World Championships on page / Offside: Good Win for USMNT, Messin Last Dance?

Welcome back on pages / offside! This week, Luis Miguel Echegarai deserved some of the most prominent heads from the international break. From the jubilation in West Africa and El Alto in South America in the spark of encouragement in Columbus, Ohio, here is the LME view as the World Cup qualifications took over the central stage.

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On page: Finally, a spark for USMNT

After dents in the unconscious loss 2-0 South Korea in Harrison, New Jersey, with other separate performance, United States Men’s national team finally gave fans a reason to believe in Mauritio Pochettino project, beating Japan 2-0 at Columbus, on Tuesday evening in Columbus, Ohio’s Low.com.

Pochettino reacted to the loss of South Korea by dividing (five changes from Saturday), so that his side could better improve Japan Hajima Moriyas, a team that I think will do next summer flight. And so he returned to PlayBook with his Jugampton and Tottenham Day, when he often used 3-4-3 (or 3-2-2-1) formation to play the role of opposing teams who enjoy the installation game. This is exactly what happened on Tuesday night while the USMNT pressed, attacked and exploited huge holes that were available because of its high-printing mentality.

It was a classic, old school Pochettino and she worked.

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Christian Pulisic – Whoever during the summer was part of the detachment, who gave a lot of criticism – he found so much freedom in the possession as he kept recovering the ball, expressed the chance and notching help for the ballogun falorine. Alex Club America Alek Zendejas was also excellent, who scared a great performance with a wonderful goal.

I also think that if there is intentioned to be any success in the future, it cannot unequivocally involve Chris Richards Because I can’t overtake the importance of central Crystal palace. It’s defended for everything that is usmnt.

Now, the actual result of Japan is neither here nor there – this was friendly, and USMNT’s opponents were born strongly after a draw with Mexico, which means that the key start Liverpool‘s Wataru Endo, Takefus Cubo from Real Sociedad did not play while others (Brighton’s Kaoru mitomaMonaco’s Takumi Minamino) Entry only replacements. It was also not a USMNT’s “strongest” XI, but not to focus on this point; Instead, remember a bigger delay. On Tuesday night in Columbus, they – and Pochettino – they could see the personality of cohesive, resistant and creative sides, and in my opinion, it was their best show because Argentino took over.

I think, however, that playing every friendly in American soil is not necessarily a good thing for this team because it will harder to come. Instead, I would like to be more often tested in enemy environments against the legitimate competition in the World Cup.

Now some have claimed to me that in a nation with a massive support for Mexico And other nations, playing in the US, from the USMNT perspective, but can feel like they are playing in a guest setting. But it’s not the same. I’m talking about the USMNT side that, for hypothetical argument, should travel to a monumental stadium and face Argentinaor head to northern Africa and test against Morocco in Rebate. Heck: Forget great teams. Go and play the team as Scotland or IndonesiaIt doesn’t matter. The point is to face them in their house, in front of their fans, their culture and their support.

CanadaFor example, it made exactly that in the September window, with Men Jesse Marsch conquering 3-0 on Romania and 1-0 against Velles In Swansea. The result is fairly fairly secondary so you can learn when you play on a foreign territory, because how to learn how to comfort yourself and if you want to make history on the world’s world hall next summer, you must be ready for everyone. Being a nation host will not save you.

USMNT remaining matches for the year are against Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay – All good testers for 2026. year, but they are everything happens In the US. After that, there are reports on games in March against European giants such as Belgium and Cristiano Ronaldo‘s PortugalDepending on your own qualifying routes. These are all very powerful opponents to warm up, but I think it plays in such a type of proverbial bubble, always at home, does not help anyone, especially the male representation of the United States. Being a nation of the host means very little after a whistle sank and a game of strikes.

But let me end up positive, because on Tuesday evening he played Pochettin’s USMNT, we hope that it is a sign of constant progress and ultimate reliability that can build in something Donorro over time.

Side: Underdogs get up in South America and Africa

The automatic places of South America for the competition at the next flight have already been cemented as Argentina, Ecuador, ColombiaUruguay, Brazil And Paraguay reserved his cards before the final day. So everything is focused on the eyes Venezuela and Boliviawho wanted to earn that seventh place, which would put them in the Spot Intercontinental Playoff.

