Everything Soccer

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I’m a little disappointed in it to be honest.
If my boys aren’t in it, then at least I’d like to watch a good final.
This is likely the worst BvB team in the past decade, possibly more?

They will be a massive underdog in the final, and it likely won’t be an attractive game with BvB playing overly defensive and just try to counter and football their way to a result.
Full credit to them, but it’s the biggest sporting event in the world. I just wish PSG qualified for the pure entertainment value of it.

The last four finals have finished 1-0. Real Madrid was the winner of one of those as was Bayern Munich. Bayern's opponent in the final they won? PSG. It would seem to me that regardless of who wins these games, the final is going to be tight, maybe pragmatic at best.

I Don't know how much better or worse of a final BvB is going to give us compared to the last four, but I'd rather see them win than the Spanish, French and German versions of the Death Star that were in the semifinals. Let's be honest, too, Harry Kane NOT winning a trophy in his first year at Bayern Munich would be pretty damn hilarious. I don't know who would want to see Real Madrid win another CL other than their own supporters and Schalke supporters. It's just stale at this point.

Regardless of who is playing, it seems to now be a very tight affair where nobody wants to make a mistake and plays ultra conservatively. I would love an Argentina v France type of final as a neutral, don't get me wrong, but this isn't at all how teams have been playing it in recent years. You probably have to go back to the Madrid v Madrid final that went to pens for a good final, and that was 1-1. At least from a neutral POV.

 

[NorthDakota]

lmao holy shit Bayern

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Neuer was playing out of his mind until that mistake on the first goal. Insane game.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The Real Madrid Experience.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

The last four finals have finished 1-0. Real Madrid was the winner of one of those as was Bayern Munich. Bayern's opponent in the final they won? PSG. It would seem to me that regardless of who wins these games, the final is going to be tight, maybe pragmatic at best.

I Don't know how much better or worse of a final BvB is going to give us compared to the last four, but I'd rather see them win than the Spanish, French and German versions of the Death Star that were in the semifinals. Let's be honest, too, Harry Kane NOT winning a trophy in his first year at Bayern Munich would be pretty damn hilarious. I don't know who would want to see Real Madrid win another CL other than their own supporters and Schalke supporters. It's just stale at this point.

Regardless of who is playing, it seems to now be a very tight affair where nobody wants to make a mistake and plays ultra conservatively. I would love an Argentina v France type of final as a neutral, don't get me wrong, but this isn't at all how teams have been playing it in recent years. You probably have to go back to the Madrid v Madrid final that went to pens for a good final, and that was 1-1. At least from a neutral POV.

Yes, its a good point. The likelihood is whomever plays in the final it will be very cagey.
I just personally felt as if PSG vs either of Bayern vs Madrid would have forced it to be appointment television.
I understand that PSG is an easy team to root against though, so I get it.
I honestly felt that this was the season they finally figured out the right group of people to put around Mbappe on top of likely the best manager they have ever had.
Unfortunately, they got footballed hard by BvB in almost hilarious fashion.

Harry Kane is living in a cruel world at the moment, it would have only been a better story arch if Spurs could have ended thier trophy drought this season.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Yes, its a good point. The likelihood is whomever plays in the final it will be very cagey.
I just personally felt as if PSG vs either of Bayern vs Madrid would have forced it to be appointment television.
I understand that PSG is an easy team to root against though, so I get it.
I honestly felt that this was the season they finally figured out the right group of people to put around Mbappe on top of likely the best manager they have ever had.
Unfortunately, they got footballed hard by BvB in almost hilarious fashion.

Harry Kane is living in a cruel world at the moment, it would have only been a better story arch if Spurs could have ended their trophy drought this season.

You'd have thought he'd finally win something. Nobody counted on Leverkusen, though. Horrible timing. Seems like a good enough guy.

