What the hell…his family suspects foul play. Sad news.

That penalty kick awarded to Argentina?

Are you kidding me? That was so lame, I'm tempted to say FIFA and the World Cup is so COMPLETELY corrupt, it isn't worth watching.

The Dutch player BARELY touched his foot, he flops and the dumb**** ref falls for it. Look at the slow-motion replay and it was OBVIOUS no penalty was committed on that play, much less one that rises to deserve a PK. Plus, it was barely on the line, if even, and the automotron ref immediately points to the PK spot. But worse? WAY worse? NO VAR REVIEW???? W-T-F do you have VAR when it isn't used to SCRUTINIZE a game-altering bull**** call when the WC is on the line?

Beyond disgusting. I don't expect refs to get it right every time. But when they tend to favor the "pre-supposed winner" or the team with the "arguable GOAT" and then fail to review a CRUCIAL ticky-tacky call via VAR, then this becomes a farce. The Dutch were completely jobbed on this one.

It wasn`t a very well-reffed game, and that penalty was indeed pretty light.

One thing that`s been pretty decent world cup so far is discipline, with the fewest amount of red cards ever handed out with over 90% of the games already played, by a very wide margin:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_red_cards

Only 1 straight red in this WC, vs. 9 red cards in each of the last two!

There hasn't been any nightmarish games like Holland-Portugal 2006 (aka the Massacre at Nuremburg) or the 2010 Holland-Spain final which featured episodes like this one here (amazingly enough, de Jong only got a yellow for that!)

TandemBear said:

---

That penalty kick awarded to Argentina?

Are you kidding me? That was so lame, I'm tempted to say FIFA and the World Cup is so COMPLETELY corrupt, it isn't worth watching.

The Dutch player BARELY touched his foot, he flops and the dumb**** ref falls for it. Look at the slow-motion replay and it was OBVIOUS no penalty was committed on that play, much less one that rises to deserve a PK. Plus, it was barely on the line, if even, and the automotron ref immediately points to the PK spot. But worse? WAY worse? NO VAR REVIEW???? W-T-F do you have VAR when it isn't used to SCRUTINIZE a game-altering bull**** call when the WC is on the line?

Beyond disgusting. I don't expect refs to get it right every time. But when they tend to favor the "pre-supposed winner" or the team with the "arguable GOAT" and then fail to review a CRUCIAL ticky-tacky call via VAR, then this becomes a farce. The Dutch were completely jobbed on this one.

---

I was half watching so I am not sure what happened but why do you think there was no var? Isn't it possible that var took one look and agreed with the call and thus there was no delay?

Goobear said:

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As a Dutch man myself I rooted for the US. They have a good future but got schooled by the Dutch experience. So now the Dutch get to play Argentina again. I am still miffed that in 1978 they were tied and the right forward of Holland (Rensenbrink) hit the post just before the end of the final.Argentina went on to win.

So here again against Argentinian. The Dutch looked slow and lackadaisical. So they get behind 2-0. The Dutch coach is a super smart guy and changed how they played Argentine. The Dutch scored and it was 2-1 Argentina. Then the free kick. That has the coach Van Gaal written all over it. A very clever well thought out free kick and it went in. I think Van Gaal deserves coach of the WC. He is that good. The Dutch did not deserve the win and Argentina was the deserved winner.

Go Bears!

---

Yes indeed, van Gaal got the most out of this Dutch team, which was quite low on star power, at least by recent Dutch standards. Hope he beats his cancer,

Argentina got favorable calls in 78, in the final and also in other games like the one against France. Holland would have probably won that game on neutral ground. They were quite unlucky to play two consecutive world cup finals against teams that were playing at home.

Small quibble - RC Anderlecht's Robby Rensenbrink was a left winger, one of the best at that position that decade, along with Dynamo Kiev star and Ballon d'Or Oleg Blokhin. I saw Robby play twice for Holland in person at the Parc des Princes in Paris:



France barely edged an excellent Holland team with that win and qualified for WC82 out of an incredibly tough qualification group that also featured one of the best Ireland teams ever, with Arsenal and Juventus star Liam Brady, and Jean-Marie Pfaff`s Belgium team which actually won that group. Pfaff was the Courtois of his time, best keeper in Europe.

Also saw Dutch right winger Johnny Rep (Holland team captain pictured above) play several times in the French league against PSG for Bastia and St Etienne, both very good teams back in the day. Rep got heckled pretty bad one time because he also had a (very short) career as a pop heartthrob singer!

