US Soccer! Gold Cup Tonight

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Belgium is NOT going to the World Cup Final, take that to the bank. They are improved from the 1990s/2000s when they were atrocious but they are still not going to make the Final.

Spain is still the top team but to win four straight major tournaments is pushing it. Brazil dismantled them in the Confed Final.

No European team has won a WC across the Atlantic

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

At the risk of derailing this thread even more Barcelona is in town here for a game tomorrow and i just got tickets

Are you wearing a Messi 10 jersey or Neymar Jr 11 jersey?

I bought my son and I matching Messi jerseys in Barcelona.

 

[LatinMind]

I forgot to add that last time the US played Mexico's A Team they drew with them AT the Azteca.

Oh yeah i forgot about the WC qualifier. Thats the game Edu shouldve been called for a penalty kick on Aquino out in the open late in the match.

 

[LatinMind]

on a side note, Mexico historically has played better against the worlds best and plays to their competition in the concacaf. Just look at their recent history vs brazil with Hernandez, Dos santos era. won 3 of 4 vs brazil including winning gold in the olympics vs brazil.

 

[Ren]

Are you wearing a Messi 10 jersey or Neymar Jr 11 jersey?

I bought my son and I matching Messi jerseys in Barcelona.

Neymar isn't here he's resting from the confederations cup Messi is so i might buy a Messi jersey at the game.

 

[joseephuss]

Belgium is NOT going to the World Cup Final, take that to the bank. They are improved from the 1990s/2000s when they were atrocious but they are still not going to make the Final.

Spain is still the top team but to win four straight major tournaments is pushing it. Brazil dismantled them in the Confed Final.

No European team has won a WC across the Atlantic

Belgium is it great position to make it the World Cup Final. They are atop of their group and have a nice goal differential right now with only 3 games left to play. They will be there next summer.

I don't think Brazil will win the World Cup next year. The Confederations Cup was tailor made for them. It was a short tournament and they had an extra day of rest headed into the final. It takes winning two extra games in the bigger World Cup Final tournament to win it all. That is more chance for them to lose. They have some great players, but I don't see them as a great team. Plus since they are the automatic qualifiers as the host nation they will only play in friendlies between now and then. That is not the best way to prepare for a WCF. I would bet the field over Brazil. Someone will upset them.

 

[RastaRocket]

Belgium is it great position to make it the World Cup Final. They are atop of their group and have a nice goal differential right now with only 3 games left to play. They will be there next summer.

Of course they will be there, but winning is a whole other story.

 

[jterrell]

a 2nd tier European club like Poland or Denmark could easily win the gold cup that's the level Mexico at their best sit on. They are WC regulars just like the US because they get to play the likes of Montserrat to qualify. It's not me overrating European teams it's people overrating the likes of Mexico and their results back my argument up. Maybe they'll turn it around and do something is a far cry from easy money bet a year ago to make the semis is it not?

U21 results don't really mean crap, Norway finished 3rd in the U21 Euro cup last month and our future is just as bleak as it was prior to that

Neither Poland nor Denmark are right now as good as the US or Mexico.

Poland just tied a horrendous Moldova side in WCQ. They are ranked 58th in the SPI. That is below the US, Panama, Mexico an Honduras... i.e. all the final 4 teams in the Gold Cup.
So stop talking out of your behind.

Denmark lost to Armenia 4-0 in its last game a WCQ. Those clubs are terrible dude so get that nonsense out of here.

Europe qualifies 13 teams and those 13 will be strong clubs. When you have 53 taking the top 13 is gonna mean a good group.
But Denmark and Poland are NOT qualifying and are not good right now. And the bottom 13 clubs in UEFA are just as trash as the bottom clubs other places.

As to Mexico a little over a year ago they were killing it and completely in form. They were scary good and beating teams like Brazil.
The u21 and Olympic success was introducing new stars for a national team playing quite well.
They were getting Dos Santos and Chicarito goals almost eveyr game and playing sound defense.
They fell apart lately and we'll see if they recover but they have a lot of talent.

 

[jterrell]

Belgium? Hahahahahahaha

Brazil is pretty much a shoe in if you ask me.