PSG has spent $1.94 billion and they've been to one final, which they did not win. They've achieved domestic dominance, and I'm not going to make any "farmer's league" comments, but at the end of the day it's Ligue 1. They've made a mockery of that league with their dominance. You spend that money to achieve Champions League success. They've severely underperformed in that respect.

PSG, Real, Bayern, City, Juve are all held to a much higher standard by a lot of neutrals due to their domestic dominance. Rightfully so.

I hope Dortmund pull it off. I've seen enough Real Madrid black magic bullshit for two lifetimes.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Apparently my oldest son (11) likes Real Madrid now, mostly because he loves Vini Jr. I thought I raised him better. Disclaimer though, I actually do like Vini Jr but I don't have to like Madrid.

 

[DCDomer]

Apparently my oldest son (11) likes Real Madrid now, mostly because he loves Vini Jr. I thought I raised him better. Disclaimer though, I actually do like Vini Jr but I don't have to like Madrid.

Vini is becoming the most hateable player in the world, but what he did to Bayern this week was incredible.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Leverkusen at 49 games unbeaten. It's actually to the point now you just expect them to score late. Even down 2-1 to Roma with the aggregate in hand, they still found an equalizer for the streak.

Atalanta are in their first final of any kind and Leverkusen are on this incredible run. Should be a great final.

Leverkusen is facing FC Kaiserslautern for the DFB Pokal three days after the Europa Final. They sit 14th in Bundesliga 2.

Leverkusen winning both is a great story. If either opponent should beat them, those probably make for an even better story. Some fresh intrigue left for the European season.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

Leverkusen at 49 games unbeaten. It's actually to the point now you just expect them to score late. Even down 2-1 to Roma with the aggregate in hand, they still found an equalizer for the streak.

Atalanta are in their first final of any kind and Leverkusen are on this incredible run. Should be a great final.

Leverkusen is facing FC Kaiserslautern for the DFB Pokal three days after the Europa Final. They sit 14th in Bundesliga 2.

Leverkusen winning both is a great story. If either opponent should beat them, those probably make for an even better story. Some fresh intrigue left for the European season.

Have a Atalanta $25 ticket to win $700
I think I may just wait until the last ten minutes when Atalanta is likely up a goal, and hedge out then...because Leverkusen is for sure going to come back and score (2) in the final ten minutes + stoppage time. It's been thier MO for the past month or two to keep this streak alive.
What a run they're on!

Atalanta with a chance to do a double + qualify for champions league all in the span of two weeks.
Truly amazing story that would be for a club that has (1) major trophy in thier 115+ year history.
Imagine being a supporter of that club right now.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Have a Atalanta $25 ticket to win $700
I think I may just wait until the last ten minutes when Atalanta is likely up a goal, and hedge out then...because Leverkusen is for sure going to come back and score (2) in the final ten minutes + stoppage time. It's been thier MO for the past month or two to keep this streak alive.
What a run they're on!

Atalanta with a chance to do a double + qualify for champions league all in the span of two weeks.
Truly amazing story that would be for a club that has (1) major trophy in thier 115+ year history.
Imagine being a supporter of that club right now.

This made me laugh.

I hope Atalanta can pull it off. The Copa against Juve next week, obviously. They've been runners up twice there recently. They'll be underdogs for certain against Leverkusen and perhaps have sentiment from neutrals. I gravitate toward Italian teams not named Juventus or AC Milan. It really is a great story and they've put together two great cup runs. They're a tough squad to beat. I like Gasperini. Moratti gave him five flipping games at Inter Milan and sacked him.

It almost feels like Leverkusen's shine has worn off now that they've won the title and continue to pull off these miraculous feats to avoid defeat. Success breeds contempt. Still, they blew up the Bayern Death Star and did European football a favor in that regard. What they're doing is far more impressive than what Leicester did a few years back. I really want to see Alonso lead this team in Champions League next year. For that reason I am glad he's sticking around Leverkusen.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

This made me laugh.

