Full time: Netherlands 3-1 USA
The ultimate rating is not any reflection of how a lot terrific work the US did on this recreation.
It’s, nonetheless, a mirrored image of the superior skilled edge the Dutch have.
The US made, by my depend, 4 errors on this recreation. The Netherlands scored three objectives. You’ll be able to’t name that unfair. You’ll be able to name it unlucky.
I’m going to attempt to race by means of the mailbag earlier than signing off.
Key occasions
A few readers take difficulty with Berhalter:
Richard in Dallas: “I’m feeling unhealthy for the USA – however this was no time to have defensive let downs….. What subsequent for coach 3G? I really feel good for LVG, although. He’s a soccer weirdo, however, then, so aren’t we on this MBM thread?”
Peter Oh: “I don’t know the reply to your Fanta Orange query however primarily based on what I noticed within the final 90 minutes, a glass of Orange Crush has simply been served up.”
I ought to level out, that though I’ve objected to some responses, that 90% of the e-mail right here has been great, insightful and witty, as anticipated from readers of The Guardian.
Tyler Adams takes the softball questions: “A recreation like that, it comes right down to the margins. A group like that, you give them 3-4 possibilities, they’re going to place them away. … We’re transferring in the precise course, however we have to preserve pushing.”
“We nonetheless must develop individually to be extra mature gamers … a extra skilled group bought the higher of us.”
Huge mistake at this time, however the captain has proven outstanding class on this match.
One other remark from Liisa Sletzinger: “Fox commentators simply mentioned that the Netherlands has a date with Argentina. Really, Argentina must win their subsequent match first. Sigh.”
On this Cup, you possibly can’t rule something out!
Liisa Sletzinger was not impressed with Reyna and anybody else making an attempt to dribble by means of three defenders. In equity, the Dutch protection did a pleasant job clogging the passing lanes like their spectacular engineering feats that preserve the North Sea at bay.
Dan Waters: “Fanta in USA is made with excessive fructose corn syrup. In Europe it’s plain outdated sugar.” Sure, and it’s an enormous distinction.
Joshua L J Ashbee: “Need to agree the Guardian sports activities weblog has become a pro-USA parody of their usually honest mbm protection.”
That’s solely as a result of I don’t communicate Dutch.
However I’m unsure how way more credit score I may give. The Netherlands completed their possibilities. Virgil performed as anticipated. Noppert has wildly exceeded expectations.
Is it doable that some readers are merely anti-USA?
Gregg Berhalter hails the US effort. “Actually proud. When you concentrate on this group, how they’ve come collectively within the final three and a half years, you don’t typically get a bond like that.”
I don’t suppose he’ll be requested concerning the three large defensive lapses and lack of incisive passes that accounted for the ultimate rating.
Julian Menz on the final Dutch aim: “Once more, it’s right down to naivety on the very high degree. That was rank.”
Charles Holzhauer: “Hey, Why don’t you lay off this “soccer” obsession? I imagine it was one in all your personal countrymen who noticed that “a rose by some other identify….” plus, isn’t you individuals who put mayonnaise in your “chips?” Good God….”
I do love fish and chips. And English sweet is way superior to American sweet. Perhaps I ought to cease by Pure Pasty at this time …
However mayonnaise? Yeesh.
Kari Tulinius on the US aim: “Haji Wright completely meant this. Both manner, what a gloriously absurd aim.”
Completely. Stunning backwards contact with the skin of the boot. In fact.
Peter M takes a broad view: “I’ve totally loved their enhancements (and undefeated document in opposition to England ;)), nonetheless, we have now clear points in our choice course of. A whole lot of it, I imagine, stems from marketability and for a number of years, we had a supervisor (Bob Bradley) who included his personal son (Michael Bradley) within the choice for most likely a couple of extra years than he had been helpful. The results of this tendency on our midfield can’t be understated. This 12 months was positively and enchancment, however Having Gio Reyna trip pine, as a substitute of play, is indefensible. The home league is enhancing – please – all nations, enable your washed up celebrity to go to allow them to impart some in-game knowledge on our youth.”
Gareth Bale for the win.