Venezuela crossed the upper hand in the evening, but the heart of Columbia, meant that Bolivia had the opportunity to do something that did not have been done since 2009. – Win against Brazil and Leapfrog Venezuela for the seventh place. Just like 16 years ago, Green She had an altitude of how they rely on their municipal stadium in El Alto stands at a large 13,600 feet above sea level – 1,800 feet more than the previous stadium in La Pazu. Bolivia used it in their greatest advantage, do not lose any qualifiers at home. In fact, in this campaign, the World Cup for Qualifications for Most Points earned with 20 points, and their singular victory away from home was against the house Chile Last year, which ended incredibly important.

Against Brazil, they caught 1-0 victory thanks to questionable decision of the sentence – what is confection without a small drama, huh? “But he also has to say it was a campaign in which the Oscar Villegas team played his heart. Finally, Bolivia earned a playoffs place and is now closer to returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1994. years, which was funny too hosted from the United States. This would also be the second time in the history of Bolivia in which they were actually qualified for the tournament: their two other previous World Cups (1930 and 1950) was performed through a call.

Meanwhile in Africa, Cape Verde – with population equivalent to Atlanta, GA. – won a historic game over Cameroon1-0, which means that blue sharks have an advantage at the top of their qualifying group for five points. Another victory from his last two matches and they will go towards his first World Cup. After the final whistle, Cape Verde Fans celebrated the terrain, celebrating what could be an amazing conclusion to their campaign.

Now it must be said that if you are an African football fan, this is not a completely surprise such as this beautiful country, consisting of 10 islands and multiple islets, have done very well in recent years, including a quarterfinal phenomenon of 2023. Years African Cup of NationsBut not to undermine this achievement. When you spill your group, the one that includes a power plant like Cameroon, it’s for work.

Offside: The end is as near as the final chapters Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be written

Last Thursday night in Buenos Aires, Lionel Messi played his final World Cup qualifier with Argentina. Dinner – 3-0 World Cup Champions defend due to Venezuela – also gave Brac from Messi to make 36 goals with 72 matches in CONMEBOL qualifications, mostly leading historical books on the continent. Tuesday night, Albiceleste He lost 1-0 against Ecuador, but regardless of that, he closely concluded his qualifying campaign since 2026. Year on the top of the table.

Messi, who sealed this campaign as an eight-American qualifiers with eight goals, did not play in Guaiaquila as he returned to the USA to be prepared for the extreme running of Inter Miami MLS Play, so this basically means that Messi’s career in World Cup qualifiers are done. His presence at the next flight tournament is also, at the moment, is not guaranteed.

“Given my age, the most logical thing is that it won’t happen” said 38-year-old star last weekAlso holding a record for most of the performance at the World Cup. “I’m excited, eager, I’ll take the match on the day … I’ll keep it a day, and if I feel good, and I wouldn’t be good, and if I don’t feel good, and if I don’t feel good, and if I don’t feel good, and if I don’t feel Okay, and if I don’t feel good, and I wouldn’t be good. And I wouldn’t be good, and if I didn’t feel good, and if I didn’t feel good, and I wouldn’t be good.

Meanwhile in Europe, where UEFA Coolifiers do not end until November, Cristiano Ronaldo also had a joyful international window. His pair of goals against Armenia in Portuguese Ruži 5-0 meant that his 38 goals in World Cup qualifiers had exceeded Messi and only put it for one behind the record, legendary Carlos Ruiz Guatemala. Tuesday against HungaryHe is tied to the penalty of punishment because Portugal won 3-2 against Hungary.

Ronaldo, 40, also extended his international scoring record at 141 goals in 223 games. He will be 41 in February and his goal – just like Messi – is to play at the Six World Cup.

Shall we see “last dancing” next summer? Whether the international phase is invited to the international phase Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Even consideration I feel compatible because after two decades of stunning successes and memories of calipers, it is almost amazing, we will not see them more, whether it is for a club or country.

Years of the year, the younger generation will ask us about their incredible rivalry. They will ask about the most amazing weather and food in the history of sports when two superspersons control the game in the palm and in turn, and we will smile and answer and respond and answer in extreme, reflective satisfaction, “we were there.”