Cal88 said:

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Tickets for this game were in the low to mid 4 figures, you have an audience of Mexico's 1% in the stands today.

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Fan sneaked tequila into the stadium in a flask disguised as a mobile. Mexicans are light years ahead of us. pic.twitter.com/AOCAL99VCv

— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) June 13, 2026

The 1% know what they're doing.

So many good takeaways and points from this Poch quote on American soccer development. https://t.co/hftqAOpbWv pic.twitter.com/fX9JfH63iD

— SuperiorUSMNT (@EinSchwarzwelt) June 13, 2026

Australia beat Turkiye 2-0 last night. Which makes the USA-Australia game on Friday even bigger. I watched the first ten minutes (I am dvring every game) and found it boring and looked up the score. Anyone have any insights?

sluggo said:

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Australia beat Turkiye 2-0 last night. Which makes the USA-Australia game on Friday even bigger. I watched the first ten minutes (I am dvring every game) and found it boring and looked up the score. Anyone have any insights?

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From the parts I saw of that game, the Turks looked very static on offense, uncreative and ineffective, poor ball movement near the box, and lacked quickness in finishing, were ineffective despite almost completely dominating possession time.

I had to miss the Morocco-Brazil 2nd half care of mrs 88, how did it go? The Moroccans had Brazil on the ropes in the first "quarter" but Brazil settled down after the break and Vini got them back on track. I think Ancelotti made some adjustments and settled them down. This commercial break is really disrupting the natural flow of the game.

Holland-Japan will be a fun matchup today.

sluggo said:

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Australia beat Turkiye 2-0 last night. Which makes the USA-Australia game on Friday even bigger. I watched the first ten minutes (I am dvring every game) and found it boring and looked up the score. Anyone have any insights?

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Australia executed their approach well and were backed up by great goalkeeping. Some in Australian media are calling it the best performance by an Aussie GK in WC history.

Turkey had way more possession of the ball and 30 shots, 8 on goal. They couldn't finish.

Irankunda is legit and his counter attack skills lead to the first goal and changed the momentum of the game.

An Iranian father reports on and shows the Switzerland-Qatar football match to his blind son in a creative way.
🥺❤️ #WorldCup2026pic.twitter.com/CvIrZUYP80

— Zahra Hamidia🟥 ☫ 🟩 (@ZahraHamidia) June 14, 2026

Massachusetts legislators in deference to visiting fans passed a temporary law allowing bars to remain open until 3. It's one thing to know your visitors, but maybe you should also know your residents.

Cal88 said:

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Anarchistbear said:

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Well, at least I'm able to tell a Haitian from a Scot.

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I've never, ever seen a Scottish team, soccer or rugby, play in red. WTH.

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I think it's actually pink.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1d9pnl9lv1o

sycasey said:

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Cal88 said:

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Anarchistbear said:

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Well, at least I'm able to tell a Haitian from a Scot.

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I've never, ever seen a Scottish team, soccer or rugby, play in red. WTH.

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I think it's actually pink.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1d9pnl9lv1o

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Maybe the Swiss and Scots got their luggage mixed up

sluggo said:

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Australia beat Turkiye 2-0 last night. Which makes the USA-Australia game on Friday even bigger. I watched the first ten minutes (I am dvring every game) and found it boring and looked up the score. Anyone have any insights?

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I just finished watching.
It was amazing. Australia played a low block the entire game and when I say low I'm talking LOW.
Turkey had 30 shots. The back line of Australia was often at the pk spot or even at the 6. Turkey had the ball inside the 18 all night long.

Australia has two very fast strikers. Both black guys that are apparently immigrants who grew up together in Melbourne or Perth or something. Little dude is built like frank gore or Barry sanders, 20 years old, and made a great fast break goal to open it up and stun everyone. Look it up. Last name starts with A.

The taller guy had some runs later that showed speed, too. Last name starts with T.

The second goal was a strike from far out tucked into the corner er as Turner was backing up with too many upfield and nobody stopping the ball, late second half.

It should be a fun shooting gallery for USMNT, though I think the little dude could run past anytime but Antonee. They might want to think that through.

Australia would block and punt and he'd chase 1 vs 2. If that's against Tim Ream, danger.

I was definitely entertained!


Depending on results in round 2, we could have first place locked up before game 3.
That would be unbelievable!!!
Goal differential could be huge.

Let's light up Australia and play more of the bench. I was disappointed that Pochettino didn't go to our bench 20 minutes sooner.

If we win group, we get a weak 3rd place team and should roll into the second round knockout game healthy and we rotated (deep).

The first of my last name to arrive in USA was from Largs Scotland, 1844, Illinois, up the Erie Canal…

So I was very happy to see them atop group C.
Yippee.

sluggo said:

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Australia beat Turkiye 2-0 last night. Which makes the USA-Australia game on Friday even bigger. I watched the first ten minutes (I am dvring every game) and found it boring and looked up the score. Anyone have any insights?

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Australia appeared to have some very tall center backs. Headers were not to be had by Turkey, who instead tried to pass inside the box over and over and every time they got a shot off it hit an Australian and bounced out the box, or was booted out, and Turkey would have to start all over again.

Cal88 said:

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sluggo said:

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Australia beat Turkiye 2-0 last night. Which makes the USA-Australia game on Friday even bigger. I watched the first ten minutes (I am dvring every game) and found it boring and looked up the score. Anyone have any insights?

