Some takeaways from this game.

by Bryan (IrishCavan), Howth Castle and Environs, Monday, July 06, 2026, 18:57 (15 days ago)
edited by Bryan (IrishCavan), Monday, July 06, 2026, 19:01

We still just don't have the talent or depth of other countries. We are starting an MLS GK and a 40 year old CB. We have some solid guys but not one single world class player. Our best player is constantly injured and can only succeed in leagues like Italy, but has been out of form for a long time. Robinson is good but plays for Fulham. McKinney has been good for Juve, but that is not the Juve of old. The margin of error is small and, damn, we had a number of errors tonight. Belgium is mediocre compared to top European teams but can still bring Doku off the bench. Spain would have destroyed us and will likely beat Belgium by 2 goals.

The distractions of Balogun didn't help. Belgium came out motivated. They have been extremely average this tournament and we frankly deserve this whooping.

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Complete thread:

Some takeaways from this game. - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2026-07-06, 18:57
- Having stopped to think a bit, a question for all - Greg, 2026-07-07, 13:06
  - And France only beat 1-0 - Chris, 2026-07-07, 14:01
- Flashbacks to 2012 ND Football - ndbk32, 2026-07-06, 22:53
  - Nails it. Weaknesses exposed - Jack, 2026-07-07, 05:38
  - That's how I felt too. - oviedoirish, 2026-07-07, 04:54
- Tonight was January 7, 2013 all over again - HCE, 2026-07-06, 20:35
  - Nah - Charles, 2026-07-08, 13:22
  - Beat me to it - ndbk32, 2026-07-06, 22:58
- Some super basic questions... - Mike (bart), 2026-07-06, 19:08
  - Some observations. - PMan, 2026-07-06, 20:43
    - I don't know from anything - Greg, 2026-07-07, 07:24
    - Is there truth to the idea we have adverse talent selection? - Mike (bart), 2026-07-07, 06:58
      - Need a path to big money as a teenager - TSchlidt, 2026-07-07, 09:20
        
        It's not the story anymore, if it ever was - HullieAndMikes, 2026-07-07, 09:39
        
        is that money, or genetics? - KGB, 2026-07-07, 12:32
        
        It's actually hard to say - HullieAndMikes, 2026-07-07, 12:46
      - I don't buy that anymore - HullieAndMikes, 2026-07-07, 07:45
        
        The game knowledge thing is fascinating to me - Regular Joseph, 2026-07-07, 18:44
        
        Worth noting, our guys play in the world's best leagues - HCE, 2026-07-07, 20:03
        
        This is on Poch as manager more than “knowledge” - PMan, 2026-07-07, 19:00
      - Sort of? - HCE, 2026-07-07, 07:37
      - For elite athletes with aptitude in soccer and one of the - BillyGoat, 2026-07-07, 07:05
        
        I agree - IrishGuard, 2026-07-07, 09:32
  - On #1 - it’s so much better than it was - Dylan, 2026-07-06, 19:27
  - To go along with your #1... - domer.mq, 2026-07-06, 19:21
    - I haven’t researched this issue too much. - San Pedro, 2026-07-07, 05:58
    - That's a good point. - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2026-07-06, 19:26
      - AAU basketball doesn't seem to hurt - Mike (bart), 2026-07-06, 19:29
        
        There is no greater authority on this than Kobe Bryant - hobbs, 2026-07-06, 20:40
        
        Maybe - HullieAndMikes, 2026-07-07, 05:10
        
        Can't argue with any of that. - hobbs, 2026-07-07, 07:27
        
        Our best young players go to Europe or MLS academies. - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2026-07-06, 19:35
        
        Right - bobbywal, 2026-07-06, 20:01
        
        AAU isn't necessarily a net plus though. - ReginaldVelJohnson, 2026-07-06, 19:32
        
        I’d like to read a deep dive into the differences - HullieAndMikes, 2026-07-06, 19:43
        
        There's the rub - Domer99, 2026-07-07, 09:55
        
        Travel expands and expands until public leagues all die - MattG, 2026-07-07, 07:32
        
        Euro soccer elite are already vacuumed up by then - HullieAndMikes, 2026-07-07, 07:38
        
        Maybe this is too shallow - Domer99, 2026-07-07, 10:04
        
        For some clubs it's also a money grab - okerland, 2026-07-06, 20:33
        
        not only that - Pat, 2026-07-06, 21:24
        
        But I'm sure corollaries of this exist over there too - HullieAndMikes, 2026-07-07, 05:17
        
        I forgot that we are part of the same soccer club :) - okerland, 2026-07-06, 21:40
        
        I don't know that I've ever seen one definitive comparison. - ReginaldVelJohnson, 2026-07-06, 19:53
        
        My guess is coaching and training. - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2026-07-06, 19:52
        
        I'd buy that - Mike (bart), 2026-07-06, 19:39
  - PMan and HCE are better sources but I'll do my best. - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2026-07-06, 19:17
    - Thanks. Would not have guessed (1) - Mike (bart), 2026-07-06, 19:18
      - I think the reason many countries have seemingly - ReginaldVelJohnson, 2026-07-06, 19:25
- Nobody else gave up 4 goals in round of 32 or 16. - Mr. Natural, 2026-07-06, 19:07
- Where is USMNT in CFB terms? - HumanRobot, 2026-07-06, 19:00
  - JMU or Texas Tech - Charles, 2026-07-08, 13:31
  - West Virginia - they both play Almost Heaven…. - PasadenaDomer, 2026-07-07, 13:44
  - I was thinking TAMU - HumanRobot, 2026-07-07, 13:43
    - Sweden. - PMan, 2026-07-07, 15:58
  - Boise State - PMan, 2026-07-07, 13:37
    - I used BSU as a comparable to my LSU buddy who knows nothing - cdawg, 2026-07-07, 14:44
      - That's the new PAC-12 to you. - PMan, 2026-07-07, 15:53
  - Nebraska. - omahadomer, 2026-07-06, 19:19
    - Uruguay. - PMan, 2026-07-07, 15:56
      - But the early hype and then celebrating going - omahadomer, 2026-07-07, 18:03
        
        Nobody of worth considers this Cup a “success.” - PMan, 2026-07-07, 19:07
  - Michigan St.? - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2026-07-06, 19:02
    - Scotland? - PMan, 2026-07-07, 19:12

the Polo Grounds

Some takeaways from this game.