Halftime mailbag II

Please tell me Peter Oh does standup comedy …

“24C is pleasant enough but not exactly Australian Beach weather. A relative deep Freese, actually.” – Peter Oh

“Very hard to get through that extremely packed Australian defense, USA needs to stay patient and not allow a quick counter.” – Rick McGahey (this came in before the second goal)

“It’s dismaying to see so many boot soles on so many calves. Seattle Stadium is seeing more stapling than a county clerks office!” – Benjamin Poremski

I once reffed a game in which a player from a high-level travel team had moved into rec soccer. Early in the game, she was tripped in the box because a defender was clearly not used to marking someone so quick. That’s what I’m seeing in this game. These late Australian tackles aren’t malicious – the ball is just gone before they can get there.

“Australia really aren’t offering much of anything so far. Of course rather than 47 minutes played, it’s about 10 minutes fewer, but when’s the last time they had it in the US half?” – Alexander Whitney (I’m not sure what time this came in)

“I missed the game, so can anyone shed some light on how Australia managed to beat Turkey?” – Shaun Wilkinson

Hot take: Turkiye aren’t good.

“Since Australia is going to lose this game, I would recommend they not come out for the second half but negotiate a settlement with the USA instead. That way, they will win.” – Colin Livingstone

Halftime mailbag I

“Nice call back by Peter Oh to the Le Coq Sportif Roma 8 boots…” – Dean Moull

Peter has another good one:

“If I were an Australia fan, I would react to the ‘U-S-A!!!’ chant ‘A-U-S!!!’” – Peter Oh

“Why is Poch persisting with his “Executive in The Bush” look? It’s bordering on Partridge in Paris.” – Russell Brady

Not everyone can dress as well as Jesse Marsch.

Alternate take:

“I am probably late to the party, but Mauricio Pochettino in the hair and cool dad clothes looks like Javier Bardem. A compliment to them both.” – Martin Bolme

Australian take:

“Popovic and his staff will be livid at conceding from a set-piece, particularly as it was a simple routine to the edge of the area, with the entire defense ball watching until it was too late. And that sums up our first half: missing out on the finer details, second to the loose ball too often, on top of offering zero attacking threat. Mike Grella is laughing through his Happy Meal as he farts gleefully in his bed...” – Chris Paraskevas

“This is probably the best kit the US men’s team has worn at a World Cup in living memory. Only 1950 compares, really. It’s feels like a riff on the shirt they had in 2012, which is the best they’ve ever worn, in my opinion. If they went back to that kit design for good, it would also sort out their nickname: The Waldos.” – Kári Tulinius

I still have a 1994 denim shirt.

“Which is preferred, the USA’s Own Goal, or Harry Kane’s favorite strike partner, Penalty Spot?” – Daniel Stauss

“I enjoyed the brief debate about nicknames. Given the frequency with which American defenders pull Australians shirts upwards, perhaps Shirtlifters is the perfect name for the USA team?” – Kimberly Thonger

I think it’s usually outwards rather than upwards, but yeah, a few grabs have gone uncalled.

The stats at ESPN suggest I might be giving Australia too much credit – they’ve completed just 62% of their attempted passes. The USA have completed 88%. Completions: 259 to 78. Yikes.

Still – Australia have an advantage in the air, so if they can get some set pieces in the second half, anything’s possible.

45 min +7 Dest is having a game. He takes a pass from Freeman and blasts a shot that forces a save from Beach.

45 min +6 Balogun accidentally backs his own head into Souttar’s chin, and the US forward falls down. He gets up, though, and seems OK. Perfectly clean play from Souttar – Balogun just backed into him.

45 min +5 Minimal Australian pressure, but it’s almost enough to win a free kick.

I’ll say again – this will not be a clean sheet for the USA.

45 min +4 The fancy tech graphic shows Freeman wasn’t even close to being in an offside position. VAR to the rescue.

Richards fouls on a USA corner.

Australia in possession. Bos probably should’ve won a foul there, but he’s called for a handball.

45 min +2 Seven minutes of stoppage, and that is a dagger for Australia, who had defended with firm resolve but have now given up two goals, with deflections playing a role in each one.

43 min McKennie draws a gaggle of yellow-shirted defenders. Some wrestling ensures later, and … never mind …

42 min Fun stat – we’ve had exactly one shot on goal, and it was about a minute into the game. By Australia. The US goal technically wasn’t a shot on goal because they didn’t shoot.

40 min Okon-Engstler is getting treatment for something on the back of his head. Freeman is being checked out just a couple of yards from the sideline – not sure why they haven’t moved off the field yet. They both stay in the game.

