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World Cup 2018

MFS62 Jun 12 2018 12:38 PM

Will you be watching? What team will you root for? Later

metirish Jun 12 2018 12:46 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I will watch , but the coverage on FOX with be an absolute joke....they do soccer really badly ...a lot of the games will be commentated on from the LA studio ...apparently ESPN have sent a far larger staff than FOX . I will root for great games plus the smaller nations, always fun to see how England do...Belgium on paper have an excellent team ....hard to look past Brazil, Germany and Spain though.

d'Kong76 Jun 12 2018 12:52 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Croatia, baby!!!

Ceetar Jun 12 2018 01:15 PM Re: World Cup 2018

No, and I can't roll my eyes hard enough at soccer.

MFS62 Jun 12 2018 01:20 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I won't be watching. If I want to see teams not scoring I can watch the Mets. But wouldn't it be something if Iceland wins? Later

d'Kong76 Jun 12 2018 02:54 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I pay casual attention to it, mostly via Sportcenter or the like, but not investing hours and hours of actual viewing.

Mets Willets Point Jun 12 2018 02:55 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Hard to drum up enthusiasm for me this year with no USA and corrupt FIFA hosting the event in corrupt Russia.

Lefty Specialist Jun 12 2018 03:06 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Iceland, since we're going there on vacation this summer and it would be cool to see an entire country lose their shit.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 12 2018 04:00 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I will intend to watch more than I actually watch. I always root against USA in this thing anyway so their absence doesn't bother me.

d'Kong76 Jun 12 2018 04:12 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Commie

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 12 2018 04:29 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Yeah it's weird

d'Kong76 Jun 12 2018 04:51 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I'm just goofin'; it's funny how dated it sounds to call someone a commie.

metirish Jun 12 2018 07:02 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Yeah, I am not exactly all excited about the World Cup....No Ireland , no USA, no Italy , no Holland , that is a lot of rooting interest over here for the casual fan ....Russia seems so dreary when compared to Brazil as a venue

MFS62 Jun 13 2018 01:21 AM Re: World Cup 2018

metirish wrote: Yeah, I am not exactly all excited about the World Cup....No Ireland , no USA, no Italy , no Holland , that is a lot of rooting interest over here for the casual fan ....Russia seems so dreary when compared to Brazil as a venue Any place is dreary when compared to Brazil. Later

metirish Jun 13 2018 10:51 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Spain just sacked their head couch , Real Madrid had announced yesterday that he agreed to take over their coaching job after the WC. Apparently the Spanish FA were informed five minutes before the press release. Astonishing stuff, they play Portugal Friday

metirish Jun 13 2018 10:59 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Just announced The joint Mexico, USA , Canada bid won the right to host the 2026 WC beating out Morroco

41Forever Jun 13 2018 12:04 PM Re: World Cup 2018

metirish wrote: Just announced The joint Mexico, USA , Canada bid won the right to host the 2026 WC beating out Morroco That's pretty neat! I was able to cover one of the matches at the Pontiac Silverdome for the 1994 World Cup. Not a soccer fan by any stretch, but that was a lot of fun.

d'Kong76 Jun 13 2018 12:12 PM Re: World Cup 2018

metirish wrote: Just announced The joint Mexico, USA , Canada bid won the right to host the 2026 WC beating out Morroco What kind of tariff are we slapping on them for bid shares?

Lefty Specialist Jun 13 2018 12:23 PM Re: World Cup 2018

How are they going to get through that wall that Mexico is paying for and the one Canadians are building to keep Americans out?

cooby Jun 13 2018 12:35 PM Re: World Cup 2018

d'Kong76 wrote: metirish wrote: Just announced The joint Mexico, USA , Canada bid won the right to host the 2026 WC beating out Morroco What kind of tariff are we slapping on them for bid shares? Ha! First kinda thing I thought of too!

Fman99 Jun 13 2018 02:37 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I'd give it a go. Someone should suggest a team for me to root for; I'd normally be pro-USA but who is my plan B this year?

HahnSolo Jun 13 2018 03:15 PM Re: World Cup 2018

metirish wrote: Just announced The joint Mexico, USA , Canada bid won the right to host the 2026 WC beating out Morroco The host country always qualifies, so does this mean all three countries automatically get in? (I guess with the expansion to 48 teams it won't be as big a deal, yes?)

metirish Jun 13 2018 05:56 PM Re: World Cup 2018

HahnSolo wrote: metirish wrote: Just announced The joint Mexico, USA , Canada bid won the right to host the 2026 WC beating out Morroco The host country always qualifies, so does this mean all three countries automatically get in? (I guess with the expansion to 48 teams it won't be as big a deal, yes?) That's a great question and I do not know the answer , but Canada would not get in without automatic qualification....US might not either....

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 13 2018 06:30 PM Re: World Cup 2018

metirish wrote: Spain just sacked their head couch , Real Madrid had announced yesterday that he agreed to take over their coaching job after the WC. Apparently the Spanish FA were informed five minutes before the press release. Astonishing stuff, they play Portugal Friday That's some serious French/Italian federation-type business, there. (As opposed to North African World Cup Eve weirdness, which tends to be of the players-striking/staff not being paid variety.) I'll be watching, yeah, if not exhibiting quite the fervor with which I watched previous tournaments. As a German-American who's never been fully able to throw myself behind Die Mannschaft, I'm still open to.joining a bandwagon or two. Iceland? Peru? Nigeria?

metirish Jun 13 2018 06:54 PM Re: World Cup 2018

One theory behind the Spain sacking is the coach professing himself the coach for "all Spain" recently and then negotiating with Real Madrid seemingly behind everyone's back....this didn't sit well with the Catalan contingent etc...

