Soccer Topics: No goalies in the USA

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concordtom
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In reply to sluggo • 10:43p, 5/24/26
So, how do you line em up in game 1?

Also, how do you manage any rotation for rest purposes? I had read long ago that depth would be more important because the games would be closer together in this WC, but I think we have games 7, 7, 7, 6 days apart, at least the first 2 warmups and 3 group games. That's enough to keep playing the starters.



USMNT 2026 World Cup roster
(First-time World Cup selections indicated with an asterisk, caps and goals listed in parentheses)

Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady* (Chicago Fire, 0 caps/0 goals), Matt Freese* (New York City, 14/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution, 53/0)

Defenders (10): Max Arfsten* (Columbus Crew, 18/1), Sergiño Dest (PSV, 37/2), Alex Freeman* (Villarreal, 15/2), Mark McKenzie* (Toulouse, 27/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC, 80/1), Chris Richards* (Crystal Palace, 36/3), Antonee Robinson (Fulham, 52/4), Miles Robinson* (FC Cincinnati, 38/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 24/0), Auston Trusty* (Celtic, 6/0)

Midfielders (4): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth, 52/2), Sebastian Berhalter* (Vancouver Whitecaps, 11/1), Weston McKennie (Juventus, 64/12), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders, 45/0)


Attacking midfielders/wingers (6): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United, 57/9), Christian Pulisic (Milan, 84/32), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 36/9), Malik Tillman* (Bayer Leverkusen, 28/3), Tim Weah (Marseille, 49/7), Alejandro Zendejas* (Club Amrica, 13/2)

Strikers (3): Folarin Balogun* (AS Monaco, 25/8), Ricardo Pepi* (PSV, 35/13), Haji Wright (Coventry City, 20/7)
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concordtom
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In reply to sluggo • 10:47p, 5/24/26
sluggo said:
The Guardian says they have the whole US roster. It is surprisingly heavy on defenders and light on midfielders. I thought Tanner Tessman would start with Tyler Adams in the midfield, but Tessman is not even on the roster.

If you remember the controversy in the last WC between the Reynas and the Berhalters it is interesting that Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter both made the squad. The younger Berhalter is not a nepo pick, he is a strong central midfielder who fights to the death and is good at set pieces. Given the shortage of midfielders I think he will get on the field.

There is always the chance that this roster is incorrect, we will see for sure on Tuesday.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/23/usmnt-world-cup-roster-alejandro-zendejas-tanner-tessmann-gio-reyna-diego-luna



Your article says that Chris Richards has ligament issues in his ankle. Yikes!!

It also says berhalter has done a good job on corners. I look forward to improvement from when Pulisic was taking them!!
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PAC-10-BEAR
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In reply to concordtom • 11:40p, 5/24/26
concordtom said:
Cal88 said:
Arsenal about to clinch the EPL title eating cheeseburgers as Man U is down 1-0 at bornemouth with 15min to go.

Tottenham keeping things interesting at the other end down 1-0 at chelsea. halftime. If they lose their last game against Everton and West Ham beats Leeds, the Spurs get relegated.

Yes!!
Get Relegated!!!!


Not today!

Glory, glory, Tottenham Hotspur!
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Cal88
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In reply to Aunburdened • 5:31a, 5/25/26
Aunburdened said:
Cal88 said:
Tourism windfall from the World Cup falling way below expectations.


There are apparently limits to how much people are willing to be price gouged for something they can see on TV


They can gouge a few thousand foreign visitors who want to watch their team, but charging $800 for Turkey-Paraguay or Jordan-Algeria at Levis Stadium is idiotic.
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Cal88
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5:49a, 5/25/26
Schedue of int'l friendlies pre-WC:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/schedule/_/league/fifa.friendly
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concordtom
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In reply to PAC-10-BEAR • 7:56a, 5/25/26
Tottenham needed to lose to be relegated. Not tie. Not win.

West Ham needed to Win. Not tie. Not lose.

Two events with 1 out of 3 possible outcomes.

1/3 * 1/3 = 0.111

There was only an 11.1% chance of relegation.
Anyways, West Ham is a big club! They play at Olympic, renamed London, Stadium. I saw Chelsea at West Ham in 2023.
That's a big deal, too.
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concordtom
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In reply to Cal88 • 8:08a, 5/25/26
Cal88 said:
Schedue of int'l friendlies pre-WC:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/schedule/_/league/fifa.friendly


That's a great link because it shows WHERE the games are being played. Who has scheduled them in this hemisphere vs traveling over later?

