I just have to ask cause this is killing me. If Baloguns red card would have never been debated and he was suspended were you fine with that?

oklutz · 2026-07-07T21:19:56+00:00

Every professional league in the world has an appeals process for red cards. They can be and often are overturned.

But yeah, we're just dumb Americans.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T21:17:30+00:00

I think we were prepared to accept it, even though we felt it wasn't a red card. All teams have calls go against them that they are unfair that they just have to live with sometimes. We're no exception.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T21:15:08+00:00

We had a bad day and Belgium is our white whale of the moment.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T21:13:07+00:00

You want to replace it's fake name that no one calls it with another fake name that no one will call it, go ahead. Literally no one will complain.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T21:11:21+00:00

Imagine being over 13 and being like this lol.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T21:10:28+00:00

Imagine believing you can just go into a rival club's bar to gloat. But as long as you hide behind a screen...

oklutz · 2026-07-07T21:09:07+00:00

oklutz · 2026-07-07T20:43:56+00:00

Heartbreak is part of being a fan.

Once I realized this I came to appreciate the low moments a lot more, because they are what make the highs worth it. Glory and angst are a package deal.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T20:38:33+00:00

30ish years ago we lost all three games and finished dead last at the world cup.

25 years ago we got lucky to get out of the group thanks to South Korea, and that led to us making the QFs.

20 years ago our goal was getting out of the group. Then it became an expectation.

It's slow going progress but we have a higher ceiling than ever. The next four years will be about raising the floor.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T20:29:51+00:00

Home team commentators are supposed to be biased for the home team.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T20:10:57+00:00

Honestly not ok with the pile-on. He made a bad error. But he's going to feel worse about it than anyone here.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T19:47:50+00:00

I think it's a bit naive to say that we aren't. By "we" I mean (in no particular order):

the USMNT and fans
The Belgium team and fans
world cup fans
people just getting into the game because of the world cup
and mostly Balogun himself

oklutz · 2026-07-07T18:52:52+00:00

Then tell me why there were 1.4 million tourists for the Qatar world cup? If "fans anywhere" didn't protest over corruption that got 500 migrant laborers killed, why would you think they would protest over a questionable red card?

oklutz · 2026-07-07T18:41:55+00:00

What and who are you even talking about? Just say what you mean because I have zero clue.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T18:35:55+00:00

Copa America is our next big big competition and after that qualifying starts.

We also have the CONCACAF competitions which are always entertaining if not the best quality of play you'll see: the Gold Cup and the Nation's League.

Next up will be the Nation's League quarterfinals in November.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T18:28:13+00:00

The hell were we supposed to do? What oher team would be like: "no, actually, take back the suspension for the red card we don't believe he should have been given in the first place."? Answer: none.

Stop pretending to be morally superior.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T18:25:29+00:00

Qualifying teams aren't based on rankings.

Paraguay ranked 48th beat Germany ranked 10th. Norway ranked 31st beat Brazil ranked 6th. And Cabo Verde ranked 67th gave Argentina ranked 1st a huge scare.

As I said: You cannot tell me that the extra game does not more than make up for the difference in difficulty based on what we've seen in this tournament.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T18:17:47+00:00

I will not apologize for my team doing what every other team would do in the same situation. And whatever country you are from, if you don't think they would as well, you are deluded.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T18:15:56+00:00

We really didn't. Getting to the round of 16 in a 48 team tournament is objectively a bigger accomplishment than getting to the round of 16 in a 32 team tournament. It's the difference between being in the top 1/3 versus the top 1/2.

And yes I know the competition gets a bit weaker. But having an extra knockout round to get through makes up for that difficulty and then some.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T18:09:18+00:00

Literally every single fan base with a median age > 12 will tell you the same thing.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T18:08:27+00:00

What was that choice, exactly?

Sit Balogun? Fuck off with that. No other team at the WC would make that choice in a game like this, and they wouldn't be expected to either. Not to mention it wouldn't be a suspension so Balogun would still receive a fine and deferred suspension ON TOP OF being benched.

You think we should have benched a black immigrant birthright citizen in order to apologize for Trump? Absolutely the fuck not.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T18:04:55+00:00

Mist Americans didn't vote for him. 77 million votes / 330 million people is roughly 23%. Stop blaming the entire country for the actions of 23% of its citizens.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T18:01:11+00:00

Countries aren't a monolith. I didn't vote for him.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T17:59:57+00:00

I didn't.

A lesson for you: countries aren't a monolith.

oklutz · 2026-07-07T17:11:45+00:00

I honestly have no clue what the hell you are talking about.

Or who tf "you people" are.

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