2026 FIFA World Cup

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Norway is the most boring to happen to sports since the rain delay. They just pass it around w/zero attacking. And they have the reaction speed of a tree stump.

But they have this.


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pVfHMqz_0Po

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Thor & the goalie were the only thing going for them. The rest of the team were a cure for insomnia.

I must say, I was drinking a little. I did fall asleep in the 2nd half. Woke up at the 90th minute.

[Ragnar]

The red card for the US player has been suspended. Very interesting.

[Westheim]

The FIFA reeeeeally wants the US to get as far as possible, it seems to me.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Westheim

The FIFA reeeeeally wants the US to get as far as possible, it seems to me.

I'll take it. We've had one other team in the history of the WC that could compete. Can you blame me?

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Thor & the goalie were the only thing going for them. The rest of the team were a cure for insomnia.

Play good "D", and wait for a counter attack, with the best attacker in the world. I would say that their strategy worked pretty well.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

I'll take it. We've had one other team in the history of the WC that could compete. Can you blame me?

No, and I won't, but for FIFA it's of course all about the bloody money again. Soccerball is like what, the #4 or #5 sport in the US? Maybe a deep run gives it a boost. There's billions for FIFA on the table!!

Also, what's this game here? Feels like I joined a debate.

[Westheim]

Juuuuuuuude...!!!!

[low]

C'mon Mexico. England is overrated. Always has been. Knock 'em out.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Westheim

The FIFA reeeeeally wants the US to get as far as possible, it seems to me.

FIFA is to corruption as Russia is to paranoia

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

Play good "D", and wait for a counter attack, with the best attacker in the world. I would say that their strategy worked pretty well.

Didn't say it didn't work. Said it was borrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiinnnnnnggggggg

[Ragnar]

I didn't have a dog in this race. Don't care who won. But why was the player from England given a red card? He hit the ball. What am I missing here?

I'm actually shocked Mexico lost. Early on it looked like the Alamo. Mexico on the attack at all times.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Westheim

No, and I won't, but for FIFA it's of course all about the bloody money again. Soccerball is like what, the #4 or #5 sport in the US? Maybe a deep run gives it a boost. There's billions for FIFA on the table!!

Also, what's this game here? Feels like I joined a debate.

A deep run would not give it a boost. We could win the world cup and nothing would change. Our best athletes are always going to chase the money. That's not in soccer.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

A deep run would not give it a boost. We could win the world cup and nothing would change. Our best athletes are always going to chase the money. That's not in soccer.

First, never underestimate FIFA's "infinite wisdom" of knowing it all better and wanting something hard enough to make it happen (like the 2022 tournament in Qatar)...

Second, there's infinite money in soccer, but of course not in MLS with its cute little salary cap and a draft, and wasting your best soccerballer years in college for nothing. There's also infinite money in America.

In FIFA's eyes that makes infinite potential to rake in more millions and billions.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

I didn't have a dog in this race. Don't care who won. But why was the player from England given a red card? He hit the ball. What am I missing here?

I think he kicked the foot of the Mexican player before he made contact w/the ball.

That's the best I could make out of it.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

A deep run would not give it a boost. We could win the world cup and nothing would change. Our best athletes are always going to chase the money. That's not in soccer.

I think the highest salaried soccer players make more than any other sport. Only the NBA is close in comparison.

But FIFA isn't searching for more players. They are searching for more eyes.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I think the highest salaried soccer players make more than any other sport. Only the NBA is close in comparison.

But FIFA isn't searching for more players. They are searching for more eyes.

Right, but not in the US. But I don't know what MLS players make. I didn't think it was a lot.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I think he kicked the foot of the Mexican player before he made contact w/the ball.

That's the best I could make out of it.

I had to look at a replay after reading your post, because I thought the opposite happened. His foot went over the ball with every intention of hitting the Mex. player. His calf grazed the ball first, but the ball wasn't his target.

I can't understand why the English player didn't just kick the ball.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Right, but not in the US. But I don't know what MLS players make. I didn't think it was a lot.

Most don't. I think Messi gets 9 figures from Miami. But it is generally accepted that if you want to make the big $, you go to Europe or Saudi Arabia to play.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

I had to look at a replay after reading your post, because I thought the opposite happened. His foot went over the ball with every intention of hitting the Mex. player. His calf grazed the ball first, but the ball wasn't his target.

I can't understand why the English player didn't just kick the ball.

I was thinking you were talking about the Kane foul. The red card, he did make contact with the ball. But the English announcers said he was overly aggressive. & contact w/the ball was more of an accident. And it was a consensus among them even before the ref got summoned to the video. So I'm guessing it makes sense to futbol folk. From ESPN's review of the incident...............

Verdict: A clear red card challenge by Quansah and a good use of VAR. The nature of this challenge met all the criteria for a red card; speed, intensity and high contact all endangered the safety of his opponent, and Quansah was rightly sent off.

I don't get a lot of the decision making. Again, I'm not surprised cause this is, after all, FIFA.

People who are powerful enough to write the rules aren't going to write rules that limit their power. They are going to leave a big enough loophole so they can be "flexible" to their hearts' content. I.E., Balogun. That's why while I may be puzzled at the decisions made, I'm never shocked by the decisions made.

We had similar convos when the NCAA named the teams for the football playoff. This is why I'm against the NFL "conduct policy". People in power do not like to follow rules. They like to force us to follow the letter of the law. But they don't hold themselves to the same limitations.

But so far the WC, it baffles me the intentional fouls aren't punished as hard as the accidental ones. Guys get into shoving matches & receive nothing. Someone gets their foot stepped on & he gets awarded a penalty shot & the opponent a yellow card.