Mets Willets Point Jun 14 2018 12:26 AM Re: World Cup 2018

HahnSolo wrote: metirish wrote: Just announced The joint Mexico, USA , Canada bid won the right to host the 2026 WC beating out Morroco The host country always qualifies, so does this mean all three countries automatically get in? (I guess with the expansion to 48 teams it won't be as big a deal, yes?) Apparently CONCACAF will make this decision in the next couple of years. CONCACAF will have 6 spots in the World Cup for the first time, so I imagine that there won't be a big deal to give three of them to the hosts.

Frayed Knot Jun 14 2018 02:47 AM Re: World Cup 2018

metirish wrote: metirish wrote: Just announced The joint Mexico, USA , Canada bid won the right to host the 2026 WC beating out Morroco The host country always qualifies, so does this mean all three countries automatically get in? (I guess with the expansion to 48 teams it won't be as big a deal, yes?) That's a great question and I do not know the answer , but Canada would not get in without automatic qualification....US might not either.... Remember that the field expands from 32 teams to 48 teams starting that year - so my guess is that, YES, all three (Can/USA/MEX) get an automatic bid; can't imagine it happening any other way, particularly since that still leaves room for 45 open bids rather than the current 31 This "decision" was the no-brainer move of the year. Not only has the money-making potential of North America been passed over since the early '90s by a bunch of guys who's entire existence is finding money-making outlets (for themselves) but it's following the tourney this year in Russia and 2022 in fuckin' Qatar of all places. The second/fourth place finisher (the three countries had the idea to bid as one the whole time) in this vote was Morocco which only goes to show how big the bribery factor still is in this process.

Mets Willets Point Jun 14 2018 02:18 PM Re: World Cup 2018

It's hard to imagine that a single country will ever host the World Cup again. The most prominent bid for 2030 is Uruguay-Argentina-Paraguay. I expect contiguous European countries will host in the future as well.

metirish Jun 14 2018 03:06 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Mets Willets Point wrote: It's hard to imagine that a single country will ever host the World Cup again. The most prominent bid for 2030 is Uruguay-Argentina-Paraguay. I expect contiguous European countries will host in the future as well. Totally agree I am watching on Telemundo, as I don't speak Spanish the football is currently not matching the commentator's excitement

metirish Jun 14 2018 06:13 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Russia batter Saudi Arabia 5 nil , this is exactly what the hosts needed , they are not fancied at all and this will obviously give them a boot.

Frayed Knot Jun 14 2018 06:27 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Mets Willets Point wrote: It's hard to imagine that a single country will ever host the World Cup again. The most prominent bid for 2030 is Uruguay-Argentina-Paraguay. I expect contiguous European countries will host in the future as well. That would make a lot of sense for probably all but the biggest countries ... which is why FIFA will probably do the opppsite. While we're at it, let's consider the same trend for the Olympics (tougher to pull off, but worth considering)

HahnSolo Jun 15 2018 03:27 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Mets Willets Point wrote: It's hard to imagine that a single country will ever host the World Cup again. The most prominent bid for 2030 is Uruguay-Argentina-Paraguay. I expect contiguous European countries will host in the future as well. I'm not well-versed in FIFA's corruption or in soccer in general, but why do you say this? Wouldn't a country with an established league (Germany, England, Spain, etc) presumably have the facilities to host? And now that I think of it, why was '26 a combined effort and not US-only? Was it all because of Trump? Mets Willets Point wrote: It's hard to imagine that a single country will ever host the World Cup again. The most prominent bid for 2030 is Uruguay-Argentina-Paraguay. I expect contiguous European countries will host in the future as well. That would make a lot of sense for probably all but the biggest countries ... which is why FIFA will probably do the opppsite. While we're at it, let's consider the same trend for the Olympics (tougher to pull off, but worth considering) Not to hijack this to an Olympic discussion but I've had this idea of an eastern seaboard summer Olympics, say from Boston south to DC. That would eliminate some of the NIMBY resistance like we got with Boston's bid and even NYC's bid if you go back to the Doctorow-Bloomberg years (not as hard a sell if there are only a fraction of the events in a given city). Also with that territory there's probably enough existing infrastructure for events so that you wouldn't need new construction for facilities.

Frayed Knot Jun 15 2018 09:12 PM Re: World Cup 2018

So the early 'BIG' game of this tourney featured the Ronoldos and the Spanish in a 3-3 Iberian draw All Portuguese goals by Ronaldo: a 4th minute PK; a howler past David DeGea; and finally a gem of a free kick from just outside the box with about 3 or 4 minutes remaining. Diego Costa had two of the three for Spain. Quick note on Ronoldo (which I've been spelling as Rinaldo (at least mentally) forever: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro. HIs father added the 'Ronoldo' part after Ronald Reagan. That would have been like my 4,863rd guess.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 15 2018 11:20 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Watched the first half in an authentic hipster Williamsburg soccer bar filled with internationals. Thriller! Had to leave since I had 2 kids with me and couldn't get drunk!

