World Handball Championship: USA vs. Spain 27-25

That’s exactly how we used to talk about the Frenchmen back in London.

We’d claim they were the greatest in handball history, acting like the Frenchmen were shaking in their boots whenever they faced us—basically saying if we don't take gold, it wasn't worth playing at all.

So, we beat them by 11 points. Big deal. What then?

Take that game against the French. Maybe Čupić misses a 15-meter shot right over the goal, maybe Vori blows three straight chances by firing them straight into Omeyer's chest, and then Balić steps in and works some magic just when we're trailing by two.

I guess we just don't have the mental toughness to face the French. If we couldn't beat them in a final in New York City, we aren't beating them now either.

This team is mentally unprepared and honestly, kind of timid. It was most obvious during the semifinal against a limited Mexican squad, where our guys totally lost it the second the crowd started singing songs along the Mississippi River.

George Robinson43 said:He caught her from point-blank range. Right out of the goalkeeper's zone.

That's what I'm talking about—when you jump from six feet out.

Gary Smith66 said:Instead of picking the easier draw, they went for the hard one. An athlete should always strive to be the best, to grab the gold, to win the tournament—but we basically shot ourselves in the foot on that front.

The squad is worn out and banged up right before facing the top tier.

It was a chance for the younger guys to step up, but that opportunity was squandered in one serious game. And since it’s being played in Spain—basically playing at home—what else did you expect? So much for this "systematic youth movement" everyone talks about.

The way some of these self-righteous, wannabe patriots think has created this weird dynamic where our players are suddenly labeled "honest" and "true athletes," while anyone who ever tried to play it smart gets spat on. It's typical American arrogance—just pure ego and being in love with your own image. 🙏 Plus, there's that fake confidence going into the matchup against the Frenchmen, as if some people haven't learned their lesson yet.

Since we won't be seeing the finals, and probably won't see any medals either, they've already laid the groundwork for those pathetic excuses about "the young squad" getting ready for the Olympics, implying expectations were low to begin with. And as for us, how much does Vori even play these days? Over 40 minutes? 🤣

Man, you are exhausting! Seriously, forget the French—you're just obsessed with how they'll push us out and the fact that America won't make the finals... Do you actually know any American players who have been accused of throwing games? Or any French ones?! It's not all about the gold; there's such a thing as integrity!

Congrats to the boys. They’re playing with heart and pride without all the calculating bullshit. We go until the end. You guys are the best! 👋

http://youtu.be/dpKVMyFiVN8

If you haven't caught this yet, do yourself a favor and check it out—it's worth a look!🙂

swiftcrane96 said:plus they might actually beat the French because the French aren't really the same squad they used to be

How could we not? 😁

And honestly, the veterans are still holding it down while we bring in all this young talent to refresh the roster, right? 🤷
Ever since that striker arrived, people have been saying the French aren't what they used to be, especially since we're rebuilding with younger players and will probably crush them soon. I guess we're at zero points on that prediction so far, though. 😁

Dennis Davis8 said:You are being incredibly difficult, honestly! You’re so fixated on how the French might blow us out of the water and ensure America doesn't even make the finals... Do you actually know a single American player who has been accused of match-fixing? How about a Frenchman? It isn't all about the gold medal; there is such a thing as integrity!

Congratulations to the boys; they play with the kind of honest, proud American spirit that doesn't need to overthink things. We're going all the way—you guys are the best! 👋

What a display of sick American egoism and pure pathos. "Keep Calm and Carry On" for the sake of integrity, except when it comes to those few "honest and brilliant" Americans. But really, there isn't anyone.☕

And yes, the French will run circles around us; I read the exact same posts back during the Olympics and, guess what? They just toyed with us.

Charles Peterson5 said:Did you catch the USA vs. France match?

It seems everyone in this thread is convinced that we don't stand a chance against the French, which means you all would likely make the exact same claim even if we were playing in the championship game itself.

Your collective foresight is truly nothing short of legendary.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy

Are you actually aware that dropping a few games during the group stage is practically par for the course for a team like France?

It’s honestly kind of sad, I guess. It feels like half the crowd is probably going to start rooting for France (assuming we even make it to a quarterfinal matchup against them) just so they can be on the "right" side of things. At this point, it doesn't even feel like it's about the sport or handball anymore. It's just... different.

