The Soccer Thread

[shnsajax]

7 Mexican players just got sent home from Copa America for getting caught banging around with a bunch of hoooahhs.

Haha! The hookers robbed them, they reported the theft to the hotel and the hotel showed the cops. That's how they got caught.

 

Awesome, as much as I hate the progress Mexico has made I know they stand a very good chance of [expletive] it up.

[wvcbxl]

I guess the latest FIFA rankings aren't going to be too popular here: Mexico up to 9th, the US down to 24th.

 

Not much arguments about the top five, probably: FIFA ranking

[shnsajax]

No arguments here. Though I would flip Brazil and England. I think Argentina makes a jump after Copa America.

[shnsajax]

US U-17 vs. Germany today. Trying to snap a streak of losing in the round of 16.

 

We like to attack; we like to play possession and keep the ball. This isn’t exactly what the USA’s soccer is known for.

[wolf stansson]

Germany is far and away the best team in the tournament. This is a serious challenge.

[Banedon]

Nobody care about the Womens WC? I watched the USA match the other day. I'm not a huge follower of soccer, but it was entertaining to watch, though it sounds like they didn't quite play as well as they ought to have.

 

Canada is down 1-0 to France right now.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm in it for the lightning strikes and sports bras.

[shnsajax]

Germany is far and away the best team in the tournament. This is a serious challenge.

 

Down 4-0. Haven't watched any of it but the US has had 51% possession, been out shot 19-18, but have only gotten 7 on goal. Pelosi is out with a red in the last game too.

[CubInOK]

I haven't watched much of the Women's World Cup, but one thing I notice when I do that there is pretty much no diving. It makes watching soccer so much better.

[Marco4]

No arguments here. Though I would flip Brazil and England. I think Argentina makes a jump after Copa America.

England have been in a state of woeful transition for about 3 years now (I guess its the 'who will be Beckham now he can't be him himself' thing) and should be nowhere near the top 5; any game against reasonably good opposition is a massive test (Montenegro and France both spring to mind)

[wolf stansson]

The hair on this Brazil squad is out of hand. Neymar jealousy I guess, but Robinho's is the worst. It's like a pompadour high top fade.

[wolf stansson]

Seems like there are world class goals in MLS every weekend now. Najar was a goal of the year candidate but won't even get goal of the week. Nagbe's for Portland was just silly good.

[Marco4]

:clapping:

 

Najar's was alright, but centre backs do it relatively often. Nice to see, but not thrilling.

 

Nagbe's was lovely, though. :stickman:

[wvcbxl]

According to Greg Seltzer, the Jozy thing is either Ajax or PSV. If so, booyah.

 

I would gladly take either one.

AZ Alkmaar. Earnie Stewart gettin it done. http://www.noshortcorners.com/2011/06/i-had-growing-feeling-this-was-case.html

 

Today's announcement that Kolbeinn Sigthórsson moves from AZ to Ajax for five million Euro paves the way for the Altidore move, according to Dutch sources..

[wolf stansson]

According to Greg Seltzer, the Jozy thing is either Ajax or PSV. If so, booyah.

 

I would gladly take either one.

AZ Alkmaar. Earnie Stewart gettin it done. http://www.noshortcorners.com/2011/06/i-had-growing-feeling-this-was-case.html

 

Today's announcement that Kolbeinn Sigthórsson moves from AZ to Ajax for five million Euro paves the way for the Altidore move, according to Dutch sources..

Apparently Villarreal are being sticklers. They want the entire 5 million they got for Sigthorsson. Maybe it's just a negotiation ploy, but apparently this isn't as done as was being reported.

 

 

Also, here's exhibit A in why MLS youth development is the most important factor in making a better national team: Mexico

http://usa10kit.com/2011/07/04/mexican-mirror-provides-troubling-image-for-u-s/

 

Also from that site, Liverpool have offered Pelosi a deal: http://usa10kit.com/2011/07/04/liverpool-extends-offer-to-us-u-17-pelosi/

[wvcbxl]

According to Greg Seltzer, the Jozy thing is either Ajax or PSV. If so, booyah.

 

I would gladly take either one.

AZ Alkmaar. Earnie Stewart gettin it done. http://www.noshortcorners.com/2011/06/i-had-growing-feeling-this-was-case.html

 

Today's announcement that Kolbeinn Sigthórsson moves from AZ to Ajax for five million Euro paves the way for the Altidore move, according to Dutch sources..

Apparently Villarreal are being sticklers. They want the entire 5 million they got for Sigthorsson. Maybe it's just a negotiation ploy, but apparently this isn't as done as was being reported.

 

The way it's being reported by the Dutch press, there's two sticking points remaining:

- Villareal's asking price must come down

- Jozy must be willing to take a pay cut from the 1 million Euro/yr he's making at Villareal.

AZ's backup plan if the Altidore deal gets called off seems to be Ghana's Matthew Amoah, currently with NAC Breda.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://deadspin.com/5818263/fifa-opted-out-of-denouncing-homophobia-because-they-couldnt-get-beyonce-to-perform

 

There was an awkward double-booking in Berlin two weeks ago: the host city for the 2011 Women's World Cup had promised use of Brandenburg Gate — located in the city center — on Saturday, July 25, to both FIFA organizers and to the annual gay pride parade. If you know anything about FIFA's tolerance for homosexuals, then you know that this does not make for a happy union.

[shnsajax]

http://deadspin.com/5818263/fifa-opted-out-of-denouncing-homophobia-because-they-couldnt-get-beyonce-to-perform

 

There was an awkward double-booking in Berlin two weeks ago: the host city for the 2011 Women's World Cup had promised use of Brandenburg Gate — located in the city center — on Saturday, July 25, to both FIFA organizers and to the annual gay pride parade. If you know anything about FIFA's tolerance for homosexuals, then you know that this does not make for a happy union.

 

Its the Women's World Cup. I doubt Fifa cares that much at all.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://deadspin.com/5818263/fifa-opted-out-of-denouncing-homophobia-because-they-couldnt-get-beyonce-to-perform

 

There was an awkward double-booking in Berlin two weeks ago: the host city for the 2011 Women's World Cup had promised use of Brandenburg Gate — located in the city center — on Saturday, July 25, to both FIFA organizers and to the annual gay pride parade. If you know anything about FIFA's tolerance for homosexuals, then you know that this does not make for a happy union.

 

Its the Women's World Cup. I doubt Fifa cares that much at all.

 

It sounds like they did. They were going to offer their first open statement denouncing homophobia in exchange for use of the Gate, but when they couldn't get a big enough music act to draw the crowd, they opted out and maintained their pro-homophobia stance.

[wolf stansson]

Italian clubs awarded an additional non-EU slot to help bring in more foreign players. Good for Roma's strange American obsession?

[jersey cubs fan]

US women miss open net at 85' mark trying to tie.

[shnsajax]

US women miss open net at 85' mark trying to tie.

 

And they get Brazil as a result.

[Guest]

Don't worry guys, if it gets too hot in Qatar for WC '22, we'll just play three 30 minute periods.

 

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/06072011/2/qatar-heat-change-world-cup-game-format-says-engineer.html

[Guest]

Don't worry guys, if it gets too hot in Qatar for WC '22, we'll just play three 30 minute periods.

 

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/06072011/2/qatar-heat-change-world-cup-game-format-says-engineer.html

 

This technology sure as hell better work because otherwise, the games will have to be at 4 am if they want to avoid three 30 minute periods.

 

Avg temps in June: 41/27

Avg temps in July: 41/29

 

http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/QAXX0003

[Mark Priors Calves]

Didn't Qatar promise to build all domed stadiums?