Onderwerp: [U21] World Cup Qualifiers

Tomorrow we will play the last WCQ U21 match against Hungary U21. Hungary is 4 points ahead of us and we are 5 points ahead of Scotland, so the result won't change anything. However, we will fight for victory, and players at the age of 21 will play their last matches. Thank you very much to all the managers who trained these players.

This is just one question: in the match Magyarország U21 - USA U21, Magyarország U21 is most likely to win (if they use the best team). USA U21 will play in the world cup, and this is the last game where you can help with the training and experience of U20 players. Is it better to try to win, or use a U20 team in this game, to prepare for the world cup?

Good question. I will play with the U21 squad in this match, just like my opponent. Why? Because he's fighting for 1st pot in the U21 World Cup draw, and I'm fighting for 3rd pot. Besides, we're also fighting for the ranking. I want our team to stay in the TOP 32. Another reason: We will have 3 more friendly matches before the first match in the WC group. And another reason is the desire to take revenge for the loss in the first round.

After 9 of 10 round:

*** Pot 1 ***
1. Argentina U21, 27 Points, +52 (54–2) – Group E
2. Polska U21, 27 Points, +49 (52–3) – Group N
3. Deutschland U21, 27 Points, +48 (51–3) – Group A
4. România U21, 27 Points, +45 (47–2) – Group J
5. Brasil U21, 27 Points, +44 (46–2) – Group F
6. Österreich U21, 25 Points, +44 (50–6) – Group P
7. England U21, 25 Points, +41 (42–1) – Group G
8. Magyarország U21, 25 Points, +39 (41–2) – Group C

*** Pot 2 ***
1. Eesti U21, 25 Points, +36 (42–6) – Group M
2. Bulgaria U21, 25 Points, +31 (32–1) – Group K
3. España U21, 24 Points, +54 (58–4) – Group D
4. Türkiye U21, 24 Points, +36 (38–2) – Group H
5. Moldova U21, 23 Points, +35 (35–0) – Group B
6. Slovensko U21, 23 Points, +33 (37–4) – Group O
7. Cuba U21, 23 Points, +22 (23–1) – Group I
8. Uruguay U21, 22 Points, +25 (29–4) – Group L

*** Pot 3 ***
1. Venezuela U21, 24 Points, +39 (43–4) – Group D
2. Bosna i Hercegovina U21, 24 Points, +23 (26–3) – Group J
3. Italia U21, 23 Points, +46 (48–2) – Group G
4. Colombia U21, 23 Points, +28 (32–4) – Group P
5. Azərbaycan U21, 22 Points, +40 (47–7) – Group K
6. Perú U21, 22 Points, +28 (35–7) – Group N
7. France U21, 22 Points, +21 (29–8) – Group L
8. Hellas U21, 21 Points, +38 (42–4) – Group O

*** Pot 4 ***
1. Suomi U21, 21 Points, +37 (40–3) – Group B
2. Ukraina U21, 21 Points, +29 (40–11) – Group E
3. Česká republika U21, 21 Points, +29 (35–6) – Group M
4. USA U21, 21 Points, +24 (29–5) – Group C
5. Hrvatska U21, 21 Points, +24 (28–4) – Group H
6. Nederland U21, 21 Points, +16 (25–9) – Group F
7. België U21, 20 Points, +24 (29–5) – Group I
8. Srbija U21, 17 Points, +26 (33–7) – Group A

It's true that there will be 3 more friendly games, but the friendlies don't give experience to players. But ok, I understand your reasons :p

I don't think we are at a loss. Hungary is the favorite, but it is a team that can be beaten.

Good to know that there are 3 friendlies! I think Dolph Lockhart will be within 1 week of divine keeping by then. I spent a little too long training pace

I agree with Norbert here.

It's far more important to keep playing well, and getting a look at another team vs yours tactically. Unlike (some) managers here, Norbert likes to mix his formations and lineups based on opponent.
As such, it would be wasteful to run a bunch of 18 and 19 year olds out there just for one game.

In the grand scheme, it matters far less then the manager actually training the player.

For me, experience is important to avoid player mistakes and be more effective in attack. This is my understanding of the game engine. But if Norbert prefers it that way, that's fine.

you have to weigh this against reality:

Many owners in this game can't train a player effectively. Additionally, many owners actively expose their kids to injury, unnecessarily, actively participating in pointless friendlies.
These variables, on top of actual tactical capability, factor in way more than having 7 experience or 8. That difference is far less than match engine RNG at these skill levels. We're not dealing with 75 score attackers here.

Then, you have to consider your team's ranking. Sandbagging a few games just to play 20 vs 21 is just not smart. That's a lesson I learned with Israel.

I had this dilemma myself in the offseason for the one cycle I did with Israel. I thought, like you do, it'd be wasteful to play 21 year olds in friendlies. I did not have the luxury of a Mama Mia tournament, because Achmid was super late getting the Asian Cup together, and some dude Saiyan took it over and made it run on the ass opposite end of the season. So I was stuck balking out of Mama Mia. A week later, Achmid comes back and is like "hey, I'm still going to run this" and he reverts it back to the beginning of the season.

So, I was screwed. Asia Cup was my priority, and it got jerked around, so I was stuck with losing a few friendlies playing 20 year olds, and frankly just being too busy surviving my first season in ML.
I would have LOVED to do the U20 Cup and the Asia Cup, but circumstances were out of my control.

Point is, Norbert is absolutely making the right call, logically. Besides, if he manages to beat Hungary that'll be a nice feather in his cap.

Magyarország U21 2:2 USA U21

Congratulations Norbert :) good result and USA U21 goes to the Championships :)

'm also glad that 3 of my players played in this match :) including 20-year-old Fisher, who will be a star next season :)

Magyarország U21 - USA U21 2:2
Date: 2024-06-08 11:59
League match: U21 Group C
Stadium: Magyarország U21 Arena
Weather: moderate clouds
warm
Spectators: 60000
Magyarország U21 USA U21
A1R Tactics 5-3-2 line
49% Possession 51%
54% Play in the half 46%
4 Shots 10
0 Fouls 0
0 Yellow cards 0
0 Red cards 0
1 Offsides 0
59.4 average mark 56.2
solid Shooting very good
very good Passing solid
excellent Defending very good

Thank you for your congratulations. We proved that we deserved to qualify for the U21 World Cup. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this. Today, after this successful season, I can say that I am handing over USA U21 in good condition. We advanced from 41st to 28th place in the world ranking. We advanced to the U21 World Cup twice. We were on the podium of the Mini World Cup U20, Copa America U20 and Gold Cup U20. We did a great job together! Thank you to the US community!

Thanks for everything :) It was great working with you, good luck in your new challenges :)

The pleasure is all mine. We made a good duo.

Watched this one as well. A very good result against a really good team with a considerably stronger Sokker population.
This game was funny, I don't recall the last time I have seen two post goals in the same game (one for each team).

See releme, this is a character result for me. It shows the rest of the national team managers that norbert's not going to be a pushover, and is capable of competing a little over his head (team quality wise). Outshot them 10-4 as well.

This, this is good tactical management. At least one of our national teams is in good hands.

Yes, the USA NT played a brilliant game. But Norbert already has a lot of experience, and even without this game, he would do an excellent job in the WC. Either way, U20 or U21, it won't be fundamental.