37 min Awkward time at the back for Australia after Souttar convincingly wins an aerial duel with the much shorter Pepi. They clear it out for a throw-in, but the USA immediately turn it back over.

We have a collision between Alex Freeman and Okon-Engstler, and both players are down. Physios are on the field.

36 min USA patiently working against the tightly packed Australian defense. Until they get impatient and turn it over.

35 min Dest draws some ooooohs with a backheel to McKennie.

34 min Camera finds Kasey Keller, Alex Morgan and Jill Ellis in nice seats at the game. Morgan is in a couple of ads in frequent rotation in the US, including one making fun of the “international media” for playing up her “tea” celebration against England in the World Cup.

33 min US foul amid the tangle of bodies in the mixer.

32 min Circati is late to a tackle on Tillman and gets a boot on the US midfielder’s calf. Yellow card and a free kick 30 yards out.

31 min USA with a corner, attacking the goal in front of a sea of yellow-clad Australian fans. Tillman takes it, Richards goes up but can’t get it. Alex Freeman is way up the field and manages to earn a deep throw-in.

30 min I’ve been remiss in not mentioning the weather. It’s gorgeous. Currently 24 degrees Celsius.

29 min Robinson is a menace on the left flank. He beats the defense again and sends in a cross, but it goes out of play.

Question: Can Australia take advantage when the USA’s left back is 100 yards from his own end line?

I think Australia will score in this game. Touré looks dangerous.

And one more:

“Match going pretty much as anticipated, but Vellupilay is not providing an outlet and needs to work so much harder. Ditto the three central midfielders, who have to wrestle a bit of momentum back here and put their foot on the ball. Critical that we get to half time without conceding again...” – Chris Paraskevas

Quick inbox check:

“Who needs Christian Pulisic when the USA have the prolific Own Goal?” – Justin Kavanagh

24 min Australia loft the corner kick for the towering Souttar, who flicks it on. The US defense tap it over the line for another corner, and this time, there’s a foul as a player bundles into Freese, who rolls into his own goal.

With that, we’ll hydrate.

22 min Australia with their longest spell of possession now, as the USA drop back a bit. Leckie ends up with the ball on the right, and his excellent cross forces Freeman to slide for a vital intervention. Corner kick for Australia.

21 min Long ball to Balogun, but he can’t control it immediately and the young Australian goalkeeper Beach alertly comes out to claim the ball.

20 min Good pressure from the USA deep, but the pass eludes Adams.

And now Australia attack with a long ball down the flank to Touré. Matt Freese races out of his goal to clear, and it’s a nervy moment as his clearance stays in play, albeit in the other half of the field.

19 min Free kick for Australia just shy of midfield, but they don’t show any significant interest in moving forward. Seems they’re going to pick their spots very carefully – which, given the troubles they’ve faced when the USA get the ball in space, may be the best approach.

17 min Free kick played into the ubiquitous McKennie, who tries an ambitious flick with his back to goal. Looked cool but maybe not the best choice.

16 min That’s a second hard foul on Adams, this time by Velupillay. Pochettino is furious, and it’s hard to blame him.

McKennie takes the ball up the wing and gets a solid hand to the face from Bos, who gets the yellow card that probably should’ve gone to Velupillay.

13 min Corner kick for the USA. We have a wrestling match between Richards and Okon-Engstler, and the referee gives them a few words before resuming.

McKennie rises above the crowd and heads the ball down with power, but Bos blocks it, and the rebound goes off McKennie’s arm for an Australian free-kick.

12 min Nearly an immediate answer from Australia. Leckie makes a clever off-the-ball run across the top of the box, the ball is dinked to him, and he rips a shot with the outside of his boot that doesn’t miss by much.

10 min USA in possession, but I don’t think Australia really mind. As I say that, they ramp up the press.

9 min Good chance for the USA as Dest finds a diagonal seam in the box. His shot is blocked.

8 min Mathew Leckie comes in very late in a tackle and lands a hard kick to Tyler Adams’ leg. Very difficult to understand why that’s not a yellow card.

7 min Australia press and gain possession. They lose it, then regain it, then play ahead to Touré, who is sandwiched by US defenders.

The red-and-white team is looking a little shaky at the moment.

6 min Good cross from McKennie on the right, but Balogun is whistled for a foul.

4 min Our first foul is against Weston McKennie.

3 min Robinson tries to make something happen deep on the left flank against Italiano, but his cross bangs off Italiano and back off his own leg for a goal kick.