Frayed Knot Jun 16 2018 03:56 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Iceland defeats Argentina 1-1 The compare and contrast between Messi and Ronoldo is sure to heat up as Messi not only went scoreless but also missed both a PK and a stoppage time free kick from maybe only slightly outside of where C.R. scored the third of his 3 goals on Friday.

MFS62 Jun 17 2018 12:43 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Frayed Knot wrote: Iceland defeats Argentina 1-1 Interesting choice of words for a tie game. Why did you put it that way, other than Argentina is really good? Does the tie have bracket implications? Later

Frayed Knot Jun 17 2018 10:29 AM Re: World Cup 2018

MFS62 wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Iceland defeats Argentina 1-1 Interesting choice of words for a tie game. Why did you put it that way, other than Argentina is really good? Does the tie have bracket implications? Yes, Argentina is the much better team with the much longer history. Also, the team with all the blond guys is from the country with the smallest population ever to make a World Cup* and they pretty much got out-played from whistle to whistle. My 'choice' of words was actually stolen from an old 'Harvard Crimson' headline when Harvard, losing by two touchdowns in the final minute of their annual game in 1968, got a TD, fumble recovery, and then another TD to tie Yale as the clock expired. The Crimson headline the next day was 'HARVARD BEATS YALE 29-29' as I'm sure that's how it felt to both sides. * the country is about the size of Maine but with about 1/4 the population, a rockier terrain, and worse weather.

MFS62 Jun 17 2018 11:24 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Frayed Knot wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Iceland defeats Argentina 1-1 Interesting choice of words for a tie game. Why did you put it that way, other than Argentina is really good? Does the tie have bracket implications? Yes, Argentina is the much better team with the much longer history. Also, the team with all the blond guys is from the country with the smallest population ever to make a World Cup* and they pretty much got out-played from whistle to whistle. My 'choice' of words was actually stolen from an old 'Harvard Crimson' headline when Harvard, losing by two touchdowns in the final minute of their annual game in 1968, got a TD, fumble recovery, and then another TD to tie Yale as the clock expired. The Crimson headline the next day was 'HARVARD BEATS YALE 29-29' as I'm sure that's how it felt to both sides. * the country is about the size of Maine but with about 1/4 the population, a rockier terrain, and worse weather. Since Lefty Specialist and I are rooting for Iceland, we'll forgive the plagiarism. :) Thanks. Later

Frayed Knot Jun 17 2018 10:13 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Mexico upsets reigning champ and perennial top contender Germany 1-0

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 17 2018 11:29 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Mexico was just great in that game. Let the Germans control the ball but the second they lose it, look out.

Frayed Knot Jun 18 2018 12:01 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Also, Brazil tied by Switzerland (1-1) None of these losses/ties alone (Germany, Brzail, Argentina) should keep those clubs from the next round, but it both removes their margin for error and could put them in a more precarious situation if/when they do advance -- seeing better team earlier.

metirish Jun 18 2018 02:11 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Christ, FOX is awful, some of their commentary teams are just terrible, the worst to me was the clowns that did the Peru Denmark game Saturday.....JP Dellacemera and Tony Meola were good today though calling Mexico and Germany. Agree with Bucket, Mexico were deadly on the counter attack today, worked tirelessly all over the field. Some exciting games so far and from what I'm reading and seeing the Russians have been excellent hosts .

Frayed Knot Jun 18 2018 11:54 AM Re: World Cup 2018

I don't/can't keep track of who the announcers are, but there's one guy, a former player apparently and obviously American by his accent (or a long-ago immigrated one). And my only objection to him is that he sounds like tennis/HBO announcer Mary Carillo. Fortunately he's not the lead guy but I still have trouble Not picturing Carillo whenever he speaks.

Frayed Knot Jun 18 2018 08:06 PM Re: World Cup 2018 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 19 2018 01:38 AM

Harry Kane with a header off a corner in stoppage time gives them a 2-1 win over Tunisia and puts off, or at least delays, England's regular WC year fret-fest.

MFS62 Jun 19 2018 01:27 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Frayed Knot wrote: Also, Brazil tied by Switzerland (1-1) Doesn't surprise me. Switzerland has always been neutral. And it was the first ever World Cup goal for Premier League star Harry Kane (who plays for my favorite soccer team, Tottenham Hotspur). Later

Mets Willets Point Jun 19 2018 03:48 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Frayed Knot wrote: Harry Kane with a header off a corner in stoppage time gives them a 2-1 win over Tunisia and puts off, or at least delays, England's regular WC year fret-fest. They'll just lose to Germany in the knockout rounds.

Methead Jun 19 2018 07:14 PM Re: World Cup 2018

he sounds like tennis/HBO announcer Mary Carillo Now I can't unhear it.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 20 2018 03:07 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Methead wrote: he sounds like tennis/HBO announcer Mary Carillo Now I can't unhear it. Stuart Holden? So, yeah, if you're like me, you're enjoying how apesh#t-- upsets, unexpected ties, wide-open groups-- this first round is going. Also, if you're like me, you may do things like drop off your kid at school, note that a number of parents in Colombia jerseys seem tense, and pop in at a crowded Jackson Heights bar on the way home for a Colombian breakfast, washed down with wonderful Colombian tears. Also, Japan! Also also, Senegal!

