View Full Version : World Cup 2016 (general thoughts)
paulxu
05-31-2014, 05:28 PM
Well, they may be fixing the matches...
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/01/sports/soccer/fixed-matches-cast-shadow-over-world-cup.html?hp
and we could be in the Group of Death, and Esquire still has Landon Donavon playing for the US like Mens Journal...
so let's get ready to rumble!
El Shaqtus
06-01-2014, 06:33 PM
Well, they may be fixing the matches...
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/01/sports/soccer/fixed-matches-cast-shadow-over-world-cup.html?hp
and we could be in the Group of Death, and Esquire still has Landon Donavon playing for the US like Mens Journal...
so let's get ready to rumble!
What, FIFA is corrupt? Who knew?
XUGRAD80
06-01-2014, 07:19 PM
US certainly got no favors from the draw, but if they could make it out of e group, there is no telling how far they might go. World Cup= no easy games!
paulxu
06-02-2014, 09:19 PM
This doesn't seem to be going too well.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-brazil-world-cup-stadium-20140601-story.html
Muskie
06-03-2014, 07:03 AM
This doesn't seem to be going too well.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-brazil-world-cup-stadium-20140601-story.html
I'm moderately surprised there was no problem with the parts of the stadium that were finished.
Anyway. I don't expect the US to to escape the Group of Death. If they should, it will be a very special US Soccer season.
paulxu
06-07-2014, 11:50 AM
All you die hard soccer fans, pay attention to this:
http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/why-i-hate-american-soccer-fans-1402012291?mobile=y
No more PK's.
bleedXblue
06-07-2014, 12:48 PM
All you die hard soccer fans, pay attention to this:
http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/why-i-hate-american-soccer-fans-1402012291?mobile=y
No more PK's.
For years soccer wasn't even on the radar in America and the rest of the world found every opportunity to point that out.
Now, we have a pro league that actually looks like is going to make it, fans that watch the Euro leagues and ESPN/Fox have huge TV deals.
So, I would ask, which way do you want us?
X-band '01
06-07-2014, 01:03 PM
The way I read it, the author was hoping for an American soccer culture/fanbase that is unique compared to the rest of the world. His point was that there's a group of fans that are just a carbon copy of English/British fans.
paulxu
06-07-2014, 03:45 PM
I've seen this movie before. It was called, I think, the Butler Way.
QueensbridgeMF
06-09-2014, 11:00 AM
What an asshole
DC Muskie
06-09-2014, 11:23 AM
It is annoying how 90% of Americans are fans of Arsenal for some reason.
Retire33
06-09-2014, 12:45 PM
It is annoying how 90% of Americans are fans of Arsenal for some reason.
It's probably based on the fact that nearly every select soccer team of my youth was "(enter town name) Arsensal". Sycamore arsenal, Westside Arsensal, warren county Arsensal...it goes on and on.
DC Muskie
06-09-2014, 01:22 PM
It's probably based on the fact that nearly every select soccer team of my youth was "(enter town name) Arsensal". Sycamore arsenal, Westside Arsensal, warren county Arsensal...it goes on and on.
HA! That's a great point. I actually played on a team called Arsenal as well. Somehow I managed not ending up cheering for Arsenal.
DC Muskie
06-11-2014, 12:26 PM
By the way, I need to reiterate how much I hate Alexi Lalas. Hated him as a player, hate him even more as the Soccer Digger Phelps.
xubrew
06-11-2014, 01:17 PM
All you die hard soccer fans, pay attention to this:
http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/why-i-hate-american-soccer-fans-1402012291?mobile=y
No more PK's.
I read this, and found myself agreeing with pretty much all of it.
It is annoying how ninety percent (well, maybe it's only 75%) like Arsenal, and everyone else likes Chelsea, Liverpool or Man U. It feels to me the way that it did when I'd see diehard Louisville, or Kentucky, or Indiana or Ohio State fans at Xavier who sort of liked Xavier, but liked those other teams more.
He mentioned the guy from Virginia decked out in Arsenal gear for the Champions League final. Arsenal wasn't even playing. No one from England was playing. I agree, that's absurd.
Most of the soccer fan culture is a direct carbon copy of what you see in Europe, and England in particular. I think I root against England, and nearly all of the clubs, for this reason.
