How can Iceland (a tiny, frigid country with a population less than Wichita) earn a World Cup slot but not the USA? Disgraceful.

Did you see #10 from Argentina miss that PK?

Man, that guy sucks.

(06-17-2018 08:22 AM)Def Berkkat Wrote:  Did you see #10 from Argentina miss that PK?

Man, that guy sucks.

LOL

Europe is 5-1-4 so far with a +9 goal differential. Only loss was Germany.

now that's a fun fact!

(06-17-2018 03:03 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  Europe is 5-1-4 so far with a +9 goal differential. Only loss was Germany.

European teams do well in European world Cups however most of the European teams are playing dull defensive futbol, except for Spain and Portugal who play a flowing Latin style. Germany play good attacking futbol however they were vulnerable to Mexico counterattack. In the 2010 and 2014 World Cups only 6 of 13 European teams advanced to the group stage where as South America was 5 for 5 in 2010 and 5 of 6 in 2014.

(06-17-2018 07:17 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  How can Iceland (a tiny, frigid country with a population less than Wichita) earn a World Cup slot but not the USA? Disgraceful.

Iceland invested a lot of time and $ to developing coaches and players. Here in the US it's all about making $ off rich kids and pretty much excluding the talented immigrants from Latin America and Africa who have great skill and knowledge of the game. There has been little effort to grow the game in the poorer and blue collar neighborhoods.

In my opinion there are 6 teams that have the talent and depth to win the World Cup and they are Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, and Spain. So far only France has won, Argentina, Brazil, and Spain tied, Germany lost, and Belgium haven't played yet.

(06-17-2018 06:36 PM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 07:17 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  How can Iceland (a tiny, frigid country with a population less than Wichita) earn a World Cup slot but not the USA? Disgraceful.

Iceland invested a lot of time and $ to developing coaches and players. Here in the US it's all about making $ off rich kids and pretty much excluding the talented immigrants from Latin America and Africa who have great skill and knowledge of the game. There has been little effort to grow the game in the poorer and blue collar neighborhoods.

Nailed it, here soccer is about the swag you get and the money your family spends.

Everywhere else futbol is what they do and a dream to a better life.

If we treated soccer the way basketball is we could easily when a world cup. But we treat it like water polo. The desperate need to be the best just isn't in our current soccer dna.

(06-17-2018 06:36 PM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 07:17 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  How can Iceland (a tiny, frigid country with a population less than Wichita) earn a World Cup slot but not the USA? Disgraceful.

Iceland invested a lot of time and $ to developing coaches and players. Here in the US it's all about making $ off rich kids and pretty much excluding the talented immigrants from Latin America and Africa who have great skill and knowledge of the game. There has been little effort to grow the game in the poorer and blue collar neighborhoods.

The humiliation of the USA (the most powerful and 3rd most populated country in the world) missing the World Cup should force American soccer officials to do what it takes to fix it but I guess most Americans do not care. When enough people care (like when we lost games in international basketball), corrective action occurs pronto.

(06-17-2018 08:20 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 06:36 PM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 07:17 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  How can Iceland (a tiny, frigid country with a population less than Wichita) earn a World Cup slot but not the USA? Disgraceful.

Iceland invested a lot of time and $ to developing coaches and players. Here in the US it's all about making $ off rich kids and pretty much excluding the talented immigrants from Latin America and Africa who have great skill and knowledge of the game. There has been little effort to grow the game in the poorer and blue collar neighborhoods.

The humiliation of the USA (the most powerful and 3rd most populated country in the world) missing the World Cup should force American soccer officials to do what it takes to fix it but I guess most Americans do not care. When enough people care (like when we lost games in international basketball), corrective action occurs pronto.

(06-17-2018 06:28 PM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 03:03 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  Europe is 5-1-4 so far with a +9 goal differential. Only loss was Germany.

European teams do well in European world Cups however most of the European teams are playing dull defensive futbol, except for Spain and Portugal who play a flowing Latin style. Germany play good attacking futbol however they were vulnerable to Mexico counterattack. In the 2010 and 2014 World Cups only 6 of 13 European teams advanced to the group stage where as South America was 5 for 5 in 2010 and 5 of 6 in 2014.