And Yash Gupta responds: “Okay so credit score division – USMNT had an excellent World Cup. However they remind me of a group known as Tottenham which I comply with. They’re even carrying identical package. Disgrace for USMNT, this recreation is popping out like 2019 Champions League Last. That closing was crap in high quality however it felt so shut on the identical time. Italians can name Soccer no matter they need. Solely second of pleasure for them would’ve been Germany getting out in consecutive group levels however they themselves missed each fully. Calcio!”
Honest sufficient.
Mary Waltz: “To start with, the US just isn’t being humiliating. The Dutch may win however they won’t be laughing on the finish of this match and speaking about how simple they’d it. And the soccer controversy is so drained, performed out, you might be in a line of 10 million individuals who have been so happy with them selves for stating it ought to be known as soccer. When you have an issue with soccer blame the individuals who coined the time period, the brits.”
Matthew Schofield: “Strive trotting out the nationwide group in, iirc, ‘85, on synthetic turf in St Louis and going up in opposition to a T&T aspect made up of half timers, after which shedding, relatively convincingly. This isn’t within the high 100 embarrassing moments within the US soccer historical past.”
The US males went, off the highest of my head, 11 years with out successful a recreation within the 50s and 60s.
Pictures: USA 17-11. Pictures on course: USA 8-6. Possession: USA 58-42. Complete passes: USA 564-412.
You get the concept.
OK, let’s see what you wrote:
James Robinson: “I can’t enable Mr Gupta’s sentiments, and the extraordinarily ungracious method by which they had been expressed, to cross unchallenged and I don’t imagine they’re broadly shared. It’s good to see the USA at one other finals and there’s definitely no disgrace in shedding to a superb Netherlands group (if that’s what occurs).” (This was clearly earlier within the recreation.)
Richard McGahey on “soccer/soccer”: “Brits used to make use of “soccer” and “soccer” interchangeably, analysis exhibits they began emphasizing “soccer” completely when USA began taking the game extra significantly. Additionally see Matt Busby’s autobiography, “Soccer on the High: My Life in Soccer” (actual title).”
Matt Burtz provides: “I’m wondering if the identical vitriol is expressed for Australia’s Socceroos, or is it merely saved for international locations with populations over 330 million?”
Australia v Argentina later at this time.
Full time: Netherlands 3-1 USA
The ultimate rating is not any reflection of how a lot terrific work the US did on this recreation.
It’s, nonetheless, a mirrored image of the superior skilled edge the Dutch have.
The US made, by my depend, 4 errors on this recreation. The Netherlands scored three objectives. You’ll be able to’t name that unfair. You’ll be able to name it unlucky.
I’m going to attempt to race by means of the mailbag earlier than signing off.
90 +5 min: The Dutch protection continues to be holding, clearing each cross. They’re not sending a couple of participant ahead to counter. It’s all protection now.
And as I say that, it’s 3v3 the opposite manner.
90 +4 min: Cross to Morris, can’t management, finally ends up again to Musah for a shot from 18, blocked by Virgil!
Berhalter misplays the ball to Reyna. Sure, Berhalter. The coach tried to kick it again to him for a fast throw-in. That form of day.
90 +3 min: Musah beats his man and crosses from the precise aspect once more. It’s cleared once more.
Subs, with the Dutch jogging off slowly: Gakpo and Ake out. Weghorst and de Ligt in.
90 +2 min: Dutch subs warming up, however now it’s Pulisic on the run, reduce to Musah, harmful cross to Morris headed clear. Zimmerman and Adams cease the Dutch counter.
90 +2 min: Morris on for Robinson. Ahead for defender. Going for broke. I’m saying 4-1 closing now.
90 min: Lengthy assault for the Dutch, and the essential downside for the US is that the Netherlands can have a protracted, harmful assault with solely three gamers whereas everybody else hangs again to encompass Reyna and Pulisic.
We’ll play six extra minutes. Shocked it’s not 9.
89 min: US wins possession. Musah crosses, headed clear. Reyna once more is surrounded as if bathing in Fanta Orange.
Why is Fanta Orange so significantly better in Europe than within the US?
