losses came in a row) win 78% of games he scores in (scores in every 3.44 games but has scored multiple goals 7 times)

        Wood 8-1-3 in matches he scores, (scores every 3.25 games, 0 multiple goal games) 75 % winning percentage

        Dempsey 36-5-8 73% winning percentage (scores every 2.88 games multiple goals 6 times)

      • Julian Green could not break into the first team of Bayern Munich one of the best teams in the world but NO USMNT PLAYER PAST OR PRESENT CAN:
        He was named in Bayern’s squad for the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup, as a late replacement for the injured Arjen Robben……a starter gets injured and they call him!!!! ANY PLAYER thats on the striker reserve list for BAYERN MUNICH is better than most players in our player pool ESPECIALLY Altidore

        Julian Green scores hat trick for Bayern Munich in friendly vs. Inter Milan Julian (three goals in 35 minutes)….has Altidore EVER scored a hattrick in his life????

        Julian Green scores a Goal in Bayern Munich vs Augsburg (Green becomes first USMNT scorer for Bayern)

        Julian Green, scored a hat trick for the Bayern reserve team in a 4-1 win over Augsburg II
        On May 13, 2018, he scored the goal which saved the team (SpVgg Greuther Fürth) from relegation to the 3. Liga (Clutch)

        On July 1, 2014, Green became the youngest player in U.S. history to score in the World Cup, scoring with a volley in the 107th minute with his first touch of the ball, less than two minutes into his debut game against Belgium (clutch)

        On June 9th Green converted 1 of the 2 chances the USMNT had on goal against the world cup favorites France

        and he is STILL ONLY 23!!!

      • “by age 23 Jozy had already scored in the top division in Spain, Turkey, England, and the Netherlands.”……????

        http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4941130/The-100-worst-strikers-Premier-League-history-20-1.html

        OUT OF 100 BAD PLAYERS HE IS THE NO.1 WORST PLAYER HAHAHAHHAHA????
        Jozy Altidore played 70 Premier League games for Hull and Sunderland. He scored a grand total of two Premier League goals.

        After a fairly non-eventful loan spell with Hull in 2009-10, he returned to England in 2013 after a prolific few years in the Dutch league with AZ.

        Sunderland, managed by Paulo Di Canio, spent £6m on the US international and he repaid their faith with one strike in 42 league games.

        Altidore looked big and strong, like anything could hit him and stick. He should have been a colossus, but he just wasn’t.

        Clumsy on the ball and wild in front of goal it was the worst of combinations to spearhead a struggling Sunderland side battling relegation.

        He left for Toronto in January 2015, with a strike rate of one goal every 35 games that few Premier League strikers can hope to rival.

      • To support your claim that Julian Green should have already been rated above Altidore you used
        ———————————————————————————————————————-
        1. A roster spot in a tournament that literally no cares about in which he never played.
        2. A hat trick in a friendly composed almost entirely of reserves because the Euros had just completed and neither Juve or Bayern sent their first teams.
        3. A goal in the 2nd Rnd of the German Cup (Altidore had three in the English League Cup) but it was a very nice goal.
        4. A hat trick in the German 4th Division composed of U23s plus 3 overage players.
        5. Another nice goal that moved his team from 17th place to 15th place, the real hero was of course Steven Lewerenz who scored 4 goals for Holstein in a meaningless game for them to push Bruanschwieg down.
        6. Nice goal gave everyone hope for a few minutes, I don’t buy the it was a deflection argument a goal is a goal.
        7. Nice goal would have liked to have seen him get on the ball a lot more.
        ————————————————————————————————————————
        Altidore Hat Tricks
        Bosnia Aug 2013
        Utrecht April 2013
        Vitesse Jan 2013
        Roda Sept. 2012
        Trinidad Aug 2009
        Yes, its been awhile since his last hat trick but they were all in actual matches and all while he was 23 or younger.
        ————————————————————————————————————————-
        Again your rating of Green is based on hope and hype, you want him to be as good as those strikes against France and Belgium and ignore his inability to become a consistent scorer in either the Bundesliga or 2.Bundesliga. By the time Altidore was 23 he’d played 28 matches in the Premier League and 9 more in LaLiga more matches in Top 4 Leagues by that age than anyone from the US not named Pulisic. (McKennie will break that baring injury). Were any of them stellar performances no, but far better than Green’s 111 minutes for Hamburg, He’d scored against Mexico and Spain. Whenever Jozy has struggled he’s picked himself up and found success 38 goals in Eredivisie after Villareal then 45 goals in MLS after Sunderland. Green is still floundering to find the success of his youth glory. If you want to be top dog for the USMNT 3 goals in 2.Bundesliga isn’t going to cut it. All the technical ability in the world won’t mean anything if he can’t put it in the back of the net consistently no matter who the next manager is.