I also agree that many fans think of themselves as being a superior level of fan and person to fans of other sports. That's annoying too. I love soccer. I've been a fan since the only soccer that was ever on was this public access channel that showed hour long highlight show of the EPL, and they'd have reruns of full games as well. The Spanish Channel (I don't even know what it was officially called at the time) would also show qualifiers, but they were in Spanish. So, I'm not just someone who started to like it because I viewed it in the same light as this underground band that's simply cool to like, and that by liking them you feel like you're a part of something that's better than what those who are out of the loop have. The thing is, I don't care if other people don't like it. I'm not going to try and convince anyone that they should like it. I don't like tennis or golf, and most tennis and golf fans don't care that I don't like it. They're not going to look down their noses at me and think that I'm somehow less sophisticated because I'm not a fan of the same sport they are. Soccer fans in America do that, though.
Granted, I also get annoyed when people who aren't soccer fans feel the need to sound off on why they don't like it and talk about how much it sucks. I never understood this. There are many things I don't like, but I've never felt the need to give a lengthy explanation as to why I don't like country music to someone that I know is a country music fan. Non soccer fans feel the need to do this. But, I guess to be fair, soccer fans kind of do the same thing in reverse, so I guess that makes us even.
Porkopolis
06-11-2014, 01:53 PM
I also agree that many fans think of themselves as being a superior level of fan and person to fans of other sports. That's annoying too. I love soccer. I've been a fan since the only soccer that was ever on was this public access channel that showed hour long highlight show of the EPL, and they'd have reruns of full games as well. The Spanish Channel (I don't even know what it was officially called at the time) would also show qualifiers, but they were in Spanish. So, I'm not just someone who started to like it because I viewed it in the same light as this underground band that's simply cool to like, and that by liking them you feel like you're a part of something that's better than what those who are out of the loop have. The thing is, I don't care if other people don't like it. I'm not going to try and convince anyone that they should like it. I don't like tennis or golf, and most tennis and golf fans don't care that I don't like it. They're not going to look down their noses at me and think that I'm somehow less sophisticated because I'm not a fan of the same sport they are. Soccer fans in America do that, though.
Granted, I also get annoyed when people who aren't soccer fans feel the need to sound off on why they don't like it and talk about how much it sucks. I never understood this. There are many things I don't like, but I've never felt the need to give a lengthy explanation as to why I don't like country music to someone that I know is a country music fan. Non soccer fans feel the need to do this. But, I guess to be fair, soccer fans kind of do the same thing in reverse, so I guess that makes us even.
I agree with so much of what you say so I'll just add my two pennies. My German mother raised me to be a Bayern fan so the game and club are in my blood. During my college years I got into English soccer because it was widely available and that has only increased. Truthfully now I prefer La Liga to all else. I could watch Barcelona every weekend and be a happy man. They have become my favorite team over time; I just sort of naturally fell in love and one day realized what had happened. Soccer is my second favorite sport behind baseball. For me they are the two greatest sports on earth, and the sheer number of fans worldwide suggests many agree with me. But I'll never tell someone else who to cheer for, how to cheer for them, or what to watch. If it makes you happy, go for it.
Muskie
06-11-2014, 05:22 PM
Why does the first game have to start at 330 ? Why wouldn't it be prime time?
Retire33
06-11-2014, 06:04 PM
Why does the first game have to start at 330 ? Why wouldn't it be prime time?
Stupid Europeans and their time zone always ruin my fun!
(I'm sure the are accommodating UEFA fans to see the game on Thursday and not Friday)
Muskie
06-11-2014, 08:22 PM
Yeah i suppose that's about 9pm or so in Europe
fellahmuskie
06-12-2014, 05:18 AM
So who here has been to a Cincinnati Saints match already? I have turned my nose up at American soccer for most of my life, outside of the national team, but I'm hoping to change that. I have a really close connection to Russian soccer, and Anzhi, in particular, but I've let most of my interest in English soccer and Tottenham Hotspur die off the last couple of years.
I guess, for me, it's important to be involved with the sport at the local, or at least national level. I don't have a problem with Americans who watch European soccer, but I hope/wish people would be just as passionate about their local teams.
Porkopolis
06-12-2014, 07:38 AM
So who here has been to a Cincinnati Saints match already? I have turned my nose up at American soccer for most of my life, outside of the national team, but I'm hoping to change that. I have a really close connection to Russian soccer, and Anzhi, in particular, but I've let most of my interest in English soccer and Tottenham Hotspur die off the last couple of years.
I guess, for me, it's important to be involved with the sport at the local, or at least national level. I don't have a problem with Americans who watch European soccer, but I hope/wish people would be just as passionate about their local teams.
I plan to go a few times. I want them to succeed, but at the same time the standard of play in their league is pretty low. When I lived in Columbus I was a regular at Crew Stadium and always wondered why the club didn't generate more interest. Americans need to support American soccer, but European leagues are the undeniably more enjoyable product. That said, nothing beats the live experience. Even my soccer hating wife enjoys MLS in person.