Of note, Mexico has scheduled a friendly in the Rose Bowl. That's hilarious. It'll be packed!!!


Now then, I went looking for where teams have decided to setup their Base Camps. This seems kinda crazy, too. I'd love to cross map base camp location to game locations - because…. Santa Barbara???





And then, this looked interesting, too:



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concordtom
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8:15a, 5/25/26
Aha!

Using the above data graphics, Austria is camping in Santa Barbara, and their games are in San Jose, KC, and Dallas.

I assume direct private charter jets.

There are sure to get trainable weather in Santa Barbara.
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Cal88
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In reply to concordtom • 8:17a, 5/25/26
concordtom said:
Tottenham needed to lose to be relegated. Not tie. Not win.

West Ham needed to Win. Not tie. Not lose.

Two events with 1 out of 3 possible outcomes.

1/3 * 1/3 = 0.111

There was only an 11.1% chance of relegation.
Anyways, West Ham is a big club! They play at Olympic, renamed London, Stadium. I saw Chelsea at West Ham in 2023.
That's a big deal, too.


West Ham got 0 points out of their next to last games vs Brentford, Arsenal and Newcastle. A single win out of these 3 games and the Spurs would have been relegated instead.
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concordtom
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8:18a, 5/25/26
I should make a list of every country:

Base Camp location,
Friendly 1 location, # of Days rest
Friendly 2 location, # of Days rest
Game 1 location, # of Days rest
Game 2 location, # of Days rest
Game 3 location.
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concordtom
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In reply to Cal88 • 8:19a, 5/25/26
Cal88 said:
concordtom said:
Tottenham needed to lose to be relegated. Not tie. Not win.

West Ham needed to Win. Not tie. Not lose.

Two events with 1 out of 3 possible outcomes.

1/3 * 1/3 = 0.111

There was only an 11.1% chance of relegation.
Anyways, West Ham is a big club! They play at Olympic, renamed London, Stadium. I saw Chelsea at West Ham in 2023.
That's a big deal, too.


West Ham got 0 points out of their next to last games vs Brentford, Arsenal and Newcastle. A single win out of these 3 games and the Spurs would have been relegated instead.


Oh geez, that hurts!!!!

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sluggo
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In reply to concordtom • 9:53a, 5/25/26
concordtom said:
So, how do you line em up in game 1?

Also, how do you manage any rotation for rest purposes? I had read long ago that depth would be more important because the games would be closer together in this WC, but I think we have games 7, 7, 7, 6 days apart, at least the first 2 warmups and 3 group games. That's enough to keep playing the starters.



USMNT 2026 World Cup roster
(First-time World Cup selections indicated with an asterisk, caps and goals listed in parentheses)

Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady* (Chicago Fire, 0 caps/0 goals), Matt Freese* (New York City, 14/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution, 53/0)

Defenders (10): Max Arfsten* (Columbus Crew, 18/1), Sergiño Dest (PSV, 37/2), Alex Freeman* (Villarreal, 15/2), Mark McKenzie* (Toulouse, 27/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC, 80/1), Chris Richards* (Crystal Palace, 36/3), Antonee Robinson (Fulham, 52/4), Miles Robinson* (FC Cincinnati, 38/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 24/0), Auston Trusty* (Celtic, 6/0)

Midfielders (4): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth, 52/2), Sebastian Berhalter* (Vancouver Whitecaps, 11/1), Weston McKennie (Juventus, 64/12), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders, 45/0)


Attacking midfielders/wingers (6): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United, 57/9), Christian Pulisic (Milan, 84/32), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 36/9), Malik Tillman* (Bayer Leverkusen, 28/3), Tim Weah (Marseille, 49/7), Alejandro Zendejas* (Club Amrica, 13/2)

Strikers (3): Folarin Balogun* (AS Monaco, 25/8), Ricardo Pepi* (PSV, 35/13), Haji Wright (Coventry City, 20/7)

I think the question is among Weah, Dest and Freeman, which two of three will start on the right side. In a 4-2-3-1 with Dest and Weah:

Balogun
Pulisic. McKennie Weah
Adams Tillman
A. Robinson Ream Richards Dest
Freese

In a 3-4-2-1 with Dest and Freeman:


Balogun
Pulisic. McKennie
A. Robinson Adams Tillman Dest
Ream Richards Freeman
Freese

I assume Tillman will partner with Adams, but I don't really know. Berhalter and Roldan are also possibilities. I thought it would be Tanner Tessman. McKenzie is probably the first central defender off the bench as Ream was too old last cycle.