Edit: the captain above is Ajax' Ruud Krol, not Johnny Rep, his face was obscured in that cropped picture above.

sluggo said:

---

TandemBear said:

---

That penalty kick awarded to Argentina?

Are you kidding me? That was so lame, I'm tempted to say FIFA and the World Cup is so COMPLETELY corrupt, it isn't worth watching.

The Dutch player BARELY touched his foot, he flops and the dumb**** ref falls for it. Look at the slow-motion replay and it was OBVIOUS no penalty was committed on that play, much less one that rises to deserve a PK. Plus, it was barely on the line, if even, and the automotron ref immediately points to the PK spot. But worse? WAY worse? NO VAR REVIEW???? W-T-F do you have VAR when it isn't used to SCRUTINIZE a game-altering bull**** call when the WC is on the line?

Beyond disgusting. I don't expect refs to get it right every time. But when they tend to favor the "pre-supposed winner" or the team with the "arguable GOAT" and then fail to review a CRUCIAL ticky-tacky call via VAR, then this becomes a farce. The Dutch were completely jobbed on this one.

---

I was half watching so I am not sure what happened but why do you think there was no var? Isn't it possible that var took one look and agreed with the call and thus there was no delay?

---

One feature that got virtually eliminated is the indirect kick inside the box, which would be called for very light/involuntary fouls and hand balls, at the discretion of the referee. It placed a greater responsibility on the ref's shoulders but when properly applied by a capable ref, was a great and very fair option.

Cal88 said:

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Goobear said:

---

As a Dutch man myself I rooted for the US. They have a good future but got schooled by the Dutch experience. So now the Dutch get to play Argentina again. I am still miffed that in 1978 they were tied and the right forward of Holland (Rensenbrink) hit the post just before the end of the final.Argentina went on to win.

So here again against Argentinian. The Dutch looked slow and lackadaisical. So they get behind 2-0. The Dutch coach is a super smart guy and changed how they played Argentine. The Dutch scored and it was 2-1 Argentina. Then the free kick. That has the coach Van Gaal written all over it. A very clever well thought out free kick and it went in. I think Van Gaal deserves coach of the WC. He is that good. The Dutch did not deserve the win and Argentina was the deserved winner.

Go Bears!

---

Yes indeed, van Gaal got the most out of this Dutch team, which was quite low on star power, at least by recent Dutch standards. Hope he beats his cancer,

Argentina got favorable calls in 78, in the final and also in other games like the one against France. Holland would have probably won that game on neutral ground. They were quite unlucky to play two consecutive world cup finals against teams that were playing at home.

Small quibble - RC Anderlecht's Robby Rensenbrink was a left winger, one of the best at that position that decade, along with Dynamo Kiev star and Ballon d'Or Oleg Blokhin. I saw Robby play twice for Holland in person at the Parc des Princes in Paris:



France barely edged an excellent Holland team with that win and qualified for WC82 out of an incredibly tough qualification group that also featured one of the best Ireland teams ever, with Arsenal and Juventus star Liam Brady, and Jean-Marie Pfaff`s Belgium team which actually won that group. Pfaff was the Courtois of his time, best keeper in Europe.

Also saw Dutch right winger Johnny Rep (Holland team captain pictured above) play several times in the French league against PSG for Bastia and St Etienne, both very good teams back in the day. Rep got heckled pretty bad one time because he also had a (very short) career as a pop heartthrob singer!

Edit: the captain above is Ajax' Ruud Krol, not Johnny Rep, his face was obscured in that cropped picture above.

---

Love it thank you for all this! Go Bears!

Morocco up 1-0. Looked like Portugal was fouled in the box just now though. Should have been a PK.

Surprisingly good half by Morocco, they're really having a great tournament, feels like a home game for them. Setting up another dramatic ending!

Morocco!

Not to say the U.S. would have matched Morocco, but my argument that this corner of the bracket was the weakest is looking pretty good this morning.

GMP said:

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Not to say the U.S. would have matched Morocco, but my argument that this corner of the bracket was the weakest is looking pretty good this morning.

---

I was thinking something similar. They are playing the style of play the US has employed in prior World Cups and they are winning. Your draw, playing well, getting on a roll…but if they can do it…

They have just a little more depth on their roster than the USMNT, almost all top tier European leagues players, this is the new standard for the top African teams:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco_national_football_team#Current_squad

Perhaps by '26 the US will add more depth and top tier experience.

