~Soccer Thread~

[TyphonInc]

Columbus Crew making some noise in the Concacaf Cup they have a lead in the Final Four. 

Highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q28uyhtOOnM

Winner Gets invited to FIFA's World Club Cup and 50 million Dollars.

[TyphonInc]

And Columbus is onto the Final.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQioes6-wxc&ab_channel=FOXSoccer

[ELA]

I fail to see why CONCACAF and CONMEBOL shouldn't merge permanently 

[OrangeAfroMan]

That would be too many letters.

[utee94]

I'd rather see CONCACAF dissolve and the USA become part of UEFA.

[ELA]

I dont know that I want that to happen, anymore than I want Oregon in the Big Ten, for the same reasons.

I also dont think fans there care outside of the Euros and the WC, about international soccer.  It works there, just like nobody here cares bout international basketball outside of the Olympics, because they have the premier domestic league(s), like we do with the NBA. 

While the competition would be better, and wed be done with the hack job road games in central America, I dont think overall it would benefit us.  Particularly with the expanded WC field, which makes qualification almost glorified exhibitions.

[utee94]

It's precisely the hack jobs in Central America, and El Tri, that I'd love to move away from.

[ELA]

Austria-Netherlands was phenomenal this afternoon.  And I love seeing the Dutch take an L

[ELA]

Granted maybe we should worry about essentially being eliminated because we can't beat Panama at home

[utee94]

Maybe we shouldn't let Panama goad us into stupid obvious blatant fouls that will inevitably result in a red card.  

[ELA]

Agreed, but they still went up 1-0 down a man.  And Panama wasn't getting much pressure, and we went way too conservative, playing for a draw, anyway, which allowed them their 2nd goal

[utee94]

Agreed, but they still went up 1-0 down a man.  And Panama wasn't getting much pressure, and we went way too conservative, playing for a draw, anyway, which allowed them their 2nd goal

Agree on all counts.  The strategy was bad which led to some confusion and poor execution, and then letting them get to us to the point of an open punch and a red card... just, inexcusable.

[utee94]

But I'll add, this is just one of the many reasons to hate CONCACAF.  I don't know if anyone's addressed WHY Weah decided to slap Miller, but I'd be surprised it it weren't in retaliation for something that's generally unacceptable on the field of play.  Central American teams are well-known to do weird shit like stick their thumbs in an opponent's butt, grab opponents' balls, that kind of thing.

When US players are asked by reporters "Does this ever happen when you play European teams?" the answer is always a flat "No." 

When asked if it's common for Concacaf teams to do it, the answer is always an immediate "Yes."

It still doesn't excuse the act that got the red card, but there's zero chance it was unprovoked.

[ELA]

Central American teams are well-known to do weird shit like stick their thumbs in an opponent's butt, grab opponents' balls, that kind of thing.

It just means more