Richards' injury is not supposed to be serious and he should be fine for the first game.
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concordtom
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In reply to sluggo • 10:02a, 5/25/26
Do you suppose Coach starts his #1 squad in both friendlies?

I think I would. One week rest between the next five games, and maybe even 6 games.

Or, maybe he's still experimenting. Like, dude, so hard to not know, even still. The whole thing seems like a crap shoot, and this is why I hate soccer: games will be decided on an inadvertent trip or hand or tip off someone's ankle - and then all the writers say, "oh, so-and-so was so much better than team B".

It's a game of chance when it's a score of 1-0, or PK's. Might as well go to Monaco!

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Cal88
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10:09a, 5/25/26
Only 3 strikers on the full USMNT roster??
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sluggo
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In reply to Cal88 • 10:20a, 5/25/26
Cal88 said:
Only 3 strikers on the full USMNT roster??

Well, they only play one. The #4 striker Patrick Agyemang is injured. They have also experimented with Pulisic as a false #9 and McKennie may move up at the end of the game with Reyna coming on. All prognosticators (including me) thought these three and only these three would be chosen.
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sluggo
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In reply to concordtom • 10:21a, 5/25/26
concordtom said:
Do you suppose Coach starts his #1 squad in both friendlies?

I think I would. One week rest between the next five games, and maybe even 6 games.

Or, maybe he's still experimenting. Like, dude, so hard to not know, even still. The whole thing seems like a crap shoot, and this is why I hate soccer: games will be decided on an inadvertent trip or hand or tip off someone's ankle - and then all the writers say, "oh, so-and-so was so much better than team B".

It's a game of chance when it's a score of 1-0, or PK's. Might as well go to Monaco!


If no serious injuries I think the #1 squad plays the first friendly and the second protects some players from injury.
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sluggo
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10:36a, 5/25/26
Spain's roster came out. 8 players from Barcelona, 3 from Atletico Madrid, 3 from Arsenal and 0 from Real Madrid. That seems crazy but Real's best players are from abroad.

Spain and France have the best talent. I think in the heat of the summer Spain's ball control will make them champions. I am also not sure about the French keepers.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48870392/spain-world-cup-2026-squad-confirmed-lamine-yamal-stars-no-real-madrid-players
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Cal88
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In reply to sluggo • 11:28a, 5/25/26
sluggo said:
Spain's roster came out. 8 players from Barcelona, 3 from Atletico Madrid, 3 from Arsenal and 0 from Real Madrid. That seems crazy but Real's best players are from abroad.

Spain and France have the best talent. I think in the heat of the summer Spain's ball control will make them champions. I am also not sure about the French keepers.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48870392/spain-world-cup-2026-squad-confirmed-lamine-yamal-stars-no-real-madrid-players


The semis are in Atlanta and Dallas, other than 2 QFs held in Seattle and Vancouver, all the venues from the QF on are in hot weather venues.

They really should have mixed SF, LA, Boston, Toronto in in those late stage games.

Mike Maignan (30yo, AC Milan) has started for France at the goal for many years now, should start in the WC. Dechamps is partial towards vets at GK. Here's the unofficial France WC roster:

Gardiens
Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
Robin Risser (RC Lens)
Brice Samba (Stade Rennais)

Dfenseurs
Lucas Digne (Aston Villa)
Malo Gusto (Chelsea)
Lucas Hernndez (Paris Saint-Germain)
Tho Hernndez (Al-Hilal)
Ibrahima Konat (Liverpool FC)
Jules Kound (FC Barcelone)
Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Milieux de terrain
N'Golo Kant (Fenerbahe)
Manu Kon (AS Rome)
Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan)
Aurlien Tchouamni (Real Madrid)
Warren Zare-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Attaquants
Maghnes Akliouche (AS Monaco)
Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain)
Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
Ousmane Dembl (Paris Saint-Germain)
Dsir Dou (Paris Saint-Germain)
Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
Kylian Mbapp (Real Madrid)
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)

Griezmann out at 35. Kante is in, at the same age. He did play well at the last Euro, but 35 is awfully old for a defensive mid, maybe he will rotate or sub in.