Also, their defending has been much better than the US', I mean they just shut out a side that is better and more dangerous than Holland. Well organized team. They also have a lot of swagger and confidence, and skilled ball handling, which is important for a defensive-minded team as you have to be able to handle the press, which they did very well.

The US will have home field advantage and like Morocco could build up some momentum through group play.

GMP said:

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Not to say the U.S. would have matched Morocco, but my argument that this corner of the bracket was the weakest is looking pretty good this morning.

---

Disagree, Morocco made these Iberian teams look more pedestrian. Portugal just totally destroyed a pretty solid Swiss team that is better than the USMNT.

Watch again Morocco's game against Croatia (which I did early this morning), another solid performance against a top team, tight ship and solid teamwork. I don`t think the US would have done as well against the Croats, objectively speaking.

Cal88 said:

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They have just a little more depth on their roster than the USMNT, almost all top tier European leagues players, this is the new standard for the top African teams:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco_national_football_team#Current_squad

Perhaps by '26 the US will add more depth and top tier experience.

Also, their defending has been much better than the US', I mean they just shut out a side that is better and more dangerous than Holland. Well organized team. They also have a lot of swagger and confidence, and skilled ball handling, which is important for a defensive-minded team as you have to be able to handle the press, which they did very well.

The US will have home field advantage and like Morocco could build up some momentum through group play.

---

This is actually not true. I counted. The US has 13 players in top 5 leagues, Morocco has 10. They do have better skill and feel for the game. And better center backs, which was the US downfall.

It was interesting that, after sitting back against Spain, Morocco was not scared to run at an un-athletic but skilled Portugal team. Given how well Morocco defend, they will not be easy to get out.

Not a soccer fan. Have no knowledge. With that said, France v England looks like a large leap in skill level to me.

^Yep, you have over a half dozen players that can light it up from outside the box or create their own moment near the goal.

That game was too close for comfort, England was well prepared, France lacked focus and discipline in the back conceding 2 needless penalties in 1 game. VAR has changed the game, not for the better in this situation, but you have to play according to the new rules. Theo Hernandez was shaky, he came in as a replacement for his brother who got a freak ACL injury against Australia, The midfield has good individual players but hasn't yet gelled in Kante's absence due to injury.

France-Morocco is going to be a hoot!

Morocco is on a roll. They have caught fire. Morocco vs France is going to be fireworks. France has a large contingent of Moroccans and or descent living there. There have been riots in some Western European countries after Morocco wins. It has a chance this will be epic.

Felt bad for England and Kane. They played well but the ball did not bounce their way.

My English friend who is a big Liverpool fan told me to root for Croatia. I think I will but wouldn't mind if Messi finally gets off the Schneid.

Go Bears!

Cal88 said:

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^Yep, you have over a half dozen players that can light it up from outside the box or create their own moment near the goal.

That game was too close for comfort, England was well prepared, France lacked focus and discipline in the back conceding 2 needless penalties in 1 game. VAR has changed the game, not for the better in this situation, but you have to play according to the new rules. Theo Hernandez was shaky, he came in as a replacement for his brother who got a freak ACL injury against Australia, The midfield has good individual players but hasn't yet gelled in Kante's absence due to injury.

France-Morocco is going to be a hoot!

---

I more or less got this right. England is very good now with young dynamic players like Bellingham (19), Saka (21), and Foden (22). They controlled much of the action with their quality. France is still a little better and have the best player in the world, so I think they would win 60% of the times these teams played. Last World Cup France played very defensively, which made sense with Pogba and Kante. But without them, and with dynamic offensive players at every position except right back, I think they should attack more. Nevertheless, I think they should be heavy favorites to keep their crown.

Disagree on VAR. The VAR ruling was just a missed obvious penalty. The ref was a horror show. At a certain point, like the quarterfinals, it should be all European refs.

Weird postscript to the US exit from the tournament. It has been reported that Gio Reyna, the young star who got very little playing time in the tournament, was almost sent home from the World Cup for not giving maximum effort leading up to the tournament. Link is below.

While is has not been said why his effort was low, I think it is because he did not like how Berhalter was using him, as he saw that he was going to be a backup to Pulisic and Weah on the wing and not being given a chance in central midfield where Musah and McKennie had positions locked down (with Adams playing behind them).

