Drab Australia and Paraguay Display Puts USMNT Credentials Into Context
Drab Australia and Paraguay Display Puts USMNT Credentials Into Context
USMNT optimism took a hit in the defeat to Türkiye, while a closer examination of Australia and Paraguay has observers reining in USMNT expectations slightly. Mark Bechtel|
SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Much is made about the romantic idea that the World Cup is more than just a soccer tournament, that it’s an event that unites people by transcending geographic borders, language barriers and cultural differences.
Which is why it made sense that in a parking lot outside of San Francisco Bay Area (nee Levi’s) Stadium Thursday night, a horde of Paraguayans were dancing to “Highway to Hell” alongside a large group of Aussies who were tossing inflatable kangaroos (yellow, with green boxing gloves) in the air. Nothing brings people who live 8,000 miles away from each other together like a mutual love of toy marsupials and AC/DC. And beer. Definitely beer.
The fans had at least one other thing in common: They saw their respective teams get handled rather easily by the U.S. (and beat Türkiye) earlier in group play. So seeing the sides together on the pitch in the group finale offers a chance to give a little more context to those two U.S. victories.
Now, before we get started, it has to be acknowledged that both teams knew coming in that a draw would give Australia a spot in the round of 32 and all but guarantee Paraguay a berth as well. So neither country had incentive to risk much—and they rarely did in a listless 0–0 draw. But the difference between second and third is not insignificant. The Socceroos will now have a week off before their next game, at worst against a lackluster Belgium side. La Albirroja, on the other hand, will almost certainly get Germany on Monday—after they fly across the country to Boston.
A Draw Suited Both Australia and Paraguay
The main takeaway is simple: The U.S. won a scrappy group. A very scrappy group. After the game, Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro insisted, “I told my players we didn’t come here for a draw,” a statement that didn’t exactly do him any favors. (Had he said, “We were totally looking for one point,” he could have at least claimed to have gotten the job done.) Taking Alfaro at his word, it’s hard to fathom that his team reached the crucial four-point mark. After getting rolled by the U.S., they were dominated by Türkiye. Sure, Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón was sent off just before halftime, but even with 11 men on the pitch, they was dodging bullets left and right. In the first 45 minutes, Türkiye had eight chances to Paraguay’s two.
What the fans in Santa Clara would have given for that kind of show. Instead they saw Paraguay take one shot (off-target, natch) in the first half. After the break, Alfaro brought on Mauricio, the electric attacker born in Brazil who scored as a sub against the U.S. Again he made an impact, temporarily injecting a little life into the Paraguayan attack. And then ... nothing. Starting in the 50th minute, La Albirroja went more than half an hour without attempting a shot. The most impressive feat by a Paraguayan in that stretch was the fan who chugged Michelob Ultra out of a sneaker on the video screen during the hydration break.
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Like his counterpart, Australia coach Tony Popovic scoffed at the idea that he came into the match simply looking for one point. “You can have opinions on how the game was played or what we thought we both needed,” he said. “But we at no stage felt like we were playing for a draw. I thought we controlled the game quite well and had the better opportunities. We tried to win the game.”
They came close a few times—especially down the right flank, where Jordy Bos and Cristian Volpato gave Paraguay fits all night. But big moments in the final third were few and far between, while the action in the middle of the field featured more hitting than an NHL All-Star Game. “It was two physical teams,” said midfielder Aiden O’Neill after the game. “I think quite a few of us have been hit in the head. I got smashed in the head in the first 10 seconds or so.”
What Did We Learn About the USMNT From This Game?
If nothing else, the game was confirmation that the U.S. beat two teams that have struggled all tournament to create chances. On Thursday, the Socceroos had an xG of 0.55, bringing their total for the tournament to 1.78. Paraguay had 0.24, giving the team a whopping three-game total 1.04 (nearly half of which came from set pieces). That’s a bad half for Türkiye, which will take its xG of 6.66 and head back to Istanbul.
These are the type of games the U.S. has to win—especially on home soil. That’s not to diminish what the U.S. did in its first two matches. Paraguay and Australia are counterattacking sides—and teams who employ that style can be even more content to sit back and defend when playing in hostile environs. Mix in the feistiness inherent in both—and if you have an appetite for clichés, toss in a pinch of the old adage that there are no easy matches in the World Cup—and you’ve got a recipe for an upset.
So kudos to the U.S. for doing what needed to be done—and doing it emphatically. But at the same time (and without reading too much into the Yanks’ 3-2 loss to Türkiye in a game that had no bearing on the standings), Thursday’s drab affair suggests that maybe it’s time to gently pull the brake on the Why Not Us Express. What the U.S. needed going into the Türkiye game was to keep on building momentum. Now it has to restore that mojo and continue to jell.
It’ll get its chance to do so next week against Bosnia and Herzegovina—yet another upstart counterattacking side that has trouble scoring goals. Win that and the U.S. is back on track, and perhaps a little more deserving of some hype.
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Published 6 hours ago | Modified 6 hours ago
MARK BECHTELMark Bechtel has been a writer and editor at Sports Illustrated for 30 years. He’s covered a variety of sports, including baseball, auto racing, soccer and—his favorite—curling, as well as contributing to the magazine’s media coverage.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