I think Spain will be favored. France under Deschamps has never performed to its potential.

England for once might get past the QF, haven't followed Brazil or Arg too close lately.

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sluggo
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In reply to Cal88 • 12:11p, 5/25/26
Cal88 said:
sluggo said:
Spain's roster came out. 8 players from Barcelona, 3 from Atletico Madrid, 3 from Arsenal and 0 from Real Madrid. That seems crazy but Real's best players are from abroad.

Spain and France have the best talent. I think in the heat of the summer Spain's ball control will make them champions. I am also not sure about the French keepers.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48870392/spain-world-cup-2026-squad-confirmed-lamine-yamal-stars-no-real-madrid-players


The semis are in Atlanta and Dallas, other than 2 QFs held in Seattle and Vancouver, all the venues from the QF on are in hot weather venues.

They really should have mixed SF, LA, Boston, Toronto in in those late stage games.

Mike Maignan (30yo, AC Milan) has started for France at the goal for many years now, should start in the WC. Dechamps is partial towards vets at GK. Here's the unofficial France WC roster:

Gardiens
Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
Robin Risser (RC Lens)
Brice Samba (Stade Rennais)

Dfenseurs
Lucas Digne (Aston Villa)
Malo Gusto (Chelsea)
Lucas Hernndez (Paris Saint-Germain)
Tho Hernndez (Al-Hilal)
Ibrahima Konat (Liverpool FC)
Jules Kound (FC Barcelone)
Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Milieux de terrain
N'Golo Kant (Fenerbahe)
Manu Kon (AS Rome)
Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan)
Aurlien Tchouamni (Real Madrid)
Warren Zare-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Attaquants
Maghnes Akliouche (AS Monaco)
Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain)
Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
Ousmane Dembl (Paris Saint-Germain)
Dsir Dou (Paris Saint-Germain)
Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
Kylian Mbapp (Real Madrid)
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)

Griezmann out at 35. Kante is in, at the same age. He did play well at the last Euro, but 35 is awfully old for a defensive mid, maybe he will rotate or sub in.

I think Spain will be favored. France under Deschamps has never performed to its potential.

England for once might get past the QF, haven't followed Brazil or Arg too close lately.


That is funny about Deschamps. He has a first and a second in his old two world cups managing. But most agree they play too conservatively for all the talent. Having Mbappe, Dembele, Doue, and Olise up front is unbelievable. At midfield Tchoumani and Zaire-Emery is good. Cherki might be able to be an attacking midfielder. I thought Kante was too old last world cup, maybe he will be a reserve. I thought Griezmann was still great this year but maybe he did not want to play.

I have seen Maignan play many times as he is the keeper for Pulisic's club team and I am not impressed.
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Cal88
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In reply to sluggo • 1:10p, 5/25/26
sluggo said:
Cal88 said:
sluggo said:
Spain's roster came out. 8 players from Barcelona, 3 from Atletico Madrid, 3 from Arsenal and 0 from Real Madrid. That seems crazy but Real's best players are from abroad.

Spain and France have the best talent. I think in the heat of the summer Spain's ball control will make them champions. I am also not sure about the French keepers.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48870392/spain-world-cup-2026-squad-confirmed-lamine-yamal-stars-no-real-madrid-players


The semis are in Atlanta and Dallas, other than 2 QFs held in Seattle and Vancouver, all the venues from the QF on are in hot weather venues.

They really should have mixed SF, LA, Boston, Toronto in in those late stage games.

Mike Maignan (30yo, AC Milan) has started for France at the goal for many years now, should start in the WC. Dechamps is partial towards vets at GK. Here's the unofficial France WC roster:

Gardiens
Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
Robin Risser (RC Lens)
Brice Samba (Stade Rennais)

Dfenseurs
Lucas Digne (Aston Villa)
Malo Gusto (Chelsea)
Lucas Hernndez (Paris Saint-Germain)
Tho Hernndez (Al-Hilal)
Ibrahima Konat (Liverpool FC)
Jules Kound (FC Barcelone)
Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Milieux de terrain
N'Golo Kant (Fenerbahe)
Manu Kon (AS Rome)
Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan)
Aurlien Tchouamni (Real Madrid)
Warren Zare-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Attaquants
Maghnes Akliouche (AS Monaco)
Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain)
Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
Ousmane Dembl (Paris Saint-Germain)
Dsir Dou (Paris Saint-Germain)
Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
Kylian Mbapp (Real Madrid)
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)

Griezmann out at 35. Kante is in, at the same age. He did play well at the last Euro, but 35 is awfully old for a defensive mid, maybe he will rotate or sub in.

