Game reports are up, and I am out. Thanks as always for following along:
Passed along from the Australian TV broadcast by the Guardian Australia crew:
“I don’t know if it’s the occasion, but we looked sluggish, heavy legged, dull, quicker, dull, more powerful. They won every duel, they won every second ball. when you do that, it makes it very difficult to get any, gain any momentum. And then we conceded two soft goals.”
“I thought the reaction second half was outstanding. When you think, you know, this noise here – host nation -- I think the players show how good they are in the second half,. obviously at this level, you can’t give away that much in the first.”
“We did very well in the second half. We created opportunities. We won all the duels in the second half. So when you do that, you have a chance. So that’s something to build on for the next match. Did you get clarity on that second goal.”
Interview asks about second goal, saying it looked like a player was impeding Patrick Beach,. there were other calls as well that went against Australia:
Yeah, I’m not sure on that one. I think today was I wouldn’t say the best day for the referee.
Back to me – the referee message board I frequent says they’ve seen similar calls before. that it’s not the common call under current Laws/interpretations.
“It makes a lot more sense for fans in a Seattle to sing John Denver’s song than it does for United fans at Old Trafford. Still, American chants are woeful.” – Christopher Barnes
“I might be on a country-ish road in West Sacramento this weekend. Does that count?” – Peter Oh
Rural California has some interesting backroads.
More words from the Paraskevases:
“Good performance and subs in the second half. Australia recovered well and have something to take into the Paraguay game. A lesser team would have collapsed and lost by more than 2. We showed we can play football and press high. Volpato, Irakunda need to start in the next game if fit.” – James
“Hardly a terminal result for our chances: I’m still confident this disappointing result / performance will be a footnote in history after we lift the World Cup next month (with Mike Grella presenting us the trophy. dressed as a boxing kangaroo). Still some positives to take away from the game.” – Chris
Alex Freeman postgame, about his goal: “I was kind of anxious when they went to VAR. … When it was confirmed, (teammates) all started running,. I thought I’ve gotta run – they’re going to tackle me.”
Chris Finnegan informs me that the BBC were harshly getting on the ref’s case for getting cramp, noting that they run eight miles a game. don’t stop. My record is three, but I’m far from this level. Anyway – not everyone can be Tori Penso.
Think that’s harsh? How’s this:
“This referee is nowhere near World Cup level: he’d struggle to keep an U6s small-sided game under control. Cramping?! He hasn’t been able to keep up with play!” – Chris Paraskevas
I think he got the crucial decisions right.
Pocchettino is up for a postmatch interview, but he pauses to recognize fans who are chanting his name.
“Argentina have amazing fans, but I think we are matching Argentina.”
He says they hope to get Pulisic back as soon as possible. that it’ll take the whole team to keep going.
A couple of people have responded to Daniel Stauss regarding his optimistic sister …
“Tell Daniel Stauss his sister sounds like a Mets fan.” – Phil Collis
“Daniel, let your sister dream. I am a Yank but I will tell you my optimistic but responsible prediction. USA wins their first knockout round and they lose their second.” – Mary Waltz
That’s my prediction as well.
“Outfit watch: Aussie Coach = Dollar Store Simeone.” – Russell Brady
“Some things being discussed by the RTÉ commentator team of Des Curran. Kenny Cunningham so far this evening include: Basketball players looking the same size sitting down, Tony Popovics fashion sense, Pocchetinos hair, Shakira and her tax bill, Challenging each other to name the American celebrity as they appear on screen, Metallica playing Dublin tonight. All of which is infinitely more entertaining than the game.” – Matthew Lysaght
I would love to be in Ballyferriter this evening.
“Still so disappointing to see the US fans not really taking this World Cup to heart. At no point did I see any of the fans outside the ground throw beer (at nearly £10 a pint from Box Park) on each other when they scored. Come on, get involved properly. Hopefully by the end of the tournament they will know what to do with flares….” – Nick Trim
“I have lots of Australian friends,. find the US commentary obnoxious as hell, but this Australian team should have maybe tried to play football, and laid off the aggression…. (But I agree with you that the US defence is begging to be tested…even against this limited team, they’ve given away too many good chances. looked rather disorganised.)” – Henry
“If they ever make a film out of the US team, Russell Crowe will play Pochettino” – Krishna Moorthy
A Seattle crowd is singing Take Me Home, Country Roads. I’d wager less than 2% of this crowd have been to West Virginia. Christian Pulisic is singing along – he at least grew up relatively close to West Virginia. may well have been there.