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 21 2018 04:12 AM Re: World Cup 2018

It's a crime against fun futbol that Morocco is going home, and Portugal is (likely) moving on. They did everything they could to score-- and score a few-- in both their first two games... except, y'know, score. I hadn't heard much about their MF Ziyach... but I suspect he might have made himself a little extra cheddar this week.

metirish Jun 21 2018 07:55 PM Re: World Cup 2018

What a game from Croatia , totally outplayed Argentina who looked disjointed , and really their keeper was always going to be a disaster waiting to happen.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 21 2018 09:43 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Croatia kicked ass. The Argentine coach looked like a fool in his 3 sizes too small shirt

Frayed Knot Jun 22 2018 03:20 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Brazil finally stopped flopping every 15 seconds to break the scoreless tie by scoring a couple in stoppage time to beat Costa Rica. Not that the Costa Rican team was blameless in the whole flop game thing, but it just seemed like a huge part of Brazil's strategy was to hope for phony calls in or near the penalty area.

metirish Jun 22 2018 07:49 PM Re: World Cup 2018

The commentary on the Serbia Swiss game on Telemundo is a joy to listen too...every inflection in his voice is a great...good game too.

metirish Jun 25 2018 12:43 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Columbia looked great yesterday ....the coach found a way to play both his #10s ...James and Quintero and they played excellently, as did Cuadrado...so happy to see a great goalscorer like Falcao get his WC goal...this is a very impressives team performance. Poland do what they have done ever since 1882....fail on the big stage...Senegal/ Japan was a good game with both teams going for it...wide open group . This has been a very enjoyable WC so far.

metirish Jun 25 2018 01:11 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Not forgetting England who hammered Panama, pity the their next game against Belgium didn't have more riding on it , still, that will be a sterner test .

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 26 2018 01:51 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Morocco finally puts something in, Spain puts in a late equalizer, and Iran puts the fear of Allah into TeamCR7. My cousin offhandedly remarked that this group had the best football of any group thus far. My knee-jerk reaction was to try and contradict that, but, upon further review, I really can't. Tense, well-played games all. Later today, the AlbiCelest-we-go-one-day-without-a-story-about-Messi-or-mutiny try to sneak into the second round at the expense of Thunderclappin' darlings Iceland and young-and-likable Nigeria. Root for new blood, you guys. Maybe the best World Cup first round of all time, or DEFINITELY the best first round of all time?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 26 2018 07:38 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I haven't seen enough but most games I have seen have been good or better than good

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2018 08:00 PM Re: World Cup 2018

ARGENTINA (which you can't spell without NIGERIA) gets the tie-breaker in the 86th minute over Nigeria to stave off a lengthy period of national embarrassment and self-evaluation. Argentina & Croatia advance from that bracket; Iceland & Nigeria go home.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 27 2018 12:05 PM Re: World Cup 2018 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 27 2018 01:39 PM

And today... Things actually get interesting. EARLY: Mexico-Sweden and Germany-South Korea in Group F... where literally every team is still potentially eligible for the next round. (Even the 0-2 Koreans!) LATE: Brazil(4 pts)-Serbia(3) and Switzerland (4)-Costa Rica (eliminated, hard-tackling spoilers).

Frayed Knot Jun 27 2018 12:10 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Serbia advancing could set up a later round match vs Croatia which could be ... ummm, interesting.

Frayed Knot Jun 27 2018 04:10 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Deutchland Deutchland uber ... no one actually. Germany is going home prior to the second round for the first time ever as it loses to South Korea thereby allowing Mexico to slip in the back door even as they were getting their own doors kicked in (3-0) by the Swedes.

Frayed Knot Jul 01 2018 03:27 AM Re: World Cup 2018

So poor Vladimir doesn't get Messi or Ronaldo for the remainder of the tournament which he spent good bribe money to land. Hate when that happens. Also, this is probably not what FIFA had in mind for reading material during its big event, but it's the one I'm going with. [fimg=220:fvg5jl5g]https://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/onix/cvr9781501133909/red-card-9781501133909_lg.jpg[/fimg:fvg5jl5g] Spoiler Alert: Everyone in the entire sport is corrupt

Frayed Knot Jul 01 2018 08:29 PM Re: World Cup 2018

O M G !! Croatia is awarded a PK in the 113th minute (2nd OT) and failed to convert!! Looks like this will be the second game to be decided by PKs today (unless something happens in the next three minutes).

Frayed Knot Jul 01 2018 09:12 PM Re: World Cup 2018

And Croatia winds up winning anyway in PKs as their keeper blocks 3 of the 5 Danish attempts.

metirish Jul 02 2018 07:15 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Incredible, Japan are 2-0 against Belgium , 57 minutes gone . Brazil beat Mexico, but damn, really finding it hard to like Neymar, whinging fucker

metirish Jul 02 2018 07:32 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Incredible, 2-2 now 74 min

metirish Jul 02 2018 07:56 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Incredible, Belgium win it with the last kick of the game 3-2

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 02 2018 08:50 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Phwoar. And I thought the Brazil-Mexico game was a corker. Neymar's either absurdly good (creating both goals) or absurd... it's a real shame he's saving his worst acting for the furshluggineh Cup, in front of millions and millions of casual fans, so as to confirm the laziest criticisms of the game on the world's biggest stage. If nothing else, Japan and Mexico forced two thus-far-underachieving teams to raise their collective games to a level befitting gin-yoo-wine title contenders.