I know. I was just pointing it out. A European nation has won every European World Cup since Sweden '58. 6 in a row.

TBF, most teams in the world cup have played a dull style. The games havent been played at a high level. Really only Spain and Portugal have played at a high level and honestly they were still playing a couple notches below their best. The game was exciting but lots of errors from both sides.

Peru and Denmark had a go at it to but I dont think anyone can say that game was played at a high level. It was just exciting.

Other than that:

Russia game was rigged.
France, Argentina, and Germany were full of talent without the ability to breakdown packed defenses on the day.
The Croatia/Nigeria game was just awful. Iran/Morocco was a smidge better
Brazil was fine. The ref ruined that game allowing the persistent fouling on Neymar.

(06-18-2018 08:11 AM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 06:28 PM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 03:03 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  Europe is 5-1-4 so far with a +9 goal differential. Only loss was Germany.

European teams do well in European world Cups however most of the European teams are playing dull defensive futbol, except for Spain and Portugal who play a flowing Latin style. Germany play good attacking futbol however they were vulnerable to Mexico counterattack. In the 2010 and 2014 World Cups only 6 of 13 European teams advanced to the group stage where as South America was 5 for 5 in 2010 and 5 of 6 in 2014.

I know. I was just pointing it out. A European nation has won every European World Cup since Sweden '58. 6 in a row.

TBF, most teams in the world cup have played a dull style. The games havent been played at a high level. Really only Spain and Portugal have played at a high level and honestly they were still playing a couple notches below their best. The game was exciting but lots of errors from both sides.

Peru and Denmark had a go at it to but I dont think anyone can say that game was played at a high level. It was just exciting.

Other than that:

Russia game was rigged.
France, Argentina, and Germany were full of talent without the ability to breakdown packed defenses on the day.
The Croatia/Nigeria game was just awful. Iran/Morocco was a smidge better
Brazil was fine. The ref ruined that game allowing the persistent fouling on Neymar.

There was a very good article I read over the weekend about how increased media money is making International competitions less "fun to watch" because they're more competitive (ie. less teams with a higher concentration of talent due to the increased development capacity of the middle tier of federations), and it's going to get much, much worse with the 48 team model.

Cobi Jones is awful

(06-17-2018 08:20 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 06:36 PM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 07:17 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  How can Iceland (a tiny, frigid country with a population less than Wichita) earn a World Cup slot but not the USA? Disgraceful.

Iceland invested a lot of time and $ to developing coaches and players. Here in the US it's all about making $ off rich kids and pretty much excluding the talented immigrants from Latin America and Africa who have great skill and knowledge of the game. There has been little effort to grow the game in the poorer and blue collar neighborhoods.

The humiliation of the USA (the most powerful and 3rd most populated country in the world) missing the World Cup should force American soccer officials to do what it takes to fix it but I guess most Americans do not care. When enough people care (like when we lost games in international basketball), corrective action occurs pronto.

You are correct, sir. Americans do not care about soccer.

Soccer is a square peg. America is a round hole.

Americans don't particularly care for a sport where they rarely score, 2-0 is a blowout and the rules are designed to prevent offense.

Americans dont buy the principle that if someone even brushes up against you it is accepted, nay encouraged, to fake it to make it look like you were fouled. Then you have a game full of athletes out there looking like they're all getting blasted with a 12 gauge shotgun if an opposing player gets within arms length.

THEN, after 88 minutes of nothing, a guy falls down and goes boom on the box and you're given a PK, which is a GIMME.

Americans prefer going out and winning their games themselves, not yelling for the ref to do it for you. Just sayin'.

(06-18-2018 08:48 AM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  Cobi Jones is awful

At haircuts?

(06-18-2018 08:59 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 08:48 AM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  Cobi Jones is awful

At haircuts?

at several things I am sure, however I was talking about TV commentating. Just awful

(06-18-2018 08:59 AM)Def Berkkat Wrote:  You are correct, sir. Americans do not care about soccer.