      • 1. A roster spot in a tournament that literally no cares about in which he never played……yup but he delivered something Altidore cannot seem to do SCORE GOALS AGAINST TEAMS OTHERS CAN’T

        2. A hat trick in a friendly composed almost entirely of reserves because the Euros had just completed and neither Juve or Bayern sent their first teams…..hahahaha I guess you didn’t watch the game so therefore go watch it and tell me WHO WAS ON THE BAYERN TEAM WITH HIM ???

        3. A goal in the 2nd Rnd of the German Cup (Altidore had three in the English League Cup) but it was a very nice goal……Altidore was crowned the WORST PLAYER OUT OF 100 PLAYERS in the EPL…..Mr. 1 goal every 42 games ??? (Do you know how bad you have to be to be crowned the WORST EPL PLAYER)

        4. A hat trick in the German 4th Division composed of U23s plus 3 overage players…..Altidore cannot score against the PRESENT Minnows of CONCACAF,(not T&T back in the day ???) 0 GOALS IN 7 WCQ GAMES….How bad can you be and people are surprised why we didn’t go to Russia

        5. Another nice goal that moved his team from 17th place to 15th place, the real hero was of course Steven Lewerenz who scored 4 goals for Holstein in a meaningless game for them to push Bruanschwieg down…..hahahha clutch goal and the media deemed him the savior (a feeling Altidore will never have ???)

        6. Nice goal gave everyone hope for a few minutes, I don’t buy the it was a deflection argument a goal is a goal…….he can score goals in games others can’t especially Altidore

        7. Nice goal would have liked to have seen him get on the ball a lot more…….me too!!!!

        Julian Green would not be able to top Altidore as being the worst player in the EPL, out of 100 candidates. Apart from not being able to score in WCQ you really have to suck to be crowned king of the “TERRIBLES”

      • “By the time Altidore was 23 he’d played 28 matches in the Premier League and 9 more in LaLiga more matches in Top 4 Leagues by that age than anyone from the US”……playing doesn’t mean the player is productive just means the player like Altidore was just given a lot of opportunities, but in the UK they cut their loses hella quick‼️

        Jozy Altidore played 70 Premier League games for Hull and Sunderland. He scored a grand total of two Premier League goals. He was at Hull and was terrible, sucked so bad they sent him to the Netherlands, came back to the Elite level AND HE STILL SUCKED?‼️

        13 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING GAMES in CONCACAF (13‼️) and Jozy was only able to score in 4 games. Imagine if we went up against lets say France?, we would never see the net……ever‼️ Size and hold up play doesn’t work at the elite level…YOU HAVE TO HAVE SKILL

        he was discribed as “Clumsy on the ball and wild in front of goal”, I think that’s an under statement…see for yourself
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkMlfm41lrc ???

        how bad can you really be ???‼️

      • @GP,
        “Bizzy, you kind of overlook the fact that at Alkmaar he was the second leading scorer in the league and scored the most goals of any American who has ever played in Europe.”

        I did not GP. Altidore went from EPL (Sucked) to ‎Eredivisie (Excelled) back to EPL (sucked). Would anyone use an MLS stat if a player move from Bundesliga (sucked) to MLS (excelled) back to Bundesliga (sucked)?? I want you to think of things from 2 perspectives.

        1. Think of a student who sucks as a PH.D student, gets sent back to Bachelor’s level and excels, then get sent back up to PH. D level and sucks. Is this student a success story or does that mean they just can’t cut it at that level?

        2. “Altidore is still the 3rd leading goal scorer all time for the US”. Well, Wondo is the SECOND ALL TIME LEADING SCORER FOR MLS (imagine, since this league was created, let that sink in)…..The same league that players from countries use to BEAT THE USMNT. Chase in point…. “Altidore was never a waste of time, he was just a harsh realization that others could have done better”.

