The Soccer Thread

[jersey cubs fan]

Rio de Janeiro police have confirmed that Ray Whelan, an executive director for FIFA partner Match Services, has been arrested under suspicion of running a major World Cup ticket scalping operation. Globo reports that Whelan was arrested at Copacabana Palace hotel, where agents found 100 match tickets in his room.

 

Match Services became FIFA's official hospitality partner for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups after submitting a winning bid of $240 million. The deal was widely seen as controversial at the time since Philippe Blatter, nephew of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, is president of Infront Sports & Media, which is a minority shareholder in Match Services.

 

According to the Associated Press, nearly 500,000 of the more than three million 2014 World Cup tickets were allocated to Match and unsold or unused corporate hospitality tickets were supposed to be returned to FIFA so they could then be made available to the public. Re-selling World Cup tickets for a profit is illegal in Brazil and against FIFA and Match rules. At least, the rules they claim to have.

 

The arrest of 11 people, including Algerian businessman Mohamadou Lamine Fofana, led police to Whelan after they determined that Fofana "had links to someone close to FIFA, who was the source of the unsold or unused tickets and who was staying at the Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio de Janeiro."

[shnsajax]

Hopefully the nail in Blatter's coffin. Though Platini won't be much better.

[wolf stansson]

StatsBomb does cool little infographics based on Opta Data. They finally have MLS data and it's interesting. Wil Trapp is better than I realized, and I thought he was pretty damn good already. Also, validated my thinking that Nagbe is being played out of position too often to produce end results.

 

@mixedknuts: Darlington Nagbe, Portland 2014. Data a game behind, but I'm not sure this is that good aside from dribbling.

 

@mixedknuts: Wil Trapp, Columbus Crew 2014. Really impressive stuff for a 21-year-old DM in MLS. Would scout him very closely

 

 

@mixedknuts: Graham Zusi, Sporting KC 2014. Elite KPs, solid defensive work, and puts the ball on target when he shoots now.

 

 

@mixedknuts: Harrison Shipp, Chicago 2014. Goals are conversion boosted but the rest is great. Just 22, but great numbers

 

 

@mixedknuts: Clint Dempsey, Seattle 2014. It's fair to say that Dempsey in MLS is ridiculous. Huge shot volume, strong KP, pass%

 

He does all the major european leagues. Fun info.

[Guest]

Can someone explain why Messi wouldn't be on a dream team?

[shnsajax]

I assumed it was some random fans submission and not real.

[wolf stansson]

That or compiled by a Brazilian.

[USSoccer]

Well, all those guys in the front six have been better than Messi thus far. Except for Beckerman, who plays a different position.

 

Regardless, that can't be a real thing.

[wolf stansson]

Neymar and Van Persie haven't been as good as Messi. Muller too, though that's a little closer.

[USSoccer]

Neymar and Van Persie haven't been as good as Messi. Muller too, though that's a little closer.

 

Ehhhhh...I dunno. I'm just not all that impressed with Argentina. Maybe that's coloring my impression.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

Everybody involved in futbol is taking a dive

[shnsajax]

Neymar and Van Persie haven't been as good as Messi. Muller too, though that's a little closer.

 

These were my thoughts, even as a Dutch blowhard Van Persie has disappeared since the Australia match. He should have beat Costa Rica all by himself.

[Guest]

Good defense, Brazil.

[jersey cubs fan]

I like when the ref tries to pull guys aside to talk to them away from the rest of the group and nobody pays attention to him.

[Guest]

A+ crazy eyes from Marcelo after Boateng put his hands on him

[jersey cubs fan]

game set match point?

[Guest]

Brazil getting beat down right now. Germany is doing whatever they want.

[Derwood]

Screw you Brazil, you dirty mother [expletive]

[wolf stansson]

God...this German team. Nothing fazes them. Methodical. Overwhelming.

[Derwood]

Nobody is going to beat Germany

[Guest]

game set match point?

 

If it wasn't already, it is now.

 

Shut it down. Let's go home.

[dcvalpo]

This is like playing FIFA on amateur.

[Guest]

Oh my goodness.

 

Is Brazil playing their 8th team squad today? That was the worst goal allowed in the tournament.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Brazil is embarrassing.

[Guest]

What in the world is going on here

[Derwood]

The goalie wants to [expletive] punch his entire team