Everything Soccer

[ACamp1900]

England would have walked to a final

 

[Old Man Mike]

Things well so far for me --- go DeBruyne, Lukaku, Hazard, and FELLAINI!!! Be the Wrecking Ball, Big Fella!!!

 

[ickythump1225]

Man, what a showing by Russia. I was pulling for them even though I like Croatia. I don't understand the Russia hate on here other than to link it to politics. I didn't think Russia was good enough on the world stage to have hate. It's like hating...Miami (OH) in football (unless you're a fan of a rival team). They aren't good enough to hate.

 

[ickythump1225]

I want the winner of England/Croatia to win it all. I dislike France and Belgium annoyed me in 2014 and they annoy me again this go around. It is possible for neither side to win that match?

 

[Old Man Mike]

Fellaini is annoyed that you're annoyed.

 

[Irish YJ]

I want the winner of England/Croatia to win it all. I dislike France and Belgium annoyed me in 2014 and they annoy me again this go around. It is possible for neither side to win that match?

I hope Belgium and Croatia battle in the finals, with Croatia taking it.
I hope England and France play to a 0-0 tie through ET, and must go through several rounds of PKs until France agrees to surrender.

 

[dublinirish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oh my god. North Carolina FC just gave us both the best and worst thing I've ever seen in my life... 😂 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsCenterNotTop10?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsCenterNotTop10</a><a href="https://twitter.com/NorthCarolinaFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NorthCarolinaFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Chas_Battery?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chas_Battery</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/USL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SportsCenter</a> <a href="https://t.co/IirtFLgHSK">pic.twitter.com/IirtFLgHSK</a></p>— Connor W. Paquette (@ConnorWPaquette) <a href="https://twitter.com/ConnorWPaquette/status/1016036313357832192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ACamp1900]

Man, right at the last too. It's little hard to find but I enjoy watching the USL when I can. There is enough quality to be watchable but it lacks enough to where it gets totally wide open at times.

 

[nlroma1o]

Not sure if anyone has been paying attention to the Ronaldo Juve rumors, but its starting to look like this is actually going to happen. Supposedly Juve and Ronaldo have agreed on a salary, and now its up to negotiating the transfer fee. Word on the street is offering 100m and will go to 125m but Madrid is holding firm at 150m.

I hate Juve, but if Ronaldo is playing for them, its going to be good for Serie A in the long run.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Dislike Ronaldo. Love Chiellini. Torn.

 

[ACamp1900]

So every other year, after the Euros or the WC I want to get into club level "football" (soccer) but I just...can't. For a number of reasons.
One: The domestic league is horrible. I know it is getting better but the first time I ever truly paid attention to soccer was the 2010 WC. It's hard to go from the insanely high level of play at the WC/Euros and then watch MLS. Even the name is stupid, it is not the "major league" as that would apply either a baseball like system or a promotion/relegation system like the rest of the world. We have neither. After watching MLS after the WC it is like going from watching the NFL to watch pee wee football.

Additionally, I have no organic connection to any club. I'm from Minnesota originally but haven't lived there since 2006. I lived in Georgia (Atlanta metro for 4ish years) for 8 years, but left in 2014. I've also lived in Indy briefly, San Diego, and I recently moved to Las Vegas. Cheering for Minnesota or Atlanta (my most logical club connections) is hard as I don't know jack about either club, I don't know the players and furthermore might not like them.

Two: I can't get into European leagues. I know the level of play is high but...I have absolutely zero connection to them, it is hard to watch the matches, and it is hard to generate an interest in foreign teams. I don't want to bandwagon on the big clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barca, or Bayern Munich.

We've been round and round on this topic in this thread but your assessment of the MLS is a bit off imo, you have the handful or so top flight Euro leagues that are above the rest of the world and then the rest of Europe league wise is pretty much on par or below the MLS. I'd add the WC isn't always this intensely high level of soccer. It is for most players at this stage but the groups are filled with teams made of players well below world class level and plenty have squads filled with players that wouldn't make MLS rosters.

I'd give the MLS another chance, go to an Atlanta game and see, watch a few games. It won't be hard to follow like some of the Euro leagues. It'll be something you can share with locals and the quality (which is already good) is only going to get better and better imo. Also Atlanta currently is a real fun watch imo. It won't be Germany v Brazil but it'll be better than you think. Just my two cents.