        Stay somewhere long enough, and if time is not of the essence, ANY PLAYER WILL PRODUCE. Chase in point Altidore – scores 2 goals against a team like T&T, goes on a 7 game drought (that cost us major points) and scores 2 goals against Panama, and everyone “forgets” he sucks. It’s producing when it matters. Leave Altidore at striker long enough he will score, leave all the old veterans on the field long enough they will produce, but when they cannot produce when it matters WE DON’T GO TO RUSSIA 2018.

      • The Daily Mail is a tabloid known for its unreliability, according to its wikipedia page its average reader is a 58 year old woman. Thanks for playing Bizzy I’m sure we can continue the discussion in September with the next set of call-ups.

      • “The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust and published in London. It is the United Kingdom’s second-biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun”….hahahaha nice try trying to discredit the source

        We sure will Johnnyrazor

    • I find this argument between bizzy and johnny razor rather silly. Neither Green nor Altidore has been outstanding on foreign soil, but neither is useless. Green is still young, so it’s hard to say if he will become important to the US or not. Whatever one’s opinion, Altidore has, at times, been important. He is still the 3rd leading goal scorer all time for the US. As to his lack of success in the EPL, that Hull City team was considered one of the worst to ever play in the EPL and Sunderland wasn’t much better. In both situations Altidore was usually employed as a lone striker against superior teams. I saw most of his games for both teams. When he would get the ball he would almost immediately have 2 or 3 defenders on him since he rarely had support up front. His lack of success was more a function of the poor teams he was on and their style of play. Bizzy, you kind of overlook the fact that at Alkmaar he was the second leading scorer in the league and scored the most goals of any American who has ever played in Europe. As for Altidore’s international record, probably 90% of strikers have droughts and then periods of scoring. I think Rooney once went something like 15 games for England without scoring. In the 2010 World Cup, as I recall, Messi, Ronaldo, and Rooney had a total of 0 goals among them. Altidore has not been a world beater, but how many Americans have? We have been better off with him than without him. I personally think Green has some real technical skill and quickness and I can’t understand why he isn’t in the Bundesliga unless there is something missing, like football IQ, poor work rate, lack of concentration and/or intensity. If that is the case, I hope he applies himself and realizes his potential. By way of comparison, Green has 4 goals in 10 games while Altidore is at 41 in 110 games.

      Reply
      • @GP, (posted before instead of after)
        “Bizzy, you kind of overlook the fact that at Alkmaar he was the second leading scorer in the league and scored the most goals of any American who has ever played in Europe.”

        I did not GP. Altidore went from EPL (Sucked) to ‎Eredivisie (Excelled) back to EPL (sucked). Would anyone use an MLS stat if a player move from Bundesliga (sucked) to MLS (excelled) back to Bundesliga (sucked)?? I want you to think of things from 2 perspectives.

        1. Think of a student who sucks as a PH.D student, gets sent back to Bachelor’s level and excels, then get sent back up to PH. D level and sucks. Is this student a success story or does that mean they just can’t cut it at that level?

        2. “Altidore is still the 3rd leading goal scorer all time for the US”. Well, Wondo is the SECOND ALL TIME LEADING SCORER FOR MLS (imagine, since this league was created, let that sink in)…..The same league that players from countries use to BEAT THE USMNT. Chase in point…. “Altidore was never a waste of time, he was just a harsh realization that others could have done better”.

        Stay somewhere long enough, and if time is not of the essence, ANY PLAYER WILL PRODUCE. Chase in point Altidore – scores 2 goals against a team like T&T, goes on a 7 game drought (that cost us major points) and scores 2 goals against Panama, and everyone “forgets” he sucks. It’s producing when it matters. Leave Altidore at striker long enough he will score, leave all the old veterans on the field long enough they will produce, but when they cannot produce when it matters WE DON’T GO TO RUSSIA 2018.

  9. I think what we saw today was the next two months is really important for a number of these young players.

    Moore: He basically got time with Levante mid-year when they had a lot of injuries, can he find regular time with them or on loan? I agree with the assessment that most have that he’s Yedlin from 3 or 4 years ago.

    Robinson: Can he win a spot at Everton if not where does his loan take him?

