2018 World Cup Thread

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by TGH-Adfabre

Japan's goalie!!!! What a game!

This kind of soccer I can get into. Japan doesn't care they are an underdog. They are trying to score. None of that "Hope we luck one in & then can keep 10 players back in our own end."

[TGH-Adfabre]

Poor Japan, what an amazing run by Belgium!

[Cobra Mgr]

That's what I call a fast break

[Cobra Mgr]

This game is so much more enjoyable when people are actually trying to score.

[ukhotstove]

Martinez looking like a genius with the subs and tactic changes but was forced into them, if he had De Bruynne in a more attacking position at the start they wouldn't have been 2-0 down, man as more luck than a leprechaun with a bunch of four leaf clovers.

[Westheim]

I naively fully expected Japan to get pummelled by like four, and then had to feel terrible for them when they lost 3-2 on a last-minute squeezer.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

This kind of soccer I can get into. Japan doesn't care they are an underdog. They are trying to score. None of that "Hope we luck one in & then can keep 10 players back in our own end."

That's kind of why Japan lost. It is more exciting to watch, but Japan should have been a lot more defensive minded when they went up 2-0.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

That's kind of why Japan lost. It is more exciting to watch, but Japan should have been a lot more defensive minded when they went up 2-0.

In baseball terms, Japan should have worked deeper into the count instead of hitting a HR. Wonder why baseball attendance is down & soccer isn't all that popular in the USA......................

Sports is supposed to entertain. If the "correct" way to win isn't entertaining, that's a problem. That's why you have to be open to changing the rules.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

In baseball terms, Japan should have worked deeper into the count instead of hitting a HR. Wonder why baseball attendance is down & soccer isn't all that popular in the USA......................

Sports is supposed to entertain. If the "correct" way to win isn't entertaining, that's a problem. That's why you have to be open to changing the rules.

If just the bold was true, then you'd be right. But it isn't. The simple truth is soccer doesn't need the USA. In fact, they're probably happy we don't have much interest so we can continue making fools of ourselves on a soccer field. And no, I refuse to say that word that starts with a "P".

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

If just the bold was true, then you'd be right. But it isn't. The simple truth is soccer doesn't need the USA. In fact, they're probably happy we don't have much interest so we can continue making fools of ourselves on a soccer field. And no, I refuse to say that word that starts with a "P".

I think your mostly right, I think FIFA wants football to be a major sport in the US, money and power wise that’s all. As for the countries that count football as there main sport, I don’t think they really care to be honest. As a football fan with family and friends stateside, I probably like most Americans rank the MLS behind the NFL, MLB, NHL. NBA and NCAA Football and I bet NCAA Basketball as well but I’m not a fan of college basketball.

I can only speak for myself personally but the MLS hasn’t caught on with me because of the commentators, I know it’ll sound weird but they Americanise the sport, it’s like British commentators doing an NFL or MLB game which I’ve heard, it doesn’t go. American commentators doing a football (soccer) game and British commentators doing a NFL or MLB game sounds like someone commentating on something they have no idea about.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

I think your mostly right, I think FIFA wants football to be a major sport in the US, money and power wise that’s all. As for the countries that count football as there main sport, I don’t think they really care to be honest. As a football fan with family and friends stateside, I probably like most Americans rank the MLS behind the NFL, MLB, NHL. NBA and NCAA Football and I bet NCAA Basketball as well but I’m not a fan of college basketball.

I can only speak for myself personally but the MLS hasn’t caught on with me because of the commentators, I know it’ll sound weird but they Americanise the sport, it’s like British commentators doing an NFL or MLB game which I’ve heard, it doesn’t go. American commentators doing a football (soccer) game and British commentators doing a NFL or MLB game sounds like someone commentating on something they have no idea about.

I don't even watch the MLS. For what? That's where the really good players from around the world go when they become washed up. I've been to a few games, but on TV they're hard to watch.

As far as Americanizing the sport, I think it was back in 1994 where the American channel would count backwards from 45 minutes each half. Are you serious? That alone makes it difficult to watch.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

If just the bold was true, then you'd be right. But it isn't. The simple truth is soccer doesn't need the USA. In fact, they're probably happy we don't have much interest so we can continue making fools of ourselves on a soccer field. And no, I refuse to say that word that starts with a "P".