Mel Cooley XU'81
06-12-2014, 08:21 AM
Pope Francis is fired up about the World Cup and has sent his blessings (http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-sends-message-to-world-cup-opening).
fellahmuskie
06-12-2014, 09:27 AM
I plan to go a few times. I want them to succeed, but at the same time the standard of play in their league is pretty low. When I lived in Columbus I was a regular at Crew Stadium and always wondered why the club didn't generate more interest. Americans need to support American soccer, but European leagues are the undeniably more enjoyable product. That said, nothing beats the live experience. Even my soccer hating wife enjoys MLS in person.
I've only been to one NPSL game before, in Madison, and, yes, it wasn't the best soccer. But I definitely love sports live, so I think the Saints will be fun.
I will say, though, that I think European football is a little overrated. You probably know this just as well as I do, but most leagues in Europe are very unbalanced and have terrible infrastructure and attendance. Germany and England are the only leagues that really provide top-notch entertainment from top to bottom, in a way that's similar to America's top pro sports leagues. When you really break it down, MLS is a top 10, if not 6 or 7, football league in the world, at least from an organizational and entertainment standpoint. It blows Russia completely out of the water, even though club budgets are way bigger over here.
Muskie
06-12-2014, 03:55 PM
Here's a link to the viewing options for each match (Link (http://deadspin.com/your-ultimate-guide-to-streaming-every-world-cup-match-1588679981?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitte r&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow))
LA Muskie
06-12-2014, 07:25 PM
I've only been to one NPSL game before, in Madison, and, yes, it wasn't the best soccer. But I definitely love sports live, so I think the Saints will be fun.
I will say, though, that I think European football is a little overrated. You probably know this just as well as I do, but most leagues in Europe are very unbalanced and have terrible infrastructure and attendance. Germany and England are the only leagues that really provide top-notch entertainment from top to bottom, in a way that's similar to America's top pro sports leagues. When you really break it down, MLS is a top 10, if not 6 or 7, football league in the world, at least from an organizational and entertainment standpoint. It blows Russia completely out of the water, even though club budgets are way bigger over here.
From an organizational standpoint that may be true. But let me tell you a little story:
Dema Kovalenko (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dema_Kovalenko) emigrated to the US when he supposedly was "14 yrs old". (Many have questioned the age of the kids when they got here, as they were all pretty advanced physically -- but then again they grew up in Ukraine. But they didn't get here their freshman years of HS, I know that because I was there. So I'm certain wikipedia is wrong about that).
His junior team -- Dynamo Kiev -- from what was not yet an independent Ukraine, came out to our hometown to play in an international soccer tournament that our club hosted. My brother played against him, and ultimately was his teammate in HS for 4 years. My brother was very good friends with Dema, and one of his best friends also emigrated from that club team (there were at least 6 that I can recall).
Anyway, Dema goes on to star at IU, winning a National Championship, making 1st Team All American and (I think) National Player of the Year. He then goes on to star in the MLS, for both Chicago and -- later -- Bruce Arena's DC United. Bruce loved him so much that, when he joined the LA Galaxy he personally orchestrated Dema's transfer from Real Salt Lake -- in exchange for a draft pick and cash even though he was at least 33 yrs old at the time.
Very long story short... Dema always dreamed of returning "home" to Ukraine and playing soccer there. He grew up with Shevchenko and wanted to prove that he was in the same league as a player (even though he had largely languished playing for St. Pauli in the Bundesliga). So in 2006 (at around 30 yrs old) he leaves the MLS and joins Ukrainian 1st Division team Metalurh Zaporizhya. He barely cracks the lineup. The speed and quality of play was like a different world to him (except for his very brief stay in the Bundesliga where he also struggled to find the field).
He's back in the MLS less than a year later, and returned to significant roles with NY Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy before finally retiring about 3 years ago.
I'm sure there are many other stories like this.
Muskie
06-12-2014, 07:53 PM
I plan to go a few times. I want them to succeed, but at the same time the standard of play in their league is pretty low. When I lived in Columbus I was a regular at Crew Stadium and always wondered why the club didn't generate more interest. Americans need to support American soccer, but European leagues are the undeniably more enjoyable product. That said, nothing beats the live experience. Even my soccer hating wife enjoys MLS in person.
I'm doing my part in Indianapolis. Bought Indy Eleven Season tickets.
Pope Francis is fired up about the World Cup and has sent his blessings (http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-sends-message-to-world-cup-opening).
It looks like they'll need that... and more! Maybe a Second Coming, but that might increase the traffic woes.
