Soccer Thread

[Jimbo]

On 7/29/2023 at 7:11 PM, BrewerFan said:

I had no idea Milwaukee was such a Soccer city. 

I think it was 1998 MJS published a cartoon stating so, after the Rampage then Wave won their leagues within the previous twelve months.

[Jimbo]

On 7/30/2023 at 6:35 PM, Playing Catch said:

I'm new to the thread, but am curious about others' curiosity/fandom of soccer.

As a kid from rural Wisconsin, with so little opportunity to experience soccer, I tended to ridicule it. But then I started playing soccer video games with my college buddies and became curious, particularly about the World Cup

I had friends who played soccer in high school.  I ran cross country, and football players did not get along with neither of us.  So I guess "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" situation.  My first taste of watching the sport was the 1986 WC.

I had to take a job in rural Wisconsin for a couple of years and the vibe I got was "only football and basketball players are athletes".  I can understand if your school didn't have a team and none of your friends played soccer, as well as other niche sports.  I missed large parts of the '10 and '11 World Cups because good luck finding a bar that will put the games on. 

So I tip my hat to you for being willing to try something new.

 

[nate82]

I just can’t get into soccer it is boring and nothing happens.  Lacrosse is a far superior sport and is easier to watch with more action and strategy.

[WV Brew]

Soccer is really not all that different from American football in many ways.  A good run through midfield is like an open field run in football.  Can be exciting even if there is no direct score.  Long pass to a winger in soccer is like the long bomb in football.  Really, I heard so many times football players complaining about games being decided by foreign kickers (Alex Karras I'm looking at you).  But if you eliminate field goals and extra points from football, (you may as well just give 1 point for a touchdown in that case), the scoring would be almost exactly what it is in soccer.  That eliminates the complaint from many that there is not enough scoring.

 

If you don't like it fine.  Then I am surprised you bother to comment at all.

[Samurai Bucky]

On 8/5/2023 at 3:09 PM, nate82 said:

I just can’t get into soccer it is boring and nothing happens.  Lacrosse is a far superior sport and is easier to watch with more action and strategy.

I didn't like Soccer until my kids played it and I coached it.

I come from a wrestling family and find it very entertaining because I know the intricacies.  Many people I know find it boring.

I like American Football because I grew up with it.  Colleagues I know from outside the US don't care for it unless they are familiar with Rugby.

I have tried to watch LaCrosse and have no desire to watch it any more.

My point -- I think we enjoy the game once we learn about the game.  If I were to have kids involved in LaCrosse, I'm sure I would find it exciting.

I need to get back to watching Jai Alai and Korfball.  😉

[Jimbo]

Norwich City is defeated by Leeds United in the English FA promotion play-offs.

 

Maybe Mark Antanasio isn't spending enough money on players.

 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Lots of scoring at Euro 2024, which is nice to see. Teams so far seem healthy and aggressive. Not really any supercompetitive games so far, but I am guessing that changes with Group C getting underway tomorrow. 

It looks to me like a favorites kind of year, but I would fade England if I had the chance, mainly because I really, really don't trust their back line.

[Brewcrew82]

1 hour ago, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

Lots of scoring at Euro 2024, which is nice to see. Teams so far seem healthy and aggressive. Not really any supercompetitive games so far, but I am guessing that changes with Group C getting underway tomorrow. 

It looks to me like a favorites kind of year, but I would fade England if I had the chance, mainly because I really, really don't trust their back line.

That and they've choked literally every single time since 1966.

Agreed that it's a favorites type of year. If any darkhorse is going to make a cinderella run, I feel like it's going to be Austria, despite their tough group with France and the Netherlands. They're on a roll.

My pick is Portugal, though. Feel like everything's coming together for them to send Ronaldo out on a high note like Messi at the World Cup (though, Messi might actually still play in 2026). 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

34 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

That and they've choked literally every single time since 1966.

Agreed that it's a favorites type of year. If any darkhorse is going to make a cinderella run, I feel like it's going to be Austria, despite their tough group with France and the Netherlands. They're on a roll.

My pick is Portugal, though. Feel like everything's coming together for them to send Ronaldo out on a high note like Messi at the World Cup (though, Messi might actually still play in 2026). 

Good picks. I love watching Austria. That high-press is fun. And Portugal is supremely talented. 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Great day at the Euros today. I especially enjoyed watching Slovenia equalize late. I like Denmark a lot, but Slovenia probably deserved to go through to the second round of the 2010 World Cup. Landon Donovan broke their hearts, as Ian Darke put it. I'm incredibly happy he did so, but I don't believe they've qualified for a major international tournament since. Or, if they have, I don't think they made any noise.