88 min: Reyna tries to seek out area. There’s none. The Dutch go off to the races. The US recovers, Now, finally, the Dutch begin possessing the ball.
87 min: Tactical foul by de Jong on Aaronson, duly punished with a yellow card.
Jordan Morris is about to come back in. That’s not going to intimidate anybody.
86 min: The nook kick is nodded down and bounces barely up, and Zimmerman tries the world’s clumsiest seated bicycle kick. Why not?
86 min: We’re getting some time-wasting now, so stoppage time will final an eon. I truly suppose a fourth Dutch aim is extra probably than a second US aim, however I’ve been unsuitable many, many instances on this Cup.
Pulisic with a beautiful ball ahead to Wright, and Virgil needs to be completely excellent to play it out for a nook.
85 min: Now the Dutch followers are dancing.
You can say this recreation has been unlucky, that the US haven’t seen a simply reward for his or her play on this recreation. However they’ve made errors, and the Dutch have punished them. Thrice – all when the US was within the ascendancy.
GOAL! Netherlands 3-1 USA (Dumfries 81)
Oh, what a lapse. And a deserved aim for the very good Dumfries, who took benefit of Robinson’s wandering towards the center. Blind sees him, crosses over everybody in the course of the field, and Dumfries takes it nicely together with his left foot. No probability for Turner.
That’s three terribly pricey errors for the US. And three very good finishes.
Sure, I’m utilizing “very good” loads. I’m operating out of phrases.
80 min: Nook kick for the US. They haven’t been harmful on these, however the crowd roars. Can Pulisic get his third help of the Cup? Nope – Noppert claims. The Dutch keeper has been very good, overwhelmed solely by a weird contact that looped over him.
78 min: CHANCE! Noppert was uncapped earlier than this Cup, and he has saved the Netherlands a number of instances now, this time with a sliding sort out far out of his field to take the ball from Wright, who was in some way left alone!
This has change into insane.
Margriet Krijgsman: “Why are you so professional USA? I’m an enormous donor of Guardian BECAUSE they report if not neutrally no less than realistically, and honest always. Do you secretly work for USA As we speak? I’m sick of your evident choice for the US. I’d be equally throwing up in the event you had been so blatantly kow towing to the Dutch.”
No, I labored for USA As we speak from 1999 to 2010.
However to reiterate – the Dutch have completed clinically. The US haven’t. Honest play to them.
And Noppert will certainly earn a BIG payday after this.
77 min: Yedlin has changed Dest. Would possibly harm the assault a bit, however ..
GOAL! Netherlands 2-1 USA (Wright 76)
Who wants medical finishes? The US will take a bizarre looping spark off an important Pulisic cross that Wright in some way scuffs into the air and over everybody.
Sport on? Sport on!
75 min: CHANCE on a uncommon blunder by the Netherlands! A backpass finds Haji Wright, who finally ends up one-on-one with Noppert. His contact goes extensive, and his tight angle shot is cleared.
74 min: Reyna tries an off-balance shot and hits his head within the course of.
Colum Fordham: “The USA have been energetic and proven sparks of excellent soccer (or soccer) – I did like Weah Junior’s volley – however Netherlands have been been extra medical. As an Englishman who idolised Johan Cruyff, I admit to a sure bias in favour of the Dutch however the USA have performed fairly nicely on this match. A younger enthusuastic group enjoying respectable soccer however being outplayed relating to soccer.”
Appears just like the skilled DeAndre Yedlin will quickly seem. Perhaps Robinson simply can’t proceed?
72 min: DOUBLE SAVE from Turner, and whereas the flag went up shortly afterwards, who is aware of what VAR would’ve mentioned. Turner parries a tough shot from Koopmeiners, then instantly scrambles to knock apart a headed follow-up from Memphis.
A number of seconds later, he races out to gather a harmful ball.
Laborious to think about anybody whose inventory has improved extra on this match than Turner, even when he hasn’t been the busiest of keepers.
71 min: Nook kick for the Dutch, Virgil heads over.
