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© 2022 AFPU.S. beats Iran 1-0 in politically charged match to advance to last 16
By Rob Woollard DOHA©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
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© 2022 AFP
38 Comments
Kenshin
A US and Japan showdown for the Cup!!!
Fighto!
Hats off to The Stars and Stripes. In Christian Pulisic they have a world class superstar, and have a chance to go deep in this tournament.
DudeDeuce
Not bad for a team with low expectations this WC. Netherlands have a tough goalie and defense so hopefully we can attack early. Good news is next game will be at midnight instead of 4am like every game.
Japantime
Be afraid of the sleeping giant that is U.S soccer. Will be the dominant team in a few years.
Michael Machida
America's win against Iran is amazing in itself since we don't really care about the game. Funny, funny stuff.
rcch
Today 08:10 am JST “ Be afraid of the sleeping giant that is U.S soccer. Will be the dominant team in a few years. “
I wouldn’t say *‘the’ dominant team, but the USMNT will be a real danger to the European teams, that’s for sure; Anyway, great game; this WC is getting interesting.*
DudeDeuce
I do wish the Iran players the best of luck going forward. I have no idea what will become of them after defying their National Anthem. 3/4 of the team plays in Europe so can go straight back there but the other quarter plays in Iran. Plus have to worry about their families in Iran.
REDWhiteBlue
Yeah right, thats what you said 40 years ago.
stormcrow
Such a young team! The U.S. team has its hands full with the Netherlands, but they have a chance. Win or lose, imagine what this U.S. team is going to be like 4 years from now in the next World Cup.
theResident
@Michael Machida : Yes. It's way behind NFL, NBA and MLB. No dispute. But the gains in popularity of the sport at Senior Level are growing rapidly. You only have to look at what NBC paid for the right this season out for English Premier League coverage compared to their last contract to see that. I'm guessing you're not aware of where any of the team play their club football. Very naive comment.
The win wasn't 'amazing' - You were clear favourites prior to the tournament for this game. USA lack the finishing at present. I expect the Dutch to beat them but it won't be an 'easy' win by any stretch of the imagination.
DudeDeuce
Exactly! Of the 3 World Cups that I have attended. U.S. games were among the hardest to get. I was lucky to get U.S. vs Czech tickets back in 2006 Germany and there were 2 to 3 times more U.S. fans than Czech fans. Even with it neighboring Germany and being a much better squad at that time.
painkiller
Christian Pulisic fired the United States into the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday as the Americans downed Iran 1-0 in their politically charged grudge match.
Great victory by the Americans, who have not lost a match yet.
Although, the US has been out-flopped in every match.
The Americans have too much character to flop.
When Christian Pulisic scored and went down in pain, he was actually hurt.
The Iranians were falling over, making grimacing faces, then jumping right back up when they say no foul was being called.
nero
Americans have pretty good defense but not so great forwards. The Netherlands isn't exactly the strongest team either so who knows ?
wallace
Christian Pulisic is America's best player and player for Chelsea in the English Premier League and not an MLS club.
"Captain America!"
theResident
@painkiller: I disagree - for me it was an expected victory, hence the low returns in backing them.
theFu
Almost every suburban kid in the USA plays soccer for years. It is only when they get the high school and don't see many college scholarships that they switch to other sports. My University didn't have a soccer team and we had over 54K students. I played soccer for almost a decade and played pick-up games in college and as an adult. I played almost every position, including goalie (all knees and elbows in that position).
Never cared much about professional soccer, but did watch the match today. My biggest complaint is with all the stupid acting over being hurt when only 2 of those injuries were probably real. That and over 100 minutes of play, but only 1 score. Boring. Even golf and bowling are more fun to watch since there are more results along they way. I love that there's no commercial breaks - THAT is fantastic!
American football and baseball have far too many commercial breaks and they shouldn't stop the clock except when possession changes.
The US isn't on the same level as Argentina or Spain and I'm worried the Netherlands will school us this weekend with better precision passing.
painkiller
wallaceToday 01:41 pm JST
One of the many foreigners playing for an American-owned team as the home-country doesn't have enough talent to fill the slots on the teams..
theFuToday 01:42 pm JST
True. My experience also.
theResidentToday 01:42 pm JST
I said it was a great victory. What is there to disagree with? They move forward with that win. That's a great thing for US soccer.
wallace
The change of ownership of Chelsea is a very recent event and is now owned by a consortium of investors. Christian Pulisic signed for Chelsea in 2019.
Just like the Japanese players, their performances improve when playing in the Premier League or one of the European leagues.
Football is a free market but there are limits of 17 foreign players at any Premier League club. That will likely be further reduced since England are no longer part of the EU.
theResident
One of the many foreigners playing for an American-owned team as the home-country doesn't have enough talent to fill the slots on the teams..
That's a very ignorant comment. Most of the best players in the world end up in the English Premier League, for two reasons, it's the best league and has the most money putting it in that unique position. If anything, that has had a negative effect on out national team.
painkiller
wallaceToday 02:47 pm JST
And the consortium you mentioned is led by an American investor and an American company:
led by Todd Boehly, chairman and CEO of Eldridge Industries, and Clearlake Capital,*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C.
https://clearlake.com/about/
theResidentToday 03:25 pm JST
If the best players in the world play in the Premier League, and if England had the best players in the world, then none of the players would be foreigners and all the players would be English in that league.
Which is not the case.
Now about ignorant comments . . .
Paustovsky
@painkiller
Your knowledge of soccerball is awesome. I wish I knew as much but I always fall asleep before the end of the second quarter.
theResident
Ok @painkiller. Whatever you say.
falseflagsteve
I will be expecting the Dutch to win comfortably at the weekend. Then again, anything can happen of course,
painkiller
falseflagsteveToday 04:27 pm JST
What exactly do you mean by comfortably, scorewise?
theResident
1-0 or 2-0 - I think. USA aren't bad at the back at all, but I can't see their attack bothering Virgil van Dijk and company very much. Cody Gakpo looking dangerous.
theResident
(oh @painkiller van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the World, who plies his club Football at Liverpool)
kaimycahl
@DudeDeuce England has a better goalie but did they win?
Not bad for a team with low expectations this WC. Netherlands have a tough goalie and defense so hopefully we can attack early. Good news is next game will be at midnight instead of 4am like every game.
TokyoLiving
Joke of the year, HAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!..
Kenshin
"Politically Charged"? As far as I could tell when watching there were no nukes launched, no hostages taken, nor threats exchanged. lol.
It was simply a good football match. The players were there to play and I doubt they were concerned about a silly social media post. While Tehran tried to make it the brief posting of a modified flag of Iran political, FIFA did not.
painkiller
theResidentNov. 30 05:11 pm JST
Sounds right; and the Dutch Van Dijk (Liverpool, US-owned, and made up of over 60% non-English players) is solid, but Americans are happy with the victory over Iran and the 0-0 win over England.
Anything else is a bonus.
wallace
No football player is "owned". They have contracts with the club and sometimes the contracts are broken or ended with the consent of both parties.
wallace
Some people are so bored by the game to the point of posting on everything else instead.
painkiller
wallaceToday 12:55 pm JST
Teams are "owned".
As I wrote clearly in plain simple English above.
wallace
No one "owns" a team. Fenway owns Liverpool Club and has contracts with football players.