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From the parts I saw of that game, the Turks looked very static on offense, uncreative and ineffective, poor ball movement near the box, and lacked quickness in finishing, were ineffective despite almost completely dominating possession time.

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I was less down on Turkey than you. I think they were unlucky and Australia was lucky.
I definitely favor our chances if we get 30 shots off!!!!!!!

How many shots did Australia have, 3??

Thank you, Lord.

If we can beat Australia, even by 1, we should be able to coast in the 3rd game, even losing. Just put the 3rd team out there.

I'M COUNTING MY CHICKENS BEFORE THEY'RE HATCHED!!

Anarchistbear said:

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Massachusetts legislators in deference to visiting fans passed a temporary law allowing bars to remain open until 3.

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I love this!!!

Cal88 said:

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I had to miss the Morocco-Brazil 2nd half care of mrs 88, how did it go?

This commercial break is really disrupting the natural flow of the game.

Holland-Japan will be a fun matchup today.

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Glad to know there's a Mrs. 88.

I'm glad you called it a commercial break and not a hydration break. It's 100% for making money. The sport used to be about warriors, exhaustion, fatigue. With breaks plus 5 subs, those days are over.
I dunno that I mind, but it's not the same.

Holland Japan, yes!
I won't get to watch.

7-1 FINAL SCORE

Germany scored first.
F. Nmecha 6'

Then Curacoa tied it!
L. Comenencia 21'

Then Germany scored 6 unanswered!
N. Schlotterbeck 38'
K. Havertz 45+5' (P), 88'
J. Musiala 47'
N. Brown 68'
D. Undav 78'

concordtom said:

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Anarchistbear said:

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Massachusetts legislators in deference to visiting fans passed a temporary law allowing bars to remain open until 3.

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I love this!!!

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They are hosting the Scots so makes sense; hopefully it does not apply to the English.

I'd like to remind everyone that the USA outplayed Germany for half the match last week

Does anybody else consistently punch above their weight like the Netherlands? I'm not talking about Portugal which has been boosted by a generational player. I'm talking about the Netherlands always being in the mix without a player Americans can recognize. Any other country pull that off?

dajo9 said:

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Does anybody else consistently punch above their weight like the Netherlands? I'm not talking about Portugal which has been boosted by a generational player. I'm talking about the Netherlands always being in the mix without a player Americans can recognize. Any other country pull that off?

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I jinxed them

dajo9 said:

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dajo9 said:

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Does anybody else consistently punch above their weight like the Netherlands? I'm not talking about Portugal which has been boosted by a generational player. I'm talking about the Netherlands always being in the mix without a player Americans can recognize. Any other country pull that off?

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I jinxed them

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Portugal has had other generational talents like Eusebio and Figo.

Croatia/Yugoslavia is another great small soccer nation, they also are the main powerhouse in European basketball, and the best in the world at waterpolo.

Dutch football has been a bit down lately by their historical standards.

concordtom said:

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7-1 FINAL SCORE

Germany scored first.
F. Nmecha 6'

Then Curacoa tied it!
L. Comenencia 21'

Then Germany scored 6 unanswered!
N. Schlotterbeck 38'
K. Havertz 45+5' (P), 88'
J. Musiala 47'
N. Brown 68'
D. Undav 78'

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Curacao is undoubtedly one of the worst teams in the tournament. Tiny Caribbean nation that only got in because of the expanded field and USA/Mexico/Canada being exempted from the CONCACAF qualifying process.

dajo9 said:

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Does anybody else consistently punch above their weight like the Netherlands? I'm not talking about Portugal which has been boosted by a generational player. I'm talking about the Netherlands always being in the mix without a player Americans can recognize. Any other country pull that off?

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I definitely recognized Arjen Robben when he was around.

BearlySane88 said:

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dajo9 said:

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Does anybody else consistently punch above their weight like the Netherlands? I'm not talking about Portugal which has been boosted by a generational player. I'm talking about the Netherlands always being in the mix without a player Americans can recognize. Any other country pull that off?

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"Total football" They emphasize ball possession, movement off ball, tactical intelligence, and technical skill. It's a "sweet spot" as far as soccer countries go. Large enough country to generate great athletes, small enough to have a really strong national development system. Wealthy enough to support the development system. Soccer is the number one sport so top athletes choose to play soccer over other sports.

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That's the AI answer, generally correct, but somewht generic and superficial. My answer is that Dutch football combines the best of both northern and southern European football styles, German rigor with French flair and individual panache.

They also have a bit of the English fighting spirit, even though they have been 3 times WC finalists without winning, that in itself being a remarkable achievement for a small country.

They have some downsides as well, the Dutch predilection for being hotheads and quarrelsome. This trait has kept them from winning the world cups in 1974 and 1978.

In 74 Cruyff and the Ajax clique cut off the stars from Feyenoord and PSV, most notably PSV goalkeeper Jan van Beveren, who was the top keeper in Europe at the time along with Sepp Maier. Jongbloed who started for Holland in 74 was one of the few weak links of that legendary team, arguably the greatest losing finalist in WC history, weakness that Gerd Muller exposed in the West German go ahead goal.

Cruyff also quit on the team in 78 and would have most likely carried the Dutch team to a victory over the Argentine hosts in 78, a game that went to OT. These teams were legendary as tragic and beautiful losers, like France's 1982 team.

Anyway, I love the random colors that some countries choose for their sports uniforms. Netherlands wears orange and Japan wears blue, despite those colors not being on their national flags at all.