I’ve got this gut feeling that we’re actually going to take down the Frenchies. Usually, I’m a total pessimist whenever we face them, but honestly, it feels like their run is finally coming to an end. ☕

dustypanther6 said:I don't really want to get into what he was aiming at, I just wanted to say that hitting the post from six meters out in handball is incredibly easy—like, super easy—if you actually want to hit it.

Exactly. It’s way too easy, which honestly makes me wonder how Rocas doesn't have a 100% shooting percentage from the wing. I mean, seriously, if he can hit the post whenever he feels like it, then scoring a goal should be even easier.

I guess I don't see why we even need goalkeepers if players can just pull moves like Ronaldinho in those commercials... 🙄

mellowsurfer9 said:It’s honestly pretty sad. Half the people are probably going to root for France now—assuming there’s even an American vs. French quarterfinal—just so they can say they were right. This doesn't feel like it's about sports or handball anymore. It's just... different.

Exactly. At this point, it has zero to do with the game or the sport, at least for the armchair experts out there.

Now all those losers are just going to cheer for France, purely so they can claim they called it.

Jeremy Brooks87 said:And you're acting like you've been sitting there watching everything unfold for the last fifty years. 🤣

Maybe, but I’ve always been a die-hard supporter of Team USA. I cheered through every single win, and you won't catch me complaining or acting like a sore loser whenever we come out on top.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy

nimblewalker4 said:Yeah, seriously, it’s almost laughable. This guy is actually asking how it’s possible that Rocas doesn't have a 100% conversion rate from the wing. I mean, give me a break. The guy hits the post whenever he feels like it; if he can do that on a whim, hitting a goal is basically a statistical certainty at that point. It’s not that hard to figure out.

I don't even get the point of having goalkeepers anymore if players can just pull stunts like that—you know, like how Ronaldinho did in that one commercial... 🙄

Look, man, if the keeper is just standing there watching the ball hit the post, that isn't even football. It’s nothing. There’s always that tiny bit of daylight between the keeper and the woodwork, and if you can thread the needle right through there—which is incredibly hard to do—you’re scoring. But there's a massive difference between hitting a gap that's only a centimeter or two wider than the ball itself versus actually clanging off the post. When you're aiming for the post, your margin for error expands significantly; you've basically got a 25cm radius where you can strike it and still hit steel.

They picked the harder path. Once we get back, I’ll tell you straight: we’re walking right into a matchup with the French. They were playing like they were blindfolded against the Germans during those last ten minutes—just zero sense of direction on the court...

redpuma49 said:Maybe it’d be better if we just mailed the gold straight to the French before every tournament starts. That way, they don't even have to show up.🙄

Seriously. The only people with a massive inferiority complex toward the French are the trolls on this damn forum. If our actual players are lurking here reading these posts, then it’s no wonder we’re getting smoked by the French before the warm-ups are even over.

That’s exactly it, analoggull4! 🙏 🙏

nimblewalker4 said:Yeah, honestly, it’s pretty easy. They’re asking how on earth Rocas hasn't maintained a 100% success rate from the wing during his career, but man... he hits the post whenever he feels like it. If he can do that, then scoring dozens of extra goals should be even easier, I guess.

I don't really get why we even bother with goalkeepers if players can just pull stunts like that. You know, like how Ronaldinho did in that one commercial? It makes the whole position feel kind of pointless. 🙄

🤦

Look, if you had actually stepped onto a court and tried to catch a handball mid-air or take a shot from the wing, you’d realize it isn't some complex science. It's not like hitting a target five feet away is some impossible feat. Anyway, I was just reading where Patrik Cavar mentioned that he feels like the French team was sandbagging during their game against the Germans. 🙂

If necessary, Rocas will hit the post nine times out of ten. In fact, he might just break the woodwork entirely, sending the ball straight into the net. 🙂

But none of that matters now. It’s time to shift our focus toward the upcoming matchups.

Oh, please, you guys are trying to teach *me* about handball? 🙄

It’s just too obvious. They walk hand-in-hand with Pakistan, letting the Germans through just so they can target Americans and the Dance team next... absolutely brilliant. It's just a nation obsessed with conspiracy theories, which isn't surprising for people who spend all day glued to FOX and CBS.

nimblewalker4 said:So you're the experts on handball now, huh? 🙄

And who exactly are you supposed to be?🤷