Personally not a fan of forecasting potential #USMNT opponents and dreaming about the chances of them progressing through the tournament. The US has historically, consistently, and frustratingly faceplanted in these situations. Let's just enjoy it as it goes.
Is there any analysis or quantitative data explaining all of the early goals in this World Cup??
This is a joke but not enough #USMNT fans know Julian Green has been a consistent 2.Bundesliga player for the last 8 years. For how many English Championship players are still popular in the US player pool, Green deserves way more respect. I always hoped he'd get a redemption arc.
In the 2000s and 2010s, the #USMNT had a slew of prospects at forward that flamed out. Green has had a better career than almost all of them.
International soccer is so brutal and unforgiving in a way I don't think any other sport is. You add the magnitude and stakes of the World Cup and it takes those dynamics to the most extreme degree.
Also, with the expanded field, two knockout wins still don't put the #USMNT any further than they have progressed in the past. The US is eventually going to have to out-class a top-class opponent to meet everyone's expectations. No one in Group D nor Bosnia fits that bill.
I truly don't get the bemoaning the head-to-head tiebreaker. The purpose of the World Cup is not to have the most compelling third group stage matches. The point is for the best teams to move on. Head-to-head results are BY FAR the better determining factor.
Weah off the bench for this team is a cheat code. Then you can throw Aaronson at them too. Get them two on the field and let Gio Reyna try some shit and close it out.