Frayed Knot Jul 02 2018 09:33 PM Re: World Cup 2018

metirish wrote: Incredible, Belgium win it with the last kick of the game 3-2 What a great end-to-end set-up/run that winning goal was. Kevin DeBruyne is one of the handful of players I 'know' from my limited EPL watching during the winter and my lasting impression of him is that I don't think I've ever seen him make a bad pass. Everything he touches seems to wind up in the perfect spot and he was the one who made that winning goal happen after taking it most of the way down the field off the feed from the Belgian keeper

metirish Jul 03 2018 12:30 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Colombia , I am rooting for you today like i never have ...please end this "it's coming home" nonsense

Frayed Knot Jul 03 2018 08:57 PM Re: World Cup 2018

metirish wrote: Colombia , I am rooting for you today like i never have ...please end this "it's coming home" nonsense Well, England tried very hard to lose this one.

metirish Jul 04 2018 01:45 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Frayed Knot wrote: metirish wrote: Colombia , I am rooting for you today like i never have ...please end this "it's coming home" nonsense Well, England tried very hard to lose this one. Come on Sweden , in all honesty I can't see them beating England, they are gaining chanfidence.

MFS62 Jul 05 2018 02:16 PM Re: World Cup 2018

metirish wrote: Come on Sweden , in all honesty I can't see them beating England, they are gaining chanfidence. Did you know Harry Kane's dad is Irish? (Gallway) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Kane Later

metirish Jul 05 2018 05:02 PM Re: World Cup 2018

MFS62 wrote: Come on Sweden , in all honesty I can't see them beating England, they are gaining chanfidence. Did you know Harry Kane's dad is Irish? (Gallway) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Kane Later I did, it is a narrative that is running in the Irish media Some cracking games tomorrow

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 06 2018 05:31 AM Re: World Cup 2018

When in doubt, bet on the backline that's been more solid. Uruguay in extra time or PKs, and Brazil.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 07 2018 03:48 AM Re: World Cup 2018

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: When in doubt, bet on the backline that's been more solid. Uruguay in extra time or PKs, and Brazil. Or, y'know, bet on offense and luck and neither of the aforementioned teams.

MFS62 Jul 08 2018 12:24 AM Re: World Cup 2018

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: When in doubt, bet on the backline that's been more solid. Uruguay in extra time or PKs, and Brazil. So, when France play Belgium, will someone call it the Maginot Line? Later

Frayed Knot Jul 08 2018 01:19 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Colombia , I am rooting for you today like i never have ...please end this "it's coming home" nonsense Well, England tried very hard to lose this one. Come on Sweden , in all honesty I can't see them beating England, they are gaining chanfidence. One of the audio clips I heard following England's second goal vs Sweden: "And the three lions are roaring again" Just the kind of cheerleading I bet you were hoping to hear over your morning cereal. I like Harry Kane; he's kind of the anti-Neymar. Kane takes his knock-downs stoically then gets up and figures out how to turn that advantage into a goal. Neymar is too busy trying to figure out how to turn his falls into an Oscar nomination.

Lefty Specialist Jul 09 2018 12:36 AM Re: World Cup 2018

MFS62 wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: When in doubt, bet on the backline that's been more solid. Uruguay in extra time or PKs, and Brazil. So, when France play Belgium, will someone call it the Maginot Line? Later No, because the Maginot line was between France and Germany. The Nazis just said "m'okay" went around the Maginot Line, attacking France through Belgium as that border was relatively lightly defended. Oops. Sorry, the history nerd in me runs rampant sometimes.

MFS62 Jul 09 2018 12:47 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Lefty Specialist wrote: MFS62 wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: When in doubt, bet on the backline that's been more solid. Uruguay in extra time or PKs, and Brazil. So, when France play Belgium, will someone call it the Maginot Line? Later No, because the Maginot line was between France and Germany. The Nazis just said "m'okay" went around the Maginot Line, attacking France through Belgium as that border was relatively lightly defended. Oops. Sorry, the history nerd in me runs rampant sometimes. I also remember that, too. My comment was trying to throw in a defensive debacle in response to LWFS' comment about a strong back line. The Belgians know what happened then and I expect Belgium will try to circumvent France's defense in this game, too. I would have referred to something in the Franco-Flemmish War in 1297, like the Battle of Fumes, but I don't that was as good an example of an ineffective defense. Later

Mets Willets Point Jul 09 2018 05:44 PM Re: World Cup 2018

MFS62 wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: When in doubt, bet on the backline that's been more solid. Uruguay in extra time or PKs, and Brazil. So, when France play Belgium, will someone call it the Maginot Line? Later The origin of pommes frites will be settled at last.