I think Spain will be favored. France under Deschamps has never performed to its potential.

England for once might get past the QF, haven't followed Brazil or Arg too close lately.


That is funny about Deschamps. He has a first and a second in his old two world cups managing. But most agree they play too conservatively for all the talent. Having Mbappe, Dembele, Doue, and Olise up front is unbelievable. At midfield Tchoumani and Zaire-Emery is good. Cherki might be able to be an attacking midfielder. I thought Kante was too old last world cup, maybe he will be a reserve. I thought Griezmann was still great this year but maybe he did not want to play.

I have seen Maignan play many times as he is the keeper for Pulisic's club team and I am not impressed.


Deschamps has 1 win out of 2 WCs and 3 Euros, usually with the most talented and deepest roster/payroll.
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sluggo
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In reply to Cal88 • 1:19p, 5/25/26
Cal88 said:
sluggo said:
Cal88 said:
sluggo said:
Spain's roster came out. 8 players from Barcelona, 3 from Atletico Madrid, 3 from Arsenal and 0 from Real Madrid. That seems crazy but Real's best players are from abroad.

Spain and France have the best talent. I think in the heat of the summer Spain's ball control will make them champions. I am also not sure about the French keepers.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48870392/spain-world-cup-2026-squad-confirmed-lamine-yamal-stars-no-real-madrid-players


The semis are in Atlanta and Dallas, other than 2 QFs held in Seattle and Vancouver, all the venues from the QF on are in hot weather venues.

They really should have mixed SF, LA, Boston, Toronto in in those late stage games.

Mike Maignan (30yo, AC Milan) has started for France at the goal for many years now, should start in the WC. Dechamps is partial towards vets at GK. Here's the unofficial France WC roster:

Gardiens
Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
Robin Risser (RC Lens)
Brice Samba (Stade Rennais)

Dfenseurs
Lucas Digne (Aston Villa)
Malo Gusto (Chelsea)
Lucas Hernndez (Paris Saint-Germain)
Tho Hernndez (Al-Hilal)
Ibrahima Konat (Liverpool FC)
Jules Kound (FC Barcelone)
Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Milieux de terrain
N'Golo Kant (Fenerbahe)
Manu Kon (AS Rome)
Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan)
Aurlien Tchouamni (Real Madrid)
Warren Zare-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Attaquants
Maghnes Akliouche (AS Monaco)
Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain)
Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
Ousmane Dembl (Paris Saint-Germain)
Dsir Dou (Paris Saint-Germain)
Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
Kylian Mbapp (Real Madrid)
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)

Griezmann out at 35. Kante is in, at the same age. He did play well at the last Euro, but 35 is awfully old for a defensive mid, maybe he will rotate or sub in.

I think Spain will be favored. France under Deschamps has never performed to its potential.

England for once might get past the QF, haven't followed Brazil or Arg too close lately.


That is funny about Deschamps. He has a first and a second in his old two world cups managing. But most agree they play too conservatively for all the talent. Having Mbappe, Dembele, Doue, and Olise up front is unbelievable. At midfield Tchoumani and Zaire-Emery is good. Cherki might be able to be an attacking midfielder. I thought Kante was too old last world cup, maybe he will be a reserve. I thought Griezmann was still great this year but maybe he did not want to play.

I have seen Maignan play many times as he is the keeper for Pulisic's club team and I am not impressed.


Deschamps has 1 win out of 2 WCs and 3 Euros, usually with the most talented and deepest roster/payroll.

That is 1 for 5, he has never won a Euro. The way it is written could have multiple interpretations. Still a small sample size. I do agree with their talent they should attack more.
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PAC-10-BEAR
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In reply to concordtom • 3:13p, 5/25/26
concordtom said:
Tottenham needed to lose to be relegated. Not tie. Not win.

West Ham needed to Win. Not tie. Not lose.

Two events with 1 out of 3 possible outcomes.

1/3 * 1/3 = 0.111

There was only an 11.1% chance of relegation.
Anyways, West Ham is a big club! They play at Olympic, renamed London, Stadium. I saw Chelsea at West Ham in 2023.
That's a big deal, too.

