2026 FIFA World Cup

[buddha]

1 hour ago, Hongbit said:

What are you talking about?  This tournament has been a showcase of the best players.  It’s been all stars. 

Besides, rooting for teams is what actual soccer fans do.  There are many more millions of people that only care about the star players and their highlights.  Thats what makes up Infantino’s massive comp plan (at least the legal, above board part).

As for France, they reminded me of the Pistons. Defense focuses on Cade and purposely leaves Daniss and Tobias open and let them keep chucking up low percentage threes.   Not sure where Rabiot and Koné are at the moment but they probably are semi hard dreaming about taking more 20 yard shots.  

I loved every minute of Galarza being a dirty MF and then his acting job that earned a cheap yellow on France.  He may be my new favorite player.  He seems like the kind of guy that would sneak a razor blade in his uniform old WWF style and wait to shiv a dude when the ref wasn’t looking.  Too bad they have VAR nowadays.

yes, i root for good teams to play each other.  not for paraguay to cheat.

ymmv.

[GalagaGuy]

How long before a certain someone takes credit for Balogun being cleared to play?  🤔

[buddha]

1 minute ago, GalagaGuy said:

How long before a certain someone takes credit for Balogun being cleared to play?  🤔

i'll bet you that a "certain someone" called infantino and told him to do it.  

1) it should not have been a red card by the laws of the game (ref cant look at it in slow motion like he did);

2) rescinding it so the us's best player can play a knockout game screams of corruption and unfair play.  typical fifa bull****.

3) they did the same thing for ronaldo before the tournament started.  star players and fifa world peace award winners get special treatment.

[GalagaGuy]

FIFA has its rules written in a way where they can basically do whatever they want.    

Edited July 5 by GalagaGuy

[GalagaGuy]

Haaland does it again.  

Edited July 5 by GalagaGuy

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Were I another leader in another country or the head of their men's national team I would be furious about what has transpired with the reversal of the suspension. This is especially true in light of NAME REDACTED coming forward and using the power of the OFFICE REDACTED to influence the outcome of a suspension. 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

46 minutes ago, GalagaGuy said:

FIFA has its rules written in a way where they can basically do whatever they want.    

NAME REDACTED already has attempted to influence the outcome. The New York Times reported that the OFFICE REDACTED OF THE COUNTRY REACTRED, NAME REDACTED, came out and called Gianni Infantino days before the ban/suspension was lifted. I'd be amazed if NAME REDACTED didn't try to sway FIFA's decision making on behalf of COUNTRY REDACTED. 

Sorry for all the silliness above. I know this isn't the political forum, but if indeed NAME REDACTED from COUNTRY REDACTED called FIFA's Gianni Infantino with the intent of influencing the decision that's a huge problem for an organization whose credibility is already in the toilet. And NAME REDACTED was the one who potentially made this a political issue. 

Edited July 5 by Mr.TaterSalad

[MichiganCardinal]

51 minutes ago, GalagaGuy said:

FIFA has its rules written in a way where they can basically do whatever they want.    

Easier to be corrupt that way.

[lordstanley]

Have never seen Brazil look so ordinary (2014 semi was extraordinary). Norway 2 Brazil 1 final.

[MichiganCardinal]

I don’t know enough about soccer to have a confident opinion about whether it was or wasn’t worthy of a red card. The people who I’ve spoken to who do know, and who officiate the sport at a high level, agreed with the call.

This feels like if the Lions and Cowboys were about to play in a divisional round game, but a controversial decision in the wildcard round caused Dak Prescott to be automatically suspended for it. And then Jerry Jones called Roger Goodell and all of a sudden, no suspension.

I don’t like being compared to the Dallas Cowboys, even in a self-created metaphor. And I’d be livid if I was a Belgian.

[GalagaGuy]

Haaland is just impossible to not like.  I'm all in on Norway if the USA can't win it all. 