24,472,778

Number of people who play soccer at some level in the U.S. — second only to China. (Source: FIFA World Football Big Count)

24.3 MILLION

Number of U.S. television viewers of the 2010 World Cup Final between Spain and the Netherlands — more than watched the Rose Bowl (24.04 million), the NCAA men's college basketball championship (23.99 million)

7,985,000

Youth participation of Soccer in America, second highest behind Basketball.

Quote:Americans don't particularly care for a sport where they rarely score, 2-0 is a blowout and the rules are designed to prevent offense.

Hi baseball! Nice to meet you hockey!

Quote:Americans dont buy the principle that if someone even brushes up against you it is accepted, nay encouraged, to fake it to make it look like you were fouled. Then you have a game full of athletes out there looking like they're all getting blasted with a 12 gauge shotgun if an opposing player gets within arms length.

What's up basketball!

Quote:Americans prefer going out and winning their games themselves. Just sayin'.

Wait, is that College Football from 1880-1994? How're you doing man, haven't seen you in awhile!

Thanks for stopping by.

(06-18-2018 10:04 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 08:59 AM)Def Berkkat Wrote:  You are correct, sir. Americans do not care about soccer.

24,472,778

Number of people who play soccer at some level in the U.S. — second only to China. (Source: FIFA World Football Big Count)

24.3 MILLION

Number of U.S. television viewers of the 2010 World Cup Final between Spain and the Netherlands — more than watched the Rose Bowl (24.04 million), the NCAA men's college basketball championship (23.99 million)

7,985,000

Youth participation of Soccer in America, second highest behind Basketball.

Quote:Americans don't particularly care for a sport where they rarely score, 2-0 is a blowout and the rules are designed to prevent offense.

Hi baseball! Nice to meet you hockey!

Quote:Americans dont buy the principle that if someone even brushes up against you it is accepted, nay encouraged, to fake it to make it look like you were fouled. Then you have a game full of athletes out there looking like they're all getting blasted with a 12 gauge shotgun if an opposing player gets within arms length.

What's up basketball!

Quote:Americans prefer going out and winning their games themselves. Just sayin'.

Wait, is that College Football from 1880-1994? How're you doing man, haven't seen you in awhile!

Thanks for stopping by.

Yet the USA can't find 11 guys that can beat Trinidad and Tobago.

BOOM.

(06-18-2018 08:59 AM)Def Berkkat Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 08:20 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 06:36 PM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 07:17 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  How can Iceland (a tiny, frigid country with a population less than Wichita) earn a World Cup slot but not the USA? Disgraceful.

Iceland invested a lot of time and $ to developing coaches and players. Here in the US it's all about making $ off rich kids and pretty much excluding the talented immigrants from Latin America and Africa who have great skill and knowledge of the game. There has been little effort to grow the game in the poorer and blue collar neighborhoods.

The humiliation of the USA (the most powerful and 3rd most populated country in the world) missing the World Cup should force American soccer officials to do what it takes to fix it but I guess most Americans do not care. When enough people care (like when we lost games in international basketball), corrective action occurs pronto.

You are correct, sir. Americans do not care about soccer.

Soccer is a square peg. America is a round hole.

Americans don't particularly care for a sport where they rarely score, 2-0 is a blowout and the rules are designed to prevent offense.

Americans dont buy the principle that if someone even brushes up against you it is accepted, nay encouraged, to fake it to make it look like you were fouled. Then you have a game full of athletes out there looking like they're all getting blasted with a 12 gauge shotgun if an opposing player gets within arms length.

THEN, after 88 minutes of nothing, a guy falls down and goes boom on the box and you're given a PK, which is a GIMME.

Americans prefer going out and winning their games themselves, not yelling for the ref to do it for you. Just sayin'.

I believe another factor inhibiting interest in soccer by most Americans is heavy improbable comeback possibilities once a team is down by only one score relatively early in a match. For example, a soccer team at halftime losing by one goal has only about a 12% chance of winning the contest (Source).

I also think nil-nil ties (about 8% of total per Source) are particularly a futility antipathetic to most Americans.