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2024 uefa euro cup & copa america: predictions are correct

7/16/2024

Published with Cardinal Publishers Group, 7-16-24 (Link)
By Shane Stay

"The 2024 UEFA Euro Cup & Copa America: Predictions Are Correct"

2024 UEFA Euro Cup

My prediction: Spain are champs!

My UEFA Euro prediction came true. At the outset, it may look like I’m bragging. Absolutely not. It’s just reflection. Reflection on yet another prediction that was correct. Let’s skip ahead. See below prediction…

2024 Copa America

My prediction: Argentina are champs!

Another correct prediction! Again, does it look like I’m bragging? What am I supposed to do? Predict two tournaments correctly and not mention it?

How do my predictions work?
What makes a successful prediction? As mentioned in THE Women’s World Cup 2019 Book, and elsewhere, it comes down to a few crucial factors that are tells. One would be the overall history of a nation. History repeats itself. The others are in there.

For the rest, visit Cardinal Publishers Group...

correct predictions: you'll find 'em here

7/14/2024

New Predictions:
7-7-2024
(Posted at this website's Homepage)

2024 UEFA European Champions will be: Spain
2024 Copa America Champions will be: Argentina

2024 copa america: usmnt Game 3

7/13/2024

Published with Cardinal Publishers Group, 7-10-24 (Link)
By Shane Stay

"2024 Copa America: United States vs. Uruguay"

Group C
Uruguay
United States
Panama
Bolivia

United States vs. Uruguay
Game 3

7-1-24

"The United States lost a close one to Uruguay!"

Things didn't exactly go according to plan, again. The "again" in question is building off the previous loss to Panama. After losing to Uruguay, the USMNT failed to escape its group.

One might think that after writing a book like Why American Soccer Isn't There Yet I'm gloating. No. Not at all. Are there predictions in that book as to why we keep following such a losing path? Sure. By losing, you might say, "It was just two games! Chill out, man!" Right. Look at the overall FIFA World Cup record. The United States, the most dominant sports-nation on earth, hasn't even gotten to the final of a FIFA World Cup. Ever. As for the 2024 Copa America, we just lost in succession to Panama and Uruguay. Sure, it's just two games. But it's a pattern. A long pattern that goes back 40-plus years. (From way back when, here's a simple rundown: Always good athletes that could theoretically win a World Cup but there's a disconnect with results.)

To the credit of the US, it lost to a good team. Uruguay has improved drastically in recent years. For a long time, Uruguay was just plain stuck with a style that was less than enjoyable to watch.

How will the US recover from this? Well, pretty obvious: the same team will likely start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. And you'll probably have the same coach. And you'll probably have the same result. Sorry. I mean, what do you want me to say? I could say: "It's a year of growth, it's a team that's learning, a team that's gaining experience, it's a process." No, it's not. It's over. You need a new coach. You need some new players. Period.

Mark my words: If you take Berhalter into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with his lineup selection, you will get the same result. For the optimists: if you're lucky, you'll get into the Round of 16, but no further.

For the most part, Berhalter has surrounded himself with good athletes but not good soccer players. If they were good soccer players, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2024 Copa America results would be different. Is that not true? If that's not true, please send a handwritten letter to me explaining why.

In summary, the US didn't escape its 2024 Copa America group. On the bright side: neither did Mexico. Yet, somehow Canada did (go figure).

Here are the teams that qualified for the 2024 Copa America elimination rounds:

Argentina
Canada (c'mon, seriously?)
Venezuela
Ecuador
Uruguay
Panama (really?)
Colombia
Brazil

Well, you know, chalk it up to a learning experience. This team's got potential. Potential to sit back and watch it. No, listen, the thing is (sounding like Chris Farley from the 90s?), hold on, get this, the thing is, what happened was, no, seriously, listen, listen, here's what happened, the thing is, here's what it is, the thing is, hold on, get this, get this, the thing is: the US has potential. What that potential may be, I have no idea. We'll see. It's going to play out. There's a lot of time.

Hold on a second.

There was negative talk about the team (shocker), its performance, its coach. There was talk of replacing Berhalter. Halt ain't goin' no where. He's the new Oscar Tabarez. He'll be there forever. Yet there's talk, already. Yet again. (Quick recap: After the 2022 FIFA World Cup there was talk of him being replaced.)

If Berhalter does leave, who might replace him? The knee-jerk reaction is "an experienced international coach that knows what it takes to win in these types of tournaments." Yeah, that's always helpful. Or, just take Peter Vermes...finally. He's a good coach; let him have a crack at it. How is he not coach? Another crazy idea, smart people, would be: Anson Dorrance. I know, he's coached women which somehow precludes such a transition to the men's side, as though that just can't happen. Dorrance won a FIFA Women's World Cup with the ladies, he's dominated college soccer with North Carolina. He knows how to win, and he stresses creative dribbling, so why not him?! People, get a grip. There are American options out there and those are two of them. But no, everybody tends to say, "We need an international coach who can teach these guys," as though Americans don't understand soccer yet.

Don't forget, as I've pointed out before, soccer's the "one sport" we "apparently just don't get." Like we have some built-in mechanism that makes us do it wrong. When it comes to that: We can't miss, apparently.

Let's get back on track. The team lacked the ability to score goals when it counted. It lacked the overall prowess to organize everything on the field into sustainable wins. Overall: one win, two losses.