Mets Willets Point Jul 09 2018 05:45 PM Re: World Cup 2018

metirish wrote: metirish wrote: Colombia , I am rooting for you today like i never have ...please end this "it's coming home" nonsense Well, England tried very hard to lose this one. Come on Sweden , in all honesty I can't see them beating England, they are gaining chanfidence. I'm with metirish. Someone has to beat England. My American friends who've adopted England are getting too obnoxious, for starters.

MFS62 Jul 10 2018 01:32 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Russia went from moving on to losing on a penalty kick? They went from Glory to Gulag pretty fast. (Thanks to the guy following soccer for MSNBC for that line.) Later

d'Kong76 Jul 10 2018 07:30 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I haven't been following this like some people I know, but when I can watch I watch. One observation, and it will probably be shot down, is in general these games have way too many one or two extra passes instead of shots on goal. They don't score, because they don't try to score. They make the extra pass by then it's too late or the recipient of the pass fucks it up.

Frayed Knot Jul 11 2018 12:37 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Now that France is into the finals, England has got to get past Croatia. Just the angst and drama that'll accompany that set up is too juicy to pass on.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 11 2018 08:29 PM Re: World Cup 2018

not looking good Chaps

d'Kong76 Jul 11 2018 08:39 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Hrvatska!

metirish Jul 12 2018 01:06 PM Re: World Cup 2018

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: not looking good Chaps Jolly good England dominated the first half but the Croatian technical ability shone through in the second , england reverted back to pumping long balls etc. Modric is such a wonderful player.

Edgy MD Jul 12 2018 01:21 PM Re: World Cup 2018

"The Croatian Equalizer" sounds like the name of a particularly toxic fart.

metirish Jul 16 2018 12:37 PM Re: World Cup 2018

And France win ....I think deservedly so , perhaps Croatia will feel hard done with the own goal and the VAR penalty but France were excellent , and with the second youngest squad in the WC the future is very good indeed.

Nymr83 Jul 16 2018 12:55 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Bye Soccer, see you in four years!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 16 2018 01:57 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I'd have felt bad if france won based on the first half alone but they proved winners in the 2nd very much. Fun world Cup

Vic Sage Jul 16 2018 01:59 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Nymr83 wrote: Bye Soccer, see you in four years! and don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya!

Centerfield Jul 16 2018 06:56 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Congratulations to France and its fans! I think it's a very cool event and I think it's fun that people here seem to be getting more into it. When you live here in NY, and you walk by a bar and see fans of all these different nations, it's a great reminder of just how diverse this city is. I tried watching a few games. Unfortunately for me, it just doesn't click. Not really a fan of the sport, and I don't have any emotional attachment to any of the teams. Maybe if the US was in it it would have been more exciting. I heard South Korea beat Germany. That day everyone came up to me and offered congratulations. I sheepishly accepted not knowing that they had played, and not knowing if it meant that they moved on.

Rockin' Doc Jul 16 2018 11:06 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Centerfield wrote: I tried watching a few games. Unfortunately for me, it just doesn't click. Not really a fan of the sport. Pretty much the way I feel about the sport and the world cup. I appreciate the talent and athleticism it takes to play the sport, particularly at the highest level, but I just don't enjoy watching it.

Frayed Knot Jul 17 2018 01:35 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Not growing up with the sport (watching or playing) I'm finding there are certainly things about it that I enjoy as I've delved into it in the past few years. For instance, after Croatia tied up the game last week and England was clearly reeling on the field, I LOVED the fact that no one was allowed to call a fucking time out!! Your team's in deep shit right now? Tough, play your way out of it! In an American sport (pretty much all of them) the game would be stopped exactly when it was getting interesting, and there'd be two or three consecutive time-outs, four conferences, five commercials, and a host of wasted words by guys in matching blazers before the game was allowed to resume. Those poor soccer fans were subject to drama and action instead.

Lefty Specialist Jul 17 2018 01:17 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Nymr83 wrote: Bye Soccer, see you in four years! Women's World Cup next year.

Vic Sage Jul 17 2018 01:44 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Lefty Specialist wrote: Nymr83 wrote: Bye Soccer, see you in four years! Women's World Cup next year. you mean i have to put up with more of this crap next year? Oy.

MFS62 Jul 18 2018 12:44 PM Re: World Cup 2018

OK, so I watched some of the games. But reading some of the comments here makes me think this piece I wrote during the last cup is still true. Enjoy, Later Why Americans Don’t Like Soccer Sportswriter Dick Young once wrote “a 0 - 0 tie. The score that made soccer famous”. And that hyperbolically poked fun at slow, middle field play. But I think the reason is not that. I have played, watched and even coached soccer (my base team when I was in the Army). And, after a loss, the coaches would sit around and wonder what they could have done better during the game. That was over 50 years ago. But since then, soccer has become more popular in the US, especially in schools. And, yes, TV ratings have increased. But for a worldwide sport it doesn’t seem to be as popular here once the kids who played it are now adults. That got me thinking. Why is that? Let’s take a look at the four “major” team sports. People watching the game while having a few have a lot to talk about. Let’s take baseball. There can be a manager’s decision on every pitch what the pitcher can throw, how the defense should be played, whether the batter should take, swing, or hit and run. In football, there is a sideline decision to be made on every play, both offense and defense. In basketball, strategic timeouts are called for substitutions and play calling, both offense and defense. In hockey, those opportunities are more limited, but line changes can effect the style of play. No matter which of those sports the adult American fan likes, those fans sitting around, having a few cold ones, watching the game and discussing it, have the same second favorite sport - second guessing the manager. And what makes soccer attractive to the rest of the world - its non-stop play, makes it frustrating to the American fan. The continuing action limits the opportunities to second-guess the coach. Yes, soccer may be pastoral, flowing and beautiful. But if the fans can’t get on talk sports radio and grouse about a coach’s decision, it will never gain the popularity here of the other team four sports. Its visceral.