I mentioned previously that I think Reyna and Musah, both only 20, are special talents, with ceilings above any other current American players. But Reyna does not really play defense or hustle. He acts like he is entitled, which is not surprising as the child of a USMNT captain with a mother who played with the women's national team and was an NCAA champion. His team, Borussia Dortmund, plays a total free lance style, with everyone rotating around at all times, so I think he was confused as to why he was losing out to inferior players.

But Berhalter is a system coach. In this rigid system Reyna maybe deserved to be on the bench, or possibly he should have been the striker. Right now Berhalter is in negotiations to coach through the 2026 games. I think a new coach is needed who is more tactically adept. The first step in good tactics is to find a position for your best players, which this time included Gio Reyna.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-usa/story/4830953/usa-midfielder-giovanni-reyna-almost-sent-home-from-world-cup

Anyone who wants to read about why Reyna didn't play much…

He didn't practice with intensity. Coaches talked to him. Teammates confronted him. And now it's coming out.
Drama.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/gregg-berhalter-says-he-almost-sent-usmnt-player-reportedly-gio-reyna-home-during-world-cup-234625787.html

Wait until mom and dad (Claudio) get quoted.

sluggo said:

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The first step in good tactics is to find a position for your best players, which this time included Gio Reyna.

---

So how would you have lined them up?

It's probably easiest to suggest Weah to striker and Reyna out wide, but they tried Weah at striker like 6 or 12 months ago and it was apparent that he is not a 9.

Weah is fast and good at working for crosses on his right foot. But he doesn't excel at many other things.

I think fans want to imagine that the suns are simply better than they are. Even Pulisic… he's just not as fantastic as he's headlined to be.

It's kinda sad that we get excited about the energy that Aaronson brings. Count me among them. But if that's all we've got…

I was hoping Haji would be a revelation! Yeah, he was a revelation as to why he barely made the squad!

Maybe if you combined Pulisic or Renya's touch and creativity with Weston's physicality and Aaronson's hustle inside Haji's body frame (6'3"), there's your striker.

We just don't have it all.
Our best athletes go to football and basketball. Cha-Ching.

concordtom said:

---

sluggo said:

---

The first step in good tactics is to find a position for your best players, which this time included Gio Reyna.

---

So how would you have lined them up?

It's probably easiest to suggest Weah to striker and Reyna out wide, but they tried Weah at striker like 6 or 12 months ago and it was apparent that he is not a 9.

Weah is fast and good at working for crosses on his right foot. But he doesn't excel at many other things.

I think fans want to imagine that the suns are simply better than they are. Even Pulisic… he's just not as fantastic as he's headlined to be.

It's kinda sad that we get excited about the energy that Aaronson brings. Count me among them. But if that's all we've got…

I was hoping Haji would be a revelation! Yeah, he was a revelation as to why he barely made the squad!

Maybe if you combined Pulisic or Renya's touch and creativity with Weston's physicality and Aaronson's hustle inside Haji's body frame (6'3"), there's your striker.

We just don't have it all.
Our best athletes go to football and basketball. Cha-Ching.

---

I think the idea is that since we don't have a great striker, you should just get the best athletes on the field in any configuration, rather than wasting some of them on the bench.

bearister said:

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Not a soccer fan. Have no knowledge. With that said, France v England looks like a large leap in skill level to me.

---

I've watched every US National game for many many years now. And nearly every WC game. It's been exhausting!

Soccer is an interesting game, because there are so few scores. It can be really hard to score and do the difference between a mediocre team and an awesome team might be just one goal. Or none or it can flip and the underdog wins by 1.

My coaching buddy and I have decided that this is why soccer fans love the game - because luck enters the fray. Not only do you have to be good, but the soccer gods must shine upon you. And any team often still has a chance at the end to get a result (a tie) with a fluke goal.

Haji Wright's goal was a fluke, but that's what happens when you put the ball into the 6-yard box. The 2nd pk foul by France's Hernandez running smack into the England striker on a long ball is similar - ooops, thank you very much.

Pele predicted many decades ago that one day the African nations would dominate world football. It hasn't happened, though European sides that top play have many players with African roots. But why not the full African sides??

It's because there's an awful lot to be said about the football brain of experience, game knowledge, and the culture of the sport required to win matches. And that's often very hard to explain. But everyone loves to try. Messi's assist in the last game is a great example of that. He didn't even look and somehow saw the slotted path in his head. That type of thing supersedes athleticism.

sycasey said:

---

concordtom said:

---

sluggo said:

---

The first step in good tactics is to find a position for your best players, which this time included Gio Reyna.