GuyFawkes38
06-12-2014, 09:25 PM
Ugh. The early game times are frustrating. I guess the Western Hemisphere is doomed to never have prime time starts. It gives the feeling, correct or not, that this is really Europe's sport and not ours.
Ugh. The early game times are frustrating. I guess the Western Hemisphere is doomed to never have prime time starts. It gives the feeling, correct or not, that this is really Europe's sport and not ours.
It could be worse... We could live in Brazil and be stuck in a 200 mile long traffic jam.
And it's true, it's their sport and we're just lucky to be invited to the party at this point. I hope that changes.
LA Muskie
06-13-2014, 12:35 AM
It could be worse... We could live in Brazil and be stuck in a 200 mile long traffic jam.
That's pretty much every LA freeway on any holiday weekend. It took us 5 hrs to get to Palm Springs (120 miles) for Memorial Day.
fellahmuskie
06-13-2014, 04:10 AM
From an organizational standpoint that may be true. But let me tell you a little story:
Dema Kovalenko (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dema_Kovalenko) emigrated to the US when he supposedly was "14 yrs old". (Many have questioned the age of the kids when they got here, as they were all pretty advanced physically -- but then again they grew up in Ukraine. But they didn't get here their freshman years of HS, I know that because I was there. So I'm certain wikipedia is wrong about that).
His junior team -- Dynamo Kiev -- from what was not yet an independent Ukraine, came out to our hometown to play in an international soccer tournament that our club hosted. My brother played against him, and ultimately was his teammate in HS for 4 years. My brother was very good friends with Dema, and one of his best friends also emigrated from that club team (there were at least 6 that I can recall).
Anyway, Dema goes on to star at IU, winning a National Championship, making 1st Team All American and (I think) National Player of the Year. He then goes on to star in the MLS, for both Chicago and -- later -- Bruce Arena's DC United. Bruce loved him so much that, when he joined the LA Galaxy he personally orchestrated Dema's transfer from Real Salt Lake -- in exchange for a draft pick and cash even though he was at least 33 yrs old at the time.
Very long story short... Dema always dreamed of returning "home" to Ukraine and playing soccer there. He grew up with Shevchenko and wanted to prove that he was in the same league as a player (even though he had largely languished playing for St. Pauli in the Bundesliga). So in 2006 (at around 30 yrs old) he leaves the MLS and joins Ukrainian 1st Division team Metalurh Zaporizhya. He barely cracks the lineup. The speed and quality of play was like a different world to him (except for his very brief stay in the Bundesliga where he also struggled to find the field).
He's back in the MLS less than a year later, and returned to significant roles with NY Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy before finally retiring about 3 years ago.
I'm sure there are many other stories like this.
Totally agree. But that same Metalurh Zaporizhya club only drew 7,890 fans per game that season. The quality is way better across Europe, but for lots of different reasons, the fans don't show up and that's sad. Sure, the whole country tunes in for the World Cup and Champions League is big everywhere, but domestic leagues really struggle to arouse much passion.
paulxu
06-14-2014, 08:45 PM
I haven't had the chance to watch a lot of the World Cup.
But, from the little I've seen...there is some world class flopping of truly epic proportions.
Amazing.
xubrew
06-15-2014, 01:03 AM
I haven't had the chance to watch a lot of the World Cup.
But, from the little I've seen...there is some world class flopping of truly epic proportions.
Amazing.
You're right, but if you said the same thing about basketball players who try and draw charging calls, you'd be equally as right. I actually think players flop (or at least overly embellish contact) as much, if not more, in basketball.
paulxu
06-15-2014, 06:36 AM
I'm impressed by the fall to, and writhing on the ground, holding obviously injured leg...with facial expressions of enormous pain.
Followed within 10 seconds by a full speed sprint down field.
DC Muskie
06-15-2014, 07:56 AM
There have been some great goals so far.
Muskie
06-15-2014, 08:56 AM
There have been some great goals so far.
The goal of the tournament so far for me had been Van Persie's diving header for goal before the half.
GoMuskies
06-25-2014, 12:59 PM
Iran as our newest ally is a complete embarrassment. Waiting 262 minutes to score a single, meaningless goal. What's up with that?
paulxu
06-25-2014, 04:45 PM
Think about it in terms of a "surge."
LA Muskie
06-25-2014, 05:11 PM
The goal of the tournament so far for me had been Van Persie's diving header for goal before the half.
I think Cahill's volley off a pass from 50 yards across and down the field is mine. But I respect the debate and hold Van Persie's header in very high regard as well.
paulxu
06-30-2014, 04:37 PM
People get VERY excited about futbol.
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