Think the result could have been different had Wales started with Kiefer Moore. He made a huge difference in allowing Wales to maintain possession in a dangerous area of the pitch. Think that’s the last we’ll see of James in this World Cup.
Also the US boys visibly tired in the second half
It’s going to be interesting to see how this pans out. Let’s imagine England beat the USA. That will take America to the last game against Iran, needing a result. Iran would like nothing better than to dump their great foe out of the World Cup.
Might be getting ahead of myself. But not winning today puts American in a corner, with the best team in the group up next.
Game on.
Interesting as I thought the opposite. Wales clearly started with an intention to let the US have the ball and hit them on the break. The US scored a nice goal, but didnt stretch Wales otherwise. The idea the US coverage was presenting, like there was a second goal just waiting for them to take seemed based on hope than reality. Wales changed their approach in the second half to take the game to the US and the US just compeltely failed to adapt to the dynamic. It was like they misread their superiority in the first half as being earned rather than given, and so were shaken by their loss of it in the second half once Wales became proactive. On balance, on chances created, he US had very little to show for their effort. Wales in contrast both worked their keeper much more and were robbed of a likely last minute long range goal by a cynical foul on Bale with the keeper still 15 yards outside his box.
Fundamentally it was 2 teams who are better without the ball than they are with it, but Wales responded far better of the two to the dynamic of having to be proactive
In general play I agree but both teams were very poor in creating.
And draw was probably the fair result in the end.
The game plan was understandable, but in retrospect had Moore played the first 70 minutes it looks like Wales would have been in a better spot and then James coming on in that situation would have been much more dangerous running at a tired US side.
Yeah I think they should have started with Moore and then gone with James. I was actually surprised to see him not start.
The ‘relationship’ of two nations really shouldn’t matter on the football pitch.
Also, I believe Iran at the moment have other problems on their minds than the USA.
I think they were just playing a safety first sort of game and so reliant on James’ pace on the break. As poorly as he played, had the US not scored I dont think we’d have seen the change.
It absolutely does though. You don’t think that if England have qualified and face a Wales side in the last game needing only a draw that the familiarity between the players, and possibly enjoyment of bouncing out the arrogant Yanks, wont help produce a tepid game that allows both teams to walk into the next round without expending themselves…a replay of the disgrace of Gijon?
3 very one sided affairs tomorrow. Can see Argentina France and Denmark all winning by at least 3 goals each.
Mexico Poland couldn’t be more 50/50, these are the games you want to watch.
A lot of people think Argentina go far but what do people see in their defence/midfield?
My boycott is 100% back on tomorrow and wont be watching any of the 4 games.
They dont have many stars, but they’ve still got a lot of potential talent. With Paredes, De Paul, Di Maria, and the newer guys like MacAlister and Enzo Fernandez they’ve got the talent and balance that could put together a really effective midfield. With Argentina it often seems though a constant battle to find something resembling balance so we’ll see what sort of side Scaloni puts out once they have more interesting games
Based on the messages Ive received the last couple of hours, the US seems to have widely accepted the narrative they were kicked off the park with a ref who refused to protect them.
I thought the ref was favoring Wales if I’m honest and there were some poor decisions (not the Pen) that went against the Yanks, but that’s football.
Bet placed, make me rich baby. Make me rich. Ok well richer then.
The only part I was unsure about was who’d finish top between Belgium and Croatia…head prevailed.
Fuck off gary
Im starting to get annoyed with all this complaining. Like I agree but I have heard them talk about this more than the football. The reporter’s yesterday coming in with rainbow hats on, what were they expecting. It’s obvious that was just for a story.
Kane, Bale, VVD et al told to ditch One Love armband because of possible yellow cards.
Iranian players risk serious sanction for refusing to sing national anthem.
Poor Harry had to take instruction from the FA.
Neville never had that speech prepared did he… it was as though he had a forewarning this question would be asked of him… Tosser
Or maybe he’s had the question asked of him half a million times he knows what to say from the tip of his tongue?
It’s all the western world seem to be interested in and when I say western world I mean largely the Brits.