Australian coach Tony Popovic gives the referee an earful. His anger level gradually rose as the game went on and turned into an Australian rules football match at times.
For the first time since 1930, the US men have won two consecutive World Cup games. More importantly, they’re through to the next round.
It would take a strange combination of results to keep the USA from winning the group. so they have the luxury of resting players in the game against Turkiye.
Australia never got a consistent attack going, even though they had a few good scrambling chances.
90 min +8 Australia slam the ball forward but lose possession. That should just about do it.
90 min +7 Berhalter intercepts. USA off to the races and play for Wright, but he’s a couple of yards offside.
90 min +6 A wayward pass forward goes out for a US goal kick. gives the USA time to bring in Haji Wright and Gio Reyna for Balogun and McKennie, who get rousing ovations as they leave.
90 min +5 Oh yeah – we had a free kick for Australia. It’s cleared.
The fourth official races onto the field with some sort of energy booster that the referee eagerly accepts. He will continue. This will surely add another two minutes of stoppage time.
90 min +3 This could be costly down the road – Richards is forced to foul Irankunda. gets a yellow.
And now … the referee is down with a cramp. O’Neill sportingly helps him stretch it out.
90 min +2 Australia building from the back. Broken up, and the USA play ahead to Balogun. He dumps it over to Tillman, who tries to return the favor with Balogun wide open, but the pass misses.
90 min +1 The USA play the corner kick short. then try to shield it in the corner, but an Australian player gets around the defender and knocks the ball off his shin to get a throw-in.
Six minutes of stoppage.
90 min Irankunda slams into Scally with the ball in the air. Free kick for the USA. Trusty wins a corner.
88 min Tillman draws a foul, but attention goes immediately to Balogun, who has finally lost his patience with Souttar. Balogun initiated contact,. then Souttar, inspired by the UFC event at the White House, gets him in a rear naked choke.
Multiple yellows are shown – Souttar, Balogun and Italiano.
87 min Sloppy giveaway on the US backline, and Australian can cross. Shot goes well over the bar.
86 min Free kick near midfield for Australia, and they’ll send everyone up except Beach.
Richards clears, but Australia maintain possession.
85 min CHANCES FOR AUSTRALIA! The corner goes over the box. One player – I think it was Souttar – whiffs on an 8-yard shot. Another shot is blocked by Adams. But there’s a foul, anyway – Souttar on Richards.
84 min Sweet nutmeg keys a dangerous Australian attack. The USA can’t clear. There’s a shout for a penalty – surely VAR is checking. Nothing in it, but Australia win a corner.
82 min An Australian cross sails over and out for a goal kick.
80 min Freeman wins an aerial duel -- improbably, given the height difference – and he’s down.
USA had subs ready but was waiting to see if Freeman was OK. Some confusion now as the referee seems to be threatening the USA for failing to get their subbed players out,. they end up not penalized.
Trusty and Scally are in for Dest and Robinson. That’s officially calling off the attack.
79 min Circati comes in, preparing to take a long throw-in. He takes it short. Australia win a corner – and this is where I think they can be dangerous.
78 min The last Australian sub will be Irvine for Okon-Engstler.
And then Volpato tries to draw a second yellow on Robinson, but it’s a rather silly effort.
76 min Volpato turns on Robinson and gets in a cross that should’ve led to a shot but does not.
75 min Comical scene as Balogun is held tightly near midfield. Foul is called, but Balogun is frustrated now.
73 min It’s messy now, with bodies flying. The referee could’ve blown the whistle a few times in a short time,. the tipping point is Irankunda knocking over Ream.
Finally, a US sub – and it’s Pepi going off in favor of Sebastian Berhalter. Midfielder in for forward. Practical.
72 min We’re back. I should mention that Chris Richards is once again playing an outstanding game.
How has Pochettino not made a sub? They’re still pushing Robinson up the field. leaving Ream as the left back against some dynamic Australian attackers who came on at the break. That’s not going to work forever.
The field also is hydrating. The sprinklers are on. Yay, summer.
68 min USA complete about 40 passes,. Ream’s effort to find Robinson racing down the flank goes out of play.