Spain is due for a downer. Italy had a decent Confed Cup.

England will go in with a ton of hype but will collapse.

I would like France to do well but I am sure they will have a rebellion or something of the sort.

If you are laughing about Belgium you really need to study the sport before you post.
They are easily the hottest team in Europe after Spain and have the most exciting youth in the sport with the Chelsea lads and Kompany on defense is a monster.

Brazil will be VERY hard to beat at home to be sure. They have so much talent it is just ridiculous. The fatc they beat Spain shows they step up and play their best versus the best.

 

[RastaRocket]

If you are laughing about Belgium you really need to study the sport before you post.
They are easily the hottest team in Europe after Spain and have the most exciting youth in the sport with the Chelsea lads and Kompany on defense is a monster.

Brazil will be VERY hard to beat at home to be sure. They have so much talent it is just ridiculous. The fatc they beat Spain shows they step up and play their best versus the best.

Germany > Belgium in terms of veteran talent and youth talent.

 

[jterrell]

Of course they will be there, but winning is a whole other story.

Of the European teams Belgium has as good a chance as anyone.
They are talented, young and very in form. In WCQ they have 6 wins and 1 draw, zero losses in a tough group.

If Spain has a fault it is a tendency to overpass and play it too perfectly.
They are phenomenal to be sure but they can be out-athleted as Brazil recently detailed.

 

[RastaRocket]

Young German players include:
Gotze, Gundogan, Reus, Hummels, Marin, Schurrle, Kroos, Draxler, Jung.... The list goes on and on for Germany.

Germany will no doubt be in form at the world cup; they are an outstanding tournament team and their league showed the current class of German football in the Champions League this year.

 

[jterrell]

Germany > Belgium in terms of veteran talent and youth talent.

debatable but Germany is right there with Spain and Belgium as the best of the best in both categories.

I'd much rather have Lukaku and Hazard then Gotze and Muller but its fair to argue it.

 

[jterrell]

Young German players include:
Gotze, Gundogan, Reus, Hummels, Marin, Schurrle, Kroos, Draxler, Jung.... The list goes on and on for Germany.

Germany will no doubt be in form at the world cup; they are an outstanding tournament team and their league showed the current class of German football in the Champions League this year.

I am a fan of Germany and have been since Ballack played but this is hardly their best team.
Maybe in 2018.
Their young kids are not as good as the Belgiums imho.
I have seen plenty of both at Chelsea.

 

[RastaRocket]

debatable but Germany is right there with Spain and Belgium as the best of the best in both categories.

I'd much rather have Lukaku and Hazard then Gotze and Muller but its fair to argue it.

I agree Belgium has top end players on their roster but has no shortage of world class talent (I believe more top end players) and then they have depth and future superstars behind that. I mean every player starting for Germany is world class, and they have great players waiting to come in behind that.

 

[RastaRocket]

I am a fan of Germany and have been since Ballack played but this is hardly their best team.
Maybe in 2018.
Their young kids are not as good as the Belgiums imho.
I have seen plenty of both at Chelsea.

Chelsea has who? Hazard, Lukaku and (had) De Bruyne?

German players you have Schurrle (hasn't played yet), and on loan Marin.

The real class of German youth players is not in the EPL or at Chelsea, but in Germany. Lots of those guys wont be playing at the World Cup though as they still have world class players with plenty of experience at the top of their game. Much more accomplished players than the Belgians have.

Germany has one loss in qualifiers as well and one less game played. Greater goal differential, with more goals scored in less games.

 

[jterrell]

I agree Belgium has top end players on their roster but has no shortage of world class talent (I believe more top end players) and then they have depth and future superstars behind that. I mean every player starting for Germany is world class, and they have great players waiting to come in behind that.

keep in mind the us just got manhandled by the young belgians and destroyed a germany b side not long ago (not WC pertinent but it does speak to depth).
friendlies are just friendlies but the belgians simply haven't been losing to anyone recently.
the top end talent is there at forward, midfield and defense for belgium to give anyone problems.
this is their golden era.

i've seen Hazard destroy the EPL as a 20 year old kid. the only player who was better was Mata whose a ripe old 25... and fights for time at Spain... sheesh.

