The US Men’s National Team takes on Iran in the biggest match since the 2014 knockout stage loss to Belgium. The US has had some positives to hang their hat on through 180 minutes plus stoppage time, a lot of stoppage time. The midfield held up well against England and Wales. The defense has not allowed a goal outside of a Free Kick. The attack is still leaving a lot to be desired. Christian Pulisic and Timonthy Weah have been good on the wings. But there has been a lack of creativity plaguing the USMNT for a while. I think the USA needs Gio Reyna today. He has the creativity to draw a penalty, find a through ball, or finish in a tight spot. I think we need to use him as a false 9.
The Midfield
The midfield has been the best part of the USMNT, and that shouldn’t surprise anyone who watching the team regularly. Tyler Adams-Weston McKinnie, and Yunus Musah play well as a 3-man midfield. I don’t want to mess that up. By moving Reyna to striker, you can keep your 3-man midfield that has played well together, while getting Reyna’s creativity and quality on the field.
The US Needs to Win the Game
Iran is going to sit back. A draw will get the Iranians through. The US needs to win the game. We’ve scored 1 goal in our first 2 games of the World Cup. We scored 0 in our last 2 warmup games coming into Qatar. Something needs to change with Greg Berhalter’s setup. Gio Reyna can create in the middle of the field, take attention away from Pulisic and Weah, and finish in front of goal. There have been some reports that Berhalter and Reyna don’t see eye to eye off the field. If that’s the case, Greg Berhalter needs to put personal feelings aside and get Reyna in the starting 11. The USA needs Gio Reyna today if we want our 2022 World Cup to live past November 29th.
World Cup Teams and the NFL Equivalent
Argentina=Baltimore Ravens
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These teams are both very good, but not the favorites to win it all. Messi is one of the best players in the world that can take over any game. Same for Lamar Jackson in the NFL.
Australia=Los Angeles Rams
(Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
Both teams are just meh… They have yellow as well. Oh, and neither is a contender to win it all. In fact, they’re both pretty bad right now.
Belgium=Dallas Cowboys
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I know the Cowboys are “America’s Team”, but Belgium and Dallas have amazing similarities. They are both talented rosters that have not delivered in the biggest moments. Dallas disappoints every postseason, just like Belgium has done with this “Golden Generation”. These teams are good enough to win it all, but they have to show they can do it.
Brazil=Buffalo Bills
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Both are favorites to win it all with arguably the most talented roster in the field led by one of the best talents in the world. Josh Allen and Neymar are elite talents offensively, but they are by no means the only talented players on their teams.
Cameroon=Arizona Cardinals
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Both are okay, but not much more.
Canada=Detroit Lions
(Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Both teams have done next to nothing in their history, but this version of them are better than most people’s perception.
Costa Rica=Houston Texans
(Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)
They’re both terrible, and should be happy to be playing.
Croatia=Cincinnati Bengals
(Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)
Two really good teams that lost in the final game last tournament. Bengals lost to the Rams and Croatia lost to France. They’re a team that no body will want to face if they make it to the playoff/knock out stage.
Denmark=Tennessee Titans
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These are both good teams that don’t get the credit they deserve. They also play a disciplined style with few mistakes. Denmark should make the knockout stage, but then lose early on. Sound familiar Titans fans?
Ecuador=Chicago Bears
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Both are young teams with promising talent that is too young to win right now. But watch out for them in the future.
England=New York Giants
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England has more talent than the Giants, but they play similar styles. Both like to win low scoring games where they are not the one to make the big mistake. England under Gareth Southgate love to win games 1-0. Just like the Giants under Daboll winning games 20-17. Don’t expect either win it all, but they will get to the playoffs/knockout stage.
France=Kansas City Chiefs
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Both of these teams have all the talent in the world, and have won with that talent recently. Patrick Mahomes and Kylian MBappe can light up the scoreboard. Nobody would be surprised if these are the last teams standing.
Germany=Philadelphia Eagles
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Both teams are hard working, and can beat you up physically in a game. They will beat up on the lesser teams, but when they take a step up in competition, it still remains to be seen how they will respond.
Ghana=Indianapolis Colts
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Solid teams. Not a lot of other comparisons.
Iran=Las Vegas Raiders
(Photo by Amin M. Jamali/Getty Images)
Neither team is good. However, you don’t want to cross the fan base. They’re both rabid.
Japan-Pittsburgh Steelers
(Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)
Both are disciplined teams that are well coached and want to win with defense. They will not win it all, but they are not an easy out.
Mexico=New England Patriots
(Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Two teams that are well coached, and want to win with defense. I will say Bill Belichick>Gerardo Martino.
Morocco=Carolina Panthers
(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
It’s cool they’re playing. But they won’t do much of anything.
Netherlands=Miami Dolphins
(Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
These are two talented young rosters that can compete with anyone. Neither team has proven anything with this group of players though. They’re good defensively while being very good to elite offensively. The orange is a nice connection too.
Poland=San Francisco 49ers
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Both are good teams that are led by an elite offensive talent. Christian McCaffrey is one of the best offensive weapons in football, just like Robert Lewandowski is in soccer.
Portugal=Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Both the Bucs and Portugal are talented rosters led by GOATs coming to the end of their career. Brady winning a Super Bowl and riding into the sunset would only be upstaged on a global scale by Ronaldo winning the World Cup and retiring from international soccer.
Qatar-Washington Commanders
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Corruption thrives in these environments. And it starts at the top. The colors are pretty close as well. Oh, and neither team as a shot in hell of winning it.
Saudi Arabia=Atlanta Falcons
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They’re better than most people think. They won’t win very many games, but they’re a tough out.
Senegal=Denver Broncos
(Photo by Mohamed Hossam/Getty Images)
Two teams that look really good on paper. But that talent hasn’t equated to wins on the field or pitch.
Serbia=Seattle Seahawks
(Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
These are solid teams. I don’t know if this is actually correct, but I feel like the cold wet conditions experienced in Seattle mirror those in Croatia.
South Korea=Cleveland Browns
(Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Really solid rosters, but there is not a history of winning… at all. South Korea striker Son Heung-min is one of the best in the world, just like Deshaun Watson (that’s where the comparisons end though- Son seems like a great human).
Spain=Minnesota Vikings
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These are two very good team that don’t have the out and out super star leading the way. Each have one of the best rosters in their spot.
Tunisia=New Orleans Saints
(Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
I’ll be honest here. These we’re the last 2 teams. Neither team is awful, but neither is good. They’re both just below average.
Uruguay=New York Jets
(Photo by Alberto Valdez – Pool/Getty Images)
Both teams are young and talents, and not really liked by many other fan bases. Both teams experienced their most success a long time ago. The Jets won Super Bowl 3, and Uruguay won the first ever World Cup.
USA=Jacksonville Jaguars
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Both teams have young talent, but are not ready to win yet. USA features the youngest squad in the tournament. Both have small fan bases, and don’t get a ton of attention outside of their fan base. The Jags and USA can beat almost anyone… they can also lose to almost anyone.
Switzerland=Los Angeles Chargers
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They’re both neutral on a lot of things. Both pretty good, but not expected to make much noise once they get to the knockout stage/playoffs.
Wales=Green Bay Packers
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Gareth Bale is a once great super star that seems to be coming to the end. Sound familiar Arron Rodgers? Each side has a solid defense while offensively they can hit stretches where they look inept.