2018 World Cup running thread

OK. So they're better because every time the best team wins, right? Guess the Netherlands and Italy couldn't beat
Panama, Saudi Arabia or any team in the WC.

 

I will say this much: If the U.S. had qualified with the kids they were playing post-elimination, I would be very much excited.

Gotta wait 4 more years, unfortunately, although qualifying for Qatar begins sooner than you think.

 

The US does still rank 30 spots higher than Panama in the FIFA rankings.

The US is out, and Panama in, because we crapped the bed last summer. But I don't believe they're actually better.

 

You realize that the Netherlands and Italy are not in CONCACAF, right? If they were, they'd be in the World Cup.

As it happens, the US and Panama are both in CONCACAF. The final round of qualifications was a 10 game series. Panama finished ahead of the US over a ten game stretch.

 

They're not? Thought they were. So every time a team gets in it means they are better than every team that didn't get in.
OK got it. This is as good as your posts on the Lonzo Ball thread.

 

Why am I debating with a guy who can't read?

I would say if there's a ten game competition, there's a pretty good chance that the team that finishes higher is better, yes. And the US looked like ass in that tournament.

But hey, wave that flag, man.

 

Not waving a flag big guy. Just said US should've won, had more talent than Panama. But guess Panama is much better.
Why did they bother firing Klingsmann? How could he win when Panama was better.

 

They fired Klinsmann because the team sucked with Klinsmann coaching.

They replaced him with Bruce Arena and lost to Trinidad and Tobago.

Next?

 

But they had no chance to qualify because Panama was better. Obviously Mexico and Costa Rica are better than Panama.
And Panama is better than the US so they shouldn't have blamed the coach.
They should've listened to you and realized Panama was a better team and they weren't going to qualify.

Next

 

Does this stuff seem coherent to you when you're typing it?

The US sucked enough to get their coach fired in the middle of the competition and you're using that as an argument in favor of the quality of the team?

 

So they weren't playing up to their talent level?

Or is Panama more talented?

 

I don't know if they were playing up to their talent level or not. I don't think there's much talent there. They lost to T&T after bringing in Arena, so it didn't help much.

Is Panama more talented? Probably, but not by much. Neither team has much talent at all. Good enough to qualify out of CONCACAF, though.