    Adams: Did very well today, incredible motor. Is he going to RBL or is someone else going to swoop in? Supposedly some French clubs were scouting him today.

    Weah: Formation didn’t fit for him today, would have liked to see him and Sargent up top together, but understand they were trying to get the result. Club situation also a big question for Tim

    Wood: 2.Bundesliga or transfer?????????

    Parks: Either there was an unnamed injury concern or he really didn’t rate. Another guy that needs first team time.

    Green: Did nothing for 69 minutes but finished his chance when it came. Playing Gruether taught him that. He does have 4 goals in 10 caps including against France and Belgium (and Cuba and New Zealand). Where is he next year, Stuttgart seems to not want him?

    Sargent: Will he play for the first team?

    So here’s how the group came out

    France 2-1-0 7 pts (I’m going to assume they would beat Bolivia)
    Ireland 2-0-1 6 pts (again they would beat Bolivia)
    USA 1-1-1 4 pts
    Bolivia 0-0-3 0 pts

    Great World Cup guys see in four years

    Reply
  10. I thought Trapp was the mid who played best, Adams decent, McKennie a lot of effort in a team game but often sloppy.

    Reply
  11. Green’s future is unknown but if he’s going to Only Score Big Goals on Big Teams then surely that’s someone to have around at least for a bench player.

    Reply
    • Wood was underwhelming and my theory is forward is going to be a surprise position where we need work. You will have the old guard and some new options but there isn’t anyone on a Dempsey Level tear right now. So it will be interesting how the position progresses.

      Reply
      • This is the biggest hole in our player pool by far and a real worry. Do we have another legit prospect outside of Sargent?
        Dempsey didn’t flourish until his mid 20s and Charlie Davies didn’t reallly break out until 23ish? Jozy was a hot prospect at 16 that never found consistency to the talent. There’s still plenty of time to find an answer here but I don’t see where it could come from

    • Green should quit club football and just play for the national team.(sort of sarcasm) He does a lot better in big games, I guess. I remember when a young Wayne Rooney was scoring for the English national team before he was doing much for Everton. But Man U took him on and he translated his national team form to his club team. Maybe Green can follow that path.

      Reply
      • Actually I thought Greene was missing in action most of the first half. He was consistently positioning himself so that he was unavailable for a pass. That is not a trait you want in a player who was supposed to link to the lone forward. He did make a great shot, but it was created by a very good pass from Wood and a not so good cross that was misplayed by the French. In the second half, he did touch the ball a few times, but again was hardly ver available for a pass.

    • Green’s goal was only scored because it deflected slightly off the defenders foot, so it really doesn’t meany anything. Just got lucky. What has he actually done?

      Reply
      • What has he done? He’s the only American to ever score against France and he scored a crucial goal against Belgium in the World cup. Listen to what strikers themselves say. You can do nothing all game, but then score a crucial goal and you have done what you are supposed to do. Scoring goals is what wins games and there’s no reason to look a gift horse in the mouth.

  12. Well, I took some stick for saying start the kids in goal and the back, there’s what they can do. Parker is the pure defender this team has lacked for a long time. The wingbacks can play, though I think Robinson is a head above. And why were people even trying to tell me Hamid over Steffen?

    I think they still need to find a few more backs, CCV isn’t necessarily the future, nor is Miazga, but I thought this game showed we can execute a defending game plan and have some guys in the back two lines now who can play.

    Reply
    • Not sure why Robinson is not mentioned more, or maybe I’m just not seeing it. Agree he has been solid in the back and surprisingly great going forward.

      Reply
      • This past season was his first professional season and he was up and down as you would expect from a 20 year old. Only one youth cap with a couple other camp call ins. He’s still not cap tied and couldn’t be until next GC in 2019.

    • I agree Parker was outstanding. I thought Miazga did very well and with him in Mbappe might not have managed his goal. Robinson did everything you want a left back to do and he has speed for when it is required. He may well be the answer the US has needed at LB for years. Moore did OK, but he relied on fouls too much and surrendered some free kicks in dangerous spots.

      Reply
    • the Steffen praise is a bit much right now…he stills struggles with his passing and should have done better on two of the shots that hit the post! Most of France’s shots were right at him, the outlier being the rebounded shot form Dembele at the end, which was a helluva save! I wouldn’t be disappointed at all if he is given the nod as the #1 right now, but I still think the position is not solidified!