---

So how would you have lined them up?

It's probably easiest to suggest Weah to striker and Reyna out wide, but they tried Weah at striker like 6 or 12 months ago and it was apparent that he is not a 9.

Weah is fast and good at working for crosses on his right foot. But he doesn't excel at many other things.

I think fans want to imagine that the suns are simply better than they are. Even Pulisic… he's just not as fantastic as he's headlined to be.

It's kinda sad that we get excited about the energy that Aaronson brings. Count me among them. But if that's all we've got…

I was hoping Haji would be a revelation! Yeah, he was a revelation as to why he barely made the squad!

Maybe if you combined Pulisic or Renya's touch and creativity with Weston's physicality and Aaronson's hustle inside Haji's body frame (6'3"), there's your striker.

We just don't have it all.
Our best athletes go to football and basketball. Cha-Ching.

---

I think the idea is that since we don't have a great striker, you should just get the best athletes on the field in any configuration, rather than wasting some of them on the bench.

---

That sounds nice but what if, say, your best players are all center backs.

Maybe if Reyna had a better attitude he would have gotten more time. It's a fairly shocking indictment upon him if teammates called him out in locker room to his face. THAT supersedes whatever potential talent he may have.

concordtom said:

---

bearister said:

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Not a soccer fan. Have no knowledge. With that said, France v England looks like a large leap in skill level to me.

---

I've watched every US National game for many many years now. And nearly every WC game. It's been exhausting!

Soccer is an interesting game, because there are so few scores. It can be really hard to score and do the difference between a mediocre team and an awesome team might be just one goal. Or none or it can flip and the underdog wins by 1.

My coaching buddy and I have decided that this is why soccer fans love the game - because luck enters the fray. Not only do you have to be good, but the soccer gods must shine upon you. And any team often still has a chance at the end to get a result (a tie) with a fluke goal.

Haji Wright's goal was a fluke, but that's what happens when you put the ball into the 6-yard box. The 2nd pk foul by France's Hernandez running smack into the England striker on a long ball is similar - ooops, thank you very much.

Pele predicted many decades ago that one day the African nations would dominate world football. It hasn't happened, though European sides that top play have many players with African roots. But why not the full African sides??

It's because there's an awful lot to be said about the football brain of experience, game knowledge, and the culture of the sport required to win matches. And that's often very hard to explain. But everyone loves to try. Messi's assist in the last game is a great example of that. He didn't even look and somehow saw the slotted path in his head. That type of thing supersedes athleticism.

---

Agree completely. People will rave about Mbappe's speed, but he's a pure product of the French school, born and raised.

Cal88 said:

---

concordtom said:

---

bearister said:

---

Not a soccer fan. Have no knowledge. With that said, France v England looks like a large leap in skill level to me.

---

I've watched every US National game for many many years now. And nearly every WC game. It's been exhausting!

Soccer is an interesting game, because there are so few scores. It can be really hard to score and do the difference between a mediocre team and an awesome team might be just one goal. Or none or it can flip and the underdog wins by 1.

My coaching buddy and I have decided that this is why soccer fans love the game - because luck enters the fray. Not only do you have to be good, but the soccer gods must shine upon you. And any team often still has a chance at the end to get a result (a tie) with a fluke goal.

Haji Wright's goal was a fluke, but that's what happens when you put the ball into the 6-yard box. The 2nd pk foul by France's Hernandez running smack into the England striker on a long ball is similar - ooops, thank you very much.

Pele predicted many decades ago that one day the African nations would dominate world football. It hasn't happened, though European sides that top play have many players with African roots. But why not the full African sides??

It's because there's an awful lot to be said about the football brain of experience, game knowledge, and the culture of the sport required to win matches. And that's often very hard to explain. But everyone loves to try. Messi's assist in the last game is a great example of that. He didn't even look and somehow saw the slotted path in his head. That type of thing supersedes athleticism.

---

Agree completely. People will rave about Mbappe's speed, but he's a pure product of the French school, born and raised.

---

That is why Morocco is good…

Well he released a statement on IG saying that Greg told him his playing time would be limited right when they arrived in Qatar. He admitted he let his emotions get the best of him and tanked the scrimmage against Al-Gharafa. But he says the coach and team intervened, he apologized and everyone moved forward.

Not sure how Berhalter thinks that releasing this info does any good at all except to shed light on why Gio didn't play.

Berhalter needs to judge games better. he's good in first half but he can't adjust fast enough in the 2nd.