I’ve been ready to get to this one from Lennert Beurskens: “It looks as if Van Gaal has (rightly) determined that we would not have the attacking nor midfield gamers to play the famed dominant Dutch Complete Soccer in opposition to high groups. Nevertheless, we do have some world class defenders, so the plan appears to be to play a kind of catenaccio counter attacking recreation. Laborious to look at however thus far extraordinarily environment friendly. Greatest regards from the Netherlands.”
70 min: The US now leads in closing third entries 34-14. However the Dutch efforts simply look so significantly better. Zimmerman has been very good. Sorry I doubted you.
Robinson, who has shaken off his harm, makes a significant sort out.
68 min: Lengthy stoppage there, for which the referee will certainly compensate with quarter-hour after we play 90. I exaggerate. I hope.
Zimmerman safely performs it out to cease the onrushing Dutch.
Aaronson fouls Timber. Barely.
“Persistent infringement,” fyi, doesn’t essentially imply the identical participant committing all of the fouls, and the subsequent participant who breathes on Pulisic ought to be despatched to Dubai.
65 min: SUBS, however Robinson is down, and this may maintain issues up. Haji Wright, the closest factor to a standard No. 9 on this squad, is able to go, as is Aaronson, an industrious Leeds United teammate of Adams.
Will Berhalter want to switch Robinson as a substitute? Would Berhalter gamble with three on the again? No, absolutely not. Robinson seems like he’ll proceed.
So it’s Wright and Aaronson in for a disconsolate Weah and McKennie, the latter of whom was injured earlier than the Cup and hasn’t been capable of go 90.
63 min: Robinson stops Dumfries at one finish, and the Dutch suppose it’s a penalty. It’s not. Each gamers are harm, however we nonetheless go to the opposite finish, the place Pulisic units up an opportunity for Weah that’s blocked. Again the opposite manner briefly, however then it’s again to the US, the place Pulisic most likely ought to’ve fallen to attract a foul however as a substitute retains enjoying and oh my goodness would this recreation relax so I can catch my breath as a result of it’s nonetheless unlikely that the US will claw again two objectives.
61 min: CHANCE because the Dutch get away. Robinson recovers nicely. There’s a scramble, and Memphis finally ends up forcing Turner to palm it over the bar. I believe it was going excessive.
On the nook, Turner fails to gather, however that’s as a result of he was fouled.
I see a lot e mail coming in. My apologies for not attending to it.
60 min: Free kick is cleared simply, as all US set items are.
Then, oh my, a BRUTAL foul on Pulisic by the substitute Koopmeiners. That’s a yellow card, and it was completely cynical.
58 min: Sport has gone quiet.
Gupta responds: “Yeah yeah Soccer phrase has its origin. However it doesn’t embody neither foot nor ball, head, shoulder, chest, buttocks, crotch.”
Is {that a} reference to the Pulisic harm?
Oh, and he’s simply been fouled once more. Kick to the shins by Virgil.
Anyway, the Italians name it “calcio.” Go choose on them.
56 min: Weah has area within the center, however the ball is headed clear.
There shall be so many “what ifs” after this recreation.
53 min: CHANCE with McKennie capturing over the bar, arrange brilliantly by Reyna.
Additionally, for Yash Gupta: Going 0-3 within the 1998 World Cup, with a loss to Iran and tawdry off-field points, is humiliating. Failing to qualify for the 2018 match is humiliating.
This? For those who suppose that is humiliating, I sentence you to look at the Houston Texans. Or learn my guide. Whichever is extra painful.
52 min: Pulisic with a pleasant contact to create some area. His 18-yard shot is true at Noppert.
Credit score Gakpo, by the way, with that save off the road for the Dutch on the Ream shot.
51 min: Wow. Finish to finish. Think about if the rating was 1-1 or 2-1.
Anyway, again to Gupta: “Soccer” is an English phrase derived from “affiliation soccer” again when one group of Englishmen wished to sort out one another and one other wished to kick one another.
50 min: CHANCE on the different finish, and it’s a save by Matt Turner. Would’ve been an personal aim for Zimmerman, however it was a significant intervention.
49 min: CHANCE cleared off the road because the ball falls to Ream on a nook, and the least probably US participant to attain almost does so however can’t get a lot oomph at shut vary in tight area.