~Soccer Thread~

[ELA]

Spain must feel like they are playing the Dutch

[ELA]

Escaped.  Can't play like this on Friday

[Brutus Buckeye]

Man, I'd rather lose than win because of Rapinoe.

[SFBadger96]

Lots of discussion around VAR and penalties. That won't end with the US match today. Both PKs were technically correct calls addressing behavior the laws are intended to stop (cleat-up, late tackles), but neither was a big hit to the attacker in the grand scheme of fouls that result in PKs.

I'm sure it ends up being political, but I really don't understand the animosity toward Rapinoe. She is one of best players--if not the best--on the team. Her form of protest is milquetoast at worst.

[utee94]

I think merging with CONMEBOL is the more likely scenario.

CONMEBOL is only a slight improvement wrt style of play.  Maybe we can go independent.

[utee94]

Lots of discussion around VAR and penalties. That won't end with the US match today. Both PKs were technically correct calls addressing behavior the laws are intended to stop (cleat-up, late tackles), but neither was a big hit to the attacker in the grand scheme of fouls that result in PKs.

I'm sure it ends up being political, but I really don't understand the animosity toward Rapinoe. She is one of best players--if not the best--on the team. Her form of protest is milquetoast at worst.

I don't think the first one was in doubt at all.  The second was a "soft foul" but it was still late with studs out that hit the leg.  They might have let it go at midfield but in the box, that's just not going to fly.

In general, that Spain side is probably the dirtiest women's team I can ever recall playing in world competition.  The refs let things get way out of hand with respect to fouling Morgan and Rapinoe early on, many fouls that didn't get called at all, several extremely hard and deliberate fouls that should have been yellows, and enough of those on the same Spanish players that they could EASILY have handed out double-yellows (and consequently red) to TWO different Spanish players. Spain CLEARLY started off with a strategy that they were going to foul the shit out of Morgan, and that was a risky strategy that finally hurt them on the second PK.  They were playing with fire all day and they finally got burned.

Spain played dirty AF and I was watching with my 11yo daughter who plays Club here in Austin, and I was embarrassed having to watch that kind of display with her.  She watches all of the women's soccer and she was pretty shocked at how dirty Spain played.

[SFBadger96]

Will be interesting to see if France decides to play its game, or to try to rough up the US instead.

[ALA2262]

I don't think the first one was in doubt at all.  The second was a "soft foul" but it was still late with studs out that hit the leg.  They might have let it go at midfield but in the box, that's just not going to fly.

In general, that Spain side is probably the dirtiest women's team I can ever recall playing in world competition.  The refs let things get way out of hand with respect to fouling Morgan and Rapinoe early on, many fouls that didn't get called at all, several extremely hard and deliberate fouls that should have been yellows, and enough of those on the same Spanish players that they could EASILY have handed out double-yellows (and consequently red) to TWO different Spanish players. Spain CLEARLY started off with a strategy that they were going to foul the shit out of Morgan, and that was a risky strategy that finally hurt them on the second PK.  They were playing with fire all day and they finally got burned.

Spain played dirty AF and I was watching with my 11yo daughter who plays Club here in Austin, and I was embarrassed having to watch that kind of display with her.  She watches all of the women's soccer and she was pretty shocked at how dirty Spain played.

I didn't get to see the match and didn't bother to watch the recording when I learned US didn't score except by penalty. Were the US coaches up and objecting to the rough play? Every time I see them they are sitting on their asses. Based on what you are saying I probably would have been ejected.

[utee94]

Nah, I don't think it's really Jill Ellis's style to work the refs or anything.  You could tell our players were extremely frustrated, but I feel like they did a pretty good job of not retaliating and making it worse for themselves.

[rolltidefan]

Lots of discussion around VAR and penalties. That won't end with the US match today. Both PKs were technically correct calls addressing behavior the laws are intended to stop (cleat-up, late tackles), but neither was a big hit to the attacker in the grand scheme of fouls that result in PKs.

I'm sure it ends up being political, but I really don't understand the animosity toward Rapinoe. She is one of best players--if not the best--on the team. Her form of protest is milquetoast at worst.

the protest is weak, and generally i'm fine with those type protests (kneeling, etc.) even if i think what they're protesting and/or how is stupid. however, when you're representing the nation/thing you're protesting, it seems hollow and disingenuous.

rapinoe should have come out of the game, though. not for her protest, but severe lack of good play. those 2 penalties hide the fact she had a pretty terrible game overall. getting hacked contributed, but she couldn't win 50/50 balls, couldn't beat her man 1v1, and just overall looked tired.

we play like that against france, who is going to get the home cooking if there is any, we'll lose pretty convincingly.

[ELA]

End of Jamaica-Curacao has been fantastic

[Brutus Buckeye]

the protest is weak, and generally i'm fine with those type protests (kneeling, etc.) even if i think what they're protesting and/or how is stupid. however, when you're representing the nation/thing you're protesting, it seems hollow and disingenuous.

.

Yeah, that's my beef. If you think that this country is so awful, then put your money where your mouth is and don't sign up to play for said awful country's National Team.

It is particularly aggravating after the way Hope Solo was treated simply for behaving like a stereotypical jock in a press conference. I'd rather have her represent my country than the unpatriotic Rapinoe any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't know Rapinoe's protest (but can guess) and may not agree with it being classy, but it's very difficult to express anything earnestly in america and do it unpatriotically. Because freedom of expression or civil disobedience, almost to any unpopular extent, is the literal guts of Our patriotism. We're a nation moreso built on that principle than we are built on the principles of waving flags and loving troops. On that balance, for example, joining an anthem or sitting it out are the same. Both sides regard the first amendment, I guess, but only the first one (allowance to be however unpopular) inspired it.

We were the first nation to promise minority opinions had a home forever. And even when we hate those minority opinions, we should love how our country has this legacy.

[Brutus Buckeye]

I don't know Rapinoe's protest (but can guess) and may not agree with it being classy, but it's very difficult to express anything earnestly in america and do it unpatriotically. Because freedom of expression or civil disobedience, almost to any unpopular extent, is the literal guts of patriotism. We're a nation moreso built on that principle than we are built on the principles of waving flags and loving troops. On that balance, for example, joining an anthem or sitting it out are the same. Both sides regard the first amendment, I guess, but only the first one inspired it.

We were the first nation to promise minority opinions had a home forever. And even when we hate those minority opinions, we should love how our country has this legacy.

Protesting the National Anthem is a deliberately unpatriotic act. 

You have the right to be unpatriotic, and I am not arguing that you should not have that right. I certainly went through an unpatriotic phase as a surly teen. But playing for the US National team is a privilege, not a right (again, see Hope Solo). 

Protesting the Nation should be more than enough reason for the National Team to say thanks but no thanks, in my personal and perhaps misguided opinion. But such are the times in which we live. 

The funniest part of her protest was when she lost her mind because they once played the National Anthem while her team was still in the locker room. Evidently she feels that she should have the right to protest, but that others shouldn't have the right to protest her protest. 

People are strange.