metsmarathon Jul 18 2018 05:22 PM Re: World Cup 2018

in soccer, seemingly the most important plays happen off set pieces - direct kicks, corners and the like. could you even imagine if any basketball fan were to critique the play calling on an in-bounds play? or the box-out scheme on a free throw? this year was my first time watching any of the world cup. having coached first and second graders the past two years, i suddenly have an appreciation for the game. still don't know shit about it, other than that i kinda wish i'd played it more growing up. i think i find it more enjoyable than football and basketball. close second to baseball.

metirish Jul 19 2018 02:49 PM Re: World Cup 2018

metsmarathon wrote: in soccer, seemingly the most important plays happen off set pieces - direct kicks, corners and the like. could you even imagine if any basketball fan were to critique the play calling on an in-bounds play? or the box-out scheme on a free throw? this year was my first time watching any of the world cup. having coached first and second graders the past two years, i suddenly have an appreciation for the game. still don't know shit about it, other than that i kinda wish i'd played it more growing up. i think i find it more enjoyable than football and basketball. close second to baseball. Good that you picked up on the set piece value at this WC....it was very pronounced this time around, seemingly more than before...

Frayed Knot Jul 19 2018 11:05 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I'm not buying the lack of in-game coaching as the reason for American dislike or distrust of the sport. I think it's simply a case of us having not grown up with it. Plus, as I said in an earlier post, that aspect of the game is one of the things I most like about it. - I preferred the NFL when QBs had at least some input into the plays called rather than have each one beamed in via in-helmet radios (and now on defense too) like even the captains on the field are little more than toy remote controlled cars. - I hate that catchers now look to the dugout in order to take dictation on when to pitch-out or throw-over to 1st - I applaud the cap on mound visits and wouldn't mind seeing it even smaller - that the NBA recently reduced their in-game time-outs from [ridiculously too many per/team-per/half] down to [merely far too many p-t/p-h] is a step in the right direction but coaches still get criticized for Not calling TO's for each play in the final minute because we've simply come to expect it and the idea of letting the players play is no longer considered an option in most minds. You have to draw up a play?!? What?, that's what practice and pre-season is for! - and don't get me started on college football, where the networks now block out 3-1/2 for play and games regularly blow well past even that time, or college hoops where the final two minutes of clock time often take (literally) 20 minutes or more to play. There's long been an argument that the purpose at this level is to teach the game but that's bullshit. Big time college sports are every bit as professional as the "pro" game only not as good and with the coach installed as an even more god-like figure.

MFS62 Jul 20 2018 12:55 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Or, just maybe, Dick Young was right when he wrote "0-0 tie. The score that made soccer famous." Because of the lack of scoring, and because American fans don't appreciate the nuances of the game the way you do, it seems boring. But there have been many articles given that seem to center on that idea, I looked for something different, something that the sports American fans like had in common. Unless we interview every American sports fan, we'll never know. As comedian Dennis Miller used to say, "Its just my opinion, and, I may be wrong". Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 20 2018 03:55 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Dick Young said a lot of things. And just because there aren't millions of TV timeouts doesn't mean that there isn't strategic nuance to the thing. That the lion's share of the strategy/management is just done before the whistle doesn't mean that there isn't stuff to dissect-- spacing, alignment, pressing, offsides traps, substitutions-- if you know the game.

MFS62 Jul 20 2018 02:35 PM Re: World Cup 2018

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: That the lion's share of the strategy/management is just done before the whistle doesn't mean that there isn't stuff to dissect-- spacing, alignment, pressing, offsides traps, substitutions-- if you know the game. Then how do you explain why American kids who grew up playing the game turn to watching other sports, and away from soccer, as they grow up? They "know the game" don't they? As a business consultant, I was called upon by businesses to answer the question, "What's wrong with this picture?" I looked beyond the obvious to try to determine the root cause of issues. And over the years I've come up with interesting, unexpected, results. I was trying to come up with a reason why. The second guessing part was admittedly a bit tongue-in-cheek but was written to stimulate discussion. But responses usually involve defending the game, refuting my conclusion by telling me why I should appreciate the game, or where my reasons were incorrect. But none of those responses try to answer the question. Is it because they don't know the game; don't see the game? Soccer leagues have started up, bringing the most famous stars to our shores. Major international teams have come here in televised matches. Several cable channels show soccer from around the world. Millions of Americans have played it as youths, and are now constantly exposed to it. And the game still hasn't caught on. But, come to think of it, like most Americans, I don't care. Later

metsmarathon Jul 20 2018 03:22 PM Re: World Cup 2018

social pressures make it uncool...?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 20 2018 04:22 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Nobody said you have to appreciate the game. You're the one spouting theories.

metirish Jul 20 2018 05:56 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I think plenty of American's care about soccer , weather they watch MLS is another story. I certainly do not , it is generally awful . Nielsen data numbers are down for this years final (17 million in 2014 - 11 million 2018) , many factors of course , this was rightly regarded as a great WC.