So...they're owed a run, is what I'm saying. Their matches against Serbia and England (the team that beat them on the final group day in that 2010 World Cup) will be a lot of fun.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Good to see the USMNT get off to a good start in the Copa. Missed some big chances, but that's the kind of easy, 2-0 won they should have gotten. 

Uruguay look great, so anything other than 3 pts against Panama will make things dicey.

[Samurai Bucky]

Being at 10 men for most of the game was quite disappointing against Panama.  I'm not sure what got Weah so worked up that he would cold cock the defender away from the play.  Maybe they don't have as many cameras at Juventus and thought he would get away with it.  I guess there might have been a racist comment?  Not sure.

The collision with Turner should have had, at least, a yellow for Panama.  

They have their work cut out for them against Uruguay.  I'm pulling for Bolivia for sure against Panama.

[Jimbo]

Heck of a job by ENG to steal a victory from SVK.

 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Big CONCACAF energy in this US-Uruguay game. It's been weird, ugly, and the refereeing has been so comically bad it looks match-fixy (not saying it is, but I've seen some awful soccer halves, and this is one of the worst).

The Euros have seen all the big boys through, which is fun. Spain-Germany is a glorious QF. Rooting for Austria, as they are very, very fun.

Slovenia really should've put Portugal away at the end of extra time. Just couldn't find the finishing touch, and then were very tame in the shootout (some great goalkeeping from Portugal too.

 

 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Past time to move on from Berhalter, I think.

Turkey-Austria was an incredible game, though.

[Playing Catch]

Leave it to Chelsea to screw this up. I realize that as a Spurs fan, my opinion of Chelsea is pretty biased, but is there a more disgusting franchise in all of sport? I wish that club would burn to the ground.

[Samurai Bucky]

3 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

Leave it to Chelsea to screw this up. I realize that as a Spurs fan, my opinion of Chelsea is pretty biased, but is there a more disgusting franchise in all of sport? I wish that club would burn to the ground.

I lost respect for Chelsea after they hosed over Pulisic.  

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I've never seen a better endorsement for playing your starters a half in your preseason game. My God. 

[duewizard]

A few days ago San Marino beat Lichtenstein 1-0 in a UEFA Nations Legue match. It is San Marino's senior team's first win SINCE 2004. 177 straight games without a win.

So you know, getting swept by the Rockies or whatever is not thaaaat bad

[Playing Catch]

13 hours ago, duewizard said:

It is San Marino's senior team's first win SINCE 200.

I'm just surprised that San Marino existed that long ago, let alone their soccer team.

[duewizard]

7 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

I'm just surprised that San Marino existed that long ago, let alone their soccer team.

Woops I was looking for the date and missed it.

Looking into it though, there are some signs that San Marino was founded in 301 AC. I wasn't that far off! 

[Playing Catch]

Is City going to be punished?

If so, how significant will the punishment be?

Would that be good or bad for the league?

 

I'll say,.. Yes... Not significant enough... and neither, it will be significant enough so that many teams don't do it, but not significant enough for a handful of the richest teams.

Edit to add-- What I WANT to have happen is for City to be docked ~40 points per year for the next two or three years. I don't think relegating them to the Championship is fair to the teams in the Championship, and I think the punishment needs to all but eliminate their chances as securing Champion's League for the next couple of years.

[duewizard]

1 hour ago, Playing Catch said:

Is City going to be punished?

If so, how significant will the punishment be?

Would that be good or bad for the league?

 

I'll say,.. Yes... Not significant enough... and neither, it will be significant enough so that many teams don't do it, but not significant enough for a handful of the richest teams.

Edit to add-- What I WANT to have happen is for City to be docked ~40 points per year for the next two or three years. I don't think relegating them to the Championship is fair to the teams in the Championship, and I think the punishment needs to all but eliminate their chances as securing Champion's League for the next couple of years.

I support a Championship team and honestly I wouldn't mind losing 7-0 twice a year if it mean seeing City down with us. Ban them from promotion and from the parachute payments.

Obviously unfeasible but it would be very fun

[Samurai Bucky]

Uggh... not paying attention to futbol again, was I...

https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/breaking-down-manchester-citys-fight-against-the-premier-league-and-115-alleged-violations-of-financial-rules

This seems to be much more complicated than a salary cap in American sports.  

BTW:  wasn't the o/u on the number of charges around 150?  😉

[Jimbo]

The Wave playing in the League Finals again.  Took one on the chin tonight.  Will have to win Games 2 and 3 in San Diego this weekend.