 

[RastaRocket]

It may be their golden era; but are they golden enough to take down teams like Spain or Germany?

Sure, I think they have the talent to win against one of those teams I'm just not as confident that they will. Teams such as Italy and Holland could take them as well I am just less confident in them.


Mata is a beast... but are you just talking about Chelsea players at a young age?

I'm very high on Hazard... I put him right up there in the same class as a player like Neymar in young talents. I was not happy when he went to Chelsea.

 

[Ren]

Neither Poland nor Denmark are right now as good as the US or Mexico.

Poland just tied a horrendous Moldova side in WCQ. They are ranked 58th in the SPI. That is below the US, Panama, Mexico an Honduras... i.e. all the final 4 teams in the Gold Cup.
So stop talking out of your behind.

Denmark lost to Armenia 4-0 in its last game a WCQ. Those clubs are terrible dude so get that nonsense out of here.

Europe qualifies 13 teams and those 13 will be strong clubs. When you have 53 taking the top 13 is gonna mean a good group.
But Denmark and Poland are NOT qualifying and are not good right now. And the bottom 13 clubs in UEFA are just as trash as the bottom clubs other places.

As to Mexico a little over a year ago they were killing it and completely in form. They were scary good and beating teams like Brazil.
The u21 and Olympic success was introducing new stars for a national team playing quite well.
They were getting Dos Santos and Chicarito goals almost eveyr game and playing sound defense.
They fell apart lately and we'll see if they recover but they have a lot of talent.

Poland and Denmark where examples i don't really follow neither but they are widely considered 2 to 3rd tier European teams (like Belgium) so i mentioned them without really caring how their play is currently, both even in down years would still give the US and Mexico a run for their money though because the US and Mexico are on that level. Since you are so happy to go digging 2 years back for some good Mexican results why don't you do that for Denmark and Poland as well?

And congrats you actually made a legit point the bottom European team are trash way to enlightening us like we didn't already know that... that's pretty far off the UEFA is overrated stuff you where saying earlier. Europe is consistently finishing 1 or 2 in the world cup no concaf team will ever do that and no concaf team will ever be a "easy money bet" to make the final 4 betting a UEFA team will is though.

i don't really see why people keep bringing up u21 results like it has any baring on A level play. Like i said Norway finished 3rd in the Euro U21 cup just last month the majority of players on that team are on the bench for games in the league here, the league here is horrible and these guys can't even crack the starting on their clubs 11 consistently yet finished 3rd in Europe in age specific play. What does that say about age specific results?
Unless most of these guys play in leagues where the level of play elevates theirs they're never going to take that next step. One or 2 players going to Europe isn't going to make their national team a top 4 or 5 team in the world any time soon unless we're talking Messi like talents but we're not

When it's all said and done the World cup next summer will back up my talk and we both know it, so talk up Mexico and the US while you can

 

[jterrell]

Chelsea has who? Hazard, Lukaku and (had) De Bruyne?

German players you have Schurrle (hasn't played yet), and on loan Marin.

The real class of German youth players is not in the EPL or at Chelsea, but in Germany. Lots of those guys wont be playing at the World Cup though as they still have world class players with plenty of experience at the top of their game. Much more accomplished players than the Belgians have.

Germany has one loss in qualifiers as well and one less game played. Greater goal differential, with more goals scored in less games.

ROFL, Germany is playing the Faroe Islands and Kazaktan in qualifying....
They are slaughtering them and Ireland.
The two decent teams in their group with them are Austria and Sweden.
They have 1 win and 1 draw and +1 differential in those games.

Chelsea has had rights to various German players over the years including Ballack.
Marin doesn't get on the pitch at all.

The top German clubs both have top foreign players and the league isn't deep but quite top heavy with Bayern and BVB.
Even Leverkusen has fallen off a good deal.

Chelsea is only a year removed from the Champions League title beating Bayern so I'm pretty familiar with them.
Their roster actually shows only 4 German starters.