(06-12-2026 08:36 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  I’m not watching but was trapped into being at a place where US/Paraguay is on all the flatscreens.

When did soccer begin using “hydration breaks”?!?!?

Started for Qatar since it’s still around 95 in the winter there.

We demanded them so they could shove about 10 more commercials in a match.

They should be no longer then 90 seconds

Morocco-Brazil 1st half was pretty great. 2nd half was pretty... bland? There were chances but didn't feel as exciting as the first half.

First half of Scotland-Haiti has been okay, considering the teams.

(06-13-2026 05:44 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Brazil looks like they’re over the hill.

…however, Brazil’s female fans do not.

Brazilian female fans are undefeated

(06-13-2026 08:22 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  Morocco-Brazil 1st half was pretty great. 2nd half was pretty... bland? There were chances but didn't feel as exciting as the first half.

First half of Scotland-Haiti has been okay, considering the teams.

Saw the last 10-12 minutes of Switzerland-Qatar. The Swiss were up 1-0 and just fooling around, killing time. Then Qatar got a goal at 94 minutes (game went to 97:15). Guy got clear on the side, centered it and a header put it in. Swiss had to feel stupid.

(06-13-2026 10:34 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-13-2026 08:22 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  Morocco-Brazil 1st half was pretty great. 2nd half was pretty... bland? There were chances but didn't feel as exciting as the first half.

First half of Scotland-Haiti has been okay, considering the teams.

Saw the last 10-12 minutes of Switzerland-Qatar. The Swiss were up 1-0 and just fooling around, killing time. Then Qatar got a goal at 94 minutes (game went to 97:15). Guy got clear on the side, centered it and a header put it in. Swiss had to feel stupid.

Yeah, I think I saw xG for that match was like 3.1-.5 or something in favor of Switzerland. Crazy they only got a point out of that.

(06-13-2026 10:34 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-13-2026 08:22 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  Morocco-Brazil 1st half was pretty great. 2nd half was pretty... bland? There were chances but didn't feel as exciting as the first half.

First half of Scotland-Haiti has been okay, considering the teams.

Saw the last 10-12 minutes of Switzerland-Qatar. The Swiss were up 1-0 and just fooling around, killing time. Then Qatar got a goal at 94 minutes (game went to 97:15). Guy got clear on the side, centered it and a header put it in. Swiss had to feel stupid.

Yep
Perfect synopsis of what I was watching while doing a crossword with my crayons.

Too cute for Swiss cheese. Whaddya dooooing?!?!!?

Wow, 2-0 Aussies with about 20 mins left. Friday will be interesting, I believe the Aussies will have a solid contingent in Seattle. Looks like they showed up in Vancouver.

In a stunning display of offense and decisiveness, here are the scores from yesterday:

Qatar 1
Switzerland 1

Brazil 1
Morocco 1

Haiti 0
Scotland 1

Australia 2
Turkey 0

The average points per team was 0.875. You will see soccer evangelists enforce their dogma upon the infidels who dare to criticize the meager scoring by labeling them rubes; unable to comprehend that low output is a feature, not a bug.

(06-13-2026 08:20 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  I tend to favor the Latina women, but Japanese women are extremely underrated.

I enjoy women in general. I’m partial to dark skinned women as well. I used to have a Puerto Rican girlfriend who would tell me I was “malo malo malo”. I told her I most certainly was.

Back in the 90’s I did business with Chinese energy companies. They would send delegations over to visit for project reviews, to mark up drawings and basically to party. I would take them to gentlemen’s clubs and they would comment that American women were “too hairy”

WSJ headline:

"The American World Cup Introduced Ad Breaks—and Everyone Absolutely Hates It

Soccer has always been defined by free-flowing, unbroken action. But for the World Cup in America, FIFA is using ‘hydration breaks’ to shoehorn in commercials."

https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/world-...lista_pos1

(06-14-2026 06:25 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  In a stunning display of offense and decisiveness, here are the scores from yesterday:

Qatar 1
Switzerland 1

Brazil 1
Morocco 1

Haiti 0
Scotland 1

Australia 2
Turkey 0

The average points per team was 0.875. You will see soccer evangelists enforce their dogma upon the infidels who dare to criticize the meager scoring by labeling them rubes; unable to comprehend that low output is a feature, not a bug.