67 min USA pass around a bit and drop it back to Freese, who blasts it upfield. USA win possession.
66 min Long play forward to Irankunda, and Freese very awkwardly plays it outside of his own area. Richards makes contact with Irankunda, VAR checks, but nothing is called.
65 min Pochettino needs to get a sub ready. Soon. The defense nearly give up another breakaway.
Australia maintain possession, pounced on an errant clearance, and Freese has to save a shot from Metcalfe.
64 min Tillman sends a long throw-in to Balogun, who nearly manages to make a neat turn. play for Pepi, but the Australian defense recover well.
62 min Another great ball from McKennie to Balogun, but again, the striker misplays it.
Australia counter, and Ream switched off long enough for Irankunda to race behind him. He centers, and Volpato shoots way high. An Australian player tumbled in the area, and VAR checks it, but there’s nothing to it.
61 min Leckie won’t continue – Volpato is in. That’s four of five subs for Australia.
58 min A half-chance for Australia and a half-decent cross, initially awarded as a corner kick. VAR can now check such things, and it does. Goal kick.
Leckie is down, and after a few moments, physios come in. The referee is trying to get everyone to please leave the field, and they do not.
56 min Robinson is late on a tackle and trips Italiano. The referee plays advantage, then goes back and shows yellow to Robinson. Not a controversial call.
55 min More former Seattle Seahawks players shown on the feed. That explains who was able to afford tickets.
54 min Balogun takes another knock – you wonder if they might sub him out at some point.
Play restarts while the broadcast feed remains fixated on former Seattle Seahawk Marshawn Lynch in the luxury boxes ( he can afford it ).
53 min McKennie plays in to Balogun, who wins a corner that they take quickly. Patient buildup, and Tillman’s cross is deflected for another corner.
51 min Australia get a sniff of the the ball for the first time in a while BUT they leave Balogun open in his own half. so the through ball to him is not offside! He isn’t able to get a clean shot, though – despite Balogun having a firm grasp on Bos’ shirt. Balogun won’t want to see that on the game film.
From Wilmington, NC, where I lived in the early 1990s:
“I’m sneaking peeks at the match in between trying to actually do my job (US east coast). it appears to me that the referee is letting a lot of stuff go uncalled on both sides. Which could lead to a rather scrappy second half if he doesn’t take a bit more control.” – Jeff Necessary
“At this point. I’m just hoping that Balogun stays off the scoresheet so I can enjoy a full day of Jonathan David being above him in the scoring charts. That’s all I ask.” – Matthias Hoenisch
49 min Another late tackle and a US free kick. Just a split-second late on so many of these.
48 min Foul on Australia just past midfield. USA bump the ball around.
“My sister, who is the biggest bandwagon jumper I know, is texting me non-stop with relentlessly pro-USA spam. I need some help from the English here: how do I tell her that the USMNT will both implode. flame-out at some point in the next two weeks, and that all her fervor is vanity and striving after wind?” – Daniel Stauss
46 min The US defense look extremely susceptible to making a disastrous play under pressure. Freese barely gets the ball away in time.
Three halftime subs for Australia
Burgess, Touré and Velupillay are out.
Enter Geria along with the two goal-scorers from the Turkiye game – Irankunda and Metcalfe.
Halftime mailbag III
I’m going to have to flip through. just pick one or two more … thanks for the deluge of entertaining mail!
“Antonee “Jedi” Robinson is amazing, with his work rate and skill up and down the left side. He’s like a cheat code. I’m surprised he’s still plying his trade at the likes of Fulham. not Manchester City or Liverpool.” – Desi Duncker, who would also rather see Reyna than Pepi
From Australia, James points a finger at the bench:
“Popovic has got the lineup and tactics completely wrong. He managed to select the most unimaginative lineup by taking out the only 2 players with a goal -. sends the wrong message of negativity to the players. We don’t look like a threat on the counter at all, we’re not playing forwards or getting support up front. Compete opposite to the first game and this is all on Popovic. He has shown his complete lack of European experience.”
“On what are you basing your statements thst Australia will score? They haven’t even had a sniff at goal, 70 to 30 percent US possesion. outmuscled at every ball.” – Mark Horan
Maybe it’s just memories of 1998 Iran. USA dominated and gave up two counterattack goals.
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