So what's next for the team? We'll see. Looks like the head coach topic might be a conversation piece for weeks to come. I would also add the suggestion of "six new starters, at least."

brazil's terrible: here's why

7/7/2024

For the past 15 years, give or take, Brazil has been close to terrible. Now, as of today, Brazil has reached that terrible state. Here's why.

1
The wrong players, coached the wrong way.

These players are quick, fast, and have skill. There's no doubting that they're good players. But there is something missing. As a whole, the team lacks structure with passing. There is little creative dribbling. It looks like the US and Mexico circa 1996. It seems like every opportunity Brazil gets, it swings the ball out wide, to players that do not deliver (in most cases) with creative dribbling, and they surge forward going for goal. It's the "score now" mentality. Can you believe it: I would argue that right now, the US and Mexico have better buildup possession than Brazil. How weird is that? That's beyond weird. I never thought I'd hear myself saying that. Yet, at this moment, I firmly believe it. The US and Mexico, despite their infirmities, have better slow, buildup, possession than Brazil. Brazil is going for goal every moment. It's like a frantic attack that yields half-chances as opposed to more chances on goal that are higher quality chances. How do you get more chances on goal that are high quality chances? You slow it down like Spain.

2
The players are seeking constant highlight reels.

Unfortunately, within the age of YouTube and Social Media, there are highlights of extravagant Brazilian goals. The players have pressure to score these goals again and again. Therefore, unrealistic expectations have been placed on the players to produce fancy goals...all the time. If they don't, the fans get antsy. In reality: Most goals are boring. Fancy goals come around every once in a while. The way you get to fancy goals is to create long-term possession that will increase chances on goal, quality chances on goal. Then, every once in a while, fancy goals will emerge. You can't score fancy goals every time. Period. Stop trying it. You look like the guys in Time Bandits running through the maze, chasing the greatest treasure of all time. Instead, play normal "boring" soccer and your natural Brazilian flair will likely be the result from time to time. That's better than what Brazil's doing right now.

2024 copa america: Usmnt game 2

7/2/2024

Published with Cardinal Publishers Group, 7-2-24 (Link)
By Shane Stay

"2024 Copa America: United States vs. Panama"

Group C
Uruguay
United States
Panama
Bolivia

United States vs. Panama
Game 2

6-27-2024

"The United States lost to Panama!"

Things didn't exactly go according to plan.

Let's get back to that in a sec...

Is it really a Copa America when the US plays Panama? Typically, in past years, this tournament was reserved for South American teams. Now, all of a sudden, it's a CONCACAF showdown?

The unique thing about CONCACAF is that we have teams that often do not play friendlies against Germany, England, Italy, and Brazil. Teams like Guatemala, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, and Panama. We are stuck in a nice little section of the soccer world. Our cohorts, such as Panama (don't forget Belize), tend to think they're valid worldwide contenders. Contenders of what? Your guess is as good as mine. Though, Panama will put up a substantial fight with just about anyone in its path. With past players like Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell (solid ones, at that), it's a country that has a lot of talent. Add to that, Panama has something to prove every time it takes the field against the US.

The US is expected to defeat Panama every time out so the pressure is there for an American victory.

On this occasion, in the 2024 Copa America, it was no different. The location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia.

Timothy Weah, one of the US's best attacking options, got a red card. The US was down to 10 men. It's worth noting, Panama also got a red card.

Somehow, Panama persevered and won the game 2-1. Was the second goal for Panama bad defense on the US's part? Was it poor marking in the box? You be the judge. Sometimes defense is hard to analyze because, oddly enough, it can be so simple: man-marking; anticipate instead of wait and react; first to the ball. Were those things absent for the US during Panama's second goal? Again, you be the judge.

Skeptics would say "no matter what, the US should beat Panama" and they could be right. It is, after all, Panama. Nothing against Panama but even some people in Panama would admit that, in terms of worldwide soccer powers, it's a lower-ranked team. But don't forget: Panama's a feisty opponent for the US.

Also, you might ask yourself, "Is the US really putting out its best team?" This is a question that wages on, years down the road. Of the starting lineup against Panama, were five of those players really suited to be in that lineup? Maybe, in your mind's eye, go through each World Cup-winning lineup and compare that with the USMNT lineup today. Which five players do you think were holding the team back? Or were you satisfied with the lineup? Either way, we're told the 11 players on the field are the absolute best in the country. But is that really true? Don't forget, with a different coach comes different players. You might consider the following: Don't sit back and accept that this coach is absolutely right with his decisions. (I respect, to a point, every coach for the pressure they have with lineup decisions; it ain't easy.) There are always other players out there. It just takes the right coach to introduce you to them. Or, hey, maybe Berhalter's right. This team, right here, could win the FIFA World Cup.* Yet it just lost to Panama.

* This tournament is a proving ground for the ultimate destination: a first-place trophy at the FIFA World Cup.

2024 uefa euro cup & copa america: predictions are correct

correct predictions: you'll find 'em here

2024 copa america: usmnt Game 3

brazil's terrible: here's why

2024 copa america: Usmnt game 2

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2024 uefa euro cup & copa america: predictions are correct

correct predictions: you'll find 'em here

2024 copa america: usmnt Game 3

brazil's terrible: here's why

2024 copa america: Usmnt game 2

Shane stay + ​(archives)

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Shane stay +
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