I hope Atalanta can pull it off. The Copa against Juve next week, obviously. They've been runners up twice there recently. They'll be underdogs for certain against Leverkusen and perhaps have sentiment from neutrals. I gravitate toward Italian teams not named Juventus or AC Milan. It really is a great story and they've put together two great cup runs. They're a tough squad to beat. I like Gasperini. Moratti gave him five flipping games at Inter Milan and sacked him.

It almost feels like Leverkusen's shine has worn off now that they've won the title and continue to pull off these miraculous feats to avoid defeat. Success breeds contempt. Still, they blew up the Bayern Death Star and did European football a favor in that regard. What they're doing is far more impressive than what Leicester did a few years back. I really want to see Alonso lead this team in Champions League next year. For that reason I am glad he's sticking around Leverkusen.

I would rank it the following for recent memory:
1. Atl. Madrid winning La Liga in 2013-2014, especially going to the Camp Nou on the final day of the season and getting a result. Truly amazing season to win La Liga over both Messi and Ronaldo in thier prime.
2. Leverkusen this season. Especially if they can finish it off by winning the Treble while staying completely unbeaten. The main reason I have it below Alt. Madrid is just because I think the Bundesliga is very poor this season overall in comparison to normal circumstances.
3. Leicester was truly amazing. Main reason I have it at third, is because that was a down season for PL in general. Total credit to them for winning it, with only 81 points and (12) draws. It was a wonderful story to follow.
4. Lille winning Ligue 1 back in 2020-2021. Remarkable achievement, and it was fun to see Timothy Weah have a decent role, especially since PSG never really gave him a shot with thier club. To finish a 38 game club season with only 3 losses for a club of thier size was a ridiculous run.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I would rank it the following for recent memory:
1. Atl. Madrid winning La Liga in 2013-2014, especially going to the Camp Nou on the final day of the season and getting a result. Truly amazing season to win La Liga over both Messi and Ronaldo in thier prime.
2. Leverkusen this season. Especially if they can finish it off by winning the Treble while staying completely unbeaten. The main reason I have it below Alt. Madrid is just because I think the Bundesliga is very poor this season overall in comparison to normal circumstances.
3. Leicester was truly amazing. Main reason I have it at third, is because that was a down season for PL in general. Total credit to them for winning it, with only 81 points and (12) draws. It was a wonderful story to follow.
4. Lille winning Ligue 1 back in 2020-2021. Remarkable achievement, and it was fun to see Timothy Weah have a decent role, especially since PSG never really gave him a shot with thier club. To finish a 38 game club season with only 3 losses for a club of thier size was a ridiculous run.

1. Barca and Real both scored 100+ goals that year. Athleti also lost the CL final to Real that season. They lost four matches in La Liga. Look at who the clubs were that beat them. Bizarre. They allowed 24 goals over the entire league campaign. That's crazy defense.

2. Leverkusen could lose the rest of their matches and it would not matter. This run that ended Bayern's stale hold on Germany is one for the ages.

3. Agreed, but it was incredible nonetheless and we probably will not see anything like it again. Best we can hope for in England is another FA Cup ala Wigan beating City.

4. I might rate Lille ahead of Leicester the more you mention it, especially because of the three losses.

 

[dublinirish]

Leverkusen at 49 games unbeaten. It's actually to the point now you just expect them to score late. Even down 2-1 to Roma with the aggregate in hand, they still found an equalizer for the streak.

Atalanta are in their first final of any kind and Leverkusen are on this incredible run. Should be a great final.

Leverkusen is facing FC Kaiserslautern for the DFB Pokal three days after the Europa Final. They sit 14th in Bundesliga 2.

Leverkusen winning both is a great story. If either opponent should beat them, those probably make for an even better story. Some fresh intrigue left for the European season.