Excuse me for being dense. But I have no idea what point you're making here. My thought is USA spectator sports fans largely want something to happen. Watching teams reenact WW1's "no man's land" isn't interesting. Soccer may get the casual fan's attention every 4 years, but as a whole they aren't going to become Euro league fanatics. Not as long as it is more important to pitch a shutout than get it in the net.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Excuse me for being dense. But I have no idea what point you're making here. My thought is USA spectator sports fans largely want something to happen. Watching teams reenact WW1's "no man's land" isn't interesting. Soccer may get the casual fan's attention every 4 years, but as a whole they aren't going to become Euro league fanatics. Not as long as it is more important to pitch a shutout than get it in the net.

My point is, you're not going to get them to revamp the substitution and penalty system in an attempt to get more US fans they don't currently need now.

Like it or not, playing for a draw or penalty kicks is a viable strategy. I understand it isn't popular here. For example. Take a team that is inferior in the knockout rounds. They are already in trouble, then let one of them be red carded. Now they're down a man on top of everything else. Their only chance to win is in penalty kicks. Forcing them to play until someone scores gives them zero chance to win. Might as well turn off the game.

Plus I'm lost now. What are we arguing about? Penalty kicks VS playing until someone scores? Look, I agree with on games being exciting VS snooze fests. But that's up to the teams. Having them play until someone scores is not doing anything for the popularity of soccer here in the US. It just isn't. Baseball and soccer can be slow paced games. How they determine their endgame isn't changing anything.

[ukhotstove]

Someone please tell me how an haedbutt isn't a red card. Colombia resorting to the South American tactics book when it's not going your way, even one of there coaches had a POP at Sterling at half time.

Not sold on Deli Ali, rather have Loftus-Cheek on.

[ukhotstove]

Wild prediction someone will get sent off

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

My point is, you're not going to get them to revamp the substitution and penalty system in an attempt to get more US fans they don't currently need now.

Like it or not, playing for a draw or penalty kicks is a viable strategy. I understand it isn't popular here. For example. Take a team that is inferior in the knockout rounds. They are already in trouble, then let one of them be red carded. Now they're down a man on top of everything else. Their only chance to win is in penalty kicks. Forcing them to play until someone scores gives them zero chance to win. Might as well turn off the game.

Plus I'm lost now. What are we arguing about? Penalty kicks VS playing until someone scores? Look, I agree with on games being exciting VS snooze fests. But that's up to the teams. Having them play until someone scores is not doing anything for the popularity of soccer here in the US. It just isn't. Baseball and soccer can be slow paced games. How they determine their endgame isn't changing anything.

Well, I didn't think we were arguing. Debating @ the worst. Mostly just discussing. I just didn't get the jib of your post.

Anyways, I'm not expecting the soccer czars to change the rules to appease fans like myself. Even if they were to cave to my every whim I still don't think I'd become a futbol nut. They are the most popular sport in the world, so what are 300 mil Americans out of 8 billion human beings?

All I'm saying is if people are going to complain about how the matches are decided, then they have to be willing to make a change. If not, then stop complaining. Expecting the same methods to get different results is insanity. If 7B+ are satisfied, then why would FIFA change? My personal preference is to see aggressiveness rewarded in all my sports. If you miss, don't miss short. UMBC beating UVa wouldn't have been half as fun if they played stall ball.

[rudel.dietrich]

Hard for me to say as a German. But I have a man crush on Harry Kane

[pilight]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

, I probably like most Americans rank the MLS behind the NFL, MLB, NHL. NBA and NCAA Football and I bet NCAA Basketball as well but I’m not a fan of college basketball.

You're being overly generous as to where most Americans rank MLS. the WNBA draws better TV ratings.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Hard for me to say as a German. But I have a man crush on Harry Kane

Kanes a throwback to Bobby Moore, different position but class act the way he plays and holds himself, perfect choice for captain on and off the field.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by pilight

You're being overly generous as to where most Americans rank MLS. the WNBA draws better TV ratings.

Why though? Big population of Europeans & South Americans stateside plus it's an high college participation isn't There?