2 min US attackers are pressing all the way up the field. It works, and Australia back off while the USA knock the ball around.

1 min Shocking giveaway on the US backline, with Freeman’s pass eluding Richards. Touré shoots from a wide angle, and Freese makes an easy save.

Officials

Referee is Felix Zwayer, leading an all-German on-field crew.

Fellow German Bastian Dankert is at the VAR switch.

Frantic pre-kickoff mailbag check

“My prediction is that USA score within the first 20 minutes and conduct a “lay up” goal celebration. This will infuriate the Australians and turn the game into a brawl like something from the 1962 World Cup. Not sure what the Australian retort will be if they score. I still remember the Apolo Ohno and Roy Jones Jr celebrations against Korea in 2002. That kind of thing can really fire up a team.” – John McBride

If you don’t know the South Korean Ohno celebration, check it out. Strange story.

“I think the USA media made some conclusions based on the last game that, uh, might be a little (a lot) wrong. I watched Souttar quite a bit when he was a Stoke City player and he’s not someone to take lightly.” – Joshua Reynolds

“True Blue living in Sheffield and also an Arsenal fan. Go figure. Australia are going to WIN. Then I’m off to Butlins to celebrate. Socceroos is a truly AWFUL nickname but we’re know stuck with it, only marginally better than the Matildas urghh. Cmon Australia. Win it for my friend Simon, currently residing in the stars.” – Simone Holmes

“I think we want a more topical name - “The Cagefighters”, maybe, or “The Ballroom Boys”?” – Charles Antaki

“How about the DoodleDoos? (Following on from that universally beloved “Yankee Doodle Dandy” ditty).” – Julian Scott Yeomans

Paris Hilton is, for some reason, leading the USA chants pregame.

The atmosphere here at Lumen Field (excuse me, Seattle Stadium, how dare I) is positively electric a full 30 minutes before kickoff. This was predictable — the stadium has a well-earned reputation for being among the loudest in the United States — but it is still a sight to behold. The place is nearly full, and there are no shortage of Aussie fans as well, very prominently sat behind the goal at the south end of the stadium. Truly incredible atmosphere.

Pre-anthem mailbag

Sorry I can’t get to everything, but please keep writing!

Any suggestions for a US nickname akin to “Socceroos”?

“Although I think the nickname ‘The Yanks’ is pretty great, it’s no ‘Socceroos’. And the best I can come up with is ‘Soccer Moms’ and I’m ashamed I’m even writing that down.” – Joshua Reynolds

“Soccerillos, of course, because of the armadillos.” – Kirk Allbright

“I’m sorry to trash my country, but looking at the three host mascots, USA clearly has the worst. 1. Tiger 2. Moose 3. Eagle. As far as a good nickname, the Minutemen?” – Zach Neeley

That might add a bit of spice the next time the USA face England.

An Australian perspective (and please, if you’re awake in Australia right now, send me a note!):

“Australia needs a draw from this game. We cannot lose and leave it until the last minute against Paraguay to get a point. I’m excited for this game - I think Australia can repeat their performance against Turkey barring Popovic not going back into defensive and negativity mode. Keep throwing players up on the counter and get the ball forward when we have to. No Pulisic, Irakunda and Metcalfe out could be a sign for 0-0.” – James Pareskevas

On nomenclature:

“Football or soccer? It is all about who you are communicating with. When I am on a Premier League MBM I use football. Mainly because the blowback is tedious. When I post on The Athletic I say soccer, once again because it is simpler. For those UK football fans for who the term soccer is an irritant you should not have invented it.” – Mary Waltz

I’m often astounded that so many of the people who take the USA (or Australia, or Ireland, etc.) to task for the word “soccer” don’t realize that the etymology runs through England.

And we have to get a word from Peter Oh: “Are any of the US players wearing kangaroo leather boots?”

Australian lineup: Head-scratcher or tactical brilliance?

Australian Associated Press reports …

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has dropped goalscorers Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe to the bench for Australia’s blockbuster clash with the United States.

Veteran Mathew Leckie, playing for the first time at his fourth World Cup, and Nishan Velupillay are the two inclusions in attack for the game that could determine who finishes top of group D.

Irankunda, who was electric in the 2-0 win over Turkey, including scoring a brilliant opener, and Metcalfe, who delivered a wonderful second-half goal, loom as impact substitutes.

“Impact substitutes” could be an understatement if Australia’s five-man backline can contain the US attack early.

Which is one reason why the US punditocracy may be just a tad overconfident, perhaps?

The rivalry?