Frayed Knot Jul 20 2018 09:31 PM Re: World Cup 2018

I think plenty of American's care about soccer , weather they watch MLS is another story. I certainly do not , it is generally awful . Nielsen data numbers are down for this years final (17 million in 2014 - 11 million 2018) , many factors of course , this was rightly regarded as a great WC. Yeah, as much as I've started dipping my toes into soccer over the last few years, it's been strictly EPL and not a touch of MLS That the English games are televised on Sunday mornings in the winter is a big part of the reason for that, but I also have the opinion that I'd be 'settling' for a minor league version if I went to MLS even though I'm probably not savvy enough to tell the difference strictly by quality of play. There's just a different feel to the two leagues really which bleeds through me television. Plus, avoiding MLS allows me to avoid ESPN which is usually a good thing. MLS is popular and doing well in spots: both Seattle & Portland have a strong fan base and, surprisingly to me, the new team in Atlanta has been packing them in. Kids with a new toy perhaps, but they've drawn 70K+ at times.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 21 2018 05:28 AM Re: World Cup 2018

MLS is a fine experience live... but, yeah, the quality difference between EPL and our domestic league-- he'll, between most Liga MX and MLS-- is a little glaring on TV. MFS62 wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: That the lion's share of the strategy/management is just done before the whistle doesn't mean that there isn't stuff to dissect-- spacing, alignment, pressing, offsides traps, substitutions-- if you know the game. Then how do you explain why American kids who grew up playing the game turn to watching other sports, and away from soccer, as they grow up? They "know the game" don't they? Does a kid who grew up playing three years of kick-and-chase know the game? Short answer? No. No, they don't. Not from that experience, anyway. I mean, does a kid who played little league for three years know how to grip a circle change, or know when a manager should probably play corners-in defense or no-doubles? Not unless they go on from that experience to watch/read about/listen to a crap-ton of additional baseball, right? I SWEAR I'm not trying to convince you to like soccer, or challenge you with the "know the game" thing. I just get annoyed when we're having a conversation about something we like, and someone bombs in to discuss why the thing we like is so ostensibly unpopular. (It's doubly irritating when it's been the same conversation-- with most of the same arguments to boot-- for, like, 30 years.) But, yeah, whatever, man. Watch, don't watch.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 21 2018 01:24 PM Re: World Cup 2018

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I just get annoyed when we're having a conversation about something we like, and someone bombs in to discuss why the thing we like is so ostensibly unpopular. (It's doubly irritating when it's been the same conversation-- with most of the same arguments to boot-- for, like, 30 years.) But, yeah, whatever, man. Watch, don't watch. that

MFS62 Jul 21 2018 09:35 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Hey guys, remember this part of my post? I have played, watched and even coached soccer (my base team when I was in the Army). ... But for a worldwide sport it doesn’t seem to be as popular here once the kids who played it are now adults. That got me thinking. Why is that? Don't label me. Read through the thread. I mentioned that I follow Premier League soccer and even have a favorite team (Tottenham Hotspur) and favorite player (Harry Kane). And by the way, check out who started the thread. I did. There are many of CPF-ers who like the game. What I posted was my trying to give a reason why many American sports fans don't. I did not include myself in that group. You shouldn't have either. It was an intellectual exercise, and, if you read it again, might think it was humorous. Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 23 2018 03:12 AM Re: World Cup 2018

Apologies for the mislabeling. However, it is the same conversation I'm invited into every four years, or any time I happen to be in a hotel restaurant or airport bar or anywhere else that isn't a futbol-crowd-atmosphere for a big match, and someone who isn't a fan tries to strike up conversation. Hell, it happened at least a half-dozen times during this tournament. I'm a little reluctant to re-conduct the thought experiment when it's not particularly novel, and the lab often ambushes me-- obsequiously, insistently, semi-regularly-- most times I happen to catch a game, as I'm trying to watch the game, in public.

HahnSolo Jul 23 2018 01:35 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Hot take from a non-soccer fan: the old NASL shootout is way, way, waaayyyy better than penalty kicks.

Edgy MD Jul 23 2018 04:48 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Yeah, I agree with that. It's certainly a complaint that I have with professional futbol — so much of the game comes down to penalty kicks. That's all the leverage in the world being placed on whether refs blow a whistle in the box, which can be arbitrary, and whether players successfully execute a very narrow and somewhat luck-based sub-section of their skills. I'd be curious as to how well a good high school team stacks up against a pro team in penalty kicks. If the goaltenders are equal, I'd bet the conversion rates would be embarrassingly close.

Lefty Specialist Jul 23 2018 05:00 PM Re: World Cup 2018

Penalty kicks can be fun. Lefty Jr's soccer team won the county championship ages ago when one of their players missed the net completely on the 5th round. Pandemonium ensued. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH2qjme9Bgo

Frayed Knot Aug 01 2018 10:40 AM Re: World Cup 2018

For all your futbol/soccer needs and questions: https://fbref.com/