      Reply
  13. As a USMNT fan, I was thrilled by the result. As a France fan, I was concerned but not panicked. This is what France will have to do deal with against Australia and, to a lesser extent, Denmark.

    Our young guys looked solid and not at all intimidated. Yeah, the first half was horribly lopsided in terms of possession and shots on goal. But I thought we looked pretty good in the second half. Nice way to finish this stretch of 3 games. They should leave France with their heads held high.

    Reply
    • USA could have probably played a lot better but they were cautious and gave France too much respect. But that is completely understandable. I think this is a game where they say to themselves, “we belong”, and next time they play a big soccer nation they will play with more confidence and take more chances.

      I hope we are completely done with the mainstays from the last World Cup cycle, except for Pulisic, Yedlin, Brooks, Wood, and maybe Nagbe. Corona and Villafania should no longer be there for example.

      I don’t even want to see any farewell friendlies for the likes of Dempsey, Altidore, Howard and Bradley. Let Trinidad be the last time they wear the USA jersey.

      And wow this website is kind of dead now.

      Reply
      • Hogwash, they played conservative to get the result. They can open up the game and get a few more chances but they also probably lose 3-1 or 3-2 in the process. Americans need to learn that sometimes THIS is the game plan that works.

      • UCLABRUINGREAT
        I totally agree with you about players from the last world cup? cycle. Its a blessing we didn’t make Russia 2018??, because can you imagine STILL dealing with…..

        ————WOOD————-ALTIDORE—————

        ———————-PULISIC——————————-

        ———NAGBE—————–ARRIOLA—————-

        ———————BRADLEY——————————

        VILLAFANA————————————–YEDLIN
        —————BESLER———-GONZALEZ————–

        ———————-HOWARD—————————–
        (LOST TO T&T)

        Or

        ———-ALTIDORE ——————-WOOD———

        JOHNSON —–NAGBE—-BRADLEY——PULISIC

        VILLAFANA—-REAM—–CAMERON———-ZUSI

        ————————HOWARD————————-
        (LOST TO COSTA RICA)

        Blessings come in different shapes and sizes. Thank goodness our failure evolved in grooming the young troops

    • This is a new generation of players that we are pinning our hopes of a brighter future on. If we’ve already decided that this will be another generation that can’t play with the ball at their feet and will always be out-possessed and have to bunker all-game, then let’s all just stop paying attention now.
      This was a friendly, not a game where the result matters. I don’t want to see the same old habits. The tone needs to be set now. I would have gladly taken a 3-1 France win if it meant a conscious effort by team USA to be aggressive, take players on, and try and retain possession and score goals.
      Like I said though, for the first time out I understand them being timid, but next time out they need to play with more aggression in attack.

      Reply
      • You’ve got to remember that this was Sarachan coaching and he’s Arena Jr. thus the bunker ball. There was some solid play defensively but with a 5 man back line there was never going to be great possession or many chances. Yup next time out against Mexico and Brazil need to see more aggressive style of play

      • Oh yeah Steffen is the #1 keeper going forward or until He proves otherwise. Definitely man of the match

      • I agree with most of what you said UCLA but I don’t think we are anywhere near being able to play possession with a top 5 team. If we played that way against Ireland I think that would be a concern. The next manager has to be able to find a style of play that works against France and Guatemala.

      • The issue wasn’t lack of agrression in attack or conservative mindset that I keep reading. We simply couldn’t string 3 non backward passes together all match. France is about 17000x better than our kids. We defended very well but lacked any quality on the ball. That’s not mindset that’s ability.

  14. WHAT JUST HAPPENED? ‼️ ‼️ ‼️ THE WORLD CUP FAVORITES…..THE TEAM THAT BEAT ITALY 3 -1……..THE TEAM THE USA ?? HAS NEVER SCORED ON…..SO AGAIN, WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED ? ? ‼️ ‼️ ‼️

    WITHOUT CHRISTIAN PULISIC TOO ‼️⁉️

    Julian is behind Altidore and Bobby Wood ?????
    Robinson and Moore are not getting regular play time so should not be in the starting 11 ?????
    Miazga and CCV took the back seat to Gonzo and Besler ?????

    Reply

Leave a Comment