 

[ACamp1900]

Not sure if anyone has been paying attention to the Ronaldo Juve rumors, but its starting to look like this is actually going to happen. Supposedly Juve and Ronaldo have agreed on a salary, and now its up to negotiating the transfer fee. Word on the street is offering 100m and will go to 125m but Madrid is holding firm at 150m.

I hate Juve, but if Ronaldo is playing for them, its going to be good for Serie A in the long run.

Was hoping he'd come here... there were some rumors about a year ago... If he came now it'd be a good thing. If he came in a 3-4 years I have no use for it. The MLS retirement thing is frustrating in that it's not even real anymore but any time one star comes over it comes back full force.

 

[NDty9]

And ITS OFFICIAL.... Ronaldo to Juve... WOW (while I am all Milan, this is a good thing for the Serie A in general, id have to believe)


** just saw you stated this too ACAMP, Agree for sure!

 

[Irish YJ]

And ITS OFFICIAL.... Ronaldo to Juve... WOW (while I am all Milan, this is a good thing for the Serie A in general, id have to believe)


** just saw you stated this too ACAMP, Agree for sure!

This is awesome

 

[NorthDakota]

Damn. Now Real gonna have a lot of cash AND wont have to guarantee a place in the team to an aging star.

 

[ACamp1900]

Audi Field finally done and DC have their new home opener in a few days... good for them, RFK was easily the worst venue in the league imo.

 

[ACamp1900]

Meanwhile in Scotland:

 

[Irish YJ]

go De Rode Duivels

 

[ACamp1900]

A student of mine just stated everyone in this country of neutral ties should be rooting for England. My response:

 

[IrishLion]

Man, right at the last too. It's little hard to find but I enjoy watching the USL when I can. There is enough quality to be watchable but it lacks enough to where it gets totally wide open at times.

The quality of play in the USL (in terms of the top 50% of teams, at least) has improved so dramatically in the past three years, it's been amazing.

I just started really paying attention three years ago, and am still learning about the game, but even my amateur eyes have been able to spot the differences in skill and quality.

Of course, having an influx of the best players from the NASL over the past year and half has helped, too, as has the addition of a few teams like Indy Eleven, Nashville, Colorado Springs, and Reno 1868.

It also helps when you've got Didier Drogba player-coaching a Phoenix Rising team and elevating the play of his entire squad just by his presence, or when a team like Cincy can bring in some well-traveled veterans that put legit quality on display, making the games look like actual games rather than slogs or track-meets, or when Louisville City has one of the best young up-and-coming coaches on the sidelines developing a good squad (he's at Orlando City, now).

The Rochester Rhinos folding, and then basically combining their awesome coach and best players with the best parts of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds roster has been good for the league, too. Pittsburgh is a legit force now.

 

[ACamp1900]

The quality of play in the USL (in terms of the top 50% of teams, at least) has improved so dramatically in the past three years, it's been amazing.

I just started really paying attention three years ago, and am still learning about the game, but even my amateur eyes have been able to spot the differences in skill and quality.

Of course, having an influx of the best players from the NASL over the past year and half has helped, too, as has the addition of a few teams like Indy Eleven, Nashville, Colorado Springs, and Reno 1868.

It also helps when you've got Didier Drogba player-coaching a Phoenix Rising team and elevating the play of his entire squad just by his presence, and when a team like Cincy can bring in some well-traveled veterans that put legit quality on display, making the games look like actual games rather than slogs or track-meets.

I know I really enjoy it when I can catch a game...

 

[dublinirish]

Pavard (French RB) is getting totally worked

 

[IrishLion]

Pavard (French RB) is getting totally worked

Both teams getting plenty of good looks on goal already.

This one's gonna end up 3-2 or something.

 

[ACamp1900]

If only the rest of the world played like these two teams... and I don't just mean in terms of quality but as much in terms of style, pace and legitimacy.

 

[IrishLax]

Both of these goalies are fantastic.

 

[ACamp1900]

Both of these goalies are fantastic.

yep... hell both these teams are pretty fantastic... at least in the attack.

 

[ACamp1900]

Not going to lie... I totally see the USMNT being of this style, pace and quality in my lifetime.

 

[IrishLion]

Lukaku is a fucking monster lol. Never really realized how big that dude is.

 

[ACamp1900]

1-0 Frogs

 

[IrishLion]

France putting in work right now.

If Belgium pulls level, I think the flood gates are gonna open and the game's gonna go HAM.