[buddha]

1 hour ago, lordstanley said:

Have never seen Brazil look so ordinary (2014 semi was extraordinary). Norway 2 Brazil 1 final.

have you watched brazil in the last decade?  they are very ordinary.

they also got a bit unlucky when rafinia got hurt.  he's an amazing player.  instead, they had endrick, who is just a baby and more potential than anything else.

which doesnt excuse ancellotti for leaving joao pedro at home to bring NEYMAR!  and then he substitutes cunha - theyre second most threatening player after vini and the man who won you a penalty - to bring on endrick.  endrick promptly flubs the best chance of the game.  

then he makes 4 more subs including bringing on neymar's old ass and puts him up top.  and norway just passes it back and forth for 20 minutes as neymar flubs around doing nothing.

this loss is right on ancelloti.

[lordstanley]

5 minutes ago, buddha said:

have you watched brazil in the last decade?  they are very ordinary.

they also got a bit unlucky when rafinia got hurt.  he's an amazing player.  instead, they had endrick, who is just a baby and more potential than anything else.

which doesnt excuse ancellotti for leaving joao pedro at home to bring NEYMAR!  and then he substitutes cunha - theyre second most threatening player after vini and the man who won you a penalty - to bring on endrick.  endrick promptly flubs the best chance of the game.  

then he makes 4 more subs including bringing on neymar's old ass and puts him up top.  and norway just passes it back and forth for 20 minutes as neymar flubs around doing nothing.

this loss is right on ancelloti.

For sure, and finished 5th in South American qualifying. But they were even worse than the past decade. Norway was toying with them with possession when it was 1-1. I saw one Brit quip on Twitter midway through the 2nd half that if weren’t for the distinctive yellow jerseys you’d feel you were watching Everton vs Fulham. 

[buddha]

1 hour ago, MichiganCardinal said:

I don’t know enough about soccer to have a confident opinion about whether it was or wasn’t worthy of a red card. The people who I’ve spoken to who do know, and who officiate the sport at a high level, agreed with the call.

This feels like if the Lions and Cowboys were about to play in a divisional round game, but a controversial decision in the wildcard round caused Dak Prescott to be automatically suspended for it. And then Jerry Jones called Roger Goodell and all of a sudden, no suspension.

I don’t like being compared to the Dallas Cowboys, even in a self-created metaphor. And I’d be livid if I was a Belgian.

they are livid.

[buddha]

1 hour ago, GalagaGuy said:

Haaland is just impossible to not like.  I'm all in on Norway if the USA can't win it all. 

meh.  he plays for man city...that's a capital offense right there.

his dad had a very famous run-in with roy keane back in the day...

[buddha]

4 hours ago, GalagaGuy said:

How long before a certain someone takes credit for Balogun being cleared to play?  🤔

he called infantino.  

everything that POS touches turns to ****.  he had to go and make us look like a **** country YET AGAIN.  

he's such a scumbag.

[monkeytargets39]

Belgium is going to win regardless

[buddha]

let's all laugh at england.  their defense is garbage.  the full backs cant stop a cross and the central backs cant clear one.

mexico could have had 4 by now.

[GalagaGuy]

31 minutes ago, buddha said:

let's all laugh at england.  their defense is garbage.  the full backs cant stop a cross and the central backs cant clear one.

mexico could have had 4 by now.

I mean, they are up 3-1 right now.  You're theory of their defense being garbage will be tested in the last 30 minutes, especially being down a man.  

[lordstanley]

England-Mexico living up to the hype. 3-2 England at the end of the 3rd quarter. 

[buddha]

The refs have done everything they can to help mexico win this game.

there is no way on god's green earth that was a penalty.

[Hongbit]

41 minutes ago, buddha said:

let's all laugh at england.  their defense is garbage.  the full backs cant stop a cross and the central backs cant clear one.

mexico could have had 4 by now.

This post aged poorly.

Fortunately, there’s still a decent chance that everything said happens before it’s over.  

[buddha]

10 minutes ago, GalagaGuy said:

I mean, they are up 3-1 right now.  You're theory of their defense being garbage will be tested in the last 30 minutes, especially being down a man.  

my theory?  did you watch the first half?  mexico dominated them and england played on the counter.  couldnt stop em.

[Hongbit]

3 goals will not win this game.

[buddha]

1 minute ago, Hongbit said:

This post aged poorly.

Fortunately, there’s still a decent chance that everything said happens before it’s over.  

????  how?  did you watch the first half?

amd england brought on stones and packed the box because theyre down to ten.