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)
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) [Reply]
Originally Posted by Womble:
We'd be favourites to beat Argentina. I'd have Brazil as favourites against us because of our defense but if we had the Chels full backs fit we'd be evens with them. The Euro Nations is a bullshit competition but crucially we are constantly playing the top European nations so we know what to expect. Brazil and Argentina come into this tournament not knowing how they will be against a big Euro team. The last time Brazil played one was 4 and a half years ago in their loss to Belgium in the World Cup. Just look at the Argentina results in the 2018 too when they lost 3-0 to Croatia in the groups and to France in the last 16. There's a definite question mark and they are not aided by not being able to test themselves against their rivals.
How has it been working out for England since the start of Nations League? I’m looking for trophies, but it doesn’t seem like there are any. Certainly that can’t be. I mean the way you’ve been talking about England you’d think they’d at least have some recent success to hang their hats on. Can you point us in the direction of Englands last successful tournament so teams can follow this blueprint to success that you’re speaking of. [Reply]
Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED:
How has it been working out for England since the start of Nations League? I’m looking for trophies, but it doesn’t seem like there are any. Certainly that can’t be. I mean the way you’ve been talking about England you’d think they’d at least have some recent success to hang their hats on. Can you point us in the direction of Englands last successful tournament so teams can follow this blueprint to success that you’re speaking of.
Anything else than a World Cup win for a non European nation is not really success. You place any of France, Spain, Germany, Italy, England and Belgium in the Copa America and they would be winning every 2 or 3 tourneys. You place any of them in the CONCACAF and it's an abject failure if they don't win it. A World Cup Semi and a Euro final is more impressive than Argentina's last 16 world cup exit and 1 Copa America win out of 2 in the last 5 years, it's just a fact. Although we haven't won anything so I don't celebrate it. But comparing the 2 is just disingenuous unless it's simply to troll. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Womble:
Anything else than a World Cup win for a non European nation is not really success. You place any of France, Spain, Germany, Italy, England and Belgium in the Copa America and they would be winning every 2 or 3 tourneys. You place any of them in the CONCACAF and it's an abject failure if they don't win it. A World Cup Semi and a Euro final is more impressive than Argentina's last 16 world cup exit and 1 Copa America win out of 2 in the last 5 years, it's just a fact. Although we haven't won anything so I don't celebrate it. But comparing the 2 is just disingenuous unless it's simply to troll.
I would count European trophies for England as well, but I just wasn’t seeing any. What year did they have their most recent success in your eyes? [Reply]
Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED:
How has it been working out for England since the start of Nations League? I’m looking for trophies, but it doesn’t seem like there are any. Certainly that can’t be. I mean the way you’ve been talking about England you’d think they’d at least have some recent success to hang their hats on. Can you point us in the direction of Englands last successful tournament so teams can follow this blueprint to success that you’re speaking of.
It's soccer so they just give everyone a trophy while they eat their snacks. [Reply]
Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED:
I would count European trophies for England as well, but I just wasn’t seeing any. What year did they have their most recent success in your eyes?
We haven't been successful, only a loony would say that. And we probably won't be successful in this one too with our manager. I'll be surprised if we win this World Cup but not shocked. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Womble:
We haven't been successful, only a loony would say that. And we probably won't be successful in this one too with our manager. I'll be surprised if we win this World Cup but not shocked.
It's not just the manager, it's the players. Good but not world class. That's what we produce. In fact we've been greater than the sum of our parts the last few tournaments [Reply]
Originally Posted by Womble:
We'd be favourites to beat Argentina. I'd have Brazil as favourites against us because of our defense but if we had the Chels full backs fit we'd be evens with them. The Euro Nations is a bullshit competition but crucially we are constantly playing the top European nations so we know what to expect. Brazil and Argentina come into this tournament not knowing how they will be against a big Euro team. The last time Brazil played one was 4 and a half years ago in their loss to Belgium in the World Cup. Just look at the Argentina results in the 2018 too when they lost 3-0 to Croatia in the groups and to France in the last 16. There's a definite question mark and they are not aided by not being able to test themselves against their rivals.
Sorry but we wouldn't be favourites against Argentina and we're not close to Brazil. Yes, Argentina don't excel at every WC. But nor do Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands etc. Not playing Euro teams just doesn't matter. Plenty of Euro teams regularly test themselves against good Euro teams, swagger in to the World Cup and get sent packing early. [Reply]
Originally Posted by JPH83:
Sorry but we wouldn't be favourites against Argentina and we're not close to Brazil. Yes, Argentina don't excel at every WC. But nor do Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands etc. Not playing Euro teams just doesn't matter. Plenty of Euro teams regularly test themselves against good Euro teams, swagger in to the World Cup and get sent packing early.
We'd be favourites against the argies. Most of their players are bobbins with their defense and midfield being particularly shakey. I think the fact that the European nations play more competitive games in the Euros and now Nations League is a huge factor when it comes to the World Cup. In the last 4 tournaments there has been 1 South American team and 7 Europeans in the final. When you don't have a team full of all time greats like Brazil in 2002 it's exceptionally hard for the untested South Americans to win. [Reply]
Originally Posted by scho63:
Wake me up when it's over and tell me who won.
I'd rather watch Thursday Night Football.
In order to remember to wake you up that would have to mean someone thinks about or cares about you. That simply is not the case. Nobody is asking you to watch soccer watch whatever you want. [Reply]
Originally Posted by tredadda:
It’s actually a great analogy. England tied a team they should have beaten easily. Way to mock and celebrate your tie. Congratulations on moving on. No doubt England will continue that World Cup form against better teams. :-)
I know that you are involved in some back and forth and whatever but the idea that England is that much better and "should have won easily" is it even close to being true. [Reply]