Is there bad blood between the USA and Australia? Alexander Abnos notes the feisty undertones in a relatively recent friendly:

A couple of players-turned-commentators have fanned the flames a bit, as Jack Snape relates:

The slandering began late last year when the USA were drawn against Australia. Former professional player and now TV pundit Mike Grella said the Socceroos represented a “lay-up” for the hosts.

Grella addressed the backlash to his comments on Wednesday: “I’ve got tell you something, I don’t think they’ve ever been more united as a football side. If they do something in this tournament – which they won’t – if they do something in this tournament, they should make a statue of me there in Australia, because I’ve unified an entire country.”

The barbs didn’t stop with him. Former USA player Landon Donovan also dismissed the Socceroos’ chances after the draw, and took aim at Australia’s “smug” coach. “You can get on the Qantas airplane and head back home,” he said.

I feel obliged to note that Grella and I went to the same college. Many years apart.

But Snape also notes that the countries and their soccer cultures are similar – youth participation has been strong, but building professional success is a work in progress.

What’s at stake …

The US men are out to do what no US men’s team have done in 96 years.

Win a second consecutive World Cup match.

Only twice have the US men followed a World Cup win with anything other than a loss. In 2002, they kept enough momentum from their opening win against Portugal to get a draw against South Korea, then lost to Poland and needed a Portuguese meltdown in another group game to advance to the famous 2-0 win over Mexico in the Round of 16. In their credible run in 2014, they followed the exorcism against Ghana by snatching a draw from the jaws of victory against Portugal, then bowing out with two dignified defeats against Germany and Belgium.

More commonly, a US men’s World Cup win is followed by a game fans would rather forget. In 1950, the famous win against England preceded a 5-2 defeat by Chile. In 1994, the last time the Cup was on US soil, they followed their rousing win against Colombia with a loss to Romania that reminded the casual US sports fan why they didn’t really care for soccer. In 2010, the “Howard to Donovan to Altidore to Dempsey to wow this is really happening DONOVAN SCORES ON THE REBOUND AHHHHHHHHH!! BAR CELEBRATIONS GO VIRAL” win over Algeria sent them to a second straight elimination at the feet of Ghana. Then in 2022, the Flying Pulisics avenged a 1998 loss to Iran but ran into the Netherlands.

Australia won two straight World Cup* games in 2022, beating Tunisia and Denmark to reach the knockout rounds, but they can also make history. The Socceroos have never finished first in a World Cup group. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head results, so if Australia win this game, it would take a convoluted series of results (Paraguay over Turkiye, Paraguay over Australia, USA over Turkiye) to complicate matters.

Before the 2022 Cup, the Socceroos had only won two World Cup games in their history – one in 2006, when they also got a draw to advance to the knockouts, and one in 2010.

(*) – pointing out once again that the term “World Cup” refers to the entire tournament including qualification, so what I’m describing above is technically based on results from World Cup finals, which is the term for the 32-team … I mean, 48-team … tournament we’re watching now.

With Christian Pulisic out, Mauricio Pochettino opts for a big man/little man strike partnership with Ricardo Pepi slotting in alongside Folarin Balogun. Pepi is the pool’s best hold-up forward, willing to drop into midfield to help in possession sequences and a consistent contributor to a frontline press. He can now do all kinds of off-ball work with Balogun able to stretch the backline and keep Australia from clamping into too tight a defensive block.

Malik Tillman, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie offers adequate balance in midfield, with width coming via Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson.

Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a look at what Australia and the USA will each need to do to win Friday’s clash in Seattle:

Australia

Back Nestory Irankunda: the 20-year-old was expected to be an impact player at this World Cup, coming on as a substitute to affect matches against tiring opposition. A player of the match performance when starting against Turkey showed how Irankunda has become one of the Socceroos’ most important players. While still learning his wing-craft, his speed and determination without the ball are vital in a Socceroos outfit seemingly happy to give their opponents’ possession, and his ability to make the most of transition and direct opportunities – as seen for his opening goal against Turkey – can be a superpower.

United States

Midfield rotations are key: this is the kind of thing that any USMNT fan would have known before last week’s fantastic opener, but the nature of the US’s play in that game made it especially so. Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro took time in his presser to specifically compliment the starting trio of Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman, whom he described as “floating” and a key part of a “pentagon” of play. For as well as Australia played against Turkey, they did not dictate the tempo, conceding more than 70% of possession and getting overrun in the centre of the park. If the US are going to do something with similar levels of possession, they’ll need their midfield to continue rotating effectively to help pull the Socceroos’ back two lines out of shape, manufacturing gaps in what had proven to be an airtight defence.