I watched West Ham at Tottenham in 2024. We entered the subway station trying to figure out which train to take to White Hart Lane from London and then I hear all the singing and cheering and knew.
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concordtom
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In reply to PAC-10-BEAR • 6:05a, 5/26/26
I was getting off the train at West Ham and police were setup awaiting the Chelsea boys outside the station.
They had those metal crowd control things all set up to give them their own aisle passageway all the way to the stadium. Horses, mounted and standing cops all the way along. The Chelsea punks sang and swore in the faces of others like a bunch of righteous teenage punks - for absolutely no reason.

To be honest, it was ridiculous.

They knew they were going to be segregated immediately exiting the station and went through their chute, thereafter began acting out.

The West Ham fan base that was attending were quite normal everyday people. No yelling back.

It all made me want to understand the different team fan bases culturally. Like, why are Chelsea a bunch of idiots? Which other clubs have idiot fan bases? Is this a class thing, like rough n tumble inner city vs suburbs, or….?

I don't know London or English culture this way well at all.

I just laughed and filmed video on my iPhone. The Chelsea fans were all in the endzone. They left before the end of the match, knowing they were going to lose. Poor showing.

I had to look it up:

Aug 20, 23

West Ham, 3
N. Aguerd 7'
M. Antonio 53'
Lucas Paquet 90+5' (P)

Chelsea, 1
C. Chukwuemeka 28'

Red cards:
N. Aguerd 67'

Yes, I think they had given up even before the 3rd goal.
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concordtom
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7:24a, 5/26/26
Iran's national soccer team will sleep in Mexico and travel to the United States on the days of its three World Cup matches after Washington declined to host the squad for the tournament, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said. https://cnn.it/4f8abjf


(The graphic I posted above said they were going to Base Camp in Tucson AZ.)

Iran's national team will be based at the Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana, Mexico during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Iranian Football Federation requested and received FIFA approval to relocate their camp from Tucson, Arizona, citing travel logistics and security concerns.

Their games are going to be played at Sofi (LA), at Sofi, and at Lumen Field in Seattle.
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sluggo
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8:52p, 5/26/26
Turned out the leaked 26 was the true 26 for the USMNT. Usually a player or two will get injured or show up injured. I did not see alternates listed elsewhere. Like me, many think the midfield is a little thin. When asked about it Poch said anyone can play defensive midfielder. Maybe true, it is where I play in my old man league.
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sluggo
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11:07a, 5/27/26
Here is an article about reasons why the best soccer players are not American. I think it is a good read. But it is more interview style that essay style. I think when he is really trying Weston McKennie is a top 50 in the world player. That is probably a minority opinion. After the World Cup I will talk about why I think the US does not produce the very top players. Something to look forward to, hee hee.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/23/usmnt-player-development-youth
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Cal88
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In reply to sluggo • 11:53a, 5/27/26
sluggo said:
Here is an article about reasons why the best soccer players are not American. I think it is a good read. But it is more interview style that essay style. I think when he is really trying Weston McKennie is a top 50 in the world player. That is probably a minority opinion. After the World Cup I will talk about why I think the US does not produce the very top players. Something to look forward to, hee hee.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/23/usmnt-player-development-youth


Tab Ramos with the tl;dr, from that article above:

Quote:
When he was 11 years old, Ramos and his family immigrated to the US from Uruguay, one of only eight countries to win the men's World Cup. The head start the sheer, uninterrupted history top-flight soccer had there goes hand-in-hand with another obvious ingredient fuelling their advantage.

"We just don't have a soccer culture in this country," Ramos said. "And in the last 30 years, that hasn't really improved that much."

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Aunburdened
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In reply to Cal88 • 12:07p, 5/27/26
Cal88 said:
sluggo said:
Here is an article about reasons why the best soccer players are not American. I think it is a good read. But it is more interview style that essay style. I think when he is really trying Weston McKennie is a top 50 in the world player. That is probably a minority opinion. After the World Cup I will talk about why I think the US does not produce the very top players. Something to look forward to, hee hee.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/23/usmnt-player-development-youth


Tab Ramos with the tl;dr, from that article above:

Quote:
When he was 11 years old, Ramos and his family immigrated to the US from Uruguay, one of only eight countries to win the men's World Cup. The head start the sheer, uninterrupted history top-flight soccer had there goes hand-in-hand with another obvious ingredient fuelling their advantage.

"We just don't have a soccer culture in this country," Ramos said. "And in the last 30 years, that hasn't really improved that much.