Dublin Gardai (Police) breathing a sigh of relief they don't have to deal with Trop Puissant (Marseille Ultras). They struggle to keep order here at League of Ireland games with <1000 fans. But yeah should be a great day for the final, I went to the last one in 2011 and it was a bit of a damp squib with two Portuguese teams and Braga were never up to much

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Hoist the pirate flag! St. Pauli promoted back to the Bundesliga

St. Pauli has returned to the Bundesliga after a 3-1 win over relegated Osnabrück in Germany’s second division.

apnews.com

Como Returns To Serie A For The First Time In 21 Years

Como won promotion to Serie A after clinching second place in the Serie B standings. The Lariani ended their history-making season with a nine-match undefeated streak.

www.forbes.com

These are the stories to look for this time of year. Great stuff.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Canada name Marsch national team coach ahead of Copa América

Former Leeds United and RB Leipzig manager Jesse Marsch is the new manager of the Canada men's national team, the Canada Soccer Association announced on Monday.

www.espn.com

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Canada name Marsch national team coach ahead of Copa América

Former Leeds United and RB Leipzig manager Jesse Marsch is the new manager of the Canada men's national team, the Canada Soccer Association announced on Monday.

www.espn.com

Get the fuck out of here. What are we doing?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I don't like this.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

 

[GowerND11]

View attachment 3055705

Ugh...

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

View attachment 3055705

Harry Kane buries that…..

 

[PolishDomer]

View attachment 3055705

Couldn't believe that he didn't score there

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Harry Kane buries that…..

Quite a feat considering he'd be doing it all the way from Germany.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Olise's agent handed six-month FA ban

The agent of Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise has been given a six-month ban by the Football Association (FA) following an investigation into a contract agreed with the player’s former club Reading in 2019. Glen Tweneboah, who is a registered intermediary still acting on behalf of Olise, was...

www.nytimes.com

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Quite a feat considering he'd be doing it all the way from Germany.

Bro 😂

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Arsenal fans need to consider what it took to stop this behemoth.

2019-2020 Liverpool played 29 matches before Covid hit. They won 27, drew 1 and lost one. They finished 32-3-3 on 99 points when play resumed in June 2020.

Arsenal have won a club record 27 matches this season and it's probably not going to be enough some Sunday. They've been awesome since they beat Liverpool in London back in early February but they're likely going to come up short.

The bar in England right now is utterly ridiculous.

 

[NDRock]

Arsenal fans need to consider what it took to stop this behemoth.

2019-2020 Liverpool played 29 matches before Covid hit. They won 27, drew 1 and lost one. They finished 32-3-3 on 99 points when play resumed in June 2020.

Arsenal have won a club record 27 matches this season and it's probably not going to be enough some Sunday. They've been awesome since they beat Liverpool in London back in early February but they're likely going to come up short.

The bar in England right now is utterly ridiculous.

Will be interesting and probably more exciting when Pep hangs it up.

 

[ThePiombino]

Juventus with the 1-0 Coppa Italia final victory over Atalanta. Chippy match, horrible officiating. Fun one to watch tho. Likely Allegri's swan song.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[GowerND11]

Arsenal fans need to consider what it took to stop this behemoth.

2019-2020 Liverpool played 29 matches before Covid hit. They won 27, drew 1 and lost one. They finished 32-3-3 on 99 points when play resumed in June 2020.

Arsenal have won a club record 27 matches this season and it's probably not going to be enough some Sunday. They've been awesome since they beat Liverpool in London back in early February but they're likely going to come up short.

The bar in England right now is utterly ridiculous.

Oh we are all very... very aware. I did that math, should Arsenal win Sunday and end with 89 points, it would be enough to have won the EPL 18 of the previous 31 seasons. Plus potentially 2 more for 20 if Arsenal end with a better goal difference than 2 City championships.

It's absurd what teams need to do right now to just compete with City, and City fans can say what they want, but the 115 charges, and what their legal team has done to delay everything in the courts loom large. Sad reality is, even if something is done, retroactively awarding championships is hollow.