It’s just like SEC / Big Ten football.

If it’s a low scoring game, it’s because of dominant SEC / Big Ten defense.
If it’s a high scoring contest, it’s because of those high powered SEC / Big Ten offenses.

The ESPN / Fox talking heads do it every fall. They got strangely quiet when a lowly ACC Miami rolled through them in the CFP.

Same thing happens in soccer.

(06-14-2026 06:26 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  WSJ headline:

"The American World Cup Introduced Ad Breaks—and Everyone Absolutely Hates It

Soccer has always been defined by free-flowing, unbroken action. But for the World Cup in America, FIFA is using ‘hydration breaks’ to shoehorn in commercials."

https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/world-...lista_pos1

They actually introduced the hydration breaks in Qatar 2022. They simply kept them. Some FIFA members wanted to only use them in the warmer locations but others thought it would be unfair to teams that played in locations that didn’t have them.

(06-13-2026 02:35 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  

(06-13-2026 02:25 PM)450bench Wrote:  F soccer

Cool, you don't like it. No need to reply in this thread anymore then.

Triggered snowflakes.

I’ll reply to whatever thread I want, when I want, just like everyone else. Including you.

(06-14-2026 12:36 AM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  Wow, 2-0 Aussies with about 20 mins left. Friday will be interesting, I believe the Aussies will have a solid contingent in Seattle. Looks like they showed up in Vancouver.

Yeah it’s going to be awesome.

We’ll get to see how we do against an organized low block looking to counter.

Granted that’s the Paraguayans game too, but they looked terrible on Thursday.

Hopefully Pulis calf is a nothing burger.

If we had Tim ream of 5 years ago Fulham I think this could be a semifinal team.

I think we’re quarters this cycle, although wouldn’t be terribly surprised with a semi finals run

(06-14-2026 06:26 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  WSJ headline:

"The American World Cup Introduced Ad Breaks—and Everyone Absolutely Hates It

Soccer has always been defined by free-flowing, unbroken action. But for the World Cup in America, FIFA is using ‘hydration breaks’ to shoehorn in commercials."

https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/world-...lista_pos1

It’s great as a tv viewer. Gives me a bathroom break, chance to grab a beer, etc. I’d absolutely hate it if I were at the match live.

Both Australia and Turkey looked pretty good. Giving me a bad feeling.

(06-14-2026 06:25 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  In a stunning display of offense and decisiveness, here are the scores from yesterday:

Qatar 1
Switzerland 1

Brazil 1
Morocco 1

Haiti 0
Scotland 1

Australia 2
Turkey 0

The average points per team was 0.875. You will see soccer evangelists enforce their dogma upon the infidels who dare to criticize the meager scoring by labeling them rubes; unable to comprehend that low output is a feature, not a bug.

I go back to my point of the only people more annoying than the purists are the haters. If you don’t like it, don’t follow/watch.

The only real clunkers yesterday imo were the second halves of the Brazil-Morocco and Haiti-Scotland games, first halves were solid. Australia-Turkey and Switzerland-Qatar were entertaining throughout.

(06-14-2026 11:08 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Both Australia and Turkey looked pretty good. Giving me a bad feeling.

I’m mainly for Australia if we go down 1-0 at any point. They’re gonna build that Great Wall of Australia and make it impossible to score if they do.

Turkey is vulnerable I think. They looked pretty vulnerable against the counter, though that may have been because they had everyone up with Australia parking the bus.

(06-14-2026 08:13 AM)450bench Wrote:  

(06-13-2026 02:35 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  

(06-13-2026 02:25 PM)450bench Wrote:  F soccer

Cool, you don't like it. No need to reply in this thread anymore then.

Triggered snowflakes.

I’ll reply to whatever thread I want, when I want, just like everyone else. Including you.

LOL, isn't there a sports forum? Not that soccer is a real sport, but shouldn't this be in a sports forum somewhere??

Soccer is as much a sport as kickball. American players couldn't cut it in real football, so they opted for futból. #snicker