What we really need are 18 year old studs from soccer playing countries immigrating here. If they come over at 11, they're simply not going to develop in the U.S. like they would in a country with more soccer infrastructure and better competition to push them.
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sluggo
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In reply to Cal88 • 12:33p, 5/27/26
Cal88 said:
sluggo said:
Here is an article about reasons why the best soccer players are not American. I think it is a good read. But it is more interview style that essay style. I think when he is really trying Weston McKennie is a top 50 in the world player. That is probably a minority opinion. After the World Cup I will talk about why I think the US does not produce the very top players. Something to look forward to, hee hee.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/23/usmnt-player-development-youth


Tab Ramos with the tl;dr, from that article above:

Quote:
When he was 11 years old, Ramos and his family immigrated to the US from Uruguay, one of only eight countries to win the men's World Cup. The head start the sheer, uninterrupted history top-flight soccer had there goes hand-in-hand with another obvious ingredient fuelling their advantage.

"We just don't have a soccer culture in this country," Ramos said. "And in the last 30 years, that hasn't really improved that much."



I agree with that. But the question is how does that impact our players?
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sluggo
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In reply to Aunburdened • 12:36p, 5/27/26
Aunburdened said:
Cal88 said:
sluggo said:
Here is an article about reasons why the best soccer players are not American. I think it is a good read. But it is more interview style that essay style. I think when he is really trying Weston McKennie is a top 50 in the world player. That is probably a minority opinion. After the World Cup I will talk about why I think the US does not produce the very top players. Something to look forward to, hee hee.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/23/usmnt-player-development-youth


Tab Ramos with the tl;dr, from that article above:

Quote:
When he was 11 years old, Ramos and his family immigrated to the US from Uruguay, one of only eight countries to win the men's World Cup. The head start the sheer, uninterrupted history top-flight soccer had there goes hand-in-hand with another obvious ingredient fuelling their advantage.

"We just don't have a soccer culture in this country," Ramos said. "And in the last 30 years, that hasn't really improved that much.


What we really need are 18 year old studs from soccer playing countries immigrating here. If they come over at 11, they're simply not going to develop in the U.S. like they would in a country with more soccer infrastructure and better competition to push them.


They don't have to immigrate, they just have to be eligible. Three of our starters never played soccer here. All of our starters except the goalie have spent some time playing in Europe.
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Cal88
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In reply to sluggo • 12:54p, 5/27/26
Maybe a program to foster a pick-up game culture among young players age 10-16, urban league, futsal etc.

Soccer moms hiring a recovery and speed coach for little Johnny is not going to do it.
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sluggo
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In reply to Cal88 • 1:11p, 5/27/26
Cal88 said:
Maybe a program to foster a pick-up culture among young players age 10-16, urban league, futsal etc.

Soccer moms hiring a recovery and speed coach for little Johnny is not going to do it.

We are not Brazil, that is not going to happen. European nations, as I understand, are mostly structured rather than pickup. There is more than one way to the top. But we are not getting there yet.
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Cal88
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In reply to sluggo • 1:19p, 5/27/26
France, Italy, Spain have a strong pickup culture that meshes well with the local club structures.
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Big C
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In reply to Cal88 • 1:21p, 5/27/26
Cal88 said:
Maybe a program to foster a pick-up culture among young players age 10-16, urban league, futsal etc.

Soccer moms hiring a recovery and speed coach for little Johnny is not going to do it.

My daughter is a case in point: Soccer is her main outside-of-school activity, but she rarely plays pick-up games. (Open field space can be an issue where we live, granted.) Also doesn't follow high-level soccer too closely.

Her team practices three times a week in late summer, the fall and the spring. In winter, she does "winter clinic" and futsol one time per week, each. Maybe she does a camp in early summer. In a year, she probably plays 30 games on weekends, between her team and guest-playing for another team in her club)

She's currently doing 8th grade track and field for conditioning purposes (plus her friend is doing it). When I asked her why, instead, doesn't she run on her own or play pick-up games, she said she really knows I love her when I gotta drop another $350 for her latest activity.

(ok, kidding about that very last part, but you get the idea... )
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sluggo
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In reply to Cal88 • 1:23p, 5/27/26
Cal88 said:
France, Italy, Spain have a strong pickup culture that meshes well with the local club structures.

I know France does. When I have been in Italy, where I will be again next month, I have not seen it. I have never been to Spain. I don't think Germany or the Netherlands do.
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