The World Cup

[2thDoc]

It starts today. It is a huge event to the world. I know you mouth-breathing googans will say how stupid soccer is yada yada yada....but you cant discount the passion other countries have for this beautiful game. I would say "save your silly comments" but you wont, so have at it....

There is a lot of chatter about safety at the venues and some countries having trouble with visas for their contingent. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. The iranian team has had some interviews and they seem to be stressing they are here to play soccer and bring some unity to their people. I have no problem with that. I dont hate the people.

France is probably the best team right now. Keep an eye on them. Spain too. The US would do well to make it out of the group stage (they damn sure better) and maybe the quarters. We shall see. Its likely a big deal to how the future of soccer is seen in this country. Ticket prices have been a bad problem but you will see lots of kids looking up to the US team. Its nice to see.

So, try to appreciate the passion. Its hard to fathom when all you know is baseball and your favorite college football team. Your little worldview is too small....
Its a bigger tourney this year for the first time, too, with three host countries....one of which is in the crosshairs bc our stupid president is a buffoon.

Go USA!
fwiw, we play Friday night at 9pm on FOX.

[Glenn]

They played a "friendly" at Jordan-Hare in Auburn.

Sold out stadium of 90+k people.

I didn't know that many commies lived in Alabama.

That Messy dude scored a goal I believe.

[JABIII]

I fully expect the Mexicans I have working to cease all productivity at 3:00 today...

[2thDoc]

y'all are both right.
for once

[Highstrung]

The US Open is next week

[Catdaddy]

The male players get 7% of their revenue. The women players get 20% of their revenue.

The women are bitching.

Sent from my motorola edge 2024 using Tapatalk

[FEETDOWN]

The most entertaining thing about this is the German guy on Twitter, posting about his travels. (He gave the Waffle House 10/10 btw)

[Highstrung]

Allstar mfs

[trkykilr]

Are people blowing those horns or are they beating those inflatable pool noodles together?

[Rubberhead*]

I ordered Fox One yesterday so I could watch it. (I don't have any paid TV services).

I think International Soccer is the purest sporting event left. I honestly only pay attention to soccer once every four years. That being said, I'm less interested in this one than previous. I don't know whether the expanded field has made it, at least early on, less interesting or whether Argentina winning in 2022 has me thinking (with P>0) that the whole thing is rigged.

I agree about France and Spain but I think France's ego will get the best of them before the finals. Spain, in my opinion, will make a better run of it. Brazil got totally humbled the past two times so I think, maybe, they'll make a better showing. Maybe another South American team will win but I can't help but feel there are a lot stronger European teams.

The US Soccer Federation is too corrupt for the US men's team to ever have a chance. The exact same silly shenanigans that happen at the U13 level happen at the men's national team level too. The US Women's team made good for a lot of cycles because nobody cared so the best players got fielded. The USMNT's still has legacy appointments and coaches' kids at center mid. I've said it before but the player(s) that could have taken the US deep in World Cup play are writing code or bagging groceries because they washed-out against lesser competition that had a better last name.

The expanded field is stupid. There's no "drama" at the Group stage so teams won't have the motivation to coalesce because of a group-state threat. To the extent it was pure, Saudi Arabia beating Argentina in the group stage last world cup, might have been the spark that brought that team together. The expanded field, I think, make it more likely that the group stage will fracture delicate teams rather than solidify them. I would expect that good managers know this and already have plans for dealing with it. I think most managers are "political" appointments too so I expect to see some crumbling early on. I don't expect the crumbling to show itself until the Knock-out stages, though. The group stage, I think will be easy to predict - at least who gets out but maybe not the order.

I don't think I can watch 104 matches but I hope that the last 15 matches are, at least, interesting.

Why do they still play the 3rd place game? Nobody cares...yeah, I know someone needs the bronze...flip a coin or do it on points.

[Rubberhead*]

Oh, I don't think England will make it as far as France. Talking heads say that Portugal has a chance...no way.

[Boduke]

I would like to see Croatia do well. 3rd place finish in 2022 and 2nd in 2018 but I think Modric is too old.

[Glenn]

The most entertaining thing about this is the German guy on Twitter, posting about his travels. (He gave the Waffle House 10/10 btw)

He ate at Bucky's in Auburn. Ate brisket sandwiches off of bags of "deer corn".

He'll never go back to Germany. Ever.

[ndbrown213]

Futbol

[Glenn]

NICK!!!

[2thDoc]

dammit nick!

[Jozie & Me]

The most entertaining thing about this is the German guy on Twitter, posting about his travels. (He gave the Waffle House 10/10 btw)

There are several of those accounts out and about. They’re all amazed that we are not the haters that the media makes us out to be. It’s unfortunate.

[MolliesMaster]

Soccer would be a lot less gay if the players weren't falling down with fake injuries all the time. It's embarrassing.

[trkykilr]

And the stoppage time. Imagine Hunter Renfrow catches the TD in Tampa, then Clemson has to kick off and nobody knows when the game will be over. You just kinda keep playing for a while until it feels right to end it.

[nitro5x6's]

There are several of those accounts out and about. They’re all amazed that we are not the haters that the media makes us out to be. It’s unfortunate.

And yet millions want to immigrate here.