^ The ability to adjust at halftime has become even more important with the recent move to 5 subs. Also favors the big teams with greater depth.

philly1121 said:

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Well he released a statement on IG saying that Greg told him his playing time would be limited right when they arrived in Qatar. He admitted he let his emotions get the best of him and tanked the scrimmage against Al-Gharafa. But he says the coach and team intervened, he apologized and everyone moved forward.

Not sure how Berhalter thinks that releasing this info does any good at all except to shed light on why Gio didn't play.

Berhalter needs to judge games better. he's good in first half but he can't adjust fast enough in the 2nd.

---

A coach who did not think he needed this guy is not a coach I want. Coaches can be replaced, a talent like this comes along very rarely. I hope he is not renewed. Other than a rigid system that does not lead to goals, neither in qualifying (the US just barely qualified) nor in the World Cup, I agree that he is not clever enough to adjust tactics in games.

GIOVANNI REYNA ROCKET 🚀🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/mvfbZofhEU

— 🇺🇸 USMNT vs Haters (@USMNTvsHaters) December 10, 2022

Cal88 said:

---

concordtom said:

---

bearister said:

---

Not a soccer fan. Have no knowledge. With that said, France v England looks like a large leap in skill level to me.

---

I've watched every US National game for many many years now. And nearly every WC game. It's been exhausting!

Soccer is an interesting game, because there are so few scores. It can be really hard to score and do the difference between a mediocre team and an awesome team might be just one goal. Or none or it can flip and the underdog wins by 1.

My coaching buddy and I have decided that this is why soccer fans love the game - because luck enters the fray. Not only do you have to be good, but the soccer gods must shine upon you. And any team often still has a chance at the end to get a result (a tie) with a fluke goal.

Haji Wright's goal was a fluke, but that's what happens when you put the ball into the 6-yard box. The 2nd pk foul by France's Hernandez running smack into the England striker on a long ball is similar - ooops, thank you very much.

Pele predicted many decades ago that one day the African nations would dominate world football. It hasn't happened, though European sides that top play have many players with African roots. But why not the full African sides??

It's because there's an awful lot to be said about the football brain of experience, game knowledge, and the culture of the sport required to win matches. And that's often very hard to explain. But everyone loves to try. Messi's assist in the last game is a great example of that. He didn't even look and somehow saw the slotted path in his head. That type of thing supersedes athleticism.

---

Agree completely. People will rave about Mbappe's speed, but he's a pure product of the French school, born and raised.

---

Not sure what "French school" means. He is from the suburbs of Paris, the poor neighborhoods of immigrants that are the starting places of many of the best players in the world. This includes Pogba, Kante, and many, many others. It is sort of like American basketball players coming from the worst-off areas. Soccer is a way out. I am sure competing against the best and being in that culture was helpful. His father was a small time coach. He did spend some time at the French national training center, but he was already known as a prodigy.

Good take. As a soccer coach myself for U19 boys, I see the perspective of Berhalter. A player showing attitude or not working hard enough and it then affects the team - you can't have that. However, it really begs the question as to what Greg saw or didn't see in Gio that essentially wrote him off for the whole tourney before a ball was kicked.

Jesus Ferreira's start against the Oranje was inexcusable. And fairness to Jesus, he's a good player. But you start Gio. Subbing him into the game at the break shows a rigidity to Berhalter that is alarming.

How he selected players to start and his selections at the 60+ minute mark were suspect.

philly1121 said:

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Good take. As a soccer coach myself for U19 boys, I see the perspective of Berhalter. A player showing attitude or not working hard enough and it then affects the team - you can't have that. However, it really begs the question as to what Greg saw or didn't see in Gio that essentially wrote him off for the whole tourney before a ball was kicked.

Jesus Ferreira's start against the Oranje was inexcusable. And fairness to Jesus, he's a good player. But you start Gio. Subbing him into the game at the break shows a rigidity to Berhalter that is alarming.

How he selected players to start and his selections at the 60+ minute mark were suspect.

---

Especially given Gio's response: he says Berhalter told him his role would be limited before Berhalter claims he was dogging it in practice/scrimmage. Gio should have responded better, but he's also 20 and highly competitive and I can see why he would be very frustrated. The question for Berhalter is why was your most talented player's role going to be limited in the first place?

Question. I have a 6 year old son in so cal who is good at soccer and does really well in AYSO. What is the best way to develop his talent if he really likes to play?