Soccer Heaven

[*bfine32*]

A great time for an International Football fan such as myself. We got both the Euros and Copa going.

I've always been a Dutch fan and of course will be pulling for the USA.

[SunsetBengal]

futbol

[StoneTheCrow]

Sorry, off topic a bit but MLS seems to be only available on Apple TV. I’d watch FC Cincinnati if it was available elsewhere. They’re good and TQL always looks electric.

[cinci4life]

What a start for USA!!!

[CKwi88]

I do like the expanded format for the Copa América. Anything to get the US playing more quality teams in tournament play outside of CONCACAF , Bolivia notwithstanding.

[hollodero]

(06-22-2024, 05:15 PM)bfine32 Wrote: A great time for an International Football fan such as myself. We got both the Euros and Copa going.

I've always been a Dutch fan and of course will be pulling for the USA.

Well, I for one hope the Netherlands will face a major defeat tomorrow. Chances are they will not, but then again they're not the same dominant team they used to be.

[CKwi88]

(06-24-2024, 11:27 AM)hollodero Wrote: Well, I for one hope the Netherlands will face a major defeat tomorrow. Chances are they will not, but then again they're not the same dominant team they used to be.

Austria v Netherlands will certainly be the closer of the two I'd bet. A shame de Jong had to withdraw. The Dutch and the tournament as a whole are worse for it, much like Mbappe's unfortunate busted nose. 

[hollodero]

Immer wieder, immer wieder...

...well, Austria wins a group with France and Netherlands in it. What a world.

[CKwi88]

(06-25-2024, 03:21 PM)hollodero Wrote: Immer wieder, immer wieder...

...well, Austria wins a group with France and Netherlands in it. What a world.

Own Goal continuing his dominance over this Euros finals.  

What a game. 

[*bfine32*]

(06-25-2024, 03:21 PM)hollodero Wrote: Immer wieder, immer wieder...

...well, Austria wins a group with France and Netherlands in it. What a world.

Austria definately were the better team on the pitch today. But it looks like the Dutch will advance

[hollodero]

(06-25-2024, 06:25 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Austria definately were the better team on the pitch today. But it looks like the Dutch will advance

Oh sure, that both will advance in pretty much every realistic scenario was quite clear from the start. Netherlands will probably have to play England now though, a task that might also be more grim on paper than in reality because Mr. southgate just is a bad coach. While Austria avoided the Spain branch now, but that is all details. Main thing for me is that I never thought I'd see the day where my country's team actually plays an interesting, unique style of football and does not disappoint me.

[*bfine32*]

(06-25-2024, 07:50 PM)hollodero Wrote: Oh sure, that both will advance in pretty much every realistic scenario was quite clear from the start. Netherlands will probably have to play England now though, a task that might also be more grim on paper than in reality because Mr. southgate just is a bad coach. While Austria avoided the Spain branch now, but that is all details. Main thing for me is that I never thought I'd see the day where my country's team actually plays an interesting, unique style of football and does not disappoint me.

...and they did it without skis 

[*bfine32*]

On a side note it's crazy to watch how differently the Euros and Copa are officiated. Pretty sure a player in a Copa match just pulled a knife and the ref said "play on"

[*rfaulk34*]

Stopped by Barleycorn's to pick up my food Friday after work and there was a Copa match on the tube. In the 10 minutes or so i was there, i saw no less than 4 guys fall to the ground and writhe around like their leg had just been ripped off before getting up and running back when it was apparent no call was going to be made. 

Not saying anything. Just sayin'...

[CKwi88]

Own Goal strikes again for Les Bleus. Talk about a round of 16 game worthy of a final.

[cinci4life]

This head ref in the USA game is flat out atrocious.

[cinci4life]

USA getting raped by these refs. Uruguay scores a goal they were clearly offsides on and VAR somehow doesn't overturn it. This whole game has been a circus show.

[CKwi88]

Utterly disappointed by the USMNT. My entire lifetime waiting for them to take the next step and it never seems to come.

Shame I'll probably have to go through the same disappointment tomorrow with my 1B Brazil tomorrow.

[cinci4life]

(07-02-2024, 12:31 AM)CKwi88 Wrote: Utterly disappointed by the USMNT. My entire lifetime waiting for them to take the next step and it never seems to come.

Shame I'll probably have to go through the same disappointment tomorrow with my 1B Brazil tomorrow.

They had no prayer with this ref in charge. They were basically a man down the whole game again. 2 different times he could have not stopped play on a Uruguay foul because US had the advantage but he did preventing a possible breakaway down the field. And if that wasn't bad enough he stops play to give US a yellow card and while pulling it out Uruguay very quick restarts and he somehow allows it almost ending in a goal. This ref clearly had no clue.

[CKwi88]

(07-02-2024, 01:05 AM)cinci4life Wrote: They had no prayer with this ref in charge. They were basically a man down the whole game again. 2 different times he could have not stopped play on a Uruguay foul because US had the advantage but he did preventing a possible breakaway down the field. And if that wasn't bad enough he stops play to give US a yellow card and while pulling it out Uruguay very quick restarts and he somehow allows it almost ending in a goal. This ref clearly had no clue.

I'll fall short of laying a lot of blame at the ref's feet, but one thing that has certainly been in the spotlight over the past weeks is the disparity between European football and football in the Americas. Not only in the quality of play but also of the referees, fields, VAR, really just top down. 

While an expanded Copa América is certainly good for CONCACAF teams, a lot more needs to be done to up the overall quality of non-European football in general. Makes me really worry for the 2026 World Cup.